Reviews of Highlands Bar & Grill (Restaurant)

Garrett Horton

Ate here shortly after it was voted best restaurant in America. Went with my family for brother's graduation dinner. Did not disappoint. I had the NY strip and chocolate cake for dessert. Great staff and drink selection. As a lifelong Birmingham resident, I can safely say this needs to be one of the places you go eat, whether you're a local or visitor. Be prepared to spend some money, but certainly worth it!

Curt Mcwhite

Highlands is one of the best spots in Birmingham for ambience, food and good cocktails.

Zed Star

SIMPLY OUTSTANDING ! I was enjoying a delicious latte at a classy coffee shop on our last full day in Birmingham, AL. I was whinging to the coffee shop owner about bad coffees & meal choices since my wife and I flew in from California late the previous day. The sweet lady said we needed a great dining experience before we left Birmingham and suggested a restaurant called Highlands Bar & Grill.....a high end French restaurant a few miles from our Hyatt Regency hotel. It was so popular she challenged me to get a reservation for that evening. I looked the place up and it's high praise reviews plus 4.8 star rating were off the charts and diners had to reserve a table up to a month in advance. On top of that they served Venison, Quail and a bunch of other stuff I wasn't real familiar with. I texted my wife that this French place might be a great way to experience some Birmingham fine dining. When my wife finished training her staff at 5pm at her company's premises in Vestavia Hills..(the reason for our trip here) I jumped in our rental car to go pick her up so we could arrive at the Highlands Bar & Grill soon after it commenced serving dinner at 5.30pm. I figured an early arrival might boost our chances of getting a table at no notice. The place was already pretty busy when we strolled through the front entrance to be greeted by Matt who was one of the managers. I have posted 1000's of reviews & photos of restaurants, cafes, fine coffee shops + other stuff on the top review forums including Yelp & TripAdvisor for many years. I held up my iPhone with my Google Maps review profile showing 230 million photo views world wide. Matt the manager said they were booked out but he had a half table for us in the bar area....voila ! Hey it might have been my cute Aussie accent that scored us a table ! Inside there was a huge jazzy looking central bar dividing 2 large dining areas. We chose a Crab / Shrimp Louie Salad appetizer followed by a Venison, Quail, Pork Spare Rib Mixed Grill for mains and then a Chocolate Mousse Cake + decaf cappuccinos for dessert. We shared all of our courses....this place wasn't cheap ! I knocked down a couple of Birmingham's own Good People Brewing IPA's as well during dinner. We were waited on by up to 5 different servers including our superstar Tina despite the restaurant being packed to the rafters. Smartly dressed Joseph who was also one of the restaurant managers came to our table to have a chat & suggest fine dining options for when we arrive in Atlanta,GA the next day. Our meals tasted extraordinary and the plated presentation plus service attention exceeded almost anywhere we have dined. And big kudos to young Margaret for keeping us well hydrated all evening. Beautiful art deco framed posters adorned the high walls and the historic appeal of the interior/ exterior of the building added to our enjoyment. When we left to retrieve our car in the complimentary valet car park I said to my wife that the Highlands Grill & Bar is probably the best restaurant in Birmingham if not all of Alabama. Our valet attendant overhead me and said that the restaurant had just won the James Beard Award for "Most Outstanding Restaurant In the USA" after being in the finals 10 times. Apparently that is the same as winning an Oscar at the Academy Awards. Needless to say we were very impressed !

Steve Holliday

It's always perfect, Frank and Pardist are first class in the best restaurant in America, and the food is spectacular in any season I had the hog jowls, my son in law had the deer, and our ladies had the red snapper, it was all fantastic. Been there too many times, but even if you're a regular you never get tired of great southern food

Mandy KB

A wonderful, memorable experience. Everything was perfect, as always.

Matthew Kent

Very busy upscale restaurant and bar. The drinks were reasonable and the food was very tasty. Service was outstanding. Only issue was the bar area which is first come first serve was super busy and we waited about 2 hours to get a spot. Felt like I was putting pressure on the people sitting at the bar.

Samantha Williams

Was able to squeak in a 5:30 dinner reservation on a Wednesday by calling and I am so thankful we did! Food was phenomenal. Staff was so knowledgeable. Dessert was also extremely impressive.

Kissa Hale

A great experience. The service from Gorin was even better than the food! I recommend avoiding a "high traffic" evening to possibly avoid the crowd which can get loud. - also beware the drinks which can be pretty potent!

Sue Curran

The atmosphere was perfect for a quiet dinner. My husband and I shared three starters and dessert and all were fabulous. Our server Justin was knowledgeable about the wine list and menu, and helped us with our choices.

JOHN

Impeccable service. Renowned food. Prices quite reasonable for the quality. We had drinks, appetizers, main courses, plus coffees and desserts for less than $75 per person (including generous tips). Friday evening: Most men in coat and tie or sport coat without tie. Most women in dressy casual. Menu changes - look for posting on line same day. Street parking scarce. Valet parking available and reasonable. Make reservations well in advance (many weeks - more for a Saturday)

Deanna McCombs

Highlands Bar and Grill is a true legend and doesn't disappoint. James Beard Award winning chef, Frank Stitt, revolutionized the food culture in Birmingham, and indeed, the whole country. Highlands consistently delivers an outstanding dining experience from the menu to the service. Do not miss this spot if you are anywhere near Birmingham!

jackson gainey

The most incredible experience ever. It's worth the wait!

Louis Azevedo

Stopped at the bar for a night cap. Had a desert, cappuccino and Madeira wine. Excellent experience, will need to have a complete dinner next time in town.

Jonathan Hurst

Highland inspires that's all you need to know

Matthew Ashmore

Definitely doesn't live up to the hype of "number 1 restaurant in the U.S." It should have been a fifth of the price.

W H

The fired green tomatoes were the best! Also had the salmon but wasn't too impressed with it. The Tart was on point!

angela ferguson

One of the best if not THE best in town. Absolutely love it --- best service in town, and WONDERFUL food.

F. Carlton King

Food great. Ambiance too loud. Prices reasonable for awarded place.

Mary Morris

Food was good , first time going I'll be back

Fallon Houser

I would love to leave a review about the food, but it wasn't an option. Upon arriving with 3 work colleagues to a half empty restaurant with servers looking bored with nothing to do right after opening, we were told they have a 3 hour wait. It was very obvious given the up and down glances the host was giving my party that our clean and pressed polo shirts and jeans were considered not acceptable. What a shame Highlands, as money was not a consideration tonight and we very well could have been a fantastic group to have as customers.

Jay Sivasailam

A really great gem albeit not secret anymore! A couple of basics to start. There is free valet parking so make use of that. Dress code is in the upper end of business casual and almost all gentleman have a sport coat on. The service is great with a very attentive wait staff that kept things hiking along at a great pace. My crab claw appetizers were great as was smoked pork chop with delicious gratin potatoes. Finish with one of their award winning desserts and you have all the makings of a great evening.

Jeremy Hatley

Above all, the service here is the best! You will not find better service at any restaurant across the globe. This place lives up to its title of the #1 restaurant in the US in 2018. The food dances in your mouth and the bartenders are amongst the best in the South. I highly recommend the tomato salad! If you've never been, you have to try it. The prices are very reasonable for the quality as well.

Aubie CE

Dawson was excellent. The food and service were out of this world

Keith Westrich

Food, service and atmosphere, all 5 stars

Ronnie Barrow

Best fish I've ever had in my life!!! The coconut cake at the end was just perfect. Loved the atmosphere- candles perfect- and the service 5 stars. Go there.

Kelli Edwards

Make sure you come on Tuesday and head to the bar and ask for Stacey or Matthew. Great guys and will make you feel special no matter how busy! Great food, beautiful place, just let them pick what you want to eat and they won't stear you wrong.

Tom Glass

This place is delightful. From the host/maitre 'd to the wait staff to the chefs, this place is all top-shelf. We had oysters for an appetizer and they were delicious, succulent little bites of the ocean. My Gulf triple tail was excellent and my dining companions loved their entrees: black grouper and venison. The wine, cocktail, appetizer, dessert and coffee selections are all off the charts... We "snuck in" without a reservation, but that was a fluke. This place - for good reason - is booked 6-8 weeks or more in advance. We squeezed in by asking at the host stand... They got us in and we were overjoyed!!!

