If there’s one restaurant in Birmingham that keeps us coming back again and again, it’s OvenBird Birmingham AL. This is hands down our favorite spot in the city — the kind of place that becomes a non-negotiable on every trip. The atmosphere is cozy yet vibrant, the food is next-level creative, and the patio? Absolute perfection. Whether we’re in town for a weekend getaway or just passing through, we make OvenBird a priority.
OvenBird is tucked into one of Birmingham’s most charming areas, surrounded by twinkling string lights and a laid-back Southern vibe that immediately puts you in a good mood. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and honestly, you can’t go wrong with either.
Their patio is adorable — picture a small water feature and a fire pit setting the mood for date night or a cozy dinner with friends. As soon as you pull up, the whole place feels warm and inviting, like it’s saying, “You’re about to eat well.”
Parking can be a little tricky since their lot is small. We’ve only gotten lucky a few times and snagged a spot right out front. Usually, we drive around back and park at the Pepper Place parking lot, which is just a short two-minute walk to the restaurant. (Bonus: Pepper Place is also home to one of the best farmers markets in the city — if you’re visiting on a Saturday, make sure to check out my guide to Birmingham Farmers Markets for all the local favorites.)
This time, we sat inside, and the interior was giving total romantic-meets-industrial energy — dim lighting, flickering candles, and that warm hum of good conversation all around. The decor hits that perfect balance of modern and cozy, and if you love a good date night atmosphere, this is your place.
If you’re just stopping in for a drink, they have a stylish bar area where you can watch the chefs work their magic in the open-fire oven. It’s mesmerizing — like dinner and a show but with way better smells.
Here’s my golden rule for OvenBird: never skip the Beef Fat Candle.
If there’s one menu item I can confidently tell you to order every single time, this is it. While OvenBird’s menu changes seasonally (which keeps things fresh and fun), the Beef Fat Candle is the sacred constant — and for good reason.
When it’s delivered to your table, just let the candle slowly melt into the broth beneath it. That’s where the magic happens. Then, take your bread and dip it into that rich, savory goodness. The candle itself is creamy and salty from the fat, the broth is full of umami flavor, and the bread is the perfect balance of crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Add a little butter, and you’ll be convinced this is the best bite in Birmingham.
We usually start our meal by splitting a seasonal salad, and this time, it was the apple and manchego salad — a beautiful mix of fresh radish, crisp apple, macron almonds, and a creamy manchego dressing. Fresh, crunchy, tangy, and just enough to whet your appetite for what’s coming next.
We also tried the burrata with jamón Serrano, roasted grapes, estaboga honey, and croutons — basically a mini burrata cheese plate that hit every flavor note: sweet, salty, creamy, and crisp. If you’re a burrata lover, don’t skip it.
For mains, Brad ordered the roasted chicken, which comes bone-in and cooked in their wood-fired oven. It’s served with fried sweet plantains and salsa verde — a flavorful twist that ties perfectly with OvenBird’s global-inspired Southern style.
I went with the hanger steak, and wow — it was tender, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. The chimichurri added that bright, herby kick, and the roasted veggies rounded everything out beautifully.
We never skip dessert here. Ever. Everything sounded so good that we couldn’t decide… so we ordered two (no regrets). Whether you’re a chocolate devotee or a fruit dessert person, there’s always something seasonal and creative to end your meal on a sweet note.
After dinner, we love taking a short walk behind the restaurant — it’s the perfect way to walk off a big meal and enjoy the glowing string lights that make the area so photogenic. It’s also one of my favorite Instagram-worthy spots in Birmingham, so definitely snap a few pictures before you go.
If you’re planning a trip to Birmingham, OvenBird deserves a spot at the very top of your list. It’s creative, flavorful, and consistently excellent — a true reflection of the city’s booming food scene. From the first bite of that beef fat candle to the last spoonful of dessert, you’ll understand why this place keeps us coming back.
For more Birmingham restaurant ideas, check out my post on My Top 5 Places to Eat Dinner in Birmingham, or if you’re brunch-hunting the next morning, see my Birmingham Brunch Guide: Where to Eat Late and Love It. And if you’re mapping out your stay, learn more in my blog about the Best Places to Stay in Birmingham — OvenBird fits perfectly into any foodie weekend itinerary.
I planned to spend maybe an hour at a cheese farm outside Amsterdam and left several hours later with an engraved clog birdhouse, way too much cheese, and a strong opinion on 1.5-year aged Gouda.
Clara Maria Cheese Farm near Amstelveen does a free cheese and clog demonstration that was genuinely one of my favorite things from the entire Netherlands trip. The farm is over 160 years old, the people running it are wonderful, and the tour guide Delo was hilarious in a way I was not prepared for.
A few things that surprised me: Dutch cheese gets its golden color naturally from beta carotene in cow’s milk. The entire cheese-making process is still done largely by hand pressed, flipped, salt-soaked, and hand-waxed before aging even starts. And Americans (myself included) have been pronouncing Gouda wrong our whole lives. It’s closer to “HOW-da.” I understand this now and will still panic and say it wrong anyway.
We tried about ten cheeses ranging from fresh to 20 years aged. The 20-year was aggressively pungent, think concentrated smelly feet... but the 1.5-year was perfect. We also met the cows. Honestly the whole thing was a lot more personal than I expected from a tourist stop.
Full review with what to know before you go, link in bio. 🧀
There’s a little cottage tucked inside a forest just south of Amsterdam that serves giant Dutch pancakes, and somehow I ended up there on a bike ride with no plan and left completely obsessed. 🥞
Boerderij Meerzicht is inside Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam’s massive outdoor park full of biking trails, canals, deer, and families spending the whole afternoon outside. It doesn’t feel like a tourist spot. It feels like something locals actually go to, which is exactly why I liked it.
Dutch pancakes are nothing like American pancakes. They’re huge, thin, somewhere between a crepe and a flapjack, and the toppings cover the whole thing. The honest caveat: the ordering system is slightly confusing at first because pancakes are ordered separately from everything else. Watch one other table do it and suddenly it all makes sense.
I got the apple pancake with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and it was exactly what I wanted. Also got the savory bacon, apple, and syrup combination, which sounds wrong and tasted very right.
Full review with the ordering process breakdown, what we ate, prices, and a tip for navigating there without getting lost | link in bio.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos don’t capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they don’t know they’re in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But that’s also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. 🌷
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. 🌷
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Here’s what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
Café Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davie’s Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (it’s not ketchup, and it’s better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what I’d skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
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