Tuscaloosa Restaurant Guide

Area code for all restaurants: (205)

(For a printable restaurant guide, click here.)

TOP PICKS (modest prices)

• RUAN THAI: Excellent food. Yellow curry outstanding; spice tray available for fine tuning; a final treat: coconut ice cream, if available. Not to be confused with SURIN OF THAILAND, across the street. 1407 University Blvd (at the west end of The Strip); 391-9973; Mo-Th 11-2, 5-9; Fr 11-2, 5-10; Sa 5-10 http://www.rollthai.com/.
• MR. CHEN'S: Great Chinese food, Taiwanese-style specialities. Efficient, friendly service. Try the Shrimp in Black Bean Sauce! 514 14th Street; (205) 343-6889 http://www.mrchenschinesecooking.com/index.html.
• SITAR: Indian restaurant with lunch buffet; inconsistent in quality but excellent on a good day; good more consistently in the evening, but pricier, and there is no evening buffet. 500 15th St (north side, in a strip shopping center east of Hackberry); 345-1419; Mo-Th 11-2:30, 5-9:30; Fr-Su 11-3, 5-9:30; http://sitartuscaloosa.com/.
• EDELWEISS BAKERY: German-owned, -operated, and –themed. Great pastries and breads; good sandwiches; lunch specials Mo-Fr. 2324 4th Street (in Temerson Square, just east of Greensboro Ave); 343-6545; Mo-Th 6:30-5:00; Fr 6:30-7:00; Sa 6:30-3:00; Su 8:00-2:00. WiFi.
  

ON OR CLOSE TO CAMPUS

• FERGUSON CENTER (Student Union): STARBUCKS; SUBWAY; FOOD COURT: NATURE'S GARDEN (salads), BURGER KING, CHICK-FIL-A, ZOCA (Mexican), TOPIOS (pizza); FRESH FOOD COMPANY: several stations (meat-and-three, pizza, burgers, soups/salads, desserts, coffee). 2 left turns from the back entrance of Gorgas, 2 min. Breakfast Mo-Fr 7:30-9:30 a.m., lunch Mo-Fr 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• JAVA CITY: coffee bar; grab-and-go sandwiches, salads Gorgas Library main floor; Mo-Fr 8 a.m. —evening .
  

ON THE STRIP

(From the main quad, walk west on University Blvd. )

• MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL: Located on the right. 4 min.
• SWEN'S (Chinese): Turn right after Moe's.
• LITTLE ITALY: (GOOD THIN-CRUST PIZZA) Turn right after Moe's.
• FIREHOUSE SUBS: Turn right after Moe's.
• COLDSTONE CREAMERY: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the right.
• TCBY: Next to Coldstone Creamery on University Blvd
• BUFFALO PHIL'S: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the left.
• PITA PIT: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the left.
• HUNGRY HOWIE'S: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the left.
• EL RINCON: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the left.
• EGAN'S BAR: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the left.
• TUT'S (Mediterranean): Continuing west on University Blvd, on the right.
• BENTO: Above Tut's.
• JIMMY JOHN'S: Continuing west on University Blvd, on the right
• SURIN OF THAILAND: 9 minutes from the main quad, on the right.
• RUAN THAI: West end of the strip, on the left. See under Top Picks.

OTHER INEXPENSIVE OPTIONS

(Listed by increasing distance from campus.)