JuanFra Gutierrez-Mazorra MD

Top of the list in the world

scott crisp

Amazing experience from start to finish. Easy to understand why this place won 2018 best outstanding restaurant

Ashton Rowcliffe

The food here is exquisite. People visiting are always amazed that Birmingham has a world class restaurant that is the winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award as the most outstanding restaurant in America. It's expensive, but well worth the money. Yep. Fine dining at its best. In Birmingham! Great ambience, service and vibe without seeming like their trying too hard. Their grits dish was tastier and more spophistixated than anyone could imagine a grits dish could be. And the succulent lamb chops were meatier than any lamb chops I’ve ever eaten before. Uniquely satisfying culinary experience!

Roger Carlisle

HIGHLANDS BAR AND GRILL This restaurant is a sublime experience. The moment you walk in the door and greeted by your name, ushered immediately to a table, and immediately engaged by your waiter you know you have arrived in Nirvana. Valet parking was easy. Our table was ready on arrival, and service was excellent. The food was outstanding - we had veal with sweetbreads and Red Snapper as mains with two different appetizers.(the grits, in particular, were excellent). Since Frank Stitt received the national James Beard Award, it has been necessary to make reservations. This can be done easily on the Open Table App. The food is always divine. The fish is always perfectly cooked. I recently had the trigger fish with spinach and vegetables. My wife had oysters and soft shell crab. Frank has a wonderful and reasonably priced wine list. He is famous for his stoned ground baked grits with prosciutto and thyme. My wife and I think his martini is the best in the world.

Arlinda Jackson

Great food and excellent service. Recommend making reservations

Garrett Horton

Ate here shortly after it was voted best restaurant in America. Went with my family for brother's graduation dinner. Did not disappoint. I had the NY strip and chocolate cake for dessert. Great staff and drink selection. As a lifelong Birmingham resident, I can safely say this needs to be one of the places you go eat, whether you're a local or visitor. Be prepared to spend some money, but certainly worth it!

Curt Mcwhite

Highlands is one of the best spots in Birmingham for ambience, food and good cocktails.

Steve Holliday

It's always perfect, Frank and Pardist are first class in the best restaurant in America, and the food is spectacular in any season I had the hog jowls, my son in law had the deer, and our ladies had the red snapper, it was all fantastic. Been there too many times, but even if you're a regular you never get tired of great southern food

Mandy KB

A wonderful, memorable experience. Everything was perfect, as always.

Matthew Kent

Very busy upscale restaurant and bar. The drinks were reasonable and the food was very tasty. Service was outstanding. Only issue was the bar area which is first come first serve was super busy and we waited about 2 hours to get a spot. Felt like I was putting pressure on the people sitting at the bar.

Kissa Hale

A great experience. The service from Gorin was even better than the food! I recommend avoiding a "high traffic" evening to possibly avoid the crowd which can get loud. - also beware the drinks which can be pretty potent!

Sue Curran

The atmosphere was perfect for a quiet dinner. My husband and I shared three starters and dessert and all were fabulous. Our server Justin was knowledgeable about the wine list and menu, and helped us with our choices.

JOHN

Impeccable service. Renowned food. Prices quite reasonable for the quality. We had drinks, appetizers, main courses, plus coffees and desserts for less than $75 per person (including generous tips). Friday evening: Most men in coat and tie or sport coat without tie. Most women in dressy casual. Menu changes - look for posting on line same day. Street parking scarce. Valet parking available and reasonable. Make reservations well in advance (many weeks - more for a Saturday)

Deanna McCombs

Highlands Bar and Grill is a true legend and doesn't disappoint. James Beard Award winning chef, Frank Stitt, revolutionized the food culture in Birmingham, and indeed, the whole country. Highlands consistently delivers an outstanding dining experience from the menu to the service. Do not miss this spot if you are anywhere near Birmingham!

jackson gainey

The most incredible experience ever. It's worth the wait!

Louis Azevedo

Stopped at the bar for a night cap. Had a desert, cappuccino and Madeira wine. Excellent experience, will need to have a complete dinner next time in town.

Jonathan Hurst

Highland inspires that's all you need to know

Matthew Ashmore

Definitely doesn't live up to the hype of "number 1 restaurant in the U.S." It should have been a fifth of the price.

W H

The fired green tomatoes were the best! Also had the salmon but wasn't too impressed with it. The Tart was on point!

angela ferguson

One of the best if not THE best in town. Absolutely love it --- best service in town, and WONDERFUL food.

F. Carlton King

Food great. Ambiance too loud. Prices reasonable for awarded place.

AMBER TOLBERT

Outstanding! I was concerned about the restaurant feeling pretentious with how many awards it’s won, but I was wrong. Intentional hospitality, excellent food (every bite perfectly seasoned and cooked), & cozy atmosphere.

Mary Morris

Food was good , first time going I'll be back

Fallon Houser

I would love to leave a review about the food, but it wasn't an option. Upon arriving with 3 work colleagues to a half empty restaurant with servers looking bored with nothing to do right after opening, we were told they have a 3 hour wait. It was very obvious given the up and down glances the host was giving my party that our clean and pressed polo shirts and jeans were considered not acceptable. What a shame Highlands, as money was not a consideration tonight and we very well could have been a fantastic group to have as customers.

Jay Sivasailam

A really great gem albeit not secret anymore! A couple of basics to start. There is free valet parking so make use of that. Dress code is in the upper end of business casual and almost all gentleman have a sport coat on. The service is great with a very attentive wait staff that kept things hiking along at a great pace. My crab claw appetizers were great as was smoked pork chop with delicious gratin potatoes. Finish with one of their award winning desserts and you have all the makings of a great evening.

Aubie CE

Dawson was excellent. The food and service were out of this world

Keith Westrich

Food, service and atmosphere, all 5 stars

Kelli Edwards

Make sure you come on Tuesday and head to the bar and ask for Stacey or Matthew. Great guys and will make you feel special no matter how busy! Great food, beautiful place, just let them pick what you want to eat and they won't stear you wrong.

Tom Glass

This place is delightful. From the host/maitre 'd to the wait staff to the chefs, this place is all top-shelf. We had oysters for an appetizer and they were delicious, succulent little bites of the ocean. My Gulf triple tail was excellent and my dining companions loved their entrees: black grouper and venison. The wine, cocktail, appetizer, dessert and coffee selections are all off the charts... We "snuck in" without a reservation, but that was a fluke. This place - for good reason - is booked 6-8 weeks or more in advance. We squeezed in by asking at the host stand... They got us in and we were overjoyed!!!

scott crisp

Amazing experience from start to finish. Easy to understand why this place won 2018 best outstanding restaurant

Ashton Rowcliffe

The food here is exquisite. People visiting are always amazed that Birmingham has a world class restaurant that is the winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award as the most outstanding restaurant in America. It's expensive, but well worth the money. Yep. Fine dining at its best. In Birmingham! Great ambience, service and vibe without seeming like their trying too hard. Their grits dish was tastier and more spophistixated than anyone could imagine a grits dish could be. And the succulent lamb chops were meatier than any lamb chops I’ve ever eaten before. Uniquely satisfying culinary experience!

Amy Benson

Very nice restaurant and the food was good

Roger Carlisle

HIGHLANDS BAR AND GRILL This restaurant is a sublime experience. The moment you walk in the door and greeted by your name, ushered immediately to a table, and immediately engaged by your waiter you know you have arrived in Nirvana. Valet parking was easy. Our table was ready on arrival, and service was excellent. The food was outstanding - we had veal with sweetbreads and Red Snapper as mains with two different appetizers.(the grits, in particular, were excellent). Since Frank Stitt received the national James Beard Award, it has been necessary to make reservations. This can be done easily on the Open Table App. The food is always divine. The fish is always perfectly cooked. I recently had the trigger fish with spinach and vegetables. My wife had oysters and soft shell crab. Frank has a wonderful and reasonably priced wine list. He is famous for his stoned ground baked grits with prosciutto and thyme. My wife and I think his martini is the best in the world.

