The Refinery

10/10 From start to finish, this place is an absolute must go to! The food was truly top tier. I had the spinach dip it was so good, I ordered another one to go! I also had the croissant sandwich and it was loaded with meat 😋. My date had the pasta it was chef kiss 🤌🏾. The dishes were beautifully presented and packed with incredible flavor. The staff was just as impressive: warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without being overbearing. And the drinks? You have to get the Smoke & Violet 🙂‍↔️ Perfectly balanced, expertly crafted, and a great complement to the meal. We also had the Passion fruit lemon drop and strawberry 😋 . This is the kind of restaurant that leaves you already planning your next visit. Highly recommend!!!!

Kayla was AMAZING!! Thanks for everything! I had miso chicken sandy and truffle fries, yummmm. But the star of the show was the pink Starburst special request drink that Kayla made. She improvised and made a delicious version, prob the best I've had to date. I will MOST DEFINITELY be back:) ***Go ask for a KPD**** *Kayla's Pink Drink*

The Refinery is a local Birmingham gem! The meals are priced so fairly and they are incredibly full of flavor. The drinks are high quality, unique, and delicious. Everyone was friendly and service was top tier.

The Refinery is a quaint little spot with upscale decor and a laid back vibe. The drinks were great! The food was hot, fresh and tasty! I would recommend this place. Keep up the good work Refinery!

Gumbo on point. Kayla was the sweetest, very attentive! Vibes are right. Rotating menu and monthly specials. 10/10 recommend 👏

Food was good. What turned we off was the moment we walked in, empty restaurant but they made us feel like we were bothering them. Totally didn’t feel welcome.

Well, very nice atmosphere. Other than that, the menu is very limited your standard/average restaurant prices. I was a little put off because I got there around 5 o’clock and I said oh do you have any specials/happy hour and the response goes well it’s a dollar off domestic beer. That was it end of conversation so I opted for a glass of wine. It was eight dollars, which is a good price but it was a six dollar glass as far as the portion size was concerned. It turned me off from wanting to order dinner at that point so I paid my eight bucks and I got out of them. I went down the road to the next block on the corner and this wonderful restaurant had happy hour nine things for happy hour or under $10 and every drink beer, wine or liquor had a special not this place.

Kris & Andy were awesome & kind to my husband and I. They were amazing bartenders & servers! The vibes were positive, fun, and the music was cheerful, energetic, & uplifting. A place for all kinds of people. We didnt match most of the people there, yet, we had the best time! Defined, Refined, Elegant, & yet down to earth at the same time. Everyone was cool and having a good time. Lots of laughing. The service is the best!! Such a fun place! It’s like your back beach bar, yet you’re not at the beach. You would swear you were in a different place. Even reminds me of a couple of New York bars. You forget where you are in downtown Birmingham. It’s wild. The food & drinks though— they are the shining star. You HAVE to have the ISLAND NECTAR SHOT. And the OHANA & HONEYCOMB, that has a little bee and honeycomb you can eat. They are the best drinks!!!! And you HAVE to have the SPINACH & ARTICHOKE DIP. The best one I’ve ever had. And I wasn’t too drunk when I ate it to not know the difference. Lol We also liked the TRUFFLE FRIES too. The only thing that could make this place better would be another bathroom somehow, & the actual beach to be in the background. Lol

Amazing food (Chicken piccata to die for and spectacular smash burger) and great outdoor patio. Andy and Sarah were attentive, had great recommendations, and were just generally lovely. 10/10 highly recommend!

Great spot to grab a drink and have lunch. The menu changes, but everything I've had is excellent. And they make a great gimlet!

Such friendly staff in a super cute but modern small space. I loved the decor, vibe and options for drinks! Even for going on a Sunday afternoon we were greeted by the friendly staff, enjoyed our drinks and our time there! Id be excited to come back in the evening for dinner and cocktails

Second visit! It was nice. Good drink. I didn't eat but the food I saw looked worth trying!

