Step back in time for a true soda fountain experience. Sip on a famous “100 Things to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” lime aid. Fresh and delicious sandwiches. Friendly staff. Home town vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Carey Goodwin
Always been a favorite for limeade since high school years ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
macwagg
Been eating here since I was 5 years old The sandwiches are straight up awesome their chilli when it's winter and they have it is delicious and their homemade milkshakes and limeaids and fresh cherry coke it's just top notch... Price is a little high but isn't it everywhere now and it's right in mountain Brook so... It's basically worth it they don't have a sandwich I've ever had that isn't delicious from the egg salad to the oh gosh the tuna salad and the pimento cheese and the club sandwich.... Awesome breakfast as well So I guess this will tell my age but I've been eating here for over 40 years.... LOVE IT... CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryan Caswell
What a charming old-style lunch counter! Only recently learned of this Birmingham staple's existence and had to try it out. It was absolutely bustling at noon on a Saturday, with no table free when we walked in. Seats at the counter didn't take too long to open up, though. Staff was unfailingly friendly, though understandably very busy. It was definitely loud and hard to hear at times inside as well. We had initially ordered to go, but were impressed at how seamlessly they converted to dine-in when they saw we had found seats.
Ordered a large limeade, chicken salad sandwich on white toast, egg salad sandwich on white toast, and vanilla and strawberry milkshakes. The limeade is deservedly famous, fresh squeezed to order and fantastic. The sandwiches and shakes were very good, but not mindblowing. Shakes other than vanilla are made with vanilla ice cream and flavored syrup, FYI.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
bridgetbI812TO
The ONLY deli I will eat at since moving here from New York 20 years ago. Wish they had a Nova, Cream Cheese Bagel, Jewish style.
Blake Daniel
Classic. Simple. Amazing. Can't go wrong
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
Emma Hill
I absolutely loved visiting and will return!! Perfect little friend date spot! Stop in while shopping or in my case working three minutes down the road (and wishing I was shopping)🤣, so cute, so friendly!
Joel Blackstock (LICSW MSW PIP)
This is a great traditional 20s diner. It's been open for almost 100 years. I'm not even really a BLT or a sugary drinks person but they're limeade and BLT your classics. The tomatoes are always super right with no vegetal taste. They make everything at the counter slowly so you might have to wait but it's worth the trip for the adventurous or curious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sierra S.
I really like this place. Affordable quality meals. Good coffee. Their BLTs and breakfast items are good. Nice chill atmosphere. I definitely recommend coming.
The food was not bad, but the service is some of the worst I’ve ever experienced. The man working was nice, but both older women behind the counter were abhorrently rude. One became snarky at the fact that I had to look over the menu because I’d never eaten here before. After ordering, she rolled her eyes when we said thank you. When checking out, the other woman had an attitude when we didn’t understand the question about “paying or charging”. The hospitality was so bad I felt like I was ordering from a yankee deli back up north, lol. My boyfriend is a local and has eaten here for years, but after this he does not even want to return. Very unwelcoming.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Leslie Terek
The sandwiches are really good but the girl that runs the cash register is not approachable or friendly. Also, if you plan on eating food you better put your order in by 4 PM not 430 when they actually close they will not serve any food to you after four.never heard of a restaurant doing this if you’re open till 430 you should serve everything on your menu until 430.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
snowtraveler49
this tiny independent neighborhood breakfast & lunch spot in Mountain Brook Village in Mountain Brook, Alabama has been part of the Birmingham, AL landscape since it opened as a pharmacy in 1928; it is always bustling; is known for limeade; the BLT can compete with the best anywhere; my then 87 year old mother & I (62 years old) are Birmingham natives now living in other states; as we ran errands in prep for my daughter's Samford University graduation party, a lunch in this gem was a delight
Landers Sevier
