Cotton Row

I’m always in for Beef Wellington, which drew us in for the New Year’s Eve fixed menu, trusting from past experience that our high expectations for a luxurious meal would meet with the standards at Cotton Row. But surprisingly, the star of the meal for us turned out to be the Pear and Burrata Salad and the Bananas Foster dessert (which proved a little difficult to eat with the provided spoon, but that is the only fault found). The service was friendly yet formal and the upstairs dining room is as intriguing a space as the wine cellar, where we were sat the time before. We had a lovely time and enjoyed the special occasion thoroughly—as anticipated.

I will definitely be back here if I'm ever back in Huntsville. Tristan was wonderful with taking care of my requests. Be sure to see him. It was a celebratory dinner for me. All of the items that I had while here were phenomenal. I highly recommend this establishment. Thank you Cotton Row.

I did [picking cotton] from - until I was 18 years old, that is. Then I picked the guitar, and I've been picking it since. ~Johnny Cash As much as flavor, texture, and taste are important to the experience of dining, it is context that makes a meal truly memorable. And my first dining experience at Cotton Row was memorable. The context seems to be comfortable industrial chic with a dash of Deep South elegance. I suspect the Cotton Row name gives homage to the restaurant's southern setting and southern culinary influences, although I didn't find the restaurant’s menu to be overtly southern. The Black Bass Meunière was subtle and sophisticated (buttered sweet corn risotto, black truffles, parsley & fennel salad). The Hot Honey Okra King Salmon (southern slaw, fried pickle, warm bacon & potato salad, comeback sauce) was beautifully presented, sophisticated, and delicious. It's culinary excellence through thoughtfulness, delicacy, and creaativity. My only little suggestion would be that they revisit their approach to Affogato, but I am Affogato bougie being just back from three weeks in Italy and Affogato at Vivoli in Florence, Italy, not Florence, Alabama. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot…. It'll make you wanna slap your Mama!

Amazing experience! Loved my seat at the bar; listening to the local convo and enjoying the warm atmosphere of this beautifully remodeled old bank. The metal safe door still sits on one of the back restaurant walls. My bartender and server was attentive and steered me in the right direction… the short ribs! Scrumptious! Loved the cheese grits! Great wine selection and the pear dessert was the perfect ending to this charming dinner full of flavor and fun historical facts about this charming city.

My husband and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and chose Cotton Row as our dinner destination. Most of the reviews seemed positive so maybe we just chose an off night, but from getting seated to trying to pay the check it all seemed like such a burden to the staff. We were seated outside relatively quickly, but after that we were forgotten. Tristan was a nice guy, but once another table broke some glass he was almost entirely absent. You cannot substitute all the vegetables so be aware. If you’d like scalloped potatoes instead of parsnips I have bad news. It’s not going to happen. They did agree to carrots instead of grits though. The bread came after we asked 3 times and we were midway through our meals. Our food was good, but cold and mine was missing the mushrooms. The highlight was the fries which were supposed to be a side, but we were charged for the appetizer, but they were tasty. No water refills were ever offered. We had to ask another waiter for salt and pepper. Overall it was just a really underwhelming experience for a restaurant and that advertises as fine dining. I mean no one even wished us a happy anniversary. I cannot say I recommend Cotton Row and I don’t think we’ll be back.

Had a wonderful upscale dining experience at Cotton Row last night. I sat at the bar and was very well taken care of by the bartender, Rodney. The drinks were excellent! The Ahi Tuna appetizer was delicious, and the Lamb Chops entree was perfectly prepared and quite tasty. Great service and food—highly recommend.

Amazing food and service! Our party had many food allergies, which we indicated ahead of time on the reservation, and they were very accommodating. The server was knowledgeable on what menu items we could have, but double checked with the chef for each one. There are many gluten free options, even a delicious crumb cake for dessert! I would highly recommend for a nice night out.

Had dinner with my colleagues to celebrate a job well done. Our server Chyle was so nice and helpful with our food questions, as it was our first time here. Everything was fantastic. Scallops, Butternut Squash soup, the red fish and short rib ravioli were all amazing. All in a beautifully curated historic bank building. I highly recommend if you are in or near Huntsville.

