Celebrate Valentine's Day At Vino Mountain Brook

Birmingham’s premier Italian-Mediterranean restaurant in Mountain Brook’s English Village, is pleased to present a special prix-fixe Valentine’s Day menu crafted and selected by Owner Al Rabiee. The dinner will feature four courses including canapes, starters, a selection of main courses, and desserts, and will be available for $79 per person from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Vino’s regular menu offerings will also be available upon request.

WHAT: Valentine’s Day at Vino 

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 14 from 4 to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Vino – 1930 Cahaba Road; Birmingham, AL 35223 

COST: $79 per person, plus tax & gratuity 

RESERVATIONS: Visit www.vinobirmingham.com or call (205) 870-8404. 

The prix-fixe menu will be prepared by the Vino culinary staff and includes a variety of unique options to choose from, including classic Vino favorites as well as new selections. Along with the dinner, guests will also receive a complimentary rose and white chocolate-covered, Moscato-infused strawberries.

“Our special prix-fixe menu is sure to make Valentine’s Day special,” says Rabiee. “The four courses we are offering feature something for everyone, and we’re looking forward to offering the special menu all weekend long.” 

             

Each main course item features a suggested wine pairing available for additional purchase. The 2026 Valentine’s Day menu is as follows: 

CANAPES: 

-Chef’s selection of mouth-watering savory hors d’oeuvres. Served with white chocolate-covered, Moscato-infused fresh strawberries.

STARTERS (Select one): 

-Lobster Bisque, Garlic & Herb Croutons

-Toasted Ravioli “The Lou”

-Bang Bang Cauliflower with Sweet Chili Drizzle

-Warm Spinach Artichoke, Hummus and House Chips

      

MAIN COURSES (Select one): 

-Braised Rosemary Lamb Shank, Moroccan Couscous, root veggies and Shallot 

 Paired with Averaen Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley $14 glass/ $46 bottle 

-Grouper Farfalle, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, Caper Lemon Pinot Grigio drizzle 

Paired with Pattini Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy $10 glass / $38 bottle 

-Date Night Pasta, Goat Cheese, Baby Portabella, Farfalle, Spinach with Grilled Salmon

Paired w/ Spoken West Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA

$16 glass / $56 bottle 

DESSERTS: 

-Chef’s selection of mini-Fritters, Tiramisu and Chocolate Brownies

SPECIALTY DRINKS ($12 each): 

-Orange You In Love

-Strawberry Cupid

Vino’s regular menu will be available upon request. Reservations are encouraged. Guests can visit www.vinobirmingham.com or call (205) 870-8404 to make reservations. For more information about Vino, please visit www.vinobirmingham.com.

                                         

ABOUT VINO 

Located at 1930 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook, Ala., Vino sets an ambiance of a trendy and arty space where people can come and enjoy delicious food and wines. The overall genre of food served at Vino is an Italian-Mediterranean fusion with the usual proteins of chicken, fish and beef. Vino offers small-plate appetizers, salads, entrees and delectable desserts including Vino’s famous apple fritters. The menu also includes a full bar with an emphasis on wine. Vino is open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. 

Thanks for reading & sharing!! 💓

Make Your Way To Blue Sushi Sake Grill

 

Birmingham has some outstanding restaurants. I think we can all agree on that. It's always nice to find one of those spots that you'd go to over & over again. 

I recently visited one of my new favorite places, Blue Sushi Sake Grill in the Summit Shopping Community off of highway 280. 

We were celebrating a very special birthday so to be sure that we'd be guaranteed a table, I made a reservation via OpenTable.com. Thank goodness I did, because the place filled up within moments of us being seated. When using the reservation app, you are allowed to select your seating choice at many establishments. Booth seating is always my preference. Our server, Austin, recommended everything we tried. His attention to detail was superb. 

We started out with a couple of savory starters: A bowl of the traditional Edamame & The Coconut Crab Soup: roasted corn, sweet potatoes, yellow curry, coconut milk, cilantro, chili oil. 

COCONUT CRAB SOUP

EDAMAME

Since we were celebrating, we decided to have a couple of items from their popular custom cocktail menu: The Strawberry Daisy and The Raspberry Mojito. These paired extremely well with all of the menu items we selected. 