• HOOLIGANS: American and Mediterranean. Good gyros, kabobs, veggie wraps. 1915 University Boulevard; 759-2424
• CHLOE'S CUP: Coffeehouse serving good coffees, soups, sandwiches, and desserts (peanut butter pie!).
  2117 University (downtown); 764-0218; Mo-Fr 7a-10p; Sa-Su 9-8 (reduced hours in summer). WiFi.
• DePALMA'S: Italian café with good selection of pastas, pizza, and Italian-style entrees. 2300 University Boulevard; 759-1879; Mon-Thu 11am–10pm; Fri-Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–9pm.
• MUGSHOTS: Burgers, etc. 511 Greensboro Ave (downtown); 391-0572; Mo-Sa 11a-2a; Su 11-8.
• MAGGIE'S DINER: the pinnacle of Soul in T-Town.
  1307 Ty Rogers, Jr, Ave (west of Hwy 69/43/Lurleen Wallace Blvd, north of 15th St; 366-0302; Phone for hours.
• FIG: Good salads, both small and dinner size, as well as sandwiches and good desserts.
  1351 McFarland Blvd. NE; 345-8888. http://www.figintuscaloosa.com/ordereze/1000/Page.aspx.
• CYPRESS INN: pricier than any of the above (particularly in the evening, when a few mains' rise above $20), but with a fine view of the Black Warrior River. Fish, seafood, beef, chicken, pork. 501 Rice Mine Rd N (north of the river; take McFarland to the Rice Mine exit, then west on Rice Mine Rd; 345-6963; Mo-Th 11-2, 5:30-9:30; Fr-Sa 11-2, 5-10; Su 11-2, 5-8. Reservation advised. http://cypressinnrestaurant.com/.

BARBECUE

• DREAMLAND: The famous barbeque joint. Connoisseurs feel the quality has diminished since franchising.
  5535 15th Ave E, Tuscaloosa (off Jug Factory Road); Mo-Th 10-9, Fr-Sa 11-10, Su 11-9 (758-8135); & a franchise
  101 Bridge Ave, Northport (across the river from downtown); Mo-Th 10-9; Fr-Sa 11-10; Su 11-9 (343-6677).
  http://www.dreamlandbbq.com/.
• ARCHIBALD'S: area's best BBQ. Ribs or sliced pork; a spicy vinegar-based sauce light on the tomato; white bread, chips, no sides. Best for carry-out. There are a few picnic tables outside, and a few stools at the counter.
  1211 MLK Blvd., Northport (across the river from downtown); Tu-Fr 10:30-8; Sa 10:30-9 (345-6861) http://www.southernbbqtrail.com/archibalds_bbq.shtml.
  

MORE EXPENSIVE

(many mains in the $20-30 range; reservation advised)

If you want something more upscale (tablecloth; rolled napkin in the wineglass) for the evening, the following are more ambitious than the above. Descriptions are from their respective web sites. Listed by increasing distance from campus ("downtown" is about two miles west of Capstone Hotel, or 1-1/2 miles west of the main quad, along University Blvd).

• EPIPHANY: "Progressive New American with a strong emphasis on local and regional ingredients."
  519 Greensboro Ave (downtown; in the block south of University); 344-5583; Mo-Sa from 5pm
  http://epiphanycafe.vpweb.com/.
• CHUCK'S FISH: "All of our seafood comes from our wholesale market in Destin, Florida. The fish is strictly 'hook and line' caught, by either our own boats or boats we have contracts with. When possible, we use local produce and our meats are all hand cut, either in house or by local markets." 508 Greensboro Ave (downtown; in the block south of University); 248-9370; evenings only http://chucksfish.com/Chucks_Fish/Welcome.html.
• EVANGELINE'S: "Offers the finest dining experience." 1653 McFarland Ave (north of the river; take McFarland NW), around back of a strip shopping center; 752-0830; Tu-Fr 11-2; Mo-Sa from 5 http://www.evangelinesrestaurant.com/.
• KOZY'S : "Tuscaloosa's most romantic restaurant (Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitor's sic Bureau)." Warning: Kozy's threatens a $25 charge for no-shows who made reservations. 3510 Loop Rd (east on Hargrove, left on Circlewood, continue on Loop Rd); 556-0655; Mo-Sa 5-10 http://www.kozysrestaurant.com/.
  

ON YOUR WAY OUT OF TOWN

(off McFarland, on the way to I-20/59)

• MIDTOWN VILLAGE SHOPPING CENTER: (west side of McFarland Blvd south of 15th St.) CHIPOTLE, FIVE GUYS, GIGI'S CUPCAKES, IGUANA GRILL, KOBE, LONGHORN, PANERA, STARBUCKS, STARBUCKS — BARNES & NOBLE, TAZIKI'S, WINGS U, or YOGURT MOUNTAIN.
• MANNA GROCERY: south of Midtown Village, stop at for an organic lunch 2300 McFarland E; 752-9955; served Mo-Fr 11-2:30, Sa 11-2