OvenBird

With all the attention that's been given to Chris Hastings' new live-fire restaurant OvenBird, it's easy to overlook Hot and Hot Fish Club, which is where it all began for the James Beard Award-winning chef in 1995. More than two decades later, though, Hot and Hot remains one of Birmingham's premier fine-dining destinations, as Hastings and crew take Alabama gulf seafood, farm-raised pork and chicken and locally grown vegetables to create culinary works of art that are as eye-catching as they are appetizing. The seasonal menu changes daily, but the signature dish, available from late spring through the end of summer, is the Hot and Hot Tomato Salad, a towering stack of sliced tomatoes dressed with field peas, corn, bacon and fried okra and drizzled with a house-made aioli.

Leave it to visionary chef Chris Hastings—the eat-local maestro behind the Birmingham culinary landmark Hot and Hot Fish Club—to transform a shaded garden plot in Pepper Place into a live fire laboratory, where wood-fed flames lick small plates of beef shoulder, ash-roasted vegetables, and platters of paella. They don’t take reservations for fewer than six, but there’s not a bad seat in the house, from the cozy courtyard to the marble-topped bar. Better yet, angle for a seat in the open kitchen, where you’ll get an ovenbird’s view of the action.—ovenbirdrestaurant.com

Come for the beef fat "candle"—a sliver of flaming, rendered fat swimming in sofrito—and stay for the tasty Spanish and South American small plates, all cooked over an open fire. Ideal for large groups or hungry duos, the menu is divided into seven sections, ranging from snacks like deviled eggs and Spanish charcuterie to seafood plates such as Gulf fish topped with crispy bacon, jalapeños, and candied hazelnuts. Standout dishes include the seasonal paella and the market whole fish, served with chimicurri and grilled lemons.

For all the foodies in the house, have I got a Birmingham restaurant for you!. Owned by James Beard award-winning chef Chris Hastings and his wife, Idie, OvenBird takes a cue from Argentina, Portugal, and Spain and utilizes a wood-burning, cast iron hearth (the iron is a nod to Birmingham’s history) for its unique and delicious small plate menu offerings. Make your reservations well in advance and prepare to take your place in a crowd of locals there to see and be seen.

Live-fire cooking is the name of the game at this Chris Hastings’s tapas spot in downtown Birmingham’s popular Pepper Place district. Find flavors of Spain, Uruguay, Argentina, and Portugal in small plates like roasted vegetables with salsa brava, snapper throats with chickpea salad and fennel hearts, and Gulf shrimp ajillo with garlic butter and chile de arbol. ovenbirdrestaurant.com; 2810 Third Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35233; 205-957-6686

For lunch, higher end you could do Ovenbird, Chez Fon Fon, Cafe Bottega or more. None are outrageously expensive. For less pricey lunch options, I’d consider El Barrio, the Garage (cool bar with solid sandwiches), Johnny’s, Carrigans (good drinks with good pub fare), Rodney Scott’s (whole hog bbq from a South Carolina guy that knows what he is doing), Post Office Pies, Saw’s, or the food hall at the Pizitz.

2810 3rd Avenue South | @ovenbirdrestaurant | OvenBird is a live-fire, casual restaurant located in Birmingham’s Market District at Pepper Place. The restaurant’s design showcases the work of Alabama’s finest craftsmen, creating a variety of inviting spaces for guests to enjoy. Drawing from inspiration from all around the world, bringing in seasonal ingredients for you to enjoy.

Located at 2810 Third Avenue South, OvenBird is renowned Chef Chris Hastings’ live-fire, Southern-with-a-twist restaurant that focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative takes on classic dishes. The menu showcases delectable options ranging from salads and seafood to beef, lamb, and chicken masterpieces that will have you looking forward to your next dinner date.

OvenBird Restaurant offers a delightful setting for rehearsal dinners with its highly trained staff and a focus on seasonal Southern ingredients. Couples can choose from various venue spaces, including the secluded Warehouse or the vibrant Main Dining Room. Exceptional cuisine and attentive service make OvenBird Restaurant a memorable choice for your event.

From Hot and Hot Fish Club founders comes Ovenbird, a farm-to-table restaurant and bar that specializes in a fusion of Southern flavors and Latin cuisine from Argentina, Uruguay, Portugal, and Spain. Wine is an integral part of the experience here, with the food and wine menu going hand-in-hand. In fact, there are special wine pairings for each item.