Authentic ruebens and many other delicious sammiches and eats! The best (and only) real deal, fresh made limeades in the city. One of the few remaining true soda fountains / sandwich shops around. Bustling and hustling during the lunchtime feedings. Fun and busy atmosphere for sure. Great folks at Gilchrests too - always the same dedicated, and super friendly staff at the helm. Must be how they have maintained such consistency and earned their loyal patrons!It's been a regular stop for me and my family for at least the past 40 years. We've all been raised together on Gilchrests limeades for multiple generations!! Yumsville indeed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gary Tilkin
I have lived in Birmingham, AL for over 30 years. I LOVE to eat as is clear by my many posts on dining. Eating is a passion for me and my family. You would think, after 30 years I would have tried every place in Birmingham, and you would be wrong.To set this up, I love fine dining, steakhouses, Oyster bars, Sandwich shops, and McDonalds. What I really love is great food, comfort food and a feeling of warmth. It does NOT have to have a white tablecloth, but it does have to strike a cord usually of a past memory. That is my setup.Gilchrist has been where it sits in Birmingham, AL for a very long time. When my daughter wanted to take me there, I fought her because we were downtown at the time. All I asked her for was a GREAT BREAKFAST sandwich. I get to the place, and I instantly feel in LOVE. Everything was old, potato chips lined up on the side wall with lots of candy by the cash register. Two table of men sitting just talking, all about my age (I am old) or older. The bathroom was through the kitchen up a slight step. On the side counter where they prepared the food, was two huge stainless-steel bowls with the remnants of Egg salad and Tuna Salad just made for lunch. I knew I was IN THE RIGHT PLACE. I rated the Atmosphere as 5. Understand, it is a "Hole In A Wall" kind of place and nothing is fancy about it. That is full disclosure.I ordered a comfort food breakfast Sandwich. Toasted Whole Wheat Toast, Egg, Cheese, Bacon and Mayo. I love that kind of sandwich. I was NOT disappointed. Now I want to go back for lunch for egg salad, tuna Salad or chicken salad. How did I miss the cultural gem all these decades. Want fancy, go somewhere else. Want history and taste, come to Gilchrist. I found my new place.Eat well, drink well and enjoy life.
Parking: All around the place was parking and in the morning it was empty.
Step back in time for a true soda fountain experience. Sip on a famous “100 Things to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” lime aid. Fresh and delicious sandwiches. Friendly staff. Home town vibe.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always been a favorite for limeade since high school years ❤️
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been eating here since I was 5 years old The sandwiches are straight up awesome their chilli when it's winter and they have it is delicious and their homemade milkshakes and limeaids and fresh cherry coke it's just top notch... Price is a little high but isn't it everywhere now and it's right in mountain Brook so... It's basically worth it they don't have a sandwich I've ever had that isn't delicious from the egg salad to the oh gosh the tuna salad and the pimento cheese and the club sandwich.... Awesome breakfast as well So I guess this will tell my age but I've been eating here for over 40 years.... LOVE IT... CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a charming old-style lunch counter! Only recently learned of this Birmingham staple's existence and had to try it out. It was absolutely bustling at noon on a Saturday, with no table free when we walked in. Seats at the counter didn't take too long to open up, though. Staff was unfailingly friendly, though understandably very busy. It was definitely loud and hard to hear at times inside as well. We had initially ordered to go, but were impressed at how seamlessly they converted to dine-in when they saw we had found seats.
Ordered a large limeade, chicken salad sandwich on white toast, egg salad sandwich on white toast, and vanilla and strawberry milkshakes. The limeade is deservedly famous, fresh squeezed to order and fantastic. The sandwiches and shakes were very good, but not mindblowing. Shakes other than vanilla are made with vanilla ice cream and flavored syrup, FYI.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
The ONLY deli I will eat at since moving here from New York 20 years ago. Wish they had a Nova, Cream Cheese Bagel, Jewish style.
Classic. Simple. Amazing. Can't go wrong
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
I absolutely loved visiting and will return!! Perfect little friend date spot! Stop in while shopping or in my case working three minutes down the road (and wishing I was shopping)🤣, so cute, so friendly!