Well, very nice atmosphere. Other than that, the menu is very limited your standard/average restaurant prices. I was a little put off because I got there around 5 o'clock and I said oh do you have any specials/happy hour and the response goes well it's a dollar off domestic beer. That was it end of conversation so I opted for a glass of wine. It was eight dollars, which is a good price but it was a six dollar glass as far as the portion size was concerned. It turned me off from wanting to order dinner at that point so I paid my eight bucks and I got out of them. I went down the road to the next block on the corner and this wonderful restaurant had happy hour nine things for happy hour or under $10 and every drink beer, wine or liquor had a special not this place.

Wow! This little spot is a hidden gem in Lakeview. While the exterior is unassuming, inside you are greeted with a posh, exquisitely decorated interior. You could easily be in a sophisticated NYC bar. The bartender waiting on us was so personable and really went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. Drinks were delicious! I ordered a smoked old Fashioned that was so smooth and smoky. The mozzarella sticks appetizer came out super quick and was deliciously crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle. We split the burger and the chicken piccata. The burger was utterly delicious. A thick patty with the perfect char but a juicy interior. The piccata wasn't a traditional preparation, but it was oh so good. A thick, crispy crumb coating encased a juicy, tender breast. The buttery piccata sauce was bright with capers. The broccolini was maybe the best I've ever had. I'm pretty sure it was deep fried to get a crisp-tender stalk and a crown that started a little crispy but melted as you ate it. A wonderful spot for an intimate date night! It's small, so not a place for a large party, but that's also part of its charm. We absolutely loved it!

Yesterday I was invited to a tasting of the new and improved menu at The Refinery. They are now under new management and have totally renovated their space. We were able to sample a few cocktails including the Aperol spritz as well as the Wealth Espresso Martini that has a pistachio infused tequila. They also had a great wine selection. For the entree options we tried the mozzarella sticks, the heirloom tomato salad, the smash burger, the twice fried wings, the filet, and my ultimate favorite the lobster toast. Every item was seasoned and cooked to perfection. I cannot wait until they officially open. I have no doubt they will do well under new management. Make sure you check them out when they reopen.

Wow!!!!!! What a little treasure! We have heard about this place and decided to visit on Friday night after a fun Birmingham brewery tour. The BEST smash burger! Kris was a fabulous server and made an awesome cocktail! We started with a chickpea tostada that was incredible!! My husband and I shared the smash burger. Well seasoned and every bite was "mmmm" worthy. A must try!!! Nice cozy atmosphere.

The good reviews seem unexplainable given what I experienced. I got the special which was tacos. They were incredibly greasy and didn't have any flavor. The place was loud with people who had been over-served. With all the amazing restaurants in Birmingham, I have no idea why people would come here. My guess is it's a spot to drink, in which case the food isn't the draw.

This is a neatly designed space with a nice music selection, the service was pretty good, Jasmine took care of us and made sure we got everything we needed. The tostadas were awesome. Loved how the flavors and textures came together. Would definitely get those again. The croissant club was good but nothing special, the house salad picked up everything the sandwich was lacking. Overall great experience and customer service.

As soon as I walked in I knew this place was a great place to be. In the past that location was notorious for not lasting very long. Come to find out they have been there longer than I thought. We lived downtown but moved a couple of years ago so I guess that's why I haven't been there. Needless to say I enjoyed myself. The decor is spot on! Even the fine details in the hallway and the bathroom. The door knob, the soap AND lotion dispenser, the wallpaper even the silverware was noticeable along with the lighting throughout. We plan to go back this week especially after the bartender specifically invited us back when she was working. I say it's a definite PLUS to the lakeview community!

Great atmosphere and fantastic service. The food was well prepared, great presentation and flavorful. Truffle fries and French dip was terrific. Give this place a try.

We came here for dinner one night when visiting Birmingham for the bowl game. The owners and staff were fantastic! It's a small place, and they made room for our table of four. There was a small mishap with our order, but they made it right and gave us a discount on the bill for the inconvenience. The food and drinks were incredible! I highly recommend The Refinery!! Will definitely come back next time I'm in town!

The Refinery is the best. Great food, great service, great drinks with great friends. A local staple.