3 – OvenBird: A live fire casual restaurant with an amazingly beautiful outdoor seating area that’s sure to inspire. The menu focuses on seasonal southern ingredients in a small plate format. The concept takes it’s inspiration from the live fire traditions of Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, and Argentina with a bit of character from the American South.

2810 3rd Ave S #200, Birmingham, AL 35233Phone: 205-957-6686 Visit Website. A post shared by OvenBird (@ovenbirdbham). Another visionary restaurant from the founders of Hot and Hot Fish Club, Ovenbird is a farm-to-table refined dining restaurant and wine bar specializing in contemporary Latin cuisine from Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, and Argentina.

Located in Pepper Place, OvenBird is a unique find in Birmingham fare. Chris and Idie Hastings’ live fire, laid back restaurant (that just turned 5 years old!) features a menu focusing on seasonal southern ingredients with inspiration from Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, Argentina and the American South. Make a reservation online or via phone below.

OvenBird: Created by chef Chris Hastings, OvenBird is a unique dining concept that brings the flavors of live-fire cooking to Birmingham. With an emphasis on wood-fired dishes, the restaurant offers an array of small plates inspired by global cuisines, allowing guests to savor a diverse range of flavors in a communal dining setting.

OvenBird is Chris and Idie Hastings live fire, casual restaurant. Their menu focuses on seasonal, southern ingredients served in a small plate format that takes inspiration from the live fire traditions of Spain. Go for a birthday or a celebration with your girlfriends, as its the best way to get a taste of everything on the menu!

Ovenbird takes inspiration from the live fire traditions (wood fire cooking) of Spain, Portugal, Uruguay, and Argentina. They have an amazing wood oven and the menu focuses on seasonal southern ingredients prepared in a small plate (Tapas) format. They have an amazing selection of craft cocktails, craft beers, and wines.

Ovenbird is located in the Birmingham Market’s Pepper Place and is open for dining from Wednesday through Sunday. It serves up a fusion of Spanish dishes from Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Uruguay fused with Southern flavors. Come enjoy one of the craft cocktails, local beers, and local wines from around the world.

My husband and I walk through an inviting patio strung with twinkling lights to reach the front door. My trendy dress, with a cutout in the back, swishes around my ankles. As we are escorted to our table in the corner, I notice a wood fire behind the bar and dozens of small plates on other tables.

If you’re going out to eat for a date night, it is all about the experience, and I don’t think anything tops Oven Bird. Their dinner menu and brunch menu is out of this world. It is a tapa styled restraurant so you get the opportunity to try a good assortment of amazing items on their menu.

In addition, many of the restaurants in the "Fine(r) dining" section of the Longlist below have excellent bar programs. Typically, reservations are not required to sit at the bar. If interested, I would recommend checking out the bars of OvenBird, Roots & Revelry, and Hot & Hot Fish Club.

Turn up the romance with an intimate, candlelit dinner at the OvenBird Restaurant. Known for its adventurous menu and cozy atmosphere, you can surprise your partner with the ultimate question over a spectacular meal. Their outdoor seating area would make for a perfect proposal spot.

When it comes to culinary influence in Birmingham, few people have done as much as Chris and Idie Hastings. Their restaurant, Hot & Hot, opened in 1995 and is still very much a ‘must’ for a meal. In 2015, they opened OvenBird, where all the cooking happens over live fire.

Chef Chris Hastings also operates two of the most popular eateries in the city, the Hot & Hot Fish Club and OvenBird. Hot & Hot Fish Club serves upscale Southern farm-to-table favorites, while Ovenbird dishes up Latin American cuisine cooked in wood-burning ovens.

Ovenbird adds a rustic, outdoor dining experience with a focus on live-fire cooking. Their patio’s garden-like setting creates a laid-back, cozy indoor-outdoor environment where guests can savor globally inspired small plates and enjoy the warmth of community.

Their small plates are easily shareable and make for the perfect starter. Just as the Beef Fat Candle and Snapper Throat are Chris Hastings’ favorites on the menu, they are the Bowker’s favorites too!. There is something for every culinary palate at Ovenbird.

Try award-winning cuisine at Hot and Hot Fish Club or take a break from shopping at Pepper Place with lunch in OvenBird.