Ollie Irene
2713 Culver Rd, Birmingham, AL, 35223
Ollie Irene Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Birmingham for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2713 Culver Rd
Birmingham, AL, 35223 - Phone (205) 769-6034
- Website https://www.ollieirene.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Joe B.
This is my favorite place to eat in Birmingham. I've had numerous things off of their menu as well as their specials board. The Seafood Stew is a must try! They always seem to have a decent beer list that pairs well with their menu. If I had one complaint, and it's a minor one, the acoustics in the restaurant are horrible. When there are more than several tables seated, it seems like everyone is trying to shout over one another.
(5)Anne R.
Green curry seafood stew!!! Unbelievable. Pork shoulder. Succulent Noodle bowl. Tasty Go there. Try everything.
(4)Jessica W.
Hello world. Please meet my food baby, Ollie. I was so so full after eating at Ollie Irene. I'm glad someone recommended it otherwise I would have never seen it - located near the Rite Aid and Westerns in Mountain Brook Village. I tried the secret burger with truffle butter and it was so flavorful. I didn't know it would come with pub fries so I made the mistake of ordering the pub fries appetizer - I was full before my meal even came! The burger is nothing too special, topped with caramelized onions and your choice of either truffle butter or blue cheese. I especially liked the lightly toasted sweet burger buns. For dessert I split a scoop of the Mexican Hot Chocolate ice cream that created this slow burning sensation in the back of my throat. The only way to relieve it was to keep shoveling more ice cream into my mouth... And thus my food baby came to be.
(4)Lydia D.
Exquisite cuisine in a friendly environment!! Appreciate the smaller size of portions, just right if you care about your health and figure!!! Excellent ..,we will be back many times!!
(5)Madyson F.
First off, the food was wonderful! The mussels were the best! The menu was small enough to where everything was prepared to perfection. I was highly disappointed in the atmosphere however. It seemed to be half done and very unwelcoming. The service was a slight miss as well.... The food, delicious. Need to work on the small details!
(4)John C.
This is a GREAT place and somewhat hidden from the mainstream crowd. We had excellent service and everything we ordered was good. The waitress even let us sneak out our unfinished bottle of wine! I would definitely try the home made dessert which is a family recipe and also the Snapper Fingers as an appetizer is must.
(5)Gabriel N.
I did not expect to have such a fantastic meal in Birmingham. Seriously, this was some amazing food. The first thing I noticed when walking into the restaurant was how relaxed it was. The staff was very friendly and the place felt comfortable. On top of that, this was one of those local hangouts where everyone knew everyone else. There are very few places with that kind of feel these days. I dined at the bar which was manned by the very attentive Zak. Between the robust menu and the night's specials I had a lot to think about, so I started off with one of their signature Manhattan's. At first I was put off by the small snifter glass it came in. Zak explained that this maintained the aroma of the drink as opposed to when it's poured into a martini glass. In the different glass the Manhattan had a great nose and I ended up appreciating the flavors much more. One of the specials caught my eye, a salad which contained shaved fennel, slices of red navel oranges, and ricotta salata among other things. The flavor was fresh from the oranges, but it was well balanced by the saltiness of the cheese and green olives. Then I had the Flat-Top Chicken. Holy SHIT was this dish good. The chicken was jammed with flavor while still being ridiculously moist. I ate every single morsel and I would have licked the plate if I could. Actually, every dish that came out of their kitchen smelled incredible. I almost gave myself whiplash trying to follow the plates as they floated by me. Since everything had been so delicious I decided to indulge in a dessert. They're made in-house by their Pastry chef Wim Miree, who in my opinion is a very talented man. I had the Carrot Cake which was simply stunning. From the swirl of cream cheese going through the entire slice to the candied pecans sitting in dollops of caramel sauce, this dessert was perfect. Yet again, I devoured everything in sight. I was very impressed by this restaurant and it is now on my list of "must eat" places whenever I'm in Birmingham. Do yourself a favor and give them a try.
(5)Jeff D.
WOW! With the one exception being a group waiting for a table ignoring the hint to hang at the table by the door and crowding us for the first 15 minutes of our meal this spot is AMAZING! Service was stellar and the food was perfection I look forward to frequenting this establishment. Keep up the amazing work ! :)
(5)ben h.
