These Alabama restaurants named among the best in America for wine: Have you tried them?
Alabama has a wealth of wonderful restaurants, known for home cooking, fancy steaks, fresh seafood, savory pizza, tangy barbecue and much more. But have you ever wondered which eateries here are the best for wine lovers?
Wine Spectator magazine has a few ideas in that regard — more than a dozen of them, in fact — and has named 16 Alabama restaurants as winners of its 2024 Restaurant Awards.
“Restaurants that make wine a priority are what the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards program is all about,” Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, said via a press release. The magazine, founded in 1976, and its accompanying website are known as authorities on wine, reaching folks who care about the topic around the world.
Wine Spectator’s annual awards recognize “dining destinations” in the United States and overseas, “honoring restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.” A total of 3,777 restaurants made the list this year, including the following spots in Alabama.
(See the full list of winners on the Wine Spectator website, which includes a searchable database. Winners were announced on Tuesday.)
Acre Restaurant is located at 210 E Glenn Ave in Auburn, Alabama. The restaurant specializes in Southern-inspired fare, charcuterie and cocktails. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)Ben Flanagan
Where: 210 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn, 334-246-3763.
Cuisine: “Stylishly modern food with roots deep in Southern soil,” Acre’s website says. Chef is David Bancroft, a James Beard Award semifinalist and “Iron Chef Showdown” champion. “Our goal is to interpret the complex, traditional tastes of the Deep South in a totally fresh and modern way,” Bancroft says on the restaurant’s website.
Good to know: Acre is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
READ: Meet the chef who’s put Auburn on the restaurant map
Where: 124 Mitcham Ave., Auburn, 334-521-5177.
Cuisine: Seafood is the specialty here. “The Depot is a modern grilled gulf-coastal brasserie in Auburn’s Historic Train Depot,” the restaurant’s website says. The executive chef is Scott Simpson, who’s also a co-owner. He’s been finalist in the Alabama Seafood Cook-Off.
Good to know: The Depot is especially strong for wines from California and France, Wine Spectator says.
The chef lineup for the 2024 Summer Guest Chef Series at 1856 — Culinary Residence in Auburn, Ala., will feature, from left, Kyle Knall, Leo Maurelli and Ford Fry.(Photos courtesy of the Sprouthouse Agency; used with permission)
Where: 205 S. College St., Auburn, 334-249-4271.
Cuisine: American and French, according to Wine Spectator. “Culinary Residence is an upscale teaching restaurant, named after the year of Auburn University’s founding, anchoring the first floor of the new Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center,” the restaurant’s website says. “Students in the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management at Auburn University work under the guidance of a chef in residence to prepare and serve an à la carte lunch menu and tasting menu format during dinner service.” Thomas Baco-Wang is the chef de cuisine.
Good to know: Culinary Residence is especially strong for wines from California, Oregon, France, Italy and Spain, Wine Spectator says.
READ: The story behind Auburn’s new, world-class Rane Culinary Science Center
Where: 2220 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, 205-293-0353.
Cuisine: “Eclectic American cuisine with Southern influences,” the Garden & Galley website says. Jessica Lindeen is the executive chef.
Good to know: Galley & Garden is especially strong for wines from California, France, Italy and Oregon, Wine Spectator says.
READ: Take a look inside Galley & Garden
Salmon at Seasons 52. (Courtesy photo)
Where: 245 Summit Blvd., Birmingham, 205-968-5152.
Cuisine: American, according to Wine Spectator. “Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick-oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful,” the Seasons 52 website says. It’s a national chain with a location in Birmingham.
Good to know: Seasons 52 is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says. Bryan Florence is the wine director and general manager of the Birmingham location.
Where: 6801 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 106, Birmingham, 205-981-5380.
Cuisine: “Italian infused steakhouse featuring steaks … grilled over our wood burning grill, house made pastas, veal, seafood and classic Tuscan Italian dishes,” the Bellini’s website says. Chef is Andrew Hatcher.
Good to know: Bellini’s especially strong for wines from California and Italy, Wine Spectator says.
Little Betty, an upscale steakhouse and bar in Birmingham, had a soft opening in December 2023. The official public opening was in January 2024.(Mary Colurso | [email protected])
Where: 321 Rele St., Mountain Brook, 205-834-8674.