Arlinda Jackson

Great food and excellent service. Recommend making reservations

Sabrina Cain

This place is superb! Started with a spring vegetable soup, main course was New York strip with potatoes au gratin, and ended with the strawberry sampler. Have never had a better complete meal in my life. What a wonderful evening with my husband!

Do-Yeon Cho

Great place and all foods were amazing except Prime new York strip.... Grits and stuffed quail were excellent. Loved the gripper. Coconut cake was also amazing. Very disappointed at Prime new York strip (medium), which was hard to chew and swallow.. Should not order the steak next time... Even though it was the most expensive on the menu, it wasn't good at all. Should have ordered scallops! I really wanted another piece of coconut cake!!!

Ryan Godfrey

Best meal I've ever eaten in my entire life.

Sonja Lee

Great food. Attentive service

Claire Pardo

By far my favorite restaurant in AL

BL Chambliss, CSCP

Prime dining spot in Birmingham. James Beard award winner. Excellent service. HBG is a regular mention in dining-related magazines nationwide.

gigi ngala

Award winning desserts. Great French country dishes. Intimate euroflair. Better get reservations. Bar is kit! Pricey but nice. Upscale but relaxed.

Johnathan Brekle

The best restaraunt in the country!

Troy Wahlberg

You've read all the reviews and accolades and yet you are still looking for more reasons to dine here? We were stressed when we missed a connecting flight in DFW as it put our reservation time in jeopardy. The meal, service, bar and scene are everything we hoped it would be. I'll make a trip back to Birmingham just to come back here. Sit it the bar for a more lively experience and put a nice jacket on.

Oleg Ghilan

One of those cases when food was delicious, but service was on the bottom...starting from front door and ending with our waitress .

Jakob Roussos

Food is great here but the best part of the meal is hands down Marco. Marco was my server and provided me with an incredible meal & experience. Definitely a reason to come back to Birmingham.

Kathy Cooper

Appetizers were great! We had the grits and okra. Chicken, stew, and fish entrees were all delicious. Don't fill up on the cornbread muffins because you will want to save room for dessert! Awesome!

Hugh Turner

Excellent service and food. The coconut cake was outstanding.

Brookwood Five

A city institution, always a pleasure to eat here, five star all the way!

Kent Back

What a special place, never disappoints, always the best meal I've ever had. Thank you Highlands, our 35th anniversary meal was great.

Sharon Cassum

Excellent service, food was alright, small portions. I felt the place is overhyped.

Greg S

Food was great. Seafood was fresh. Service was outstanding

Aaron Gray

Considered by many to be the best restaurant in town. You may need to get a reservation a month in advance. ;-)

Jason Whitehurst

Great atmosphere, fantastic food, and wonderful staff

ND Seibel

James Beard award winner for chef and pastry chef. It does not disappoint. Reservations come available 31 days out and they go quickly. You can also try your luck for a bar seat. Menu changes daily, we started with triggerfish ceviche and gulf shrimp cocktail, then crawfish pie with excellent pastry dough, and snapper throats with a barbecue glaze to die for, then delicious buttery halibut and a mixed seafood grill of royal red shrimp, triggerfish and a perfectly cooked scallop for the main. Dessert was coconut cake they are famous for with the the density of carrot cake along with a strawberry cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Finished out with a four cheese board decorated with strawberry compote and local honey. Service is excellent, friendly, accessible and very helpful.

Blake Panter

Food was great, service was on another level fantastic! They plaudits are well deserved here.

Brad Lee

Great selection of craft beer, both bottled and on tap.

Rick Griffith

Most excellent food, service, and atmosphere. Top notch!

Margie McClenny

Fabulous service and food!

Nathan Stuckey

I left a lengthy review with open table so I will be succinct here: amazing food, very reasonably priced drinks, great service, a bit too expensive for most people to go on the regular but absolutely worth it for special occasions (or if you do in fact have the money for it). Portions aren't huge but are definitely adequate. And don't forget the desserts, they have phenomenal coconut cake and chocolate mousse cake.

Bekah Algard

Highland Bar & Grill is a must EAT if you're in Birmingham! The restaurant is situated in the five-point district which is a cute-hoppy area. The outside and inside of the restaurant is well manicured and the staff couldn't have been more attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, we didn't have reservations and went to get drinks at the bar and crossed our fingers for seats to open up. All the stars aligned and we actually got a table in 5 minutes due to a cancellation. The food (I had the veal and sweetbread) was a notch ABOVE amazing. We couldn't have asked for better service!

Brad Horton

Managed a 6pm reservation on a Friday night. Valet parking was easy. Our table was ready on arrival, and service was excellent. The food was outstanding - we had veal with sweetbreads and Red Snapper as mains with two different apps (the grits, in particular, were excellent). At this price point, anything but perfect shouldn't be tolerated...luckily...we couldn't find a single issue aside from it being in Birmingham while we're from Huntsville :-)

Chris Powell

Every single thing at this restaurant is delicious, but the staff makes you feel like you own the place. Its excellent to stop by for drinks, or to stay for dinner. Its a bit pricy, but its worth it if you can afford to splurge on a fantastic night.

Edward DeMellier

The finest restaurant in Birmingham and for 8 years running a finalist for the James Beard award as the best restaurant in the US. The menu is always changing to bring the freshest produce to the table. The service is impeccable, the venue is understated and comfortable, and the food is original. They serve the best oysters in town. The bar is busy and serves both inventive and traditional drinks. The wine list cannot be beat. Reservations are a must unless you arrive really early or rather late or are just lucky.

Mike Kase

As outstanding as advertised! Frank Stitt makes culinary magic not only with his creations but his excellent staff, inclusive of the pastry chef. The blueberry/peach cobbler was out of this world. Nice atmosphere, relaxed yet upscale without being pretentious. Just an outstanding place for a nice dinner out.

Sally Marold

The best

Ryan Besterwitch

Great food and service. This restaurant has been a contender for the James Beard Award multiple times and I see why. We ordered the Crab Claw appetizer, grilled Venison (oh deer), and Pork Belly & Quail. All were fantastic. The Crab had a oil and citrus marinade that worked so well. The Venison was cooked perfectly and not very gamey and the pork belly and quail was amazing.

G Mac II

Congratulations Ms. Dolester Miles on being named Outstanding Pastry Chef by the James Beard Foundation!

Lindsey Conway

Everything was outstanding. Food was amazing, service and atmosphere were first class

Madison Allen

Food was great. However, our waitress wasn’t very informative about the drinks, entrees, or dessert menu. We also had to ask for “happy anniversary” to be written on our dessert. That was kinda disappointing. All in all we had a good evening.

Nicole.Antoinette

Beautiful experience, great environment, delectable food, amazing staff. It was so amazing. ❤️

Satish Nathan

I was visiting my best friend and his wife in Birmingham for my birthday and they brought me to this restaurant. Great service - friendly and helpful. The waiter gave us great recommendations and the food was delicious! The ambience was very good and while the prices were on the higher side for Birmingham, the experience made them worthwhile.

Chris Golden

We stopped in Birmingham on our way down to Florida and had dinner here on a Friday evening. It was a wonderful experience. The restaurant is very nice and we felt very comfortable while we ate. All of the food that we had was excellent and was beautifully composed from start to finish. The only complaint that we had was our server was not very attentive

Sabrina Cain

This place is superb! Started with a spring vegetable soup, main course was New York strip with potatoes au gratin, and ended with the strawberry sampler. Have never had a better complete meal in my life. What a wonderful evening with my husband!

Do-Yeon Cho

Great place and all foods were amazing except Prime new York strip.... Grits and stuffed quail were excellent. Loved the gripper. Coconut cake was also amazing. Very disappointed at Prime new York strip (medium), which was hard to chew and swallow.. Should not order the steak next time... Even though it was the most expensive on the menu, it wasn't good at all. Should have ordered scallops! I really wanted another piece of coconut cake!!!

Ryan Godfrey

Best meal I've ever eaten in my entire life.

