A famed Birmingham photographer who shot the cover art for the bestselling books “Becoming” by Michelle Obama and “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey plans to open a steak and martini restaurant on Highland Avenue between Rojo and Bottega.

Miller Mobley presented plans for George’s, a “city tavern,” to the Birmingham City Council on Tuesday. It would be within walking distance of the Virginia Samford Theatre at Caldwell Park.

The council approved rezoning for the proposed restaurant at 2614 Highland Avenue, about three blocks east of Bottega, and three blocks west of Rojo.

“What we are trying to do is create kind of Birmingham’s first and only city tavern,” Mobley said. “It kind of goes back to the nostalgic age of dining. I call it the gilded age, where there’s those historic cities like Boston, New York and Chicago that have those old-school establishments where you might get a martini and a steak, have a night of theatre, and dinner at the same time. That’s kind of the heart of this concept and what we’re trying to bring to the area.”

Council members expressed concerns about parking, but Mobley said it will be valet parking-oriented, similar to Bottega, and will have a lease contract with a nearby office building that has 60 parking spaces it can use at night as a valet lot.

The restaurant will be in the Hanover Circle Historic District of Highland Park.

“To me, atmosphere and place-making is just as important as the restaurant itself,” Mobley said. “You kind of want to put it in a neighborhood that has the fabric that adds to the overall environment and I think Highland Park is one of the gem neighborhoods in Birmingham and just has the historic beauty that sometimes these new neighborhoods lack.”

Mobley did not mention any cost estimates on the renovation project.

“It just felt the neighborhood was speaking to me and the building was speaking to me,” Mobley said. “You know, it’s been a pretty desolate building for the past decade. So, we’re coming there to restore it and add some vibrancy to the neighborhood.”

The restaurant would have seating for up to 125 people, including outdoor seating, white tablecloth interior tables and seating at the bar.

“It’s very dark and cinematic,” Mobley said of the interior design. “It’s dramatic.”

He described the menu as classic white tablecloth offerings.

“We’re not trying to re-invent food here,” he said. “We’re doing something that’s very classic: oysters Rockefeller, steaks, great fish, that kind of fare.”

Mobley, who is from Birmingham, moved to New York City to establish his photography business. His portraits have included studio sessions with Anthony Bourdain, Tom Hanks, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, George Clooney, Ariana Grande, Natalie Portman, Mel Gibson, Lady Gaga, Pharrell Williams, Nicole Kidman and other celebrity subjects.

He’s been commissioned by Disney, Netflix, HBO, AMC, Random House, Google, Apple, Amazon, Facebook, National Geographic, Elle, Rolling Stone, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire and Time.

The restaurant would be his love letter to Birmingham, he said.

“When I think of this restaurant I think of it as a love letter to Birmingham, using materials that are native to Birmingham, such as the brick on the outside of the restaurant, which is a Clinker brick which is made here historically, and kind of infusing some English vibes into the restaurant, but just creating a really classy establishment.”

Mobley later told AL.com he did not have a timeline for renovations or when the restaurant would open. Although the name “George’s” was in the documents presented to the city, it’s a working title and the restaurant has not officially been named yet, he said.