So this past weekend I went to Festa Italiana it was basically the Italian version of Taco Fest…read more While I did enjoy myself I left with a underwhelming feeling. To start off I will say Italian American Heritage Society of Birmingham, Alabama did a great job with making sure people stayed cool. Besides the food trucks everything was either under tents or under the bridge at Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. They had free water stations as well as water to purchase. They even had a huge air blower out there keeping people cool. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Seeing people actually do grape stomping and sauce contest were pretty cool too! Now here is where the food comes in. I was not able to try all the places I wanted to try due to extremely long lines. The 3 places I did try I will talk about now. First up Da Big Italian I ended up getting Da Vinnie and Da Big Italian. Da Vinnie was pretty good the sausage had decent flavor but that was about it. Nothing too crazy. Da Big Italian was extremely underseasoned and it mostly tasted like pickled banana peppers. It apparently had mozzarella cheese in it and I didn't even notice it. Huge let down. Da Vinnie 7/10 Da Big Italian 5/10 Next we have Sliced this was genuinely really good pizza. All the flavors were there like all systems go. I had been wanting to try this place for a long time and just never got to it. Like I have no notes whatsoever so I'm just gonna give my score of an 8.5/10. I will be back for more. Lastly Arnone's Italian Sausage. This was the biggest disappointment because I was super excited to try them. I ordered the Italian Sausage of course. It came with grilled onions and nothing else. Yall when I say this was the most blandist thing I have ever eaten. The sausage had no flavor at all the grilled onions were also flavorless like they used no salt, pepper, Worcester sauce, no nothing. Easy 1/10 I was extremely disappointed. All in all I enjoyed the event and if there is another one I'll be back to try the places I wasn't able to get too. I do not blame the company that put this together for any of the bad food. These guys put on a great show and I can't wait to see more!

Just tried this food truck for the first time this weekend. The Sicilian was fantastic!!! Friendly…read moreand great service!!! We will definitely will be back!!! Delicious.... Looking at the menu now to figure out what sandwich I will try next time.

I sort of waffled between a 4 and a 5 but I really really enjoyed my experience here so I'll round…read moreup! Came in for a bite after work last week. It was later in the afternoon (like 2ish) so the restaurant was fairly quiet when I entered. It's located on a corner as you enter Hartselle's downtown area. I always find parking to be challenging around Main Street, so I parked in a large lot about two blocks down and just walked over to not have to battle with traffic and parallel parking. The inside is beautiful and has a first and second floor. The vibe is pretty much perfect; it reminds me a little of a bistro, with sort of a classical aura but without tackiness or over-grandiosity. The music selection matched the ambiance perfectly. There are lovely large windows and cozy as well as more traditional seating options. I walked my way back to the counter, passing the beautiful baked goods, where I was asked if I'd like a lunch menu or coffee and a pastry. When I indicated I wanted to eat lunch, I was encouraged to sit and relax and let them grab me a menu and a drink. The service was lovely all around; I was checked on plenty and they seemed genuinely concerned about whether or not I enjoyed myself (I did)! They were also very helpful and friendly when I placed a to go order for some pastries for later. Sweet and charming conversationalists! The sweet tea I had to drink was legit some of the best tea I've had in a long time. I know they offer Piper and Leaf tea and I wonder if it was their take on Front Porch Special. I love that tea. At any rate, it was perfectly sweet and flavorful. I ordered the pimento cheese BLT. They have upgraded side options for an extra charge but I was content with the kettle chips. The sandwich was made on a nice soft but chewy bread -- sourdough? -- and the smoked Gouda pimento cheese had just enough smoke. The bacon was absolutely delicious, crispy and so flavorful. The lettuce was more of a mix and I enjoyed that as opposed to just romaine. Truly my only criticism of lunch is I wish that the bread would've been toasted, or that I'd been offered the opportunity to have it toasted. I'd wished for a little warmth on my sandwich. I got a kitchen sink type of cookie and a white chocolate raspberry scone to go for a treat later. These didn't knock my socks off quite as much as lunch did, but both were enjoyable, the cookie especially. Lots of goodies inside and a good balance of chewy and crispy. I could've gone for a little more both raspberry and white chocolate, but my husband really liked it -- he said it tasted like a fancy poptart lol. Overall, I really really enjoyed my visit here. We have friends in Hartselle and I will happily recommend and return when able!

