Botanic is not a place. It is an experience! Hands down one of the most breathtaking, spacious,…read morecarefully curated places I've been all year. It is definitely on my Alabama "must-visit" list. I am from out of town, but I came looking for a workspace and wanted to grab lunch while I was there. I came around 1 PM and there was a 30 minute wait for 2 for lunch, but have no fear. We just went upstairs to the martini bar and were able to wait and work. We were seated in the garden for lunch, which are mostly cute high tops. Before we even began our meal, a fat adorable white rabbit crossed our path. Then an equally beautiful black rabbit crossed our path. I had no idea there was wildlife just prancing around and I was giddier than a little kid. (There are also ducks and geese who run around!). Now to the food: Had to get the smash burger because it was award winning and boy it did not disappoint! The depth of flavor and the juiciness of the patties were impeccable. I opted for guda cheese instead of cheddar, and I added grilled onions, and this was an excellent choice. The fries are super crispy and the comeback sauce is perfect for dipping . Don't judge us, but we also shared some desserts. The standout was the white chocolate cheesecake, which was sweet but not super indulgent. I would definitely skip the crepe next time. The description made it sound delicious. But overall, it was lacking in a flavor. It was by far the most disappointing dish of the day. Even though it takes a while for food to come out service is impeccable, and the servers are just so lovely, so be patient. I will definitely make the Botanic my go-to establishment when I'm in town!

We were visiting friends in Seale Alabama from Jacksonville Florida and they know I am very…read moreparticular about restaurants and have a very limited diet. Dining is an experience and my hobby my husband says. We indulge most nights in many great restaurants all around us or when we frequently travel. I want to start by saying my friend chose this space well! Though it was about a 40 minute drive from their house it was worth it. The venue, grounds, market, dining areas, etc. are all truly a delight. I cannot believe a place like this exists in this area. We started with adult beverages and the amazing complimentary bread with an assortment of butter options. For appetizers, we ordered the pimento cheese and corn ribs (forgot to photograph). Both were delicious! For entrees, the ladies had the pasta dish with my friend adding the shrimp. I am a vegetarian so I did it without any protein. It was very good. The men had the filets with the sides and found them to be cooked properly. The pros were as follows: Beautiful venue/spaces Delicious food The market had some nice shopping gifts to pick up for souvenirs and pastries for breakfast the next morning The cons: We were supposed to be at an inside table and they said that was not the case once we arrived and it was way too hot outside and the flies were terrible. I felt as if they should have accommodated us as we still waited 30 minutes to be seated despite her making reservations weeks ago. That really put a damper on the experience. Their corkage fee to bring your own wine is $40 per bottle. I take my own wine to every restaurant I go to and have never paid $40 even at much higher end places. The waitress was nice but loud and forgetful. We asked for things multiple times and never did get some of the requested things. They do offer lunch and dinner and the menus are a bit different. They focus on fresh produce from local farmers and some they grow there. If you are within a 30 minute drive, I would suggest going as there is not much in that area that compares according to our friends. There are multiple dining spaces so make sure you choose where you want to dine and confirm that. There are multiple bar options as well.