My husband and I recently had the opportunity to dine at Michael’s Restaurant, often known as “Michael’s Steakhouse and Seafood,” and it did not disappoint.
Michaels Steak and Seafood
Located on First Avenue South in downtown, right next door to B & A Warehouse and Regions Field, home of the Birmingham Barons, Michael’s is an elegant dining experience and even offers a rooftop bar and dining (with an elevator), right next to Regions Field. It is also convenient to UAB, area hospitals and sports fields, as well as I-65, Highway 280 and I-20/59.
Michael’s Restaurant Menu
It was a little cool and rainy on the Tuesday evening we visited, and we enjoyed the ambiance of the interior. We started our meal with a bread basket — great garlic bread — as well as THE best Brussel sprouts I have ever had. They were delicious, and I don’t usually like them, though my husband does. These were flash fried, tossed with cranberries, pecans, parmesan and a balsamic vinaigrette. They were crunchy, sweet and just fantastic. I would definitely order these again.
Appetizers
But if Brussels sprouts are not your thing, there are calamari and peppers, crab cakes, deviled eggs with various toppings like lobster, bacon, or even shrimp, fried green tomatoes, lobster tail bites, grilled oyster parmesan, oysters, Rockefeller, and spinach dip with crostinis. It was hard to decide! But my husband wanted Brussels sprouts. I hope to try a couple more things when I go back again.
Salads
On this trip we had our eyes on dessert, so we did not choose a salad, but there are many to choose from. There’s the traditional house salad in two sizes, along with a Caesar salad, a strawberry salad and a savory salad. All looked delicious.
Signature Bowls
Michael’s offers entrees and bowls for dining, and we opted for entrees this visit, but the “Signature Bowls” looked amazing. Your choices are shrimp & grits, Pasta Mike (angel hair pasta with onions and peppers in an Alfredo sauce), and lobster mac & cheese (entree portion).
Steak
For entrees, Michael’s is very famous for its steaks, certified Angus, and bone-in ribeyes. They also offer several different sizes and preparation styles, as well as a 10-ounce Steer butt, the tenderest part of the tenderloin and a Michael’s classic.
Seafood
On this night I was in the mood for seafood. The “fish of the day” was Trigger fish, something I had never had, and it was so good. Options were pan-seared or fried, and my pan-seared fish came with a lemon beurre blanc sauce that was out of this world. I paired my fish with sautéed vegetables which were delicious.
Chicken Piccata
My husband opted for chicken piccata, and it was pan fried and topped with lemon-butter caper sauce. I sampled it — it was yummy, and he paired his with broccoli.
Other Entrees
Other entrees available include salmon Rockefeller, grilled lamb, and Michael’s “ultimate burger.”
Most entrees come with at least one side, or you can add others or opt for a small salad. The side choices are lobster mac & cheese, sautéed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, baked potato, sweet potato soufflé, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, cheese grits, broccoli, Julienne fries, sautéed veggies and butter pasta.
Dessert
Now for dessert! Michael’s is known for its bread pudding, but they also offer cheesecake, ice cream, brownadine with ice cream or apple pie with ice cream. We were in an apple pie mood, so we did the apple pie with ice cream. Had we not been so full we could have each eaten one, but the meal was so full that sharing was perfect.
Brunch
If you decide to try brunch on Sunday at Michael’s, look for great selections like a pancake platter, French toast, brunch burger, veggie omelet, fish & grits, a meat omelette and shrimp & grits.
Michael’s Birmingham Alabama
I’ve know about Michael’s for years and have never gone. I don’t know why — maybe the location, timing, etc. Now another restaurant is off my bucket list, but this is one I definitely want to revisit in the future. It was THAT good.
Michael’s is closed on Mondays and only opens for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Please note that the only day Michael’s is open for lunch is Sundays, when it is open from 12 to 3 p.m. for brunch. (Check out the brunch menu and other menus online at www.michaelssteakandseafood.com/menu.)
Michael’s is the recipient of numerous awards, as listed on the website, and was recently listed as “One of the 12 Restaurants to Put on your Calendar for 2023” by Al.com. Michael’s is the official steakhouse of the UAB Blazers.
Owner Bernadine Birdsong, Ph.D. has more than 30 years in the business sector in management. She previously owned a wellness center and spa. She is a sought-after teacher, speaker and mentor and the author of several books.
She and her family purchased Michael’s in 2016. Her mother, Amelia Williams, and her son, singer/songwriter Sebastian Kole (the namesake for the rooftop restaurant, Bar Sebastian, are her partners. Many family members are involved, and their goal is to serve top-quality and delicious food in a beautiful and welcoming environment. Mission accomplished!
Carol Muse Evans is an area freelance writer and editor and associate editor of Birmingham Parent.
