Alabamians know what they like to eat, and they’d have it for the rest of their lives if they could.

That’s at least what This is Alabama pondered with their Facebook question asking, “If you could only eat at one Alabama restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?” The post drew more than 1,200 responses from readers eager to share where they’d enjoy every meal if they could.

But in the sea of glowing reviews for everyone’s favorite restaurant in the state, one managed to stand out: The Bright Star in Bessemer. Reader Scott Currier was emphatic: “Bright Star. PERIOD.” Julie Statum Burchfield shouted out the “amazing food, excellent quality, good variety, and great people!” Tripp Sanders ultimately concluded, “Bright Star in Bessemer Alabama … final answer!!!”

What is about Alabama’s oldest family-owned restaurant, located at 304 19th St N. in Bessemer, so many people (including many on our staff) love? Perhaps the world-famous snapper throats, loved by all including Alabama men’s basketball coach Nate Oats. And their annual tradition, “A Night in New Orleans,” featuring seafood gumbo, Greek-style tenderloin and snapper almondine on one side and special New Orleans dishes from a guest chef on the other.

Southern Living readers even recently ranked Bright Star on their “2023 South’s Best Awards” list as Alabama’s best locally owned restaurant. “Gulf seafood is a staple here, don’t miss the Greek-style snapper, crab and lobster au gratin, and gumbo,” Southern Living wrote. “Many dishes on the menu, like the Baklava Cheesecake, have a Greek influence, thanks to brothers Jim and Nick Koikos, who emigrated from Greece. In 1925, they bought the restaurant from founder Tom Bonduris, and have kept it in the family ever since.”

Read all of the answers from enthusiastic readers (and you can’t go wrong with anything they pick). Below, you’ll see a handful we saw repeated a bit more than the others in the comments, but we’re lucky Alabama has so many we could visit for the rest of our lives.

READ: A tradition lives on at Alabama’s oldest family-owned restaurant

Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q

1715 Sixth Ave. SE and 2520 Danville Road SW in Decatur

“Decatur’s Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q is a sacred place among barbecue aficionados,” writes AL.com’s Bob Carlton, singling out the famous white barbecue sauce others only imitate. The staff has won a record five grand championship titles at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the Super Bowl of barbecue. “Pretty sure I could live off the wings from Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q,” says user Meghan Fairbanks-McCarra.

Big Mike’s Steakhouse

Locations in Andalusia, Auburn, Guntersville, Moundville, Orange Beach, Thomasville

Their famous steaks are served with a house salad, bread & choice of a baked potato or steak fries. Their signature cut: The Big Mike, a 24-ounce Mike’s favorite ribeye. “You better be hungry!” says their website.

READ: Alabama’s Best Steakhouses: Big Mike’s in Thomasville

City Cafe

408 Main Ave., Northport

Located on Main Avenue in Northport, this area’s favorite meat-and-three opened in 1931, according to current owner Joe Barger, who bought the business more than 40 years ago. Friendly service and delicious meals give this cozy and still-popular café a world class reputation. Years ago, ESPN featured the restaurant during Todd Blackledge’s famous in-game “Todd’s Taste of the Town” segment — and, of course, Paul “Bear” Bryant used to stop by on occasion, too. Try the catfish, beef tips, chicken livers … heck, try it all.

READ: When Bear Bryant ate at City Cafe, ‘everybody stopped and looked’

Dreamland Bar-B-Que

5535 15th Ave. East in Tuscaloosa. Go to dreamlandbbq.com for additional locations.

The hickory-fired ribs served with a famous peppery sauce would be enough, but the nostalgia factor in one of Alabama’s best barbecue joints makes it an essential stop that’ll make your mouth water for the rest of your life. Originally opened by John “Big Daddy” Bishop in 1958, the renowned restaurant has long boasted, “Ain’t nothing like ‘em nowhere.”

READ: Tuscaloosa’s Oldest Restaurants: From Nick’s in the Sticks to The Waysider

Niki’s West

233 Finley Ave. W., Birmingham

A meat-and-three staple in all of Alabama, not just Birmingham, now open since 1957. The menu is large, with plenty of Southern favorites like fried chicken and mac and cheese, but also some you might not find at other meat-and threes up and down the state. “They have a great selection,” reader Mike Holmes insists. Very true, but you cannot take much time perusing the options, or you’ll hear about it from the efficient staff keeping the line moving.

The Rocket

1508 Pelham Road S., Jacksonville

“Best burgers and bbq in my book,” user Jonathan Harrell said about this Jacksonville barbecue joint, which readers also picked as one of the best barbecue and burger restaurants in the state. A longtime institution, it’s well-known for its hickory-smoked barbecue and old-fashioned hamburgers

Wolf Bay Lodge

20801 Miflin Road, County Road 20, Foley

AL.com once called Wolf Bay Lodge’s gumbo “legendary,” so it’s no surprise multiple readers named this as a potential go-to spot for the rest of their lives. The gumbo has “a rich, dark roux base and a delightful medley of cod, crabmeat, shrimp, green peppers, celery and onion,” and is “definitely on the thick side” with big and fresh shrimp, according to Brian Kelly.

Top O’ the River

3330 McClellan Blvd. (Anniston); 1606 Rainbow Drive (Gadsden); 7004 Val Monte Drive (Guntersville)

They have locations in Anniston, Gadsden, Guntersville and Michie, Tennessee. The original Anniston location of the independent, family-owned restaurant opened in 1982. They provide “the finest catfish and seafood in the area since 1982.” They specialize in farm-raised, grain-fed catfish delivered twice a week to ensure freshness. Readers love this place, because it also made the list of most underrated restaurants in the state.

More reader picks:

Alabama’s most underrated restaurants, according to readers

Alabama’s best hot dogs: Readers said we’d be crazy to overlook these joints

Alabama’s best burger: Readers can’t believe we missed these

Alabama’s best ice cream: Readers give us the scoop on shops we forgot

Alabama’s best pizza: Readers tell us what we got wrong

Alabama’s best barbecue: Reader picks

Alabama care package: 10 items readers say belong in every single one