From a wine bar to a rum bar to a NOLA-inspired brunch joint, Birmingham’s culinary scene continues to blossom, and people are flocking to check out the menus and patios. To give you a lay of the land, we’ve scoured the town to bring you the best new Birmingham restaurants. Bookmark this page, put on your stretchy pants, then head out to try the new eateries that are calling your name!
Golden Age Wine
2828 Culver Rd, Mountain Brook, AL 35223 • (205) 848-8877
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
After a decade spent in San Francisco, Brandon Loper returned home to Birmingham with a dream to open a wine bar and shop that featured low-intervention, or natural, wines. He met with Trent Stewart to talk shop and see if Trent’s wholesale wine supply company would be a good fit for the shop. They hit it off, realizing they had not only similar palates, but also like-minded beliefs and passions about how wine should be presented. The two decided to launch a shop and wine bar together, and Golden Age Wine was born.
“The charcuterie and cheeses are sourced from purveyors who care about sustainability, and align with what is being done on the wine side.” says Golden Age Wine co-owner Brandon Loper, adding that in the open kitchen, “The custom hand-cranked meat slicer steals the show.” Image: Rob Culpepper
“Having a full retail wine shop and a wine bar is a great way to learn and discover new wines,” says Brandon. Image: Brandon Loper
The menu at the Golden Age is built to complement the wines. Cheeseboards, charcuterie, warm olives, fresh sourdough bread, Marcona almonds and seasonal produce are prepared in the open kitchen in Instagram-worthy arrangements on boards handmade by Brandon’s grandfather, and dishes custom-made for Golden Age by Katherine Tucker of Civil Stoneware.
“My favorite thing about Golden Age is having a warm, inviting place to talk about and taste delicious wines. The atmosphere is unlike anything else in Birmingham,” says Brandon. “I also love that our prices are competitive. We price everything straight from retail pricing, so the prices on the shelf are the same or lower as the local grocery stores.” Stop by, and be on the lookout for upcoming tastings and wine classes!
Greenhouse
1017 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209 • (205) 326-7727
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Mondays
Housed in Edgewood Station in Homewood, Greenhouse is a bright, healthy, plant-adorned haven that has been the longtime dream of chef-owners Mary Claire and Bray Britton. While the menu is largely salad-focused, it also features Bray’s famous soups, sandwiches and smoothies. “The Greenhouse Salad is far and away our most popular item,” says Mary Claire. “It’s a mix of romaine and watercress with pickled onions, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese, salad crunch and avocado, with our GH Goddess dressing. The Cuban and the Bahn Green are also fan faves.”
If you’re looking to indulge, they have you covered — try the grilled cheese, the GH Cuban or “MC’s Ridiculous Cookie.” They also have seasonal slushies and frosé, as well as a wide selection of wines and beers to pair with the menu offerings.
“We love that it’s ours — it feels like us,” says Mary Claire. “It is such a fun space, full of people, plants and food that we love. We have poured our hearts and souls into Greenhouse, and it’s 100% worth it.”
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“We have five pre-designed salads with an option to build your own,” says Greenhouse chef and co-owner Mary Claire Britton. Image: Greenhouse
“The grilled cheese is bananas,” says Mary Claire of the delightful dish that comes with smoked gouda, cheddar and mozzarella with GH chimichurri on sourdough. It can also be made vegan. Image: Greenhouse
Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurante
2015 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203 • (205) 290-5115
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Closed Sunday
“We want to make sure that the guest is immersed in an experience that is simply new, unique, and delicious,” says Josh Schaff, who is Managing Partner of Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurante with Andrew Collins of The Collins Bar. “Not only is Chef Haller Magee’s Cuban and Latin American cuisine with a touch of Southern flair exquisite, but the environment — the blend of teal and brass that is layered throughout the restaurant — is really quite stunning and sets the theme for an enchanting night.”
