1. City Café – Located in the historic district of downtown Northport, City Café is one of the best-known eateries in the area. Regulars (anywhere from college students to older Tuscaloosa residents) always seem to be there waiting for a spot to get their favorites meals. It’s typical to arrive at lunchtime and see a line forming outside the door, but don’t let that scare you away! The food is wonderful and the atmosphere to match. City Café is known in the area for their breakfast menu and their early opening at 4am each day. The only downside of this small restaurant is that there are different things on the menu each day, so, if you liked something they had on Monday, they may not have it further down the week. While this is a hassle, it gives the customer a more choices, opening new doors for them to try. City Café seems to be a bit small, but the food there makes up for the size. The walls are lined with Alabama memorabilia and you are able to look deep into Alabama’s past while eating your meal. The eatery is also closed on weekends and is only open for breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. City Café is located at 408 Main Avenue in Northport.
My Recommendation: Depending on when you go, there could be a multitude of things on the menu that are worth trying. My all-time favorite meal has to be chicken and dumplings that are served on Tuesday afternoon. The chicken is tender, the dumplings are soft and fluffy and the gravy that comes on top has an incredible taste. That meal mixed with a sweet tea makes for a wonderful Southern meal! [pagebreak]
2. Sweets Cupcakes – Sweets has been open in downtown Tuscaloosa since the summer of 2011 and has kept a low profile these last few months. Unlike most cupcake shops, Sweets caters to what the customer wants; each cupcake is made at the time you order it so you know that it hasn’t been sitting on the counter for the entire day. Sweets has classic red velvet (nicknamed the Crimson Pride), vanilla and chocolate cupcakes to serve your sweet tooth. If you can’t decide between two favorite classics of chocolate and vanilla, they have a cupcake right up your alley. Their Indecision cupcake is a half chocolate and half vanilla cupcake with chocolate and vanilla butter cream, giving you the best of both worlds. For customers who want a wilder eating experience, Sweets has their own special creations, such as the Caramel Apple cupcake (a cinnamon cupcake stuffed with apple filling and topped with caramel butter cream) and the Peanut Butter Cup cupcake (a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter cream frosting topped with chocolate pieces). The cupcake shop also boasts their Flavor of the Week, a new concoction every seven days to keep customers wanting more. Sweets Cupcakes can be found at 601 Greensboro Avenue, across the street from Bama Theatre.
My Recommendation: For those candy lovers out there like me, you have to try the Candy Bar Creation, a caramel cupcake with caramel butter cream topped with Snickers, Butterfinger and Heath bites. Not only is it your sugar rush for the day, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it for the days to come! [pagebreak]
3. Mr. G’s – If you are looking for Italian food that you could swear is authentic, Mr. G’s is the place you need to go. As you drive from Tuscaloosa into Northport on McFarland Boulevard, the restaurant is hard to miss; the sign is high up and large while the restaurant looks like a brick house with many windows. The restaurant boasts originals such as lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs and shrimp scampi. They also serve neighborhood favorites such as wings, spuds (also called loaded baked potatoes) and their mouth-watering sandwiches. The atmosphere is very kid friendly and has a spacious dining area perfect for having large parties. Mr. G’s is located at 908 McFarland Blvd in Northport, only a ten-minute drive from campus.
My Recommendation: For food lovers looking for a traditional Italian dish, you can’t go wrong with Mr. G’s spaghetti and meatballs. They give you a huge portion, and the meatballs are typically a little smaller than your palm and are filled with flavor. The meal comes with a drink, a salad and a slice of garlic bread and is sure to fill you up! [pagebreak]
4. Ichiban – Have you ever wanted a good meal for cheap, but everywhere you can think of has a long wait? No need to fret! Ichiban is there to serve you – and your stomach – the meal of a lifetime. Ichiban serves sushi and Japanese-grilled meats and vegetables. The restaurant is very small and has a sushi bar that four people can sit at, making this eatery very quaint and cozy. The food comes out to the customer still steaming from the grill and the sushi is incredibly authentic and delicious that you will be craving for days to come. If meats aren’t your thing, Ichiban also has tempura vegetables, such as carrots and zucchini delicately dipped in batter to create a soft crust around the vegetable to give it a sweet taste. Ichiban can be found at 502 15th Street in the strip mall that also hosts Bama Bowl.
My Recommendation: If you want sushi, the Tuscaloosa Roll is by far the best in the restaurant. This sushi will fill you up in no time with its crab meat, fried shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, cucumber, massago and topped with eel sauce. If sushi isn’t your thing, the tapanyaki steak –better known as the hibachi cooked steak – is an all-time favorite of the restaurant. [pagebreak]
5. Kozy’s – If you are looking for fine dining in Tuscaloosa, Kozy’s is the place to go! Kozy’s doesn’t look like the typical restaurant. It’s actually a house located snuggly in the woods. In the low lighting of candles and a fireplace, the overall atmosphere is completely and utterly romantic. The wait staff is professional and friendly, making sure that whatever you need is fulfilled, whether it be topping your drink or bringing your food to you with a smile wide across their face. The bar is stocked and ready for any order you throw at them. The restaurant serves traditional American food from roasted chicken to a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with some of their specialties thrown in. Kozy’s is the perfect place for celebrating milestones, like an anniversary with a significant other or graduation with friends. Just remember: Reservations are highly recommended; call ahead and have a meal you will never forget! Kozy’s is located at 3510 Loop Road.
My Recommendation: Although it is the highest price item on the menu at $34, the bacon wrapped filet mignon is my favorite meal that I have ever had in Tuscaloosa. The meal also comes with vegetables and truffled mashed potatoes, leaving you feeling full and satisfied.