The last time I was here with some colleagues was about 1 1/2 years ago and I really enjoyed the food and the ambiance. This time around, I made reservation for myself and I was even better. I ordered the goat cheese beat salad and for my main dish the short ribs and grits. Salad was nicely coated and had perfect amount of toppings. Short ribs were amazingly braised; not on the sweeter side and not too salty. This dish also pairs very well with a full bodied Cabernet which I ordered Austin Hope from Paso Robles, CA. Services was on point and I am looking forward to my next business trip.

Cotton Row is a beautiful restaurant. Narrow, but very intimate. Service is seven-star. Our waiter, also Brian (Bryan?) was the height of fine dining hospitality. The bar has a great inventory. Service off of it was very slow. It took 25 minutes, from order, to get drinks to the table. They came after the appetizers were served. Second one took longer. The meal was over, when it arrived. Pricing for the liquor at the bar is exceedingly high, to the area. The cocktails were also more. The food was exceptional. The Manhattan clam chowder was beautiful. The Bibb lettuce salad, with the watermelon radish, and the mustard vinaigrette, was delicious. The shortrib ravioli was a star. The rack of lamb, with the pisatchio crust, was delicate and perfectly cooked. A great evening for a business meal, anniversary, or a special night out. Thanks to Huntsville foodie Pamela M. for the recommend. Great spot!

Our visit this time was again, fabulous. Dylan was our server and was the best! My wife doesn't drink alcohol and she wanted a mock-tail. They were out of NA gin and vodka, so he made her a fantastic NA drink that she flipped over. Great job sir. The Apalachicola oysters appetizers, beat salad, and lobster thermidore were out of this world! You'll notice in the photo just how delicious it was.

We went for a single vineyard wine tasting that was in a private room upstairs. Cotton Row provided a selection of appetizers while the wines were tasted. The wine tasting was disorganized with no clear way to purchase wines and more people than could easily get to the wine table and insufficient stand up cocktail tables. The appetizers suffered from temperature variance as they had to be carried outside from the kitchen to the stairs to the room. The arancini were the crowd favorite. The beef Wellington was more pastry and gravy than meat. The lobster in pastry shells were good and the shrimp with caviar were bland. Overall a mediocre experience.

I have always loved Cotton Row. Service is always top notch and the food is always good. However , do not go on Valentine's Day or any holiday where they have a set menu and set price. I was seriously disappointed . The portions were half size and the prices were doubled. I got the scallops and it only came with two small scallops over a small maybe 1/2 cup of risotto - which was bland . The deserts tasted like they were from Costco. Needless to say- 360 dollars later- we left hungry and came home and made a pizza. I have dined at Michelin star restaurants and have had better food for half the cost. If you're going to charge $145 per person- make sure the food is up to par. Do better Cotton Row.

Went for dinner with a pre-booked reservation at 8:45pm. Parking spots around the restaurant were plenty, not sure if they are enough for a busy day though. I managed to find a spot nearby. Restaurant is a small place in a 200 year old building and looks like it used to be a bank before. The vault door of the old bank is still in place. This place had a good ambiance with outdoor seating as well. Coming to food, I ordered fried oysters and Wagyu beef burger. Also ordered southern mule mocktail. Everything was well made. Wagyu burger was easily the best burger I ever had. Service was top notch. Prices are very reasonable for the excellent quality that is offered here. Cannot wait to try the rest of their menu.

I was really looking forward to taking my two daughters with me to Cotton Row for Valentine's Day and it was also my birthday. Someone else made the reservation for me so I didn't realize it was a set menu at a cost of $135 each! it only included an appetizer, entree and dessert. No salad nor even a vegetable with the entree. The portions were tiny - 2 small scallops with a bit of risotto was one, a tough piece of duck with some sauce was another and the third was a small piece of fish. The dessert portions were larger than the entrees! I read earlier where 2 scallops was an appetizer portion and the cost was $22! it was also my birthday and nothing was even offered for that. I spent over $600 for a meal that should have cost half that at best. it's the last time I will eat here.