Great place.. the bar was really clean and had good cool feel to it. Quaint little place with great food and service.. jasmine was very nice to us. The food was awesome! I got a French dip and mac and cheese! The French dip was very good, great tasting sandwich with Swiss cheese and Ajou.. the mac and cheese was SO DANK. my girlfriend had a salad and truffle fries.. also really good ranch to dunk the fries in!! Will be back next time we're down there!!!

The service was great and the smashburger was good....but my fries were cold. Which is extremely disappointing considering the meal was overpriced at nearly $20. I ordered the Vixen as well and at $14 you'd think you'd at least taste a little bit of alcohol in the drink. I won't be coming back. It felt like a ripoff.

The have a great Chardonnay. I asked the bartender what the name of it was and she showed me the bottle but I forgot to take a picture. Definitely a nice chill spot. They do serve food but they stop after a certain time.

This place is awesome! It's really cozy with limited seating so I figured to call ahead for my son's 18th birthday. The food is fantastic, andq the ambience was exactly what we were looking for . The staff was super accommodating . We even got a little birthday cheesecake. I really appreciate the entire team for making our night special !!

Amazing! Food. Service. Ambiance. Great place for a date night, lunch, meeting friends or coworkers for drinks.

Husband said burger was amazing. I had the hot wings and they were HOT! Great mozzarella sticks for app. Drinks were perfect. Great ambiance. Would definitely go back. Service also top notch!

My husband ordered a chicken sandwich with garlic marbled potatoes. Chicken was dry and the potatoes had no flavor not even a hint of garlic could be tasted. I ordered lobster toast and the menu didn't say it had raw onions. I asked before ordering what all was on it and she said just avocado and lobster I took one bite let her know it was awful and she didn't offer to take it back. I don't recommend this place at all

Went with coworkers after work on a Friday. The ambiance is beautiful. The team working were fantastic. The bartender made great recommendations on both food and drinks. The food was very good. The bartender made up some peanut butter old fashions and chocolate cherry martinis. YUM!!! I highly recommend and will be returning.

We had some friends visit from Florida who wanted to give this spot a go. We were pleased with the ambiance (cozy), service (friendly), food (nice selection) and drinks. My wife enjoyed her Reuben and I was pleased with both the flavor as well as portion size of my club sandwich. They had a nice selection of local craft beers as well as mixed drinks. We would be more than happy to come back.

Visited here back in January, I had a few mimosas and ate the Mexican street corn dip . The space was relaxing and service was good.

Came here on a Sunday around 7pm. It was packed both inside and outside. When we got inside it was dysfunctional to say the very least. There was no one coming up to us. We sat down and waited for 10+ minutes before actually going up to the bar to see if we could get some menus. Once we got our menus and we're able to look them over, we still were confused as to who to order from. Winded up ordering from the bar and having to tell the person at the bar where we were sitting. The order was simple. I got the Turkey club and my friend got the burger. We enjoyed both of our meals, though the portions were pretty big for what they were. I liked the waffle fries that came with both our meals. They were perfectly crispy and crunchy. Just the right amount of salt sprinkled on top too. I might be back, I might not be back, we'll see!

The Refinery is tiny but what they lack in size they definitely make up for with flavor! When we walked in, we weren't sure we were at the right place. It was a narrow room with a bar that probably didn't have a dozen stools and four tiny tables along the wall. Our hesitation was quickly resolved, though, the moment we sat down. We were immediately greeted by the super sweet bartender/server. She said they started a brand new menu that night and didn't have printed copies yet so she brought over the laptop for us to read. She recommended the mac and cheese bites so we bit. The plate of eight golf ball size bites were absolutely delicious. Crunchy on the outside, creamy in the middle and although they were jalapeño, there was just flavor and no bite. They were accompanied by a sraracha sauce that was more reminiscent of an aioli than anything else. As we were in such small quarters, one of the guys at the bar was close enough to be a table mate. He was a regular and started to tell us what to order - he said the pork chop was awesome but we opted to share a French dip. He seconded that decision. While we waited for our food, he was served the pork chop. Wow! It looked amazing - we should have taken his advice though we weren't disappointed with our selection. Thinly sliced beef piled high on a house baked French roll made for a terrific sandwich. The au jus was just right - not cloyingly salty like most. The accompanying waffle fries were hot and crisp - they put Chick-fil-a's waffle fries to shame. The sandwich looked small but, like the restaurant, it packed big punch. We barely finished it. The Refinery doesn't have beer on tap but does have a good selection of crafts and cocktails. I ordered the OPB - peach Ketel and some other stuff - it was refreshing - not too sweet like so many cocktails. It went down so easily that it could prove dangerous! The prices were moderate. Adding a beer to the above brought our check to $44. That seemed a little high for what was really a bar, not a restaurant but the food was high quality, plentiful and delicious and the service was top notch. We don't come to the 'ham very often but I'd definitely drive out of my to try that pork chop!

