Murray's Restaurant List

12-29-09 I added the comments in blue several years ago to this partial group of 75 restaurants from my larger restaurant list, for a couple who came for a vacation in Birmingham. Have not updated my full list in 3 years. Legend is at end. Have not added too many of the newer restaurants yet that opened in the past 3 years. There is an incomplete list at the end that shows most of the newer restaurants. Many newer restaurants are not great. It has always been that way. I don’t like paying $25 to $40 each for a meal and as we leave wish that we had gone to Cracker Barrel or The Purple Onion - not gourmet but always tasty food for $10 or less. The restaurant business is hard. Leasing space is expensive. Finding and keeping good experienced chefs with a good sense of taste, good judgment and without excessive ego is not easy. But the consistently best restaurants - in various price ranges, are almost always filled, as they deserve to be - from word of mouth. Let me know if you know restaurants that are very good every time you go (important consistency). Not covering Mexican, Asian, pizza, burger restaurants on this list. I added a red highlight on first letter of some of the better ones below. Murray

Some Birmingham Restaurants Serving Late Night: §•Brio Tuscan Grille 11:00 F/SA, 879-9177, outside in front of Brookwood Village. §•Cheesecake Factory 11:00 SU-TH & 12:30 F/SA, 262-1800, Summit Shopping Center. §•Romano's Macaroni Grill 11:00 F/SA, 298-7998, Summit Shopping Center. §•Purple Onion Deli & Grill 24 hours, 7 days, 941-9812, 479 Green Springs Highway, Homewood. §•O'Henry's Coffees 12:00 F/SA, 870-1198, 2831 18th Street South, Downtown Homewood. §•P.F. Chang's China Bistro 12:00 F/SA, 967-0040, Summit Shopping Center. §•Bottega Cafe 11:00 F/SA, 933-2001, 2242 Highland Avenue §•Olive Garden Italian 11:00 F/SA, 591-0731, 7701 Crestwood Blvd. §•Olive Garden Italian 11:00 F/SA, 985-4696, 3450 Galleria Circle. §•Stix (Japanese/Chinese) 11:00 F/SA, 982-3070, Galleria Circle. §•P's Oriental Gourmet 11:00 F/SA, 985-7966, 2539 Highway 150. §•Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 11:00 F/SA, 262-9463, Summit Shopping Center. Bonefish Grill 11:00 F/SA, 985-9545, 3430 Galleria Circle. §•Kelley's Neighborhood Grill 12:00 TH-SA, 323-9786, 720 29th Street South.
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RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

ALI BABA RESTAURANT 823-2222 1694 MONTG HWAY 6 D M E T 5-9 M/SA
#110 Riverchase Centre 35216. Two months under new owner. Very nice atmosphere. Great service. New chef (his sister) will arrive from Europe 8-26-09. Many new items planned. Will begin lunch soon. Located on right going south on Highway 31, just before I-459, in same strip shopping center as Staples Office Supplies.

BEA'S RESTAURANT 423 867-3618 CHATTANOOGA TN 5 LD L C DC 11-8 W-SU LAZY SUSAN TABLES
All you can eat. Servers continuously bring fresh hot food to the lazy Susan part of the tables including yeast rolls, delicious fried chicken, vegetables, special food items, cobblers. The tables seat 10 people so if a couple, you will be seated with 8 other people that you won't know. 4500 Dodds Avenue Chattanooga TN 37407

BITTY'S BACK PORCH 326-0025 2100 LAKESHORE DR 5 BL M E LP 7:30-9:30, 11-1:30 M-F
Southern Progress Building Homewood 35209. Also, Bitty's Brunch 3rd Sundays 10:30-2:30. $15.99. Kimberly Brock.

BLACK ROCK BISTRO 205 387-0282 JASPER AL 6 LD M E FHKZ 11-2 M-F, 5:30-9:30 TH/F/SA
Two Katrina displaced New Orleans chefs opened restaurant in 2007. Excellent gourmet food, low prices ($11 to $16 dinner entrées. "Fresh gulf seafood, locally grown organic produce and free range beef, poultry, lamb, veal and game are the starting point for dishes created by Chef Lindsey Minor and Chef Greg Kilgore." 40 miles from Birmingham on new I-22. Take Cherry Avenue, a few miles past Finley Avenue, north from Highway 78 to connection to I-22 (Called 78W for now. Watch for it and turn to right off of Hway 78.) gblackrock@aol.com

BOBBIE'S SPORTS BAR/GRILL 640-9979 2325 TOM JONES DRIVE 6 L L C CYH 11-2 M-F MOODY, AL
Very good meat and two vegetable lunch with many extras and free items - 14 miles from Eastwood Mall. Two large pork chops served with pork chop order. Great tasting long thick slice of moist buttered corn bread, slice of tomato, slice of onion, slice of cucumber. $7 includes tea, coffee or cola and tax. They also bring you a free small appetizer and a small dessert, included in price. Bobbie, owner, is also the cook. An experience. Large group of regulars every day. So much good food for $7. Take Moody/Hway 411 Exit 144A from I-20 and turn left. Turn left just before NBC Bank, then first right. Go 150 feet and it is on right.

BONEFISH GRILL 985-9545 3430 GALLERIA CIRCLE 7 D M C KHQ 4-10 M-TH, 11-11 F/SA, 11-9 SU
Hoover 35244. Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer very good.

BOTTEGA ITALIAN REST 939-1000 2240 HIGHLAND AVE 6 D H D XF 6-10:30
Had been exceptional for many years. Had very poor meals there 12-5-08. Off night on $35 to $50 meals is not good.

RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

BOTTEGA CAFE 933-2001 2242 HIGHLAND AVE 6 LD M C BF 11-11
Completely different menu from Bottega Italian Restaurant next door. Large selection of salads, sandwiches, pastas, entrees, desserts and wood-fired-oven pizzas. Low to medium prices.

BRIO TUSCAN GRILLE 879-9177 BROOKWOOD VILLAGE 7 LD H E XH 11-10, 11 F/SA
Consistently excellent. Northern Italian. Excellent steaks, chicken, grilled salmon with delicate very thin, fascinating, not greasy, match stick size, potatoes deep fried for 20 seconds. Crusted tomato halves, great sides and salads, special breads. Chopped salad with creamy parmesan dressing is good. Italian wedding soup available, but not on menu. Potatoes Brio side with special Parmesan sauce on crusty roasted red potatoes is one of the best things I have eaten anywhere. All their Sides are good, including grilled asparagus, onion straws, Romano cheese crusted half tomatoes, roasted vegetables. If not real hungry (or if real hungry) just order 3 or 4 of their large sides and share.

BUTTERMILK HILL REST 256 207-1001 SYLACAUGA 5 LD H E F 11-2 TU-F, 5-10TU-SA
300 East Third Street Sylacauga, AL 35150. In Victorian frame home built in 1904. Also offering private dining rooms. Outdoor marble patio. Owners Scott Preston Smith and Kara McLendon Bacchi.

CAFE DUPONT 322-1282 113 20TH ST NO 5 LD H D F 11-2 TU-F, 5-10TU-SA
High end restaurant. We ate there a year ago and meals were not great.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY 262-1800 236 SUMMIT BLVD 7 LD M C FYQ 11-11 M-TH, 12:30 F/SA, 10-11 SU
Stays open late. Large servings. Excellent food, except their cheesecakes. Soggy crust on many of their cheesecakes especially the ones with the black cookie crusts. $6 or $7 for cheesecake. Two types with special fillings we ate were quite bad. Stopped ordering cheesecake. Original cheesecake may be good. Other prices are very reasonable. Chicken Madeira $15.95, is excellent, one of the best meals in Birmingham, with an incomparable exquisite sauce: Two or three flattened sautéed chicken breasts on a very large plate, topped with thin layer of melted Mozzarella cheese, covered with fresh mushroom Madeira Sauce. With fresh asparagus spears and very tasty mashed new potatoes. Grilled pork chops are very good. Crispy Chicken Costeletta is also excellent: Chicken breasts, lightly breaded and sautéed to a crisp golden brown. Served with lemon sauce, mashed potatoes, asparagus spears. Their large mound of mashed potatoes has a special seasoning. Open until 12:30 Friday and Saturday. 11:00 other nights.

