Dining Out - Southeast ~~ Bright Star, Bessemer, AL

One of my Bucket List restaurants was Alabama's oldest The Bright Star. Since 1907, The Bright Star restaurant has been serving generations of customers its specialty Greek- style snapper and steak, signature seafood gumbo, luncheon specials, and famous pies. Located in Bessemer, Alabama, the restaurant has a regional following and draws patrons from throughout the Southeast as well as nearby Birmingham.

Recently we dined there with friends and I can't wait to go back again. 

 

I started with a cranberry & Prosecco glass of bubbly.

Dining Companion #1 had a pomegranate martini.

Sweet Harold had a Long Island Ice Tea.  Yes, it's served in a PITCHER.  No, he wasn't driving.

Dining Companion #2 enjoyed a bourbon on the rocks.  I'm sorry I can't remember what brand.

And a few photos of exterior and interior of this lovely, historic restaurant.

And now on to the food. The salads were well chilled and the dressings are house made.  Both salad diners were well pleased with the size of the salads and the flavor of the dressings.

One of the owners was on site while we were dining and made several stops at the table to tell us a little history of the business and to check on how our meal was progressing.  He sent out a complimentary plate of onion rings.  Handbreaded and piping hot, these were absolutely delicious.

Instead of an entree', I ordered crab cakes and seafood gumbo.  The crab cakes were FILLED with lump crab and were perfectly seasoned.  The jalapeno tartar sauce and tomato salsa were a great accompaniment.

My cup of seafood gumbo was filled with shrimp, oysters and crab.  The roux was dark and spicy.  Yum!

Dining companion #1 chose wisely:  Breaded Veal Steak with Brown Gravy and a baked potato.  Our lovely server recommended this dish.  She was spot on with her recommendation.

Dining companion #2 chose wisely as well:  Snapper Almondine.  Doesn't that look delicious?  

And as you all know, if grouper is on the menu......say it with me "That's what Sweet Harold orders!"  Broiled grouper with crab meat topping with a lemon butter sauce.  Oh yes.....yes. 

A lovely, unrushed meal in a historic restaurant add in delicious food and great company and you have the recipe for a perfect evening.

If you're EVER in the area of The Bright Star, please do yourself a huge favor and dine at this restaurant.  Take a few minutes and follow the link posted above to learn more about this great piece of Alabama history.