Question for Alabama Dis'ers!

[perla75]

Hi there!

Sorry, I wasn't sure where to post this, but you guys usually have the best advice, so here goes:

We are heading to Alabama next week for 5 days-going to Birmingham and Mobile. I LOVE grits and am searching for a restaurant where I can get the best homestyle authentic grits. Not a fancy restaurant, but a real southern hole in the wall breakfast place with the real stuff. I got a suggestion for Waffle House, but that's a chain and not what I'm looking for.

I had wonderful grits at the CP in MK, but I'm guessing they are even better in the deep south.
So, in either Mobile or Birmingham, where can I find the best breakfast place for grits?

Thanks! You can either post here or PM me, I'll check both regularly

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

You may want to try Uncle Mort's in Sumiton, about 30 miles North of Birmingham, in Sumiton on US Hwy 78.

 

[perla75]

You may want to try Uncle Mort's in Sumiton, about 30 miles North of Birmingham, in Sumiton on US Hwy 78.

Thanks for the tip-we will look into this one!

Any others? Keep em coming!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I am going to put this on the Community Board. Hope you get some good advice there. Good luck from one grits lover to another!

 

[mousiemom]

you just made my day! as long as i've been dissing, i've never seen a question like yours!!! love it! yes, we love our grits and southern cooking down here in the south. i like mine with lots of butter and my dh likes his with sugar. anyways, here in mobile, we have a little restaurant that's been in busy for years called the tiny diny. good old country breakfast but you will have to look them up on mapquest. there off holcombe ave. if you are here for lunch we have some really good seafood restaurants that are located on the bay.
good luck!
mousiemom

 

[mousiemom]

when you are traveling from b'ham to mobile there is a country store/restaurant called priester's pecans and they have really good food. i'm pretty sure they have a breakfast. i love sampling all the pecans!!
mousiemom

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i think Cracker Barrel has pretty good grits..the bigger the batch, the better..

on the grit subject..my niece got married this weekend and there was a dish that seemed like it had sausage in it and on the side was grated cheese and scallions to put on top..never in my life (and my parents are from Alabama, so I have eaten ALOT of grits) have I had this dish but it was soooo good!!!

Is this a S Carolina thing??

 

[perla75]

Thank you all for your replies!! I tried to do a google search for "best grits restaurants in Alabama" but I only got fancy places that just didn't seem to be what I was looking for. and my only experiences with grits have been: the Waffle House, Crystal Palace in MK, and instant grits from a box!! I know, I know, I'm a New Englander & clearly not from the south!!

Lovetoscrap: Thank you-I wasn't sure where to post this ansd I knew that Dis'ers would be more helpful than Google on this one!

DisneyDMBnut: We thought about Cracker Barrel, but I'm looking for something more local and homestyle and Cracker Barrel is a chain, so I wasnt sure if that was the best choice, but it's still on our list!

Mousiemom: We are staying with some friends in Chelsea for a few days and then we will be driving to Mobile for a few days halfway through the week and I definately want to stop and check out the pecans store-thanks for the tip!! I have only had grits with cheese and with butter and I like those both very much....not sure if I'd like the sugar one, but that place in Mobile sounds exactly what we will be looking for!

Question about Mobile: Is it very big? We are staying at a hotel near the Saenger Theater (reason for our travels is we are going to a concert!) Anything else we should check out in that area?

This is my first trip to the south (except for FL I guess) and also my first REAL grits experience, so I'm pretty excited! I figured if I love instant grits and grits from a buffet, the real thing must be amazing!

Thanks again guys!

 

[Amlee]

I'll 2nd Uncle Mort's. They also have the best lock your jaw salted ham you will ever find!

Where are you coming from? If you can tell us from which direction you are driving from, it might make it easier for us to pick out some places for you.

 

[atpatt]

Original Oyster House on the Causeway has great cheese grits! It's only a couple of minutes from downtown, on the water. Mousiemom is on target with Tiny Diny too!

Mobile is not very big, especially not downtown. That said, its the biggest city I've ever lived in, lol.

