Top Restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama

Highlands Bar & Grill

Cuisine: Southern
Price: $$$

Blending the flavors of the American South with those of southern France, the menu at Highlands Bar & Grill allows diners to indulge in the tastes of the local cuisine while enjoying a fantastic upscale atmosphere. Favored as a spot for important birthdays and special occasions, the alluring simplicity of a chalk-drawn menu on one wall and the lavish art deco interior lend the restaurant a romantic ambiance. Chef and owner Frank Stitt demonstrates his mastery of this amazing fusion cuisine with a menu that changes almost daily to suit what is fresh. While it's never certain what exactly will be available, seafood consistently has a strong presence on the menu and is a choice that makes the best of Alabama's Gulf Coast location.

Hot and Hot Fish Club

Cuisine: Seafood
Price: $$$

Enjoy the true excellence and diversity of Alabama's seafood cuisine at Hot and Hot Fish Club. Using a vast web of local farmers and suppliers, Hot and Hot relies upon the best and freshest ingredients to enhance the flavors of its delectable dishes. The menu is constantly changing to suit this end, offering new tantalizing dishes with every visit. Inside the restaurant, space is limited, but there is more than enough room to dine in peace at a private table or watch the culinary masters at work from the Chef's Counter.

If there seem to be parallels between Hot and Hot and Highlands Bar & Grill, it’s not just coincidental. Chef and co-owner Chris Hastings worked under Highlands Bar's owner, Frank Stitt, for a number of years. Still, these similarities do not diminish the value of either restaurant, instead, they help to emphasize the importance of fresh, local food in gourmet dining.

Cosmo's Pizza

Cuisine: Pizza
Price: $

A rockin' casual atmosphere and delicious thin crust pizzas draw crowds to Cosmo's Pizza all day long. While there are the traditional sauces and toppings for picky eaters, Cosmo's also has some excellent regional toppings and specialty pizzas that give a better taste of the South. Among these are the Bayou Special pizza, topped with Cajun chicken, alligator sausage and veggies, and the Cosmo's Favorite, featuring a yellow pepper sauce. Cosmo's sits in Five Points, just off the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This large student body has prompted Cosmo's to keep open late into the night and provide delivery service as well.

Dreamland Bar-B-Que

Cuisine: Barbecue
Price: $

Barbecue has many variations, but the variety found at Dreamland Bar-B-Que is an authentic regional version of this Southern favorite. A vinegary sauce makes for barbecue with a kick, and the hickory smoked sausages, spare ribs and pulled pork are simply divine. A limited menu keeps the focus on the barbecue dishes that really count, and the bare bones dining area makes for a cozy restaurant experience. For those in a hurry, the menu is also available to go. The restaurant is part of a small regional chain with locations throughout Alabama, so even if the Birmingham location isn't an easy stop, maybe another Dreamland location is.

The Garage Cafe

Cuisine: American
Price: $$

The Garage Cafe is the place in Birmingham to take someone who you want to impress with your hip city knowledge. It offers guests what may be the most unique and visually striking atmosphere of any restaurant in Birmingham. On warm summer nights, sit out in the courtyard where the natural beauty of leafy trees and the urban decay appeal of old statues, fountains and appliances combine to make a strangely compelling sight. Start the evening off with a few drinks and appetizers, move on to a sampling of the gourmet sandwiches and stick around for the live music by local bands. Weekends are the biggest nights for The Garage and any rain tends to pack the inside section to the brim. Plan on visiting on a weekday evening when the forecast is nice for a quieter, less drink-fueled environment.