Cool place. Grabbed a bite at the bar mid week with the after work crowd while in town.

Maybe it was just a bad day. This place isn't worth it. On arrival you can tell the type of vibe they're going for but they drop the ball. Lightbulbs are out, the seating is falling apart. Dust all over! we ordered the French dip as well as the fish and chips. The French dip was SALT city. I couldn't taste anything but salt. The fish are bite sized, batter only and the pasta salad is flavorless. The two drinks I ordered weren't available so the bartender/ server mixed me up a drink. It was okay. She was really nice, But her service was all over the place, from being the only one there to running across the street to other restaurants for ingredients The experience wasn't the best. personally I wouldn't recommend going here, but I can see the appeal for anyone who may be looking for a more open ended, unserious environment with a laid back atmosphere. 3/10.

It's small and not really a restaurant. Food was ok, because what we wanted they were out of, so we just settled for something. Didn't even want to take pictures of the food or place. We may give it another chance later.

Small bar with damned good food! Staff are friendly and very helpful in helping you pick a good cocktail!

We visited here as it was one of the few places open during the snow storm. They have a traditional bar and a few table/booth seats. The service was exceptional here. I was surprised that the setting was moreso a bar after "glancing" at pictures in Yelp, but it was very clean and quaint. My friend ordered the sea bass and he felt it was amazing! I tried his plate and it really was;) I only had a chicken Caesar salad that evening. It was okay. I would certainly go back and get a hot meal next time.

Small local bar with good food and beer. The also have some great mojitos. Indoor/outdoor seating. We had great service.

We stopped in with our kids for an early dinner. The space is small but has a really cool vibe. Their smash burgers are excellent! The wait staff/bartenders were also on their game. Probably not a kid friendly environment as the night goes on, but is a great spot for a not so late dinner. Looking forward to returning.

Worst place to eat would not recommend. Pubes in my food tried to make me eat it staff was terrible

RESTAURANT THE SPOT The Refinery 728 29th St. S , Birmingham, AL 35233 Hey y'all! I have another spot for y'all to try. It's small and petite but the food is sooooo good! It's located in Birmingham within the Lakeview area. I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted to eat from the menu but when I saw the server bring the quesadilla out to the table next to me I knew I had to have it. My quesadilla had chicken and shrimp and it was the bomb dot com the waffle fries were the bomb as well. I love a potato! I highly recommend them if you're looking for something new to try and grab a cocktail while you're there. I will def be back to try more menu items! Be sure to check them out if you haven't and let me know what you think Tell them #VictheCrit sent you! https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=oHMOxoVT-HmY2ZDJXoAcvA&utm_source=ishare https://goo.gl/maps/b5EmjYrPQTMbvkF79

If you are looking for a great local bar, this would be it. This place was hopping with regulars. The interior is small but we were able to grab a table outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. The owner is really friendly and we chatted with him quite a bit. I can see why he has regulars. The menu is mostly sandwiches and the prices are reasonable. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich with waffle fries. It was a good sandwich with a nice sized piece of chicken. I couldn't eat the whole thing. I got the key lime martini to drink. So good, I had two! I look forward to another visit.

Jeremiah our server was amazing! Extremely friendly and made our meal very enjoyable. I ordered wings and waffle fries. I was disappointed that the wings were whole wings. I'm use to them serving wing pieces but since there is a wing shortage, whole wings is what you get. I don't care for whole wings. My friend had the French dip and she really enjoyed it. I love the vibe at the Refinery and after a year it was good to visit and dine in with a friend from high school. It was the perfect lunch atmosphere to catch up after 25 years!

