Tucana Tiki is a great experience from start to finish when you walk in it's like traveling to an…read moreisland oasis. They have multiple seating options; the first floor has booths that can accommodate smaller and large groups. The bar area is very inviting and fun to be able to watch your drinks being made and upstairs offers a more private area. When not seated at the bar they do have someone to come around to make sure you have what you need. The servers are very nice and tend to remember you, which is a great feeling. The menu rotates seasonally, which makes it easier to try new things. My favorite menu item so far has been the cheeseball that was on the menu around Christmas time. It had a great flavor served with crackers the only thing is when we came back after the first of the year it wasn't on the menu anymore. On my most recent visit I had the queso which also had great flavor, served with blue corn tortilla chips. When it comes to the drinks I like how on the menu they let you know how strong it is using toucans. Many of the drinks feature rum, but they do still offer some gin and tequila options. Everything I've had has been good and something I would try again. I would like to note that many of the drinks are fruity and can be somewhat sweet. At Christmas time they even had holiday themed drinkware which I felt was a nice touch. If you are not a drinker, they also have options for mocktails. Which has been great for me the last couple of months. I didn't care for the Phony Negroni, but I think Negroni itself might be an acquired taste

We have been watching to visit Tucana for a while now and finally got the chance tonight! We were…read morenot disappointed!! The service, staff, and ambiance were perfect for an early drink before dinner. The drinks are inventive and delicious! Drinks devoured: Breakfast in Pago, Melon Marauder, Bee So For Real, and Demerara Dry Float

Cayo Coco has been on my list of restaurants to try for a few months now, and I can confidently say…read morethat I'll be back soon! I genuinely could have ordered almost anything off the menu; everything sounded delicious. Unfortunately, I don't have the budget or the ability to consume every dish off the menu, so my boyfriend and I settled on splitting 2 small plates and 1 entree. What we ordered: -Smoked Fish Fritters: a Cuban delicacy. Still thinking about how good these were. Plenty to share! -Snapper Ceviche: personally not my thing, but my boyfriend loved this. I honestly wanted to like this, but the raw fish started to weird me out. -Jerk Chicken: served atop a tomato/bbq risotto that was devine. The inside here is so cozy and slightly tropical. They have a huge alcoholic selection too if that's your vibe. I'm so excited to return and try some more dishes!

Cayo Coco restaurant missed the mark for me. I really enjoyed how the dining areas really lean into…read morethe tropical theme. I ordered the Espresso Martini ($14); it was lacking something in the flavor, but that could possibly be from me going against the grain when ordering. I had the jerk chicken, it was not a true jerk chicken ($29) it was basically grilled chicken with sauce so when expecting something more authentic it was disappointing to say the least. The tamarind caesar ($15) was also different than I expected; although I would make a trip for it, I would order it again when visiting. The best thing I tried was actually the typhoon brusssel sprouts ($12), I was very happy with them and honestly would have been okay if that was the only thing I ordered. The wait staff was great, very personable and being willing to dicuss the menu and give suggestions. Espresso Martini(Vodka-Carajillo) 7/10 flavor is not what accustomed to might have been better with the Rum normally fixed with. Tamarind Caesar- at first glance definitely not my regular Caesar. Definitely not an average Caesar the lettuce is grilled giving it a smoky flavor, caught off guard but I would order again. 8/10 Jerk Chicken- overall was a good dish first time trying farro wasn't sure what to expect made me think of oatmeal, the mango salsa and sauce on the chicken was good the chicken itself was a bit dry but still good. Overall I would give the dish a 7.5 I rarely order chicken out and I think this was a reminder why. Typhoon Brussel Sprouts- had great taste 9/10 I could come back and get a drink with the Brussels. Would consider the Star of the night The price was consistent with the area, nothing seemed overly priced. Portions were also large enough to be split so if with a group and wanting to try multiple items you would be able to do it and have enough.

This is Birmingham's premier karaoke spot. It's a small, dive bar. I've never been before sunset,…read morealthough apparently they serve food. Pool tables, a couple arcade games, a wonderful stage for performances. The bar is fairly small, so it can take a while to get a drink when it's really packed. Additionally, the women's bathroom is just one room, so the line there can get pretty long, too. They have a nice patio outside with some cornhole. There's often a $5 cover.

Stephanie is rude and obnoxious and does nothing. she seriously belittled me for no reason as soon…read moreas I got there and I said excuse me why are you being rude and it turned into a big thing. she should not be behind the bar. everybody else is very nice but I won't be back till she's gone.