STRAWBERRY DAISY

RASPBERRY MOJITO

Our sushi rolls consisted of the Rainbow Roll: bigeye tuna, salmon, yellowtail, ebi, crab mix, avocado & cucumber. The Spicy Tekka: spicy bigeye tuna & cucumber

Both rolls were outstanding. Our feature dishes included the Tuna Tower & The Salmon Poke Bowl. These were by far, two incredible dishes that I would definitely recommend to a first-time visitor. 

Click To Enlarge

The Tuna Tower: sesame and ponzu-marinated bigeye tuna, spicy crab mix, avocado and sushi rice, topped with black tobiko and wasabi sprouts, served with honey wasabi, mango and eel sauces. 

Click To Enlarge

The Salmon Poke Bowl: sockeye salmon, sweet onion, wakame and avocado, tossed in sesame dressing, served with nori crisps and cucumber sunomono.

Overall, Blue Sushi Sake Grill has all of the elements for a fun night out, date night or a special occasion dinner. Their menu variety combined with the outstanding service definitely puts them on my list of favorites. 

For more information or to make a reservation, visit their website at https://bluesushisakegrill.com 

Blue Sushi Sake Grill

238 Summit Blvd

Birmingham, AL 35243

Also download or visit OpenTable.com to start earning dining rewards. 

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

Est.2009

https://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/

Happy Raider-Versary

 

Ranked as one of the 45 Best Alabama Blogs & News Websites to read, The Birmingham Restaurant Raider concept was started out of passion and determination to bring awareness to local restaurants. Since 2009, I have been able to attract readers & followers from all over the globe, prior to the massive food blogger surge. 

Many of the personal conversations I've had with travel bloggers, notable journalists and food enthusiasts from outside of our area have definitely aligned with my mission. A memorable moment was an international call I had with a Vietnamese chef who'd seen my blog. We have a few social media friends in common and I'd long admired his work as well. We talked about local restaurants that offered some of the cuisine that he enjoyed preparing in his own kitchen. 

Other memorable moments include being invited to collaborate with national brands & non-profits for worthy causes. 

The best moments have come from watching restaurants in our area experience growth & expansion or having a restaurant owner email me thanking me for a glowing review. 

Over the years, I have been able to host a variety of giveaways in the form of cash, restaurant gift cards, food festival tickets, even several random anonymous restaurant tab payments. Giving back to people who read, share & follow my reviews and social media posts is one million percent the biggest reward of all. 

My reviews are always anonymous, because making a name for myself has never been the focus of this concept. I write original content from a consumer's point of view. If I can't write a positive review, I reach out to management alerting them of the problem. Do I have bad experiences? Absolutely! Handling them privately benefits the restaurant a great deal.... another reason for anonymity.

As a thank you to all of the readers & followers in the city, I will continue to give back. To celebrate 13 years of The Birmingham Restaurant Raider, I will be anonymously paying 13 restaurant tabs all over the city during the entire month of October. 

Will you be one of the "Lucky 13"?  You've got to eat to win! 😀

Also, I've partnered with ASAP.com (formerly Waitr) for the entire month of October. Visit their website and use the promo code: BHAMRAIDER for FREE delivery of your order of $12.00 or more! *Valid in Birmingham October 1st through October 31st. 

To get unlimited FREE deliveries, sign up for an ASAP Unlimited subscription and get the first 30 days free!!  

Thanks SO much for going with me on my quest to spread the word about ALL of the great food in Birmingham & surrounding areas. Your interaction means the world to me!!  

~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

#RaidBham

An Amazing Evening At Oakhouse Birmingham

 

I scheduled a meeting at Oakhouse Restaurant, a popular eatery just south of metro Birmingham in the beautiful community of Mt. Laurel. 

1️⃣ We shared a "Pork Belly & Grits" appetizer. Succulent maple butter glazed pork belly, with blue cheese crumbles over a creamy bed of smoked gouda grits. Simply divine. 

2️⃣ A glass of red wine for my dinner companion🍷 and I had my tried-and-true Cahaba Blonde draft beer. 🍺

3️⃣ We both had the 14 oz Ribeye Steak. I had mine "Oscar Style" topped with lump crab meat and cream sauce w/ grilled asparagus and a side of scalloped potatoes au gratin.

4️⃣ Finally, with little room left, we shared a decadent slice of bread pudding with a caramel and cream sauce. I highly recommend this heavenly dessert. 

