Bottega

Bottega is a standout eatery in the Iron City, featuring two dining rooms that showcase Italian-inspired cuisine. 

Renowned Chef Frank Stitt opened the restaurant in 1988 in the Beaux-Arts building, offering an up-scale experience in what became known as the Dining Room. With success, he opened the Café in the adjoining space, serving wood-fired pizzas and dishes. Like siblings, both have a different vibe but serve the same award-winning cuisine. 

Chef Frank isn’t the only driving force behind Bottega’s success. His wife, Pardis, brings her Persian upbringing to bear, ensuring hospitality and decor are on par with the cuisine. The couple created the Stitt Restaurant Group, which launched other Birmingham restaurants like Chez Fonfon and Highlands Bar & Grill. 

Chef Frank, a James Beard Foundation Award winner, focuses on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients for his cuisine. You’ll taste the difference, whether ordering off the Dining Room or Café menu. 

Bottega’s downtown location makes it a prime spot after a day exploring Birmingham’s iconic landmarks. For instance, after exploring the Birmingham Museum of Art, celebrate with artisan fare in the Dining Room. Or, after a day with the kids at Railroad Park, grab a wood-oven baked pizza in the Café. The possibilities are endless!

Bottega caters to a wide range of budgets, palates, and expectations, with the Dining Room for a posh experience and the Café offering a kick-back and chill atmosphere. No matter which you choose, you’ll savor creative Italian cuisine with a Southern twist!

Vibe

The facade of Bottega will impress you! The Mediterranean Revival-style building will make you swear you are in Europe, not Alabama! The sandstone arches and timeless, stately look stand out on Highland Avenue. 

The Dining Room exemplifies refined dining with a vaulted ceiling, off-white hues, and tables with linen tablecloths. While elegant, the atmosphere is homey, making it a go-to for celebrations, romantic dinners, and get-togethers. 

The Café offers a more relaxed feel, while the terracotta-colored walls exude a festive ambiance. But don’t equate laid-back with an unsophisticated decor. Yes, the wood-fired oven adds coziness to the room, but it would also work for intimate gatherings. 

The outdoor patio with umbrella-covered tables is idyllic for sunny lunches or dinners under string lights. Both dining areas offer bar seating, which will appeal to those who enjoy casual dining with the friendliness of the mixologist.

The Dining Room and Café at Bottega have an ambiance for any occasion. Here, you can linger, celebrate, and relax while savoring an Italian-inspired meal.

Bottega: Menu & Drinks

With two menus to explore, we will list various offerings from each instead of detailed reviews of standouts. This way, you can ascertain the best location for your crew.

Starting with the Dining Room, the menu is where Chef Frank flexes his culinary muscles. Inspired by Southern fare and local ingredients, he has fused these with Italian staples to craft unique, artisan fare. 

You’ll note his creative touch on starters like the Louisiana crawfish with agnolotti pasta, sweet peas, spring onion, and mint. Main courses explode with flavors and textures, incorporating beef, veal, fresh seafood, and regional vegetables. 

Navigating the Café’s menu, one will find sandwiches, salads, wood-fired pizzas, and pasta. Each is touched by the brilliance of Chef Stitt, showcasing flavorful combinations not typical of most bistros. An example is the crawfish and shrimp risotto with asparagus, favas, carrots, leeks, and vermouth. And who can pass up on the daily special of a pizza and a bottle of wine? It’s a killer deal no matter when you visit!

Rest assured that the wines, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages pair with the menu. Like the cuisine, they are inventive, showcase regional ingredients, and will appeal to various tastes. Find your drink of choice and raise it to celebrate a day at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. 

Whether savoring fresh-made pasta in the Dining Room or pouring wine with your pizza in the Café, every moment promises to elevate your Birmingham vacation.