Sonja Lee

Great food. Attentive service

Claire Pardo

By far my favorite restaurant in AL

BL Chambliss, CSCP

Prime dining spot in Birmingham. James Beard award winner. Excellent service. HBG is a regular mention in dining-related magazines nationwide.

gigi ngala

Award winning desserts. Great French country dishes. Intimate euroflair. Better get reservations. Bar is kit! Pricey but nice. Upscale but relaxed.

Johnathan Brekle

The best restaraunt in the country!

Troy Wahlberg

You've read all the reviews and accolades and yet you are still looking for more reasons to dine here? We were stressed when we missed a connecting flight in DFW as it put our reservation time in jeopardy. The meal, service, bar and scene are everything we hoped it would be. I'll make a trip back to Birmingham just to come back here. Sit it the bar for a more lively experience and put a nice jacket on.

Oleg Ghilan

One of those cases when food was delicious, but service was on the bottom...starting from front door and ending with our waitress .

Jakob Roussos

Food is great here but the best part of the meal is hands down Marco. Marco was my server and provided me with an incredible meal & experience. Definitely a reason to come back to Birmingham.

Kathy Cooper

Appetizers were great! We had the grits and okra. Chicken, stew, and fish entrees were all delicious. Don't fill up on the cornbread muffins because you will want to save room for dessert! Awesome!

Hugh Turner

Excellent service and food. The coconut cake was outstanding.

Brookwood Five

A city institution, always a pleasure to eat here, five star all the way!

Kent Back

What a special place, never disappoints, always the best meal I've ever had. Thank you Highlands, our 35th anniversary meal was great.

Sharon Cassum

Excellent service, food was alright, small portions. I felt the place is overhyped.

Greg S

Food was great. Seafood was fresh. Service was outstanding

Aaron Gray

Considered by many to be the best restaurant in town. You may need to get a reservation a month in advance. ;-)

Jason Whitehurst

Great atmosphere, fantastic food, and wonderful staff

ND Seibel

James Beard award winner for chef and pastry chef. It does not disappoint. Reservations come available 31 days out and they go quickly. You can also try your luck for a bar seat. Menu changes daily, we started with triggerfish ceviche and gulf shrimp cocktail, then crawfish pie with excellent pastry dough, and snapper throats with a barbecue glaze to die for, then delicious buttery halibut and a mixed seafood grill of royal red shrimp, triggerfish and a perfectly cooked scallop for the main. Dessert was coconut cake they are famous for with the the density of carrot cake along with a strawberry cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream. Finished out with a four cheese board decorated with strawberry compote and local honey. Service is excellent, friendly, accessible and very helpful.

Blake Panter

Food was great, service was on another level fantastic! They plaudits are well deserved here.

Brad Lee

Great selection of craft beer, both bottled and on tap.

Rick Griffith

Most excellent food, service, and atmosphere. Top notch!

Nathan Stuckey

I left a lengthy review with open table so I will be succinct here: amazing food, very reasonably priced drinks, great service, a bit too expensive for most people to go on the regular but absolutely worth it for special occasions (or if you do in fact have the money for it). Portions aren't huge but are definitely adequate. And don't forget the desserts, they have phenomenal coconut cake and chocolate mousse cake.

Bekah Algard

Highland Bar & Grill is a must EAT if you're in Birmingham! The restaurant is situated in the five-point district which is a cute-hoppy area. The outside and inside of the restaurant is well manicured and the staff couldn't have been more attentive and friendly. Unfortunately, we didn't have reservations and went to get drinks at the bar and crossed our fingers for seats to open up. All the stars aligned and we actually got a table in 5 minutes due to a cancellation. The food (I had the veal and sweetbread) was a notch ABOVE amazing. We couldn't have asked for better service!

Brad Horton

Managed a 6pm reservation on a Friday night. Valet parking was easy. Our table was ready on arrival, and service was excellent. The food was outstanding - we had veal with sweetbreads and Red Snapper as mains with two different apps (the grits, in particular, were excellent). At this price point, anything but perfect shouldn't be tolerated...luckily...we couldn't find a single issue aside from it being in Birmingham while we're from Huntsville :-)

Chris Powell

Every single thing at this restaurant is delicious, but the staff makes you feel like you own the place. Its excellent to stop by for drinks, or to stay for dinner. Its a bit pricy, but its worth it if you can afford to splurge on a fantastic night.

Edward DeMellier

The finest restaurant in Birmingham and for 8 years running a finalist for the James Beard award as the best restaurant in the US. The menu is always changing to bring the freshest produce to the table. The service is impeccable, the venue is understated and comfortable, and the food is original. They serve the best oysters in town. The bar is busy and serves both inventive and traditional drinks. The wine list cannot be beat. Reservations are a must unless you arrive really early or rather late or are just lucky.

Sally Marold

The best

Ryan Besterwitch

Great food and service. This restaurant has been a contender for the James Beard Award multiple times and I see why. We ordered the Crab Claw appetizer, grilled Venison (oh deer), and Pork Belly & Quail. All were fantastic. The Crab had a oil and citrus marinade that worked so well. The Venison was cooked perfectly and not very gamey and the pork belly and quail was amazing.

G Mac II

Congratulations Ms. Dolester Miles on being named Outstanding Pastry Chef by the James Beard Foundation!

Lindsey Conway

Everything was outstanding. Food was amazing, service and atmosphere were first class

Madison Allen

Food was great. However, our waitress wasn’t very informative about the drinks, entrees, or dessert menu. We also had to ask for “happy anniversary” to be written on our dessert. That was kinda disappointing. All in all we had a good evening.

Nicole.Antoinette

Beautiful experience, great environment, delectable food, amazing staff. It was so amazing. ❤️

Satish Nathan

I was visiting my best friend and his wife in Birmingham for my birthday and they brought me to this restaurant. Great service - friendly and helpful. The waiter gave us great recommendations and the food was delicious! The ambience was very good and while the prices were on the higher side for Birmingham, the experience made them worthwhile.

Kyle Mavin

Amazing place for fine dinning - Highly recommend for special occasions and /or business dinner - staff was amazing from valet to front desk to wait staff..the food was excellent-prepared and presentation was spot on!!

John David Wright

Highlands is the definition of excellence. Everything is top notch from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave. Easily the best dining experience I’ve had in Birmingham, and it’s always consistent. Highly recommended.

Bo Shin

Top-notch food and service! It’s a place you’ll definitely want to try atleast once.

Nichole Olson

Frank and Pardis won the James Beard Award last year, which brought Highlands into the national spotlight. Birminghamians have been raving about Highlands, and the sister restaurant, Chez Fon Fon, for years. All of the family of Stitt restaurants are consistently wonderful. For Highlands, specifically, first timers shouldn't miss the signature appetizer-the stone ground grits. It may not sound like much, but it is amazing. They are also famous for the drink called the Orange Thing. You really can't go wrong. Everything is beautiful and delicious.

Kyle Hayes

A perennial frontrunner for best restaurant in town. Usually beats out hot and hot if you prefer a more traditional menu. The oysters are pricey, but worth it. Go here for special occasions when you're willing to pay handsomely for five star food.

Brin Londo

I LOVE this place! I visit every time I'm back home in B-ham. The service is top notch and the food will blow your mind!

Hamed Mirzamani

Ok, I’m in town for a few days and all the locals are like you have to try this place it’s the best restaurant... but then I am from Chicago, one of the biggest foodie towns, so sure I’ll try ... OMG THIS PLACE WAS GOOD. I was shocked to find a restaurant here with that type of selection and service with its prices. I have dined at many Michelin restaurants, and this place deserves one. Stacy helped me out and his recommendations were on point. If you don’t dine here, then your trip to Birmingham isn’t complete.

chelsie650 .

I really enjoyed the food and great service!

Patrick Caddell

We went there tonight for the first time with extremely high expectations. We admittedly went with a starter not mentioned or recommended by or waiter the Bayou La Batre Shrimp. It was almost inedible. I have had better shrimp from Captain D’s! The texture was like an overripe banana and the flavor was even worse. I ordered the Trigger fish (recommended by our server) and it was tough, dry and had a strong fish taste. On a scale from 1 to 10 it was a zero. It wasn’t a very large piece of fish and I left over half of it. My wife had the black grouper and it was fresh and had a very good taste. The grouper is why it gets two stars. It was the best part of our meal by far but was nothing you couldn’t get at any other seafood restaurant. Not worth the trouble to get a reservation, not worth the drive and if I lived close by I would probably opt for the Chick-Fil-A right around the corner.