Pub Fries! Oh did I mention they have great Pub Fries. Great burger (not on the menu) it comes the chef's way, so don;t think this is Burger King. They always have interesting daily specials from homemade game sausage to asian fusion. It gets crowded and loud, so go early or expect a wait.
(4)Lisa C.
Hands down .. one if the best restaurants that I've been to in Birmingham .. Actually for Atlanta also. From the mixed drinks to the house made peppermints and everything in between.
(5)Andy S.
Our first time at Ollie was enjoyable. The atmosphere was lively, the menu inviting and our selections were excellent. I will have to admit , this is not my favorite kind of restaurant. However, the food was delicious and the service good. We will definitely eat here again.
(4)D K.
What a gem of a place... Delicious food using the freshest ingredients... Thoughtful flavors true to each dish... Warm and friendly service! Definitely look forward to coming here again.
(5)Bruce K.
My last review for Birmingham and my last dinner in Birmingham. And thinking back over the nearly 100 reviews I wrote for the Iron City, likely the best meal I had my whole time there. Starting with a nice welcome from the hostess as she brought me to a table. A nice greeting from the busboy who filled my water glass and cleared the extra place setting. And then an enthusiastic and detailed review of the day's specials from the waiter who was quite simply outstanding. My expectations were already high, now they're extremely high! For starters, I chose the boudin balls. Great choice - balls of I think barbecue meat in a breadcrumb and then rolled and cooked, served on top of a stone ground mustard and with a small stack of fresh pickle slices. Totally delish, appetite whetting and palette cleansing. But only three! For my main, I chose one of the day's specials. A piece of crispy flounder topped with shrimp bernaise, asparagus and fingerling potatoes. OMG, heavenly. Just amazing texture and flavor that makes me thankful for my wonderful taste buds. So yummy. As much as I really wanted to try their dessert special (something to do with crushed up whopper candies in a toffee pie), I was too full to have anything more. Best meal in Birmingham? Great service, great taste, great meal. Yeah, I think so!
(5)Chris C.
Two for two! Wish I could thank the nice person sitting next to me on my last trip back from BHM. Last night I ate at Dram and tonight at Ollie Irene. Both highly recommended by my co-passenger. Sometimes you just can't beat personal recommendations. The food was described to me as eclectic. I would agree as I perused the small printed menu and the significant set of blackboard specials. The offerings were all over the map. My business associate and I both picked items off the blackboard. I had the Gulf shrimp and chorizo, and he had the pork and beans. The pork and beans was a creation of pulled pork pressed into a tight cube then pan seared to a crisp outer crust and served with white beans. The shrimp and chorizo was served over polenta with sliced olives. Both were incredible. Service was great and the atmosphere was laid back and comfortable.
(5)Jacob W.
Good food, nice experience, but the Truffle Butter Burger was outstanding, one of my top 3 in Birmingham. Not on the menu, but it has to the their most popular dish, order it and you'll know why.
(4)Ronnie V.
This place is amazing! Everything is great about this place. This small restaurant shows how Southern Cuisine is done. Everything from the pub fries (best fries/wedges i've ever had) to the catfish. I'm roadtrppin' down to NoLA and decided to go on yelp to check out some local spots... And it did not disappoint. A bit of a wait, but the quality of food was ridiculous. If u r ever in birmingham... Get it in at mountain brook!
(5)K H.
One of my favorite local places to dine. Have never had a bad meal!! Love the staff! Especially love the seafood stew or the "secret burger". The burger is not on the menu, but everyone should try it sometime!!
(5)Ee Vonn Y.
This lovely restaurant is easy to miss if you're swinging by Rite-Aid without looking around. My friends encouraged me to join their dinner as they insist Ollie Irene was their favorite restaurant. Get your wallets ready because you'll be spending some money on delicious food. The cheeseburger is not on the menu but I was told this what you should get here. You can't substitute the pub fries but these fries actually come out looking like diced potatoes. They're cooked wonderfully with a crusty, crunchy outer layer, and a hot soft core. The roasted cauliflower appetizer is probably the best steamed cauliflower I've had since my mom cooked it for me a year ago. It's seasoned with red onions, golden raisons, peppadews, cilantro, lime zest, and coriander butter. It almost feels delightful splurging your taste buds on an appetizer that isn't more than 2000 calories.
(5)Ashley W.
