Bright Star Restaurant

I was sad they were out of beef tips — but it turns out the roast sirloin beef was even better. Friendly server. A local institution. We don’t live close by, but we make trips here for the quality food. I tasted my wife’s catfish — it was great. And the SIDES here are good. Prepared as well as the main entrees.

What a great experience!! Food was excellent and the service was absolutely wonderful!!! It’s like you step back in time! If you’re looking for a unique experience this is the place to go! It’s a little of the beating path but worth every moment! Don’t bypass this exceptional place!!

I have more positives than negatives but the negatives are big ones. Like for instance my first complaint is that the crab meat au gratin was very bland and I only tasted the breading. Secondly the snapper was very bland, no seasoning at all. Finally, my last complaint would probably be the portion size, it wasn't horrible but almost $40 for a thin steak. Now on to the positives, the beef (as they called it) was very juicy and the best tasting in Bessemer and that goes the same for the chicken! Secondly the gumbo was very good but kinda wish it had shrimp but that's my preference. Lastly the staff was very friendly and we were seated faster than most places in my opinion.

We are huge University of Alabama fans, and they seated us at the Bear Bryant table! What a great experience! Food is always good here and service is great too. I insist that you try the Lemon Ice Box Pie. It's so good it should be mandatory. We live this place.

Everything was superb ! Our waitress was great. The atmosphere is so quaint. We had the broiled snapper, country fried steak, mac n cheese, fried okra, yams, rice and spinch casserole , black eyed peas and bread pudding. It was soo good .

100 years ans still excellent in food and service! A truly unique and marvelous experience for travelers and long time local patrons. Great for special events or any celebration.

The Bright Star is one of those rare places that gets it right every time. Classic atmosphere, outstanding service, and food that never misses. The tenderloin is the reason I keep coming back—perfectly cooked, fork-tender, and packed with flavor. No gimmicks, just incredible execution. It’s consistently one of the best steaks you’ll find anywhere. This is a true Alabama landmark for a reason. If you’ve never been, put it at the top of your list. If you’ve been before, you already know—there’s nothing else like it.

This place unironically is in my top three spots in the entire United States. Every single time I eat here it feels like I enjoy the food more. As of writing this I’ll actually be there tomorrow evening and I am beyond excited. The stuff snapper while I don’t know if it’s on the menu year around but, if you can, all my seafood enjoyers need to seriously try that with the veggie of the day as a side. Also there’s not a bad choice for desserts they’re all made fresh and absolutely amazing. Peanut butter pie I’d say is the best choice. Also the original tiling in the floor is absolutely beautiful and well unkept, a true preservation of a past era of both interior design and culinary arts. This place is an absolute 5 stars hands down.

I have eaten here several times the past few years, and I must increase my rating from 4 to 5. I or my stablemates have never had a meal that was not excellent. Today was no exception. Four of us went out for a birthday celebration. We all had the fried snapper almondine plus assorted vegetables. No one left any food on the plates! Every thing was superb. If you like them, this is the place to get them. Service was also excellent. We all highly recommend.

Yelp! Starting the year off at Bright star! It's Saturday and you are steady. People are in and out of this place with a flash. We patiently wait for a large booth so we can spread out. You are so nice about it and let us wait. Thank you. We are seated with Josie, one of your best. She is so accommodating and proficient. Keep it up Lady. But we here for this food for real. We are a party of 4, with one newbie. Bae got the snapper throats with a salad and double okra. Newbie got snapper throats with Greek potatoes, okra and green beans. Dee got hamburger steak with salad, gumbo and Greek potatoes. I decided on the Greek style chicken with rice pilaf, green beans and black eyed beans. Everything was pretty good except the tomato based rice pilaf. I don't like. Reminds me of tomato gravy. However, the cornbread made up for anything I didn't like. It's a ten. And, Bae and I barely ate so we saved room for pie. He got lemon and I got peanut butter both to go. Very good.

