Foodie
 
[foo-dee] noun. 
 
A person who lives and breathes the art of eating food. “Phone eats first” most definitely applies here. 
It’s a big world out there, with big flavors and big portion sizes! We know that Tuscaloosa fully embodies all things fun and football so it should come as no surprise that the food scene here is highly appreciated and curated for everyone’s taste buds. There is no better way to embrace the Tuscaloosa food scene than listening to the advice of local fans/ foodies! After all, word of mouth is the best form of advertising, so here is what we have heard about the tastes of T-Town! 
 
Heat Pizza Bar
Anyone who says money can’t buy you happiness clearly has not spent enough money on pizza! Heat Pizza, located in Government Plaza, serves up artisan pizzas and salads from the freshest ingredients in the area. Not only are the pizzas perfect, but Heat also makes some mean cocktails as well. Let’s take a dive into one particular foodie favorite pizza- the Meat Lovers. Made with house red sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, ham, and fresh mozzarella, this pizza hits almost all of the points on the Food Pyramid. Thin crust, thick crust, or crispy, Heat isn’t picky! Foodie secret, they put the pepperoni under the cheese to ensure the pizza is fully baked and the cheese is melted for you to eat properly. Highly acclaimed and famed- just check the Yelp reviews- Heat Pizza is a foodie’s pizza paradise! 
 
Ingram Farms Crawfish
Our friends at Ingram Farms link with its Cajun connections every Spring to ship the best live crawfish, straight from the bayou, right here to Tuscaloosa. While you might be thinking, how much does a foodie love crawfish? The answer is a lot, especially if we have a southern foodie on our hands. A crawfish tastes like a mix between crab and lobster, but with an extra kick! Most orders come covered in garlic powder, paprika, and Old Bay (plus other spices) so be ready to defeat the heat! Tuscaloosa loves its crawfish so much that Ingram Farms hurries every year to keep its inventory stocked! A real foodie knows you get your order boiled and ready to eat for maximum enjoyment. Pro tip: Do NOT touch your eyes while or after eating crawfish and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly! Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
 
The Avenue Pub
You might be saying to yourself, “TTS, yall talk a lot about Avenue Pub, what’s the deal?” Avenue Pub is a foodie favorite here in Tuscaloosa and, as always, for some great reasons! Locals typically flock to Avenue Pub to get their burger and beer fix, but a true foodie knows there are big flavors beyond the burger. Foodie favorites include the Bacon Burger- no shock there- Thai Nachos, and its Fried Green Tomato BLT. The Thai Nachos are a twist on your normal version, with a spicy switch-up covered in peanut sauce and shredded chicken. Now if you’re from Alabama, you’re no stranger to fried green tomatoes and you’ve probably also seen the movie a handful of times. Avenue Pub’s Fried Green Tomato BLT comes prepared extra crispy in between all of the fixings and rye bread. With delicious food to treat everyone’s cravings and a fun atmosphere, it’s no wonder why foodies flock to Avenue Pub!
 
Waysider Restaurant
Every foodie must get started with the most important meal of the day- breakfast! The Waysider has been serving Tuscaloosa for 70 years and is the oldest continuously serving restaurant in West Alabama. The atmosphere of this little old red house will make you feel at home or even like you’re sitting at your grandma’s table as you wait for your hot stack of pancakes to be served. Foodie to foodie, let’s talk biscuits and gravy. The Waysider is known for its red-eye gravy- a true southern classic! The sweet and salty flavors pair perfectly with its buttery, flakey biscuits. While a keen foodie does love the eats, they also are looking for a great atmosphere! Here, guests feel at ease and taken care of. I mean, with 70 years in the business, The Waysider knows how to keep its audience happy!
 
We know there are so many foodie-approved hot spots here in Tuscaloosa, but we can’t write the novel for you! Go out and explore the tastes of Tuscaloosa on your own! Chat with us @visittuscaloosa on Instagram and Facebook to share your foodie stories!