Ollie Irene is officially in my "must eat again again SOON" category. The husband and I put off our anniversary dinner due to the snowpocalypse of 2014, so by the time the weekend rolled around we were more than ready to have a great dining experience and that's certainly what we found at this restaurant. Since they don't take reservations and it was around 7 pm on a Friday night, I was nervous about our chances of getting a table within a few hours and I was a hungry woman on a culinary mission. Luckily for us, we only waited a few minutes for a seat. Although on a mission, once I looked at the menu I was stumped - everything sounded amazing. Thankfully, our server had great suggestions. I started with the "pickled rickey" cocktail, which is unlike any drink I've ever tasted. I'm not much of a gin person, and the pickled grape brine worried me, but this suggested libation was the best I've had in quite awhile. We were having trouble deciding between the pub fries and the boudin balls for an appetizer but our server let us in on a little secret - if you get the off the menu burger, it comes with those delicious hunks of potato fried in duck fat. The boudin balls were lightly fried and full of flavor, but the star of the show was my burger. Perfect amount of meat cooked to medium, topped with a slab of truffle butter, and served on a house made bun, combined with those amazing pub fries is absolute heaven in your mouth. But wait! It gets better! Again, our server recommended the sticky toffee pudding and it was the perfect ending to a spectacular meal. Not too big for two to share also. While a little pricey, this is a dining experience I would gladly pay for over and over again.
(5)Adam L.
First let me say that I've have eaten here 5-6 times over the last 6-8 months. I live in Atlanta and travel to Birmingham, and stay in Mountain Brooke just to eat here. At no point have I had anything that was less than spectacular. But.....last night I had the special recommend by the worlds greatest bartender.. The Sportsman's Feast I believe it was called. It consisted of bratwurst, quail stuff with sausage, mashed potatoes with green onions and homemade sauerkraut and maybe a little tear from God himself, because it was remarkable even by the high standards I have set for Ollie Irene. Keep doing what you guys are doing!!
(5)Robert B.
The little resteraunt reminded me of a cafe in the south of France. The food was outstanding along with excellent service. Although the the food is categorized as American Traditional, I found it to have a European flare. If you are looking for something different, visit Ollie Irene next time your in Birmingham AL.
(5)Chris G.
A nice neighborhood restaurant that doesn't live up to some of the kudos found here on Yelp. I left wanting to know what all the rapture was about. First, a tip. OI does not take reservations. So if you want a table, plan to wait. We were fully aware of this and arrived a half-hour before our friends to secure a table and ordered cocktails at the crowded bar. We saw acquaintances and had some nice conversations to while away the time, so it wasn't a real problem. Scanning the place, it was a nice mix of folks. Families, couples on dates, you name it. Our waitress was very able, but the place had a feel of being a bit understaffed for a Saturday, given the length of time between being seated and giving our orders. Also, partly because it is the kind of place where half the neighborhood strolls in for dinner, it was rather loud, so it loses points for that. The sheer volume of OI makes it hard to have a conversation across the table. I mean, jeez, if it were any louder, I would have needed an ear horn. In short, it's not the kind of quiet, out-of-the-way place where you break the news to someone that the divorce won't be going through after all. Further, and I know I'm being completely subjective here, but there's a bit of twee preciousness abut the place, as if they were trying maybe a little too hard to achieve a down home kind of feel, without actually pulling it off. I mean, writing the menu in cramped cursive on a chalkboard at one end of a dimly-lit restaurant is one thing, but when 95% of the diners can't see it, what exactly is the point? It's almost as if the management was saying, "See? See? We're so intent on being nonchalant that we can't be bothered to put everything on a menu you can actually read." On that note, the waitress performed an impressive memory act by rattling off the menu items to us, but the place was so noisy that her effort was wasted because we couldn't hear half of what she said. Color me annoyed. On to the food. It is a limited wine list, but a good one. My duck was competent but bland. My wife had the hamburger which she described as "Good, but not awe-inspiring." Yet the cost of the food was on par with Highlands without the same level of skill in the kitchen. Same was true of my martini, the appetizer, the dessert, and the coffee. Okay, but not outstanding. But if I'm paying north of $100 for dinner for two, I would want better than okay. In short, OI is a second-tier restaurant in Birmingham. It has work to do before it lands in the first echelon of places around town.
(3)Gale B.
