Recently, I had the chance to review and visit some of Huntsville, Alabama’s favorite restaurants and bars around the city with friend and food blogger, @RickyHSV – you can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. He coordinated all our meetups with these small business restaurateurs and entrepreneurs and it was sooo much fun! If you’re new to Huntsville you will definitely want to bookmark this blog because we tried some really good eats and brews, and I have so much to share!
Angie Kadow, YouTuber joined us one day and we pretty much talked about food and restaurants the whole time! My friend Megan also was able to join us this week and is a foodie and loves to try out new restaurants around Huntsville with me, so that was perfect! I was so glad she was able to be a part of this really hard investigative piece. HA! Here’s what we discovered…
Phil’s Margarita 
Famous French 75
Both days of research were filled with laughs, yummy treats and meeting some of Huntsville’s creative culinarians. They shared their passions and dreams with us and it was an honor. So here’s a recap of our two-day, stretchy pant-foodie fun.
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1. Big Spring Cafe – located on Governor’s Drive
Right away when you drive into the parking lot of Big Spring Cafe, you feel like you are a part of history. Decor and setting make you feel like a 50’s cafe. Immediately upon entering I was greeted with cheery owner Pam Milam.
The OLDEST restaurant in Huntsville, beginning in 1922, and her family began ownership in 1946 and she bought it in the 1990s. Originally located in downtown Huntsville on Jefferson Street, this restaurant also hosts a really cool, affordable menu. A foodie’s dream! Check it out! Our lunches were under $10 that was with the tip!
Menu:
There’s a breakfast and a lunch menu! LUNCH is served all day from 7:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Breakfast is 7:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. They have breakfast southern favorites like gravy and biscuits, fried bologna, and smoked sausage.
The burgers are smaller than you would get at one of those chain restaurants but super tasty AND you can get the buns – three ways (Off the grill, Buttered up, and Deep Fried) Oooo wee! I tell ya!
Cheeseburger – Buttered up!
The onion rings were some of the BEST I’ve had in all of Huntsville, crispy, not huge, and fried in fresh oil. Yum! They also have some fun items on the menu like Brunswick Stew and Red Slaw (a throwback to Depression days)
2. Phil Sandoval’s Mexican Restaurante – 6125 University Drive
University Place Shopping Centre
As a bunch of foodie, I absolutely loved revisiting Phil Sandoval’s since our return to Huntsville in 2019, I hadn’t had a chance to stop in because of stupid #covid ugh! But thanks to Ricky it is one of his favorites. He has a special place in his heart for this restaurant, the owners, the staff and great Mexican food. Ricky moved to the states when he was very young and is now definitely a Huntsville native.
He helps support and promotes restaurants all over our great city and if you don’t follow him on Instagram, you should because his feed will make your mouth water. We have a lot in common, promoting small businesses and he’s a foodie, hmmm.
We also had the opportunity to meet up with Phil for just a few minutes during a busy, busy lunchtime, so you’ll want to check out the vlog too.
Menu:
If you are a Huntsville native, and you are a foodie you’ll recognize the menu as Phil used to be a part of the local “Rosie’s” chain of restaurants here. He worked for them for years before branching out on his own.
Here’s a look at their menu and what most people comment on Beef Fajitas, Enchiladas, Chile Rellenos, and of course AWESOME margaritas.
I really loved the complimentary chips and salsa, the weight of the chips is wafer-thin and the salsa has a little kick but doesn’t knock you over. I like that, flavor not a ton of heat.
GOOGLE RATING: 4.5 ⭐️ of 1,853 reviews
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3. MELT – 201 Jefferson St N Suite I
Melt of Huntsville or I love Melt is fairly new on the Huntsville scene. This local Alabama chain can be found in Birmingham – Hoover, and Birmingham – Avondale. For this foodie, this place is right up my alley. Good food, decent price and ambiance. At our location in Huntsville, it is right off the downtown Huntsville scene and it’s cool open-air bar, adult play area and playful lunch box center pieces are just plain fun.
And let’s face it, who wouldn’t love a restaurant that has an upside down canoe hanging from the ceiling! Just sayin’
Ricky couldn’t wait to show us this place, however, I’d already been a few times before because, well, that’s how I roll. A favorite with my military peeps and family, I’ve had a chance to peruse the menu. On Saturdays and Sundays, they have brunch and some of their specials are Chicken and Waffles, Hot Kentucky Brown, and this breakfast sandwich called Wakin’bacon. Hmmm!
Menu:
Not always when reviewing restaurants, but most times I choose vegan/vegetarian options just cause, dang it, I feel better. So the fun Mac n’Cheese eggrolls and their yummy salads are a treat.
Heirloom Caprese Salad 
Mac n’ Cheese Eggrolls 
Flyin’ Hawaiian 
Strawberry Fields Salad
One of my favorites on their menu is the Honey Baked Goat Cheese.
Patty Melt & Honey Baked Goat Cheese Appetizer
Paired with a great cocktail – ask for Erika the waitress/server/bartender – all-around great staff helper, she can whip you a special drink from their menu that is super tasty.