While you will feel transported to a reimagined 1940s Cuba, your taste buds will be similarly dazzled. The menu features small, shareable dishes that are crowd favorites, as well as impressive entrees such as the adobo-marinated pork chop with sweet potato-stuffed chili relleno, mole, avocado corn salsa and chili oil. And you cannot pass up the classic South American mofongo balls — a fried mash of plantains with garlic, braised pork belly and sofrito, a traditional Latin American sauce consisting of pureed peppers, garlic, tomato and cilantro. Pair your meal with any one of their elegant cocktails, wine or beer, then enjoy it all at the dramatic brass bar, in the chic and cozy dining room or on the breezy patio.
Jeremy and Anna Erdreich, the brother-sister design team behind Metropolitan LLC, designed Cayo Coco’s striking interiors, creating an experience that captures a sense of glamour and escapism. Image: Ginnard Photography
Mofongo balls, braised pork belly, avocado puree and spicy sofrito | Image: Ginnard Photography
Iron City Pizza Co.
2012 Magnolia Ave S Suite R3, Birmingham, AL 35205 • (205) 847-4396
Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Closed Tuesday
“We decided to open a new pizza restaurant in the old Cosmo’s space that celebrates all things Birmingham,” says Amanda Belyeu, who co-owns Iron City Pizza Co. with Chef Dustin Allin. Inspired by Birmingham’s revitalization, especially in the Five Points South area, Amanda and Dustin dubbed their pizza pies clever names that extol the Magic City’s magnificence — names such as Red Mountain of Cheese, Vulcan Vegan, Arrington Arugula and Sloss Sausage. All of the pies are made with fresh seasonal produce from Shelby County-based Southern Organics farm.
“The most popular pizzas have been the 5-Points 5-Meats, the Southside Supreme, and the Legion Field of Shrooms, which is my personal favorite,” says Amanda. Second only to her favorite Iron City pie is Five Points’ strong sense of community. “Everyone around us is extremely supportive, helpful and has made us feel at home in a very short time,” she says. “From our fellow restaurant and business owners to the Five Points Alliance and the Five Points Neighborhood Association, you feel like you are a part of the bigger picture.” Don’t miss this great new neighborhood pizzeria.
The 5-Points 5-Meats includes pepperoni, housemade sausage, salami, capicola, bacon, mozzarella, shaved Parmesan and fresh herbs. Image: Dustin Allin
Though it has undergone a chic makeover, the Iron City Pizza Co. occupies the space where the legendary and beloved Cosmo’s Pizza once was. Image: Dustin Allin
Ruby Sunshine
1017 Oxmoor Rd, Birmingham, AL 35209 • (205) 496-8710
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Housed in the former bartaco spot, this bright and airy new breakfast eatery in the heart of beloved Edgewood is sure to be a neighborhood favorite. With locations in Franklin and Knoxville, TN, this Homewood location is the third Ruby Sunshine. Its NOLA-inspired menu is borne of its inspiring origin story: Its sister brand, the Ruby Slipper, was originally founded in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “We were really just trying to help bring our neighborhood back to life,” says Jennifer Weishaupt, cofounder and CEO of the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group, which she operates alongside her husband, Erich.
“We put a New Orleans twist on breakfast and brunch classics,” says Jennifer. “For example, we do a playful take on a classic New Orleans dish: Bananas Foster. We created “Bananas Foster Pain Perdu”, which is a French toast dish. Our Eggs Benedict dishes are served on a freshly made buttermilk biscuit instead of an English muffin. And we have morning cocktails like our award-winning Bacon Bloody Mary, which is made with house-infused bacon vodka. In true New Orleans spirit, our food is decadent and full of flavor.”
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The Eggs Cochon Eggs Benedict features apple-braised pork debris served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs and finished with hollandaise. Image: Ruby Sunshine
“We love that Ruby Sunshine has become part of the fabric of the neighborhoods we serve,” says Jennifer Weishaupt, cofounder and CEO of the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group. “We have so many regular customers who choose to spend their mornings with us, and that’s a real honor.” Image: Ruby Sunshine
The Thirsty Donkey
4100 4th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35222 • (205) 777-3229
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Closed Monday
Birminghamians Kathy and Greg Stein opened the original Thirsty Donkey in St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017. Unfortunately, Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed their little island joint, and the two decided to come back to the Magic City. “We decided to open our island restaurant here in Avondale. We lived right up the street before we moved to St. John,” says Kathy. “We’re a casual restaurant and bar with island and beach music and a beautiful outside area where we’ll eventually have live music. We have a very small kitchen with an amazing chef who continually pumps out a lot of delicious food.”
