"Located smack dab in the middle of Highland Avenue, Bottega is an iconic Birmingham institution serving sophisticated fare that’s part Italian, part Southern. Both the dining room and cafe, which specializes in wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches, are open. Bottega Cafe is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, making it a great alternative to area lunch spots that close between lunch and dinner service in the late afternoon. The restaurant was nominated in the outstanding hospitality category for the 2023 James Beard Awards." - Sarra Sedghi, Denise K. James