The moment you enter this place located in a 1960 's strip mall, you will forget where you are. The staff-attentive and amazing. We started with boudin balls which were indescribably delicious. I had flat iron chicken over local green. Juiciest most flavorful chicken I have ever had. Husband had gnocchi with sweet potatoes. Awesome! For sides we had their roasted beets and pub fries. If you like beets you will fall in love with the dish! After diner we split chocolate pie-which tastes like your grandma's chocolate pie taken to the next level. Will definitely eat here again.
(5)Dax B.
It seems everyone and his/her cousin(s) decided they needed to get out Friday for dinner after Snowmageddon '14. Granted 6:30 is almost as bad as trying to get a table at 7-7:30 but we stopped by or called the following before ending up at Ollie Irene. FonFon - 1.5 hour wait Dram - 1.5+ hour wait Food Bar - 1 hour? The hostess at Ollie Irene said 45 minutes and at that point we were beat down and hungry. So we waited, mostly outside because there is so little space inside not dedicated to seating and the bar was packed. Luckily Friday was a reasonable 55 degrees for the most part. After the bar cleared out briefly, we found a spot and grabbed some drinks. They were slammed so it took about 10 minutes to even order a drink. Whatever, make that a double IPA for $6 please. We were seated 46 minutes after discussing with the hostesss. That is great on her part as I figured no way we were sitting down inside of an hour or more. Started with the special foie gras with sticky rice and carmelized oranges. Maybe the best I have had in ages. We could have eaten 3 orders between the four of us had we more bread. Actually, they are a little skimpy on bread and you have to ask for it - just charge for it and give me enough!. My burger was awesome as usual and cooked perfectly medium rare plus as ordered. The bleu topping was also great and I love the pub fries (crunchy exterior and soft interior). My wife has the duck paparadelle and it was amazingly rich and delicious. I really like Ollie Irene but it's a little spendy for a regular night out. They really should offer some better wine specials also (ie like FonFon). But it was delicious and we got out for under $100 with tip and 4 drinks.
(4)Katie A.
Wonderful food! So well prepared and fresh! Always a new menu item! Great desserts! Great entrees! Great everything! Delightful service. Weird location though:/ I recommend! I have been several times. The quail is amazing!!!
(4)AK J.
This place is really good! Its tucked into Mountain Brook Village and got great local unique food. Be prepared to wait because its fairly small but the atmosphere and food is worth the wait. The wine selection is great and they have a great little bar!
(4)Edward C.
Small menu which is good (easier to make a decision). Everything seemed to be really good! Drinks were great too! It's a little misleading at the front since it is in a shopping plaza right next to a drugstore, but wow this was quite the treat.
(5)Will L.
This has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in town. As I write this, I can't think of a more comfortable environment, better servers, and higher quality/creative food than at Ollie Irene. I went today because I heard about a special they were running on wings. They most definitely lived up to the hype. It was one pound of wings (8 to 15, depending on the size) for a measly $8. they were golden crusted in a sweet, yet spicy sauce. They will honestly go down as some of the best wings I've ever had. The bartender actually came by twice to check on our drinks! This is high class dining, without the snooty attutude and uptight feeling.
(5)Jacquelynne S.
A somewhat fancy and pricey restaurant in a strip mall? That's something that I rarely see in the Bay Area. Most of the time restaurants that are in strip malls are terrible chains, Asian restaurants, or hole in the wall ma and pop diners. To begin, my group ordered almost every dish in the menu since there was a bunch of us. Something I've noticed, the entire menu was CARB-TASTIC. Either it came with bread on the side so that you can dip it with the sauce (the mussels, for example) or the core ingredient of the dish was toasted bread, breadcrumbs, or pub fries. Personally, the dishes I tried here were very bland and seemed to miss some type of ingredient. The only thing that stood out were the mussels. Everything else I was unimpressed with. What did stand out, however, was the exceptional service. Our waiter was personable and very attentive. Also, they have an excellent drink menu. I recommend this place if you are craving a refreshing alcoholic beverage and maybe a small bite to eat. I wouldn't go here for dinner.
(3)Cat S.
best of the best of small local fare. does not take reservations so don't go at peak times. service is a little slow unless you sit at the bar. features change daily and the chef is great at picking fresh new dishes to try out. cocktails are great, wine/beer selection could be stronger but it is a small restaurant. great local feel and always consistent food. **must try: pok-pok wings (not featured every night so hopefully you get lucky) very spicy but some of the best wings i've ever had **must try: sticky toffee pudding (probably the best dessert in town) **hidden menu item: burger. top 5 burgers in town and it's a secret menu item. available everyday but you have to ask for it- bleu cheese butter! :)
(5)Kirsten S.
