The Scoop on Birmingham Restaurant Week

Back for its 15th year, Birmingham Restaurant Week runs July 17 through 26. The best restaurants in Birmingham, including bars and food trucks, will serve their favorite dishes on a prix fixe menu so you can dine to your heart’s delight without breaking the bank.

For the scoop, we spoke with Ashley Gooden, director of public relations and digital media at Style Advertising, which spearheads the event. This year, Ashley says, “Diners can expect a wide variety of restaurant options, plenty of events to attend, giveaways, and fun with fellow foodies!”

Read on for more delicious details.

What is Birmingham Restaurant Week?

Birmingham Restaurant Week is all about celebrating and promoting a key ingredient to the city’s magic — its incredible culinary scene. Ashley says the goal is to spread the word about all the best restaurants in Birmingham, bars, cafés, and food trucks, whether they’re well-established haunts or just-opened spots. “We want to help restaurants build a connection with the community and make Birmingham Restaurant Week a reason for people to come visit,” she explains.

The events, special menus, and promotional initiatives all serve the goal of supporting small businesses; you won’t find any national chains on the list. Not only does the week give local restaurants a chance to shine, but it also benefits a local food-based nonprofit, Magic City Harvest (more on that below).

How Restaurant Week Works

Birmingham Restaurant Week has two primary components: events and prix fixe menus (offered by participating restaurants). While the events require tickets and take place at designated times over the 10 days, restaurants will offer their special menus throughout Restaurant Week, so you can participate however and whenever you like. All you have to do is head to the restaurant of your choice and ask for the Restaurant Week menu. The menus are designed to fit any budget and range from $5 to $70.

From sunrise to sundown, the menu offerings are as diverse as they are delicious — think small plates, specialty cocktails, and elegant dinners with decadent desserts.

Available menus and restaurant details can be previewed on Birmingham Restaurant Week’s website under the Eat/Drink section, where you can filter options by location, cuisine, price, and more. “We like to say it’s a great way to put together your culinary plan of attack!” Ashley says.

Perks for Diners & Promotion for Restaurants

Not only are the prix fixe menus a great deal for diners, but the event provides ample opportunity to try out new spots and revisit old favorites. Restaurants use the opportunity to make their establishment a can’t-miss stop. “Some of these restaurants use Birmingham Restaurant Week to try out new menu items, bring back old ones that people liked for a limited time, and even host special events,” Ashley says.

Participating restaurants feel the love, too. “The event helps get the word out about the restaurants that people have in their community that they may not have known about,” Ashley says, “When they find out how good they are, they’ll tell their friends. Word of mouth is the best form of public relations.”

For Ashley, the opportunity to support the restaurant owners she comes to know through her role with Birmingham Restaurant Week is especially meaningful. “They have more to share with you than just food on a plate,” she says. “Each of them has a special story about why they do what they do and the creation behind each item on their menu. There is always so much passion when you talk to them about food.”

Local long-time favorites, including Ovenbird, Rojo, and Vino, are all on the list for this year’s event. Notable newcomers include Board in Birmingham, Magnolia Point, and Rêve.

Mark Your Calendar: Birmingham Restaurant Week Events

While you can dine your way through Birmingham all week long, there are a few Birmingham Restaurant Week events you won’t want to miss.

Birmingham Restaurant Week Preview Party

When: Tuesday, July 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 
Where: Haven
Tickets: $35, available here

To kick off the week, partygoers can sample signature bites from participating restaurants, located this year at Haven. “This is the perfect chance for foodies to come and try some of what a few of our restaurants will have on their menu,” Ashley says. Examples include Corazon’s esquites, off-the-cob street corn, and Adored Sweet’s peach cheesecake.

There will be a full bar, and each ticket includes one drink as well as complimentary valet parking. Tickets usually sell out, so get yours ASAP!

Sipology

When: Sunday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Where: City Walk BHAM
Tickets: $35, available here

Don’t miss this “Sunday Funday” event! Sipology is a reimaged version of Birmingham Restaurant Week’s signature Wineology event, and will feature a flight tasting paired with local catering, all with a brunch theme. Come ready to explore your palate and discover your new favorite beverage. Based on the popularity of Wineology, tickets won’t last long for this event, either.

Restaurant Week Scavenger Hunts

When: Saturday, July 19, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Starts at City Walk BHAM
Tickets: $10, available here

New to Restaurant Week this year are two scavenger hunts, each with a distinct vibe: a laid-back progressive dinner and a competitive race to the finish line. Both take diners across the city to explore various restaurants. The progressive dinner provides participants with a personalized quest through a curated dining experience.

“Once the event begins, participants can simply scan a QR code to view their curated dining route and enjoy each stop along the way,” Ashley explains. The competitive scavenger hunt will send teams searching for clues at participating restaurants and bars. The first team to complete the hunt will win a prize!

Finale Event: Free Food Truck Pop-Up Park & Market

When: Saturday, July 26, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: City Walk BHAM
Tickets: Free! 

Birmingham Restaurant Week will wrap up with a food truck pop-up park, which promises to be fun for the whole family. While local food trucks will also participate in Restaurant Week, this event is their time to shine. Sample various cuisines and plenty of desserts while enjoying other activities and entertainment.

This free event is in partnership with The Modern Greenbook Marketplace, so eventgoers can shop local vendors while they eat. Food trucks in the lineup include A’s Kitchen, Green Top BBQ, Taco Tuesday, and Snowy Yummyice,

For the Love of Art & Food: Arts Exhibition and Giving Back

Another first this year is Birmingham Restaurant Week’s Arts Exhibition. The theme of this inaugural exhibit is “The Legacy of the Southern Table” and features local artist Arden Upton’s latest collection, “Frank’s Table.” “It’s a love letter to the delicious dishes created by Birmingham’s own Frank Stitt,” Ashley says, “The exhibit is a celebration of the art of cooking and the joy of shared meals.”

Frank Stitt is the award-winning chef behind some of the city’s best restaurants: Highlands Bar and Grill, Chez Fonfon, and Bottega. You can peruse the exhibition through August 1 on the second floor of Birmingham City Hall.

Proceeds from the art exhibition sales will go to Birmingham Restaurant Week’s non-profit beneficiary, Magic City Harvest, which strives to end hunger and food waste by distributing unused food from schools, restaurants, grocery stores, and more to those experiencing food insecurity throughout Birmingham. Ashley says the organization’s mission, reach, and 30-year history make it the perfect beneficiary for the event.

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