Automatic Seafood and Oysters
1 / 10

Automatic Seafood and Oysters

4.6
·491k reviews·,

Birmingham's premier seafood destination, celebrated for its fresh oysters, award-winning dishes, and chic, coastal-inspired ambiance.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Automatic Seafood and Oysters

Automatic Seafood and Oysters

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Birmingham's premier seafood destination, celebrated for its fresh oysters, award-winning dishes, and chic, coastal-inspired ambiance.

4.6
(491k reviews)

"This is your sign to try Automatic Seafood and Oysters; it is everything it is hyped up to be!"

TIP

Reservations Recommended

Book ahead to ensure prompt seating, especially during peak times or weekends.

Try the Yeast Rolls

These heavenly yeast rolls are a must-try appetizer, praised by many diners.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 4PM

Cuisine

Seafood

Price

$$$

Phone

(205) 580-1600

Address

2824 5th Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA

Insta-Factor

High

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Award-Winning Seafood & Oysters

Award-Winning Seafood & Oysters

Experience Birmingham's best seafood, featuring exceptionally fresh oysters and creative dishes. A James Beard award winner!

12 Best Restaurants In Birmingham AlabamaBirmingham Restaurants You Must Visit!Google Review
Chic and Relaxed Atmosphere

Chic and Relaxed Atmosphere

Dine in a stylish yet comfortable space with coastal-inspired decor, perfect for a vibrant evening out.

The Best Restaurants in Birmingham, AlabamaGoogle Review
Inventive Cocktails

Inventive Cocktails

Enjoy expertly crafted cocktails with seasonal rotations and a curated wine list designed to complement seafood.

Where to Drink in Birmingham, AlabamaGoogle Review
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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Seafood lovers, this one’s for you! 🦪 Automatic Seafood & Oysters is just minutes from The BJCC — the perfect spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner during BASH Market! @Claire Brooklyn Dawe #bashmarket #birminghamal #alabama #wholesalemarket
@bashmarkets
9 likes • 482 views

Reservations Recommended

Book ahead to ensure prompt seating, especially during peak times or weekends.

Try the Yeast Rolls

These heavenly yeast rolls are a must-try appetizer, praised by many diners.

Automatic Seafood & Oysters- Birmingham | The blackened mahi was CHEF’S KISS! 🤗 #birmingham #seafood #oysters #datenight
@kiaralatrese
28 likes • 610 views
Automatic Seafood Birmingham, Alabama - Too dark to take video in the restaurant. #alabama #automaticseafood #birmingham #oysters #seafood #photos #fyp #fypシ #foodtok #foodtiktok #foodlover #foryoupage
@eatingalabama
104 likes • 9.6K views

Consider Off-Peak Hours

Visiting during less busy times might improve dish timing and overall dining experience.

Don't Skip the Oysters

Explore the raw bar for a variety of fresh oysters, a signature offering of the restaurant.

#automaticseafood #halibut #redsnapper #fishcollar #yeastrolls #oysters #bestrestaurants #birmingham #alabama #freshseafood #fyp
@teaspoon65
32 likes • 819 views

Tips

from all over the internet

Reservations Recommended

Book ahead to ensure prompt seating, especially during peak times or weekends.

Try the Yeast Rolls

These heavenly yeast rolls are a must-try appetizer, praised by many diners.

Consider Off-Peak Hours

Visiting during less busy times might improve dish timing and overall dining experience.

Don't Skip the Oysters

Explore the raw bar for a variety of fresh oysters, a signature offering of the restaurant.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Automatic Seafood and Oysters garners praise for its high-energy atmosphere and excellent seafood, particularly its oysters and yeast rolls. While many commend the inventive flavors and presentation, some diners have noted inconsistencies in food temperature and execution, with occasional complaints about the price point and service attentiveness.

"We had heard great things about Automatic ever since it opened and finally confirmed for ourselves that it’s one of the best spots in Birmingham. The food, the service, the atmosphere—all excellent. We had the yeast rolls, fish collars, a variety of oysters, shrimp fried rice, grouper, and key lime pie. Everything was delicious, and our server, Billy, was awesome (super friendly and made great recommendations). Strongly recommend. We’ll definitely be back."

Chase Butler

"First time eating here and the atmosphere was great. Made reservations and was seated right away. Our server was Anabelle and she was very knowledgeable and polite. Drinks were very good as well as the various oysters. The timing of the dishes were spot on except for one of the entrees being a few minutes behind the others. The temperature of my fish was on the colder side which shocked me but it had good flavor. I ordered the warm bread pudding and sent it back due to it being ice cold inside. I was shocked the manager never stopped by once to check on us as other similar restaurants in the area like Ocean’s do. Enjoyed the atmosphere but will probably explore other restaurants in the area."