I am from Huntsville and my friend is from Double Springs. Hartselle is a perfect middle place for…read moreus to meet. We have been meeting there on a regular basis for over a year - loved the food, the coffee, the ambience and the table by the window. Service was great. We met there today and found that they have re-branded. No more breakfast- just some pastries. The pumpkin spice latte had just a hint of nutmeg. The muffin was just like a Costco muffin. The window table was replaced with merchandise. The server was confused about the order. Nothing was wrong, per se, but it lacks the charm and deliciousness that it had. I can't say I won't be back, but I can say that it isn't our special spot anymore.

Stumbled on this place while driving out in the country and had to stop and give it a try…read more It's some kind of hybrid of an Amish grocery store/lunch counter. Shelves were lined with things your grandma would go nuts over. Jams and jellies, bags of grits, all sorts of things for the cook who knows how to cook with real ingredients. Also a solid selection of prepared/ready to eat items including some pies that looked pretty amazing. Additionally there's a sandwich counter where you can build your own or order one from their menu. All the sandwiches are made to order on their house-made bread and the prices are super low. If I lived near this place that sandwich counter would quickly become a go-to lunch spot. The people were friendly and the place is clean. The prices are right and the selection of items is unique and of high quality. Don't skip this place if you're in the area. 5 stars.

OMG!! The place is amazing! This review is solely based off products I've tried from Dutch Oven…read moreBakery'. Everything I had from peanut cookies, turkey sandwich, cinnamon rolls, caramel popcorn were so sensational! I personally cannot wait to take a road trip here to see for myself this great establishment.

Walking up and you can smell what's up! This place is love at first bite. Great service with a…read moresmile. I ordered a beef empanada and 305 empanada to start, then a steak sandwich and piggy sandwich. Flan and tres leches for dessert. All were extremely flavorful. Yes, I shared all this lovely food with my wife and we recommend this place! My picky kid loved it too! We will be back soon.

Major hidden gem in the Hartselle area! 4.5/5…read more I made the drive over after working in Decatur just to try Old Havana Cafe. It's in a sort of nondescript shopping mall. As other reviewers have mentioned, this is a carryout only establishment. However, they do have a few chairs and a comfy loveseat to sit on while you wait for your order. I didn't order ahead but I was able to place my order at the counter. The menu online is more extensive than the menu on the board behind the register, so I'm not certain of what all is usually available. I wound up ordering a Cubano and a guava and cream cheese pastry. The man who came out to take my order and delivered it to me when it was finished was unbelievably warm and welcoming. He had such a calm and gentle demeanor and made me feel right at home. Definitely a highlight. My food took a few minutes to come out but overall was well within a reasonable time to wait; it was very hot and fresh. It was wrapped nicely and delivered to my waiting hands. I took it out to the car to eat. The cuban sandwich was quite good. Symphony of mustard, savory and slightly sweet ham, and sour pickles. Really good flavors, and piled high between the bread. My one small complaint is that previously the bread I've had on really good Cuban sandwiches has been a bit crispier than this particular one; it was a little more chewy than I've had in the past. Very very minor though, and more a preference than anything I suppose. That guava and cream cheese pastry, though....whewwwwww. It was my first time having a freshly fried one and oh my GOODNESS it was delicious. The guava was sticky and syrupy sweet, balanced by the creamy and dense cream cheese. The pastry was scalding hot and delightfully flaky. It was too rich to eat in one sitting, but so completely delightful. Although it's certainly a drive for me in normal circumstances, I'll happily return when in the area. I've tried a good handful of Hartselle area restaurants, and this stands out as one of the best.

Nice to have such a nice coffee shop in Hartselle. The service is great and the drinks and food are…read moreperfect! Great staff!

Really good coffee and the casserole is awesome. Quick service and lots of street parking and…read moreparking lot parking..

Traveling through the area and stopped in for pizza. Awesome pizza and fried ravioli. The…read moreatmosphere and service were great! We will definitely be back/

I have never gave a bad post about any food service place till tonight and I thing everyone needs…read moreto know about Pizza Ed. If your eating at Pizza Ed beward our pizza come out cold sent it back than came back only Luke warm. Worst service we have had come here. #PizzaEd. #HARTSELLEAL Full story. We have gone and ate a Pizza Ed in Hartselle and really enjoyed it. Tonight we went to eat and the server was great. When we got our pizza the center of the pizza was so cold. It was as it just came out of the refrigerator. Sent it back to be cooked more. Came out the second time and was only luke warm at best. Waitress told us they where having trouble with their ovens. If it was me I would have been probing the center was a food thermometer to make sure my customers got their food hot like it should have been. Than gave me the ticket to pay at full price for two pizzas that where not ever hot. #PizzaEd has lost our business.

