Alabama is filled with such a variety of places to eat. From rustic steakhouses and seafood restaurants, to Italian cafes and BBQ joints, the options are endless. There are many eating places in Alabama you’ll never forgive yourself for not trying, including the 10 restaurants listed below.

  1. Highlands Bar & Grill - Birmingham

TripAdvisor/4bird1

Google/Trey Ireland Highlands Bar & Grill specializes in French-inspired, Southern cuisine in an elegant setting. Recently, this popular restaurant was awarded the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for “Outstanding Restaurant” and its pastry chef, Dolester Miles, received the “Outstanding Pastry Chef” award. You can visit Highlands Bar & Grill at 2011 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205.

  1. Big Mike’s Steakhouse - Thomasville

TripAdvisor/n2666s

Google/Michael Hayes Big Mike’s Steakhouse is one of Alabama’s top steakhouses. This casual restaurant is the perfect place for a special dinner or a night out with family and/or friends. All steaks are cooked to perfection. You can visit Big Mike’s Steakhouse at three locations: 33215 US-43, Thomasville, AL 36784; 102 Coffee St., Andalusia, AL 36420; 25638 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561.

  1. Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina - Orange Beach

Google/Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina

Google/Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina Fisher’s Upstairs is an upscale and beautiful restaurant that offers seasonally-inspired dishes made from local ingredients. It’s one of Alabama’s best seafood restaurants and a definite must-visit for anyone who visits the Gulf Coast. You can visit Fisher’s Upstairs at 27075 Marina Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561.

  1. Gaines Ridge Dinner Club - Camden

Google/Steve Earp

Google/Jennifer Rule Since 1985, Gaines Ridge Dinner Club has been serving delicious food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. A few of its dishes include fried catfish, steaks, and salads. This charming restaurant is located inside of an 1820s antebellum home, and it’s believed to be haunted. You can visit Gaines Ridge Dinner Club at 933 AL-10, Camden, AL 36726.

  1. Ofelia’s Italian Restaurant - Andalusia

Google/Trenton Jennings

Google/Andy Eddings Ofelia’s Italian Restaurant offers a full bar and all of your Italian food favorites, including ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, etc. This small-town restaurant is family-friendly and has been named the best restaurant in Covington County. You can visit Ofelia’s Italian Restaurant at 401 River Falls St., Andalusia, AL 36420.

  1. The Landing at Parker Creek - Equality

Facebook/The Landing at Parker Creek

TripAdvisor/John P The Landing at Parker Creek is a newer restaurant that’s located on Lake Martin. It offers a variety of casual dishes, including burgers, salads, and kids meals. One of the most unique things about this restaurant is that the kitchen and bar are made from shipping containers. You can visit The Landing at Parker Creek at 8300 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026.

  1. Tally-Ho Restaurant - Selma

TripAdvisor/LilyOMalley

TripAdvisor/LilyOMalley Tally-Ho Restaurant, which has been in business for more than 60 years, is cabin-like restaurant that’s popular among locals and visitors alike. At this charming restaurant, international and European-style foods come together for a unique dining experience. You can visit Tally-Ho Restaurant at 509 Mangum Ave., Selma, AL 36701.

  1. Wildflower Cafe - Mentone

Google/Michael Byrd

Google/Kayla Willbanks Wildflower Cafe is a charming restaurant that’s located atop Lookout Mountain in the tiny town of Mentone. Best known for its creative dishes, this mountaintop restaurant offers something for everyone, including sandwiches, salads, pastas, pizzas, and more.
You can visit Wildflower Cafe at 6007 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984.

  1. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q - Decatur

Facebook/Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que

Facebook/Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q was founded in 1925, which makes it one of the world’s oldest barbecue restaurants. Having won several awards, it’s also one of the world’s best barbecue restaurants. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q offers a variety of menu items, but it’s their famous “Bar-B-Q Chicken with Original White Sauce” that customers can’t get enough of. You can visit Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q at two locations: 1715 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, AL 35601; 2520 Danville Rd. SW, Decatur, AL 35603.

  1. Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant - Birmingham

Google/Kassady Gibson

Google/Jeannie Stubblefield Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant is a cafeteria-style, family-owned restaurant that’s been in business since 1957. It specializes in old fashioned Southern cuisine that’s so good it’ll remind you of Grandma’s cooking. This iconic restaurant also offers delicious steaks, seafood, and a variety of breakfast favorites such as omelets, hot cakes, biscuits, and more. You can visit Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant at 233 Finley Ave. W, Birmingham, AL 35204.

