For a restaurant like Café 123 in Opelika where plating and service are part of the experience, the pandemic was particularly harsh.

“We’re fine dining, so when the pandemic shut down the indoor dining, that hit us pretty hard,” executive chef Eron Bass said. “My food doesn’t travel well. It’s not meant to be eaten out of a box.”

The restaurant had already been considering a takeout-friendly lunch menu and began offering that during the hardest days of the pandemic. Since indoor dining has partially returned, business is good again.

“We’ve been very fortunate,” Bass said.

Beef Tenderloin Napoleon at Café 123 one of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

That’s good news for those wanting to get the full Beef Tenderloin Napoleon experience. This towering dish features a petite filet mignon sandwiched between two fried green tomatoes on a foundation of chive smashed potatoes framed by roasted asparagus and topped with bearnaise sauce and blue lump crab meat.

“It’s rich and it’s good. It’s like a little mini surf and turf,” Bass said.

It is on the Alabama Tourism Department’s list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama.