12 Alabama restaurants perfect for your next birthday meal

Got a birthday coming up? We’ve got a restaurant (or 12) we think would be the perfect spot to celebrate.

This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers what their go-to restaurant for a birthday meal is. From long-standing restaurants to fine dining spots, casual eateries and more, the responses did not disappoint.

Of course, what’s a birthday meal without a little, or a lot, of dessert? So in addition to sharing some of the suggestions below, we also shared some of the sweet treats up for grabs at each one too.

Here’s a look at 12 Alabama restaurants perfect for your next birthday.

Cobalt Restaurant. (Courtesy of Cobalt Restaurant)(Courtesy of Cobalt)

Cobalt

28099 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach

If you’re lucky enough to be spending your birthday at the beach, Cobalt, the Restaurant in Orange Beach is the perfect spot to grab a celebratory meal. While there, not only will you be able to take in gorgeous waterfront views, but all a diverse menu full of fresh, coastal cuisine. Among its offerings are the popular firecracker shrimp appetizer, pecan fried catfish, crab and scallop gnocchi and much more. Just don’t forget to save room for dessert. That triple layer chocolate cake isn’t going to eat itself.

Ol Heidelberg Cafe

6125 University Drive N.W in Huntsville

If you want to try something a little out of the ordinary for your birthday this year, head to Ol Heidelberg Cafe in Huntsville, which has been serving authentic German fare for more than 50 years. No matter what you order– whether you go for a Bavarian Pork Schnitzel, a Bratwurst sausage platter, potato encrusted tilapia or something else from its eclectic menu — it’ll be a birthday meal unlike any other. Oh, and it probably doesn’t need to be said, but a big slice of German chocolate cake is also a must.

Chuck’s Fish

Locations throughout the state

Chuck’s Fish is a great option for your next birthday no matter what part of Alabama you live in. The restaurant got its start in Birmingham in 2009, but thanks to its menu of fresh seafood, steak, sushi and more, its popularity has grown, leading to locations all over the state. With so much to choose from — including crab cakes, red snapper throats and every kind of sushi you could want — the hard part will be deciding what to order. Well, until dessert comes around that is. Chocolate creme brulee seems like an easy choice.

Top O’ the River

Locations in Anniston, Gadsden and Guntersville

If you’re not looking for anything too fancy, but still want a meal that feels special, head to Top O’ the River. In business since 1982, you can fill up on catfish, steak and all the country fixings while there. We vote go all out and get “largest seafood platter in the world,” which comes with golden fried catfish fillet, fried gulf shrimp, Creole boiled shrimp, crab meat and popcorn shrimp because if you can’t go all out on your birthday, when can you? Just be sure to save room for some of their chocolate beyond reason pie.

Shrimp tacos from Rosie’s Mexican Cantina. (Matt Wake/mwake@al,com)Matt Wake

Rosie’s Cantina

Locations in Florence and Huntsville

If you’re in the mood for handmade Tex-Mex on your birthday, Rosie’s Cantina is a wonderful option that has you covered. Its menu includes nachos, quesadillas, grande burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and more classic fare as well as Mahi-Mahi fish tacos, Mexican lasagna, pollo Verde, raspberry chipotle salmon and other specialty dishes. Not to mention, its dessert menu, with Tres leches, fried ice cream, cinnamon nachos and more up for grabs, is worth a visit on its own.

Central

129 Coosa Street in Montgomery

Located in the heart of downtown Montgomery, Central has become a popular fine dining spot in the capital city for locals and visitors alike thanks to its diverse menu featuring regionally-sourced ingredients and warm, but elegant atmosphere. While there, you can enjoy started like she crab bisque and beef tartare alongside entrees like Chilean sea bass, slow cooked beef short ribs and more. Afterward, you can skip having to pick just one sweet treat and get the dessert flight featuring the crème brulee, jakes mile high pie and a chef beignet.

Bama Bucks Restaurant

292 Bryant Road in Boaz

Want to get a little wild on your birthday this year? Head to Bama Bucks Steakhouse and Wild Game Restaurant in Boaz. In addition to trying dishes you won’t find anywhere else, like bison lasagna, elk steaks and gator bites, you can also take a tour of the grounds while you wait to get up-close and personal with the kangaroos, ostriches, lemurs, camel, deer, alligators and more that call the exotic animal park home. As for dessert, you can never go wrong with peanut butter pie.

Connors Steak and Seafood

345 The Bridge Street in Huntsville

If you want to go a little bit fancy for your birthday this year without going too far out of your comfort zone, be sure to make a reservation at Connors Steak and Seafood. The Huntsville location of the Knoxville-based eatery opened in 2009 and offers an upscale dining experience with a touch of Southern flare, serving dishes like truffled deviled eggs, Cajun red grouper as well as shrimp and grits and more. As for dessert, some a slice of warm carrot cake, drizzled with caramel and served with homemade ice cream should do.

The Bright Star restaurant is at 304 19th St. North in Bessemer, Ala. The restaurant opened in 1907, and has been recognized by the Alabama Tourism Department as the oldest restaurant in Alabama.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

The Bright Star

304 19th Street North in Bessemer

No matter what the occasion is — be it a birthday, anniversary, family get-together or just another Thursday — it seems The Bright Star in Bessemer is always a good idea. With more than 100 years in business, The Bright Star has had plenty of time to perfect its diverse menu, which offers seafood, steaks and other Greek-style cuisine. (The fried snapper throats are also a favorite.) Another area they’ve perfected? The dessert menu, which offers everything from Bananas Foster to Baklava cheesecake, chocolate almond pie and more.

Taste at The Fain

101 East Bridge St., Wetumpka

At Taste at The Fain in Wetumpka, you can have a unique meal in an even more unique setting — the former Fain Theater that is nearly a century old. While there, you can spend your birthday sampling a variety of tapas, like roasted Brussel sprouts and Spanish meatballs, as well as small plates, including steak sliders and crab cake po’ boys, as well as entrees like garlic shrimp, bone-in pork chops and more. Whatever you decide to order, be sure to pair it with your favorite wine flight and the pecan praline bread pudding.

Related: Things to do in Wetumpka

Gambino’s Italian Grill

18 Laurel Avenue in Fairhope

If you’re in the mood for Italian food, go to Gambino’s Italian Grill in Fairhope. They’ve got a full menu of all the hearty classics, from spaghetti and lasagna, manicotti, chicken tortellini and more, as well as seafood dishes and steaks. If you’re not sure what to order, why not all out and get the Taste of Italy, which includes oven-baked chicken parmesan, lasagna, chicken and veal cannelloni with sauce and more? Plus, hot fudge lava cake sounds like a birthday-appropriate dessert if there ever was one.

EastWest

2306 2nd Avenue North in Birmingham

EastWest Kitchen and Bar in Birmingham offers Asian fusion food you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, and it’s this break from the ordinary that makes it an ideal birthday dinner spot. Among its offerings are small plates like Chinese duck nachos and Korean-fried cauliflower, to staples like char-grilled short rib bao buns, tempura fried shrimp rice bowls and Mongolian ribeye. For dessert, have your pick of either a chocolate torte or white chocolate bread pudding. (Or both! Birthdays are a judgement-free zone.)