Semi-fancy food hang in Birmingham, AL
April 3, 2008 by Christopher Gurr

This is the more relaxed side of Frank Stitt's Bottega Restaurant on the edge of the Five Points neighborhood in Birmingham. There are no reservations for the café side and it was crowded by 6 on a recent Monday night. Free valet parking. Decent Guinness pour. The Monday special is crab cakes. Not to be confused with their northern cousins in Baltimore or DC, these are flatter, crunchy on the bottom, and buttery. The flavor profile on both the seared beef carpaccio with arugula and horseradish sauce and the roast pork loin with polenta, tomato chutney aioli & Venetian spinach was good but subtle, the crab cakes and the roasted sweet peppers with Belle Chevre goat cheese, pinenuts, capers and sultanas was very, very yummy. Great atmosphere if a bit loud, this is an attractive room with good food and excellent service.