When a beloved restaurant in Birmingham announces that it’s closing for good, regulars line up for one last hot dog, pasta dish, pizza slice, meat-and-three plate or barbecue sandwich. They might grab a souvenir menu or snap a photo of their favorite dish, as they commiserate with other folks about the loss of a great eatery that’s bound to linger in their memories.

We’ve seen some truly special restaurants come and go over the years in the Magic City, and fans never seem to get tired of reminiscing about them. AL.com recently paid tribute to five of these noteworthy establishments, singing their praises in a May feature story.

READ: 5 beloved Birmingham restaurants that closed too soon