Was in town for work and had a free night. Super tiny restaurant, and reservations are required. However, my colleague and I were able to sit at the bar and eat our meal. Very intimate setting. Served immediately and quickly. Ordered the fish special. It was outstanding. A lovely grouper with a vegetable ratatouille in a burre Blanc sauce. A little on the pricey side, but definitely worth it. If ever back in town, I would definitely eat here again.

Went here for my birthday dinner with my fiancé and the food was wonderful. The prices are definitely steep but they're worth it for special occasions. The drinks were too pricey for my taste. But if you're eating here I don't think you should be knocking them for prices because it is a finer establishment. My favorite was the filet and lobster mac and cheese. One knock we had on this place was the choice of music. The music was much more casual than the appearance of the restaurant. Pop music did not fit the fine dining experience. If you're a local you should definitely try this place and see it for yourself!

We arrived early and were happily seated. A single overhead light shining directly into my eyes was brought to the attention of the nearest server. Minutes later it was dimmed slightly, but not enough to make a difference. Our waiter was charming and very kind but only offered us the cocktail/wine menu. I requested the food menu after being left with only water for what felt like a long time. I ordered cocktails and parmesan truffle fries. When the truffle fries arrived- still no cocktails, I was excited to introduce my parents to the taste of truffle. They were cooked perfectly. Crispy, but ZERO trace of parmesan or truffle. Cost: $9 In hopes again of sharing the experience of something new and exciting with my parents - I ordered foie gras - as well as fried green tomatoes - in hopes of experiencing an upscale version of a southern traditional dish. When the foie gras arrived, i sat looking over it in disbelief. The foie gras was the size of a silver dollar, but the waffle was the size of the entire plate. There was no apple - but instead what looked like the tiniest amount of apple sauce - and only the slightest drizzle of maple syrup and pecans - which were not toasted. I remained positive and hopeful until I tried the "waffle" -dry, and hard to cut into, it was incredibly dense and tough and tasted stale. $24 plate of inedible food. The fried green tomatoes had a lovely crunchy texture but had no flavor and no seasoning. There were very small amounts of the accompanying sauces - which were the only flavors of the dish - and one of the "sauces" was clearly straight Tabasco - despite being described as cotton row hot sauce. $12 I ordered a bottle of white wine to share with dinner - a Spanish Albariño. $46 For my father, I ordered the short ribs with creamy polenta. the halibut for my mother and the duck breast for myself. Our entrees arrived before our bottle of wine. I looked at my mothers halibut. It was barely a quarter inch thick piece of fish looking questionably edible - I crossed my fingers and hoped it tasted better than it looked. She couldn't cut it. It was tough. I watched her struggle to cut a piece of fish and watched in awe and embarrassment at having chosen this dish for her. I asked to taste it. As a chef, i was confused how such a thin piece of fish could be this chewy, tough, and completely inedible. The "crispy" leeks were stringy and couldn't be broken down no matter how long they were chewed on. I tried my mothers brown butter parmesan gnocchi - It was flavorless and horribly chewy - a clear sign of the overworking of the dough. The only component that was worthy of being on the plate was the pea hummus. It was perfectly seasoned and delicious. Cost $42!!!!!!!!!!! I looked down at my two tiny pieces of dry duck breast. I tried to cut a piece to find it was rubbery and had sinew so thick I struggled to cut through it. It had the consistency of bubble gum and the only reason I could force myself to eat it was because the flavor itself was quite good. Just enough smoke. And the seasoning was on point. The cabbage served alongside it was completely tasteless and had no purpose on the plate. The figs were inedible - dried beyond recognition or flavor. ZERO SIGN of poaching. The farro was the only thing I could eat to compliment the duck breast enough to power through it. Absolutely NO sauce could be found on the plate. Cost $39 My dads short rib portion was massive. I tried his to find it a bit dry and a bit stringy and again with little to no sauce. There was only a single tiny sliver of mushroom on the entire plate, and the polenta was completely congealed - nothing creamy about it at all. The blistered tomato had no purpose on the plate and the amount of arugula in relation to the portion of meat was out of balance. But it was edible. Cost $38 In retrospect, I should've insisted it was all sent back and remade. But i didnt. I'm sure many reading this can relate to this absolutely awkward and infuriating situation. Despite being disappointed, we decided to try a few desserts in hopes that we could finish on a positive note. We ordered two cappuccinos and an espresso as well as the peanut butter and jelly Philo dish, and the chocolate hazelnut opera cake. Mostly Filo, and very little to none of the delicious peanut butter jelly filling, which was complicated by mounds of dried Filo flakes, which like all our other food that evening were hard to cut through. The opera cake had a slight stale flavor, and was garnished by two pieces of what we assumed were liquor soaked cherries, which were absolutely an inedible. Our coffees arrived after our desserts were completely finished. A truly disappointing AND EXPENSIVE meal. After tip, our bill totaled approx $385!!!!! For three people! My search for excellent food in Huntsville will continue elsewhere.