One of my all time favorite meals. Everything I put into my mouth was amazing. Especially the unique, fresh cocktails. Lots of restaurants talk about using seasonal products, but here they really deliver. Fresh ingredients prepared in unique and creative ways, without any pretentiousness. This isnt a fine dining experience, no white table clothes and the servers were all wearing jeans. The atmosphere is relaxed, comfortable and enjoyable none the less. For an added treat, get a container of their homemade pickled cherry tomatoes to take home. AMAZING!
(5)Herb L.
What a let down. Heard great things so me and my wife decided to check it out. Bit gear towards the yuppies and riches of Bham. Staff was nice and very eager. By advice from my waiter, went with the New York strip special. All I can say is for mid 30 dollar, 8 oz steak, it's by far the worst steak I've had. Not because of the value but because my medium cooked steak, I couldn't cut it with my steak knife because it was so tough. They way it was cooked was done right, nice crust and seasoning. But meat itself was worse than worst steak I had at a chain restaurant. Even my wife thought it was ridiculous. Her pasta dish was ok. I had a taste of it and noodle was just ok. Not bad buy not good in terms of texture and taste. After spending $120+, I found the place to be overly priced with bit confused atmosphere with out much character. Seems like they are trying to be unique by throwing out fancy description for their dishes with nothing to back up.
(2)Christina S.
This place might be my Local Three of Birmingham. Atmosphere: Cozy. I tend to sit at the bar / chef's counter when I dine out. You get a better feel of the place because there's so much variety there - people eating, people drinking ... people eating AND drinking. You meet new friends quickly. You get insight into the kitchen. This bar is small and is part of the restaurant, yet it's kinda tucked in the back corner, so it doesn't feel like you're sitting on a stage in the middle of the restaurant. I could comfortably sit at the bar for cocktails or eat there. Dress: Just like most other Birmingham restaurant - come dressed. You're gonna see your friends! Menu: GOOD. No, Really Good. Well laid out - easy to navigate. Not too much not too little. Just right. Drink List: Zak is awesome. Not just because he knows what Amaro IS (kudos, Zak - you might be one of, like, 11 people in the Ham that know what it is!), but because he's a creator of concoctions. First restaurant I've seen in B with true Mixologist. This is nothing new to the folks at Holeman & Finch over in the ATL, but Birmingham is catching on. And I'm glad to see it. Our guests tried 5 of the handcrafted cocktails on the list - ALL with rave reviews. We girls had the Valentine - TASTY and the rose was an exquisite touch, for sure. Wine List: "meh" - Definitely wouldn't go there for a glass of wine at the bar. Dinner: Don't know where to start. Here's what we had (deep breath): For starters ... In House Pork Sausage - Very good Mussels - Can't go wrong here. Great white wine/shallot/butter sauce Boudin Balls - Don't freak out on this one. They are AWESOME Ham Plate - Surryano and cheese. LOVED the Surryano ham (learned something new) but the cheese was dry and not presented well. Oysters - Not on the menu. If they have them when you go - definitely a must. For dinner ... Ricotta Gnocchi - Pumpkin seeds, sage, brown butter and sweet potatoes - very light, good. Ollie Burger - Well liked. Don't ask them to make changes though - this isn't BK. I'm in the middle of the road on that one - I respect it, if the burger is a speciality. So, if you don't like how the burger's prepared per the menu, don't ask for it - it's an insult to the chef. Just get something else. There are plenty of options. Pub Breakfast - THE BEST of ALL - In short, egg coddled in the herbed cream with ham. The egg was so delicate and delish - I wanted more than one bit, but this was my guest's dinner. Just thinking about it ... I believe I will have this for dinner tonight. Catfish - pan friend to a nice golden brown; tasty sauce; "two thumbs up with a snap" Fall Greens - YUM. Great flavor. Great spice Pub Fries - Fried chunks of potato wonderfulness, with sea salt and a tasty sauce. For dessert: I always have the cheese plate. This one was ordinary. Nothing too difficult here - Since this is a menu item and call it a "Artisanal Cheese Plate", they could take some chances on this one. Two Words: Cheese Primer (by Steven Jenkins). The accompaniments were really good though. They did a fine job with that. Yes. It's in a 60's strip mall - but that's just how we roll here in the 'Ham. Think about the fabulous establishment next door - a CLASSIC - Smith's Variety. The folks at Ollie Irene are in good company, and I hope they're here to stay.
