9 things you might not know about The Bright Star

This is an updated version of an article from 2017.

When you ask Alabamians what their favorite restaurant in the state is, The Bright Star in Bessemer is likely to come up early and often.

After all, its eclectic menu full of Greek-style steaks, desserts, seafood and more has kept its loyal customers from across the Southeast coming back for over a century.

Of course, when a business has so much history, there’s plenty to know about the beloved eatery. With that in mind, here’s 14 things you might not know about The Bright Star.

The door of the The Bright Star Restaurant in Bessemer (Courtesy The Bright Star)

The Bright Star Fact #1

The Bright Star first opened in Bessemer as a 12-seat bar in 1907, but had to move to larger buildings in both 1910 and 1913 due to its growing popularity. It settled into its current location in 1915.

The Bright Star Fact #2

The Bright Star’s original owner Tom Bonduris immigrated from Greece. His cousins Peter and Bill Koikos, who immigrated from the same small village, bought interest in the restaurant as well. Now owned by Nicky Koikos, Andreas Annastassakis and Stacey Craig, The Bright Star remains in the same family today.

Bright Star snapper throats — Greek-style snapper throats at the Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer, Ala.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])

The Bright Star Fact #3

One of Bright Star’s signature items, the fried snapper throats, dates back to the 1930s, when Bill Koikos decided the tender, meaty upper part of the snapper would be a great addition to the lunch menu rather than being thrown out.

The Bright Star Fact #4

The Bright Star has been featured on several national food shows, including an episode of “Travels with Darley” on PBS as well as an episode of Andrew Zimmern’s “Bizarre Foods: Delicious Destinations” on the Travel Channel.

Celebrity Sightings In New York City - March 14, 2022 — Sandra Bullock, shown here in 2022, has eaten at The Bright Star. (Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)GC Images

The Bright Star Fact #5

It’s also popular among the famous. In 2010, Academy Award-winning actress Sandra Bullock flew into Alabama to eat there with her dad, John Bullock, for Father’s Day.

“She flew in and wanted to take her daddy to his favorite restaurant,” Bright Star co-owner Jimmy Koikos said at the time.

The Bright Star Fact #6

While several Alabama restaurants have won a James Beard Award, The Bright Star was the first restaurant in Alabama to receive the James Beard Foundation’s “America’s Classic” award in 2010.

“Each year since 1998 the James Beard Foundation Awards Committee has recognized our nation’s beloved regional restaurants,” the foundation’s website says. “Distinguished by their timeless appeal, they serve quality food that reflects the character of their communities.”

The Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer, Ala., started its New Orleans-themed dinner event in 1989. The late Jamie Shannon of Commander’s Palace was the first guest chef at the Bright Star’s annual event. (Bob Carlton/[email protected])

The Bright Star Fact #7

Every year, The Bright Star hosts its “Night in New Orleans” celebration, which brings chefs from the Crescent City to Bessemer during a 3-night event that attracts more than 1,000 diners each year.

In 2024, Eric Cook, the executive chef and owner of the New Orleans restaurants Gris-Gris and Saint John, and Bradley Marshall, Cook’s executive sous chef at Gris-Gris, returned to headline the event for the third straight year.

The Bright Star Fact #8

The Bright Star’s original dining room from 1915 is still used and features intricate marble tile floors as well as hand painted murals, which have been renovated and are still on display today.

The Bright Star Fact #9

While there’s been some debate over whether it’s officially the oldest restaurant in the state, one title The Bright Star absolutely holds is Alabama’s oldest family-owned restaurant.