John Obert

Few things in life live up to the hype. This place does, every time I’ve been there. So good. An evening there borders on transcendental for this Francophile.

Billy Galyean

This is the place you'd want to take your favorite guests from out of town to show off the best of Birmingham. Cozy and sophisticated, this restaurant is well deserving of its numerous accolades with a menu that changes daily and reflects creative offerings blending southern and French fares. The service is always excellent as is the food!

Craig LaCava

Fantastic culinary experience from the cocktails to the sweet conclusion to our dinner. Had a fish dish that was fresh and unique. Try the Pecan Old Fashioned and you must leave room for dessert. Call for a reservation in the bar room (OpenTable is only for the main dining room and it fills up fast).

Mariana

Had great food and service. The server was very attentive and the restaurant was impeccable.

Feliks Yamnik

I've lived in Birmingham for a little over a year and have heard that's its amazing and its really hard to get a reservation. I now know why. My wife took me to dinner for a small celebration and was able to get a table in the 'bar' area, with a one day notice for a Tuesday. It actually was a lot better than I expected, still white table cloth, great service and not loud at all. We started with the Shoulder Grits as the app. I hate Grits, steer clear of them. These Grits where like a very well organized orchestra. The flavors were amazing! My main course was the Beef Cheeks. I've never had them before and so glad I decided to try it. It was perfect in every way. Flavor, tenderness, presentation, and portion. I will definitely be eating here again!

Monica Lynn

The food here is luxurious and decadent in the best ways imaginable. I can't give high enough praise to the chefs. You will exit this establishment with taste buds that are overwhelmed with pleasure and joy from experiencing the amazing food. Make sure you make a reservation in advance, though. This place stays booked.

Bobby Goode

Excellent food and well presented

Deborah Brown

We dined here after recommendations from everyone In The Know. This is old school - five star - white linens - historic building fabulous. Amazing menu, delicious is an understatement. Drinks were excellent too, and service is incomparable. Just go! Drink an Orange Thing, and then dwell on when you'll get to return.....

Hoyt Phillips

Wonderful dining experience that lived up to all the hype. You can make reservations starting 31 days out but it’s worth the wait and preplanning. We had five courses over 2.5 hours. My only regret is that I couldn’t eat more. Be sure to use your waiter as a resource. They can help you decide what to have and ours provided spot-on recommendations. Also make sure to save room for dessert - especially the coconut cake which is simply Devine. I would have taken an entire cake home if I could have. The atmosphere is fun and lively - but not so much that you can’t have an easy conversation with your tablemates. It’s not too Noisy. The service is wonderful. I definitely plan on returning since they change their menu everyday.

Tiffany Johanneson

Impeccible service! Our server Marco was super knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable. Must try the beef carpaccio appetizer! Bar side dining has a more relaxed atmosphere ...loved!

TypicalCostaGuy .

Best food I have ever tasted in my whole life. I've been to many nice restaurants but nothing compares to the food here.

Chelsea Berler

My hubby and I love Highlands! We enjoy finding a snug place at the bar area and order from there (we think the bar area has the best service, too!). The food is always incredible and the atmosphere is just perfect. Social and fun but not too crazy. :) They have a great wine list, too!

Jeff Harvey

Great atmosphere here and food.

Steve Russell

Best Restaurant in the country. Highlands is simply a great American treasure. The people here are great and the food is the pinnacle of amazing culinary skill.

szilvia legradi

Celebrated the 21th birthday of our youngest daughter. The food was excellent, (four different orders). Our server, Patrick was knowledgeable, super sweet and discreet at the same time. We have ever lasting memories: cheering with champagne for the first official alcohol drinking experience with our baby and her boyfriend. I highly recommend this restaurant for the food, the atmosphere and the excellent service.

meredith neal

This place deserves 6 stars. Literally the best meal in a long, long time. Service was great too. I'll definitely be back.

Lisa Standsby

When we dined last weekend, it was amazing! Our server was so informative and helpful. You guys have a great thing going on! Keep up the great work!

Larry Myers

It's reliably excellent. Crab claws are mandatory for me. The triggerfish was out of this world.

Jerad Watson

I made a reservation here a month in advance for my wife’s birthday. I mentioned that to the gentleman on the phone. The moment we walked in the host immediately said happy birthday and seated us towards the front beside the window. Our waiter came shortly and also wished my wife a happy birthday. My wife likes sweet wine and so she ordered the Riesling. Our waiter informed her that this particular Riesling she was ordering was more on the dry side and recommended another wine that he thought she would like and she absolutely did. We shared the stone ground grits for our starter and it did not disappoint. She got the pork two ways and I got the New York strips. Both were amazing. We then ordered the Apple crostata for dessert. They wrote happy birthday on the plate and brought a small glass of the wine that was paired with that desert. Overall, we had never been treated this well at a restaurant. It cost us 150 including tip, but to celebrate a special occasion and be treated so well I would say it is worth it.

Marybeth Grigsby

Fantastic in every way. Loved it!

Forrest Chambers

Honestly the best prepared fish I've ever had. The flavor and flakiness was beyond perfect. All the food was worthy of the James Beard award winning hype and expectations we had going in. Will definitely be back.

zahidaiq .

Love the food and the dessert! I had an excellent experience

Susan Williams

What can you say about Highlands that hasn't already been said. The food is of course fresh and prepared so as to use the essence of its freshness. Service is prompt and attentive.

Courtney Wright

EVERY time we go, everything is amazing. The food, the service, the cocktails - everything. I would recommend a dish but they change it up seasonally (another plus)!

Connor Moorhouse

The serving and food is the best but the bar is loud

Caroline Clark

Thoroughly enjoyed, lovely food, great service and really nice ambience! Highly Recommended

Machelle Starling

Still good after all these years.....

Chris Lynch

Fantastic dining experience. The menu was exciting, quite difficult to narrow down my choices! Service was second to none, our server knew the menu inside and out and was very accommodating. I finally chose the fried seafood starter (red snapper, shrimp, oysters) which put me on cloud nine, and the swordfish steak for my main. The swordfish was equally perfect haha. The only issue my wife and I had was the background noise (talking/etc) was a dull roar. Not really a peaceful setting- but it was a saturday night dinner. Would've liked something quieter but won't dock a star for that.

Judah Sixsmith

The food was excellent and the plentiful and varied salad bar options impressed me. I got the steak skewer plate. It was perfectly cooked, a little heavy on the pineapple-flavored marinade, but I think I was just surprised as I had not noted that it was a pineapple marinade before ordering. I loved the cheese roll-like bread offered at the salad bar.This experience was AMAZING! It was our first time coming and I was a little apprehensive because I've had some bad experiences at high-end steakhouses before...I'm looking at you Maestros. But everyone who works here...

d w

One of my best meals ever

Ronnie Lynn

Foods and service is always top notch.

Robert Evans

Food was good. Small portions for a large price..

Kyle Bedgood

We booked 31 days in advance for a 630pm Saturday evening dinner and still was sat in the loud bar. The bread was burnt and hard and the food was subpar. The price is way too much for the food you get. Perry's Steakhouse is 10 times better than Highlands, the service, the atmosphere, and most importantly the food is way better at Perry's oh and cheaper. Sorry highlands you lost my vote!!

Christina Tunnah

Wonderful unharried graceful service and meal.

Jeremy Lawson

These people are the "food whisperers" and offered the most exceptional customer service I've ever experienced at a restaurant. Everything was perfect, even when one of the managers saw us standing around waiting and offered to make our drinks himself. The food was exceptional beyond words, there is no question why this place is a James Beard award winner. Book MONTHS in advance and prepare for an experience you will not forget. Highly recommend!!!

Aaron Cain

Wonderful dining experience! Strawberry Sampler was amazing...

Kyle Mavin

Amazing place for fine dinning - Highly recommend for special occasions and /or business dinner - staff was amazing from valet to front desk to wait staff..the food was excellent-prepared and presentation was spot on!!

