JEFF & BLUES. PHOTO BY: JOSH WEICHMAN
Sometimes, picking where to go to dinner can feel just as daunting as choosing something to watch on Netflix. And with so many great restaurants to choose from in the Huntsville/Madison region, we completely understand how you're bound to feel a little indecisive. So, taking a cue from the classically retro “progressive dinner,” we’ve mapped out a few four-course dining adventures for you to explore in different parts of the Rocket City. Whether you pick one close to home, or check out somewhere new, you can try not just one restaurant for dinner, but four!
Downtown
Pick a nice (less humid) night to start off with a music-themed cocktail on Rhythm on Monroe’s patio or rooftop. Next, you’ll walk through the park to Domaine South to enjoy one of their custom charcuterie boards. Choose from an amazing selection of local and seasonal items to pack your board, and pick from a wide selection of domestic and international wines. Travel across the square and get your name in line for a seat at the popular Jack Brown’s Joint, where you’ll dig into creative burgers (free from the trappings of lettuce and tomato), loaded fries, and deep-fried Oreos. Walk off your meal by meandering through Big Spring International Park on the way to your final stop - dessert and drinks at Co/Op Community Table - inside the newly renovated Embassy Hotel.
DOMAINE SOUTH
MidCity
Start off your night in the MidCity District with a drink and some tunes at Jeff & Blues, located next to the Orion Amphitheater. You can enjoy happy hour till 7 pm on weekdays. After a cocktail or PBR, walk over to one of MidCity’s newest BBQ hotspots, Blue Oak BBQ, for one of their tempting “Snacks.” Choose from a variety of housemade sides, wings, BBQ nachos, and everyone’s favorite Brussels sprouts. When you come up for air, head over to Tamarind Island at The Camp for dinner and top off the evening with a sweet treat from Tous Le Jour.
BLUE OAK BBQ
Providence
This quaint little neighborhood between West Huntsville and Madison may look a little different since the last time you visited, so be prepared to be wowed by all of the new developments. Your evening starts at the Church Street Wine Shoppe + Bottle Shop for a glass of wine or wine flight. Next up, you’ll visit The Casual Pint for some pub fare. Share one of their popular appetizers (cheese curds, am I right?), and if wine isn’t your thing, they have a wide variety of draft beers on tap that they rotate regularly. For dinner, you’ll enjoy one of Huntsville’s beloved Thai restaurants, Phuket Thai Restaurant + Sushi. When you are positively stuffed, walk next door to Grille on Main for dessert and a nightcap (Tip: Chocolate lovers will fall in love with the Chocolate Trio).
THE CASUAL PINT
Five Points
The quaint historical neighborhood of Five Points is calling your name, so start off with a creative martini or cocktail from 1892 East. Just a block away, you’ll sample Southeast Asian favorites at Thai Garden. Share a plate of bite-size spring rolls, or enjoy them all yourself! Traveling down the road for dinner, you’ll savor bold flavors at The Curry. Their flavorful menu is perfect for sharing several dishes so you can try different things. And don’t skip out on the garlic naan! For even more carbs and to finish up the night, you’ll visit Five Points staple pizzeria, Big Ed’s, for an order of their beignets.
1892 EAST
Town Madison
A food tour through Town Madison wouldn’t be right without starting off at the altar of chicken, Champy’s Chicken, for a Front Porch Lemonade. Next, it’s down Zierdt Road to enjoy an appetizer and Prohibition-era cocktails on top of Prohibition Rooftop Bar + Grill. Enjoy one of their many flavor-forward, sharable starter dishes. With a view of Toyota Field, you’ll take in dinner at SaZa Serious Italian. During baseball season, pick from a selection of favorite pasta and pizza dishes with the sound of roaring fans in the distance. Finally, throw caution to the wind and treat yourself to an out-of-this-world milkshake at The Yard.
THE YARD
Clift Farms
If you’ve spent any amount of time in Madison traffic, you’ll have seen the culinary offerings at Clift Farms rising like a phoenix from the ashes. So you’ll start your Clift Farms epicurean adventure with one of the many margarita offerings at Taco Mama. Followed up by some Chinese comfort food at Steam Boys, who boast an impressive selection of dumplings, bao, boba drinks, and noodle dishes. If you are a dumpling newbie, you can’t go wrong by trying some pan-seared pork or chicken dumplings. For dinner, sink your teeth into your burger of choice and some tots at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar. Save room for a dessert of milk and cookies from Cookie Fix.
BAD DADDY'S BURGER BAR
Jones Valley
Kick off your Jones Valley dinner with a wine flight at Flight Plan Wine and Tapas. They also feature wines by the glass, cocktails, and even a whiskey flight. You’ll then sample a plate of your favorite wings (or other snack) in honor of Mellow Mushroom’s 50th Anniversary. For dinner, head down to Peppered Pig, an award-winning spot known for their eclectic burgers, fries, and sandwiches. And even though you will be filled to the gills after your burger, you won’t want to miss out on the seasonal scratch-made offerings at Handel’s Ice Cream.
HANDEL'S
South Huntsville (Lunch)
Travel south of Airport Road to discover the culinary delights of South Huntsville! Start your lunchtime crawl at Amerigo with a glass of something sparkling (we suggest a Lambrusco). For starters, head over to Tom Brown’s, whose appetizer selections are good enough to make a whole meal. For your main and dessert, you’ll visit two hidden gems that boast food as good as they make it back home. Get a Philly Cheesesteak that some locals have boasted to be closest to the real thing from Cap’s Philly Cheesesteaks and sample dessert pastries that will transport you to Havana nights at Havanabama.
TOM BROWNS
Hampton Cove
Venture over the mountain for some diverse dining. You’ll begin with a visit to Bloom Winery’s new Hampton Cove location, which opened in April 2024. Enjoy wine flights or their special “Bloom Slushie.” Go down the road to Yoshi Sushi and Fusion for an amazing selection of sushi, sashimi, and other appetizers. You can’t go wrong with the Truffle Hama and a Lychee Martini. Next up, choose from various wood-fired pizza options at Tortora’s Wood Fired Grill. And you’ll want to save room, however, for the flan and churros with ice cream at El Omeca, a North Alabama staple.
YOSHI'S SUSHI AND FUSION
We’ve undoubtedly overlooked many other great options and maybe even your favorite neighborhood spot, so tell us in the comments where we should visit or what neighborhood we should explore next. Plus, if you’re interested in learning more about where to find the best burgers, brunch spots, or even just our roundup of new and coming soon restaurants—our iHeartHSV Blog has all that and more!
