The 15 Best Restaurants near Tuscaloosa and the University of Alabama | Eater

"Since 1953, Nick’s has been serving filets and deep-fried classics (onion rings, chicken livers) in a faded crimson building on Route 43 past West Tuscaloosa, earning it the nickname Nick’s in the Sticks. The restaurant’s tagline, “Made for the locals,” just about sums it up. The wooden walls are lined with beer signs, dollar bills are stapled to the ceiling, and the seating of choice is a cushy black plastic chair. Between the decor and the prices, Nick’s seems frozen in time — especially when you’re waiting for your food. Don’t worry; signature drinks like the Nicodemus (a blend of fruit punch, vodka, rum, tequila, and Bacardi 151, accented with a cherry) will keep you busy as you wait." - Jen Bowman