Bayonet

Bayonet is a vibrant seafood restaurant and raw bar in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, led by chef Rob McDaniel and his wife, Emily. Opened in March 2025 next to Helen, Bayonet offers a coastal-inspired menu focused entirely on high-quality, sustainably sourced seafood, including striped bass, swordfish, and tuna. The raw bar serves as the centerpiece, featuring curated oysters (typically 10-14 varieties), clams, crudo, caviar, and inventive “raw situations.” Chef McDaniel’s commitment to sustainability and culinary diversity is evident, as he works closely with fisheries to showcase under-appreciated bycatch. Under the direction of General Manager Daniel Goslin, Bayonet provides attentive service in lively, stylish interiors designed to evoke excitement and discovery. Named for the resilient Spanish Bayonet plant, the restaurant embodies strength and endurance while welcoming guests to explore bold flavors and creative seafood dishes. Since its opening, Bayonet has earned regional and national recognition—including Alabama’s best seafood restaurant—with glowing praise for its execution and originality. Every visit promises an unhurried, premium dining experience that celebrates the bounty of the Gulf Coast and the team’s dedication to quality and community.

Walk along a promenade in Northern Italy as you step through the doors of Bocca. Bocca takes its cues from the high-end fashion and design centers of cities like Milan and Turin. With a modern artistic design, the aesthetic throughout is thoughtfully appointed with dark woods and rich, bold colors. What was once a large single open space is now transformed offering guests a sense of discovery and anticipation of what the evening will bring – the perfect setting for a dining experience in which old world meets modern cuisine. Bocca Ristorante is a locally owned, modern Italian restaurant and is located in the historic loft district in downtown Birmingham.

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Birmingham’s Financial and Theater District, Bistro 218 features side by side dining concepts. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine or craft cocktail in our upscale casual bar room and indulge in a full bar menu under or proceed through the French doors into the main dining room and take pleasure in French classics paired with seasonally procured wines and local craft beers. Reservations are available in either room. Ever-changing menus are seasonal, with Gulf Coast influences and feature local foragers and farms supplying the best Alabama has to offer. Bistro 218 honors the traditions of French bistros with minimalist decor in a historical setting. Dark Brazilian mahogany, high ceilings and exposed brick adorned with local art emanate a comforting yet elegant atmosphere that is perfect for a romantic dinner, a pre-theater meal or a relaxing night out. Bistro 218 brings French cuisine to every palette. Enjoy your bistro favorites-from quiche to duck confit. We invite all of our neighborhood friends to join us for a high-quality dining experience in a relaxed atmosphere where our standards in service and food are testaments to the history of Birmingham dining.

Chez Fonfon is a casual, bustling bistro in the heart of Five Points South transporting you to Paris, Lyon or Nice. Since opening in 2000, this homage to comforting French fare, including steak frites, sautéed trout with brown butter and escargots, has garnered local and national acclaim. Belle Époque café tables and a 100 year-old etched glass door from Lyon lend authenticity amid cozy, inviting surrounds. Bistro traditions are celebrated every day, along with wines from the Loire, Rhône and Languedoc.

Bottega features flavors inspired by the wine bars and trattorias of Italy–from Venice to Palermo. The best aperitifs, wines, beers, cocktails, savory bites and sublime desserts are offered in a warm and sophisticated atmosphere. Italy inspires the cuisine, carefully crafted by linking ingredients from the American South with artisanal producers from the Italian countryside. The formal dining room first welcomed guests in 1988 in the historic Beaux-Arts building. Two years later, the Café opened in the adjoining space, with a menu built around pizzas and dishes cooked in a wood-burning oven.

Located in a storefront building that dates to the 1870s, Cafe Dupont is modeled on a traditional bistro. Exposed brick walls, original floors, and high ceilings reflect the building’s history, while the menu reflects a fresh perspective on regional ingredients. Come savor the flavors of the city’s most inspired seasonal cuisine, and discover why Southern Living magazine calls Cafe Dupont “Heaven.” The menu, which changes daily, reflects a fresh perspective on regional ingredients. Classic cooking styles paired with locally grown ingredients create contemporary flavors and signature dishes, such as Fried Oysters & Okra with Cayenne Butter Sauce, Seared Sea Scallops with Goat Cheese Souffle, and Classic Beignets with Home-grown Strawberry Preserves.