Overall, Oakhouse provided GREAT service in a beautiful atmosphere which made for a beautiful MUCH NEEDED night out and an amazing dining experience. 😉🥰💕

For more information on Oakhouse Restaurant or to make a reservation, 

visit them at https://www.oakhouseeats.com/

Instagram Link: @oakhousebham

Facebook Link: facebook.com/oakhousebham/

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

Est. 2009 

#RaidBham 

*Please take a moment to visit the website for The Roverchase Foundation. 

Your tax-deductible donations help provide professionally trained service animals to aid people with disabilities. 

This is an Alabama based non-profit organization.

https://www.theroverchasefoundation.org  

Birmingham Restaurant Week- Winter Edition 2022

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jan. 12, 2022 — Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW) organizers are pleased to announce the dates of BRW 2022 - Winter Edition presented by Spire. Happening Thursday, Feb. 17 through Saturday, Feb. 26, the 10-day event brings patrons the opportunity to indulge in two, three and four-course meals at a prix-fixe price at over 30 participating restaurants, bars and food trucks. BRW also has plans to host crowd-favorite events, Wine-O-Logy on Feb. 22, alongside a new cocktail-style event, Magic City Mix-O-Logy, on March 1. 

Watkins Branch

From fine dining to down-home cookin’, food and drink lovers with a taste for adventure can enjoy special breakfast, lunch and/or dinner prix-fixe menus ranging from $5 to $50 per person – making it easy and affordable for everyone to enjoy a taste of Birmingham’s diverse dishes and sips. Known as Birmingham’s premier culinary and beverage event, BRW aims to support local restaurants by giving individuals incentives to enjoy the South’s most vibrant culinary destination one bite at a time. BRW helps to stimulate the local economy and boosts local love for Birmingham’s award-winning restaurant scene. 

Red Diamond Coffee Martini

Previously scheduled for January, BRW organizers decided to postpone the Winter Edition because of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases due to the highly contagious Omicron variant.  BRW will continue to monitor cases and seek advice from public health officials going forward. 

Sol Y Luna Patio

To safely serve patrons who don’t want to dine in, participating businesses will again boast to-go and/or curbside options as well as the traditional dine-in option. Additionally, many restaurants have made special accommodations to safely serve diners during the winter and to allow for al fresco dining no matter the weather by offering outdoor high-powered heaters, firepits, cabana tents and enclosed patios. 

Sabor Latino

 

“Birmingham’s culinary and beverage industry and its residents have been through a rough couple of years of heartbreak due to the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide labor shortage, and Birmingham Restaurant Week 2022 - Winter Edition is a high note for everyone,” said Bill Stoeffhaas, co-founder of BRW and owner of Style Advertising, the organizer of BRW. “BRW’s 10-day culinary affair provides an opportunity for the public to revisit old favorites or experience new restaurants in the new year while allowing local chefs to showcase delicious recipes that put Birmingham on the foodie road map.”

Fat Charles' BBQ

Organizers expect approximately 30 to 40 Birmingham-area restaurants, food trucks, bars and coffee shops to participate in BRW 2022 - Winter Edition and join in on Birmingham’s renowned food and beverage promotional blitz. Those currently registered include: Ash Homewood, Aww Shucks, Bay Leaf Modern Indian Cuisine & Bar, Blueroot, Dread River Distilling Co., EATS Highland, El ZunZún, Farrelly’s Southern Bar & Kitchen, Fat Charles BBQ, Filter Coffee Parlor, Iron City Grill, Michael’s Restaurant, Moonshine Rooftop Bar at Elyton Hotel, Ovenbird Restaurant, Red Mountain Crawfish, Rojo, Roots & Revelry, Sabor Latino, Slice Pizza and Brewhouse - Lakeview, Slice Pizza and Brewhouse - Vestavia, Sol Y Luna, Steel Gastropub, The Current at Cahaba, The Gardens Cafe by Kathy G., The Fennec, The Yard Birmingham at Elyton Hotel, Tropicaleo, Vino, Watkins Branch Bourbon & Brasserie and Whole Latte Drip.

Vino

Diners can search participating restaurants and their special menus on the BRW website at www.bhamrestaurantweek.com via the home page and the Eat/Drink page powered by Bham Now. Users can view participating businesses by neighborhood, meal, price point, service or other desired option to aid in planning their BRW culinary plan of attack.

