Steak & Seafood

Dyron's Lowcountry

Deborah Lockridge — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:01:42 +0000

121 Oak St., Crestline Village, Mountain Brook
834-8257
www.dyronslowcountry.com
Lunch and dinner, Sunday brunch. No reservations accepted. Specializing in lowcountry cuisine -- the soups and seafood dishes traditional to the South Carolina and northern Georgia coasts. Online reviews gave good marks to shrimp and grits, West Indies salad, crab cakes, fried green tomatoes, grilled shrimp. In a July 2009 City Scene review, Fletcher Harvey enjoyed shrimp corn dogs for an appetizer, fried Gulf shrimp with mild corn relish, a pan-seared snapper special he called "a triumph," lowcountry crab cakes, lowcountry Bananas Foster and homemade banana pudding. For Sunday brunch, high marks went to French toast, crab cakes Benedict, mimosa. At lunch, Carolina chicken salad "is different and very good."

Chuck's Fish

Deborah Lockridge — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:04:15 +0000

5426 U.S. 280
995-0495
www.chucksfish.com
Open for lunch and dinner. Chuck's Fish specializes in fresh fish and shellfish from the Gulf Coast. All their seafood comes from their own wholesale market in Destin, Florida. The fish is strictly hook and line caught by either their own boats or boats they have contracts with. When possible, they use local produce and meats are all hand cut, either in house or by local markets. The owner started Harbor Docks restaurant in Destin back in 1979. He owns a couple other restaurants on the Gulf Coast and another Chuck's Fish in Tuscaloosa, which seems to have gotten high marks, including for its sushi. A July 2009 City Scene review complained that while the restaurant is attractive, it is LOUD. Service, however, is expert, and reviewer Tom Gaskin gave high marks for Uptown shrimp, Red dragon sushi roll. Crab cakes were tasteful but not as good as some others in town. Fresh catch of tuna was "perfectly cooked and delicately seasoned." Seafood choices are "innovative with some expected standbys."

The Fish Market (280 and Hoover)

Deborah Lockridge — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:05:09 +0000

1681 Montgomery Hwy. (Hwy. 31), Hoover, 823-3474
5407 Highway 280, Birmingham, 980-8600
www.birminghammenus.com/fishmarket/newsite2.swf
These two locations of The Fish Market are separately owned from the one downtown, from what we understand. Casual atmosphere, extensive menu (shellfish alone takes up two pages).

Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill

Deborah Lockridge — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:02:42 +0000

191 Main St., Patton Creek Shopping Center, Hoover
733-2002
www.firebirdsrockymountaingrill.com
This is a small, Charlotte-based chain of about a dozen locations featuring bold southwest flavors incorporated with aged steaks, chicken, and pizza. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant features the ambiance of a Colorado ski lodge with an open-air kitchen, large exposed high wooden beams and an expansive fireplace in the bar area.

Fish House Grill

Deborah Lockridge — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:56:20 +0000

5961 Chalkville Mountain Lane, Trussville
661-6005
Daily specials such as blackened Gulf shrimp over stone-ground grits, rainbow trout with basil pesto sauce, crab cake with lemon butter, Maine lobster ravioli. In-house-made fresh cinnamon rolls. Some non-fish items, including prime rib on Sundays. Chef/partner Nicola Bacchi is a native of Milan, Italy, and is known in this area for opening White Villa restaurant in Sylacauga, then was with Amore Ristorante Italiano.

Michael's

Deborah Lockridge — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:57:47 +0000

3340 Galleria Circle (Hoover), 982-0144
1903 29th Ave. South, Homewood, 871-9525
www.eatatmichaels.com
Lunch and dinner. Michael's used to be a downtown institution, and even though it's in a new building, it has a bit of that old-style feel, complete with live pianist renditions of old pop tunes. They serve lunch and dinner, with classic old-style cuts like prime rib, delmonico and steer butt, plus seafood entrees such as ancho-crusted tilabpia, citrus-grilled mahi mahi over grilled grit cakes, shrimp and grits, seafood risotto, and several other entrees plus burgers and sandwiches. Serving lunch and dinner. Not worth a special trip, but if you're in the area, worth a visit for the steer butt and grilled asparagus. Don't miss the sweet rolls. Read a review of the Homewood location from City Scene.

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Deborah Lockridge — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:22:25 +0000

103 Summit Boulevard
262-9463
www.flemingssteakhouse.com
It's a chain, but we'll list it because Birmingham doesn't have much in the way of locally owned, independent steakhouses -- and it's very good, although when we went several years ago, we thought their much-vaunted list of 100 wines by the glass was overpopulated with mass-market offerings you can find anywhere.

The Bright Star

Deborah Lockridge — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:52:41 +0000

304 19th Street, Bessemer
(205) 426-1861
www.birminghammenus.com/brightstar/
Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Banquet facilities available. A true taste of Birmingham history. Started as a small café in 1907, moving to its present location in 1915. Great seafood, including Greek and Creole-style specialties, Southern classics like snapper almondine, and the best fried crab claws we've ever had. They also have steaks, veal and other entrees, but we've never gotten past the seafood. Everything's homemade, including wonderful salad dressings and mouth-watering pies. Reasonable prices. A November 2007 review in City Scene gave it five out of five stars, with high marks for the crab claws, shrimp remoulade, stuffed grouper ("truly superlative"), lobster and crab meat au gratin, fried snapper throats, baklava cheesecake, bread pudding. "The food is excellent and straightforward ... The recipes and preparations are tried and true and reproduced consistently and faithfully ... "If you've never been, you simply have to experience this Alabama landmark."

Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill

Deborah Lockridge — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 01:47:19 +0000

180 Main St., Suite 200, Patton Creek, Hoover, 985-7785
5071 Pinnacle Square, Trussville (just off U.S. 11), 655-6008
www.cajunsteamer.com
Full bar. Wide variety of Cajun dishes with a lively atmosphere and friendly service, according to City Scene review of the Hoover location. In addition to steamed seafood, there are salads, po-boys, fried seafood, a variety of entrees, and Cajun specialties such as Boudin, gumbo, and crawfish etouffee. We've been to the Hoover location a few times, and while it's probably not worth seeking out from the other side of town, it's a great local addition to the casual dining scene in this part of town. We've enjoyed the steamed seafood platter for two (and they graciously subbed fried oysters for the steamed), the Voodoo chicken (the topping with all the crawfish and bacon and onions is the best part), seared tuna and po-boys. Fun place to eat outdoors.

The Fish Market

Deborah Lockridge — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:44:55 +0000

612 21st St. South, Downtown/Southside
322-3330
www.thefishmarket.net/
For over 30 years, The Fish Market has delivered real, fresh seafood with a Greek flair for lunch and dinner at an inexpensive price in a no-frills atmosphere. Recently they moved into larger digs next door, with space for a larger market area and more live fish tanks and seafood display area. Huge selection; catering, carry out available. Consistently honored in local publication reader polls for its seafood.