CHEZ FONFON 939-3221 2007 11TH AVE SO 5 LD M E IQ 11-2:30 TU/F, 5-10 TU-SA
Another Stitt restaurant, next door to Highland Bar & Grill. Same kitchen for both. 2/3s the price of Highland. Excellent restaurant. No bad meals. Bowl of olives on tables. Excellent steaks. Great desserts. 6-layer moist cakes.

CHEZ LULU - ENGLISH VILLAGE 870-7011 1911 CAHABA RD 6 LD M C LQ 11-9 TU-TH, 10:30-10:30 F-SU
Eclectic restaurant and menu. Neat decorations. Worth the time for lunch or dinner. Only a few meat dishes. Their Continental Bakery is next door.

CLASSIC ON NOBLE 256 237-5388 ANNISTON, AL 7 LD H E F 11-2 M-F, 5-9:30 TU-SA, 10:30-2:00 SU BRUNCH 1024 Noble Street Anniston 36201. Very expensive. www.classiconnoble.com

COOL BEANS COFFEE HOUSE 871-2665 1014 OXMOOR ROAD 7 BLD M C LQ 6:30-9 M-TH, 11 F; 8-8 SA/SU
Edgewood in Homewood 35209. Espresso. Meals.

COSTA'S MEDITERRANEAN 978-1603 3443 LORNA RD 6 LD M C TO 11-9, 10 F/SA
Italian and Greek food. Excellent restaurant, $11 to $19 range for full dinners. Same food at lunch for less. No bad food except terrible tasting Shrimp Scampi and sauce. Large servings. Grilled salmon is a huge 12 to 16 ounces with great taste from Greek basting used. Chicken Fettuccini entree is great and very rich. Chicken Parmigiana looks like they are trying to feed a family. Homemade salad dressings are excellent. Bleu cheese best in town. Olive oil on table for bread. Ask for small container of Parmesan cheese. Always enough for meal the next day. Has drive thru. Call ahead and order for drive thru.

COSTA'S MEDITERRANEAN 655-9779 5891 TRUSS. CROSS. PKWY 6 LD M C TO 11-9, 10 F/SA
Trussville 35235. Mixed reviews on this location.




RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

CYPRESS INN 205 345-6963 TUSCALOOSA, AL 7 LD M C FHK 11-2 SU-F/5-9:30 M-SU
Very nice casual restaurant. Good fried green tomatoes.

DALE'S SOUTHERN GRILL 987-4757 1843 MONTG HWAY 35244 6 LD M C FC 11-9 M-SA. LUNCH SPECIALS 11-4
Hoover. Strip shopping center on left 0.4 mile past Galleria and Hway 150. Outstanding low to medium priced restaurant for almost gourmet-tasting entrées and sides. There were 6 fried green tomatoes with very good batter, but usually only 3 or 4. Full menu or lunch or dinner specials. Extensive menu. Different lunch and dinner specials weekdays. Pecan crusted whole boneless chicken breast was excellent www.dalessoutherngrills.com

DALE'S SOUTHERN GRILL 824-1350 700 MONTG HWAY 35216 6 LD M C FC 11-9 M-SA. LUNCH SPECIALS 11-4
Vestavia Hills.

DALE'S SOUTHERN GRILL 408-8888 5479 HWAY-280 SO 35242 6 LD M C FC 11-9 M-SA. LUNCH SPECIALS 11-4
Greystone.

DANIEL GEORGE 871-3266 2835 CULVER RD 5 D H E FQ 5:30-9:30 TU-TH, 10 F/SA
High end. Most love it. A few poor meals. Daniel Briggs and George McMillan III.

FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 322-3330 612 22ND ST SO 35233 6 LD M C K 10-9, 10 F/SA
George Sarris restaurant. Very good, inexpensive, $10 to $14 for a full meal. Many selections of very fresh fish, shrimp. Grilled fish with special sauce is great. Great hush puppies. Steamed cabbage with olive oil and onions (pints to go $2.19), and steamed broccoli (all florets, no stalks) - both excellent. Green beans also very good, with a few onions. Other vegetables. Greek salad with feta cheese is good. Nice desserts available. Very casual place. Stand in line to place order, get drink glass, find table and wait until buzzer signals food is ready. Lunches $2 to $4 cheaper. Children under 12 are $3 less. Fried fish only lightly floured and pan sautéed, not deep fried. Have not ordered their spicy shrimp lately, and many other styles. Before moving, they used to add 6 to 10 additional shrimp to order and same for fried oysters. Also, Franchise 1: 1681 Montgomery Hway Hoover, AL 35216 823-3474 - owned by Drakos and Kartos families. And Franchise 2: 5407 Highway 280 Birmingham, AL 35242 980-8600 - owned by Drakos and Kartos.

FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE 262-9463 103 SUMMIT BLVD 7 D H E F 4:30-9:00 SU, 10:00 M-TH, 11:00 F/SA
Expensive, a la carte. Special ‘Memorable Meal’ with Lobster. $49.50 each. No substitutions if ordering this meal. Includes very nice bread with two tasty unsweetened butters, salad with delicious thick blue cheese and ranch dressings, 6 ounce tender sweet lobster tail, 6 ounce steak filet cooked perfectly, large tender snow peas with a few sautéed onion slices and thin carrot sticks, soaked in a tasty light marinade. Scalloped potatoes with delicious baked cheese toppings and a thick tasty unusual filling. Plus dessert. Special touches during meal. Was mediocre five years ago. Probably best restaurant in Birmingham now, along with Ocean. $5 less for this meal with shrimp. Many other menu items. Can order appetizers, salads, sides only. Sign up for their emails to receive weekly special meals offered. Floor manager watches servers and chefs.

FRANKLINS HOMEW'D GOUR. 871-1620 1919 28TH AVE SO 6 LD M C L 10:30-7 M-F, 5 SA
Chef Franklin Biggs. Homewood 35209. Lunch and dinner. Catering. Private dinners. Also meals to go and delivery.

GIANMARCO'S 871-9622 721 BROADWAY 6 LD M E OKFQ 11-2 W-F, 5-10 M-SA
Homewood 35209. Many consider it great. Our meals on our only visit two years ago did not taste good so we have not been back. Some other friends do not like it.

HIGHLANDS BAR & GRILLE 939-1400 2011 11TH AVE SO 5 D H D FQ 6-10 TU-TH, 10:30 F/SA
Frank Stitt’s nationally acclaimed restaurant. We ate there in April 2008 and were not impressed. Too many experimental dishes that are not good. His Chez Fonfon next door to Highlands is always excellent. See above.

JASON'S DELI 877-8477 BROOKWOOD VILLAGE 7 LD L C L 10-10 3 excellent delis
JASON'S DELI 987-8740 3032 HWAY 150 7 LD L C L 10-10
JASON'S DELI 995-4933 4740 HWAY 280 7 LD L C L 10-10 Near Fresh Market
Huge bowls of soup and chili. Best salad bar anywhere, with many extras and special items. Good sandwiches.






RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

JOE'S ITALIAN PIZZA, PASTA & CAFE 663-4111 ALABASTER 6 LD M C OQ 10:30-9 M-TH, 10:00 F/SA
No Reservations. Giuseppe and Elvira Bertolone (Joe and Mamma) moved from Italy to U.S. in 1977. Opened restaurant in Gilroy, California, San Francisco Bay Area, in 1981. Sold in 2007. Moved here to be near children. 20 tables. 30 minute wait at rush times. Great service. Bread and basil olive oil. Soup or salad with dinners, including pizzas. Large servings. Prices reasonable $8 to $14. Click View the Menu for menu, history, family, other. Click Get Directions. I-65 South. Turn at tank farm. Spaghetti and meatballs, $7.95, did not have near enough tomato sauce. Lasagna, $9.25, was unusual and very good, though not much meat. Waitress strongly suggested ordering those two dishes on first visit since they were "so good". Other dishes probably better to order. Very large sautéed mushroom appetizer, $8.95, was excellent. One dessert with a malt ball on top, strange tasting white upper half, and bottom half of chocolate cake, was inedible. 2nd visit will better tell the story.

