Reviewed by: Pat Byington
3 Birmingham establishments make Garden & Gun’s “30 New Restaurants to Try Now”
Reading time: 4 minutes
National food, culture, music, art and literature magazine Garden & Gun just dropped its August/September 2025 Hot List: 30 New Restaurants to Try Now—and three (relatively) new Birmingham restaurants made the list! Read on to find out more.
Bayonet
Founded by James Beard semifinalist Chef Rob and Emily McDaniel, Bayonet is a new seafood restaurant and raw bar that officially opened its doors in March. Located in downtown Birmingham next to Helen (the couple’s first Birmingham restaurant), Bayonet features a variety of seafood dishes, a raw bar highlighting oysters from the Gulf Coast and a cocktail bar in a swanky, stylish atmosphere.
We’re thrilled that Bayonet has been recognized on Garden & Gun’s Hot List! From day one, our goal has been to build a fun, spirited raw bar and seafood spot that celebrates creativity and honors the incredible ingredients we work with. This recognition means the world to us—it’s a reflection of our team’s hard work and the amazing support we’ve received from the Birmingham community. We’re also pumped to be joining our 2nd Ave neighbors, Golden Age Wine Bar and Salud, on the list—big things happening on the block!
Chef Rob McDaniel, Co-Owner, Bayonet
- Bayonet: 205.829.1899 | Website | Instagram | Facebook | RESY
- Address: 2015 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Monday through Saturday, 11AM-9PM
Golden Age Wine Garden
In September of 2024, the nationally recognized wine shop Golden Age Wine opened a new location in downtown Birmingham: a charming indoor and outdoor wine garden dubbed Golden Age Wine Garden. Much like the brand’s James Beard Award semifinalist Mountain Brook location, Golden Age Wine Garden offers food and snacks, a robust beer menu and—of course—a wide range of whites, reds, rosé and sparkling wines.
“We are honored to be on Garden & Gun’s Hot List! It’s pretty incredible to have neighbors that are on the list too—Bayonet and Salud. You could literally hit all three in one night and only have to walk a few doors down each time! P.S. there is a parking garage right across the street from us and it’s cheap!”
Brandon Loper, Co-Owner, Golden Age Wine Garden
- Golden Age Wine Garden: 659.278.7892 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
- Address: 2021 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 4PM-9PM; Friday and Saturday, 4PM-10PM
Salud Taqueria
Located in one of the oldest historic buildings in downtown Birmingham, Salud Taqueria made its debut in October 2024 and has since become a staple of Birmingham’s lunch, dinner and late-night food scene. The restaurant specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine, tradition and hospitality and features a beverage program curated by James Beard Award-nominated José Medina Camacho.
“The team and I are honored to be on this amazing list with so much talent. We are even more hyped to be on the list with our neighbors Bayonet and Golden Age: a perfect night out all in one block of each other. We are grateful to share this experience with the community and city of Birmingham.”
Jesus Mendez, Co-Owner, Salud Taqueria
- Salud Taqueria: 659.281.7320 | Website | Instagram | Facebook
- Address: 1931 2nd Ave N #101, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11AM-11PM; Friday & Saturday, 11AM-12AM; Sunday, 11AM-9PM
Excited to see these three Birmingham establishments honored on the national stage? Tag us @bhamnow to let us know!
