Alabama’s Two New York Times Restaurant Picks | Birmingham News

Alabama’s culinary scene just got a major national spotlight as two local gems—Perennial in Montgomery and Little Bird in Fairhope—made The New York Times’ top 50 U.S. restaurants list. Little Bird, helmed by Chef Bill Briand, dazzles with responsibly sourced coastal Southern fare, especially their bold dark-roux gumbo. Perennial, a brand-new plant-forward spot run by a nutrition professor, reinvents Southern cuisine with rotating seasonal menus spotlighting Alabama farms and inventive dishes like squash steaks and carrot-top chimichurri—all while tackling food waste. This recognition proves Alabama’s deep talent and fresh ingredients are now on the national map. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.al.com/life/2026/09/2-alabama-restaurants-make-new-york-times-list-of-50-favorite-spots-in-america-for-2026.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/072ab0a23555280e Report issues to [email protected].