If you are bringing kids along, The Exploreum is a fun science museum downtown. They have several hands-on areas and the exhibit right now is frogs. We went Saturday and the boys were in froggy heaven.

 

[Rozzie]

Felix's on the causeway has a great Shrimp Grits dinner. (Mobile) They are kinda pricey though.

To be honest, the best grits to me are the one's over a hot stove at home. I've never been able to get that awesome taste in a restaurant. JMHO.

Good luck and have a fun trip to Bama'!

 

[perla75]

Hi!

Well, we are from Massachusetts, but this Sunday we are flying into Atlanta and driving from Atlanta to Chelsea (which I guess is just outside of Birmingham). We are staying there with friends for a few days & also going to a concert in Birmingham. Then we will be driving from Chelsea to Mobile. We are staying very close to the Saenger Theater in Mobile and going to another concert (but same singer!). THEN, we are driving from Mobile back to Atlanta to hop on a plane back home.

As an aside, I've been begging my DF to drive to WDW from Atlanta before we head home, but he refuses! Says it's too far a drive from Atlanta and we can't afford it either. He's right about the money, but I keep telling him 6 and 1/2 hours is much closer than Massachusetts!!

Anyways, it's just DF & myself traveling (no kids). I'd love to hear more about any cool places to stop off on our way to each destination-fun stores like the Pecan shop, any more good restaurants in any of these locations, fast must sees of any sort, any other southern cuisine I should try, etc.. We don't have too much time, but I want to get the most out of my trip!

Oh-one more thing. Is Mobile generally a safe area? We are staying within walking distance to the Saenger Theater and we weren't sure whether it's safe to walk to and from the theater. We are from the Boston area, so we just wanted to make sure!

 

[Sinderelli]

Is the Bakery Cafe still open in Mobile? I remember their Sunday brunch with grits on the menu. I went to college in Mobile in the 90's and alot of my friends worked at the Bakery. Also, give the Dew Drop Inn a try- Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was allegedly written after eating there (Correct me if I'm wrong, Mobilians!)

BTW, I LOVED living in Mobile and have many fond memories of my time there.

 

[Amlee]

Hi!

Well, we are from Massachusetts, but this Sunday we are flying into Atlanta and driving from Atlanta to Chelsea (which I guess is just outside of Birmingham). We are staying there with friends for a few days & also going to a concert in Birmingham. Then we will be driving from Chelsea to Mobile. We are staying very close to the Saenger Theater in Mobile and going to another concert (but same singer!). THEN, we are driving from Mobile back to Atlanta to hop on a plane back home.

As an aside, I've been begging my DF to drive to WDW from Atlanta before we head home, but he refuses! Says it's too far a drive from Atlanta and we can't afford it either. He's right about the money, but I keep telling him 6 and 1/2 hours is much closer than Massachusetts!!

Anyways, it's just DF & myself traveling (no kids). I'd love to hear more about any cool places to stop off on our way to each destination-fun stores like the Pecan shop, any more good restaurants in any of these locations, fast must sees of any sort, any other southern cuisine I should try, etc.. We don't have too much time, but I want to get the most out of my trip!

Ok, so uncle mort's is out.

Hmmm between Atlanta and B'ham. There is the museum at the race way. There is also Vulcan park and The Red Mountain Dinosaur Park. Which is cool, because you can see the fossils right in the side of the mountain.

Another thing, eat before you get south of Montgomery. As there really isn't that much to pick from south of there.

 

[atpatt]

Oh-one more thing. Is Mobile generally a safe area? We are staying within walking distance to the Saenger Theater and we weren't sure whether it's safe to walk to and from the theater. We are from the Boston area, so we just wanted to make sure!

I would call it safe. On the weekend evenings, or when there are things going on downtown, the area is pretty busy.

Is the Bakery Cafe still open in Mobile? I remember their Sunday brunch with grits on the menu. I went to college in Mobile in the 90's and alot of my friends worked at the Bakery.

It is...haven't been in about a year tho. Dh swears the Jimmy Buffet thing is true, but I'm an implant from Montgomery so I don't know!