KELLEY’S NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL 323-9786 720 29TH ST SO 6 LD L C EHKC 11-10 M-TH, 12 F/SA (LUNCH 11-4)
Where OT’s was. Kelley Harris worked at OT’s from 1994 until it closed in 2008. She completely rebuilt the inside of the restaurant. Carolyn Green is daytime chef. Mike Lee past soux chef at Fox Valley is nighttime chef. Delicious very greasy very thin onion straws. Delicious fried dill pickles with parmesan ranch sauce - feeds three.

NABEEL'S CAFE 879-9292 1706 OXMOOR RD 6 LD M C JTOE 10-9:30
Very pleasant dining experience. Very reasonable costs. Greek/Northern Italy. Great service. Roasted Bulgarian peppers over 3 large slices of French feta cheese appetizer is great. Many entrees $9.95, with nice salad and delicate house dressing, fried pita chips (ask for them if missing) and bread. Pastitsio, $9.95, is excellent. 3 good soups. Great desserts. Neighborhood restaurant atmosphere. Also, they have a market open from 10 to 7 with cheeses, olives and many other items. Warning: For all of its good points, good tastes, low prices and atmosphere, their higher priced entree meals (John's Steak) and nightly specials are not always good or tasty. There are plenty of items to enjoy without gambling on some of their higher priced meals that are their weak point.

NEW ORLEANS FOOD & SPIRITS 822-7655 1919 KENTUCKY AVE 6 LD M C Z 11-9 M-TH, 10 F/SA VESTAVIA Original restaurant still in N.O. N.O. native said to try crawfish VooDoo Rolls and Crawfish Corn Soup. You can have mine. Click on following website for Menus and special activities every day www.neworleansfoodandspirits.com

O'CARR'S DELI 879-2196 2909 18TH ST SO 5 L L C LQ 10-4 TU-SA
Excellent sandwiches with thin slices of cucumber. Very good quiche. Milkshakes with fresh fruit. Also in Cahaba Heights.

OCEAN RESTAURANT 933-0999 1218 20TH ST SO 5 D H E KHQ 5:30-10 TU-TH, 10:30 F/SA
Perhaps best in Birmingham, along with Fleming’s. Consistently excellent. Specialize in fish, but great steaks and chicken also. Stack of 3/8" thick fried green tomatoes with spicy shrimp and special sauce is one of the best dishes I've ever tasted, with Japanese Panko bread or cracker crumb batter. Everything from kitchen tastes good. Excellent desserts. Unique attractive serving dishes add to experience. Their restaurant 26, next door for lunch and dinner is less expensive, uses same kitchen and has been rated very good also.

O'HENRY'S COFFEES 870-1198 2831 18TH ST SO 7 BLD L C LQ 6-10 M-TH, 12 F/SA; 8-8 SU
Large selection of excellent desserts. Stays open late Friday and Saturday.

OLEXA'S 871-2060 2838 CULVER RD 6 BL M E PLQ 10-4 MT. BROOK VILLAGE
This is one of their moist delicious cakes: Cloud Nine: Our famous buttercreme cake folded with clouds of real whipped creme and berry garnish. Your choice of French vanilla buttercreme with caramel, chocolate fudge buttercreme with ganache or French vanilla buttercreme with sugared strawberries. $5.95

OLIVE BRANCH MEDIT. CUIS. 967-4600 3236 CAHABA HTS RD 6 LD M C TKHL 11-2:30/5-9 M-SA

OLIVE GARDEN ITALIAN REST 591-0731 7701 CRESTWOOD BLVD 7 LD M C XF 11-10 M-TH; 11 F/SA
Was not too good for many years. Dramatic improvement. Delicious high end entrees with very nice sauces that day. All you can eat large bowl of salad has a great house dressing, never too sharp. All salad greens, onions, tomatoes, olives, peppers tossed and coated with dressing. Servers grate Parmesan cheese on salads and entrees. Bread sticks. Excellent servers and manager checking on tables and service. Many of their chefs are now being sent to Italy for a training course.

OLIVE GARDEN ITALIAN REST 985-4696 3450 GALLERIA CIRCLE 7 LD M C XF 11-10 M-TH, 11 F/SA



RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

THE PEDDLER 865 436-5794 GATLINBURG TN 7 D H E F 5-10 SU-F, 4:30-10 SA
Excellent. Exceptional salad bar with many appetizer type items also. Only room for tiny entrée after this salad bar. Old time yeast rolls.

P.F. CHANG'S CHINA BISTRO 967-0040 233 SUMMIT BLVD 7 LD M C M 11-10, 12 F/SA
Said to be excellent. High end.

PICCADILLY CAFETERIA 987-1660 1851 MONTG HWAY 7 LD L C NCQP 11-8:30 M-F, 8-8:30 SA-SU
Excellent cafeteria and food. Huge fried fish almondine with excellent tartar sauce. After passing Galleria go 1/4th mile on Highway 31 to a strip shopping center on left.

THE PITA STOP 328-2749 1106 12TH ST SO 6 LD L C TKHL 11-9:30 M-TH, 11-2:30/5-10 F/SA
The first of the Mediterranean/American restaurants. Great presentation of kebab, wild rice pilaf, salad, fruit in a 9" x 13" Pyrex bowl. Very good restaurant and tastes.

PURPLE ONION DELI 941-9979 479 GREEN SPRINGS HWY 7 BLD L C T 24 HOURS
Inexpensive. Great tastes. Grilled Chicken Breast, $7.50, cut in pieces and grilled with special sauce and sautéed vegetables plus salad and fruit is very tasty. Open 24 hours. Nice patio outside or indoor booths.

P'S ORIENTAL GOURMET 985-7966 2539 HWAY 150 7 LD M C MU 10-10, 11 F-SU
Whole menu of exotic dishes. Dim Sum dishes Saturday and Sunday.

RED PEARL REST/MARKET 945-9558 243 WEST VALLEY AVE 6 LD M C M 10-8:30 M
A part of China in Birmingham. Live seafood. Select your live eel, etc.

ROMANO'S MACARONI GRILL 298-7998 241 SUMMIT BLVD. 7 LD M E FQ 10:30-10 SU-TH, 11 F/SA
Very good food and special bread. Low prices. 16 ounce ribeye steak recently was very tender and cooked perfectly.

SATTERFIELD'S 969-9690 3161 CAHABA HTS RD 6 LD H E HKF 11-2 M-SA, 5-10 M-TH, 10:30 F/SA
Poor unappetizing menu for a year so did not stay to eat. My son ate there and said new chef prepared excellent meals for him and a friend. When he returned a week later meal was not good.

SAW’S BARBEQUE 879-1937 1008 OXMOOR RD 6 LD M C S 11-8 M-TH, 9 F/SA
Homewood 35209. Mike Wilson. Pulled pork is tasty without added sauce and chicken (use white sauce). Get sauce for pork on the side. Very good pork ribs. Good potato salad, collards, baked potatoes, and macaroni and cheese. Call for carry out.

TED'S RESTAURANT 324-2911 328 12TH ST SO 35233 5 BL M C JNPC 7-10, 10:30-2:30 M-F

TED'S TO GO RESTAURANT 324-2911 1801 4TH AVE SO 35233 5 BL M C JNPC 7-10, 10:30-2:30 M-F

TOP OF THE RIVER 256 238-0097 ANNISTON, AL 7 D M C KH 5-9 M-TH, 10 F; 4-10 SA,11:30-9 SU

TOP OF THE RIVER 256 547-9817 GADSDEN, AL 7 D M C KH 5-9 M-TH, 5-10 F; 4-10 SA, 12-8 SU

VERANDA ON HIGHLAND 939-5551 2220 HIGHLAND AVE SO 6 D H D F 5:30-10 TU-SA, 11-2 JAZZ BRUNCH
Birmingham 35205. Beautifully renovated 1920s southern home. Dine in nine separate dining rooms amidst fireplaces and stained glass windows or on patio or upstairs on veranda. Executive Chef Tom Robey after 18 years at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. Dining Room Manager Stan Reynolds after 21 years at Commander’s Palace.