My first time to eat at this great restaurant and I hope I can again. I had seen a story about this place and its history on TrueSouth, so I've had it on my radar for a while. We were there for lunch and had a wonderful experience. The restaurant is a very nice and classy place. Our server was very attentive. The food was exceptional! I had the Greek Snapper with Greek potatoes, pickled beets, and the Greek salad. It was all fantastic. Also, be brave and have the anchovies on the salad- perfect compliment to it. Next time I hope to be there for dinner and try one of their steaks.

If you grew up going to this restaurant, I can see how it is nostalgic and historic. However, I would not intentionally make a drive to eat here in Bessemer. It's in the middle of nowhere, pricey, and service is not great. We came for a work dinner, so we had a very large party. They refused to seat me until my group arrived, despite already having a section of the restaurant blocked off for us. They only assigned one waitress to us-- one person had to get drink, appetizer, and entree orders for over 20 people. To make it easier, there were already bottles of wine on the table when we arrived. Nonetheless, a lot of drinks and items never came or came late-- we were there for multiple hours. The star of the show was the Greek baked oysters. They were so large and delicious, we ordered multiple rounds. The famous fried snapper throats were not a favorite at our table. Many of the pieces were inconsistent or had large bones. As for the actual meals, it is expensive for what you get. I ordered the broiled seafood platter-- nothing was spectacular. A few of us ordered dessert, and I do recommend sharing a slice of pie!

My Wife and I ate there January of 2025. We both had snapper throats for lunch. The sides had shrunken. Our lunch cost over $50 with tip. Getting way too pricey for us. There are two other great restaurants in Bessemer that I frequent. One is right behind Bright Star. Other one is close to Simmons.

We just made reservations and had a family dinner here, it was FABULOUS! The service was phenomenal, the place was clean with a nice table presentation, but most of all, the food. I had the prime rib with a Greek salad and both were the best I've ever had. They make all of their dressing in house and they are delicious! Bestie went with snapper throats and insists they are his new favorite. If you are looking for a nicer restaurant to enjoy in Bessemer, give this place a try. Btw, the Long Island comes in a pitcher!

It is expensive!! On the first visit, the food was good, IMO the carrot and raise salad had too much vinegar in it. The salmon was very tasty. The service was great and quick. The restaurant is 100 years old, one of Alabama's oldest. There are a lot of decorations on the walls to admire.

We decided to end the year with a little style! We arrived about 6pm and almost left because the lobby was pretty full and we didn't have reservations but we gave it a shot. So glad we did because we all were seated within ten minutes. We ordered a glass of wine at the bar and carried it to our table. Our server Linda was fantastic. We had a very enjoyable meal to close out the year. My salmon was fantastic. I couldn't eat it all. The Bright Star does not disappoint, frankly it never does.

I really don't understand the hype about this restaurant. It's cool that it has been around since 1907 and has a lot of history. The dining room has vintage charm with original mosaic tile floors, marble walls & hand painted murals. We came for dinner, and it fell short for me. I ordered the bacon-wrapped filet, which seemed larger than the stated 7 oz.--a positive. However, for the price, you only get a choice of two sides. I chose the baked potato and shredded cabbage. The baked potato was plain with no option to have it loaded (at least, it wasn't offered). The highlight of my meal was the shredded cabbage with their homemade John's dressing--delicious! When my main entrée arrived, it was underwhelming. A piece of meat with no vegetables on the side and a plain baked potato, all for $37. They should include a third vegetable or perhaps sautéed mushrooms with the filet and toppings for the potato. Additionally, the filet itself seemed to have no seasoning and tasted a bit gamey and not as tender as I was expecting it to be, far from the best I've ever had. I understand their evening menu is more "fine dining," but come on! I support local businesses, but this place is lacking. They need to step it up to stand out from the rest. I will say that our waitress was friendly and accommodating, so +1 star.

Classic, historic, and a Must Try when visiting Birmingham. Oldest restaurant in Alabama and has several dishes on the list, "You Must Try Before You Die"! First the setting: hand painted murals, very old cozy booths and about 10 private rooms that seated 8-15 people. Love the historic feel and the atmosphere is a little dressier than most. Their famous Greek snapper throats and fried shrimp are delish. The pies are excellent. See movie star patrons photos in the lobby. A special Univ of Alabama room. What are you waiting for?

