The Garage kicks ass. Tons of history, extremely dope vibe, great service, solid sandwiches/soup…read more If you get the chance go check out this historical gem tucked away in Birmingham. Voted one of the top bars to travel to in multiple magazines. The owner basically built a bar around his workshop. The middle looks way better during the summer, but a must visit if in the area.

We had a lovely lunch at the Garage!…read more Their sandwiches are fresh and made to order. It's very straight forward and you choose all of your own toppings. Soup changes daily and this day was chickpea and chorizo. Nothing life changing about it but it wasn't bad. We walked into a small, dark, crowded dive bar and ordered amongst several other people after waiting in line shoulder to shoulder with other customers. I say this not to complain (because with a crowd like this on a random weekday, they're obviously doing something right) but to take your kids in car seats (‍) with caution. Crowds in small spaces stress me out and it would have been even worse if we'd had the boys with us. I'd also highly suggest going on a day when you can sit outside. There's very minimal seating inside. They do have a lovely, spacious patio that also feels like a garden with plenty of trees for shade. However, they make it clear they don't want dogs there. Parking was horrific. A narrow street with cars on each side. We barely fit through it. If there wouldn't have been an open spot on it, I'm not sure what the next option is because I didn't see anywhere else and this street only held so many. I would dine here again because the sandwiches were fresh and delicious and they obviously know what they're doing! I was pleasantly surprised that they had prosecco as well. Just heed my few warnings and you'll enjoy as well!

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.

This review is specifically for the catered/box lunches we recently enjoyed from Tasty Town…read more Each lunch was boxed separately and included the silverware packet. That's a huge plus; the number of times I've seen referees having to pass on the side because they didn't have utensils! The entree was a chicken pita. It did have a few fresh onions, but I enjoyed them since I didn't have to be the one dragon breathing around the field all day. We did have a choice of roasted potatoes or basmati rice. The potatoes went much quicker than the rice; I had the potatoes and they were fantastic. There was also a tray of chocolate chip cookies provided. I don't think they were frash made; they looked similar to other restaurants generic chocolate chip cookies. They were a nice addition to the lunch, though. They also provided sweet and unsweet tea in gallon jugs.

Recently had Tasty Town as a catered lunch for a sporting event…read more Our lunch was a chicken pita (wrapped like taco of sorts) and I got roasted potatoes as my side. They also brought a large side box of chocolate chip cookies that were individually wrapped. Everyone loved the wraps, though the fresh onions were a little rough on some of us. Others took heed and removed a couple so their afternoon running up and down the field wasn't filled with regret. The potatoes were a hit; wish I could get them again.

Shu Shop is by far my favorite restaurant in Birmingham. Everything about this place just hits from…read morethe food to the cocktails to the atmosphere. The short ribs are hands down the best in the city; tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked every time. I also love the pork broth ramen with burnt ends it's rich, smoky, and so satisfying. And if you're into cocktails, their Old Fashioned is one of the best around. The vibe here is effortlessly cool dim lighting, great music, and that "sexy" atmosphere that makes it perfect for a date night. But honestly, it's just as good for a solo stop when you want a good meal and drink at the bar. If you're in Birmingham and haven't been to Shu Shop yet, you're missing out. It's a must.

Cool, dark atmosphere. Amazing staff. Their rum drink with the candied ginger is delicious. It's…read morefruity with just the right amount of sweetness, not over the top. The spicy miso ramen is the best by far. The fried crab claws were good but basic and not all the meat was super tender, although most bites were good.

This place is my type of vibe!…read more Trattoria ZaZa has been on my list of places to stop at for several years. Parking often deters me but after attending the Italian Festival earlier that day, we had a craving for pizza. I ordered the combo that includes 2 slices of the day with salad. Since I wasn't overly hungry, I offered him one of my slices and he added another slice to the order. We paid and were given a number to place on our selected table. Jazzy music played in the background while we waited on our order to be brought to the table. The natural lighting, while beautiful, made it a little warm in the building. One of the waitresses propped the door open that leads to the restrooms (which are in the hallway near the elevators) in order for cooler air to make its way in. That wasn't a deal breaker, but do be aware of that on warmer days. Our food came out after a short wait. I kept my 3 cheese slice, and gave him the pepperoni one. The cheeses were very rich and the salad, while simple without the frills, was perfectly sized and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette that was just the right amount. While I enjoyed my meal very much and the ambiance, he wasn't overly impressed with his. He didn't want the fresh herbs on his slices and knocked all of them off, lol. He's a simple guy with simple taste. This is definitely a place I will be revisiting with one of my girlfriends and not him next time as he didn't appreciate what ZaZA had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and courteous. Our food, including drinks, was around $28, which was not bad for a cute, eclectic spot downtown. If you haven't been, make sure to try them out soon. Just don't wait as long as I did to visit!

