Diners who want to sample some of the state’s best food at discounted prices will have 232 restaurants to choose from Aug. 17-26 during a promotion organized by the Alabama Tourism Department.
Director Lee Sentell says menu options will range from award-winning cuisine prepared by celebrity chefs in Birmingham and Huntsville to legendary hot dogs in Montgomery and Gulf Coast seafood. In all, some 57 towns in 30 counties are participating in the first Alabama Restaurant Week.
“The meals offered during the event are set at $10, $20 and $30 for dinner and $5, $10 and $15 for lunch. Restaurants may offer lunch and dinner menus or just one menu. In all cases, the price is per person and excludes tip and tax,” said program coordinator Grey Brennan.
Huntsville/Madison has the most with 40 restaurants while 32 Birmingham area restaurants have signed up. Thirty-eight restaurants in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach are participating, 16 in the Montgomery/Prattville area and10 in Tuscaloosa. Decatur lists nine restaurants and five are listed in Auburn/Opelika.
“We are pleased that so many restaurants have signed up for restaurant week. It’s a way for local businesses to showcase their signature dishes at prices that attract new customers and reward those who are loyal to the restaurant,” Sentell said.
Other restaurants are located in Anniston, Albertville, Alexander City, Boaz, Cullman, Daleville, Dothan, Enterprise, Eufaula, Fairhope, Florence, Foley, Fort Payne, Gadsden, Guntersville, Hartselle, Magnolia Springs, Millbrook, Monroeville, Muscle Shoals, Phenix City, Rogersville, Sylacauga, Troy and Tuscumbia.
The meal specials during the week-long promotion range from southern meat-and-threes to gourmet dining. For example, Clementine’s and Clementine’s at The Garden in Huntsville offer lunch specials with a choice of any eight varieties of Chicken Salad trio Plate, a homemade cookie and Iced Tea or a Panini, pasta salad and cookie with Iced Tea. Both specials are priced at $10.00.
Lulu’s at Homeport Marina in Gulf Shores is offering a fried green tomato BLT or a bowl of Lulu’s special gumbo for $5.00 at lunch. For dinner Lulu’s offers one, two and three course dinners at special prices including a Mahi-Mahi Basket with LA Caviar (Lower Alabama) and choice of dessert for $20.00.
Michael’s Table in Montgomery offers a lunch special of Table’s Tarte du Jour on salad Dijon, chocolate bread pudding soufflé, crème anglaise, chocolate sauce for $15 and a dinner special of table salad, table spaghetti and quarto fromaggio red wine meatballs, Chocolate Bread Pudding soufflé, crème anglaise with chocolate sauce for $30.
The Overall Company in Opelika has a special menu of a grilled pimento cheese and ham sandwich made with white cheddar cheese and fresh roasted red peppers with a choice of either a light, tasty, frozen made-on-site fresh fruit popsicle or a fun-to-eat dessert. These specials will be offered at lunch and dinner for $10.
“Birmingham Restaurant Week, a local version of the promotion, is now in its third year and has joined with the Alabama Tourism Department in the statewide event,” Sentell said.
Birmingham area restaurants that are part of both the local and statewide Restaurant Week include those operated by award winning chefs, Chez Fonfon, Highland’s Bar and Grill, Bottega Café and Hot and Hot Fish Club. Other popular Birmingham venues included in both events are Fish Market Restaurant, Little Savannah, Michael’s, Nabeel’s Café, Ocean, Rag’s Italian Bistro and Veranda on Highland. Alabama’s oldest restaurant, the Bright Star in Bessemer, will take part in the statewide event.
Huntsville’s restaurants include Commerce Kitchen, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Watercress at Bridgestreet, 1892 East Restaurant and Tavern, Phuket, Grille 29, James Steakhouse, Sage Grill at the Westin, Pauli’s Bar & Grill and Tim’s Cajun Kitchen.
A few of the other restaurants around the state include Cobalt’s and Cosmos in Gulf Shores; Roux, Michael’s Table, and Central in Montgomery; Jesse’s in Magnolia Springs, the Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia; True Midtown Kitchen and The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint in Mobile; and Dreamland BBQ & Bob Baumhowers in multiple locations across Alabama.
“Partners include participating restaurants, convention and visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, Birmingham Restaurant Week and the Alabama Restaurant Association,” Brennan said.
For more information and a complete listing of participating restaurants visit the website www.AlabamaRestaurantWeek.com.