Nice restaruant for a special occasion or a nice date night. We went for a family member's milestone birthday celebration. There were 6 of us, so we made reservations ahead of time. Bama had a night game, so I thought we'd be good. As we were seated right on time, we heard an announcement about something being 86 and joked that it must mean they were out of it. Well, joke was on me, because it they were out of it, and it was the prime rib I was set on ordering. I was a little surprised they were out of it so early, but I guess that's the nature of daily specials. We had a nice waitress who answered all our questions and was apologetic when it turned out they were also out of one of the beer specials of the day. Besides the special shortages, the food and service were both very good.

My wife, son, and I ate at the Bright Star for New Year's Eve. It was a last-minute reservation. When we entered the restaurant, you're instantly reminded by the atmosphere that it is one of the oldest establishments in Birmingham. This is not a disparaging remark. It is only an observation of bygone days. We were quickly shown our table at the time of our reservation. It took a few minutes for our waitress to appear and get our drink orders. We nibbled on crackers smeared with butter and enjoyed ourselves. My son got the ribeye and was pleased with it. It was a big piece of meat And cook to his liking. My wife went with a simple fried shrimp and enjoyed the same. I ordered and received the special, snapper with crab meat on top. The snapper was cooked pretty good and was tasty. The crab meat was a real disappointment. Is it is though they were quickly running out of crab meat and took a couple spoonfuls and just threw it on for presentation. Overall, I will go back to the bright star. Nothing fancy, but just good food.

One dozen fried shrimp at $36.95? In Bessemer, Alabama? Plus $2.95 for tea. You have got to be kidding me!!! Update: We are extremely close to the Gulf. Many fresh markets in our area.

Tonight was one of the best meals I have had at The Bright Star. The Greek salad with the anchovies and garlic butter. The gumbo, the steak, the snapper, all were fantastic. Service with Peyton was super too. We had dinner with some friends to discuss a trip to Alaska next year and the seated us in the Nick Saban table. Awesome dinner tonight and we were all too full for dessert.

A Birmingham tradition - bright star still has it. It had been awhile since we had been here so we decided to go for our anniversary- on a Tuesday. Believe it or not - they were busy! A Few large groups were there dining. We ordered - snapper throats - as always and relaxed. Food came super fast and tasty. Mine snapper was grilled perfectly. We truly enjoyed the dinner. The only thing I would like to see would be a little updating of the building. The booths have some rips in them and the musty smell needs to be addressed. We will still go and hope this legend can stay strong with all the other competition.

There food is very home style plated i love it especially during the holidays it gives Hallmark for sure definitely a cute christmas date

Wow! First time visiting this fine establishment. The decor is beautifully elegant and amazing. Reservations are encouraged. The staff was fast and friendly we(party of 3) seated quickly, beverages were fast and the food was quick to follow. Those is definitely on my "to return" list and soon. The food was served hot and fresh, desserts sweet and homemade.

I have been several times and I stop by every time that I go through or around Bessemer. The snapper throats are delicious and worth the trip. Many other entrees to choose from as well.

Took my husband for his first time and he was not disappointed. Steak melted in your mouth, seasoning on fish and chicken was incredible. Service was excellent. Cannot wait to eat there again

OMG! Friends from Gadsden, AL & I went on a Civil Rights trip to Selma/Montgomery. Incredible, I would add! On the way back, we stopped in Bessemer, AL to eat dinner at Bright Star. The place has been a restaurant for more than 100 years. The interior is beautiful, with its paneled wood walls & original marble walls & tiled floors. The main dining room has beautiful murals, painted ages ago by a European artist. Our meal was superb! Their seafood is wonderful & the absolute freshest! The wait staff's service is impeccable! Be sure & ask for Marlon, a 48 year veteran of Bright Star! He is such a wonderful man with a vast knowledge of Bright Star. He began working for the Greek family at the age of 13! I promise that you will love everything about Bright Star!

