Ring in 2025 with Vino’s New Year’s Eve Four-Course Feast! 🍾

 

VINO ANNOUNCES NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATORY $95 PRIX FIXE MENU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – December 20, 2024 – Vino, Birmingham’s premier Italian-Mediterranean restaurant located at 1930 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook’s English Village, is pleased to announce its New Year’s Eve four-course prix fixe meal priced at $95 per person.

This meal will also feature party favors. Regular menu items will remain available for guests upon request.

WHAT: New Year’s Eve Celebratory Four-Course Dinner

WHEN: Tuesday, December 31, from 4 to 10 p.m.

WHERE: Vino - 1930 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL 35223

COST: $95 per person (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity)

RESERVATIONS: Call (205) 870-8404 or email vinobirmingham@gmail.com.

“We are really looking forward to 2025 here at Vino,” Vino Owner Al Rabiee says. “It's important that we rejoice in the good times and celebrate ourselves and others. We welcome the community to come celebrate the ending of this year and the beginning of another.”

Once seated, guests will be served an assortment of Mediterranean-style hors d'oeuvres to lead the four-course New Year’s Eve menu. This is followed by the guest’s choice of appetizer selected from one of the four available options. Four main course options are available following starters, and a New Year dessert trio will be served to complete the four courses.

The 2024 Vino New Year’s Eve Menu includes:

● A selection of mouth-watering savory Mediterranean hors d’oeuvres

Starter(s):

● Pan Sautéed Portabella, peppers and shrimp in a citrus herb oil

● Lobster Bisque

● Mediterranean, field greens, Feta, purple onions and imported olives

● Vino Classic Caesar

Main course(s):

● Braised Rosemary Lamb Shank, Moroccan Couscous, rooted vegetables and

Shallots

● Artichoke Grouper Bowl, Farfalle, baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts,

capers with lemon Pinot Grigio drizzle

● Date Night Pasta, goat cheese, portabellas, baby spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes

● Chicken Curry, Thai curry, Basmati rice

Dessert (Our New Year trio):

● New Year’s Eve House Dessert Assortment, including Apple Fritters and Moscato-

Infused, Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

To accommodate guests seated on the patio, Vino will provide high-powered heaters, furnaces, a firepit and blankets upon request. Reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. Guests can visit https://www.vinobirmingham.com/reservations/ or call (205) 870-8404 to make reservations or place to-go orders.

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 chic, casual Mediterranean and Italian eatery where people can come and enjoy delicious food and wines. Located in the center of the English Village, Vino is Birmingham’s best intimate dining spot and a great outdoor patio destination. Perfect for a special occasion or a delightful night out, Vino offers a Mediterranean-Italian fusion with the usual proteins of chicken, fish and beef as well as 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 and cocktails. Vino is open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m.

Thank you for reading & sharing!! 

~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

Est. 2009

New Features At DeVinci's Pizza & Italian Restaurant

 

I recently had the pleasure of trying some new features at the famous De Vinci's Pizza & Italian Restaurant in Homewood, Alabama. Although I would normally get one of their signature dishes, The Mona Lisa or The Meatball De Vinci, I was introduced to a few GREAT new featured dishes that are sure to become crowd faves in no time. 

I started out with the Bruschetta Mozzarella, a new featured appetizer. One of the most amazing things about this traditional Italian bruschetta, it can be a small plate meal or a shared appetizer for a group. Topped with fresh tomatoes, melt in your mouth mozzarella, fresh basil oh and.....the drizzle of tasty balsamic reduction makes this a flavorful winner in my book. 

The Caprese Flatbread is definitely one that I'd highly recommend. It's a simple take on Caprese. Thin crust dough, a flavorful marinara sauce, cheese, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes and more of that tasty balsamic drizzle (for shizzle). 

De Vinci's is well known for their hearty sized entrees and the Creamy Lemon Penne pasta dish did not disappoint.  

A generous helping of penne pasta, with a dash of lemon zest, garlic cream sauce, fresh basil and fresh parmesan cheese. I added shrimp, but mushrooms and chicken are also optional. I would give this a five-star rating. Paired with a glass of Italian Zenato Pino Grigio, this was definitely THE highlight of the night. I'm hoping to see this become a permanent menu item. Run.... don't walk to get this dish! ★★★★★ 

 

The 2nd entree was a penne pasta with their zesty House Vodka sauce, topped with fresh basil and freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Ever have one of those dishes so good that you have to close your eyes after the first bite? This is that one of those dishes. All entrees are served with a side of their signature hot, buttered garlic bread. 

"Did you save room for dessert?" That famous question that we've all been asked just when we talk about how unbelievably stuffed we are. YES! Yes, I have room. Thankfully, I had only had small portions of all of the previous dishes, so I did have room. 

Their Italian Tri-Colored Almond Cake is a sweet ending to any meal. Three layers of cake with a thin layer of maraschino cherry sauce between each layer and a thin layer of chocolate frosting. A sweet ending indeed! 

