| FOOD 13 Alabama restaurants our (Al.com) readers never get tired of...

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

First off, I've said before I make an exception to linking al(dot)com articles when it comes to some of their food content. Call me hypocritical since I hope they go out of business or whatever, but it's my line to draw. Ok, the article itself is from earlier this year and is based on a facebook post from another account that asked people this question...

The one Alabama restaurant I'll never get tired of is...

The writer went and picked out 13 of the 100's of answers and profiled those. Overall, it's a pretty solid list.

1. Dew Drop Inn (Mobile)
2. The Bright Star (Bessemer)
3. The Waysider (Tuscaloosa)
4. Mata's Greek Pizza & Grinders (Anniston)
5. Sunset Pointe (Fairhope)
6. Bluegill Restaurant (Spanish Fort)
7. Nikki's West (Birmingham)
8. Lambert's Cafe (Foley)
9. The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Bon Secour)
10. Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q (Decatur)
11. Martin's Restaurant (Montgomery)
12. City Cafe (Northport)
13. Davenport's Pizza Palace (Mountain Brook)

Of the 13, I've eaten at 11 for sure. I'm pretty sure I had Martin's many years ago, but not 100% on that so I won't count them. I've never had Mata's in Anniston.

The one's I've eaten at the most are Dew Drop, Nikki's West, Davenport's, and probably City Cafe. But I've been to Bright Star and Bluegill a bunch too. Only had Sunset Point a couple times, by far the least compared to the rest of the list.

My favorite place on the list is probably Davenports. I'm surprised Sunset Pointe and Bluegill were mentioned in the 13 over some other places in that area, but I don't know how much some others were mentioned in the facebook replies and maybe the writer just liked those 2 places more. Although Bluegill ain't bad at all, about the same level as Tin Top overall. And the restaurant/scenery on the causeway makes it a bit more fun, especially if you sit outside. Lamberts is a tourist trap, but the food isn't bad like most traps. Big Bob Gibson's is good, not the best BBQ by any means, but solid. Stopped there most recently on the way home from that shitty Vandy game in October. I personally think City Cafe and The Waysider are a tad overrated by people that live around here, but that's just me. Nikki's West is an icon. As is Bright Star.

You guys have any opinions on the list?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

First off, I've said before I make an exception to linking al(dot)com articles when it comes to some of their food content. Call me hypocritical since I hope they go out of business or whatever, but it's my line to draw. Ok, the article itself is from earlier this year and is based on a facebook post from another account that asked people this question...



The writer went and picked out 13 of the 100's of answers and profiled those. Overall, it's a pretty solid list.

1. Dew Drop Inn (Mobile)
2. The Bright Star (Bessemer)
3. The Waysider (Tuscaloosa)
4. Mata's Greek Pizza & Grinders (Anniston)
5. Sunset Pointe (Fairhope)
6. Bluegill Restaurant (Spanish Fort)
7. Nikki's West (Birmingham)
8. Lambert's Cafe (Foley)
9. The Tin Top Restaurant and Oyster Bar (Bon Secour)
10. Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q (Decatur)
11. Martin's Restaurant (Montgomery)
12. City Cafe (Northport)
13. Davenport's Pizza Palace (Mountain Brook)

Of the 13, I've eaten at 11 for sure. I'm pretty sure I had Martin's many years ago, but not 100% on that so I won't count them. I've never had Mata's in Anniston.

The one's I've eaten at the most are Dew Drop, Nikki's West, Davenport's, and probably City Cafe. But I've been to Bright Star and Bluegill a bunch too. Only had Sunset Point a couple times, by far the least compared to the rest of the list.

My favorite place on the list is probably Davenports. I'm surprised Sunset Pointe and Bluegill were mentioned in the 13 over some other places in that area, but I don't know how much some others were mentioned in the facebook replies and maybe the writer just liked those 2 places more. Although Bluegill ain't bad at all, about the same level as Tin Top overall. And the restaurant/scenery on the causeway makes it a bit more fun, especially if you sit outside. Lamberts is a tourist trap, but the food isn't bad like most traps. Big Bob Gibson's is good, not the best BBQ by any means, but solid. Stopped there most recently on the way home from that shitty Vandy game in October. I personally think City Cafe and The Waysider are a tad overrated by people that live around here, but that's just me. Nikki's West is an icon. As is Bright Star.

You guys have any opinions on the list?

It's a time-honored group, a bit heavy on south Alabama, and it's an old school, common man's list of places. We love Sunset Pointe - almost always eat there on our way out of town - but in Fairhope/Point Clear/Magnolia Springs, how could you not mention The Wash House, Fairhope Inn and most notably, Jesse's? Hope Farm is making a name for itself, too.

I've only made seven of them. Work to do.

 

[Secondand26]

I prefer Johnny’s in Homewood over Niki’s, Bright Star never disappoints. I’m in north Alabama often. Ate at Gibsons several times- always thought it ok , nothing to write home about BBQ-wise.
Davenports is always good.
I completely agree with you about Al.com. Won’t do anything to help them continue- as liberal as The NY Times & not nearly as talented.

 

[rick4bama]

@Brandon Van de Graaff you have done more then me by eating at 11 out of 13!! My count is 0 out of 13.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

@Brandon Van de Graaff you have done more then me by eating at 11 out of 13!! My count is 0 out of 13.

Most is due to the fact I've lived in B'ham, Mobile area, and Tuscaloosa area for large chunks of time. Like the Dew Drop for example was maybe half a mile or so down the street from a HS I went to. We'd go there a lot, usually once a week on Thursdays, after practice in the fall. Place was (and still is) always packed. Only place I'll allow ketchup on my hotdog, but I still usually get them to leave it off and just opt for chili, kraut, and mustard.

 

[TerryP]

8. Lambert's Cafe (Foley)

LOVE that place!

 

[Bammerboy321]

Bob Gibson's has went down hill IMO. Last two times I took my mom there for her birthday, we were underwhelmed. Best BBQ in the Huntsville region to me is RDs Smokehouse in Harvest.

 

[Bamabww]

1.
2. The Bright Star (Bessemer)
3. The Waysider (Tuscaloosa)
4.
5.
6.
7. Nikki's West (Birmingham)
8. Lambert's Cafe (Foley)
9.
10. Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q (Decatur)
11.
12. City Cafe (Northport)
13.

That's an interesting list Brandon, thanks.
We've eaten at these 6 places. Like Tim, we've got some work to do. Of course, we all have a favorite that didn't make the list and I'll recommend a couple in the Tri-Cities / Florence area if you're up this way.
Stanfields (Sheffield (?)) and Newberns (Florence). Except for Florence, which is across the river, it's hard for me to know where the Tri-Cities separate from each other. But good food abounds in that part of the state.

 

[TerryP]

We've eaten at these 6 places.

I find this a little strange. I'm counting eight and I haven't lived in Alabama in a long time.

But.

Take Dew Drop. That place has been in business since before the depression (I believe.) Niki's...that's 20 years before I was born. Davenports has been open a long time. Waysider. City Cafe. Combined, how many years of serving food do these places have?

 

[bama alum]

1.
2. The Bright Star (Bessemer)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Nikki's West (Birmingham)
8. Lambert's Cafe (Foley) (good but I wasn't blown away...or thrown away like a roll)
9.
10. Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q (Decatur)
11.
12. City Cafe (Northport)
13.

 

[PurlJam]

I've been to 6 out of the 13
Bright Star
The Waysider
Nikki's West
Lambert's
Big Bob's
Tin Top (Ate at the new location, across from Bon Secour Fisheries, this past year), still top notch.

And may I add Cedar House cafeteria on the corner of Cedar St. and Vanderbilt Rd. (Highway 79) in Tarrant? I like it better than Nikki's West as far as a meat and three goes.

