Deep South's Guide to What's Good For You in Birmingham

SEC Baseball Tournament Edition (read: Hoover-centric)

This fall, I'll have been living in the greater Birmingham area for a decade, and if there's one thing I've learned during my stay, it's that I love to eat and drink well.



Best Place to Stay for Guys - Ross Bridge Resort

4000 Grand Ave
Hoover, Alabama 35226 USA
(205) 916-7677

It's bad ass. Looks like a European castle, but with an awesome pool and championship golf. Bonus: It's romantic enough that you might even get a little extra special wife/girlfriend action.



Best Place to Stay for the Ladies - The Wynfrey

1000 Riverchase Galleria
Hoover, Alabama 35244
(205) 987-1600

Your woman's not that into baseball? She should be ok in this Bama classy hotel attached to one of the largest malls in the southeast. This is also where SEC Football Media Days is held every year, so it's obviously not too demasculinating.


Best place for lunch - Cajun Steamer

180 Main Street
Ste. 200
Hoover, AL 35244
Phone: (205) 985 - 7785

If you like fried goodness, this is the place. It's laid back, quick and good. In central Alabama, it's the closest thing you can get to "Mother's" in NOLA.


Best Mexican - Iguana Grill (review)

2085 Colonial Drive, Suite 101
(In the Plaza Fiesta off Lorna Rd. in Hoover)
(205) 987-8240

Well worth it and relatively close to the stadium. Women love the atmosphere, food it great for an underwhelming price. They even give you two different types of salsa.


Best Pizza - Tortugas (review)

2801 John Hawkins Pkwy
Hoover, AL 35244
(205) 403-9800

If you like Chicago style (real deep dish) pizza, this place is a must. A lot of native Chicagans (??) say it's as good or better than anything you can get in Ditka-ville. It's outstanding, but it can take awhile to cook. My advice: call ahead.


Best place to watch Sports - Buffalo Wild Wings

2772 John Hawkins Parkway
Suite 100
Hoover, AL 35244

I don't think I'm gonna tell you anything new about this place. Good food (even corndog nuggets for the Bengal Tiger in you) and big screens. Sadly, I have to endorse BWW over the local Bob "Bammer" Baumhower's Wings. I'm usually not gonna steer anybody to the national chain over the local business, but Buffalo Wild Wings does it better in every aspect of the Sports Bar game and if not for the Bama fan contingent ("Gotta support Bear's Boys"), Wings would be gone baby, gone.


Best Steak - Fleming's

103 Summit Boulevard,
Birmingham AL 35243
205-262-WINE (9463)

If you don't mind dropping some serious coin, this is the place for you. Ruth's Chris can't hold Fleming's loin strap. Best Steak I've Ever Had. No shit. And there is nothing in the culinary world I love more than a great cut of beef. Get the bone-in Ribeye ($42, a la carte). Very nice wine list as well.


Best All Around Fine Dining - Highlands Bar and Grill (reviews)

2011 11th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 939-1400

This is the top of the food chain in Birmingham. It's on the Southside, so it requires a little more effort, but it's so very worth it. See why Gourmet Mag ranked Frank Stitt's flagship Top 5 in the nation. The menu is seasonal, but it's all outstanding. Southern/French with a upscale bar scene full of Cougars waiting to pounce.


Best Place to Drink Beer and Listen to Live Music in a "Garden" - The J. Clyde

1312 Cobb Lane
Birmingham, Alabama 35205
(205) 939-1312

The Perfect pub for those who've graduated from the typical college bar (see: Innisfree) Technically The J. Clyde is a "beer garden" because of it's awesome, lush back patio and it's bonerific two hundred some-odd available beers. I wrote more about it here.


Best Sushi - Jensei (review)

1820 29th Ave. South (SoHo)
Homewood, AL 35209
(205) 802-1440

If the Crunchy Shrimp Roll is the extent of your Sushi experience, well you might want to skip this place, asshole. Jensei is the best, most serious Sushi establishment in Alabama. Even so, when you step in the little restaurant, you'll feel like you're in swank Manhattan. Sit at the Sushi bar (if you can find a seat anywhere) and watch these culinary ninjas kick some raw ass. You're guarenteed a happy ending at Jinsei.


Best (and only) Dueling Piano Bar - Twist and Shout

2011 Highland Ave. S.
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205)933-2033

As you can tell, the nightlife is on the Southside of Birmingham. If you're looking for a little more entertainment than The J. Clyde can offer, walk on over to the ill-named T&S in the Five Points area (next to perennial late, late night hook up spot, Bellbottoms) T&S is a good "main event" bar for a big night out. Sandwich it between pre-gaming at a relaxed place like The J. Clyde and a late night, booze fueled "last stop on the skank-train," the aforementioned Bellbottoms.


This is meant to be an ever-expanding guide to what's good for you in Birmingham. Check back for updates as I continue to explore the surprising wealth of cool shit to do/eat in Bham.

Work is the Curse of the Drinking Class

Can't blow your minds this week...must work on a few less interesting real life projects. However, here's a fun topic: What's your favorite local, Deep South beer and bar? If you don't drink... eff yourself, health freak.

My Favorite Deep South Beer...



It's just so good when it hits your lips! Sweetwater 420 out of the 770/404... I have neither the time nor the inclination to describe the aroma, the hoppiness or the head of this beer like all the fabulous beer knerds over at beeradvocate. I just know it's effin good.


My Favorite Deep South Bar...


Birmingham's own, The J. Clyde...A little taste of heaven [mosesxan - flickr]

I don't get out to "the club"...at all. I barely go out, except when some college friends come in town and what not. I'd much rather grill and drink in the comfort of my own or a friend's backyard. So, if I have to actually go out, I want it to be as close to that backyard experience as possible. That's why I love The J Clyde. It's like your backyard, but better. You don't have to clean up all those beer tops and cig butts the next day, plus it's just cool. Think: a beautiful, beneath the oaks back patio with subtle live music, the best beer selection in town, a friendly crowd and no damn cover charge. AKA, a heavenly Southern beer garden.

What do you like?


Related:

Click here if you're in Alabama or Mississippi and love beer [free the hops]

Birmingham Implosion

Nothing better than an nice implosion to start off your Sunday morning. We don't get to blow up too much crap here in Birmingham, but this turd of a hotel deserved it. The Parliment Hotel on the southside near UAB had been vacant for years and become a safe haven for homeless assholes, and its not exactly tops on TripAdvisor (Unless you're looking for a "Great Place to get inadvertently stabbed with a HIV-tastic syringe"). Plus it is directly connected to my work parking deck (seen still standing behind it) so I was especially sick of looking at it.



Anything to keep from being reminded of the unsavory homeless and their pathetic problems, right?