De Vinci's does a tremendous amount of take-out business and can be found on several delivery apps. However, if you are looking for a nice date night spot or looking to impress someone with great Italian food, their menu is one that has something for every appetite. 

For more information about De Vinci's Pizza and Italian Restaurant, visit 

https://devincispizza.com

2707 18th Street South

Homewood, AL 35209

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

Est.2009

https://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/

Mellow Mushrooms Opens its Patios; Introduces New Spring Menu

 

Hey Birmingham! Grab your sunglasses and appetites!  Mellow Mushroom has opened its patios and introduced a new Spring menu just in time for outdoor dining season, with items available for a limited time.  Guests can get outside and safely visit one of Mellow Mushroom’s patios to enjoy stone baked pizzas, fresh salads, craft cocktails and cold beer under the sun or the moon.

Every Mellow Mushroom patio is unique, just like the restaurants themselves.  Some patios feature bars.  Others, like Washington, D.C., and Nashville, have rooftops that offer outdoor dining with majestic city views.  On many Mellow patios, art plays an important role, for example, in St. Louis, guests will find a 60s inspired LOVE sculpture installation.  In Durbin Park, Fla., the patio is guarded by a Jaguar mural.  And in Brier Creek Raleigh, a submerged Poseidon sculpture provides some whimsy for outdoor patrons.

 “With warmer weather, Mellow locations see a spike in demand for patio seating,” said Anne Mejia, Mellow Mushroom Vice President Brand Development.  “New this Spring are some delicious menu items that are a perfect match for outdoor dining.” 

 The new Spring menu items are available from April 13 through June 14, 2021 and include:

 

Bacon Blue Wedge Salad – A wedge of iceberg lettuce, freshly cooked and crispy Applewood-smoked bacon, chopped tomatoes, bleu cheese crumbles and bleu cheese dressing.

Merry Prankster Pie – An herb aioli base topped with hormone-free Springer Mountain Farms chicken, Italian sausage, freshly cooked Applewood-smoked bacon, garlic, roasted red peppers, green bell peppers, mozzarella and Wisconsin-aged white cheddar, and finished with an herb aioli drizzle.

Campfire Peach Margarita –  An elevated take on a margarita, it combines Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Casamigos Joven Mezcal, house-made agave sour, peach puree, jalapeno and garnished with a lime wheel and half rim of Mellow Mushroom’s custom peach sugar salt blend.  The mezcal, peach, and jalapeno create the perfect blend of sweet and smoke for a delicious cocktail.

Maui Wowie – A pesto base with mozzarella, ham, pineapple, jerk chicken, banana peppers, and Applewood-smoked bacon.

For more information about Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers and to view the full menu of munchies, salads, pizzas, calzones, hoagies and more, go to MellowMushroom.com, follow on Instagram @MellowMushroom, like on Facebook at Facebook.com/MellowMushroom, or follow on Twitter @MellowMushroom.

920 Inverness Corners

Birmingham, AL 35242 

(205) 981-9914

1200 20th St South 

Birmingham, AL 35205 

(205) 212-9420

Thanks for reading & sharing! 

Tre Luna "Contemporary Dining At It's Best"

Travel down Stadium Trace Parkway and you'll run into a "new-ish" retail plaza called Brock's Gap in the Hoover area. One of the highlights of the area is the Tre Luna Bar & Kitchen. I've heard fantastic things about it so I decided to sneak in with a co-conspirator & raid the place. 

Atmosphere: The environment here is quite appealing. The lighting was perfect for this Italian themed eatery. The space is definitely adequate enough to handle a large hungry crowds without making each table feel crowded. The noise level was not bad even with the moderate crowd on this particular night. They also have an incredible outdoor area that is well lit with overhead string lights, bistro tables and a wide open area to accommodate parties, meetings or social groups. 

The Staff: After having arrived at our reservation time, we were greeted by the friendly hostess and quickly seated. Our server, Jessica, greeted our table with enthusiasm. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and convinced us to have their daily specials. 

Beef Carpaccio

What we had: We started out with a shareable appetizer, the Beef Carpaccio: paper thin sliced beef, topped with capers, horseradish sauce and shaved Parmesan reggiano. My dinner mate opted for the "Fish Of The Day" feature which was a perfectly grilled grouper. This fish was accompanied by a serving of roasted potatoes & romanesco broccoli. If you've never had romanesco before, it's pretty much what happens if a stalk of broccoli and a stalk of cauliflower got married and had baby vegetables. It was crisp, delicious and all topped with a light butter sauce. (click images for larger view)
 

Grilled Grouper

My entree consisted of another daily special, which was the "Squid Ink Seafood Pasta": a generous bed of perfectly cooked pasta dyed with squid ink, topped and surrounded by roasted cherry tomato halves, jumbo shrimp, jumbo scallops and calamari. The flavor of this dish was amazing. The serving size was pretty large so at least half of it went home. I also had a half dozen Bombolini (Italian donuts) for dessert. These came with chocolate & whiskey caramel dipping sauces.