This is a great traditional 20s diner. It's been open for almost 100 years. I'm not even really a BLT or a sugary drinks person but they're limeade and BLT your classics. The tomatoes are always super right with no vegetal taste. They make everything at the counter slowly so you might have to wait but it's worth the trip for the adventurous or curious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really like this place. Affordable quality meals. Good coffee. Their BLTs and breakfast items are good. Nice chill atmosphere. I definitely recommend coming.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: blt
The beef on a bun is a must
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pimento Cheese, Sandwich
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was not bad, but the service is some of the worst I’ve ever experienced. The man working was nice, but both older women behind the counter were abhorrently rude. One became snarky at the fact that I had to look over the menu because I’d never eaten here before. After ordering, she rolled her eyes when we said thank you. When checking out, the other woman had an attitude when we didn’t understand the question about “paying or charging”. The hospitality was so bad I felt like I was ordering from a yankee deli back up north, lol. My boyfriend is a local and has eaten here for years, but after this he does not even want to return. Very unwelcoming.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
The sandwiches are really good but the girl that runs the cash register is not approachable or friendly. Also, if you plan on eating food you better put your order in by 4 PM not 430 when they actually close they will not serve any food to you after four.never heard of a restaurant doing this if you’re open till 430 you should serve everything on your menu until 430.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
this tiny independent neighborhood breakfast & lunch spot in Mountain Brook Village in Mountain Brook, Alabama has been part of the Birmingham, AL landscape since it opened as a pharmacy in 1928; it is always bustling; is known for limeade; the BLT can compete with the best anywhere; my then 87 year old mother & I (62 years old) are Birmingham natives now living in other states; as we ran errands in prep for my daughter's Samford University graduation party, a lunch in this gem was a delight
Authentic ruebens and many other delicious sammiches and eats! The best (and only) real deal, fresh made limeades in the city. One of the few remaining true soda fountains / sandwich shops around. Bustling and hustling during the lunchtime feedings. Fun and busy atmosphere for sure. Great folks at Gilchrests too - always the same dedicated, and super friendly staff at the helm. Must be how they have maintained such consistency and earned their loyal patrons!It's been a regular stop for me and my family for at least the past 40 years. We've all been raised together on Gilchrests limeades for multiple generations!! Yumsville indeed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have lived in Birmingham, AL for over 30 years. I LOVE to eat as is clear by my many posts on dining. Eating is a passion for me and my family. You would think, after 30 years I would have tried every place in Birmingham, and you would be wrong.To set this up, I love fine dining, steakhouses, Oyster bars, Sandwich shops, and McDonalds. What I really love is great food, comfort food and a feeling of warmth. It does NOT have to have a white tablecloth, but it does have to strike a cord usually of a past memory. That is my setup.Gilchrist has been where it sits in Birmingham, AL for a very long time. When my daughter wanted to take me there, I fought her because we were downtown at the time. All I asked her for was a GREAT BREAKFAST sandwich. I get to the place, and I instantly feel in LOVE. Everything was old, potato chips lined up on the side wall with lots of candy by the cash register. Two table of men sitting just talking, all about my age (I am old) or older. The bathroom was through the kitchen up a slight step. On the side counter where they prepared the food, was two huge stainless-steel bowls with the remnants of Egg salad and Tuna Salad just made for lunch. I knew I was IN THE RIGHT PLACE. I rated the Atmosphere as 5. Understand, it is a "Hole In A Wall" kind of place and nothing is fancy about it. That is full disclosure.I ordered a comfort food breakfast Sandwich. Toasted Whole Wheat Toast, Egg, Cheese, Bacon and Mayo. I love that kind of sandwich. I was NOT disappointed. Now I want to go back for lunch for egg salad, tuna Salad or chicken salad. How did I miss the cultural gem all these decades. Want fancy, go somewhere else. Want history and taste, come to Gilchrist. I found my new place.Eat well, drink well and enjoy life.
Parking: All around the place was parking and in the morning it was empty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
Loading...