Came highly recommended and it didn't miss particularly for their infused drinks. Tried the peach…read morebourbon and it was good. Plenty of options to pick from and a great for the price as well.

Go see Bailey! The place is imperfectly perfect and will have to enjoying your night.read more

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.

Love this place located on the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk. Great for a an after-work wine down or a group…read moreget-together. I went on a Wednesday and surprisingly, it was busy. There was a birthday party/dinner and a company wine-down all so there's plenty of room for large groups. Although it took a while to get someone to my table; the service ended up being pleasant. The crab cakes were a little salty but very good and the brussels paired well with them although my meal consisted of an appetizer and a side. Overall it was a chill atmosphere with great views. I recommend going during sunset.

Nice rooftop bar conveniently located in Hotel Indigo. Some inside & outside seating. Heaters & a…read morecouple fire pits outside. A few TVs at bar inside. We went for a late dinner on a weekday. There were about 4 other tables seated and bar 1/3 full. Service was very slow all around but friendly. My husband enjoyed his shrimp po'boy & fries. I enjoyed the chicken Caesar salad but did not like the dressing. It didn't taste like Caesar dressing at all and was heavy on balsamic flavor. I really tried to like it but ultimately asked for ranch which was good.

A must-visit when staying in or passing through Tuscaloosa! This place is an absolute gem,…read moreespecially if you're a fan of speakeasies. The hidden entrance, disguised as a street-side Pepsi machine with a discrete handle, opens up to an evening of fun. The staff is super friendly and attentive. With two full bars offering a great selection of drinks at fair prices, there's something for everyone. The DJ was spinning great beats while we were there. For sports fans, there are nice TVs and plenty of options for outdoor drinking and dining. I've been to several speakeasies across the globe, and this upstairs gem is one not to miss!

I was not particularly impressed with this place when a friend and I visited on a Friday night…read more The atmosphere is very relaxed and cool, which I did really like. Their decorations give off high-end vibes and make the place feel more up-scale and sophisticated. Because of this, I found the music playing not fitting for the evening. When we walked in, it was club style music that I would rather dance to, not sit, chat, and have a few drinks to. It did not match the vibe and took away from the atmosphere. We ordered a mexican pharmacy at the bar, which my friend had recommended to me. I was not impressed, but that is on me, as I should have paid more attention to the menu. I did appreciate watching the bartender make the drink, as they obviously had great expertise behind the bar. My biggest complaint was that the drink was about 6 oz and cost me $15. My overall impression of this speakeasy was just a feeling of being underwhelmed. It is obviously popular, and I would love to try more from the expert bartenders, but I struggle paying their prices and find the atmosphere in contrast to the point of the bar.

While we were making the move from Texas to North Carolina we stopped in Tuscaloosa for the night…read more I wanted to try a restaurant downtown since it was our first time in this town and the Avenue pub came highly rated. Parking is manageable, but you'll need to find parking either in front or to the side of the restaurant. When you walk in it has the feel of a polished, upscale pub. We were seated and immediately ordered the bacon burger (which comes with a 1/2 a pound of ground beef with provolone and bacon). I also would recommend adding grilled onions to the burger and upgrading the fries to pub fries (seasoned fries topped with shaven Parmesan, mozzarella, and chopped bacon). The peppercorn ranch that is especially good and tied everything together. If you are looking for a craft burger spot in the heart of Tuscaloosa, I can't say enough good things about this place and it's absolutely worth checking out.

Me and wife came here for lunch after seeing reviews…read more I'll start with staff. They were very friendly and we were seated right away. For food I ordered the chicken club and wife got the fish and chips. The club was good not amazing. Both the sandwich and fries were a little too salt heavy. The fish and chips were ok. Not the best but not bad. Again fries little to salt heavy. I'd go back if someone really wanted to eat there but wouldn't choose this place.

Pretty cool interesting bar near AL Campus that I asked my son about. We were eating across the…read morestreet and had a wait for a seat. We decided to cruise over here and it was pretty cool. Now I am from San Diego, and it seemed like a pretty liberal ( for Alabama ) bar....like I don't know if it was a gay bar even lol, but if it was I didn't feel out of place or anything. Son said he went back a few weeks later with a few college friends who are older then he is and they said they love this hole in the wall. Drinks were cheap, bartenders were extremely cool, and definitely not a college bar like rounders lol.

I got roofied here last night. Obviously, I do not remember, but apparently, the bouncers were…read morehostile to the EMTs called and to my friends who were trying to help me after I become unresponsive.

Everything about Hopper's Corner Bar is what you want for your night out in Tuscaloosa!!…read moreHopper's provides unbelievable customer service while providing some of the best crafted cocktails available anywhere in town. If you've never visited this absolute Diamond of what a bar should be in Tuscaloosa, you've missed out! Go check it out. You'll find your new go to once you experience a night at Hopper's!

Love the ambience here. Very tasty appetizers and mixed drinks. The place is low noise and has…read morecomfortable seating. Located on the second floor of Half Shell.

I was there for an event. I opened a tab. When I closed the tab I thought it was a lot but assumed…read moremy husband and son had put there drinks on the tab. I mentioned it to them and they said they had not. I called to speak with manager 3 times no response. The food for our event wasn't ready when the event started. People had to stand in line while it was being cooked. Very poor management, service and over all experience.

I loved this restaurant! A must stop in Tuscaloosa! The salmon and creme brûlée were amazing!!…read more The service was also terrific and it was a beautiful restaurant!

This was our first visit to Forte in Tuscaloosa, and I really wanted it to be love at first bite…read more The restaurant itself sets the mood perfectly -- clean, stylish, and with a bar area that practically waves you in for a drink before you can say "just water for me." The outdoor seating is a gem, especially on these cool October evenings when the humidity finally gives us a break. Dinner started off strong with a Caesar salad that hit all the right notes -- crisp, fresh, and flavorful. The croutons, though? Let's just say they could double as home defense. Then came my Mushroom Cream Pasta, rich and delicious in flavor, but the noodles were a bit too enthusiastic about staying firm -- more "al dente" than I ordered. My wife's Pan-Seared Salmon fared better -- flaky, well-seasoned, and politely reminding my pasta who's boss. The staff, to their credit, were wonderful -- friendly, attentive, and even comped my dish (which I insisted wasn't necessary). Despite tonight's hiccup, I'll be back. Forte has the charm, the service, and the potential -- I just hope next time my pasta decides to soften up a little!