THE VICTORIA HOTEL 256 236-0503 ANNISTON, AL 6 BD H D PF 6-9AM M-F, 7-11 SA/SU, 6PM-10M-SA
Before closing for a year this was an outstanding restaurant with very classy atmosphere, exceptional food and pianist on grand piano. Reopening October 1, 2009.

VILLAGE TAVERN 970-1640 101 SUMMIT BLVD 7 LD M/H E HKR 11-10 M-TH, 11 F/SA, 10-10 SU
Excellent food. On far right side of The Summit, close to Highway 280, closer to Saks, next to Flemings, down below street level of The Summit.





GROUP II

RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM 989-8289 PATTON CREEK CENTER 7 - M C – 11-9 M-TH, 10 F/SA, 12-8 SU

BENEDIKT'S 205 274-0230 ONEONTA, CO. HWY 27 6 BLD L C CHQ 9-3 TU-TH, 8:30-8:30 F/SA, 11-4 SU
Neat country food buffet. Outstanding lightly battered fried chicken wishbones, but other fried chicken not very good. Their steaks are too thin and not good. Sunday lunch buffet is best. Something different and a pretty drive from Springville Exit 154 from I-59. Go on through red light at Highway 11 to County Highway 27 and travel 11 or so miles. On right.

BONGIORNO ITALIAN REST 879-5947 68 CHURCH ST 35213 6 LD M C ORQ 11-2:30/5-10 M-SA
Crestline Village. One of the very few authentic Italian restaurants in Birmingham, but hit or miss.

DREAMLAND BAR-B-Q 933-2133 1427 14TH AVE SO 7 LD M C SG 10-10; 11 F/SA, 10-9 SU
Slabs of pork ribs with extra sauce and white bread. Chicken. Very good banana pudding. Macaroni and cheese uses soupy poor cheese. Other sides. Usually best ribs in Birmingham. Also located in Tuscaloosa.

FIRE 802-1410 CRESTLINE VILLAGE 6 LD H E HKE 11-2 TU-F & SU, 4:30-9:30 TU-SA
35213. Some rave. My son went August 2008 and said salad dressing and two appetizers were poor so did not order entrees. Behind Piggly Wiggly.

HOT & HOT FISH CLUB 933-5474 2180 11TH CT SO 5 D H E F 5:30-10:30 TU-SA
Many consider it excellent. Ate there years ago. Nearly starved so haven't been back. Also, later ordered one cup of coffee. Waiter brought a fancy pot of coffee and left it without comment. The bill showed $5 (fifteen years ago) for coffee. Dishonest.
My gourmet cousin says meals, presentation, ambiance are outstanding and eats there every month or so. Pricey. $10 martinis, etc., prevent them eating there more often.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S 871-5171 BROOKWOOD VIL. 7 LD H E KH 11-10 SU-TH, 11 F/SA
Totally a fish restaurant at first but added steaks, meats and poultry. Some think it is good. Others do not like it. Mixed reviews. Not worth the gamble.

MISS MYRA'S PIT BBQ 967-6004 3278 CAHABA HTS. RD 6 BLD L C S 7-8; 9 F/SA
Almost always excellent barbeque restaurant. Great white sauce for chicken. Vegetables.

NIKI'S WEST 252-5751 233 FINLEY AVE WEST 6 BLD L C NPCK 6-9 M-SA
Huge restaurant. Cafeteria line. Meat and three. Huge selection of meats, vegetables and desserts. Don’t stop to use phone on Finley Avenue or buy gas, and be nervous when stopped at stop lights - day or night. Neat experience.

RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 879-9995 EMBASSY SUITES 7 LD H E HF 11-11 HOMEWOOD
Not my favorite. No marinade on steaks. Everything is a la carte. Most like it. Mixed reviews this past year.

SAVAGE'S BAKERY 871-4901 2916 18TH ST SO 6 L L C LQ 7:30-5:30 M-F, 5 SA
Homewood. Best bakery cakes in Birmingham. Order cooked chocolate icing for layer cakes. Order chopped pecans on top and 1 1/2 inches down below top on side of icing. Few bakeries offer cooked icing anymore.

STIX (JAPANESE/CHINESE) 982-3070 GALLERIA CIRCLE 7 LD M C UM 11-2/4:30-10, 11 F/SA

SURIN WEST 324-1928 1918 11TH AVE SO 7 LD M C W 11:30-2:30/5:30-9:30

TAJ INDIA 939-3805 2226 HIGHLAND AVE 7 LD M C A 11-2/5-10

LEGEND: BLD = BREAKFAST/LUNCH/DINNER. COST: LMH = LOW/MEDIUM/HIGH. WEAR: CDE = CASUAL/DRESSY/EITHER.

TYPES: A=INDIAN B=ENTREES, SANDWICHES, 8" THIN PIZZAS C=HOME STYLE MEAT & VEGETABLES D=ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET E=APPETIZERS, SOUP, SANDWICHES F=FULL MENU G=CHICKEN, TURKEY H=STEAK & CHICKEN I=FRENCH J=GREEK K=SEAFOOD L=SANDWICHES, SOUP, SALAD, PASTRY, DELI M=CHINESE N=CAFETERIA LINE O=ITALIAN P=BREAKFAST/PANCAKES OR BAGELS Q=SPECIAL DESSERTS R=PIZZA, SALAD, PASTA S=BAR-B-Q T=MEDITERRANEAN, MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD, KEBABS U=JAPANESE V=MEXICAN W=THAI X=NORTHERN ITALIAN, VEAL, FISH, LAMB Y=HAMBURGERS Z=CAJUN, CREOLE, LOUISIANA, NEW ORLEANS

Note re new restaurant in Birmingham (See listing above, in top section): “ Murray, Don't know if you have tried New Orleans Food & Spirits on Kentucky Avenue in Vestavia Hills. Many restaurants claim to have New Orleans original food, but I assure you this one does. It is my favorite restaurant in New Orleans, and I eat at this one every time I come to Birmingham. Same taste especially the crawfish VooDoo Rolls and the Crawfish Corn Soup.” Harry Dufrene
________________________________________

Caution for a few new restaurants, and some older ones that have changed hands: The menu may have been compiled by their resident poet. May or may not be true: Grain fed, grass finished, certified organic, natural, branded beef products. Aged certified Black Angus beef. Free range chickens. Or a filet mignon arrives as a 7/8 inch thick 6 inch long piece of tough meat of unknown origin - with lots of gristle.

Very poor: Zaxby’s, except excellent chicken fingers. Baskits on Green Springs Hway in Homewood is very poor including overcooked chicken fingers, in old grease, that they proclaim are the best in town.
________________________________________

My definition of an excellent restaurant: Everything brought to table tastes good - not just half or three-fourths: Bread, butter, soup, appetizer, salad, dressing, entrée, vegetables on entrée plate, dessert. Soup, vegetables and entrée hot. Thin good tasting batter, light on cornmeal - or no cornmeal (Prefer delicious Japanese Panko bread batter, cracker crumb batter, bread crumb batter, herbed flour batter). No honey in butter. No sugar, or very little, in rolls, cornbread or vegetables. Entrée cooked the way it was ordered. Entrée not sitting on or beside a bed of unseasoned white rice, or on top of collards, or soaking in a half inch of liquid with black eyed peas or long white beans (stretching to be creative). Broccoli, green beans and squash cooked at least medium; not just warmed. No more than one tiny piece of zucchini squash. No haricot vert (three inch long slender crunchy tasteless green beans). Salad greens that are not hard (no red radicchio) and not bitter. White onions taste better to me than red onions used by some chefs for color. Obviously people have different tastes. Small great tasting unordered food appetizers create a nice feeling. Good bread and seasoned olive oil, parmesan grated on food by server, sometimes make the difference. I usually know in five to ten minutes if I will return to a restaurant - and if I will tell others about this great restaurant and their great food and service. Or tell them not to eat here. It really helps if a restaurant has one or more dishes with such a special taste that one to fourteen days later you have an a strong desire to return. The Fants raved about the scalloped potatoes at Fleming’s. We could not imagine scalloped potatoes being that special. But they were - with their delicious baked cheese toppings and an unusual thick tasty filling. We will return just for those.