Bartender Rachel was very friendly and made drinks according to our personal preference. The space is small, but decorated nicely. Food items are served after 5 pm.

Enjoyed a couple of drinks on the patio and a nice meal! Glad I found this one. Will be back.

So to begin with, the food was absolutely incredible! We were surprised because this is a small restaurant that looked like a hole in the wall. But to our amazement and surprise, the food we ordered was just great. Kudos to Chef Ceaser! He really knows what he is doing in the kitchen. It was the server who was the absolute worst! He didn't know anything. When asked a question, he would reply - 'I don't know' (approximately 4 times). He didn't even inform us that the food we ordered actually came with fries so we had ordered truffle fries as the appetizer. We would have ordered a vegetable. Just horrendous. The service is the reason this wasn't a 5. Please know your menu if you are advising people. By the way, if he didn't know, he could have just asked someone who did.

The ambiance is super chill and drink are so fresh. We had a couple of plates which was good for the most part: Artichoke dip - so delicious and with the pita chips it was the perfect paring Mozzarella sticks - perfect for the kids and so crispy Sliders - very filling and so flavorful Macaroni and cheese - everything with bacon is better!! This pasta was so good my daughter ate it all and is so picky. Grilled chicken wrap - it had so much flavor and the waffle fries were so crispy Brussel sprout Cesar salad - here is where we list the star. It's not a Brussel sprout salad it was all romaine. When I was about to send it back the chef came out and said they serve it with Brussel sprouts but the cost was too much. So they should probably just change the name of that salad to classic Cesar salad. It also had too much dressing so I wasn't a fan.

Ordered a drink. Full of ICE not much else. Terrible bartender.do not recommend. Or if you go tell them light ice.

The food was good. The servers were nice, but it was fairly busy. It took a minute for someone to take our order, but after that everyone was fairly attentive. My friend would have ordered another drink, but a half the bar was closing out their tabs after our food came. No one came back to check on us until we were finished eating, so he skipped the 2nd drink. We would come back again though.

The food was great but the service was mid. Nobody came to clean our tables and the glasses were dirty. A very small place but there's nothing you can really do about that. There was only about 3 tables available and only one waitress helping everyone. But other than that, the food was truly amazing. Nothing was under or over cooked and everything tasted great. I especially recommend the burger.

This place is AMAZING! Literally found it by Googling places to eat and this popped up with several other results. But what stood out was them menu. My wife got the wings. She said she only wanted a couple but ate all of them. The waffle fries were hot and fresh. Cousin ordered the quesadillas that's she loved and her husband ordered the club on croissant which he also loved. But what really stood out to me was the appetizer item. They called it a corn dog but trust me. This was way better. It was a conecuh sausage corn dog. This item right here was the best thing I've had in months of not years. Soooooo good. They staff was super friendly and helpful. The bartender made the best Old Fashioned that I've ever had. The overall atmosphere was laid back and awesome. Nice lil hole in the wall. I will definitely be back.

We stumbled upon this place and loved it! Food was great and bartender was helpful. Have already been back! Fun place for a date!

I love this place. I feel that it is a bit underrated. The staff is friendly and although it may look like a small bar, their menu is not to be taken lightly. They are easily one of the greatest things about Lakeview. Our table had the lunch wings, house salad, and turkey club. The lunch wings came with waffle fries. The wings were well seasoned and also came with additional sauces. The waffle fries were salted, but they were not too salty. They were just right. Everyone loved their food and we enjoyed chatting with our server. What I like about going for lunch is that their lunch menu is small and is not overwhelming. I plan to try something different next time, as I have gotten the same thing each time. Their dinner menu is more extensive, but it is also not too overwhelming (I hate super long menus). We plan to come back, as we were very pleased with their service. We got in and out for lunch in under an hour.

Very small nook surrounded by much bigger bars and restaurants but the appetizer and drinks we had were very good. This is a place to try if you want something other than a franchise/ chain restaurant.

Food was so good!! Service was great, even though they were incredibly busy when we got there! The ambiance was so great there were no bad vibes or songs!!