Walkers would be my next choice. Also check out Table 100. I've not been but I've heard good things. Sorry you'll miss PM!

I had lunch there today. The barbacoa and al pastor tacos continue to make me happy.

I had the Biettola pizza and the duck foie gras sausage pappardelle at Bettola last night. Outstanding. Going to slurp up some pho at Saigon Noodle House later today!

Saw's has done it once before, but I think he threw away the fatty end - it was all lean. I gave my dad two briskets from Black's BBQ this Xmas and they were just as good at home as they are in Lockhart.

I've been for a couple of lunches since I live in the neighborhood. Willie I agree with magiccityfoodie about the tomatillo salsa, I thought that the roasted tomato salsa was very tasty (but could use more heat). The taco al pastor is the best taco I've had in recent memory and definitely my favorite item on the menu. The fire-roasted pineapple salsa has a good kick and really makes the dish. The steak taco was made with a fatty cut of skirt steak and was pretty tough. Hongas taco was full of sautéed mushrooms and a change from the standard taqueria fare. I thought that the pozole was chock full of flavor too. I can't wait until they start serving dinner entrees and margaritas. Overall a great addition to our own barrio.

I second BD; my first meal at Ollie Irene was my favorite Bham meal all year. The pressed pork entree there is still my favorite, although I preferred the summer preparation with tomatoes, corn, and butter beans to the current one with celery and celeriac purée (I personally don't think celery leaves should be used liberally in most dishes).

An aside: best meal of the year goes to Uchi in Austin, TX. Also maybe the best meal of my life.

Sounds like y'all had a blast! Sorry I missed it. Thanks for the write-up, BD.

The Piggly Wiggly on Clairmont also has masa and a variety of other Mexican ingredients.

You can buy banh mi bread?! I'm all over this!

Sorry about that NASFF. Dax is right, I did mean Birmingham. I only wish we had the kinds of oyster ads you find a few hours south of here.

Hey y'all. It's getting cooler and I've got a hankerin' for some raw oysters. What are your favorite places in town to put down a couple of dozen? I'm not talking about Beau Soliels and champagne. I'm talking cheap, big, salty Apalachicolas and Terarpin Rye. Are there any hole-in-the-wall oyster bars in the area?

We were trying to go to Asian Cuisine but found ourselves circling the wrong Publix (the Mr. Chen's one), gave up, and sought out Pollo Lucas.

First the good: the grilled chicken was pretty tasty. It was simultaneously moist and salty with a crispy, charred skin. If supermarket rotisserie chicken is a 4/10, this is a 6.

Now the rest: after placing our order with an employee who was clearly either sleepy or stoned, we had to wait at least 20 minutes for our food. Normally this would be ok, but several people who ordered after us got theirs before we did and we could see that they had about 40 cooked chickens already. Maybe the order was just misplaced. The sides were bland (beans from a can, coleslaw from a tub, rice with yellow seasoning pack added). And the salsa bar was tantalizing, with three different salsas and some pickled carrots, but they didn't have chips or any other crunchy carb for dipping.

I don't regret going, but if I'm out that way again, I'll probably try the taqueria next door instead.

Dee's on Green Springs Hwy in Birmingham had Lillet Blanc about a year ago. It was about twice as much as I was used to in Georgia, but I've come to expect that from the independent liquor stores here.

I'm certainly a Bettola fan as well. I agree with Dax on the inconsistency issue, but I've found that that means the quality ranges from very good to excellent.

I went for lunch the first day they were open. They only offer a few varieties by the slice right now and while my lunch was overpriced at $7 or 8 for a small salad and a smaller slice, I saw online that they are now offering $3 slices, which is a better pricing decision, I think. The pizza itself was pretty good. It has a relatively thin crust that maintains it's shape moreso than a NY or neopolitan pizza. The ingredients were fresh, but the combinations of toppings were nothing too new. The space was nice and welcoming and when it cools off a bit, the patio will be great. They have 10 or 12 beers on tap, all of which are from Alabama, plus a very good bottle selection. All in all, I think that it has potential and I'd like to order a whole pie at dinner one night.

I recently spoke with someone who works there, who said the date has been pushed back until August or September. They've had frustrating setback after frustrating setback, but it sounds like it's going to be worth the wait.

i just went on a rum run and bought Martinique and Jamaican rums for mai tais. I also picked up a bottle of Demerara rum (Lemon Hart 151) but I don't really know what to do with it. It's a bit strong for sipping. Does anyone have ideas for cocktails that feature the flavor? I've browsed the tiki blogs, but I haven't found anything that tickled my fancy.

I've been pouring myself a Hemingway daiquiri to start the evening these days, as Summer creeps up on Birmingham.

2 oz white rum
3/4 oz fresh lime juice
1/2 oz fresh grapefruit juice (optional, but delicious, in my opinion)
1/8-1/2 oz Luxardo maraschino liquor (depending on how much you like the stuff)

Shake with ice and strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass. That's the stuff, man.

I tried the soup Saturday - it was very, very good. The ingredients were incredibly fresh and I thought the broth needed very little doctoring with condiments. I loved the quail eggs. The waitress also recommended the lemongrass soup - has anyone tried it?

Tell us more about the glass noodle soup at SNH. I always forget about that place since I live and work downtown, but it'd be worth a trip for something new.

I've gone once before and I'm going again today. It truly is some magnificent fried chicken. The meat is hot, juicy, and chickeny and the crust is crisp and salty without being too greasy. Gotta get my last deep-fried meal before 2011!

V. Richards has duck legs for around $9/lb. You can buy either whole frozen duck or duck breasts (think it's whole duck) at Publix, but call first to make sure they have some. I'm not sure about fresh duck breast.

Wow. I haven't thought about the New Perry Hotel since I was a kid. My family used to stop for lunch on the way up to Athens or Atlanta. I remember the big oyster crackers that you could slather with butter. And a plate of pickles and radishes that I detested then and that I'd kill for now. Glad to know it's still around.

A friend and I split a guava pastelito a few weeks ago. My half was so good that I had to order another one, all for myself. I've only been to Kool Korner twice, but the improvement in the food between the first and second time was remarkable. I'll definitely be back soon.

Jinsei used to offer $7 rolls on Sunday nights, which is a good deal there. No discounts on sashimi/nigiri though.

I really enjoyed their Mumbai Rye when it was on tap at J Clyde. At 72 IBU, it's a pleasantly bitter IPA with a nice floral quality (maybe from dry hopping?)

I too have found that Penzy's Szechuan peppercorns are far superior to the one can I bought in an Asian supermarket, and much more on par with the ma la sensation that you get from good Szechuan restaurants.

While we're talking about them, do y'all typically toast them or use them raw?

I tried Sitar today for lunch. I agree with what's been said so far: the food was quite fresh as turnover was quick, the naan was hot (albeit a little on the soft side), and the tandoori chicken, which I usually find to be bland, was hot and juicy with a crispy exterior. The pankora could be crispier and the mint chutney spicier, but I'm really just nitpicking. I'm excited to have Sitar in Southside. I think it will become a frequent lunch spot for me. I'm excited to order off of the menu at night. Someone post back if you beat me to it and let us know how it is.

I hate that I missed it, y'all. Sounds like a lot of fun. At the risk of this becoming an Asian chow group, I love the Ginza idea (almost as much as the cheese idea).

The Fish Market may have fresh mussels now, but the one time I bought them, they were packaged in cardboard and frozen. When I got home, I had to toss them they were so smelly.

On the other hand, DoDiYos in Homewood has some that look fresh in their little market in the back. I can't recall the price, but I think it was reasonable. Publix also carries them most of the time.