Always good, always fresh. Tonight I tried the chopped steak dinner for $8.59. Two beef patties…read morecovered with onions, mushrooms, and gravy, mashed potatoes with gravy, steamed broccoli, and roll. Would get this again. Delicious! I just wish they had the green beans from the picture.

When you have to pay $10.00 for a Whopper it's time for a change. Culver's is closer to my home,…read moretheir hamburgers are lower priced and taste great. The onion rings are homemade, just like granma used to make. Not frozen, fresh, hot, tasty. Good bye Burger King.

Drive through order on a Sunday for lunch (they aren't open all day on Sunday), including 5 lb…read morepulled pork, 1/2 gal cole slaw, white sauce and regular sauce. Oh, and my mother's favorite loaded baked potato with pork, extra butter, no sour cream. I did not call ahead and anticipated a wait. Thankfully they have their system down to a science; from order time to fulfillment for my order was less than 5 minutes! And while I was waiting on my order to be filled, someone was out taking paper orders for the line behind me. (Yes, I said line...and they weren't all patient. They must have been hungry.) I've heard it said you can't screw up BBQ, but you can, and they didn't. Given the "claim to fame" is a mild vinegar-based sauce, you can't hide much like you can with a sweet, ketchup-y sauce. I wish I had a scale, because I swear there was more than 5# of meat, and 1/2 gal was a LOT of cole slaw. A lesson learned and note to the wise: when they say 3 oz per sandwich when figuring how much you will need for a crowd, go with their approximation. Ever the consummate Southern hostess, I was afraid of running out of food & ordered this larger amount. Never ran out, everyone was full and lots of leftover pork was frozen. My mother's potato was exactly as ordered, texture was great for cutting and she made 2 meals out of it. This BBQ location is a go-to for our family. Always happy to have the opportunity to get it when in town. Think I'll try the turkey next...

I visited here last Monday for lunch while working in the Hartselle area. I had planned to eat…read moreinside but when I got there I realized it was much more of a drive through vibe so I went through the line and then drove to a nearby large lot and ate in my car. I'm honestly not sure if there's any indoor dining or not, but it worked out fine for me. They were reasonably busy at around 1 PM - maybe 3 cars ahead of me. I got through quickly enough and was able to place my order probably in less than 10 minutes. The menu isn't super easily viewable from the line so know what you want beforehand! The lady at the window was pleasant enough. I ordered a pulled pork potato and a large (they mean it when they say large!) sweet tea. I thought the price was VERY reasonable - I got out for only around $12 for a plenty large lunch. As far as bbq taters go, this isn't the monstrously large kind you'll find at Lawlers or the nearby Pigskin BBQ, but it is certainly big enough for a filling meal. The potato was cooked nicely. I was pretty happy with the pork, too -- good consistency/pull, and I could actually taste the smoke! My one complaint is that the sour cream and whipped butter spread (not real butter) came on the side. I very much prefer restaurants to apply those ingredients themselves so they can melt into the potato beneath the hot meat and cheese. Also, real butter would've been my preference, lol. Overall though, very solid potato and bbq for a very reasonable price. I would certainly return for a tasty local lunch.

The salad bar is amazing. Had a negative experience with the fettuccine Alfredo...it was crunchy…read morebecause the noodles were highly undercooked. So removing a star for that. But overall I would recommend.

Food has always tasted substandard to me and lacking any excitement. It's great to support…read morehometown businesses, but I recommend finding someplace different. The Salad Bar is a nice feature, but not enough to complement anything else on the menu. Would love to see Gordon Ramsey surprise this place with a visit. I would rather eat at Waffle House, Jefferson's or Cracker Barrel

Quality Food , Great Service & Nice Atmosphere ! ツ…read more Went with Friends & really enjoyed it.

I've seen this sign off I-65 that says ranked 8th best restaurant in Alabama. I had to stop. A…read moresmall town with a historic vibe along with the timeless ambiance in and around the restaurant. Staff were friendly and the food was delicious. I highly recommend anyone stop for this visit. It's worth sidetracking your journey to include this on your bucket list.