(4)Devon D.
I am the biggest Birmingham food apologist out there and I so wanted ollie irene to be good. Unfortunately, it has simply been terrible the two times I've been. Tonight, they served me a roasted porterhouse and it was inedible. Not exaggerating. It was so salty that I was physically unable to eat it. That's never happened to me before. Ever. So sad.
(1)Samoo M.
Honestly one of the best in Birmingham. We had 5 different dishes and every one of the was superb!! I will definitely go back. Also the drinks were out of this world.
(5)Beth H.
A great experience. The decor is really great and the food was outstanding. Yes, its small and its packed, but worth the wait. The baked oysters were the best 've ever had and I live on the beach. Five stars for sure. Go early for best seating.
(5)Yorke W.
For my birthday I chose to go to Ollie Irene. It is my favorite restaurant! Their food is absolutely delicious! This is saying ALOT! Because in Birmingham, AL we have ALOT of very fine restaurants to chose from. The service is great. The menu is small but everything on it is excellent. I had the catfish and the summer salad. The salad was more than enough for two. I went for the peanut butter desert, too die for! I would recommend asking for vanilla rather than the banana ice cream. I felt it took away from the peanut butter. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Julia B.
YOU MUST GO TO OLLIE IRENE, and that's an order. Be sure to try the Seafood Stew; it's not a traditional stew, by far. You can definitely share this dish with someone else, if you're into sharing food. My friends raved about the cheese plate hors h'oeuvres and the pork chops. I personally love the understated decor. They aren't too big for their britches, and it's not stuffy. I REALLY want to give Ollie Irene 5 stars. However, there are a few items I'd like for them to work out: 1.) The hamburger. It's phenomenal. You literally have to eat it exactly how the chef prepares it. I DO wish they'd offer a side salad in lieu of potatoes and an option. I just need a litte lettuce to round out my meat. Also, waitress, please don't be rude about my asking about said burger since it's off the menu. 2.) One of the specialty cocktails features rose water; I can't remember the name. Avoid this drink. While pretty and fragrant, it tastes and smells like you're drinking bath water. 3.) The shrimp salad is a bust, and I really wanted it to be delicious.
(4)Justin A.
The food was good, but not great. The menu is unique and the space is nice. If I would recommend anything it would to salt the food a little more. Great concept and great service as well.
(3)Ryan L.
food was cold and taste microwaved. Food was WAY overpriced for quality. The place was also filthy! I think I saw a roach under the table. I'd be shocked if the positive reviews were not family/friends trying to keep this place in business. I give them less than 6 months if their lucky.
(1)Steve F.
I was stunned at how good the food was. Fabulous appetizers, good wine selection, and very good entrees. Get there early.
(5)Food M.
I've been loving everything at Ollie Irene in my past visits. This time around, the service was subpar. It was 15-20 mins after we were seated before our server came to our table. Then, my boyfriend ordered a fish entree, but received chicken. Our server returned after 5 minutes, acknowledging the mistake and said there was confusion in the window. She took away the chicken and said she would bring the fish, but then came back with the same chicken entree! She apologized and said that someone had already taken out the fish, but promised we would get "something special." NEVER offered to ask the kitchen to cook another fish entree. We assumed we'd be getting a complimentary dessert, but when dessert time rolled around, we were just too stuffed to order one. Therefore... no "something special" for us! The bill was the full price. Nothing complimentary. We're pretty sure the server didn't even tell the manager because the manager brought us our dessert menu without any mention of the incident and left quickly before we could even get a word in to bring it up ourselves! This really disappointed us. Our food was good, but the situation should have been handled differently.
(3)Ruth V.
The food is excellent - ambiance is casual - brown butcher paper on the tables -bit noisy - crowd is there because the food is sooooo good! We began with a cocktail mixed by bartender Zac - he had infused alcohol with sage and made a fall drink with apple cider, splash of cranberry, sage infused liquor,and simple syrup laden with cinnamon and pecan - wonderful. Thai salad with shrimp was fresh and crisp, daikon radish, lemon grass, perhaps mint, I had an excellent pork shoulder and husband had a perfect burger. I will try the mussels and catfish next time. Menu and quality most like Chez Fon Fon. For dessert we had rice pudding with brulee crust and cherries - coffee excellent. So excited to have such a good place nearby!! Easy parking.
