The Southeast is one of the food capitals of the United States, and Shelby County serves as an excellent example of all of the food and drink this American region has to offer. Whether you’re visiting Shelby County or residing here, we want you to know how to best take advantage of all of the cuisines our foodie paradise has to offer. Listed here are some of our favorite Southern/BBQ, fine dining, sports bar, and Mexican restaurants, but if you’re thinking of trying a different cuisine while you’re here, we’ve got plenty of options for you on our Food & Drink page, which is an inventory of nearly every single restaurant and bar within Shelby County!
All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go!
Back to Top of List- Amoré Ristorante Italiano: Amoré is another Italian fine dining restaurant in Shelby County. Family-owned and operated since 2005, the Drakos family infuses their authentic Italian culture into all of their meals, hoping to attract local and out-of-town patrons. The award-winning meatballs, delicious prime steaks, and famous lobster fra diavolo, alongside some of your more familiar Italian favorites, come together to make a fine dining experience that you will leave you simultaneously satisfied and wanting more.
- Bellini's Ristorante & Bar: Bellini’s is Birmingham’s only Italian-infused steakhouse and one of the fine dining highlights of Shelby County. Just off of Highway 280, you’ll find the restaurant cooking meals with their in-house wood-burning grill, serving the best hand-cut stakes, and offering one of the most extensive, well-curated wine lists in the county. Every meal is specially designed, so that every bite of your dish and sip from your drink compliments one another to create a wholly singular experience.
- Chuck's Fish: Chuck’s Fish hosts a daily Happy Hour from 5 PM to 6 PM and commits to bringing flavors of the Gulf of Mexico to Shelby County, making it one of the most popular places for date nights, celebrations, and a dressier night out with friends. Enjoy some of their award-winning sushi plates or their grilled steaks and seafood dishes! Everyone will walk away from Chuck’s with their stomach full and their taste buds satisfied.
- Oak House: This restaurant in the heart of Dunnavant Valley was founded by Travis and Sarah Grappo, a husband and wife whose years of experience in the fine dining industry has refined their tastes to make this restaurant a favorite amongst the fine diners of Shelby County. Rated as the #1 Upscale Restaurant in Birmingham, Oak House elevates Southern cuisine to make it feel simultaneously familiar and fresh.
The Taste of Southern Hospitality!
Back to Top of List- Beulah Mae's Southern Kitchen: Three sisters founded Beulah Mae’s Southern Kitchen to honor the cooking of their late grandmother and the recipes of their ancestry. Since then, this restaurant has become one of the best soul food restaurants in Shelby County, hosting a rotating menu that will keep you coming back to try their next best dish. We love this local, family-owned business and we know you will, too!
- Creekside BBQ: This classic, award-winning Southern barbeque joint just outside of Oak Mountain State Park is the perfect place to get some sustenance before or after exploring the park’s trails. Combining savory, familiar flavors and the casual, cozy atmosphere of the outdoors, Creekside BBQ will satisfy all of your needs. If you want our recommendations, we usually like to get the spare ribs or the pulled pork sandwich, but you can’t go wrong with good ol’ Southern food!
- Chubbfathers: Named as serving the best burgers in Alabaster, Chubbfathers is a local favorite that leaves tourists wishing they could return every day. The Chubba Burger, Chubbfathers’ most iconic dish, and their delicious po’boys blend favorite Southeastern flavors with new, exciting combinations, pulling in influences from Cajun food to make these meals nothing you’ve ever quite had before. If you can, we’d love it if you contributed to the Chubbfathers People’s Pantry project by donating a nonperishable item that will be stocked in their open-to-the-public food pantry.
- Tin Top (Calera and Columbiana): This is your classic hole-in-the-wall Southern barbeque joint, and it is a local hidden gem. Located in two of Shelby County’s quaintest areas, explore some of the downtown shops before or after filling up on some Southern barbeque. Tin Top makes every customer feel special, with each pulled pork sandwich coming with a whole pound. Don’t forget to try their in-house barbeque sauce (you can even take a jar of it home!), and don’t be afraid to get your hands messy – that’s part of the barbeque fun!
Watch the Big Game!
Back to Top of List- Big Whiskey's (280 and Alabaster): This American franchise has come to Shelby County with two locations, one in Alabaster and one just off of Highway 280. Declaring itself as the official Gameday Headquarters, Big Whiskey’s offers some of the best Sunday night football deals, like .99 cent wings, and over 100 whiskeys, beers on tap, and spirits, with patio seating and huge flatscreen TVs. Big Whiskey’s, whether you’re going out to watch the game with friends or family (Kids eat free on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 PM!), is sure to be one of your favorite places to watch Southern football.
- On Tap Sports Café: This local business claims to be Birmingham’s premiere sports bar and restaurant, and it sure lives up to that title, hosting the largest beer selections in the state and events year-round, like Chili Cook Offs, Crawfish Boils, and Oktoberfest. On Top is a place where family and friends can enjoy good football, good drinks, and good company.
- Ragtime Café`: At Ragtime, all of your favorite pub foods are here to fill you up before the Big Game, with an extensive beer, spirits, and cocktail menu to make sure the energy is up all night long! This local staple has been serving our Shelby County community for over 30 years, and we can’t wait to see you there for your next SEC Saturday!
Spice Up Your Plate!
Back to Top of List- Blue Agave Cantina: After an afternoon spent strolling the quaint streets of downtown Columbiana, you will need to refuel, and few places are better to do so than Blue Agave Cantina. The vibrant interior curates an atmosphere that perfectly raises the energy and spirits of any party, from a table of two to a table of twelve.
- El Patron Bar and Grill: Dubbed Helena’s best Mexican restaurant, El Patron and Grill often hosts live music and serves as the perfect place for a fun night out with friends. El Patron Bar and Grill fuses together the exciting flavors of Mexican cuisine with the comfort of Southern hospitality, delivering on top-tier service and generous portion sizes. They also offer a selection of happy hour specials that rotate throughout the week, so you can have all of your favorite dishes at the most affordable prices.
- Margarita Grill: This local staple offers a sports bar with all of your favorite drinks (including top-tier margarita that can be served on the rocks, frozen, or swirled!) and delicious traditional Mexican dishes prepared in a Mesquite firewood grill and in-house flour tortilla machine to maintain their authenticity. We love our local businesses in Shelby County, and we are happy to report that Margarita Grill is a family-run-and-operated restaurant that has been bringing good vibes and even better food to Shelby County for twenty years!
We’re looking forward to seeing you out at Shelby County’s best restaurants! While you’re here, be sure to check out some of the other “trails” that Shelby County has to offer its locals and tourists. The Mural Trail takes you on a loop through Shelby County to get a look at some of the best public art displays of our area, showcasing our dedication to preserving our Southern heritage and history. On the Wine and Ale Trail learn about the best places to refresh over a good drink, and on the Hiking and Mountain Biking Trails, get out and see the over 150 miles of trails in Shelby County, which draws in visitors from across the country and world. There is something for everybody in Shelby County, but for now, raise your glasses! Cheer’s, y’all!