Chef Jacob M. Stull of Rêve restaurant in Birmingham — Chef Jacob M. Stull brings his culinary dreams to diners at Rêve, the newest opening at Birmingham’s Pizitz Food Hall (Mason Erwin / bread & Butter)

Excitement for Rêve has been building for months. We’ve previously written about this French fine-dining concept (catch up here and here), but now that its doors are set to open at the Pizitz Food Hall this Saturday, March 8, it’s time to revisit this dreamy new dining option in downtown Birmingham.

We dug in to find out what inspires chef Jacob M. Stull at his new Birmingham hotspot, and how he’s melding an upscale tasting menu experience with classic French comfort food—with a slight Southern accent.

The tasting menu is a journey through French-inspired cuisine

You’re in excellent, experienced hands with chef Stull at the helm: Rêve’s tasting menu is a nod to Stull’s French-Canadian lineage and features fresh Spring ingredients.

“The concept for Rêve as a whole is elevated ‘French peasant comfort food,’ which actually aligns with Southern cooking, as a lot of Southern food and ingredients are similar to French cuisine.

Making your own breads, hunting, fishing, pickling, preserving—all of these are very prevalent in the French era that inspires Rêve, and are also prevalent in the South.”
Chef Jacob M. Stull, chef at Rêve

Service is intentional, unhurried and meant to be savored with all your senses. Standout dishes are infused with French culinary touchpoints from around the globe, including New Orleans, Vietnam and more in dishes like:

Fried truffle beignets
Spring vegetables with Benton’s country ham broth
Pho au boeuf, a French-inspired take on Vietnamese pho
A palate-cleansing honey snow cone, featuring Foxhound Bee Company‘s honey

“Tasting menus give diners the chance to experience an entire culinary journey.

Rêve allows diners to try fun, new dishes and techniques without having to make any decisions. We utilize wine pairings to enhance the food, too, so it all feels expertly and intentionally done.

As chefs and service professionals, we want guests to feel transported and experience that “aha!” moment where they realize the menu is not just a meal, it’s a story.”
Chef Jacob M. Stull, chef at Rêve

Later in the month, Rêve will introduce extended courses for the tasting menu and an à la carte, brasserie-style menu with seasonally-relevant classics like steak au poivre and potato rosti with caviar.

From pop-up to dine-in, the team at Rêve is ready to serve in a beautiful space

Chef Jacob Stull / Reve — It’s all about the details and special touches at new French fine dining spot, Rêve. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

Stull began Rêve as a pop-up concept last year. Rotating his tasting menu experience around Birmingham helped refine his vision and build a following. Before coming to Birmingham, he worked in elite New Orleans kitchens like Brennan’s and Doris Metropolitan, and Tuscaloosa hotspots Forté and Roll Call. He’s excited to be working and playing in Birmingham—though free time is rare these days.

“When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m with my family. My four-year-old and two-year-old are my whole world, and I love taking them to City Walk or to events around the city so we can experience all of the great culture Birmingham has to offer.”
Chef Jacob M. Stull, chef at Rêve

While Stull drives the vision, he couldn’t bring it to life without the support of his carefully curated team. Sous chef John Smith, pastry chef Cate Cole and dining room manager Blake Boyd lend their expertise—along with Chelsea Cheyenne, who oversees a beverage program offering a thoughtful wine selection, French-inspired cocktails, a post-meal beverage menu and even a seasonally-rotating coffee cocktail.

The attention to detail extends to the dining room and its furnishings as well. Located in the anchor spot formally occupied by Fero, the interior incorporates design nods to Birmingham, including cold-rolled steel countertops and art from local creator Mandy Maples.

What to know before you go

Interior image of Rêve restaurant in Pizitz Food Hall Birmingham, Ala — The elegant dining room of Rêve features sophisticated finishes and elevated furnishings (Mason Erwin / bread & Butter)

There are a few things potential diners should prep for before visiting Rêve. The tasting menu experience can take up to three hours, so consider making a night of it (the Sidewalk Cinema is steps away!).

Dietary preferences aren’t an afterthought here: When you make a reservation, you can request vegetarian, gluten-free and alcohol-free options.

In order to create an upscale, immersive experience, the restaurant asks that people dress for the occasion (think business casual; find guidelines here), arrive on time for reservations and silence their phones—sounds like a dreamier dining experience to us!

What to know NOW:

Where: 1821 2nd Ave N, Suite 176 at Pizitz Food Hall
When: Opens this Saturday, March 8, 2025 // Hours will be Tuesdays through Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
What: Tasting menus are priced at $150 per person
Who: Visit their website // Make reservations // Instagram // Reach them at 205-593-4154

“Rêve literally means dream in French, so this restaurant represents a lot to me, and opening Rêve would not be possible without all of the love and feedback we received during our run as a pop-up. It’s amazing to see the people of Birmingham welcome a guy with a dream with such open arms.”
Chef Jacob M. Stull, chef at Rêve

Excited to try out the new restaurant? Tag us @bhamnow on social media to let us know what you think!