I'm so glad this restaurant is within miles of my house. I decided to come here on a Saturday…read moreevening with my son to have some dinner. We started off with mozzarella sticks and they were amazing. You get at least eight sticks. I usually get soda when I come here but tonight I decided to get a margarita on the rocks and it was only seven dollars and it was delicious. My son got the Smashburger and I got the buffalo chicken wrap, but I got the mild sauce on it. We had Natalie J as our server and she was excellent. She was very attentive and prompt with bringing me my to go box as well as my check. I did go to the bathroom and the garbage in there was overflowing. Other than that, it was a great experience. There are a bunch of TVs here so it is a good place to watch sports and at times they do have live music.

So unfortunately I had to dock you a star. You are needing servers badly and not just servers but…read morefriendly servers. The one I had yesterday was not the least bit personable. She still got a good tip but yet she could have cared less . I'm glad you have added meat and veggies to your menu . The Birthday menu is okay too. I got the catfish plate- catfish took up part of the plate w/ fried okra, grilled Zucchini, and coleslaw that while good (They up charge you like 3.00 why??) We also got fish and chips unfortunately it tasted like frozen Gordons fish portions We used to get way back when. It wasnt what We expected at all. Guess I'll have to go to Twin Peaks for that . Son got his tried and true Armadillo burger. He also got the Birthday cake while good that icing was as heavy as the icing on wally world's cakes. If you know you know. We got the lava cake cookie which was good and came with ice cream. I do appreciate you trying to expand your menu. Some are hits and some are misses. It's better than somewhere similar that has Father's in its name in Alabaster lol All in all I'd still come back occasionally.

Great beer list. Friendly locals. Nice quiet ambience. Very chill compared to most of Tuscaloosa.read more

There's no food - so don't arrive expecting to eat and drink. That is the only drawback…read more The actual bar experience is a welcomed relief from the college kids - just very chill and laid back. The bartenders are super attentive and the drink variety is exceptional. One half is a quiet restaurant type area and the other half has pinball and video games. I tell anyone coming to town who wants a break from students but a chill place to drink that this is the spot.

I had been meaning to try this bar for some time. Ran out of the house while some work was…read morehappening at home and I needed a great afternoon stop to kill some time. Made the decision to turn in and try Sanctuary; how fortuitous! First, this isn't just a music venue! It's a classic bar with real cocktails (mocktails, as well), but also a great reincarnation of an old church. And they serve awesome food!! Second, the drinks and food are top notch! Try a Paper Plane! It's my new favorite way to drink bourbon, TBH. You will absolutely feel distinguished while you do. I overheard many professionals around me, too, so it's definitely a place to run elbows with University types. Finally, I love music. This place has different musicians all the time. But my favorite is Dr. Warren Ertle's Corpse Revivers, an old fashioned Jazz band! They play two shows a night, almost every Tuesday! I say "almost" because, well, ...just check the Sanctuary's facebook page before you invite friends to a show. (Ask me how I know!) Overall, it's a great time, try the tacos!!

After another big Alabama Crimson Tide baseball win--bringing out the brooms and finishing the…read moresweep on Sunday--my wife and I met up with some friends at The Sanctuary on 25th to celebrate. We've eaten here before and have been wanting to make it back, but between their popularity and our schedules, it's felt like trying to line up a dentist appointment during tax season. Tonight, though, everything finally clicked. We got there early and were greeted by two cheerful hostesses who promptly sat us in the corner... felt a little like we were back in kindergarten for talking too much, but we made it work. Oh--and if you're into live music during dinner, this place delivers. There's something about enjoying a good meal with live music in the background that just elevates the whole experience. It's also the kind of setting where local artists get their start, and you never know--you might be listening to someone on their way up. Once our waiter came over, we held off ordering while waiting on our "fashionably late" friends--who, for the record, treat arrival times more like loose suggestions. Eventually, the crew assembled and it was game on. I kept it simple to start: water, no lemon. Let's not contaminate perfectly good H2O--I want it 100 proof. For appetizers, we ordered the Fried Cauliflower and Fried Okra to share. And by "share," I mean I ordered them and then immediately abandoned that concept. Only child tendencies die hard. Both dishes were excellent. The fried okra, paired with their Creole ranch, absolutely stole the show--seriously, that sauce deserves its own fan club. The cauliflower was also very good, and the homemade remoulade held its own... just not quite on the Creole ranch level. Our friends ordered the Street Corn Dip, and while I didn't personally get any (again... sharing isn't my spiritual gift), I can confirm it was outstanding based on the fact that the dish came back cleaner than a whistle. One of the coolest parts of this place is the atmosphere. The building still carries that old church feel--you can almost picture folks sitting in pews listening to a sermon. These days, though, the only preaching happening is coming from the kitchen, and there's a "sinful" bar running along one wall that probably wouldn't have made the original blueprints. For the main course, my wife went with the Lobster Mac and Cheese, and I ordered the Chili Lime Shrimp. The mac and cheese was a solid choice--rich and flavorful--but just a touch on the dry side. A little more cream would take it to the next level... perfect, but not Jesus-walking-on-water perfect. The shrimp, on the other hand, was good but didn't quite live up to expectations. It started strong but didn't finish the game, and I ended up handing off the last few bites like a reliever coming out of the bullpen. All in all, The Sanctuary on 25th is a great addition to the Tuscaloosa food scene. Between the unique setting, strong appetizers, live music, and overall experience, it's definitely worth a visit. Just be prepared--it stays busy, and if you plan on sharing food, make sure you're sitting with better people than I am.

