Slutty Vegan, Gus’s Hot Dogs, The Goose earned 95+ food service scores in December

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Avondale
The Goose in Avondale’s Entertainment District (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Several Birmingham-area restaurants—including Slutty Vegan in Woodlawn, Downtown Birmingham’s Gus’s Hot Dogs and The Goose in the Avondale Entertainment District received 95 and above on their food service scores this past December.

Since 2018, Bham Now has reported the Jefferson County Department of Health restaurant food service scores each month. Over 100 local establishments that handle and serve food are inspected by the health department, including: 

  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Nursing homes,
  • Daycare centers
  • Hospitals
  • Grocery stores
  • Concession stands

Food service inspection scores are updated regularly on the Jefferson County Department of Health website

Featured Restaurants

Slutty Vegan – 100

Woodlawn
Slutty Vegan in Woodlawn (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Owned by entrepreneur Pinky Cole, the Woodlawn location of Slutty Vegan is the restaurant’s first in Alabama. Who can ever forget the lines circling the block back in August when Slutty Vegan first opened on 55th Place. This place has made vegan cool. Hot tip: The restaurant has been temporarily closed during the first week of January because of a mechanical problem.

Gus’s Hot Dogs – 97

Gus's Hot Dogs Birmingham
The Gus’s Hot Dogs- John Lewis Mural in downtown Birmingham on 4th Avenue North. (Nathan Watson/Bham Now)

A mainstay since 1947 in downtown Birmingham, along with its great hot dogs and burgers, make sure to drop by to see Gus’s mural of Civil Rights icon John Lewis.

Back in December 2020, when the mural was unveiled, Gus’s Hot Dogs owner Lee Pantazis said this about the mural and why he chose John Lewis:

“I am very proud that John Lewis is a citizen of Alabama and very proud to honor him. Hopefully this mural will inspire our community to come together.  Like Lewis said: with a sense of love and community we can make the impossible possible.”

The Goose – 98

The Goose
Wings at The Goose in Avondale (The Goose Facebook page)

Looking for classic pub food? Check out The Goose on Avondale’s 41st Street. You’ve got it all in one place— burgers, wings, kabobs, chicken tenders, classic appetizers and salads. My favorite? Order a “Gaggle” of wings (50) and share them with friends and beer all night. 

Rest of the Honor Roll

Encore Rouge food truck
(Encore Rouge / Facebook)

Wings Village – 96

Cahaba Brewing – 96

Mountain Brook Creamery – 97

Farm Stand – 100

Pasquales in Gardendale – 99

Billy’s Tavern – 100

Encore Rouge – 95

Cookout Downtown Birmingham – 98

Lehman’s Pizzeria – 100

Side Bar – 98

Learn More

Birmingham, Jefferson County Department of Health
Jefferson County Department of Health. (Pat Byington/Bham Now)

Visit Jefferson County Department of Health’s Food Service website for the latest scores. Food service inspections help keep us all safe. Bookmark the page and stay tuned for our monthly 95+ stories.

Check out our local business directory featuring over 700 restaurants, bars and businesses offering deals, curbside delivery and more.

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

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