This morning, Sunday, February 15, 2026; My wife and I went to "The Essentials" for Sunday, Brunch…read more I have not eaten at "The Essentials" for a few years now. We don't like going out on holidays like Valentines Day so we usually do something the day after. Food: I got the Steak & Eggs. They were great. I did think the "Potato Cake" on the plate was a bit dry but I did eat it all. I was surprised that no Toast was provided for this item. Just an after thought. My wife go the Banana Bread French Toast. She also loved it. Service: This is where "The Essentials" understands what their clients want. Our server was outstanding. I looked around and felt the entire staff really knew how to work with their guests. Refreshing. Ambiance: At first, I thought the restaurant was a bit noisy. Yet my wife and my conversation was not strained. The Ambiance was upscale casual. Value: I thought the prices were a bit high yet the real story was, once I was finished, my mind was asking when the next time I would return. Cost a meal is in direct portion to how much you enjoyed it. I enjoyed my meal very much. Eat well, Drink well and stay healthy.

This is a great spot in Birmingham. The menu was not clear, but the staff worked with us to figure…read moreout what they could make without seed oils and gluten-free options. I ended up with a bunless burger. The Caesar salad with chicken was my first choice, but both the dressing and the chicken had seed oils - not good. Still, the vibe was great, and we made the best of what was available. Thanks to the chef for working with us.

In town for a conference and the restaurant was a block from my hotel…read more Inside is very casual. Kinda bar-like with a nice restaurant vibe! We sat at the bar since it was packed. Service at the bar was good considering every seat at the bar was taken. We ordered our food and it was out within 15-20 minutes. I ordered the Nashville hot chicken, but subbed the sides for the whole fried okra and Gouda grits. When I say those grits and okra hit.....somebody in that kitchen knows what they're doing! The chicken breasts were juicy and flavorful. The spice level was typical for Nashville hot chicken, which I sometimes I can't take. But I loved the flavor so much I couldn't stop eating it. I will eat here again when I return to the city!

I found The Southern Kitchen & Bar completely through Yelp and the Yelp reviews, and I am glad I…read moredid. When I came in, the place was crowded, which is usually a very good sign. It had a good energy right away. I had been looking at a few things on the menu and was really going back and forth. I was interested in the hot chicken, the Brussels sprouts, and also the ribeye Philly cheesesteak. They told me both were really good, and I ended up going with the ribeye Philly cheesesteak. Great choice. I also got a side salad with the chipotle ranch dressing and that was very good too. Picture below. For dessert, I was planning on getting the key lime pie, because that is usually my move, but Hayden my server talked me into trying the blueberry cobbler cheesecake instead. I am glad he did. It was very good. Picture below. Between the crowded room, the good service, and the food, this was a very strong experience all the way around. I am giving The Southern Kitchen & Bar 5 stars.

The food was very good. I forgot to take a picture of it. But I ordered the steak and eggs from the…read morebrunch menu on Easter. It also came with a hash brown. And I ordered the orange juice. It was freshly squeezed, but not very cold. It still tasted delicious. What I liked best was the hash brown was really crispy and all the flavors were good. Like the steak was a little sweet, and the eggs were seasoned just right. Everyone was really attentive and checked on us often. We came in right at a rush time so the food took a little while, but not outrageously long, and they let us know when it was coming. The decor was super cute. There were lots of paintings of flowers and gardens on the wall. A swinging bench and an indoor tree.

Came Twice in One Week -- That Should Tell You Everything…read more Let me start by addressing something I've seen mentioned in other reviews: yes, the menu is minimal. But it's a gin bar that offers elevated bites, and I actually think that's what makes it so special. Most bars offer the same predictable trio of fried appetizers. This place is intentional. Focused. Creative. And it works. I first went to Juniper to celebrate a friend's birthday, and within one round of drinks I already knew I'd be back. The staff is phenomenal. Not just friendly -- knowledgeable and genuinely excited about what they're serving. I asked for a lemon drop martini, but gin-based, and they added elderflower liqueur to elevate it. It was hands down one of the best variations I've ever had. What I loved most? They didn't default to "sorry, we can't do that." They leaned in. They played with it. That creativity is what makes this gin-focused bar so fun, they know their juniper, and they know how to build around it. They also have fantastic mocktails. The first visit, I had them choose the gin they thought would pair best with a mocktail base (the blueberry mocktail I forgot the name but delicious) and they nailed it. When I returned four days later (yes, four, it was that good), they crafted more fun mocktail variations for me and even served my elderflower tonic in a beautiful chalice because mocktails can be fun too! The little details matter, and they absolutely deliver. Now let's talk food -- because this is not typical "bar food." We had: * The Burger - Delicious. Flavorful, well-balanced, and satisfying without being heavy. * Lasagna - I personally love a meat lasagna, but I genuinely appreciate that they offer a vegetarian version. It's thoughtful and inclusive. * Crab Cake - My favorite. So flavorful and perfectly done. It comes with a small salad that balances it beautifully. Highly recommend. And the toffee dessert? New obsession. It's the kind of dessert you think about days later On my second visit, we found out the bartender was actually the owner , which explains a lot about the care and pride behind the bar. Super cool, welcoming person. And shoutout to Dalton, the bar back, who was incredibly kind and hospitable. The entire team creates an environment that feels warm but elevated. The vibe deserves its own paragraph. Chic, trendy, slightly hipster (in the best way), and the back patio is stunning. It genuinely feels like they brought a fresh, new energy to the Birmingham scene. Juniper isn't trying to be everything to everyone. It's focused, creative, and intentional and that's exactly why it stands out. Amazing drinks, thoughtful bites, and staff that truly cares. Highly recommend. Already planning my third visit.

One of my go-to's when in town. Delicious food and friendly staff. Special shot out to Lynn!read more

Stopped by SoHo Social last Friday for happy hour and had a really good time. We decided to go all…read morein on apps, and it was the right move the chicken dip and egg rolls were both solid. For dessert, we got the cinnamon pretzel, and I see why it's popular...definitely a must-try. I had a margarita and my wife had a lemon drop both were well made and hit the spot. The atmosphere was lively but still relaxed, and service kept things moving without feeling rushed. Overall, a great happy hour spot with good food, drinks, and energy. We'll be back.

My God, I thought fine dining had finally died, especially after covid. Current Charcoal Grill is…read morethe first restaurant I've been to in years that still understands and executes on everything that makes eating out enjoyable. The service is *excellent* with a capital "E." We ate at the bar, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about every single aspect of the restaurant. They have tried everything on the menu themselves. They can describe any one of the imported liquors up on the wall. These are real deal professionals who illustrate just how important the people in a restaurant's front truly are. The food? Delicious. It's a wild grab bag of East Asian fare - Chinese, Japanese, Thai - and it's all done extremely well. The portions are small, which is good, since you'll want to try half a dozen things on Current's very deliberately thought-out menu. The Peking Duck is some of the best I've had. The cocktails are also excellent, with my favorite being a delicious, earthy combination of coconut, lime, and pandan. It's like an extremely upscale tiki drink. I cannot recommend this place enough. Absolutely perfect. 5 stars.

Another favorite to add to the list…read more Loved the space. Loved the concept. Cocktails (specifically Air Tokyo) were outstanding. We went for the "favorites" menu which a $65/person was an absolute steal. You get two starters, dumplings and cured red snapper is what was offered. Two entrees, the bo ssam and banana leaf wrapped redfish, and one dessert, the miso tart. Everything was quite good and more than enough food. The dessert was a real winner. I thought about it days after. Looking forward to going back.

Great selection of salads, soups and sandwiches. I couldn't decide on what sandwich so the server…read moresuggested half of one and half of another. Excellent idea. Great cuban as well as their version of a Philly cheesesteak. Nice, relaxed and comfortable environment. You do order at counter but staff will bring food to table.

My friend invited me to a fundraiser they were having last night at Urban Cookhouse. This was the…read moreperfect opportunity for me to revisit UC after about 10 years. The location is easy to find in homewood square, plenty of parking (they have a lot or park in any of the surrounding areas), there is a drive thru as well. The restaurant itself was spacious and clean, however, the women's restroom needed attention. Staff smiled and work diligently. The gentleman with the locs was the main one I saw interacting with individuals. Very professional and had a warm personality. My order consisted of half a BALT (bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, aioli toasted sandwich) with a half mandarin crunch salad (lettuce, cabbage, green onion, mandarin oranges, chow mein noodles, honey sesame dressing). Both items were fresh and straight to the point. I enjoy having a meal that isn't overly complex every now and then. A light dinner while supporting a friend.

Me and my daughter tried their brunch menu and loved it! The…read moreservice was also great! We will definitely be back again soon!

We stopped by for a bite after work and were early enough to take advantage of their happy hour…read morespecials. We got several "small" plates, most of which were not small. The staff checked on us frequently. We got an order of the pork belly nachos - so much food, but good. A wise choice for a meal or for an appetizer for the table. With our other food, we came close but were unable to finish it! We also got a small charcuterie tray sampler - grilled bread, meat & cheese, nuts, and some grilled asparagus - very tasty. We had ordered the truffle pizza - truly one of the best pizzas I've ever had - but were so full, we ended up getting it to go and ate it the next day. I look forward to coming back soon.

