Irondale Cafe

1906 1st Ave N, Irondale
(205) 956-5258

Recent Reviews

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Dave Sears

If you want a true southern cooking cafe, you have found the spot! These guys have a great line up of souther foods, from fried chicken to fried okra. They also have amazing desserts and their service is fantastic! They get busy for lunch, but the line moves pretty quickly!

They do give a 5% discount for cash (meaning they uncharge for credit), but this is normal today as small businesses can’t afford to eat credit card fees. Just be aware that you can save if you pay with cash.

There is plenty of seating, but also come early! If you get stuck by the train, you might be late to meet your party. The seating area is huge and so is their passion for southern food.

Sorry health eaters, nothing here for you, but if you like down home southern cooking, it doesn’t get better!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Bryan Suver

Historic place with a lot of history. Buffet style. You get in line to get your food. Typical comfort type food that was very good. Several trains came by while we were eating. One of them being Amtrak.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 3

April Speanburg

Everything on the menu is fantastic. And their cobbler is the best!

Steve West

Every time I’ve gone I thought it was fantastic. Fast service and great food. They even sell coffee grounds. You have to get the friend green tomatoes, of course. At least once.

Kerrie Lynn Richardson

The best okra I've had since my Granny passed. Catfish and hushpuppies were my choice. All the veggies were fresh and home style. The ambiance with the train running by the windows while you eat is a once in a lifetime treat! Very much worth the stop!

Christina Giovannelli

Ever been to a place where the staff is so friendly, you question if they are REAL people?? Yeah, that's this place. They ARE real people. And, the nicest people, never wanting you to go thirsty, for sure! ? Food was delicious, perfectly seasoned, and not too crowded for being noon on a Thursday (although, very busy still). We aren't in Irondale often, but, when we are back in town, it will be our go-to stopping place for food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Katherine Schablow

An Alabama classic and staple. Truly the best meat and three you will find in Birmingham. A regular spot for me

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fried Catfish Dinner, Beef Tips and Rice, Fried Catfish, Macaroni and Cheese, Fried Okra and Green Tomatoes, Chicken Pot Pie, Rolls and Cornbread, Hush Puppies, Fried Chicken Fried Green Tomatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Fried Pork Chop Fried Green Tomatoes and Rice with Gravy

Melanite Goddess

Food was excellent. I had the cat fish, it had a nice texture nice and crispy and not soggy, the hush puppies is REAL HUSH PUPPIES!! the collard greens needs a little doctoring but they is great as well. The okra was very tasty and the red beans and rice was a nice finish as well. Overall 9/10.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ross McCutcheon

Such a rewarding experience with family and friends. A must visit when in Birmingham. Just a great experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Duane Dunklee

Im giving a one star for hospitality. My family didn't even get to try the food. My family walked in when the open sign lit up and was told really rudely that they were not open yet even though the sign was on. That was fine even with the rudeness of the way she spoke to us we brushed it off but before we even got back to our vehicle not one but two sets of couples walked in there and they were not sent away. We wanted to go to this restaurant with the history of their fried green tomatoes and with the connections of the movie fried green tomatoes. I recommend driving the extra 3 1/2 hours to the town of Juliette ga where the film was made. The hospitality of the whole town was amazing and the food at the cafe there was delicious. The sad part is we drove all the way from Louisiana to feel unwelcomed.

Jordan Wayne Campbell Sewell

An amazing restaurant I found from my hobby rail-fanning. It came highly recommended throughout the online community! Fantastic owners who truly care for their customers. What they did for me today as I ate lunch taking a break from the hospital was nothing short of amazing. I’ll do my best to travel annually 5 hours just to enjoy it!

Miranda Brunn

Went here because this is apparently the inspiration behind the book fried green tomatoes. First off, I'm not a fan of country cooking so let that be known. It was subpar. The chicken was dry, the fried green tomatoes weren't zesty enough, the okra tasted like pure grease, and the beans had a weird sweet taste. The only good thing was the roll that was probably premade. Prices didn't match the quality of the food and I don't understand why this place was packed.The outside pavilion across the street was nice though.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

cathy smith

Food was outstanding, especially the blackberry cobbler.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Deana Mann

It was buffet style. You tell them what you want, and they serve you. I loved the fact that everything was in a separate dish. Everything we got was great! The seasoning was perfect for us. The chicken livers were fried to perfection The fried green tomatoes were crispy ? The restaurant was very clean and well kept. All around, excellent experience ?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ray Suggs

This was my first visit to this restaurant. I was very well surprised. The serving portions were worth what we paid and the options were great if you’d love find Southern cooking. I highly recommend if you’re in the area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

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