Bottega is the best Italian splurge in Birmingham. Plan to get dressed up for this one, because it’s without a doubt a special occasion spot, and what’s happening on your plate here deserves that level of respect. Throughout this two-story neoclassical building, you’ll find people celebrating anniversaries and job promotions over plates of decadent rabbit pappardelle and a yellowtail tuna bolognese that defies everything you thought tuna could be.

La Fete looks like a casual brasserie, but has the chops of a fine dining bistro. It’s the kind of place you can kick it on the patio wearing your finest pair of denim jorts while sipping a glass of muscadet, or amble up to the rose-hued marble bar without a reservation and order a perfectly crisp potato pave with whipped ranch and caviar. All of the breads and pastries are made fresh daily by Bandit, their sister bakery that specializes in patisserie.

Have you tried using a devastatingly tender short rib dripping in a jalapeño cream sauce to close a business deal? Well, you should. And you can at Helen, a polished Southern dining room and charcoal grill with recipes from the chef’s grandmother on the walls, during a power lunch or nicer dinner. While you’re at it, consider adding on another meaty entree like a bone-in pork chop, a lamb porterhouse, or a dry-aged ribeye—they do this type of stuff extraordinarily well.

Birmingham’s only gin bar is a boozy garden party. You have groups of well-coiffed ladies giggling over goblets of bright coral spritzes on the lush outdoor patio and couples snuggling close on the suede loveseats inside, stealing sips of the gin-spiked Stormy Daniels martini. There’s even a strong food menu to rein in everyone from the edge.

Chez Fonfon is Birmingham’s best French bistro—and its wine-lined shelves and warm woods go a long way in creating that vibe. This is one of the hottest seats in town, so getting a reservation ahead of time is key. It’s also prime date night territory, with couples sharing heaping bowls of buttery mussels with crispy fries and a devastatingly tender lamb daube.

Every downtown should have a quick, no-fuss spot where you can grab a great hot dog for less than five bucks. In Birmingham, that’s Gus’s, a place that’s been around since 1947 and is the city’s longest surviving Greek-owned hot dog stand (it was a thing). People from all walks of life head to this tiny concrete bunker sandwiched next to a parking deck for one of its snappy, griddle-fried dogs ladled with Gus’s secret sauce.

This food mart operation in a gas station is churning out the best Thai food in all of Birmingham, including standout versions of yum woon sen, chicken pad thai, and basil fried rice drizzled with homemade chili blends. Dishes here have that signature Thai pop of peppery spice, but not so much that it undercuts the subtle notes of curry and vegetables in each plate. They only do takeout, but if you absolutely must eat right away, there’s a smattering of picnic tables outside.

The grandmother of this family-owned joint comes in twice a week to make that kafta, and the tender meat has subtle notes of baking spices. The space is almost diner-like: clean, sparse, and just a couple of two-tops and banquettes. Get there early and grab a spot at the lunch counter before the 9-5 office crowd rushes in for that kafta, steaming bowls of Greek chicken soup, heaping servings of tabbouleh salad, and an exceptional pistachio baklava.

You might not expect a soul food place in Birmingham (or anywhere) to have robots delivering chicken and waffles to tables. But this is happening at Yo’ Mama’s—a massive fast-casual spot putting down the best chicken and waffles in town.

The Rougaroux exterior doesn’t look like much, and that’s OK, because the Cajun food inside is doing all the heavy lifting. Stop into this fast-casual New Orleans establishment when you need a quick hit of smoky chicken gumbo and some Zombie bread oozing with melted cheese and crawfish tails on Leidenheimer french bread. If you have a bit more time, find a seat at the bar with a friend and order an oyster rockefeller po’boy.

This fast-casual spot is known for doling out pizzas to the office crowd during the week. But it really takes off during weekend brunch, when slices of breakfast pies and espressos revive folks after a late night at The Fennec. After ordering at the host stand, wait for your housemade lemon pistachio or chocolate orange scone at one of the tables in the main dining room. Or, if you want something savory, it’s all about the breakfast pasta with sausage, fried egg, pecorino, and garlic cream.

The owner of Eugene’s is a Nashville native who grew up eating Prince’s—the place that invented hot chicken—so this Birmingham chicken shop has some pedigree. The original location in Uptown is only big enough to fit a few tables and a longer communal table, so takeout is usually the best option. But what Eugene’s lacks in space, it more than makes up for with seriously standout tenders. The seasoning on the mild packs a sweet, spicy punch, and easily registers as “hot” at most other joints.

The Garage takes the beauty of a gritty dive bar to the next level. In the 1930s, it served as an actual garage that housed cars for a neighboring apartment building—you can still see the stalls flanking the courtyard outside. But today, it’s the neighborhood watering hole. But unlike your average dive, The Garage makes phenomenal sandwiches. You can build your own or opt for The Fritz, a behemoth of a meal that combines all of the sandwich fillings on the menu.

Niki’s West has a long history in Birmingham, dating back to 1957—it’s still owned by the same Greek family that opened it. While the bones of a traditional meat and three are all there—a cafeteria line and trays, classic Southern sides, hearty proteins—Niki’s feels a bit more elevated than your typical meat and three, but in a very ‘80s Steak and Ale kind of way.

Even though Saw’s is technically in Homewood, a municipality that’s less than 10 minutes from downtown Birmingham, this BBQ spot belongs on any best of Birmingham list for one simple reason: the pulled pork.