10 essential Huntsville restaurants
Huntsville has many great restaurants. Here are 10 that are essential. (contributed)
Huntsville is always growing, and that includes its food scene, which offers a variety of must-try restaurants.
No matter what you’re craving, there’s something for everyone in the Rocket City – Southern classics, one-of-a-kind Korean fusion, traditional Mexican, beloved barbecue and more are all on the menu. Best of all, each restaurant has its own atmosphere, from upscale to eccentric to diner-style dive, so you’ll feel right at home no matter where you decide to eat.
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Of course, the deciding part can be a little tricky. With that in mind, we put together this list of 10 essential Huntsville restaurants that includes classic Rocket City eateries and new hot spots. These aren’t the only amazing eateries Huntsville has to offer, but they’re a good place to start.
3210 Governors Drive SW
The Blue Plate Café is where you go to Huntsville for a home-cooked meal. (Paul Gattis)
Blue Plate Café has been serving home-cooked meals with a side of Southern hospitality to its loyal following in the Huntsville area for nearly 20 years.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Blue Plate Café is the perfect place to take the family for a spread of classic Southern fare that would make Granny proud. It also has daily specials, sandwiches and more, which you can enjoy via dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery.
2007 N. Memorial Parkway #L
Betty Mae’s is a local favorite in Huntsville. (Matt Wake)
If you’re looking for a no-fuss spot to get a takeout lunch that locals love, Betty Mae’s Restaurant is where you need to go for a meal that’s nothing short of mouthwatering.
Betty Mae’s daily menu includes a rotation of Southern favorites, and its large portion sizes will fill you right up. Dishes include meatloaf, fried chicken, pot roast and more each day as well as a slew of sides and signature desserts like Honeybun cake and sweet potato pie.
103 North Side Square
Domaine South started as a wine shop, but when it added food it went to the next level. (Matt Wake)
Domaine South might have started out as a neighborhood wine shop, but these days it’s serving a menu full of unique offerings you won’t find anywhere else.
Open since 2015, Domaine South has created an eclectic mix of charcuterie boards, sandwiches, salads and other great dishes that can be paired with one of its boutique wines. You can dine in to get a feel for the restaurant’s laid-back atmosphere or pick your order up curbside.
121 North Side Square
You are bound to find something on the menu you like at Big Oh’s in Hunstville. (Matt Wake)
Big Oh’s Korean Restaurant has become a favorite among Huntsville locals, thanks to its cozy atmosphere and a menu that has a little something for everyone.
Big Oh’s, which is open for dine-in, curbside pickup and delivery, features popular Korean dishes, like Bulgogi and Dak Galbi, as well as fusion food specialties, like its Kimchi Bulgogi Burritos. There are vegetarian and vegan offerings, too, and the restaurant is happy to provide recommendations to those unfamiliar with the cuisine.
2357 Whitesburg Drive, S.E.
Huntsville’s German heritage is on tasty display at Hildegard’s German Cuisine. (Dave Dieter)
If you’ve got a hankering for some authentic German food, Hildegard’s German Cuisine has developed a strong following for serving up just that and so much more.
Hildegard’s German Cuisine’s dinner menu is filled with classic German comfort food available through dine-in, pickup and delivery. It includes an array of schnitzels and sausage plates with classic sides like German potato salad and sauerkraut as well as plenty of house specials like Goulash, Falscher Hase and more.
201 Jefferson St. N.
Purveyor is a favorite fine-dining destination in Huntsville. (Purveyor)
If you’re looking for an upscale dining experience in a casually cool atmosphere that’s perfect for date nights, Purveyor is the place to go.
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Purveyor’s menu has quickly become a Huntsville favorite, and it’s easy to see why. It offers small plates, like Maryland crab cakes and Ahi Tuna Poke tacos, as well as mouthwatering steaks, salads, seafood and more. Whatever you order, there’s a craft beer, wine or bourbon for pairing.
Purveyor provides Huntsville a fine dining experience in a casual atmosphere from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
3507 Governors Drive S.W.
Big Spring Café considers itself Huntsville’s home for “the greasy burger.” (Mike Mercier)
With nearly 100 years under its belt, Big Spring Café considers itself Huntsville’s home for “the greasy burger,” and that sentiment rings true in the best way possible.
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Big Spring Café, which offers dine-in and carryout, has a lunch menu that consists of classically good burgers made every way and plenty of hot dogs, too. Plus, its breakfast menu is packed with biscuits, omelets and more.
Chili Burger and Slaw Dog at Big Spring Cafe one of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
3319 Memorial Parkway S.W.
If your craving barbecue in Huntsville, Gibson’s Bar-B-Q is the place to go. (Both Gathany)
For more than 50 years, Gibson’s Bar-B-Q has been the place to go in Huntsville if you’re looking a barbecue joint that’s got a little something extra.
Gibson’s, which has dine-in as well as curbside pickup, offers award-winning barbecue – pork, chicken, ribs and beef – alongside all the fixins’, but there’s more to it than that. Beyond serving delicious barbecue, it also features a variety of fresh baked pies and even a daily breakfast menu.
3017 Governors Drive SW
Bandito Burrito makes Mexican food even more fun in Huntsville. (Matt Wake)
Bandito Burrito is not your typical Mexican restaurant, thanks to its funky atmosphere and classic menu, and that’s what its customers love about it.
Bandito Burrito serves up a fun and edgy vibe along with plates of classic Mexican fare, like its popular green bean burrito, enchiladas, chalupas and more that have been luring customers back in since 1990. If you don’t feel like dining it, delivery is available, too.
100 Southside Square
Cotton Row fuses different cuisines to create original fine-dining delights. (Dave Dieter)
For a fine dining restaurant that uses an unexpected mix of American, French and Southern influences to create its own inventive dishes, check out Cotton Row.
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Cotton Row’s cuisine, like dashi braised halibut and cornmeal crusted Apalachicola oysters, is one of a kind, which is likely why so many keep coming back for more. With a menu filled with unique seafood, steaks, starters and specialty cocktails, it’s an elegant eating experience unlike any other.
Food, setting make Huntsville’s Cotton Row a one-of-a-kind pick for a memorable meal from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