 

[alabama mike]

I have eaten at only two, Big Bob Gibsons and Lamberts. I have not been to Big Bobs in many years.

@Bamabww The Fish Creel just north of Rogersville, in Anderson is very good if you want whole catfish. I will be back in Florence the week of MLK, maybe we can get together again and break bread. Another hole in the wall is Staggs on Huntsville Rd in Florence. Hamburgers and chocolate gravy. I think they close at 2pm.

 

[PurlJam]

I have eaten at only two, Big Bob Gibsons and Lamberts. I have not been to Big Bobs in many years.

@Bamabww The Fish Creel just north of Rogersville, in Anderson is very good if you want whole catfish. I will be back in Florence the week of MLK, maybe we can get together again and break bread. Another hole in the wall is Staggs on Huntsville Rd in Florence. Hamburgers and chocolate gravy. I think they close at 2pm.

Forgot about The Fish Creel in Anderson. Just up Highway 207 from Marty's Stew Shack (Good burgers and Milkshakes).

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I find this a little strange. I'm counting eight and I haven't lived in Alabama in a long time.

But.

Take Dew Drop. That place has been in business since before the depression (I believe.) Niki's...that's 20 years before I was born. Davenports has been open a long time. Waysider. City Cafe. Combined, how many years of serving food do these places have?

That's not surprising. Most of the places are pretty old. Just like you.

 

[alabama mike]

Forgot about The Fish Creel in Anderson. Just up Highway 207 from Marty's Stew Shack (Good burgers and Milkshakes).

Marty’s is very good. One of those places that you would keep driving by if you didn’t know about it.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

LOVE that place!

Here's where I am on Lamberts. If I don't have to wait for more than 10 minutes for a table there, I'm good. I know what the experience and quality will be, I kinda like the atmosphere, and love the huge drink cups. I'm all in. However, if I've gotta wait any longer than 10 minutes, I'm driving right down the road to Wolf Bay Lodge. I'll have to wait there too, but at least the wait would be (more) worth it.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

That's an interesting list Brandon, thanks.
We've eaten at these 6 places. Like Tim, we've got some work to do. Of course, we all have a favorite that didn't make the list and I'll recommend a couple in the Tri-Cities / Florence area if you're up this way.
Stanfields (Sheffield (?)) and Newberns (Florence). Except for Florence, which is across the river, it's hard for me to know where the Tri-Cities separate from each other. But good food abounds in that part of the state.

That's the area of the state I've spent the least amount of time in. I try to always stop at a BBQ spot though when I'm passing though. And I would have gone someone else other than Gibson's my last trip through there, but the guy with me had never had it before. I've told @rammerjammer before, I have places saved all over the place in Google maps on my phone... a lot of them are BBQ places I want to try, but certainly not limited to that. But anytime I'm in an area of the state (or really anywhere), if I'm looking for a spot to eat, I'll pull up the map and find the nearest saved places and pick one. I'd much rather eat at some BBQ hut on the side of the road 5 miles off the interstate somewhere than just go through a Zaxby's right on the exit if I have the time to do it.

 

[Krimson]

Here's where I am on Lamberts. If I don't have to wait for more than 10 minutes for a table there, I'm good. I know what the experience and quality will be, I kinda like the atmosphere, and love the huge drink cups. I'm all in. However, if I've gotta wait any longer than 10 minutes, I'm driving right down the road to Wolf Bay Lodge. I'll have to wait there too, but at least the wait would be (more) worth it.

The old wolf bay was my favorite place to eat down there.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

The nostalgia of some of the places is what adds to their greatness, which Terry kinda mentioned with the places that have been around for a good while. And in that spirit, it hurts me to see that Lloyd's on 280 was razed a couple days ago to make way for, ironically, a Zaxby's I think. That just ain't right.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

The old wolf bay was my favorite place to eat down there.

Haha, yep. I watched the OU/Boise Fiesta Bowl in there one night... That was my last visit there before it burned.