Love this place. I was super shocked that Huntsville had such cute little restaurants within walking distance from von Braun center and hotels. I had to try this restaurant bc of the reviews and didn't disappoint. There were a few things that I couldn't try bc they weren't able to remove certain meat products from the dish. What I got though was more than enough. I would come back here again.

I like the location, the prices, the service. It was all good and on point. They also had a really nice Knob Creek barrel pick. They sell bottles for $160. I just had a straight pour, and it was solid. All in all, this is a great place for a great dinner.

LOVE THIS RESTAURANT! Perfect for date night! Not to mention everything was top shelf and fresh.

We celebrated our 29th wedding anniverstary last night at Cotton Row...been here every year since moving here in 2015 except during Covid. We had the perfect table, the most awesome waiter, Mike, a young college student, and as always a fabulous meal. My husband cannot resist their ribeye steak - so he ordered the Grilled Certified Black Angus Beef 14 oz ribeye that comes with maine lobster mac and cheese, broccolini, sauce bordelaise and I took our waiter's recommendation and enjoyed the Black Bass Meuniere with buttered sweet corn risotto, black truffles, parsley & fennel salad -OH MY GOSH!!! SOOOO GOOOOD! Of course we had desert- Dan had the Warm Skillet Apple Tart with bourbon butter pecan ice cream, toasted walnuts, and caramel, and I had my favorite - the house made ice cream tasting board. Always a winner!!! If you are looking for a fun, warm, friendly atmosphere, Cotton Row is the place to celebrate any occasion...even if its....just a great day!

We were in town for an event at the Von Braun Center and decided to try Cotton Row for dinner. We came in after eight on a Thursday night and were seated promptly. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable about the menu, answering our questions and offering recommendations. We started with the Parmesan Truffle Fries which were great. For dinner, I decided on the Sesame Crusted Tuna and my wife chose the Porcini and Truffle Mushroom Ravioli. Both were delicious. We ended with the Limoncello Tiramisu and Chocolate Caramel Crunch Cake for desert, also delicious. In addition to the great food, Cotton row also has great atmosphere. There's a cozy, classic feel to the place. The lights were low, but not too low, and a mix of light jazz and easy listening (I.e. Sinatra) played softly in the background while we dined. The great service, charming environment, and wonderful food made for a pleasant and memorable evening. I'd definitely recommend trying Cotton Row if you're in Huntsville.

The standard in Huntsville for many years! Jimmy Boyce is one of the best Chef's around. He has NYC and California experience. His short ribs and fish dishes are mainstays. Great soups and appetizers.

Great meal for my birthday. Back room setting was so quiet and comfortable. Food and drink over the top good.

The food was good. The issue was we choose there for the Old Fashioned happy hour. Yet once we arrived it was made known to us that it's only for the bar and patio seating. I've never heard of such. We decided to stay at a table for the full experience. Then to our disappointment the cocktails were not quality. The old fashioned was not balanced and had regular ice cubes. High hope were had for this place. Truly disappointing. Also please no they do not have a Sunday brunch.