I have to be honest... I read all the reviews, looked at all the pictures and even asked others about this restaurant and was really looking forward to coming here. I studied the menu and knew for a fact that I wanted gumbo (anyone who knows me, knows I love gumbo). I came here with a group of friends on. Friday night. We had to wait until everyone was there to be seated so the wait time wasn't long at all. The ambiance in the waiting area reminded me of an upscale restaurant from the 70's which I thought was nice. We walked through the main dinning area, past the kitchen to another section in the back of the restaurant to be seated. Our waitress was extremely nice and patient. I ordered the summer punch which consisted of rum and some other liquors (I forgot) but it was really good! They should keep this on the menu year round. I was being very indecisive of all what I wanted to eat for dinner. I know for a fact I wanted seafood, but didn't know which route to take. I decided to go with the fried seafood platter, and instead of fried snapper, I asked if I could substitute the snapper for fried catfish, and I was able to. For my sides I chose the cup of gumbo and a baked potato. The wait time to receive our food was very long. As we laughed and talk to you watch customers come and go the owner didn't come around and speak to us and ask us how we were doing and everything was OK. He was very personable. The reason why I'm giving this restaurant a four star is because of the food. The gumbo didn't really have any seafood in it. I was hoping to see chunks of crab meat, shrimp, anything, but nothing except for tomatoes and okra. The rice was really crunchy too. When I got my entrée the presentation was ....... on my platter I got one piece a catfish, three shrimp, three oysters, and a devil crab. The shrimp was the best part of the male I wish I would've gotten more than 3. The deviled crab lacked flavor and I gave the oysters to my friends. The catfish was pretty good and you can't go wrong with a baked potato. Again the star of the show was the Summer Punch. I'm glad I got to experience this restaurant and maybe I'll try it again.

First of all we were ushered into the far back room and there were two large parties back there. The front of the restaurant was quiet but it was anything back in that hole. We couldn't even hear each other to have a conversation. The grilled stuffed shrimp was ruined by slices of tomato and onions between each one. I don't know what they did to the crab & shrimp stuffing but when I took a bite and it tasted like dill pickles, my meal was over. I could not finish the last 3 shrimp. They were huge and looked great, but looks were deceiving. The bread was literally the best part of my meal. Our waiter was not friendly or personable at all. He acted like we were a bother to him when we asked for anything. He barely spoke two words to us until he brought our bill and then he seemed a little less annoyed. We live in Louisiana and this was our final vacation dinner of a 4 week trip. We had eaten here in March, 2022, and it was divine. Very disappointing to have this be such a bad experience. We will not be back.

Let me start off by saying this is the first time I've been to the Bright Star Restaurant since I was a kid. So it has been about 30 years now. As a matter of fact, it was Easter and was one of the most memorable dining experiences of my life, not because of the restaurant, but because my brother decided to throw a hissy fit at the restaurant and sat under the table for the whole meal. Needless to say, I remember the food was good then, regardless of what my silly brother did then. Fast forward 30 something years. I made reservations just a couple of days before for a Friday evening. My wife, being a former chef in New Orleans and having worked at Commander's Palace, had heard me talk about how I wanted to take her to the restaurant. The restaurant has ties back to Commander's in the late summer/early fall when they typically host a chef from Commander's who helps with a series of eating events at the restaurant. So she was interested in trying it out. We took the 35 minute drive from Trussville to Bessemer. As you drive into downtown Bessemer, you see and feel the charm that the town once offered and is trying to revitalize. One establishment that has withstood the test of time is Bright Star Restaurant. You see the yellow neon sign on the corner and know it is something special. Walking in, you are greeted by the hostess who is super sweet and prompt, and pictures of the owners past and present, along with a big bar that is stocked with a great selection of wine, beer, and liquor. They also offer special seasonal cocktails. Our waitress was very nice and attentive. We started with a bottle of Zoe, a red Greek wine that was fruity and flavorful. After spending some time in Italy and Greece, I learned that I prefer Greek wine over Italian wine and this one didn't disappoint. For food, we started with the fried green tomatoes with the shrimp remoulade on top. It was amazing. We also got the seafood gumbo because my wife wanted to see if it was legit. She said it tasted just like the seafood gumbo from Commander's Palace and gave it the New Orleans seal of approval. It's really good. The Greek salad was very good too. By this point both of us were getting full but we still had our entrees to go. My wife went for the Texas Special which was composed of the 4 oz tenderloin (it really is the best steak in Alabama), the lobster and crabmeat au gratin, and she switched out the Greek style snapper for Greek style shrimp. She also got the baked potato but couldn't eat all of the food. It all tasted great though. I got the fried snapper throats with a spinach side thingy. I don't care what you call it, it was tasty. Ambiance. You step back in time when you walk through the doors. The owners have kept their Greek heritage alive in here with murals, pictures, and a feeling of family. The owners have not only made Bright Star Restaurant one of the best dining establishments in Alabama, but I would go as far as saying one of the best in the Country. They hit all of the right marks for food quality, ambience, great service, and feeling of being home where there is always a smile greeting you at the door, someone checking on you throughout the meal, and a person to tell you to have a great night and see you again soon. What's not to love about this restaurant?

