Zagat ranked Birmingham No. 1 on its new list of the nation’s up-and-coming food cities, singling out its tasty mix of high-end and casual dining spots and a growing cocktail culture.

Zagat – an authority for more than three decades on where to eat, dine and stay — announced its choice in a YouTube video. Birmingham’s closest competition was No. 2 Oakland/Berkeley, Calif., followed by Detroit; Asheville, N.C.; and Minneapolis-St. Paul.

“This Southern contender took the top spot due to a delicious combo of fine dining, barbecue and a fresh batch of more casual restaurants,” the Zagat video says. “The food culture – and the city itself – have changed dramatically in recent years.”

The Zagat recognition is the latest accolade for the Birmingham metro area. Brian Hilson, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, noted the area received 27 national and international rankings and recognitions in 2014 for everything from food to business, up from just four such mentions in 2011.

Zagat listed Birmingham as one of its top seven up-and-coming food cities in 2013, but Hilson said it’s even sweeter coming out on top of the list.

“This accolade is significant for our community,” he said. “One of the most trusted dining guides, known throughout the world, has recognized us again as having an up-and-coming food scene, and rightfully so. There is no question that Birmingham’s culinary reputation is helping fuel the renaissance going on in our city right now.”

In the video, Zagat focuses on spots such as landmark Birmingham restaurant Hot and Hot Fish Club, headed by chef Chris Hastings, and two newer eateries, the Carrigan’s Public House in downtown Birmingham and Post Office Pies in Avondale. It also highlighted the Swing Shift Pop-Up Series.

John Hall, who joined with partners to open the pizza restaurant Post Office Pies after working as a chef in New York, said Birmingham’s food scene has a way of surprising people.

Chefs Chris Hastings, John Hall and Frank Stitt (photo credit: Jason Wallis and Cary Norton)

“A lot of times when people come here from out of town, they feel like, ‘Wow, this is not what I expected. This is not what I had in my mind what Birmingham was going to be.’” Hall said. “I think we’re doing a good job of changing that perception of what the old Birmingham used to be …”

Added Feizal Valli, general manager and head bartender of The Collins, a downtown bar that is at the center of the city’s cocktail scene: “Birmingham has great food everywhere.”

The food scene is vital to a city’s tourism, said Dilcy Hilley, vice president of marketing for the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Number one is a coveted spot, especially when it comes to something like Zagat,” Hilley said. “Our culinary community is astounding, and it grows more so all the time. We’re food fortunate, and it’s really sweet to top the charts.”

Other cities on Zagat’s “Next Hot Food City” list are No. 6 Nashville, No. 7 Louisville, No. 8 Durham, No. 9 Phoenix and No. 10 San Antonio.

This article is courtesy of Made in Alabama with contributions from Alabama NewsCenter’s Mike Tomberlin.