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 was finally able to check out wooden city and enjoyed it so much that I went back a couple weeks…read morelater for a friend's birthday! I really like the ambience inside. It gives a great vibe for either a work dinner, a date night, owl or dinner with friends! It's fun and swanky but not over the top. They have a really attractive bar and they have a pizza kitchen that is open, which is always a cool touch. I try to handful of appetizers and I've got to recommend both the jerk cauliflower as well as the brussels sprouts and the Caesar salad was delicious as well. Also, the blistered Hungarian peppers are a must order if you'd like sausage! The meal that I had both times because it was that good was the spicy lamb rigatoni. I might just go back next week and get it again. I like that they have a wide variety of options whether you're looking for a gluten-free meal or something carb heavy like pizza or pasta, but they also have options to fit a variety of budgets from a casual dinner and a burger to more expensive entrées. The servers are very kind and are definitely educated in their wine and food offerings and very hospitable. Since this is located on Morris, a lot of people think parking is difficult down there, but apparently there is a parking lot in the back where you're able to get your ticket validated. I know some of my friends wish they would have known this before. I'll definitely be back and recommend this spot to others wanting a good meal!

My sister and I Just got back from visiting family in Birmingham. We both love food and…read morecocktails....so we spent everyday going to the best restaurants we could find...within a manageable budget. I think the most expensive meal we had was $240.00 which included entrees and wine. Worth every penny...anyway. We stopped in to Wooden City for a couple of appetizers and a glass of wine. We ordered the peel n eat shrimp and the burrata w/ bread pudding! The food was so good we failed to grab a pic. I can absolutely say the experience rates in the top 4 meals I've had in my 66 years on the planet! I was able to capture the beautiful pour of wine we had. Guys come see them! You'll enjoy it for sure. The ladies sitting next to us ordered two entrees each. They ate one and had one boxed to go...that's gotta tell ya something! Hats off to the TEAM at Wooden City! I'll be visiting again in August .....can't wait!!

Cool place for college games. You get a good variety of fans cheering for there teams. Huge screens…read moreto watch the games. They have a great SEC drink menu (recommended by our server) and the food was great with big portions.

2:30pm on a Saturday and it was not busy at all. Walked in and it looked nice, nothing super fancy…read morebut nice. I sat down and maybe the wobbly table should have been my first red flag. The chairs sucked to add to it. I find the bathroom, whoever thought it was such a good idea to put a faucet that high was special because you have to turn the water low enough or push the faucet to the side to prevent from it splashing all over you. My in-laws got there a few mins before us and got everyone waters which that was good. The waitress, it took her forever to come back by to ask for drinks or starters. Granted we were waiting for a few other people but my husband wanted a soda and we were going to go ahead and get an appetizer. I decide to stick with my water because I just felt like I would get a drink if I asked for something different. Which I was right. My husband had to wave the waitress down for his soda. She accidentally brought him diet. She never brought back his drink. I had to get up and ask the hostess about our his drink and that we were wanting to order an appetizer. The hostess apologized and said they were really busy. I know I had to fix my face because I looked around, saw our table, and two other tables, about 6 people at the bar that the bartender handled, and looked back at the hostess like, "wtf?" The rest of our group shows up. Waitress comes back. Still no drink for my husband and gets our appetizer orders along with the remaining drink orders. When the appetizers comes out, it was a guy who brought it to us and we asked him about the soda and he apologizes and gets it for us...finally. Nothing special about the appetizer just chips and dip. We finish it and once again...the waiting game. The rest of our group still had yet to get their drinks. She comes back after another long wait, drink less, and gets our orders. My father in-law mentions the drinks, she apologies, and gets them. The wait it took for our food to come was ridiculous. I hate to imagine how long we would have had to wait if it was actually busy. Maybe it might have been worth my wild if the food was phenomenal but the moment it was sat in front...I knew it was not gonna be good. I got the Alfredo with shrimp. It looked like some soup. The sauce to noodle ratio was not good. The sauce was so runny that I had to lean it and eat the noodle like Naruto eating ramen. 5 measly pieces of shrimp. The sauce was also very gritty. How something that is so runny also be gritty, I don't know but I've had lean cuisine frozen alfredo dinners better than this $29 plate. 3 of us ordered Alfredo, only one got a piece of bread but I'm not asking for bread because I don't want to wait 30 mins to get it. My son looked at me and legit said, "we should have just gone to Olive Garden" knowing good and well I don't care for Olive Garden but also knowing it would have been better than whatever this plate in front of me was called. When walking to my car, I looked at everyone and said, "I'm sorry but this place sucked. I've been curious about it and now that I've experienced it...there is nothing here that would bring me back." So I suggest spend your money elsewhere because there is nothing that makes this place standout enough to have the audacity to have nonexistent service and charge $29 for soupy Alfredo