Murray 12-29-09
________________________________________

Following are incomplete:

RESTAURANT 12-29-09 PHONE LOCATION DAYS MEALS COST WEAR TYPE HOURS

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE 871-7849 2418 MONTEVALLO RD 7 BL M C PL 6:30-2, 7-2 SA/SU
AMORE RISTORANTE ITALIANO 437-1005 GREYSTONE CTR
APLEBEE’S
AVO CAHABA RD/MONTEVALLO RD
BAMBINELLI’S 871-2423 OLD CIAO
BEEF ‘O’ BRADY’S TRUSSVILLE HWAY 11 BY DON’S CARPETS
BELLA CUCINA 995-1770 LEE BRANCH
BELLINI’S RISTORANTE/BAR CAHABA VALLEY RD
BETTOLA 731-6499 PEPPER PLACE
BILLY’S BAR & GRILL 879-2238 ENGLISH VIL
BLACK MARKET BAR COLONADE
BLACK PEARL ASIAN CUIS 262-9888 3419 COLONNADE PKY
BLUFF PARK DINER
BOGUE’S INVERNESS 280
BOTTLETREE CAFÉ 533-6288 3RD AVE SO
BROAD STREET GRILLE 423-756-3400 CHATTANOOGA
BUFFALO AMERICAN GRILLE OLD LOCAL
CAFÉ DE PARIS 202-4024
CAFÉ LAZIO PATTON CREEK
CAJUN STEAMER TRUSSVILLE
CARINO’S ITALIAN GRILL PATTON CREEK
CHUCK’S FISH 995-0495 280
CITY HALL DINER 824-3655
COOL BEANS COFFEEHOUSE 871-2665 EDGEWOOD
CRAPE MYRTLE’S
DEEP SOUTH SEAFOOD 678-4701 CHELSEA
DRAM WHISKEY BAR DOWNSTAIRS FROM AVO
DYRON’S LOW COUNTRY 834-8257 CRESTLINE VIL
EZELL’S FISH CAMP PELHAM
FIREBIRD’S OF BHAM 733-2002 191 MAIN ST PATTON CREEK HOOVER
FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 980-8600 5407 HWAY 280 35226 6 LD M C K 10-9, 10 F/SA To be revised
FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 823-3474 1681 MONT HWAY 35226 6 LD M C K 10-9, 10 F/SA
FISH MARKET RESTAURANT 668-2024 4570 HWAY 31 CALERA 6 LD M C K 10-9, 10 F/SA
FOX VALLEY 664-8341
GREENS ‘N’ BEANS MOODY
GREY HOUSE GRILL 414-1755 1830 29 AVE SO H’WOOD
HEADS ‘N’ TAILS SEAFOOD GR PATTON CREEK
HUMPHREY’S HOME BUFFET VALLEY AVE
JACKSON’S BAR & BISTRO 870-9669 SOHO
JAY’S FAMILY REST NASHVILLE
JINSEI JAPENESE 802-1440
KATHY G THE GARDENS CAFÉ
KIMONO JAPANESE REST 995-5001 5426 HWAY 280
LANA’S MAMA SPRINGVILLE
LITTLE SAVANNAH REST 591-1119 3811 CLAIRMONT SVE
MAKARIOS KEBAB & GR 731-7415 940 20TH ST SO
MAMA’S DINER 655-1690 TRUSSVILLE (TRIO’S)
MAX’S DELICATESSEN 968-7600 COLONADE
MICHAEL’S STEAK/SEAFOOD 982-0144 GALLERIA
MISS ROSE MARIE’S 980-8335 LD M
MONETTE’S LEE BRANCH
MR. P’s BUTCHER SHOP/DELI 823-6136
NANA PUDDIN’
NINO’S ITALIAN REST PELHAM
O’CARR’S REST 967-4173 CAHABA HEIGHTS
OPEN DOOR CAFÉ 879-6659
OYSTERS & STUFF FULTONDALE
THE PITA CAFÉ 402-7482 150 WALMART
RED ROBIN BURGERS PINNACLE MALL
THE RED GERANIUM CAFÉ 685-0100 PELHAM
ROGUE TAVERN 202-4151 2312 2ND AVE NO 35203
ROJO 328-4733 2921HIGHLAND AVE
SANTA FE CATTLE CO 685-0440 PELHAM
SANTA FE STEAKHOUSE LEEDS
SANTA FE STEAKHOUSE BESSEMER
SAT--- GOURMET MT. LAUREL
SEAFOOD HARBOR MCCALLA
SEKISUI JAPANESE REST 980-7775700 MONTG HWAY
SILVERTRON
SMITH’S OYSTERS &STEAKS DUNSTON
SPICED PEAR TEA ROOM INVERNESS
SPRINGHOUSE LAKE MARTIN HASTINGS
SWAMP JOHN’S REST 685-1633 PELHAM
SWEET BONES ALABAMA
TAZIKI’S GREEK FARE 301 18TH ST SO
TED’S TO GO 326-2134
TERRA CAFÉ 256 847-3300 ANNISTON FORT MCCLELLAND
THACKER’S ALABASTER COLONIAL PROMENADE
TILTED KILT OLD COPELANDS 7 LD M C B 11AM-12PM SU-W, 2AM TH-SA
TWENTY SIX 26 918-0726
URBAN STANDARD 2320 2ND AVE NO
V. RICHARDS 591-7000
VIZZINI FARMS WINERY 685-O655 CALERA
WRIGHT DAIRY ICE CREAM 980-8844
ZEA ROTISSERIE & GRILL 380-3118 BROOKWOOD VIL 7 LD H E 11:00-10:00 SU-TH, 11:00 FR-SA
www.zearestaurants.com

CHRISTMAS- YOU JUST MIGHT BE A SCROOGE!

You Just Might Be A Scrooge...



If your only contact with three spirits on Christmas Eve is gin, vodka and bourbon -- you just might be a Scrooge



If you turn on the lawn sprinklers on Christmas Eve to keep carolers away -- you just might be a Scrooge



If you buy all of your Christmas gifts at a store that also sells gas -- you just might be a Scrooge



If your favorite version of "Babes in Toyland" stars Michael Jackson -- you just might be a Scrooge



If you get your Christmas Tree at a rest stop at night -- you just might be a Scrooge



If you give bathroom fixtures as Christmas gifts -- you just might be a Scrooge



If your prized Christmas ornament is Santa Claus shooting the moon - you just might be a Scrooge



If your favorite Christmas movie is Jurassic Park - you just might be a Scrooge



If your idea of Christmas dinner is a six pack of beer and a cheese log -you just might be a Scrooge



If you think "Ho, Ho, Ho" is a line from a Rocky movie -- you just might be a Scrooge



If your best Christmas tradition involves a fire and reindeer meat - you just might be a Scrooge



If your favorite version of "Silent Night" is sung by OJ Simpson -- you just might be a Scrooge



If your favorite past time is putting defective bulbs in your
neighbors' string of Christmas lights or defacing Christmas lawn caricatures with egg nog - you just might be a Scrooge



And, finally - if your only holiday decoration is a rotting pumpkin - you just might be a Scrooge

CAN YOU NAME THESE CHRISTMAS SONGS?

CAN YOU NAME THESE CHRISTMAS SONGS?

1. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas

2. Boulder of the tinkling metal spheres

3. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling

4. Wanted in December: top forward incisors

5. The apartment of two psychiatrists

6. The lad is a diminutive percussionist

7. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis

8. Decorate the entryways

9. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element

10. Oh small Israel urban center

11. Far off in a haybin

12. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole

13. Duodecimal enumeration of the passage of the yuletide season

14. Leave and broadcast from an elevation

15. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season

16. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully

17. As the guardians of the woolly animals protected their charges in the dark
hours

18. I beheld a trio of nautical vessels moving in this direction

19. Jubilation to the entire terrestrial globe

20. Do you perceive the same vibrations which stimulate my auditory sense organ?

21. A joyful song of reverence relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate
and bring forth a ringing sound when struck

22. Parent was observed osculating a red-coated unshaven teamster

23. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans

24. Rose-colored uncouth dolf is aware of the nature of precipitation, darling

Answers

1. Oh Holy Night

2. Jingle Bell Rock

3. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer

4. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

5. The Nutcracker Suite

6. Little Drummer Boy

7. Silent Night

8. Deck the Halls

9. Silver Bells

10. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

11. Away in a Manger

12. We Three Kings

13. The Twelve Days of Christmas

14. Go Tell It on the Mountain

15. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

16. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

17. While the Shepherds Guarded Their Flocks By Night

18. I Saw Three Ships

19. Joy to the World

20. Do You Hear What I Hear?

21. Carol of the Bells

22. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

23. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

24. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Down at the Whitehouse

TERRY BRADSHAW IN AFGHANISTAN

TERRY BRADSHAW IN AFGHANISTAN

Round of Tiger Woods jokes...