John David Wright

Highlands is the definition of excellence. Everything is top notch from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave. Easily the best dining experience I’ve had in Birmingham, and it’s always consistent. Highly recommended.

Bo Shin

Top-notch food and service! It’s a place you’ll definitely want to try atleast once.

Nichole Olson

Frank and Pardis won the James Beard Award last year, which brought Highlands into the national spotlight. Birminghamians have been raving about Highlands, and the sister restaurant, Chez Fon Fon, for years. All of the family of Stitt restaurants are consistently wonderful. For Highlands, specifically, first timers shouldn't miss the signature appetizer-the stone ground grits. It may not sound like much, but it is amazing. They are also famous for the drink called the Orange Thing. You really can't go wrong. Everything is beautiful and delicious.

Kyle Hayes

A perennial frontrunner for best restaurant in town. Usually beats out hot and hot if you prefer a more traditional menu. The oysters are pricey, but worth it. Go here for special occasions when you're willing to pay handsomely for five star food.

Brin Londo

I LOVE this place! I visit every time I'm back home in B-ham. The service is top notch and the food will blow your mind!

Hamed Mirzamani

Ok, I’m in town for a few days and all the locals are like you have to try this place it’s the best restaurant... but then I am from Chicago, one of the biggest foodie towns, so sure I’ll try ... OMG THIS PLACE WAS GOOD. I was shocked to find a restaurant here with that type of selection and service with its prices. I have dined at many Michelin restaurants, and this place deserves one. Stacy helped me out and his recommendations were on point. If you don’t dine here, then your trip to Birmingham isn’t complete.

chelsie650

I really enjoyed the food and great service!

Patrick Caddell

We went there tonight for the first time with extremely high expectations. We admittedly went with a starter not mentioned or recommended by or waiter the Bayou La Batre Shrimp. It was almost inedible. I have had better shrimp from Captain D’s! The texture was like an overripe banana and the flavor was even worse. I ordered the Trigger fish (recommended by our server) and it was tough, dry and had a strong fish taste. On a scale from 1 to 10 it was a zero. It wasn’t a very large piece of fish and I left over half of it. My wife had the black grouper and it was fresh and had a very good taste. The grouper is why it gets two stars. It was the best part of our meal by far but was nothing you couldn’t get at any other seafood restaurant. Not worth the trouble to get a reservation, not worth the drive and if I lived close by I would probably opt for the Chick-Fil-A right around the corner.

John Obert

Few things in life live up to the hype. This place does, every time I’ve been there. So good. An evening there borders on transcendental for this Francophile.

Billy Galyean

This is the place you'd want to take your favorite guests from out of town to show off the best of Birmingham. Cozy and sophisticated, this restaurant is well deserving of its numerous accolades with a menu that changes daily and reflects creative offerings blending southern and French fares. The service is always excellent as is the food!

Mariana

Had great food and service. The server was very attentive and the restaurant was impeccable.

Feliks Yamnik

I've lived in Birmingham for a little over a year and have heard that's its amazing and its really hard to get a reservation. I now know why. My wife took me to dinner for a small celebration and was able to get a table in the 'bar' area, with a one day notice for a Tuesday. It actually was a lot better than I expected, still white table cloth, great service and not loud at all. We started with the Shoulder Grits as the app. I hate Grits, steer clear of them. These Grits where like a very well organized orchestra. The flavors were amazing! My main course was the Beef Cheeks. I've never had them before and so glad I decided to try it. It was perfect in every way. Flavor, tenderness, presentation, and portion. I will definitely be eating here again!

Monica Lynn

The food here is luxurious and decadent in the best ways imaginable. I can't give high enough praise to the chefs. You will exit this establishment with taste buds that are overwhelmed with pleasure and joy from experiencing the amazing food. Make sure you make a reservation in advance, though. This place stays booked.

Bobby Goode

Excellent food and well presented

Deborah Brown

We dined here after recommendations from everyone In The Know. This is old school - five star - white linens - historic building fabulous. Amazing menu, delicious is an understatement. Drinks were excellent too, and service is incomparable. Just go! Drink an Orange Thing, and then dwell on when you'll get to return.....

Hoyt Phillips

Wonderful dining experience that lived up to all the hype. You can make reservations starting 31 days out but it’s worth the wait and preplanning. We had five courses over 2.5 hours. My only regret is that I couldn’t eat more. Be sure to use your waiter as a resource. They can help you decide what to have and ours provided spot-on recommendations. Also make sure to save room for dessert - especially the coconut cake which is simply Devine. I would have taken an entire cake home if I could have. The atmosphere is fun and lively - but not so much that you can’t have an easy conversation with your tablemates. It’s not too Noisy. The service is wonderful. I definitely plan on returning since they change their menu everyday.

Tiffany Johanneson

Impeccible service! Our server Marco was super knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable. Must try the beef carpaccio appetizer! Bar side dining has a more relaxed atmosphere ...loved!

TypicalCostaGuy

Best food I have ever tasted in my whole life. I've been to many nice restaurants but nothing compares to the food here.

Chelsea Berler

My hubby and I love Highlands! We enjoy finding a snug place at the bar area and order from there (we think the bar area has the best service, too!). The food is always incredible and the atmosphere is just perfect. Social and fun but not too crazy. :) They have a great wine list, too!

Jeff Harvey

Great atmosphere here and food.

Steve Russell

Best Restaurant in the country. Highlands is simply a great American treasure. The people here are great and the food is the pinnacle of amazing culinary skill.

szilvia legradi

Celebrated the 21th birthday of our youngest daughter. The food was excellent, (four different orders). Our server, Patrick was knowledgeable, super sweet and discreet at the same time. We have ever lasting memories: cheering with champagne for the first official alcohol drinking experience with our baby and her boyfriend. I highly recommend this restaurant for the food, the atmosphere and the excellent service.

meredith neal

This place deserves 6 stars. Literally the best meal in a long, long time. Service was great too. I'll definitely be back.

Lisa Standsby

When we dined last weekend, it was amazing! Our server was so informative and helpful. You guys have a great thing going on! Keep up the great work!

Larry Myers

It's reliably excellent. Crab claws are mandatory for me. The triggerfish was out of this world.

Jerad Watson

I made a reservation here a month in advance for my wife’s birthday. I mentioned that to the gentleman on the phone. The moment we walked in the host immediately said happy birthday and seated us towards the front beside the window. Our waiter came shortly and also wished my wife a happy birthday. My wife likes sweet wine and so she ordered the Riesling. Our waiter informed her that this particular Riesling she was ordering was more on the dry side and recommended another wine that he thought she would like and she absolutely did. We shared the stone ground grits for our starter and it did not disappoint. She got the pork two ways and I got the New York strips. Both were amazing. We then ordered the Apple crostata for dessert. They wrote happy birthday on the plate and brought a small glass of the wine that was paired with that desert. Overall, we had never been treated this well at a restaurant. It cost us 150 including tip, but to celebrate a special occasion and be treated so well I would say it is worth it.

Marybeth Grigsby

Fantastic in every way. Loved it!

Forrest Chambers

Honestly the best prepared fish I've ever had. The flavor and flakiness was beyond perfect. All the food was worthy of the James Beard award winning hype and expectations we had going in. Will definitely be back.

zahidaiq

Love the food and the dessert! I had an excellent experience

Susan Williams

What can you say about Highlands that hasn't already been said. The food is of course fresh and prepared so as to use the essence of its freshness. Service is prompt and attentive.

Courtney Wright

EVERY time we go, everything is amazing. The food, the service, the cocktails - everything. I would recommend a dish but they change it up seasonally (another plus)!

Connor Moorhouse

The serving and food is the best but the bar is loud

Machelle Starling

Still good after all these years.....

Chris Lynch

Fantastic dining experience. The menu was exciting, quite difficult to narrow down my choices! Service was second to none, our server knew the menu inside and out and was very accommodating. I finally chose the fried seafood starter (red snapper, shrimp, oysters) which put me on cloud nine, and the swordfish steak for my main. The swordfish was equally perfect haha. The only issue my wife and I had was the background noise (talking/etc) was a dull roar. Not really a peaceful setting- but it was a saturday night dinner. Would've liked something quieter but won't dock a star for that.

d w

One of my best meals ever

Ronnie Lynn

Foods and service is always top notch.