Ocean in Birmingham, Alabama is an upscale, seafood-focused restaurant in the Five Points South district, known for pairing fine-dining technique with a relaxed, contemporary vibe. Opened in 2002 by chef-owner George Reis, the restaurant has earned long-running recognition including AAA Four Diamond status, Wine Spectator awards, and multiple “Best Restaurant” and “Best Chef” honors locally. The softly lit dining room, anchored by an exposed, flame-lit open kitchen and a sleek raw bar, sets the stage for a menu built around pristine seafood: daily shipments of oysters and fish from around the world, a signature seafood tower, and composed dishes that draw inspiration from global flavors while highlighting sustainable seafood and seasonal local produce. Guests can start with cocktails or martinis at the bar or on the patio before moving on to crab cakes, gumbo, sashimi-style plates, and polished entrées, making Ocean a go-to spot in Birmingham for date nights, business dinners, and special occasions centered on expertly prepared seafood.

Chef James Boyce and wife and partner, Suzan, invite you to Galley & Garden, Birmingham’s newest destination for modern American-French inspired cuisine with southern influences. Located in what was once the historic Merritt House on Highland Avenue, the restaurant underwent renovations in the summer of 2014, enhancing the grandeur of the original home. Today, both the cuisine and the atmosphere of Galley & Garden highlight the juxtaposition of Southern touches from the past and present. Our modern American-French inspired menu changes seasonally and showcases unique signature dishes with Southern influences. We are driven by seasonality and locality, and our dedicated farmers and foragers provide us with unsurpassed quality during the height of every season.

With an ingredient-driven focus, global accents and nuances, the Bay Leaf Modern Cuisine & Bar menu is a commitment to simplicity and purity of flavor, a philosophy our new ownership firmly believes in. Our menu is an expression of the finest available meats and vegetables, nearly all of which we procure fresh. Drawing inspiration from each corner of the Indian subcontinent, from the northern plains to the southern coast, we offer a diverse and dynamic experience for our guests. In addition to traditional Indian favorites such as tikka masalas and biriyanis, Bay Leaf Modern Cuisine & Bar offers a modern, tantalizing twist on Indian delicacies. Unique additions to the menu such as a perfectly grilled, sumptuous desi burger, succulent tangy kababs, and a totally re-imagined and modernized appetizer selection that is complete with signature dishes such as raspberry paneer tikka and tamarind-glazed short ribs. Our menu will leave you craving more!

The Hot and Hot Fish Club, located in Birmingham’s creative district at Pepper Place, takes a modern approach to blending Southern, French, and California-styles of cooking. Pepper Place is home to a wide array of tenants who have all mastered their craft, ranging from artisanal food products and chefs to fashion and screen-printing, to creative agencies and wellness. The light-filled space is highlighted by a chef’s counter and open kitchen, large windows, exposed brick. The spacious dining area features a 17-foot upholstered banquette ideal for casual, comfortable seating, accented by Greystone Italian marble tabletops and locally sourced hackberry wood. Since 1994, Chris and Idie Hastings and their team have developed an extensive network of purveyors, foragers, and artisans. The Hot and Hot Fish Club James Beard award-winning restaurant is a neighborhood favorite offering the best ingredients and gracious service.

Village Tavern features a scratch kitchen, where artisan recipes are prepared to order with top quality ingredients. The restaurant’s talented chefs use aged, hand-cut Certified Angus Beef, fresh seafood, and all-natural poultry and ground chuck to create a sure-to-please menu with delicious choices for everyone. Our craft bar offers patrons skillfully prepared cocktails with a remarkable wine and craft beers selection.

Harvest is a restaurant that has been beautifully integrated into the restoration of the historic Redmont Hotel. Located in the heart of downtown, Harvest and the Redmont exemplify the ever-changing cityscape of Birmingham, while still being grounded in tradition. The food and drink is an extension of this revitalized building, offering a contemporary dining experience that is also readily familiar. Harvest’s menu provides simple and approachable selections that showcase season and place, while also providing a unique take on dining downtown.

The Fish Market is a renowned family-owned seafood restaurant and market that has been a local landmark for over 30 years. Drawing inspiration from Greek heritage and coastal traditions, the restaurant offers a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy the freshest Gulf and international seafood prepared with Greek, Southern, and Cajun influences. Signature menu items include expertly grilled, fried, or baked fish and shellfish, classic Southern sides, and specialties like baked oysters, crab claws, jambalaya, and spanakopita-baked oysters. The venue features several dining areas—including an oyster bar and outdoor patio—and hosts private events, wedding receptions, and rehearsal dinners. Known for its warm hospitality, reasonable prices, and robust market selections, The Fish Market stands out as a destination for memorable dining and community gatherings in Birmingham.