Never let it be said that golfers don't have odd senses of humor!

• Did you hear that Phil Mickelson called Elin Nordegren? He asked her for some tips on beating Tiger.
• The police asked Tiger's wife how many times she hit him. "I can't remember," Elin said, "just put me down for a 5."
• Ping has a new set of irons called Elins.  You can beat Tiger with them.
• What does Tiger Woods have in common with a baby seal? They've both been clubbed by a Norwegian.
• Elin has agreed to stay with Tiger if he changed his name to Cheetah.
• Tiger's other women aren't mistresses. They're provisionals (a ball put into play in case it turns out your 1st is unplayable, say in a hazard)
• Did you hear Nike's new motto? Just do me.
• Tiger crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. He couldn't decide between a wood and an iron.
• What's the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a golf ball 400 yards.
• Tiger Woods is so rich that he owns lots of expensive cars. Now he has a hole-in-one.
• Tiger has a new movie coming out. It's called Crouching Tiger, Hidden Hydrant.
• Stephen Colbert: "Tiger always gives 110 percent. That is why he gave 100 percent to his wife and still had 10 percent left over for his alleged mistress."
• Conan O'Brien: "One of the women who claims she slept with Tiger Woods says they never talked about golf while having sex. However, contractually Tiger was obligated to talk about Nike, Gatorade and American Express."

·         What don't Santa Claus and Tiger Woods have in common?    Santa Claus stops after just 3 Ho's!!!

 

Study Reveals the Angriest Americans

Andrea Thompson-senior Writer
livescience.com – Thu Dec 3, 2:35 pm ET


Anger is more likely among the young, those with children at home, and the less educated, a new study finds.

A national survey of 1,800 Americans aged 18 and older questioned participants on how and when they feel angry in order to build "a broader social portrait of anger in the United States," said study researcher Scott Schieman, now at the University of Toronto.

These angry emotions range from mild annoyance to yelling and feelings of outrage.

While anger is a normal human emotion, it could be detrimental if you hold on to it too long. And those who express their anger might actually live longer than those who keep it bottled in, one study found.

The results of the survey, conducted in 2005 and to be published next year, showed several key connections to anger.

For one, people under 30 experienced anger of all forms or intensities more frequently than did older adults. This was mainly due to the fact that young people are more likely to be affected by three core stressors that can trigger angry feelings, Schieman said:

* Time pressures
* Economic hardship
* Interpersonal conflict at the workplace

Time pressures had the strongest link to anger, especially low-grade versions termed "feelings of annoyance," the study found.

Those who were under financial strain tended to report higher levels of anger, a connection that could be particularly important in today's flagging economy, Schieman noted. The financial influence tended to be stronger among women and younger adults.

Having children was also associated with angry feelings and behaviors, such as yelling, particularly in women, the survey found.

"There's obviously a lot of joys and benefits that come with parenthood," but other aspects of parenting, such as having to discipline a misbehaving child, can cause feelings of anger and annoyance, Schieman said.

Those with fewer years of education were also more likely to report feelings of anger and were less likely to respond proactively in a situation that made them angry (for example, talking about what made them angry).

"It underscores the power of getting more education," Schieman said. Education has been linked to feeling more self-control, which could be why those with more education tend to manage their anger more proactively, he told LiveScience.

Schieman's findings will be detailed in a chapter of the forthcoming International Handbook of Anger, to be released in January 2010.

Crisco

A little old guy is walking around in a supermarket calling out, Crisco, Crissssssscoooo!'

Soon an assistant manager approaches and says, 'Sir, the Crisco is in aisle 3.'

The old guy replies, 'Oh, I'm not looking for the cooking stuff. I'm calling my wife. She's in here somewhere'

The clerk is astonished.

'Your wife's name is Crisco?'

The old guy answers, 'Oh no, no, no. I only call her that when we're out in public.'

'I see,' said the clerk.


'What do you call her at home?'

'Lard ass.'

Words of Wisdom from those we look up to

Real Quotes from Real Athletes Baseball season has ended. Football season saturates the airwaves and our consciousness. Basketball season is just beginning. We thought some real quotes from our better educated athletes might be timely – and entertaining. ) Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I wan' all dem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate." ) New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first." ) Upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too." ) Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." ) Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." ) Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh : "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes." ) Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height.." And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle." ) Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton." ) Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes." ) Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is." ) Chuck Nevitt, North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt." ) Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, 'Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.'" ) Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject." ) In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford, "I can go to my left or right. I am amphibious."

do whatever you want

Four guys spend weeks planning the perfect football outing for an away  game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Two days before the group is to leave Frank's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going. Frank's friends are very upset that he can't go, but what can they do? On game day, two days later, the three get to the stadium site only to find Frank already sitting in his seat with a beer in one hand and a hot dog in the other.  "Damn man, how long you been here, and how did you talk your wife into letting you go?"  "Well, I've been here since yesterday. The other evening, I was sitting in my chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and said 'guess who'?"  I pulled her hands off and she was wearing a brand new see-through nightie.  She took my hand and led me to our bedroom. The room had two dozen candles and rose petals all over. On the bed she had handcuffs and ropes!  She told  me to tie her up and cuff her to the bed, and so I did.   And then she said "Now, do whatever you want."  So here I am!!!

Social Media Addicts Association Meeting

SENIOR HEALTHCARE SOLUTION

Senior health care solution according to Maxine




So you're a senior citizen and the government says
no health care for you, what do you do? Our plan

gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets.
Your are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives.
Of Course, this means you will be sent to prison

where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head,
and all the health care you need! New teeth,
no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip,
knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered.
And who will be paying for all of this? The same

government that just told you that you are too old
for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner,
you don't have to pay any stoopid old income taxes
anymore.

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?!

Experiment in Corporate Productivity

The Obama economy is so bad.

The Obama economy is so bad...
* Creflo Dollar had to change his name to Creflo Quarter
* Politicians are offering layaway plans for bribes
* Dollar Stores now have signs that say, "Just Four Easy Payments
of $0.25!"
"Made in Taiwan" is now considered a designer label
* Everyone showed up to your Halloween party as a hobo * - and
they weren't wearing costumes
* David Letterman had to write one of his own jokes
* They had to close the Starbucks across the street from the
Starbucks
* Betty Crocker started a new product line called "Roadkill
Helper"
* If you call in the next 10 minutes you get nothing extra, but
you still have to pay additional shipping and handling
* When a woman says she'll give you a blow job, your first thought
is employment opportunity
* Lesbians are wearing flannel shirts - to keep warm
* We're finally protecting our borders - to keep Americans from
sneaking into Mexico
* J.C. Penney is now called J.C.I.O.U.
* I got a letter that says I'm pre-declined for a credit card
* CBS can only afford to film 20 minutes worth of 60 minutes
* The "Special" at my grocery store is "Buy One, Get One"
* eHarmony is allowing sheep to register for potential dates
* Police have to use prank hand buzzers instead of tasers (don't
hand-buzz me, bro)
* Joel Osteen is now preaching the Austerity Gospel
* I won't take credit for writing these jokes without sufficient
collateral
Stolen from Twitter...
* A picture is now only worth 200 words
* Kenya now claims Barack Obama wasn't born there
* It only takes one lick to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll
Pop
* When I get a message from the bank about "insufficient funds" I
wonder if it means me or them
* Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore
* Chicago politicians are laying off judges

But what do you think?