Robert Evans

Food was good. Small portions for a large price..

Kyle Bedgood

We booked 31 days in advance for a 630pm Saturday evening dinner and still was sat in the loud bar. The bread was burnt and hard and the food was subpar. The price is way too much for the food you get. Perry's Steakhouse is 10 times better than Highlands, the service, the atmosphere, and most importantly the food is way better at Perry's oh and cheaper. Sorry highlands you lost my vote!!

Christina Tunnah

Wonderful unharried graceful service and meal.

Jeremy Lawson

These people are the "food whisperers" and offered the most exceptional customer service I've ever experienced at a restaurant. Everything was perfect, even when one of the managers saw us standing around waiting and offered to make our drinks himself. The food was exceptional beyond words, there is no question why this place is a James Beard award winner. Book MONTHS in advance and prepare for an experience you will not forget. Highly recommend!!!

Aaron Cain

Wonderful dining experience! Strawberry Sampler was amazing...

randell thrasher

Staff was very attentive. I could lose weight eating there.

Kathleen Sisson

Meal was unbelievable. Recommend highly

Jeremy Porter

Excellent, worth every penny and will definitely be back.

Sonia DeMellier

Food is always fresh and delicious. Service is always impeccable.

Johanna Chuan

Wonderful daily menus, exceptional service. Best: grits and also apple fritters.

Kasia Zukowska

Fantastic food and service!

Perry Bellomy

We booked a month out to get a 6:15 reservation for a Saturday night. Overall a solid meal but not the wow I was expecting. The service was good ... water glasses never went dry but my iced tea was not refilled as you would expect. The waiter was both knowledgeable and professional. Our party of three tried a variety of appetizers, main courses and desserts. The appetizers we good but not great. I sampled the fried mixed seafood fry as an appetizer. The seafood was fresh but the batter was a little heavy and unevenly cooked. It appeared to be a spin on tempura batter but came off too thick. My main course was Gulf Flounder with new potatoes and haricot vert. I also chose a side of asparagus. The portion of fish was good but again it was cook uneven. Flounder is a thin fish so in my opinion this dish would have been better prepared using a snapper or grouper. My wife tried the duck breast. I sampled hers and the flavor was good but the meat was a little tough. The dessert round was the best by far. I enjoyed the banana ice cream bar while our table also ordered the coconut cake and warm strawberry cobbler. I sampled all three and found them all to be on point with my expectations. My favorite was the coconut cake. Overall a nice dinner is a comfortable atmosphere but at this price point I am not sure it was worth it.

John Norris

A true dining experience. While I actually like the food next door a little better, the attention to detail at the ‘mother ship’ is excellent. The only other restaurant at which I have eaten that comes close to Highland’s in that regard is Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, close but not quite there. Even so, the gang in the kitchen in Birmingham is better. Not much else to say...worth the hype, and you will NEVER leave a Frank Stitt restaurant feeling anything over than satisfied.

Dennis Flanagan

Absolutely the best restaurant I have ever experienced. Absolutely deserving of it's James Beard award for the best restaurant in America 2018.

Brad Hall

Deserves its reputation.

Helen Harrand

I have been wanting to dine here for over 25 years but as a fellow chef our off days are always the same (Sunday and Monday) so I never managed to get here. Finally dined here and it did NOT disappoint! Great food, fantastic service and great views. I wish I had been better dressed. We will be back!

Brittany May

Ok, I’m in town for a few days and all the locals are like you have to try this place it’s the best restaurant... but then I am from Chicago, one of the biggest foodie towns, so sure I’ll try ... OMG THIS PLACE WAS GOOD. I was shocked to find a restaurant here with that type of selection and service with its prices. I have dined at many Michelin restaurants, and this place deserves one. Stacy helped me out and his recommendations were on point. If you don’t dine here, then your trip to Birmingham isn’t complete.

Sam Alfano

Great food at a very reasonable price for the most outstanding restaurant in America. Great server. We were celebrating a graduation and never felt rushed. At a table of 5 everyone loved their appetizers, entree and dessert. That never happens. Stone grit soufflé and beef tartine were outstanding appetizers.

Barry Barksdale

One of the best meals I've ever had

Brenda Walker

We went here for our anniversary and loved it. I am half Israeli and grew up eating a lot of the foods that are made at Shaya. It did not disappoint, and made me very nostalgic. The Negev margarita actually tastes like the desert.

Jason Howell

Absolutely worth going here. Best in the country.

Dusty Stinson

Always the best! Thank you always for a wonderful experience!

kate massey

Worth every accolade. Incredibly delicious food, and fantastic service. Definitely a nice restaurant good for a special treat, and the prices reflect that. But it is worth every penny.

Olivia Affuso

The duck is amazing! Great staff and atmosphere.

Chef Davis

GREATEST PLACE WE HAVE BEEN IN A YEAR!!!

Peter Sulley

Major thumbs up!

Brenda Anthony

The food was excellent! I had the yellowedge grouper which was fantastic! We sat in the bar area so did not experience the full Highlands effect but the service was good, but I wouldn't say exceptional. I would definitely eat here again!

Peter Sanchez

I actually took my entire staff 90% of them under the age of 30...and only a small handful having ever experienced Highlands. It was an incredible night, impeccable service, outstanding food and as always perfect ambiance. If you are visiting Birmingham, put it on your list no matter what you are here for, business or pleasure!

Lee Cooks

OMGG. SUPERIOR ON ALL LEVELS. From our waiter to our food. Absolutely EXCEPTIONAL. Crab claws TO DIE FOR. My rabbit was delicious. The coconut cake... by Ms.Dolester Miles who won a James Beard for pastry... an EXPERIENCE. If you want to woo someone in Birmingham, this is the place to do it. For vegetarians there Mushroom dish... NO WORDS.

Steve Ingram

Best restaurant in the country. The best food and the best service. Incredible dining experience. I have been eating there for ten years and it always exceeds expectations.

Stacy Brasfield

There are so many things I loved about dining here! Impeccable service, agreeable wine selection, excellent oysters with delectable dipping sauces, mixed lettuces salad with slivers of pickled carrots, and the truly inspired deviled eggs. The mushrooms and grilled asparagus sides exploded with flavor. The atmosphere is warm with a great vibe. Two anomalies surprised me. The water was unfiltered and had an off odor, and the Strip steak wasn't hot when it was served. Otherwise the evening was perfect.

sarah Lawson

Expensive yes. Worth it? Totally. This isn't the place you come all the time but for that one time experience or special occasion it's amazing.

W. Gary Smith

Never disappointed in atmosphere, service and especially the food.

Max Dombrowski

Amazing food and service. Very nice atmosphere

Terrie Shroyer

We enjoyed a wonderful anniversary dinner at Highlands. Great dining experience. Empicable service. Intimate atmosphere. And the food was delicious.

Kevin P

Fantastic food and service, definitely lives up to the hype. Couldn’t recommend the grouper and the grits enough!

siddharth dialani

Good services

Samuel Jones

This place is the reason why you cannot find good cooks. They pay 10$ an hour and are mediocre at best. I have no clue why they're rated so high. Maybe because they poach the best produce in the the city but they treat their cooks like garbage.

Arianne Jauregui

Beautiful restaurant, great service and tasty food! Most of the menu seemed seasonal, definitely try what's in season and fresh!! The zucchini blossoms were so good, the pasta and the seasonal desserts. Definitely beat my expectations!

Maria Pesina

Great service, and waitress was great

Kelly Hall-Caughman

AMAZING food and service! Wonderful for our anniversary!

Arieal Rogers

Great bartenders

Rose Manassas

Posh and very lovely. Our service here was outstanding. The food spectacular. I tried the stone ground baked grits and it was off the charts delicious. My venison dinner was perfection.

kelly douglas

Super good food and great atmosphere!

Bryan Hassler

Wonderful food, noisy, excellent service.

Jason Prater

Simply an amazing Southern nuanced meal.

Cathie Bella

Simply Awesome, every time, without fail.

