Thursday, October 21, 2010

Trattoria Centrale - Great Pizza! Great Service!



When I stepped inside the doors it felt as if I were not in downtown Birmingham anymore. I had somehow  walked into an eatery with an upper east side flair. First of all let me say that I LOATHE standing in line. But in this case I was standing in line facing a window full of the most delicious pizza that I would ever taste. The anticipation of a couple of slices of pizza kept me focused.
Atmosphere: Busy, bright, contemporary, chic booth & table seating. Not a very big restaurant but very nice in appearance. The enormous brass espresso maker is definitely a conversation piece. They also offer an impressive array of wines. There is optional outdoor seating.
Staff: Very friendly, knowledgeable & fast
What I had: Two very generous slices of pizza, one cheese & one veggie w/ a mixed green salad w/ a light vinaigrette dressing. Also had an Orangina beverage (this is a citrus drink made of lemon, mango & orange juices)
Price: My lunch was about $10.00
On a scale of 1- 10 I give Trattoria Centrale a 9.5
Their menu contains a wide variety of Italian dishes, coffee drinks and desserts.
This is a good place to take that "indecisive" person in the bunch. There is truly something for everyone! Follow them on Twitter
http://trattoriacentrale.com/index.html





Friday, October 15, 2010

Five Star Sunday Brunch at the Crestline Seafood Company





Nestled behind a big beautiful tree on a cozy corner on Church Street in Mountain Brook is a hidden gem called the Crestline Seafood Company. With a name like that, I expected to walk in to see a place that was half seafood market & half cafe. To my surprise, it was actually a very quaint & inviting restaurant.

The first review is from 10/3/10, one week after the debut of their Sunday brunch. My friend and I arrived shortly after 11:00 a.m.
Atmosphere: quaint, modern, very bright , w/ semi-exposed kitchen so that you can view & smell the delightful creations. They also have outdoor seating & great music at a moderate level.
Wait staff: Very friendly, knowledgeable & accommodating
Price: Average prices for a nice simple brunch. My meal was $9.95 my companion(s) $7.95 & $9.95.
What we had: On 10/3/10 I had the shrimp & grits topped w/ bacon bit creole gravy w/ side salad w/ raspberry vinaigrette dressing. This is the BEST salad dressing EVER!!
 My dining companion decided to try the home-made waffles topped w/ fresh cut strawberries w/ bacon. We also were able to get a couple of glasses of mimosas (AFTER  12 noon of course)
On 10/10/10 I had a repeat of the Shrimp & grits with slightly more gravy than last time. I personally prefer less and will specify less this time. My dining companion had the blackened salmon w/ creamy slaw. The slaw is more of a gourmet recipe than a typical "southern" slaw.
On a scale of 1-10, I give The Crestline Seafood Company a 9

If brunch was an Olympic sport, I would say they get the gold.
Sunday Brunch is served from 11-2 each Sunday!! Call for regular hours of operation I'm sure you will not be disappointed!
Tell them you saw this review on http://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/
You can find their full menu at http://crestlineseafood.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 14, 2010

D's Tamales Hueytown, Alabama "Tamale Heaven"

This is not your average place. The tamales are not average tamales. Technically I could go buy a can of Hormel's tamales in the can. Which is what I have done for many years. But after tasting the home-made tamales made from scratch at D's, it's good-bye Hormel there is a new tamale king in town!
Here is what you can expect:
Atmosphere: A "U" shaped lunch counter filled with Hueytown locals. There is also convenient parking and a television inside.
*This is also a favorite dining spot for the Hueytown police (as observed)
Wait Staff: Very attentive
Menu: Aside from the headliner, there is literally something for everyone. Burgers, wings & a variety of other delicious dishes that are not listed on the menu on the website.
Price: My meal including drink cost under $7.00
What I ordered: The 3 tamale combo. Inclusive of nachos with an amazing cheese sauce, black bean casserole (OMG!! a must have) & 3 mild tamales.  On previous occasions I have ordered the hot wings. They are superb!!
On a scale of 1-10, I give D's Tamales  an 8.
Tell them you saw this review on BirminghamRestaurantRaider.blogspot.com
Hurry! They open at 11:00 a.m. &  close at 8:00 p.m. 5 days a week
http://dstamalestogo.com/