The menu boasts a variety of dishes that aim to please all palates — fish, burgers, wings, their popular beer-battered fish and chips on Fridays, many vegan options, mussels and cottage pie, all prepared fresh with house-made sauces. Stop by on Sundays for brunch with house-made Bloody Marys and mimosas or simply grab a cocktail with friends on the patio for Happy Hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
The Preservery
2005 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205 • (205) 413-1750
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Closed Monday
Upscale soul food is the name of the game at The Preservery, where Owner and Executive Chef Dre Foster cooks up Southern classics with an elegant edge. Think buttermilk-brined fried chicken drizzled in a maple hot sauce, with a kick from a side of housemade watermelon chow-chow and some soulful collard greens. At brunch, try the crispy fried Gulf shrimp with smoked gouda, blue corn grits, hot sauce, candied jalapeño, pickled okra and fresh tomatoes. Plus, the new Birmingham restaurant is nestled in the heart of Five Points South, adjacent to the fountain, so it’s one of the most happening patios in town.
This gorgeous special marries herbed rice, pork and a poached egg, and it’s topped with delicate herbs and a savory-sweet drizzle. Image: The Preservery
Tostadas
1831 28th Ave S 175 N, Homewood, AL 35209 • (205) 783-1120
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Closed Sunday
As soon as locals Hal and Maghan Craig heard the old Jackson’s Bar & Bistro was closing, they jumped at the chance to open their own new Birmingham restaurant in the fabulous location. Tostadas features Mexican fare with a twist. Share one of their popular tapas like the pomegranate guacamole, queso or queso fundido, ceviche, street corn queso or tostada nachos with a cold margarita. The specialty tostadas come with a few traditional options like the “Plain Jane” (seasoned ground beef) or the “Big Gulf” (shrimp). But mostly, they let their creativity shine with options like the “Southern Fried” tostada — your choice of Nashville hot chicken or buttermilk fried chicken with grilled peppers, Pepper Jack cheese and jalapeño ranch — while the “Jamaican Me Crazy” features jerk chicken, and “The New Yorker” features a smoked salmon and cream cheese combo. They have even more mouthwatering entrees beyond the world of tostadas, as well as some impressive desserts. Vámanos!
Tostadas‘ Street Corn Queso is creamy queso blended with roasted street corn and served with chips. Image: Tostadas
The “Changa” is a smaller version of Tostadas’ El Guapo burrito, fried to a perfectly crisp golden brown and served with queso and a choice of rice or queso frijoles. Image: Tostadas
Yummefy Asian Restaurant
707 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd S Ste. 104, Birmingham, AL 35233 • (205) 324-4873
Hours: Monday through Friday & Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Closed Saturday
This new downtown eatery’s focus is Nepalese cuisine, along with dishes that encompass the neighboring regions, so the vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu features Asian crowd-favorites like fried rice, chow mein, stir-fry and appetizers like spring rolls, edamame and hot and sour soup. Yummefy even offers a couple of classic Thai dishes. But the star of the show here is the Nepalese cuisine. Try the vegetable or chicken thukpa, a traditional noodle soup, or grab one of the spicy chicken entrees or Yummefy pork bowl. But make sure you don’t miss the traditional Nepalese dumpling (momo) with vegetable, chicken or pork. Next time you’re jonesing for some Asian cuisine downtown, stop by Yummefy!
Gorkhali chicken is a savory and spicy Nepalese grilled chicken sauteed in chili sauce. Image: Yummefy
Be sure to try the momos, or traditional Nepalese dumplings, with vegetable, chicken or pork filling. Image: Yummefy
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