This place was a decent date place, with a quaint atmosphere and nice live music. We were promptly served when we were seated. You need to have reservations, unless you want to wait 3+ hours and still not get a table. I made the reservations through open table some time back. The menu is small, but it's a farm to table concept. I was a little disappointed on some of the stuff. We order the truffle fries, which were amazing but they don't give enough aioli, so we had to request more. They happily brought us more. I had the harvest salad, which tasted gritty and unwashed. So I was highly disappointed. My husband had the butternut squash soup, which was really good. We both ordered the venison main. The overall dish was good, but the venison was missing some seasoning or salt. And they s don't put salt on the table. We both ordered an affogato (espresso with ice cream & this version had liqueur). It was really good, but needed more ice cream to coffee ratio for a real affogato. With all of the restaurants I've been to like this one, it didn't quite measure up to my full expectations. But it was overall above average.

I love Cotton Row. This is one of the best dinning experiences in Huntsville. I have eaten there several times for personal and work events and time and time again the food quality and service never fails. There's always a great seat whether you're bringing your plus one or a large group!

Stopped last minute from out of town. Lucky to get in, and we were glad we did. We enjoyed our dinners and our drinks. Would definitely recommend.

I like the cozy vibe of this cute restaurant. The food is prepared well. Nice date place.

The only good thing about Cotton Row Restaurant is the ambiance. It took over 2 hours to finally get our main entree. I ordered the Halibut and it was dry and salty.

They deserve more than a two but I am rating it there for a few reasons. My old fashioned was very good! I ordered the oysters and my wife the fried green tomatoes. They were both pretty good. Our server was just ok. We ordered the special ultra prime for $75. I also told them we would like it with frites- fries. He told us we could not swap it out so go ahead and charge me for them. My $75 ribeye 16oz had about a 4pm huge piece of fat that really makes it unappetizing. Said something to the server and he laughed and asked me it there was something he could actually help me with. . . We did sub the kale for green beans which were plain and had a lot of end cut pieces. I would say for Cotton Row tonight was a miss for us.

Always courteous staff who are very attentive and well trained. The food is always delicious and perfectly presented. It's one of those places that feels like home but where you also feel very appreciated. I've always found it to be clean and inviting. This is a favorite spot to entertain important business associates, where the best of the south is on display!

The food was great, the service was fast and the ambiance was very relaxed and comforting. Definitely recommend the filet and the hazelnut chocolate desert

This is what you want for a nice night out, but it could be better. While the menu is small and focused, it leaves a lot to be desired if you have any food allergies or sensitivities. The decor fits the space and the service was top notch. In the end the quality of the meal left something to be desired for the price point. If you want a better experience at a fairly similar price point, hit up Grille on Main or J Alexanders.

Great experience! Food is outstanding and the service is first class. Definitely will return

For the expense.. service was ok.. food was warm at best and we never got our second drinks.. our second visit was the same as the first.. just ok.

We've always had very good food and service here. They had a bourbon tasting not too long ago and we went to that and the food was excellent and the bourbons were pretty good. That says a lot since I'm not a big fan of bourbon

Service and food were good. Had a filet and it had good flavor and was very tender. We sat outside and enjoyed nice weather.

I've been there twice this week. Ambiance is hard to beat and food is certainly on par with top restaurants in Huntsville. The issue here is the aloof attitude of the main bartender. He will hardly look your way or ask if you want anything. I'm very puzzled by this and it's too bad.

Honestly it's just better service, better food, and better cocktails. Yes it's pricey but you get what you pay for. Even sitting st the bar is a first class experience (for Huntsville). Staff is down to earth yet sophisticated and the food reflects the same vibe.

Great little place with charm and everything was great on the menu. Staff was super friendly and helpful.

Best in Huntsville. Great cook and bartenders. Short ribs are to die for. Get a Sazerac

Small but awesome!!! The food was very good. We appreciate the service; food was cooked as requested in terms of extra well done meat; and order was taken in a timely manner.

Great food. The only opportunity my wife and I saw was that the tables are way too close together. We couldn't have a conversation without having to talk over the people sitting beside us. Service was good, and the ease of making reservations and valet parking was good.