Where to start? Went on a weekend, place was packed. The…read moreBad: 1. SLOW. Waited in a line inside of 4 people in front of me. There was someone at the podium at the end who i thought was a server. Was not. After a 15 minute wait (why did it take that long?), we got to the podium person. And found out they were there to take our order, not seat us. Can only assume the 15 min delay was because people were trying to figure out what to order. No signage anywhere saying, please have what you want ready while you wait in line. 2. No menus, anywhere. Yes they can be printed and people in line could take one and figure out what they want. Yes, the menu could be put on the wall behind the server in large lettering. But no, they make you scan a QR code on the wall and view the menu on your phone, so that's inconvenient and a bit obtuse. 3. When we finally place an order for pizza, was told that, "they dont serve pizzas on the weekend, but we could order their "brunch pizzas", instead. Which on the counter, was small anemic cut slices of thick bready pizzas on the cutting board/table. Those each were $8.50 according to the menu. Figure the math of 2 small slices of pizza per person for 2 people vs just ordering a large pizza. But they don't serve pizza during brunch- Trattoria literally has the word "Pizza" in their last name- twice actually- yet you have to order a nearly $9 slice of pizza sitting out on a table for who knows how long, and of the flavor of their choice, not yours. It was flat out insulting to go to a pizza based establishment and be told they won't serve whole pizzas. We left and went to Uptown to a pizzaria there, and had a really good whole pizza, salad, dessert, and drinks, and all for half the price then if we had gone to Trattoria. Wanted to give this place a chance for years, but did not work out the way i had expected it to.

I absolutely love this friendly fast-casual eatery! We wanted a quick and healthy dinner when in…read morethe area recently. I peeked in and thought it looked so pretty. And of course they had me at poke bowls. It's one of my top 5 things to eat, honestly. But I ordered a Buddha bowl because it's almost the same thing and I felt a little lazy to DIY (not to mention, the Buddha bowl looked tantalizing!) They have other veg options, but I set my sights on that bowl as soon as the friendly counter guy suggested it. It's overloaded with goodness--avocado, deliciously marinated tofu, edamame (yes, it's a protein-rich bowl), tomatoes, shredded carrots, diced cucumbers, greens and more. You're literally devouring the rainbow here, friends. For drinks, they have a modest but decent selection of beer, wine (a decent bubbly in a can!) and sake in addition to soft drinks. The place is so beautiful (and spotlessly clean) with plants dangling from the ceiling and beautiful murals throughout. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd be here all the time.

The food was fine and fresh, but nothing outstanding to merit the price. $30 for a small poke bowl…read moreand two bao buns. I'm not sure if I'll be back.

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.

The good: they have a parking lot with a decent number of spots and a very nice covered patio with…read morelots of TVs. Oh and they have several NA beer options that aren't badly priced. The not good: the service. We had 2 servers on a Sunday afternoon. The first was very good. The second was non existent. The manager had to come take our orders and refill water. The menu has limited vegetarian options - extremely limited. I got the quesadilla and asked them to hold the meat. But it was insanely filled with cheese like to the point I thought I was going to choke on a blob of cheese. Just not a place to come if you're hungry and don't eat meat. I'd come back for a beer and to watch a game. But I wouldn't plan to eat here. A veggie burger option would go a long way here.

Came here for lunch with wife and kids after reading reviews…read more Came in a Saturday and were able to find parking and was seated right away even though was pretty busy. The staff were all very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is very nice with indoor and outdoor seating. We all were very impressed with our meals. We got the chicken tenders, blackened fish sandwich, the club sandwich and wings as a main. Also got an order of mozzarella sticks. All were amazing with the only one negative is the wings were not very crispy but still very tasty. Would definitely go back.

I got the fall turkey melt and butternut squash soup. It was SO good. I've been here a couple of…read moretimes and every single time I have been here. I have had a really great experience. The servers were really nice and friendly. The butternut squash soup was really nice thick and creamy. I felt like the portions were just right and I did not feel like anything was too greasy. It is a great place to eat with your friend or significant other. I thought it was a very cool vibe and matched the name of the restaurant! Because this is located downtown, there is street parking, or there is a parking garage down the road where you can park.

I came here for lunch to catch up with a good friend from high school who was home for the…read moreholidays! Wow, Brick & Tin and the entirety of Mountain Brook village were packed! Parking was a bit difficult on this day, but that's to be expected with the holiday shopping traffic. I love Brick & Tin. It's upscale Panera in the best way. Their brisket sandwich and soups are absolutely incredible. I always recommend this place if you're looking for a nice, fast-casual lunch. I got the farro half salad and added chicken. This was the perfect lunch. Great flavor, squash, some greens, farro to keep you full (I believe this is an ancient grain), I feel like I checked every box on being healthy for the day. The dressing is delicious and not overdone. They've got bar seating, two tables for larger groups, and then booth seating along the walls. It's a farm-to-table vibe in here, and the food certainly matches. I've never been disappointed by anything from here. I need to try out their downtown location next!

My first time in Birmingham and this spot in Downtown is a gem. The energy is great, especially if…read moreyou snag a seat at the bar. * Service (The Star): Shoutout to Bianca at the bar. She's an amazing bartender--super friendly, helpful with recommendations and kept the space spotless. She turned a 4-star meal into a 5-star experience. * Fish Quality: The sushi and fish quality were impressively fresh. * The Rolls & Ramen: Both rolls recommended by the Bianca were well above average and the ramen exceeded my expectations. * The Rice (Shari): A bit of a letdown. The rice was too mushy/wet and the portion of rice per piece was way too large. * Pork Bao: Not worth the mention (or a photo). Skip this one. Verdict: 5/5 stars. Mostly thanks to Bianca's top-tier hospitality. Solid Japanese spot in the heart of Downtown.

My wife and I were able to get away during Christmas time as we were in town for the holidays. She…read moresaw Bamboo on yelp and wanted to stop by and have dinner here. It was pretty pack but was able to grab a couple of seats at the bar and was immediately attended to. I really loved the atmosphere of this place as it's in an old building and i always love the exposed brick in these restaurants. We ordered a couple of sushi rolls with me ordering the cyclone and my wife ordering a salmon roll and they were very delicious. I love to explore new restaurants and this was definitely a winner