Billy's is back open in Lakeview!!! I heard thru the grapevine the bartenders at Lou's Pub down the…read morestreet are the reason Billy's is back. Woohoo! It's a dive bar, nothing fancy. Pool tables, booths, music, and lots of people. I hope that Billy's opening back up helps Lakeview become fun again. The last few years with Moe's being closed and multiple incidents at Innisfree, my friends and I have been avoiding the Lakeview strip, but it truly is one of the only blocks in Birmingham where you can bar-hop around. Music: when we arrived, they were playing 'Lavender Haze,' track 1 off of Taylor Swift's Midnights album. They then proceeded to play tracks 2 through 6, in order. This was the most effective way to win me over. I'll be back! Probably way more than I should be! P.S. I believe last call was around midnight last night. Unsure what the usual hours are going to be, but they were busy!

Had a blast as always Sunday at Billy's (2nd time) Barbara the bartender is great. Second shift not…read moreso much! Came in and demanded everyone close their tab before he started, seemed to rush Barbara out. I understand closing your tab so Barbara can get the tips but don't demand ask :) PS, he seemed to have a bad attitude problem. Just my opinion.

This cute little place was a gem. Great drinks, great service and the French dip sandwich was…read moreincredible. Highly recommend.

I wish I could give The Refinery a proper review, but unfortunately they made that pretty…read moredifficult. When I walked in they handed me the full menu... and then immediately told me I couldn't order from it. Apparently they're running on a very limited menu right now, which consisted of maybe three or four things. Bit of a letdown since I came specifically because I saw pictures of their smash burger and had dreams about it on the drive over. Instead I settled for the tacos, which were actually pretty tasty. No real complaints there. The drinks leaned pretty sweet, which makes me think there's a heavy hand with the syrups. The space itself is very small. It's decorated nicely, but you'll definitely feel like you're accidentally best friends with the people sitting next to you. The staff was fine overall, but very close and boisterous with each other. In a room that small, if one of the servers has the cackle of a woman who skins Dalmatians on the weekends... maybe don't pair her up with the funniest coworkers on the planet. All in all, a fine experience but not ideal. Call ahead if you actually want access to the full menu.

I finally got to check out Bygones! My friend and I went for a late night bite and a cocktail, and…read morewe sat at the bar. The service was quick and the hospitality was unmatched. They have a food truck that I've heard wonderful things about and I ordered the chicken Caesar salad. It was almost like a chopped Caesar salad and it was just the right amount for a small girl dinner. If you like Parmesan cheese, this is a must order as they do not skimp on that! What was really nice however was that you couldn't tell the food was from a food truck. It was great quality and you are able to order from inside the bar and they deliver it to you. That was a great service. I can't quite remember which cocktail I got, but it was very delicious and at one point the server had even given me a new chilled glass so my drink would remain cold as I sipped on it. This is definitely a great date night spot or just a place to grab a drink with friends, definitely a little more upscale as we were there in the evening, so the lights were dim. I won't drop my rating as it's spring time in the South but I remember being cold immediately as I walked in- but that's typical for a lot of places.

Yall! Get down here!!! The absolute best SEXY bar ever. Sophisticated. Dark wood…read morecabinets....exposed brick walls ...black and brass fixtures...great music. But the real jam! The mixologist! These guys aren't bartenders! They have science in the back! I'm talking Suvied fruits and centrifuges! It's fabulous. So much so, my plane was delayed and I was thrilled to find out while I was still there! Drake and Dustin....Dustin and Drake they are Pros!