Loved the ambience but not super impressed by the food. The gumbo was cold and had a scale in the first bite. The filet and the tenderloin were tough. We got them medium well but that does not explain the cut. I will say the flavors were good and the staff was excellent. Just need to address some quality control issues to get back on track.

My wife and I had lunch at the Bright Star today. I had the beef short ribs and she had the snapper throats. We've eaten here many times and today was no different. This was the best meal for the value that you can find anywhere. We highly recommend.

Easy to see how The Bright Star has been around for over a century. Timeless ambiance, great vibes, friendly staff, and incredible flavors. Stacey and the entire team are rockstars!

Our company held its Christmas party here Dec 3, 2024 and I cannot give the Bright Star as many stars as I would love to give them. The food was amazing, they set up the foyer for us and the Christmas decorations were beautiful as was the music. When I called to checked our reservations the week before, Sonya told me to just show up, relax and they would take care of us. They did just that. Our servers did a great job managing our party of 42 and we will absolutely be back again. Thank you to Sonja, our servers, the chef and bartenders for making our party a hit with the our entire company. Everthing was 100 plus stars!!!!

I was visiting a friend and she took me to this historic family owned restaurant. I loved seeing all the history of the restaurant, family and celebrity photo's. We had the signature snapper almandine, slaw, Greek potatoes and fried ocra. I thoroughly enjoyed the quant, yet upscale atmosphere and fresh home style food. Would recommend it.

We visited the weekend of Father's Day. The crab claws were delightful,lightly breaded with a good taste. Most of my party got snapper throat, which must have been good judging by how everyone cleaned their plate. Waitresses was busy but still very attentive. The owner came by to chat for a few.

This was a recommended place for friendly service and excellent Mediterranean food. Everyone was right. Add this place to your list for a take out treat or casual eat in dining experience.

Every time I'm in Bessemer, I eat here. I have tried several of the entrees, but my absolute favorite is the Greek salad. I eat it at least once a visit if not more. The salad is always fresh and crisp, they have the best Greek dressing I ever tasted. I even take bottles back home. Most of the entrees are higher priced for the area but are prey good. The sides are all delicious.

You can't go wrong with the Bright Star. Food and ambiance is great! Location is easy to get to and plenty of parking available.

Bright Star is an iconic restaurant which we enjoyed very much! Once you step in the door, it's like going back in time from the people, to the decor, to the music. Nick Saban has a favorite, dedicated booth as does/did Bart Starr. The food was very enjoyable! Started with seafood gumbo, followed by cole slaw with that amazing homemade dressing, Greek salad with yummy garlic dressing, Greek snapper, and coconut and chocolate cream pies. A couple of drawbacks to an otherwise excellent dining experience - there were three of us and we asked for cornbread and rolls. We were served only two small discs of cornbread (which were very tasty) so one of us missed out. Don't make the mistake of ordering from the dinner menu at lunch. We were told that the portions were larger, however, they were not. The Greek snapper was exactly the same size as the lunch portion for double the price. When I asked about it I was told the manager would come over, which she did, but didn't say anything. She just kind of breezed by. I later learned that they didn't charge for the two pies or two coffees because of this. I have no idea the cost of the pies since they aren't published anywhere. It was a nice gesture, but it likely wasn't close to the extra amount we paid for the dinner entree portions. We will return, eventually, equipped with this knowledge.