Squid Ink Seafood Pasta

Bombolini

Overall: Tre Luna got it right. The atmosphere combined with the food & service puts them on my list of favorite places. 

Fore more information or to view the menu, please visit https://www.trelunabarandkitchen.com/

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider©
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You" 
Est.2009
http://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/
 

Nino's Italian Restaurant "The End of An Era"

My first experience dining at Nino's Italian Restaurant several years ago was incredibly memorable. Mostly for 2 reasons; the overwhelming smell of garlic and Walter Caron. 

After being in business for 10 years, the famous local eatery has decided to close it's doors. As an Italian food lover, it's been one of the most amazing food adventures I've had during my decade of writing as the Restaurant Raider. Everything from "greet to eat" is / was always a pleasant experience there. 

During my recent visit, I reflected on the review I did on Nino's back in 2011. To walk in and not see Walter definitely gave me an empty feeling. His personality was HUGE and he filled the walls of the restaurant with a great big burst of life. His passing several months ago definitely left a void in the restaurant's atmosphere and I'm sure in the Caron family. 

Side Salad

We stopped by this week to get one last experience at Nino's prior to the official closing date of August 31, 2019. It was beautiful to witness a packed house full of people eager to have one last dinner at this community landmark.

Cheese Bread Appetizer

What we had: We started out with a couple of side salads with house made creamy Italian dressing, topped with shredded cheese. No meal is complete without a shared order of their famous warm cheese bread with a side of their delicious, authentic marinara sauce.

Garlic Bread

It was hard to pick my last meal, but I ended up with the Chicken Parmigiana: breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce and melted Mozzarella cheese. My dinner mate had a huge serving of their Gnocchi with chicken topped with an incredible pesto sauce.

Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti w/ Marinara Sauce

Nino's was and will forever be one of those places that had the total package: the menu, the atmosphere and the personalities that make up a great dining experience.

Gnocci w/ Chicken topped with Pesto Sauce

Thanks to the Nino's family for the great service over the years and as they say in Italy,

 

The Birmingham Restaurant Raider

"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You" 

Est. 2009

http://birminghamrestaurantraider.blogspot.com/

Dine Like A Jet Setter At Customs International Cafe

Known for their international themed menu, Customs Cafe in Hoover, Alabama offers a wide variety of foods from around the globe. Each month they feature food from a different continent. Customers can experience dining at a quint little cafe in Germany or France without the pricey plane ticket.

During the month of June, Customs celebrates the French culture by featuring a variety of French inspired dishes.

We recently tried the Quiche Lorraine: Flaky pie crust filled with eggs, Swiss cheese, bacon bits and spices baked to a creamy, savory perfection. Served with a “tres Francais” carrot salad, fresh grapes and French bread.


This month they are also featuring a crowd pleasing French onion soup, a Monte' Cristo sandwich  and a Roasted Pear Tart for dessert.

Media Night 2018 at Customs allowed us to sample a variety of cuisines along with beverage pairings all in one night. Owners, Chef Craig Cassiday & Teresa White graciously hosted a group of food writers from the metro area. Everyone was greeted with a glass of Prosecco. 

Features of the tasting included: a German first offering (Ein), a Cuban second offering (Dos), an Italian third offering (Tre) & a French fourth offering (Quatre). 

Inspired by Germany, the first tasting was their Old Berlin Beer Cheese Soup, served warm with a side of their signature cheese wafers.

This was paired with a Dresden Spritzer.

Dresden Spritzer

The second item we tried was the Cuban Pork Slider: Moist, smoked pulled pork in Mojo sauce served on a soft yeast roll & paired with a perfectly mixed Classic Mojito cocktail. 

Mojito

Next on the list was the warm & cheesy Italian Baked Ziti with Italian Sausage, paired with a glass of Barbera D'Asti.

Finally, paired with a glass of Baron & Gustier Vouvray, was the incredible  French inspired Roasted Pear Tart: Flavored with almond, pear, apricot, and butter…these individual tarts are addictive so order two! They have a crisp sugar pastry base spread with frangipane and topped with a roasted pear half then sealed with apricot glaze. In other words..... it's darn good! You definitely won't leave one morsel of this tart on the plate. 

Customs Cafe is the 2018 recipient of the Shelby County Small Business of The Year award. Stop by to congratulate them soon. Don't forget to ask for your passport!

Their cafe also doubles as an event venue for receptions, meetings and more!

Customs Cafe
1845 Montgomery Hwy, Hoover, AL 35244 
(205) 987-0176

Thanks for reading & sharing! 
~The Birmingham Restaurant Raider
"Anonymously Raiding A Restaurant Near You" 
Est. 2009