Cuisine: Upscale steakhouse. The executive chef is Kyle Biddy. “In cahoots with our local heroes, the beef, chicken, pork, and fish producers, Chef Kyle and the Little Betty kitchen crew are on a mission to serve up a taste of our region to our extended family of guests,” the Little Betty website says. “It’s all about integrity and authenticity here.”
Good to know: Little Betty is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
READ: 5 great restaurants that opened in metro Birmingham this year
Where: 4 Perimeter Park South, Birmingham, 205-968-1597.
Cuisine: Steak is the specialty here. The chef is Jeremy Blaydoe. Perry’s is a national chain with a location in Birmingham.
Good to know: Perry’s is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
Char restaurant is located at 931 Bob Wallace Ave. SW, Suite 201 in Huntsville. (Courtesy photo)
Where: 931 Bob Wallace Ave., Suite. 201, Huntsville, 256-384-4465.
Cuisine: “A Southern-style modern steakhouse offering USDA prime and choice cuts of meat, fresh seafood, home-style sides to share, brunch, and a selection of classic cocktails, wine and bourbon,” the Char website says. The executive chef is Steven Howell. Char is part of Nashville-based 4Top Hospitality Group, and also has locations in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Good to know: Char is is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
A charcuterie board at Domaine South. (Matt Wake/[email protected])
Where: 200 West Side Square, Suite 60, Huntsville, 256-759-9952.
Cuisine: American and European, Wine Spectator says. “We share delicious and inventive menus and cocktails without pretension,” the Domaine South website says. “Come in, sink into comfort in elegant, bohemian surroundings and relish the flavors of our seasonal, fresh menus.” Chef is Jay Hendricks.
Good to know: Domaine South is especially strong for wines from Oregon, California and France, Wine Spectator says.
READ: How a tiny Alabama wine shop became a hot restaurant
Where: 103 Northside Square, Huntsville, 256-964-7980.
Cuisine: Southern American and European, Wine Spectator says. The menu features sandwiches, wines and cheeses. Chef is Jennifer Smith. Le Petit Bijou is described as a wine bar and retail shop, linked to nearby Domaine South.
Good to know: Le Petit Bijou is especially strong for wines from France and California, Wine Spectator says.
Eric Rivera is the executive chef of Ravello Ristorante in Montgomery, Ala.(Photo courtesy of Ravello/Vintage Hospitality Group; used with permission)
Where: 36 Commerce St., Montgomery, 334-356-2852.
Cuisine: Italian food is the specialty here, Wine Spectator says. Eric Rivera is the executive chef and co-owner.
Good to know: Ravello is especially strong for wines from California and Piedmont, Wine Spectator says.
Where: 405 Cloverdale Road, Montgomery, 334-819-7215.
Cuisine: American and regional, Wine Spectator says. “What began as Montgomery’s only specialty wine shop soon became a destination for gourmet lunches to accompany the shop’s extensive selection of wines,” the Vintage Year website says, “Soon dinner entrees were added and the rest is history.” Eric Rivera is the executive chef.
Good to know: Vintage Year is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
Crispy Brussels sprouts are a favorite on the shareables menu at The Hope Farm in Fairhope, Ala.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
Where: 915 Nichols Ave., Fairhope, 251-340-3276.
Cuisine: Farm-to-table dishes, described by Wine Spectator as regional cuisine. “The Hope Farm is passionate about collaboration, partnering with local breweries and purveyors and highlighting various local establishments in their food and beverage offerings,” the restaurant’s website says. Adam Stephens is the executive chef.
Good to know: The Hope Farm is especially strong for wines from California and France, Wine Spectator says.
READ: 5 reasons we love The Hope Farm in Fairhope
Where: The Wharf, 4790 Wharf Parkway, Suite F108, Orange Beach, 251-224-6510.
Cuisine: Italian fusion and seafood are specialties here. Chef is John Odom.
Good to know: Villaggio Grille is especially strong for California wines, Wine Spectator says.
Where: Perdido Beach Resort, 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, 251-981-9811.
Cuisine: Seafood and steaks are specialties here. Voyagers offers “a seasonal menu crafted from local produce, sustainable seafood, and organic meats, capturing the essence of the region,” the restaurant’s website says. Brody Olive is the executive chef.
Good to know: Voyagers is especially strong for wines from California and France, Wine Spectator says.