The food, the service and the environment was great. The server was on point and extremely kind and helpful. The facility was clean and we enjoyed every minute of it. There was approximately eight people in our group and when we arrived at the restaurant, our seats were waiting for us, I went online and reserved a space. They were extremely accommodating.

The food was delicious, the service was perfect, and the atmosphere was great! We drove two hours just to eat here and it was definitely worth it! I recommend the crab cakes, gumbo, and broiled seafood platter Greek style.

First visit to Bright Star. We made reservations and just like the old days, they honored them right on time, even though the reception area was jam packed with Sunday lunch time customers. Every thing from there on was five stars. Food quality, menu, service, bathroom cleanliness, attentiveness, the hostess, you name it was 5 stars. The only disappointment of the visit was that they were out of the baklava cheesecake. Not much to whine about. On they way out we asked the hostess to direct us to the Bear Bryant table. She took us on the tour (we didn't know they also had a Auburn table too that we got to observe). Given the experience in these Bidenomics inflation times it appears that the restaurant has really tried to hold the costs down. Thank you.

I went to Bright Star for a Christmas group dinner. I usually go there about once a year and it's great food, but the service is lacking a bit. We were given enough bread for each person at my table to get half of a roll. The salad that came with it wasn't anything special either. The entree and especially the dessert is what you go there for. If you ever get a chance I highly recommend eating there in the summertime on the weekend that they bring a New Orleans chef in. It usually sells out, but we'll worth a later reservation at night to attend

Hidden gem! Outstanding ambiance, service, and food. It was our first time visiting; celebration dinner for my daughter's graduation. Chef sent the whole table a complimentary cup of gumbo to welcome us and it was quite good. The Greek salad was amazing and literally had the best Greek dressing I've ever tasted. All entrees were enjoyed immensely and the dessert menu was extensive and delicious. Will definitely go back next time we are in the area.

this place should not have 4.3 stars. Bad servers, they had rotten teeth and horrible breath. The food is just way over priced and not worth it at all. The whole place stinks and was outdated... probably the carpet in the dining areas. The only good thing was the tenderloins which came out grossly small and the bread, which they were being stingy about and gave a group of 10 two pieces. wouldn't recommend to anyone.

We finally decided on the Bright Star for our 25th anniversary, and I'm so glad we did! The atmosphere was so unique and we got to sit in the Bear Bryant room! Our waitress was so sweet and talkative and gave the best recommendations! We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes! The sauce on them was out of this world! Then I had the gumbo and Jeff had the Greek salad. The gumbo had so much in it, I could have made a meal of it! For dinner I had the beef tenderloin, snapper, and lobster augratin. Jeff had the broiled seafood platter. Our meals were fantastic and everything was seasoned and cooked up perfection! Our waitress brought us a piece of lemon icebox pie and it was literally the best pie I've ever tasted and I don't like lemon flavor!!! This meal and experience was a 10 out of 10! I can't believe we waited this long to try it!!!

I had a new waiter my last visit. I don't know if that happened before because their turnover is low. My usual lunch was delicious and served so fast. Had the fish w/butter sauce and almonds. They now charge extra for a green salad! Being cheap I didn't get it but regretted it when I had the rest of my left overs. BTW, I was contacted about my previous reviews when I was unhappy about my order. It's why I still eat here even though I didn't respond back to them and take up their customer service offers. Nice time I will and update my reviews quicker. They bottle their store made salad dressings and recommend them. It's outstanding.

What a fun, nostalgic place! We've now been to dinner twice and ordered the same menu items on both visits - the Texas Special. It's too much food but such a good decision and we'll priced if you can't make a decision. My favorite though is the Greek dressing on everything. It's also sold by the bottle.

Birmingham staple since God was a child. It's very good Americanized Greek. But that's never a bad thing! Always warm and friendly. T.