 

[perla75]

Also, give the Dew Drop Inn a try- Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was allegedly written after eating there (Correct me if I'm wrong, Mobilians!)

Cool!! We will definately go here & get a cheeseburger! Do you know if it's walkable from the Saenger Theater area? Or what street it's on so I can google map it?

Thanks!

 

[rcraw45425]

We just got home from a trip to B'ham and then on down to the beach ain the FL panhandle. Funny thing is, we used to live in Chelsea back when DH was in residency in the early 90s. We both were blown away by how much it's grown. Be sure to hit the Summit shopping center, it's like a grown ups wonderland. Sephora, Saks, Pottery Barn, Vera Bradley store, Cheesecake Factory, Apple store, tons of places to shop. I think it's taken the spot in me heart formerly held by the Riverchase Galleria up there. Try Dreamland for ribs, it's a Univ. of AL tradition that has branched out to B'ham and other cities. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

As for cool things to do...

there are many cool things to do in Montgomery.

Alabama State Capital
Civil Rights Memorial
Rosa Parks Museum
Dexter Avenue "King Memorial" Baptist Church
Hank Williams Museum & Grave
F. Scott Fitzgerald Home & Museum
RTJ Golf Course
Alabama Shakespeare Festival (world renowned)
Montgomery Biscuits Baseball (Really neat place)
Montgomery Zoo (Just as good as Atlanta)
Hyundai Manufacturing plant guided tours

If you guys don't have a Bass Pro Shop in the Northeast, it is REALLY REALLY worth going to the one in Prattville. I'm not into fishing or outdoorsy things, but that place is absolutely unbelievable. Its like Disneyworld for Bass. No kidding. Plus, I bet the restaurant inside serves Shrimp & grits. If your a big environmentalist-stay away. Bambi and his forest friends are hanging everywhere.

Priester's Pecans is also just south of Montgomery. There is also a Stuckey's near the Priester's Pecans and also one in Verbena at Exit 200.

 

[perla75]

As for cool things to do...

there are many cool things to do in Montgomery.

Alabama State Capital
Civil Rights Memorial
Rosa Parks Museum
Dexter Avenue "King Memorial" Baptist Church
Hank Williams Museum & Grave
F. Scott Fitzgerald Home & Museum
RTJ Golf Course
Alabama Shakespeare Festival (world renowned)
Montgomery Biscuits Baseball (Really neat place)
Montgomery Zoo (Just as good as Atlanta)
Hyundai Manufacturing plant guided tours

If you guys don't have a Bass Pro Shop in the Northeast, it is REALLY REALLY worth going to the one in Prattville. I'm not into fishing or outdoorsy things, but that place is absolutely unbelievable. Its like Disneyworld for Bass. No kidding. Plus, I bet the restaurant inside serves Shrimp & grits. If your a big environmentalist-stay away. Bambi and his forest friends are hanging everywhere.

Priester's Pecans is also just south of Montgomery. There is also a Stuckey's near the Priester's Pecans and also one in Verbena at Exit 200.

Thanks! Only thing is, we will be in the Birmingham area & then Mobile area, not Montgomery. although, I have no clue whats near each other (my DF is doing the driving!)-is Montgomery close to these two?

I've heard there is a civil rights museum in Birmingham. I would be very interested in checking this out! Can anyone comment about it? I went to a quilt museum in Atlanta once, which was all quilts/"maps" from the underground railroad days and it was SO neat!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

You will drive through Montgomery to get to Mobile from Birmingham, and will most likely drive through Montgomery to get to Atlanta from Mobile.

Question: Do most people drive through Montgomery to get to Atlanta, or do they take I10 to I75 and go through Valdosta? I'm not sure.

Anyway, you will take I65 from Birmingham (through Montgomery) on to Mobile. From Mobile you will either take I65 to Montgomery and then get on I85 to Atlanta, or like I stated above will take I10 to I75 at Lake City Florida, and will then take I75 North.

(BTW, if you go to Lake City, I won't tell you just how close you will be to the mouse, but its pretty close.)