Housed in a space rich with prior local history, 1892 East has earned its own legacy. The restaurant’s approach of Southern fare sifted through world influences is a fitting mirror of Five Points, the multihued Huntsville neighborhood it’s located.

Recently, I caught up with 1892 East executive chef Steven Bunner. At the bar there, inside the former home of classic Huntsville restaurant Zesto, we chopped it up over plates of two of 1892′s signature dishes: Crispy shrimp and grits, and panko-breaded fried green tomatoes.