S Dra

"So many people recommend this restaurant so my wife and I decided to give it a try.
We ordered 5 different types of oysters each as appetizers. Then my wife had 17 days aged red snapper (oven roasted) and I had a regular red snapper.
Then we ordered 2 desserts. Plus we had several drinks each mainly draft beer.
The bill was almost $300. I guess you should expect that at a “high end restaurant” like this.
Let’s just say the food was definitely not worth the price - red snapper dishes were $50 a plate and didn’t even come with sides - we ordered a couple of sides (red potatoes and okra - some of okra was so tough it was inedible).
Food was not bad, please don’t take me wrong. It was pretty good. And the waiter we had was very nice, courteous and knowledgeable about the food. But we can get just as tasty seafood at a place like Fish Market at 1/3 or less price.
When we go to a restaurant like this and pay that much money ($300 for dinner of 2 is a lot of money for us), we’d like to be very impressed. I could have cooked everything that we had there myself for a lot less - I guess that’s why we don’t go out to each all that much anymore.
Well, I believe this was the only and the last time we go to this restaurant."

Tokyo Blues Man

What People Like

Exceptional seafood quality
Creative flavor combinations
Vibrant and chic atmosphere

What People Dislike

Inconsistent food temperature/execution
High price point
Occasional service lapses

Frequently Asked Questions

The raw oysters and the yeast rolls are highly recommended. Many also rave about the fish collars, octopus, and specific entrees like the blackened mahi.

TikTokGoogle Review+3

Yes, making reservations is highly recommended to ensure prompt seating, especially during busy hours.

Google Review

The restaurant boasts a chic, relaxed, and vibrant atmosphere with coastal-inspired decor, making it ideal for a lively dining experience.

TikTokThe Best Restaurants in Birmingham, AlabamaGoogle Review

Yes, Automatic Seafood and Oysters offers weekend brunch with seafood-centric dishes as well as other options like French toast and burgers.

The Best Restaurants in Birmingham, AlabamaGoogle Review

Absolutely! The restaurant is known for its well-crafted cocktails with seasonal rotations and an impressive wine list.

Where to Drink in Birmingham, AlabamaGoogle Review

Yes, with its chic ambiance and excellent food, it's a popular choice for date nights.

TikTokGoogle Review

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With a dining room outfitted with wicker light fixtures, Adirondack chairs on the outdoor lawn, and fresh seafood sourced from the nearby Gulf, Automatic Seafood and Oysters transports diners to a relaxed beach town. The food has the same elegant yet relaxed vibe; enjoy Gulf, East, and West Coast oysters at the expansive raw bar, or settle into a booth for favorites like the tender Octopus a la Plancha and duck fat poached fish. Automatic also serves weekend brunch, offering up seafood-centric dishes like a tuna breakfast sandwich and fish terrine as well as French toast and a double-stack house burger.

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There was considerable buzz surrounding this opening from Chef Adam Evans of beloved Ford Fry and Atlanta institution The Optimist. Since opening in 2019, Automatic has more than lived up to the hype with its elegant, coastal-inspired dining room and menu of dishes like duck fat poached swordfish, fish collars with Calabrian chili butter, and octopus a la plancha with harissa and yogurt. automaticseafood.com; 2824 5th Ave S,, Birmingham, AL 35233; 205-580-1600

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The 2022 James-Beard Best Chef: South winner, Chef Adam Evans’s restaurant dazzles. Start with their expertly curated array of oysters and work your way through a menu that highlights the best seafood the Gulf has to offer. If you’re not in the mood for something from the sea, Chef Evan’s has a fantastic selection of land proteins and vegetarian dishes to boot.

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Housed in the former Automatic Sprinkler Corporation manufacturing facility, Automatic opened in 2019. Expect lots of seafood dishes primarily sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, oysters from waters along the Southern and Eastern coastlines. Try the fried Florida rock shrimp with ponzu mayo, grilled red snapper and key lime pie.

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Automatic Seafood and Oysters: For seafood lovers, Automatic Seafood and Oysters is a must-visit destination. This stylish restaurant showcases a menu that highlights fresh seafood sourced from both coasts. Enjoy innovative dishes, such as their Gulf oysters, whole grilled fish, and creative seafood preparations.

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