Dorthy Ruiz

Anybody that was born and bred in Alabama has their favorite crawfish spot and that still hasn't changed for me. But, OMG, the crawfish pie was incredible. This James Beard award winner for chef and pastry chef pulls out all the stops on this pie. It's like the best crawfish I've ever had and the best chicken pot pie had a baby.

CARR Gulf Coast

Easy to see why they were voted the best. All 6 at our table got something different, and all 6 loved their dish. Also- our waiter (Marco) was the awesome!

randell thrasher

Staff was very attentive. I could lose weight eating there.

Kathleen Sisson

Meal was unbelievable. Recommend highly

Jeremy Porter

Excellent, worth every penny and will definitely be back.

Sonia DeMellier

Food is always fresh and delicious. Service is always impeccable.

Johanna Chuan

Wonderful daily menus, exceptional service. Best: grits and also apple fritters.

Kasia Zukowska

Fantastic food and service!

Perry Bellomy

We booked a month out to get a 6:15 reservation for a Saturday night. Overall a solid meal but not the wow I was expecting. The service was good ... water glasses never went dry but my iced tea was not refilled as you would expect. The waiter was both knowledgeable and professional. Our party of three tried a variety of appetizers, main courses and desserts. The appetizers we good but not great. I sampled the fried mixed seafood fry as an appetizer. The seafood was fresh but the batter was a little heavy and unevenly cooked. It appeared to be a spin on tempura batter but came off too thick. My main course was Gulf Flounder with new potatoes and haricot vert. I also chose a side of asparagus. The portion of fish was good but again it was cook uneven. Flounder is a thin fish so in my opinion this dish would have been better prepared using a snapper or grouper. My wife tried the duck breast. I sampled hers and the flavor was good but the meat was a little tough. The dessert round was the best by far. I enjoyed the banana ice cream bar while our table also ordered the coconut cake and warm strawberry cobbler. I sampled all three and found them all to be on point with my expectations. My favorite was the coconut cake. Overall a nice dinner is a comfortable atmosphere but at this price point I am not sure it was worth it.

Penny Vance

fabulous

John Norris

A true dining experience. While I actually like the food next door a little better, the attention to detail at the ‘mother ship’ is excellent. The only other restaurant at which I have eaten that comes close to Highland’s in that regard is Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, close but not quite there. Even so, the gang in the kitchen in Birmingham is better. Not much else to say...worth the hype, and you will NEVER leave a Frank Stitt restaurant feeling anything over than satisfied.

Dennis Flanagan

Absolutely the best restaurant I have ever experienced. Absolutely deserving of it's James Beard award for the best restaurant in America 2018.

Brad Hall

Deserves its reputation.

Helen Harrand

I have been wanting to dine here for over 25 years but as a fellow chef our off days are always the same (Sunday and Monday) so I never managed to get here. Finally dined here and it did NOT disappoint! Great food, fantastic service and great views. I wish I had been better dressed. We will be back!

Brittany May

Ok, I’m in town for a few days and all the locals are like you have to try this place it’s the best restaurant... but then I am from Chicago, one of the biggest foodie towns, so sure I’ll try ... OMG THIS PLACE WAS GOOD. I was shocked to find a restaurant here with that type of selection and service with its prices. I have dined at many Michelin restaurants, and this place deserves one. Stacy helped me out and his recommendations were on point. If you don’t dine here, then your trip to Birmingham isn’t complete.

Sam Alfano

Great food at a very reasonable price for the most outstanding restaurant in America. Great server. We were celebrating a graduation and never felt rushed. At a table of 5 everyone loved their appetizers, entree and dessert. That never happens. Stone grit soufflé and beef tartine were outstanding appetizers.

Wen Chen

Had very high expectations for this award-winning institution in B'ham. Sadly, the experience did not live up to expectations. It is a formal affair that gives an aura of each bite coming with gold flakes, but in actuality, better food can be found in the rest of B'ham, at better prices and more comfortable, settings. Stone-baked grits are worthwhile, particularly the incredibly umami mushrooms soaked in the cheesy sauce pool dressing the grits. The almost-sweet butter tastes as if it were freshly churned. The wine selection and coffee are not bad.

Barry Barksdale

One of the best meals I've ever had

Brenda Walker

We went here for our anniversary and loved it. I am half Israeli and grew up eating a lot of the foods that are made at Shaya. It did not disappoint, and made me very nostalgic. The Negev margarita actually tastes like the desert.

Jason Howell

Absolutely worth going here. Best in the country.

Dusty Stinson

Always the best! Thank you always for a wonderful experience!

kate massey

Worth every accolade. Incredibly delicious food, and fantastic service. Definitely a nice restaurant good for a special treat, and the prices reflect that. But it is worth every penny.

Olivia Affuso

The duck is amazing! Great staff and atmosphere.

Chef Davis

GREATEST PLACE WE HAVE BEEN IN A YEAR!!!

Peter Sulley

Major thumbs up!

Brenda Anthony

The food was excellent! I had the yellowedge grouper which was fantastic! We sat in the bar area so did not experience the full Highlands effect but the service was good, but I wouldn't say exceptional. I would definitely eat here again!

Peter Sanchez

I actually took my entire staff 90% of them under the age of 30...and only a small handful having ever experienced Highlands. It was an incredible night, impeccable service, outstanding food and as always perfect ambiance. If you are visiting Birmingham, put it on your list no matter what you are here for, business or pleasure!

Lee Cooks

OMGG. SUPERIOR ON ALL LEVELS. From our waiter to our food. Absolutely EXCEPTIONAL. Crab claws TO DIE FOR. My rabbit was delicious. The coconut cake... by Ms.Dolester Miles who won a James Beard for pastry... an EXPERIENCE. If you want to woo someone in Birmingham, this is the place to do it. For vegetarians there Mushroom dish... NO WORDS.

Steve Ingram

Best restaurant in the country. The best food and the best service. Incredible dining experience. I have been eating there for ten years and it always exceeds expectations.

Stacy Brasfield

There are so many things I loved about dining here! Impeccable service, agreeable wine selection, excellent oysters with delectable dipping sauces, mixed lettuces salad with slivers of pickled carrots, and the truly inspired deviled eggs. The mushrooms and grilled asparagus sides exploded with flavor. The atmosphere is warm with a great vibe. Two anomalies surprised me. The water was unfiltered and had an off odor, and the Strip steak wasn't hot when it was served. Otherwise the evening was perfect.

sarah Lawson

Expensive yes. Worth it? Totally. This isn't the place you come all the time but for that one time experience or special occasion it's amazing.

W. Gary Smith

Never disappointed in atmosphere, service and especially the food.

Max Dombrowski

Amazing food and service. Very nice atmosphere

Terrie Shroyer

We enjoyed a wonderful anniversary dinner at Highlands. Great dining experience. Empicable service. Intimate atmosphere. And the food was delicious.

Kevin P

Fantastic food and service, definitely lives up to the hype. Couldn’t recommend the grouper and the grits enough!

siddharth dialani

Good services

Samuel Jones

This place is the reason why you cannot find good cooks. They pay 10$ an hour and are mediocre at best. I have no clue why they're rated so high. Maybe because they poach the best produce in the the city but they treat their cooks like garbage.

Arianne Jauregui

Beautiful restaurant, great service and tasty food! Most of the menu seemed seasonal, definitely try what's in season and fresh!! The zucchini blossoms were so good, the pasta and the seasonal desserts. Definitely beat my expectations!

Maria Pesina

Great service, and waitress was great

Arieal Rogers

Great bartenders

kelly douglas

Super good food and great atmosphere!

Bryan Hassler

Wonderful food, noisy, excellent service.

Jason Prater

Simply an amazing Southern nuanced meal.

Cathie Bella

Simply Awesome, every time, without fail.

Dorthy Ruiz

Anybody that was born and bred in Alabama has their favorite crawfish spot and that still hasn't changed for me. But, OMG, the crawfish pie was incredible. This James Beard award winner for chef and pastry chef pulls out all the stops on this pie. It's like the best crawfish I've ever had and the best chicken pot pie had a baby.

CARR Gulf Coast

Easy to see why they were voted the best. All 6 at our table got something different, and all 6 loved their dish. Also- our waiter (Marco) was the awesome!