Bottega + The Bright Star top ‘most legendary restaurants in the South’ list

Two of the Birmingham area’s most iconic restaurants made the Southern Living “The South’s Best 2026” Legendary Restaurants list.

Here is what Southern Living had to say about the two award-winning restaurants, Bottega and The Bright Star.

Bottega: Where hospitality matters

A semi-finalist for this year’s James Beard “Outstanding Hospitality” category, Bottega is co-owned by two legends in the Birmingham culinary scene: Pardis and Frank Stitt.

From Southern Living 2026 Most Legendary Restaurants in the South:

“Bottega’s story begins not when it first opened but rather years earlier, when a young chef named Frank Stitt became enamored with Italian food during visits to Europe in his twenties. By the time he was 30, he was well on his way to becoming an icon, having launched Highlands Bar & Grill in 1982 in Birmingham. 

“More trips to Italy followed, and he developed an even deeper infatuation with the cuisine. He’s been experimenting with it since 1988 at Bottega, which, in combination with Highlands and Chez Fonfon (another of Stitt’s ventures), has turned out some of the region’s best culinary professionals.”

The Bright Star: Alabama’s oldest award-winning restaurant

Another James Beard winner, The Bright Star is Alabama’s oldest restaurant. Along with fantastic food, the space in downtown is historic, filled with murals and Alabama Coach Nick Saban’s old booth.

“[The Bright Star’s] commitment to excellent service and delicious food hasn’t once wavered. Settle into a red vinyl booth, and order from a booklike menu that spotlights steaks, seafood, and Southern specialties with a bit of Greek flair. Kick off your meal with a green salad drizzled with both their house Greek dressing and their garlic-Parmesan one. Don’t be afraid to order the fried snapper throats, an accidental favorite that began as a staff meal that made use of leftovers from filleting whole fish.”

Bottega’s Frank Stitt told Bham Now to be named a legendary restaurant alongside The Bright Star by Southern Living is a genuine honor.

“To be included in this is just wonderful. We think the world of the people at The Bright Star. It’s quite an iconic Birmingham Greek restaurant. As a child, growing up in Cullman, getting to visit The Bright Star was always a special event because there’s so much hospitality.  

“The Greek snapper, gumbo and the Koikos family are just legendary in their sincere hospitality. For Bottega to be included is a real honor. Pardis, Weston and me — our entire Bottega family — are appreciative, thrilled and happy to be named alongside The Bright Star on Southern Living’s Legendary Restaurants list.”

Frank Stitt

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