The Bright Star Restaurant is one of my ALL time favorite restaurants. I've been eating here my entire life. I've never had a dish here that I didn't love. This is one of the things I miss from my home town. I try to eat here at least once every time I'm home. Their service is and has always been one of their strengths, after their delicious food, of course. One thing new customers may not realize if the Bright Star has servers with generational ties to the restaurant. During my time as a customer, there have been 2 or 3 generations of families working as servers. The ambiance is always classy, and could be a "Who's Who" of sports, especially the state of Alabama collegiate sports personalities. One of my favorites from the menu is the Texas Special. I love all their homemade salad dressings and sauces. The Greek salad is so fresh and amazing every time. I can't remember how many times I've recommended this restaurant to friends visiting or new residents to the area. I can't wait to eat here again...and, again. Their desserts are amazing as well, especially their Peanut Butter pie. On this occasion from the attached fotos, I left with an entire Peanut Butter pie, and 5 or 6 bottles of their Greek salad dressing and their Garlic dressing. Don't pass up an opportunity to eat here...you will thank me later.

Jody was an outstanding server! Absolutely 10 out of 10. As well as another young man working the section next to her. He filled in for her in a pinch without being asked. They have expanded their dining area that was great since there were many holiday parties happening. In addition they have many support staff helping to expedite orders. Now for the negative feedback: Previous reviews of mine said they have Prime Rib that is better than many any other local restaurants. They no longer have that honor. It's a combination of the quality of the product and their preparation. It's not prime beef roast. It's impossible to slice it properly. Mine tonight was like stew meat. Instead of being a red slice of delicious rare beef, it was a bland brown overcooked portion of beef with flakes of pink. There wasn't that old crust of cooked seasoning from previous visits. It was flabby and pulling apart like a subpar roast. There wasn't any of the flavor I appreciated from my many prior visits. As a matter of fact this is not my 1st disappointing order of Prime Rib. I failed to reply to customer service's replies to my poor review. I wanted them to go back to their old supplier and use their prior recipe rather than just a comped meal. I give my honest feedback to improve weak areas in a business, not to obtain free food. What's so painful is that I have two gift cards my son gave me to different establishments with Prime Rib he boosts is better. Instead of using them, I had been looking forward to this meal all week. Bright Star is improving in some ways like expanding the dining room so there wasn't a wait for a table tonight. Yet, the decisions involving this item are just wrong! They had a special tonight w/blacked Prime Rib served w/blacked Shrimp. Anthony Bourdain's words about restaurant's dirty secrets came to mind as I tried to determine what was wrong with my protein? Especially his wisdom about not ordering the daily specials or ordering fish at the first of the week. I ordered the lobster and crab casserole for $9.95 and it too was a great way to move product going to waste. The lobster part was chewy. I won't order it again, not even in stuffed seafood. It breaks my heart to write these disappointing words about a business that has been serving great food so long. But my money is valuable and we steer too many visitors here to stay silent. Other than this, they still offer a great experience.

The Greek tenderloin is the best steak anywhere around! The Greek snapper and the snapper throats are wonderful. The service is always excellent. It's pricy but you get what you pay for. One of the best restaurants in Alabama!!

I've had Bright Star on my wishlist for quite some time. It is the oldest restaurant in Alabama, and my grandparents went there many times while in town for Alabama football games. I made reservations for us, and though I'm happy I did, they weren't needed for a Thursday night, really. We were seated in the very back room, and every table is partitioned off so you are truly given a private dining experience. Our servers were so kind, had such Southern charm. They took such great care of us, really made our visit so amazing. It's the details! The food was wonderful, we all agreed. I got the crab claws which were so so amazing. I'd go back for that dish alone. The salad dressings are all homemade here, and very flavorful, but also very thick. We had a cup of gumbo to start with and it was good, but not great. The fried catfish was perfectly crispy, fresh and not soggy at all. Big winner! If you love history and delicious greek food and seafood, this is your spot!

Very friendly staff even though they were busy. Food was OK, somewhat bland for my taste. The turnip greens were a little cold. Fried snapper throats were crisp and fresh. Good coffee.

Great experience. Will definitely go back on our next trip. The atmosphere is amazing and everything we ordered was wonderful.