The 10 Best Restaurants In Mobile, Alabama

A fixture on Mobile’s dining scene for over 75 years, locals love Wintzell’s Oyster House for its famous fresh Gulf oysters which it serves in the old-fashioned way – ‘fried, stewed or nude’. Established by J. Oliver Wintzell in 1938, the restaurant has grown from its humble beginnings as tiny, six-seat oyster bar to several branches. Though under new management since the 1980s, the owners are respectful of Wintzell’s history and the first restaurant on historic Dauphin Street still features much original décor while dishes include the homemade lump crab cake starter served with Wintzell’s special remoulade sauce, and entrees like marinated jumbo shrimp stuffed with jalapenos, wrapped in bacon and grilled.

Located in a picturesque wooden house in Mobile’s Oakleigh Garden Historic District, the rustic exterior of Kitchen on George belies its casual, contemporary and spacious interior – a welcoming, brightly lit space with beautiful light wood floors and a charming outdoor patio illuminated by twinkling string lights. Serving contemporary American fare made from locally sourced ingredients, Kitchen on George offers guests appetisers like blackened gulf shrimp with Alabama goat’s cheese, corn polenta and a lemon-butter sauce and entrees including pork tenderloin with sautéed Conecuh sausage and pepper, mashed potatoes and house-made red wine barbecue sauce. Or, go for Sunday brunch and feast on dishes like shrimp and goat’s cheese grits or chocolate chip pancakes.

The city’s only AAA 4 Diamond restaurant, The Trellis Room is situated inside the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa and offers an eclectic menu based on seasonal, local ingredients to both hotel guests and the public. Guests can choose to dine in a large, high-walled dining room under a beautiful arched tiffany stained glass ceiling or next to The Trellis Room’s chef show kitchen while they feast on Italian dishes with a Southern twist, like the diver scallops with wild mushroom risotto, sautéed spinach and white truffle oil. The restaurant is also an ideal spot for Sunday brunch, with menu items including jumbo lump crab cakes benedict with hash browns and creole hollandaise and Belgian waffles.

Located on the Mobile Bay Causeway, Felix’s Fish Camp and Grill enjoys an enviable locations with stunning views out across Mobile Bay. Established in 2002, the restaurant specialises in serving Southern-style seafood dishes with a contemporary twist using the freshest Gulf produce and a number of succulent steaks in a casual, welcoming atmosphere. Chefs Howard Grayson and George Panayiotou cook up tempting appetisers like fried crawfish tails or crabmeat and spinach-artichoke dip, and hearty entrees like shrimp sautéed with chives served in a creamy rosemary sauce with a side of grits.

Offering guests a fine dining experience without the hefty price tag, The Royal Scamserves an eclectic menu with plenty of meat and fresh seafood options and has become one of Mobile’s premier destinations for prime certified Angus beef. Located in downtown Mobile, the restaurant has a chic, upscale interior with exposed brick walls and stylish lighting complemented by a pretty covered courtyard, perfect for dining in warmer months. Start with the seared ahi tuna with spicy mango salad and a lemon ginger gastrique, followed by the filet mignon with a veal demi-glace, garlic mashed potatoes and chef’s vegetables. Courtesy of The Royal Scam

Serving innovative, sophisticated fare that blends elements of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine with contemporary Gulf Coast flavours that chef and owner Chakli Diggs has lovingly dubbed ‘Mediterrasian’, an exciting dining experience is guaranteed for all visitors to NoJa. Located in a beautiful building with ironwork galleries reminiscent of a New Orleans home, diners have the option of eating in NoJa’s smart interior full of rustic exposed brick and wooden beams or outside under the stars in its charming courtyard while dining on appetisers such as the wild caught sea scallops with a creole vinaigrette and entrees like the panko-crusted fish with braised Asian cabbage, root puree and new potatoes.

Established in 2000 Osman’s Restaurant is a popular, award-winning eatery that has been named Mobile’s Best Locally Owned Restaurant six times by the weekly newspaper Lagniappe, and has won other titles including Mobile Bay Monthly’s Best Kept Secret and Best Chef. Located in a quaint roadside property Osman’s Restaurant features a warm, rustic interior with kitchen quarters manned by chef de cuisine Osman Ademovic, who creates a delicious menu with French, German and Italian elements, including options like shrimp meuniére – sautéed shrimp with white wine, veal stock, lemon juice and capers – pork schnitzel and a number of pasta dishes.

For authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, a charming little eatery going by the name of Jerusalem Café is a must-visit when dining out in Mobile. Owned by Jerusalem native Ehab Abuaker, who brings a touch of authenticity and over 10 years’ experience to the table, Jerusalem Café has been the winner of various titles, including the Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in the 2006 Best of the Bay Awards. Menu highlights include appetisers such as hummus topped with lamb and beef gyros served with olive oil and hot sauce, and entrees like tawook mashwi – chicken marinated in Mediterranean herbs before being charbroiled to perfection.

A firm favourite on Mobile’s dining scene since it first opened its doors just a year ago in 2013, Briquettes Steakhouse is a locally owned restaurant that hopes to recreate for its guests the warm and welcoming ambience of a summer barbecue party with family and friends. Located on the outskirts of Mobile, Briquettes Steakhouse grills all of its freshly cut meat on pecan and red oak briquettes – both where the restaurant gets its name from and why its dishes are so flavourful. Menu highlights include the juicy rib-eye steak and the hickory-grilled chicken breast with BBQ sauce, Swiss cheese, bacon and tomato.

Founded in late 2012, Union is a beautiful, intimate restaurant located in the Lower Dauphin Street Historic District in downtown Mobile. Exuding a quintessentially French bistro-style ambience, the interior of the restaurant features retro tiled floors, dark wood furnishings and stylish lighting and offers its guests upscale gourmet burgers, steaks and seasonal entrees. Try a Kansas City strip steak or the brick mason burger – Angus beef blended with chorizo and topped with tomatoes, roasted chilli relish, Monterey Jack cheese and cilantro aioli. Union also works closely with other local businesses such as Serda’s Coffee and Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream whose products are featured on the restaurant’s menu.