Good food for downtown area with an intimate setting. A little crowded for me but appeals to some i believe.

I'd give it a 4.5 if I could. The restaurant was beautiful, the menu had select items, but a great variety, the wine list was awesome and the desserts were amazing. We had a great server too. The half star is for the braised ribs being very salty (saw this in other reviews, but needed to try for myself). They were very tender and sat on a small bed of smoked/bbq-ish/jus grits. Texture of everything was perfect. I also ordered the molton lava cake, but there was no lava just cake, so the server exchanged it for the toffee cake which was similar to lava cake but much sweeter. My total bill was $44 for just the entree and dessert so plan to spend over $60 to include tip and a drink (no tastes or starters included). This is a great restaurant and we'd probably return, but only after we visited a few more options near the area. For a nice evening, try it out! You won't be disappointed. :)

Terrific food matched by a pleasant ambiance that incites a wonderful dining experience. Service is very professional and informed backed by the appropriate amount of attentiveness. A must repeat.

Food was not worth the price. Service was okay, but they took the liberty to tag on their own tip. Very neat place in downtown Huntsville but we will not be going there again. Very unimpressed and almost choked when the bill came. We would rather go anywhere else for the price.

Food - beautiful & always delicious! Service - impeccable! Ambiance - sometimes not as quiet as I'd like, but still very enjoyable!

We went here to celebrate our anniversary. Made a reservation and glad we did even though it was during the week it was still fairly busy. Our server was terribly awkward though and messed up on our order and sequence. We ordered most of the appetizer menu. Nothing was really that bad, it doesn't seem like they have much competition in the area though so if there are more options that happen to open up in the future then they will most likely have to up their game a bit more to match the prices of their food and wine.

Horrible , Terrible, Do NOT EAT Here!!! Just ate here for New Years Eve. We were so looking forward to it but a tremendous disappointment!!! From the moment we sat at bar , waiting for for reservation, the bar tender was rude, unfriendly and acted like we were putting him out to ask for a drink, and it was New Years Eve!!! We were happy and excited for a nice evening out and what a Debbie Downer. The Beef Wellington was terrible (sauce was pure salt) service was terrible( no checking in on us or asking if we would like another drink,..... NOTHING!!! Desert was even bad... how do you mess up desert? What a waste of money!! WON'T go back and neither should you!!!!!

I love it here! I've been three times now and each visit has been spectacular. The ambiance, food, and service is top notch. Cotton Row is a great place for a date, celebration, or fancy night out. Highly recommend!

Awesome restaurant with a great staff and great good. I used to go there all the time but haven't had the time lately. Food was always really good and a great location but a bit pricey.

By far THE BEST restaurant in Huntsville. Cotton Row is our 'go-to' spot for special occasions, date night or just when we want to trat ourselves. You cannot go wrong having dinner here!

Visiting Huntsville from out of town (also grew up in the area so I am familiar with HSV) and had always wanted to try this place due to all the amazing reviews from others. We were celebrating a special occasion and thought it was the perfect time to try Cotton Row. We had the beef short rib and duck leg and both were cooked to perfection. Tasted wonderful. Not to mention I'm not the biggest grits fan, but the grits along with the short rib were delicious. For dessert we had the berry bread pudding which was good but a pretty small portion for $9. I had a blood orange martini and really enjoyed that. The reason this review gets a 3 is merely due to the service. We weren't formally introduced by our server but instead "any drinks?", the server never made us aware of the "dinner special" which was halibut, and it took forever to get our drink orders in... Considering how much you spend for a nice evening here, this aspect of the experience was disappointing. I expected much better service... oh well.

What is going on at Cotton Row, formerly the best restaurant in Huntsville....This restaurant is not as good as it was a year ago. First of all, the lobster ravioli is one of the best things here. However, price went up $5 from $16 to $21 and the quantity decreased from 5 to 2. You are supposed to at least keep the same amount if you are increasing the cost, so this doesn't sit well with me. Plus the ravioli I got was cold! The Pappardelle we got was goopy, soft and overcooked. I feel like they have a different chef and he's not as good. I no longer would recommend this restaurant.