There’s another great weekend coming up in the One and Only Tuscaloosa! Kick off your weekend tonight with the 4th Annual Pizza Pie Eating Contest at Heat Pizza Bar! This event is hosted by United Way Young Leader’s Society and after the contest pizza and cocktails will be served! All for a good cause and all in good fun, the person who eats their pizza the fastest wins! One twist is that contestants won’t be able to use their hands! This is sure to be a blast this year as fierce competitors battle it out for the title!

This event keeps making it into our top 5 because it never disappoints! Live at the Plaza will be featuring Plato Jones! The band is a Tuscaloosa staple that you can’t miss! Since their debut in January 2005, the band has played over 600 shows in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida! The band themselves would call themselves a high energy jam band if they had to put a name to the style they play. This Friday you can expect Government Plaza to be filled with the sounds of Funk, Southern and Classic Rock, as well as a few others!

Music continues on into Saturday as Band of Brothers Brewing Company plays host to Soul Tide, another great Tuscaloosa band! Rick Henson, the band’s founder, decided to start his own group after years of experience with other bands. If you see them just once, you’ll know that they are truly an R&B, Funk, and Soul melting pot with each member of the band adding uniquely to this style! With great beer and great tunes, this is definitely a good mix for a fun night!

Finally, finish off your weekend at the Bama Theater! This weekend you can catch a screening of “Camp Nichols”!  A fun and touching film about summer camp, friendship, and second chances! For $2 you can catch the screening as well as a Q&A session after with some of the cast and crew! With only one screening so far in Los Angeles, Tuscaloosa gets the unique opportunity of a first look at what seems to be an incredible project!

We have tons more going on so check out our great upcoming events, and follow us on our social media pages (@visittuscaloosa) for more announcements and events. Tell your friends and we can’t wait to see you around the One and Only Tuscaloosa!

We’re approaching summertime in Tuscaloosa which means things are heating up and the idea of staying indoors becomes less appealing with each passing day. To help you out we’ve created a list of some of our favorite restaurants in town that offer superb outdoor seating areas so you can enjoy the summer heat and thrilling atmospheres all day long.

1. Another Broken Egg Café

If you’re looking for somewhere to eat brunch while enjoying the nice breeze of an Alabama morning, Another Broken Egg is a great option! Located on the River Walk, Another Broken Egg offers a beautiful river view from its terrace. Scrumptious menu items such as omelets, waffles, sandwiches and black bean benedict are sure to send your taste buds into a craze.

2. Local Roots

Local Roots offers customers the full outdoor eating experience. The traveling food truck takes pride in serving southern food made from local ingredients. The food truck travels all over Tuscaloosa serving some of the most delicious burgers and tacos this city has to offer. You can find its weekly schedules online to find out where it will be located each day. Its most frequent location is in downtown Tuscaloosa and features picnic tables for assembling. This is the perfect way to enjoy delectable food and the beautiful scenery that is downtown Tuscaloosa.

3. Heat Pizza Bar

This one of a kind pizza place is a local favorite. Located on the first floor of the downtown parking garage, it has a distinctive outdoor seating area facing the communal lawn at the downtown plaza! The modern vibe and exclusive pizzas have proven to be a huge hit in Tuscaloosa. Heat provides a menu that features exclusive items such as the Thai Chicken and Reuben pizzas and a large list of specialty cocktails. This is the perfect place to enjoy a spontaneous lunch or casual dinner with a view and a cocktail!

4. River

Surrounded by the exquisite views of the Black Warrior River is Tuscaloosa’s newest trending restaurant, River! River offers a picturesque outdoor experience. It has areas for both lounging and eating on its outdoor terrace and features canopies and fire pits to enhance the already remarkable atmosphere. With chefs that cook up some of the best oysters, steaks, and flatbreads in town, River is the perfect place to enjoy all the perks that come with dining outdoors this season!

5. Taco Mama

If you have a job that requires you to sit inside on all of these beautiful Alabama summer days, Taco Mama is your perfect lunchtime escape! With one of the most popular patios in Tuscaloosa, Taco Mama is home to specialty tacos, burritos and quesadillas. If you’re feeling lively enough, you can even order one of Taco Mama’s specialty margaritas to accentuate your meal before returning to the office. As the experts at this taco bar say, “stay hungry and be thirsty!”