Filter 

“At Spire, we understand the vital role restaurants and other businesses in the food and beverage industry play in a community,” says Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama. “That’s why we’re proud to continue our partnership with Birmingham Restaurant Week, support our local restaurants and provide the community with a way to connect through enjoying great food and drink. Restaurant Week has proved to be the perfect way to do that, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build an even stronger connection through the 2022 Winter Edition.”

 

BRW will again be promoted in local and regional media with both earned coverage and paid advertising in print, TV and digital media outlets, as well as through extensive social media campaigns. Participants of BRW can expect to receive multiple opportunities of multimedia promotion, an increase in sales, exposure to a large pool of culinary and beverage industry supporters and 10-plus days of constant promotion. 

 

Oven Bird

Stoeffhaas also noted, “During the pandemic, many restaurants were able to avoid closing their doors by offering curbside pick-up, to-go and delivery services, but now restaurants are facing labor shortages that are making operating normally challenging. With BRW, our goal is not only to promote locally owned restaurants but to provide assistance to them where we are able to. Without our restaurants, the vibrancy of our culinary community will diminish.”

Iron City Grill

According to a recent article by AL.com, Alabama has the nation’s 11th largest labor shortage. The largest of job openings have happened in food services, hospitality, health care and others. In August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that job openings increased to 10.9 million or about 6.9 percent from July 2021. As noted in Birmingham Watch, Birmingham-Hoover metro area’s leisure and hospitality industry had 50,500 employees in July. That’s up from 42,400 the same month in 2020 but still below the 54,400 employees for July 2019. Due to this, restaurants across the state and the country have increased wages. From July 2020 to July 2021, average hourly earnings for restaurant and hospitality workers have increased by at least $1.95 here in Alabama (from $12.92 to $14.87) - more than in any neighboring state during that same time. For individuals seeking a career in the culinary industry, there is no better time than now. 

#BRW2022 #BhamRestWeek

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

Birmingham Restaurant Week 2021

 

Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW) organizers Birmingham Restaurant Week (BRW) organizers are pleased to kick off its 12^th annual event. Happening Thursday, Aug. 12 through Sunday, Aug. 29, the 18-day event presented by Spire brings patrons the opportunity to indulge in two, three and four-course meals at a prix-fixe price at over 60 Birmingham-area participating restaurants, bars and food trucks. Boasting both to-go and dine-in options again this year, BRW helps to stimulate the local economy and boost local love for Birmingham’s award-winning restaurant scene. In addition to the traditional event, BRW has plans for a Wine-O-logy event and is focusing efforts to help restaurants get staffed as well. 

 

From fine dining to down-home cookin’, food and drink lovers with a taste for adventure can enjoy special breakfast, lunch and/or dinner prix-fixe menus ranging from $5 to $50 per person – making it easy and affordable for everyone to enjoy a taste of Birmingham’s diverse dishes and sips. BRW, known as Birmingham’s premier culinary and beverage event, aims to support local restaurants by giving individuals incentives to enjoy the South’s most vibrant culinary destination, one bite at a time.

 

Helpful search tools are provided on the BRW website home page and on the Eat/Drink page, where users can search participating restaurants and view their BRW menus by location, meal, price point, service or other desired option to aid in planning their culinary plan of attack for BRW. Menus will be posted Aug. 9. 

 

The urgency to help restaurants, bars, food trucks and others find employees is becoming more pertinent as patrons are seeking the excitement and normalcy of being served. Due to the nationwide labor shortage, though, it’s becoming difficult to do so. BRW has implemented a Jobs Database, where restaurants’ available openings are listed along with information on how to apply. Additionally, area job seekers may submit a Culinary Job Recruitment Application, where BRW will pass job seekers’ information along to BRW participating businesses who are hiring. Find these efforts at www.bhamrestaurantweek.com/jobs.

 

BRW 2021 will also include a Wine-O-logy event brought back from previous years, along with other supporting events to be announced soon. Wine-O-logy, a wine flight tasting event, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Vino & Gallery Bar in English Village with wine by United-Johnson Brothers and hors d'oeuvres provided by Sysco Foods. Tickets and other event info can be found at bhamrestaurantweek.com/events/. 

For more information about BRW, visit www.bhamrestaurantweek.com. BRW is active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @bhamrestweek. The official event hashtags are #BhamRestWeek and #BRW2021.