Looking for a good "down home" place to eat in Birmingham?
The South is all about the Meat and Three Plate.
Just what is Meat and Three? A plate of food with one meat entree and two or three of your favorite vegetables.
Even with the economy on a rollercoaster ride, people still like to eat out once in a while. You just become more particular about your choice of restaurants.
There is no doubt about it! There are great Meat and Three Restaurants in Birmingham. My favorite ones offer lots of seasonal veggies and several meats (think pot roast, pork chops, fried chicken)! You get good food and quality for your money.
Just writing and thinking about these eateries makes my mouth water and my wallet sing.
[Image from Microsoft Clip Art]
Meat and Three Restaurants:
Alabama Cooking available here!
Comfort Food--Two or Three plus a Meat
This plate of food is most often found at a casual restaurant--as in come as you are. You often see men and women in their work clothes. Those work clothes can be overalls or pressed khaki pants. The parking lot will have beat up F150s and BMWs side by side.Usually, these restaurants have a "steam table". You enter, get a tray, your napkin and utensils, slide your tray along, and pick what you want on your plate. One pays by the number of items you get. I have seldom had a plate that costs more than $7.00.
Choose your "sides", throw on a piece of fried chicken, pot roast or southern fried catfish and you are talking about heaven on a plate.
Oh, and a great piece of cornbread can make your day!
[I found the photo on a blog entry Idea in a Jar -- Road Trip. It was taken at Niki's West on Finley Blvd in Bham, AL.]
FIND "MEAT AND THREE" RESTAURANTS
- Bhamdining.com, restaurant info for Birmingham, Alabama - Meat-and-Three
- Meat and Three places to eat in B'ham!
- MEAT AND THREE WEBSITE
- Can't make it to Alabama? Then go to this website, look at the left hand side of the page and click your state. Up comes a list of the "meat and three" places. I do not know how often this page is updated, so call ahead. I know for a fact that The Garden Cafe is no longer open.
One of my favorites --THE PAWPAW PATCH
Do NOT pass up the fried greet tomatoes. I think they are the BEST in town. The chow chow corn relish is delish!
- Paw Paw Patch in 410 Green Springs Hwy, Birmingham on Dine.com
- One site with reviews.
- Paw Paw Patch, Homewood, AL : Reviews and maps - Yahoo! Local
- Another site--Yahoo! Local--with reviews.
IRONDALE CAFE - aka The Whistle Stop Cafe (as in "Fried Green Tomatoes at...")
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
aka Irondale Cafe
Thank you Fannie Flagg!
Photo below by Photo Mojo
BLUFF PARK DINER
Steam table menu changes daily.
Really a great place to eat.
After your meal, stretch your legs and walk across the road to enjoy the view.
- Bluff Park Diner
- Restaurant reviews and restaurant listings for Birmingham, Alabama
DALE'S SOUTHERN GRILL
The carrot souffle is good enough for dessert.
Be sure to try the bran muffin.
- Dale's Southern Grill
- Dale's Southern Grill Restaurants provide the best in southern meats, vegetables and desserts. From fresh steaks to seafood casseroles and home made desserts, you will have a great meal here.
- Reviews of Dale's on Upromise site
- More reviews of the Dale's, Hwy 31 location in Hoover.
If you know of a great place for veggie or meat and threes, leave a message here. I will check it out.
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Reply
- Nabella Nabella May 23, 2009 @ 8:13 pm
- Hi Mickie,
Your lenses are fun to read, and I've learned information about my own neighborhood from them! Thanks for the Meat and Three article. I didn't know about Dale's in Hoover. You go girl!
love,
Nabella
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Reply
- Richard Healy Richard Healy Oct 6, 2008 @ 8:47 am
- Try the Irondale Cafe - made famous by Fannie Flagg in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes...If you like Dales and Niki's you'll like Irondale. Another place I like is Samford University Cafeteria. $6.75 for guests, eat whatever you want, meat and 3, salad, pizza, desert, etc....