It Don't Cost Nothing to be Nice

A beautiful life lesson and one of
the best of Bear Bryant's legacy.

It Don't Cost Nothing to be Nice

At a Touchdown Club meeting many years before his death Coach Paul Bear Bryant told the following:

I had just been named the new head coach at Alabama and was off in my old car down in South Alabama recruiting a prospect who was supposed to have been a pretty good player and I was having trouble finding the place.

Getting hungry I spied an old cinder block building with a small sign out front that simply said Restaurant. I pull up go in and every head in the place turns to stare at me. Seems I'm the only white in the place. But the food smelled good so I skip the tables and go to a cement bar and sit. A big ole man in a tee shirt and cap comes over and says "What do you need?"

I told him I needed lunch and what did they have today?

He said "You probably won't like it here. Today we're having chitlins, collared greens and black eyed peas with cornbread. I'll bet you don't even know what chitlins (small intestines of hogs fried as food in the deep South) are, do you?"

I looked him square in the eye and said "I'm from Arkansas I've probably eaten a mile of them. Sounds like I'm in the right place."

They all smiled as he left to serve me up a big plate. When he comes back he says "You ain't from around here then?"

I explain I'm the new football coach up in Tuscaloosa at the University and I'm here to find whatever that boy's name was and he says:

"Yeah I've heard of him, he's supposed to be pretty good". And he gives me directions to the school so I can meet him and his coach. As I'm paying up to leave, I remember my manners and leave a tip, not too big to be flashy, but a good one and he told me lunch was on him but I told him for a lunch that good I felt I should pay.

The big man asked me if I had a photograph or something he could hang up to show I'd been there. I was so new that I didn't have any yet. It really wasn't that big a thing back then to be asked for but I took a napkin and wrote his name and address on it and told him I'd get him one.

I met the kid I was lookin' for later that afternoon and I don't remember his name, but do remember I didn't think much of him when I met him. I had wasted a day or so I thought.

When I got back to Tuscaloosa late that night, I took that napkin from my shirt pocket and put it under my keys so I wouldn't forget it. Back then I was excited that anybody would want a picture of me. The next day we found a picture and I wrote on it "Thanks for the best lunch I've ever had."

Let's go a whole buncha years down the road. Now we have black players at Alabama and I'm back down in that part of the country scouting an offensive lineman we sure needed. Y'all remember (and I forget the name, but it's not important to the story), well anyway, he's got two friends going to Auburn and he tells me he's got his heart set on Auburn too, so I leave empty handed and go on see some others while I'm down there.

Two days later, I'm in my office in Tuscaloosa and the phone rings and it's this kid who just turned me down and he says "Coach, do you still want me at Alabama?"


And I said "Yes I sure do."



And he says OK, he'll come.



And I say "Well son what changed your mind?"



And he said "When my grandpa found out I had a chance to play for you and said no, he pitched a fit and told me I wasn't going nowhere but Alabama and wasn't playing for nobody but you. He thinks a lot of you and has ever since y'all met."



Well I didn't know his granddad from Adam's housecat so I asked him who his granddaddy was and he said:



"You probably don't remember him but you ate in his restaurant your first year at Alabama and you sent him a picture that he's had hung in that place ever since.



That picture is his pride and joy and he still tells everybody about the day Bear Bryant came in and had chitlins with him."



"My grandpa said that when you left there he never expected you to remember him or to send him that picture but you kept your word to him - and to Grandpa that's everything. He said you could teach me more than football and I had to play for a man like you so I guess I'm going to."



I was floored. But I learned the lessons my Mama taught me were always right. It don't cost nothing to be nice. It don't cost nothing to do the right thing most of the time and it costs a lot to lose your good name by breaking your word to someone.



When I went back to sign that boy I looked up his Grandpa and he's still running that place but it looks a lot better now and he didn't have chitlins that day but he had some ribs that woulda made Dreamland proud and I made sure I posed for a lot of pictures. And don't think I didn't leave some new ones for him, along with a signed football.



I made it clear to all my assistants to keep this story and these lessons in mind when they're out on the road. If you remember anything else from me remember this: It really doesn't cost anything to be nice and the rewards can be unimaginable.



By Coach Paul Bear Bryant



Editor's Note:

Coach Bryant was in the presence of these gentlemen at The Touchdown Club for only a short time but defined himself for life. Regardless of our profession we do define ourselves by how we treat others and how we behave in the presence of others. And most of the time we have only minutes or seconds to leave a lasting impression. We can be rude, crude, arrogant, cantankerous or we can be nice. Nice is always a better choice.

I like what Stephen Grellet, French/American religious
leader, 1773-1855, said "I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature let me do it now. Let me not defer it for I shall not pass this way again."

In God We Still Trust



Author Unknown

FRIENDS

Let's see if you send it back. We all know or knew someone like this!!

One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

His name was Kyle.

It looked like he was carrying all of his books.

I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a
Friday?

He must really be a nerd.'

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my
friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.

They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him
so he landed in the dirt..

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet
from him..

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around
looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'

They really should get lives.

' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'

There was a big smile on his face.

It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen
him before..

He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.

I asked him if he wanted to play a little football
with my friends

He said yes.

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I
liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books
again.

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious
muscles with this pile of books everyday!

' He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..

When we were seniors we began to think about college.

Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never

be a problem.

He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football
scholarship..

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.

I teased him all the time about being a nerd.

He had to prepare a speech for graduation..

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.

He looked great.

He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!

Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.

So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!'

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and
smiled.

' Thanks,' he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began

'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through
those tough years..

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach....but mostly
your friends....

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best
gift you can give them.

I am going to tell you a story.'

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the
first day we met.

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have
to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

'Thankfully, I was saved.

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..'

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told
us all about his weakest moment.

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful
smile.

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions..

With one small gesture you can change a person's life.

For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.

Look for God in others.

You now have two choices, you can :

1) Pass this on to your friends or

2) Delete it and act like it

didn't touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1.

'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly.'

There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history.

Tomorrow is a mystery..

But today is a gift.
That is why they call it
THE PRESENT!

It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send
this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER, YOU'RE REQUESTED TO SEND IT TO AT LEAST 10
PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO

SENT IT TO YOU

Largest Woodpecker on record!

Latest Dance News

LATEST DANCE CLICK HERE Courtesy Murray

New European Style Grocery

Aldi's now in the Bham area

Aldi Grocery Stores - Birmingham Area, Gadsden, Decatur, AL
Their high quality brands are different so as you leave after your first visit you may not feel inclined to return. The following memories will draw you back and make a regular of you: $1.49 for a gallon of milk (Limit 5 gallons), 18 ounce strawberry preserves $1.39, 11 ounce mandarin oranges $.45 , 3 pounds of Golden Delicious Apples $.99 (a special), cucumbers $.39, 3 multicolored bell peppers $1.99 or less, 14 ounce Peanut M & M $2.39, 5 vine ripe tomatoes on stem $.99 (a special), not from concentrate orange juice $2.39. Price, except for milk and preserves may vary as some of these are specials which may be replaced by others from week to week.

Buy their large plastic container of Pizzelle Italian Cookies near front entry with forty 4" diameter thin delicate delicious cookies in 4 packs $2.69. I ate a pack before getting out of their parking lot. Similar to the light colored ones in picture.

Italian Pizzelle Waffle Cookies

Type of food and prices are displayed on wall or a board above each item with large letters and price. Cashiers sit in a comfortable office chair. Conveyor system at check out is specially designed, so cashier can be a speed demon and check a huge cart in about a minute.

Cash or debit card only. No checks or credit cards. Murray

Aldi Store 1
428 Green Springs Highway
Homewood, AL 35209
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun
Just south of Oxmoor road, on right.
www.aldi.com

Charlie S. 4/26/2009 Aldi is a grocery store unique to anything I've been to. Style is popular in Europe. Whole idea is for Aldi to save on overhead and pass savings on as lower priced groceries.

Bring a quarter and bring grocery bags. Use quarter to get shopping cart. Insert it into a mechanism attached to each cart. When you return cart, and reconnect to other carts, quarter pops out to reclaim. So Aldi doesn't have to pay someone to gather carts from parking lot.

