Reviewed by: Patience Itson
16 must-try restaurants, bars and chefs on Birmingham’s ‘James Beard Trail’
Reading time: 6 minutes
Written by: Ben Pierce
The Magic City is known for its incredible foodie scene, from astounding restaurants and bars to phenomenal chefs. To celebrate these amazing people and places, we’re taking you on a scrumptious journey along Birmingham’s James Beard Trail featuring 16 nominees and winners of the prestigious award.
Winning a James Beard Award is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s an achievement that, once proudly displayed on a menu or website, will never be taken down or replaced in favor of other accolades.
Often called “the Academy Awards of the Restaurant Industry,” winning a James Beard Award is incredible—but even being nominated is worth breaking out the Champagne.
The Foundation has opened nominations for 2025. Their panel will consider applicants and narrow them down, sort them for region, and such. If you have a favorite spot, consider throwing the name in the hat. Maybe they’ll be added to a long list of local honorees.
Atomic Lounge, Outstanding Bar Program, 2019 Semifinalist
Atomic has shuttered but owner Feizal Valli opened a new bar in 2022 with House of Found Objects. As the name implies, it’s eclectic, with all manner of playthings and sensory teases.
Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Adam Evans, 2022 Winner
Chef Adam Evans of Automatic Seafood and Oysters won Best Chef: South in 2022. His Duck Fat Poached Seafood shouldn’t be missed. A friend told me about brunch. Mushroom Toast with Chanterelles and Poached Egg sounds pretty good.
Bettola, James Lewis, Best Chef: South, 2013 Semifinalist
Neapolitan style woodfired pizza is an astonishing thing, but don’t miss the lamb sandwich. The area around Pepper Place has grown over the years into one of Birmingham’s best areas for entertainment. Chef Lewis was there early, drawing people to what where knew was a special place.
Bottega Cafe, Outstanding Hospitality Program, 2023 Nominee
One of Frank and Pardis Stitt’s renowned offerings, anyone who’s spent a Saturday afternoon there with a well-chosen white or an appreciably made cocktail while snacking on a few seasonal appetizers will agree it was well earned.
Bright Star – American Classic, 2020 Winner
It was an Alabama Classic first, in fact, the state’s oldest family run restaurant, tracing back to 1907. They challenge you to “Imagine a restaurant where turnip greens meet Greek Style Beef Tenderloin.
Chez Fonfon – Outstanding Hospitality, 2020 Semifinalist
The Stitts’ chic bistro is a temple to detail. Perfectly cooked steak with frites or the omlette with chanterelles impress with simplicity but it’s a considered simplicity, every appointment attended. And there’s a boules court in back.
Café Dupont, Chris Dupont, Best Chef: South, 2011 Semifinalist
I was lucky enough to sit in on a wine and food pairing discussion with Chef Chris Dupont years ago and was floored. He’s specific and considered in all his choices. You can see it on the menu and all about you in the restaurant.
Golden Age Wine, Outstanding Wine Program, 2022 Semifinalist
There’s a well-chosen list of wines by the bottle and by the glass with an equally well selected array of cheeses, snacks, and more this Mountain Brook Village bar/wine shop.
Helen, Rob McDaniel, Best Chef: South, 2024 Semifinalist
The sharable vegetables alone would make this a destination, but chef’s capable of catching you, giving you a surprise. I had a tomato not-quite-chutney-not-quite-relish over quail there two years ago and I still remember a backbone of cumin running through it. Two years ago, and it’s fresh on my mind.
Highland’s Bar and Grill, Outstanding Restaurant, 2018 Winner
Birmingham’s Highlands Bar and Grill won the award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2018. That’s a nationwide category.
What’s almost as impressive is that not only was owners Frank and Pardis Stitt’s flagship recognized as the best restaurant in the country that year, it held a spot as a semifinalist for ten years. That’s consistent excellence over appreciable stretch; Frank Stitt won Best Chef: Southeast in 2001.
Highlands Hasn’t reopened since Covid, but people still talk about the Parmesan Grits.
Hot and Hot Fish Club, Chris Hastings, 2012 Best Chef: South Winner
Chef Chris Hastings moved his renowned Birmingham staple Hot and Hot Fish Club from Southside to 2nd Avenue So. Now he has nearby Ovenbird as well, with its sweet, charred snapper throat and a courtyard that makes you feel like a character in a Graham Greene novel.
Jim N’ Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Nick Pihakis, 2015 Outstanding Restauranteurs, Semifinalist
Delivering consistently and well at so many locations can’t be easy. It’s nice to see that the world outside our town recognizes an original. One of the best chicken sandwiches around, white or dark meat.
Johnny’s Restaurant, Outstanding Hospitality, 2022 Semifinalist
Johnny’s in Homewood has earned multiple nods from The Beard Foundation, with chef Timothy Hontzas as a semifinalist more than once in the Best Chef: South category. You’ll hear wonders about the Greek Meatballs, but don’t overlook the Chicken Pot Pie or Chipotle BBQ Meatloaf.
Last Call Baking, Chanah Willis, Emerging Chef of the Year, 2024 Semifinalist
Brilliantly (for us) located a hop and jump from the Bham Now offices, Willis offers elegant cakes with delicate appointments and said previously to us “Each petal, jam and leaf feel like they carry a great deal of weight to create the perfect landscape I have in my mind —visually and taste-wise.”
Pizza Grace, Best New Restaurant, 2023 Semifinalist
Providing further evidence that we’re living right, doing good, and raking in karma, Pizza Grace is located less of a hop and jump and more of a lean from our offices. Sourdough pizza is the draw, but don’t skip Beef Tallow Potatoes.
It’s an enviable position we’re in to have so many nationally recognized options. You can’t make a day of them all, probably not even a week unless you’re dedicated, but a month? Not out of the question.
Not to tease with what you can’t have anymore, but Dolester Miles of Highlands Bar and Grill won Best Pastry Chef in 2018.
What’s your favorite restaurant, bar or chef along Birmingham’s James Beard Trail? Let us know by tagging us on social @bhamnow.