 

TripAdvisor/4bird1

Google/Trey Ireland

Highlands Bar & Grill specializes in French-inspired, Southern cuisine in an elegant setting. Recently, this popular restaurant was awarded the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award for “Outstanding Restaurant” and its pastry chef, Dolester Miles, received the “Outstanding Pastry Chef” award. You can visit Highlands Bar & Grill at 2011 11th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35205.

TripAdvisor/n2666s

Google/Michael Hayes

Big Mike’s Steakhouse is one of Alabama’s top steakhouses. This casual restaurant is the perfect place for a special dinner or a night out with family and/or friends. All steaks are cooked to perfection. You can visit Big Mike’s Steakhouse at three locations: 33215 US-43, Thomasville, AL 36784; 102 Coffee St., Andalusia, AL 36420; 25638 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561.

Google/Fisher’s Upstairs at Orange Beach Marina

Fisher’s Upstairs is an upscale and beautiful restaurant that offers seasonally-inspired dishes made from local ingredients. It’s one of Alabama’s best seafood restaurants and a definite must-visit for anyone who visits the Gulf Coast. You can visit Fisher’s Upstairs at 27075 Marina Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561.

Google/Steve Earp

Google/Jennifer Rule

Since 1985, Gaines Ridge Dinner Club has been serving delicious food in a warm and inviting atmosphere. A few of its dishes include fried catfish, steaks, and salads. This charming restaurant is located inside of an 1820s antebellum home, and it’s believed to be haunted. You can visit Gaines Ridge Dinner Club at 933 AL-10, Camden, AL 36726.

Google/Trenton Jennings

Google/Andy Eddings

Ofelia’s Italian Restaurant offers a full bar and all of your Italian food favorites, including ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, etc. This small-town restaurant is family-friendly and has been named the best restaurant in Covington County. You can visit Ofelia’s Italian Restaurant at 401 River Falls St., Andalusia, AL 36420.

Facebook/The Landing at Parker Creek

TripAdvisor/John P

The Landing at Parker Creek is a newer restaurant that’s located on Lake Martin. It offers a variety of casual dishes, including burgers, salads, and kids meals. One of the most unique things about this restaurant is that the kitchen and bar are made from shipping containers. You can visit The Landing at Parker Creek at 8300 Parker Creek Marina Rd., Equality, AL 36026.

TripAdvisor/LilyOMalley

TripAdvisor/LilyOMalley

Tally-Ho Restaurant, which has been in business for more than 60 years, is cabin-like restaurant that’s popular among locals and visitors alike. At this charming restaurant, international and European-style foods come together for a unique dining experience. You can visit Tally-Ho Restaurant at 509 Mangum Ave., Selma, AL 36701.

Google/Michael Byrd

Google/Kayla Willbanks

Wildflower Cafe is a charming restaurant that’s located atop Lookout Mountain in the tiny town of Mentone. Best known for its creative dishes, this mountaintop restaurant offers something for everyone, including sandwiches, salads, pastas, pizzas, and more.
You can visit Wildflower Cafe at 6007 AL-117, Mentone, AL 35984.

Facebook/Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q was founded in 1925, which makes it one of the world’s oldest barbecue restaurants. Having won several awards, it’s also one of the world’s best barbecue restaurants. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q offers a variety of menu items, but it’s their famous “Bar-B-Q Chicken with Original White Sauce” that customers can’t get enough of. You can visit Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q at two locations: 1715 6th Ave. SE, Decatur, AL 35601; 2520 Danville Rd. SW, Decatur, AL 35603.

Google/Kassady Gibson

Google/Jeannie Stubblefield

Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant is a cafeteria-style, family-owned restaurant that’s been in business since 1957. It specializes in old fashioned Southern cuisine that’s so good it’ll remind you of Grandma’s cooking. This iconic restaurant also offers delicious steaks, seafood, and a variety of breakfast favorites such as omelets, hot cakes, biscuits, and more. You can visit Niki’s West Steak & Seafood Restaurant at 233 Finley Ave. W, Birmingham, AL 35204.

If you’ve eaten at any of these restaurants, please share your experience(s) with us in the comments.

For a list of 13 Alabama restaurants you must try before you die, click here.

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