GOOGLE RATING: 4.6 ⭐️ of 827 reviews
4. Beezrs – 109 Northside Square
I can already tell you Beezrs is quickly becoming one of my new favorite local pubs to visit. Located in our somewhat historical district of Huntsville minus (the 🙄 Courthouse) is this friendly collaborative known as Beezrs. This gastropub has four working businesses and you can pick your poison and delight. For a foodie, that’s heaven. You want caffeine, Northside Coffee, local beer, (thanks Doug), Chandler Ford Brewing, Champagne and Wines, Specialty Cocktails, how about grabbing a bite to eat, well, here you go thanks to Chef Daniel, he serves up some out of the ordinary pub foods that will fill you up for days, especially those sandwiches.
Sweet Potato Chips 
KellerPils 
Shrimp Tacos 
Hot Tamale Supreme – Thanks HIPPEA CAMPER!
Because we really enjoyed our visit at Beezrs, Megan and I invited our guys to join us for dinner too! So we were able to try the pizzas, gumbo and a few more apps too!
Gumbo 
Sausage Pizza 
Hangin’ with BrewMeister Doug 
Margherita Pizza
Beezr just opened up, I MEAN just opened up in 2020! Gutsy and awesome! I was privileged to be one of the first to visit way back in December thanks to my friend Nina who had an inside connection. I was thrilled to see it packed last night. With Doug changing the brews for every season, everyone gets to share in his tasty inventions. My favorite is the KellerPils but that might have to do with my years in Germany and being a little partial to these lagers. Megan’s favorite was the Blunar – which was a Belgian like beer and served with an orange kinda like Blue Moon, but better. Talking to Doug was super cool, their motto is Tank to Tap and I gotta tell you, after our lovely libations and a good night sleep, I had no hangover, I’m thinking it had to do with FRESH BEER!
GOOGLE RATING: 4.7 ⭐️ of 57 reviews
5. Stella’s Elixir Lounge – 127 Holmes Ave NW Ste 202
If you haven’t visited Stella’s Elixir Lounge – GO! It is the coolest bar ever! I had no idea what to expect but it wasn’t this – so cool! With the decor, setting and ambience of a bar from the 50’s or 60’s you totally imagine #seanconnery James Bond to come walking in asking for it “Shaken, not stirred.” Ricky knew but Megan and I were delightfully surprised. Another great one to open in 2020! SO HAPPY they are here!
French 75 
Stella’s Elixir Lounge has not one, but two outdoor patios that have the best views of Huntsville. The chill vibe inside the bar with Elvis and Ann Margaret movies playing on the big screens just take you back in time. Then it came time to order our drink and lovely Mixologist, Sara hooked us up with a French 75. A new favorite for Megan she had me try one! Oh yea – YUM! Gin, simple syrup, champagne and lemon, just #yummy
Sweet Sara!
We had so much fun on our first visit at Stella’s! It’s across the street from Melt and down the street from Beezrs and Phat Sammy’s and a bunch of our other favorite eateries, Stella’s is gonna be HUGE! Just take a look at this menu! This is a great pre-date night place or a romantic night cap spot and remember they are open at 3:00 p.m. and have a HAPPY HOUR!
GOOGLE RATING: 4.5 ⭐️ of 57 reviews
5. Phat Sammy’s – 104 Jefferson St South
Phat Sammy’s is just FUN! I mean like lots of fun! On my second visit to Phat Sammy’s with Ricky, I had the opportunity to meet Karighen, fabulous mixologist and Mackenzie her apprentice. I was blown away at their knowledge of all kinds of libations from fusions to the bell pepper liqueur we were totally impressed. As I wrote in my notes, “wholly knowledge!” If you’re from HuntsVegas you might have heard about the Spam Rice at Phat Sammy’s or the interesting combinations creative Chef Jeremy Esterly has concocted. If you haven’t tried them, well you are missing out.
Spam Rice
Every week Phat Sammy’s has Happy hour Specials that are so cool! This week, the ladies whipped me up a Belle of the Ball – which is one of their signature drinks for their monthly drag night. So fun, right. This lovely libation had bell pepper liqueur, turmeric (great for my aging knees) 🤣 coconut cream, lemon juice and tequila. It was a must try – then Kerighan told me she makes her own elixirs! Totally eye opener.
I had a blast meeting Jeremy too! So creative, when he found out we popped in, he whipped these up – he calls them Tina Tartare with Pringles.
Don’t let the little construction on Jefferson deter you, they’ve got a walkway set up, and follow the signs for this fun out of the ordinary, tasty treat in #downtownhuntsville. The crew at Phat Sammy’s will take your care you. Opening on the middle of March 2020, they were shut right back down due to COVID. So once again, hats off to these guys for not only making it, but making a difference in the Huntsville Foodie scene!
I had no idea that #rickyhsv Huntsville Alabama foodie blogger – #wearehuntsville was going to hook me up with so many of his favorites. Well, did he ever, and did we have a BALL!
There are so many new and old-time favorites of Huntsville, these foodies are gonna make sure to we do this more often!
GOOGLE RATING: 4.7 ⭐️ of 159 reviews
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