By Susan Matlock & Michael Calvert
When my wife, Susan Matlock, and I moved downtown to the John Hand Building, we began to eat out every day.
We try to limit ourselves to just one meal out each day, but don’t always succeed.
We have a full kitchen in our condo, but are drawn to the many great restaurants nearby. We can easily walk to more than 30 restaurants and drive 5-10 minutes to just as many in Southside, Lakeview, or Avondale.
It’s possible for us to eat at a different restaurant every day for months, but, of course, we don’t. There are favorites we return to again and again, but we also love to explore new restaurants that enrich our dining experiences. Some become favorites.
Our 14 favorites (bet you’ve never heard of many of them)
One favorite is Cayo Coco, a Cuban bar, dining room, and patio next door on First Avenue North. It’s a frequent destination for beef empanadas, pork belly, and other specialties.
A couple of blocks farther east on First Avenue is The Essential with delicious dishes such as salmon benedict and avocado toast in a charming dining room or a covered patio with heaters.
Near our building on cobblestoned Morris Avenue is La Fête, a French bistro, with a covered patio. We choose from the fine wines, gourmet cheeses, and beef and seafood entrées offered. The farmers and fishermen sourced are listed on the menu.
One of downtown’s newest restaurants, Wooden City, has opened in a restored historic building in the 2300 block of Morris Avenue offering a broad selection of small plates, pizza, and entrées. Our neighbors joined us for an initial dinner there, and we’ll definitely be returning.
Café Dupont on 20th Street, just a half block away from our building, is a huge favorite. Fine food with an elegant New York ambience and a classic bar make it a great choice on date night.
Second Avenue North has emerged as downtown’s Restaurant Row. On one corner of 20th Street, Paramount serves great burgers which parents can enjoy while the kids play pin ball machines and the like in a noisy adjoining gallery.
Salud Taqueria recently arrived across Second Avenue from Paramount. Jesus Mendez and José Camacho of the popular downtown restaurant Adios create authentic Mexican food and special drinks every night until 11 pm.
We believe the guacamole at El Barrio may be the best in Birmingham. The chicken enchiladas, carnitas tacos, and quesadilla are also outstanding. Another renovated building with a huge murals creates a great aura for enjoying Mexican specialties.
Helen serves superb steaks, but we savor the roasted potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables as much as the meat. Chef Rob and Emily Daniel are opening a seafood restaurant next door. Susan and I will be among their first diners.
At La Fresca, a Second Avenue trattoria, Chef Marco serves favorites like Magherita pizza, various pasta, and a wide selection of Northern Italian cuisine. Benissimo!
Bocca Ristorante, also on Second Avenue, features Italian dishes made from scratch. It followed Tom and Christina Saab’s Bistro 218 on 20th Street, which is described as classical French. We love the chicken scallopini there. Recently the Saabs opened Sloan’s, a bar next to Bocca, with fine bourbons, wines, charcuterie, and cold snacks.
Current Charcoal Grill, another fine food restaurant, opened last year on Second Avenue South near the Red Mountain Theater. Adam Evans, founder of Automatic Seafood, partnered with Luke Joseph to offer an elegant dining experience featuring Asian cuisine combined with traditional southern favorites. We took a visiting gourmand from Brooklyn there, and he enthusiastically proclaimed it excellent.
Armour House, in a former meat packing plant on First Avenue North, is the newest fine dining establishment downtown. Its Pogo cocktail bar was named for an actual pogo stick found on the lower level with an arched brick ceiling and velvet drapery to create a romantic atmosphere. It’s the next restaurant on our list.
And there’s more
These favorites do not include several excellent downtown restaurants that are occasional destinations. Nor do they include places a little too far to walk. If it’s a sunny, fifty degree day in the winter or a hot, humid day in the summer, we’re probably having lunch outside at The Garage, once parking for the historic Plaza on Highland Avenue. A quirky, unique venue.
We also drive to Bettola at PepperPlace for burrata, the Fish Market for fresh seafood on 7th Avenue, the Bay Leaf Indian Restaurant in Five Points South, the Pita Stop near the Alys Stephen Center, Freddy’s on Highland Avenue, and Juniper in Forest Park.
On special occasions, we celebrate in style with the fine cuisine at Bottega Restaurant, Chez FonFon, Hot and Hot Fish Club, and Galley and Garden.
We are indeed fortunate to live in the midst of so many wonderful restaurants. I recall reading years ago that Danny Meyer, owner of several premier restaurants in New York City, responded to a question about other cities with great restaurants by saying, “Both Portlands and Birmingham, Alabama.” Many, if not most, of those restaurants are in downtown.
How lucky are we!
Join us!
Editor’s note: Susan Matlock and Michael Calvert are largely responsible for today’s Birmingham that created an opportunity for all of us to enjoy these outstanding restaurants.
Susan Matlock is founding CEO of the Innovation Depot, a technology business incubation program and facility in downtown Birmingham.
Michael A. Calvert is an urban planner who was CEO of Operation New Birmingham, REV’s predecessor, pursuing downtown revitalization for 28 years.
David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. He’s past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).
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