It may come as a surprise that some of the best food that the south can offer is found in Birmingham, Alabama.
Three of the most delectable Birmingham, Alabama restaurants are McCormick and Schmick's, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, and of course Mr.
Chen's.
Let's take a sneak peak at them.
McCormick and Schmick's, 719 Shades Creek Pkwy, is one of 80 American restaurants owned by Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick, whose goal is to have the nation's best seafood restaurants.
The menu at each McCormick and Schmick's is printed up two times a day to showcase the freshest seafood available.
In addition to fresh seafood, they offer aged steaks, salads, pasta, and poultry.
Dishes are inspired by seasonal availability of seafood and produce, and also by regional traditions.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse is located at 103 Summit Blvd.
I won't lie about it: Fleming's is expensive.
It's the kind of restaurant where you celebrate milestones like graduation, engagement, or retirement.
But they do offer occasional specials like a prime sirloin burger with cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato for under $10.
Their summer menu offers a complete three course dinner at $35.
95 per person, which doesn't include tax, tips, or wine.
But this prix fixe menu is the best of the best, with entrée choices of peppercorn encrusted filet mignon, roasted sesame chicken, or broiled scallops with roasted tomato beurre blanc and orzo pasta.
Appetizers, sides, and desserts are included in this spectacular feast.
Mr.
Chen's is located at 1917 Hoover Court, next to Green Valley Drugs (which has an old-fashioned soda fountain).
It is Chinese cuisine at its most adventurous.
Commedian Mike Myers once said, "My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.
" He could feel that way about Mr.
Chen's, but that's a good thing, in the opinion of many of Mr.
Chen's satisfied customers.
This Chinese food isn't Americanized, though you can use regular silverware.
On the menu are various versions of intestines, spicy sliced pork ears, spicy basil squid, and stir fry bitter melon with beef.
But you can also get your Chinese favorites like braised beef shanks and Kung Pao chicken.
And the luncheon menu is decidedly tamer than the dinner menu.
Too often, southern cities suffer from the stereotype of being purveyors of all things fried plus sugar-sweetened tea.
While those are certainly great culinary traditions in themselves, Birmingham goes way beyond what you might expect from a mid-sized city in the Deep South that isn't New Orleans.
Three of the most delectable Birmingham, Alabama restaurants are McCormick and Schmick's, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, and of course Mr.
Chen's.
Let's take a sneak peak at them.
McCormick and Schmick's, 719 Shades Creek Pkwy, is one of 80 American restaurants owned by Bill McCormick and Doug Schmick, whose goal is to have the nation's best seafood restaurants.
The menu at each McCormick and Schmick's is printed up two times a day to showcase the freshest seafood available.
In addition to fresh seafood, they offer aged steaks, salads, pasta, and poultry.
Dishes are inspired by seasonal availability of seafood and produce, and also by regional traditions.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse is located at 103 Summit Blvd.
I won't lie about it: Fleming's is expensive.
It's the kind of restaurant where you celebrate milestones like graduation, engagement, or retirement.
But they do offer occasional specials like a prime sirloin burger with cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato for under $10.
Their summer menu offers a complete three course dinner at $35.
95 per person, which doesn't include tax, tips, or wine.
But this prix fixe menu is the best of the best, with entrée choices of peppercorn encrusted filet mignon, roasted sesame chicken, or broiled scallops with roasted tomato beurre blanc and orzo pasta.
Appetizers, sides, and desserts are included in this spectacular feast.
Mr.
Chen's is located at 1917 Hoover Court, next to Green Valley Drugs (which has an old-fashioned soda fountain).
It is Chinese cuisine at its most adventurous.
Commedian Mike Myers once said, "My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.
" He could feel that way about Mr.
Chen's, but that's a good thing, in the opinion of many of Mr.
Chen's satisfied customers.
This Chinese food isn't Americanized, though you can use regular silverware.
On the menu are various versions of intestines, spicy sliced pork ears, spicy basil squid, and stir fry bitter melon with beef.
But you can also get your Chinese favorites like braised beef shanks and Kung Pao chicken.
And the luncheon menu is decidedly tamer than the dinner menu.
Too often, southern cities suffer from the stereotype of being purveyors of all things fried plus sugar-sweetened tea.
While those are certainly great culinary traditions in themselves, Birmingham goes way beyond what you might expect from a mid-sized city in the Deep South that isn't New Orleans.
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