- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Irondale Cafe - The Original Whistlestop Cafe
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
4 reviews for Irondale Cafe - The Original Whistlestop Cafe
Oh sweet lord.
This was our first stop after arriving in Birmingham. After some confusion caused by our GPS taking us the most backwards way possible, we found the Irondale, and boy oh boy, it was the perfect introduction to Southern cooking.
The setup your basic cafeteria- style "meat and three"- grab your tray, head down the line, pick out your meat and three sides, a beverage, and dessert if you like. We actually skipped dessert which was a real shame, but the food itself was delicious so we didn't feel too deprived. The fiance went for the meatloaf, which was good, but nothing compared to my friend chicken. Hoo boy, this was some tasty chicken. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly crispy, not too greasy. . . I was practically sucking the bones by the end. The fried green tomatoes were tangy and sweet at the same time, the mac and cheese was sinfully creamy. . . This is not health food people, so be forewarned. I certainly can't imagine eating there every day, or even every month, but it sure was tasty.
If you happen to find yourself in Birmingham, it's worth a trip. It's only about 15 minutes from the airport, so really, you have no excuse not to go.
I was so excited to go to the original Whistle Stop Cafe and try fried green tomatoes for the first time... I was disappointed, and blown away.
I did not like the fried green tomatoes. At all. I couldnt even make it through two slices. But that turned out to be a good thing, since my mom and sister ate their entire helping, and both got sick, while I didnt. MAJOR disappointment. Not liking the tomatoes, that is. I'm thrilled I didnt throw up.
On the flip side, however, I think they've got just about the world's best mac n cheese, and sweet potatoes. The fried chicken was terrific, as were the mashed potatoes and gravy. And lemon pie. And peach cobbler. The fried okra was ok while it was still hot, but that didn't last long, and it would never win a throw-down vs Bob Syke's fried okra. Just sayin'.
The girl refilling drinks wasn't exactly friendly, and the other lady walking around stopped to check on every table except ours, which was off-putting. I understand the whole "locals" thing, but tourist money is just as green, and it would have been nice to have seen a little of that southern hospitality I've heard so much about, so despite the food being pretty darn tasty, I've got to take one star off for the puking and the not-very-nice-ness.
It's the queen of 'meat and three' in Birmingham, and rightfully so. Once owned by the aunt of Frannie Flag, the author of "Fried Green Tomatoes," Irondale Cafe bills itself as the 'original Wistlestop Cafe."
They serve 600 - 800 slices of the infamous fried green tomatoes every day - and you're likely to find a line out the door of hungry patrons or the curious checking out this landmark cafe.
The line is cafeteria style - you're first enticed by the rows of desserts like banana pudding and cookies and cream pie (Gooo ahead, indulge! This meal's gonna cost you 5,000 or so calories, anyway!). Next up are the main dishes. Entrees include Southern favorites like fried chicken (also there's the fried chicken breast or fried chicken tenders option), meatloaf, country fried steak and other daily specials.
Aside from the fried green tomatoes, other sides include fried okra, mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, field peas . . . ask for a side, and they'll probably have it.
Definitely somewhere to seek out if traveling down I-20! Check to make sure they'll be open when you're passing thru - they open for lunch daily but limited hours on weekdays only for supper.
Southern comfort food at its best! This is the cafe that the book/movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" is based its cafe in the movie on. It is served cafeteria style. The food looks appealing and taste great too! Of course, we sampled the fried green tomatoes and they were AWESOME! I had chicken, fried okra, macaroni, mash potatoes and banana pudding. Everything tasted so fresh and was so good. Everything tasted as though it was made right in your grandma's kitchen. The restaurant had a lot of memorabilia from the "Fried Green Tomatoes" movie, had cute little table clothes, friendly workers and the a great view looking at the railroad tracks. If you're ever in the area, go check it. It's so YUMMY!!