Food is so cheap. You will see their name brands but not many brands you know, but there is little difference in taste and quality. Off brand Frosted Flakes $1.59 and regular bran flakes $1.09. At other stores, Kellog's brand cereal is $4 or more.

Canned foods are cheap. $.49 for stewed tomatoes, cream of mushroom and canned corn. $.95 for 1 lb. bag of frozen corn. Pork tenderloin $3.99 a lb.

You won't find everything you need, but will be amazed how quickly you fill cart and how little you pay at register. I highly recommend everyone go here. If you get what you can at Aldi and go across the street to Publix for the few things you can't do without, you will be amazed at the savings.

Bring grocery bags (plastic or paper bags, tote bags) or paper buy paper sacks for $.06 and large plastic bags for $.10.

Store 2
7400 Crestwood Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35210
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun
Adjacent to Sears at Century Plaza

Store 3
5960 Chalkville Road
Trussville, AL 35235
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun

Sheila L. 8/11/2009 I love the ease of this store. It's quick to get in and get out. They don't bag your groceries, but put them back in cart. Bag-your-own place. Bring bags, purchase bags there or go free style in the trunk.

A bare bones operation with mostly private label brands. With few exceptions I've enjoyed their items. Granola cereals are wonderful and who can turn down a gallon of milk for $1.49. Fit & Active brand has a fairly large selection of items for the health conscious and they've all hit the mark on taste. Produce selection is adequate, but no fresh herbs or unusual items. Pack of tri-colored bell peppers is a steal.

Store 4
520 Gene Reed Road
Birmingham, AL 35206
Huffman-Roebuck
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun

Store 5
710 Academy Drive
Bessemer, AL 35022
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun

Store 6
200 North Hood Avenue
Gadsden, AL 35903
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun

Store 7
1000 Belt Line Road
Decatur, AL 35601
9:00-8:00 Mon-Sat. 10:00-7:00 Sun

How Aldi Grocery Stores Dramatically Reduce Your Grocery Bill
By Alonzo January 10, 2009


Every time I leave my Aldi store I have a smile about how much money I just saved. If you have not shopped at Aldi’s you are missing one of the best secrets in the grocery industry. Business analysts have taken notice.

When you first visit an Aldi store you will see a Spartan interior. No flashy window displays, no large sales signs, no extras like photo processing, floral, deli, bakery. Products are in same cardboard boxes they were shipped in. Instead of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran you’ll find Millville Raisin Bran. Instead of Hunt’s chocolate pudding you will find Mr. Pudding. And rock bottom prices for canned goods, dairy products, produce, meats, eggs, cookies, crackers, candy, chips, preserves.

Aldi is a German owned deep discount no frills grocery chain. Name is short for Albrecht Discounts. They also own Trader Joes food stores. Aldi entered the U.S. market in 1976, with a handful of stores in southeastern Iowa. Now, nearly 1,000 U.S. Aldi stores are spreading the savings from Kansas to the East Coast. In its 2008 report, Progressive Grocer ranked Aldi 25th in U.S. grocery chains in terms of gross sales. High ranking considering its size. The secret to their success is obsession with cutting costs:

Reduced Labor Costs: Very few employees are in the store, usually 2 or 3. No butchers, bakers, pharmacists. Customers bag their own groceries. Want a shopping cart? Insert a quarter which you get back when you return cart. No need to hire one or two employees to walk parking lot returning carts to store.

Limited Selection: Costs are controlled by Aldi’s selection being more limited than typical grocery stores. They carriy 1,300 items compared to 30,000 items at a typical large supermarket. These are fast moving items which helps prevent spoilage loss. Building cost is much less than for larger stores. Money is also saved because less labor needed to stock fewer products.

Smaller Stores: Since Aldi stores are much smaller than typical supermarkets, utility costs are much lower. Store hours are more limited, 9:00-8:00 and 10:00-7:00 Sunday, saving even more costs.

Cash and Debit Cards Only: Cash is king at Aldi. You cannot use credit cards. Saves the store paying credit card transaction costs.

High Quality Store Brand Products: Aldi carries only a few national brand products. Instead it focuses on its high quality line of store brands, from Millville cereal to Sweet Harvest fruit cocktail. These store brand products harken to its European roots where store brands are known for their popularity and consistent high quality.

They have to be high quality because chain’s reputation depends on this. In order to keep customers coming back they must provide great tasting products. Aldi conducts weekly blind taste tests of its store brand products comparing them to name brand counterparts in most other stores. So confident is Aldi that it offers customers a money back guarantee on all store brands.

I save consistently at Aldi supermarkets. I enjoy their store brand products and save big on juice, cereal, snack foods, canned goods, dairy products, vegetables and fruit. Due to their more limited selections I can’t fulfill all of my grocery needs at Aldi, but I’ll typically save between 30-50% versus comparable supermarket prices.

This seems to be in line with Aldi’s estimates of savings. They claim you save 40-50% at Aldi compared to conventional grocery stores and save 16-24% over large discount stores.

A circus owner runs an ad for a lion tamer

A circus owner runs an ad for a lion tamer
and two people show up. One is a good
looking, old retired marine in his late 60's
and the other is a gorgeous blonde in her
mid-twenties.

The circus owner tells them, "I'm not going
to sugar coat it. This is one ferocious lion.
He ate my last tamer so you two had better
be good or you're history. Here's your
equipment -- chair, whip and a gun. Who
wants to try out first?"

The girl says, "I'll go first."

She walks past the chair, the whip and the
gun and steps right into the lion's cage.
The lion starts to snarl and pant and begins
to charge her. About half way there, she
throws open her coat revealing her beautiful
naked body.

The lion stops dead in his tracks, sheepishly
crawls up to her and starts licking her feet
and ankles. He continues to lick and kiss
her entire body for several minutes and
then rests his head at her feet.

The circus owner's jaw is on the floor. He
says, "I've never seen a display like that
in my life." He then turns to the retired
marine and asks, "Can you top that?"

The tough old marine replies, "No
problem, just get that damn lion out of
there."

...and that's how it happend

NEWS FLASH!! Obama Wins Boston Marathon

BOSTON - President Barack Obama won the 2010 Boston Marathon this morning in a stunning decision designed to encourage him to quit smoking and keep running to stay in shape. The Boston Athletic Association announced their decision to name Obama the winner even though the race will not be run until 18 April 2010 because the president has the desire to win and has good intentions.

In announcing Obama the winner the president of the BAA said, "We must rise above the out dated measurements of what a person actually has accomplished and focus instead on their intentions and what they say they will do. "Intentions and talk are what drive the world." Congressman Barney Frank and Chinese Vice President XI Jinping seated nearby reiterated these words.

The BAA also noted that no president has won the marathon before. This would set a good example for all future presidents of the United States and for other countries such as Iran and North Korea that intentions really matter.

Many observers were shocked by the unexpected decision before the race has even been run. However, when told of his win the President said he had really been thinking a lot about keeping in shape, talked with staff about cutting back on his smoking, and even read an article about the Boston Marathon.

Obama added that wining the Boston Marathon was better than any other award he has received including his Nobel Prize, Tony for best performance by leading actor, Emmy for outstanding lead actor in drama series, Golden Globe for best performance of an actor in a comedy, Heisman Trophy for side stepping the issues, NASCAR Champion, World Series Most Valuable Player, Best Twitter Page, and Teleprompters of America Best Reader.

Could I have this dance?

The new priest

The new priest, born and raised in Georgia , is nervous about hearing confessions, so he asks the older priest to sit in on his sessions. The new priest hears a couple of confessions, then the old priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions.  The old priest suggests, "Cross your arms over your chest, and rub your chin with one hand and try saying things like 'yes, I see,' and 'yes, go on,' and 'I understand.'"  The new priest crosses his arms, rubs his chin with one hand and repeats all the suggested remarks to the old priest.  The old priest says , ... "Now, don't you think that's a little better than slapping your knee and saying, "No shit...  what happened next?"

Time for a beer run!

Don't forget your flu shot!

Popular New ride at Texas state fair

Popular New ride at Texas state fair

Mr Bean in Hell

My kinda golf!

No wonder Obama won!