Do You want meat or just the vegetables?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byI want my meatloaf!
sandyspider says:
I'm a meat eater. But a good plate of veggies is always good.
Posted September 28, 2009
luvmyludwig says:
I'm like to have meat, potatoes, 2 other veggies and bread and desert, give it all to me!
Posted February 25, 2009
Pile on the Veggies, please.
TylaMac says:
Just the veggies for me please. You have to ask to make sure the beans and greens don't have pork added.
Posted May 06, 2009
Many of the southern style restaurants in this area have a bread specialty item. The PawPaw Patch has killer "mexican cornbread muffins". Dale's Southern Grill offers a bran muffin that makes you rethink "bran".
What is your bread of choice?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byCorn Muffins or a slice of cornbread?
luvmyludwig says:
give me cornbread as long as it's not that kill you with sugar kind
Posted February 25, 2009
richard healy says:
Cornbread
Posted October 06, 2008
Make mine white--biscuit or roll--please.
And will you be having dessert?
Red velvet cake? Blackberry or peach cobbler? Key Lime Pie?
Many of the local M&3's feature homemade pies and cakes. Banana Pudding is often a popular choice!
What will you be getting? Tell me here.
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Reply
- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:40 pm
- bring it on!!! I love peanut butter pie
Customize Your Plate!
I always get fried green tomatoes if they are available. Broccoli or squash casserole and a helping of green beans.
Sometimes I get a meat if I am in the mood. Which meat do I prefer? Meatloaf or fried catfish.
A Mexican corn muffin is commonly my bread of choice.
No dessert.
What is on your plate?
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Reply
- sandyspider sandyspider Sep 28, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
- Looks like a great place to go to. Thanks for adding it to Recipes, Reviews and Food Collection.
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Reply
- rms rms Jul 13, 2009 @ 7:31 am
- I pretty much like anything with gravy which is why I'll never be able to be a vegetarian. Nice work!
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Reply
- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
- my preferred meal when eating soul food is fried chicken with hot sauce, collard greens, mashed potatoes, yellow squash, and corn bread. SWEET ICED TEA and anything sweet for dessert
Add a Link to your favorite "Meat & Three" style restaurant!
Now it is your turn to tell me where to find a good Meat and Three place to eat in Bham!
I have mentioned five Birmingham Homestyle or Meat and Three places in this lens. I have tried them all and can say that they are worth a visit.
If you would like to add a link to another restaurant that you think should be on this lens, add it NOW! (Of course, I have to approve all the submissions. Make sure the links you submit meet the criteria--RESTAURANT that serves vegetable plates or meat and three!)
Thanks and come back often to see any additions.
Meat and three sides@Everything2.com
Meat and three sides is a wonderful meal idea I fo more...0 points
Southern Eating:
Photos to make you salivate!
City Hall Diner in Vestavia Hills, Alabama
ALABAMA STYLE COOKING
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
More to do in Birmingham, AL
Here's what Yelpers have to say about Food in 35244
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- "Everything you would want from a locally run and owned coffee shop. Great pastries, good food, fantastic coffee, wi-fi, and a comfortable environment. I..." more
- O'henry's Coffees (Birmingham)
- "Good coffee shop. Wifi. Great dessert selection." more
- Urban Standard (Birmingham)
- "OMG CUPCAKES! This place has the best strawberry cupcakes, seriously. Little bits of real, juicy strawberry in the icing and the cake-- delicious! I also..." more
- Edgar's Old Style Bakery (Birmingham)
- "From the Marilyn Monroe sandwich (chicken, pepperoni and cheese grilled in a cheesy roll) to the gourmet cupcakes and cookies, we were so happy to have..." more
- Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant (Birmingham)
- "Very good authentic Chinese food. Not a very nice place, but food is good. Awesome place if you need oriental groceries." more
Weather in Birmingham, AL
Current weather conditions in Birmingham, AL (35244)
Local Pollen Reports
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by Mickie_G
I am a wife, mother, & grandmother who also happens to be a Baby Boomer. I am also trying to find my place in the world. So who isn't?
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