(5)Joshua S.
Awesome place to grab a creative cocktail or a snack. Didn't do a full meal but I'm sure they are good as well. I love the bar setup.
(5)Lisa W.
Love this place. Always something yummy for vegetarians which is sometimes hard to find in Bham. Summer squash ravioli delicious. Desserts are amazing. Loved the cannoli with chocolate gelato
(5)Reed L.
My wife and I don't dine out very often. When we do, though, Ollie Irene has become our restaurant of choice. Located in the quaint Mtn. Brook village, Ollie Irene offers a great upscale dining experience in a setting that has a distinct casual feel. It's not the cheapest place you'll ever eat, but even with a few drinks (and there are some interesting ones on the menu), it won't set you back too bad, either. It is a small place, doesn't take reservations (if I remember correctly), and tends to fill up early, so I recommend getting there early.
(5)Paul S.
Beginning to end, this was one of my best meals ever! I started with an old fashioned cocktail from Zak and it was great. I had a roasted oyster specialthat was better than the oysters i had in New Orleans last time i was there. I had the burger which was perfectly done and had a great fried potatoes on the side. I finished with a special dessert of chocolate bread pudding. I am not a big chocoholic, but this was very good, even the coffee was great. Zak and Forrest behind the bar offered great service and nice conversation while we talked about proper cocktail and favorite restaurants around the country. On my way out the owner struck a conversation with me and he shared that they are going to start selling takeout containers of b&b pickles, pickled grapes and cherry tomatoes. I got to try them and they were great! As good as it gets and next time i am in B-ham i will be back. Thanks all!
(5)Lucy C.
The service was great, but the atmosphere really needs some work. There is very little personality for a place that advertises itself as a gastropub. The food was good but not great. My scallops were very small, and the fried green tomatoes were very basic. Also, I was expecting an extensive beer menu but there were very limited options. The drink menu was well-done though. Also a good place to go on a tight budget. Overall, I would not recommend.
(3)Daniel T.
This place has been open for about 6 weeks. The place is sparsely decorated with paper on the tables. The menu is not too big but nicely varied with a mix of seafood, steak, poultry and vegetarian options. The chef sources locally whenever possible. The wine list is similarly appointed: Not too long but a good variety. The local eggplant caponata was bright and fresh and served with gulf shrimp and a couple small crostini. The dish was excellent. The boudin balls were tasty, crisp and light. The cold cucumber soup was very flavorful but a touch on the gritty side. Not sand grit, it simply would have benefited from a bit more time in the blender. The cayenne pepper sprinkled on top was a bit heavy handed and came close to overpowering the light and fresh flavor of the soup. Don't get me wrong, I ate every bite and loved it, it just could have been a touch more refined (IMHO). The duroc pork shoulder with field peas, peaches and vin cotto was nothing short of divine. It consisted of confit pork shoulder that was pressed, cubed, and seared to a crisp crust concealing a moist, tender and flavorful chunk of pork. It was as cleanly flavored as any pork I've ever had and the peaches and vin cotto brightened up the dish. The lemon ricotta gnocchi with "crushed" broccoli and pine nuts was skillfully prepared. The gnocchi were neither pencil erasers or wallpaper paste and had the perfect texture. The brightness of the lemon and nuttiness of the pignoli rounded it out nicely. The potatoes were crispy and deep golden brown on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. The mussels in wine sauce were tasty. The corn and crab salad was a simple preparation of a corn salad served aside a small pile of marinated gulf crab claws. For dessert we had a creme brulee rice pudding, a Bourbon creme caramel, and a lemon tart. All were excellent. The service, while pretty attentive, was less than smooth. About half of our items were placed in front of the wrong person and some of the ticket times were a little slow. All in all, it was pretty competent for being open only a month and a half. I will definitely go back!
(4)Julee N.
Ollie Irene you have my vote! After a terrible experience at nearby Dram/Avo, we made our first visit to Ollie Irene. Great service and yummy food. Only disappointment is that 2 of the 4 specials were gone by 7pm on a Saturday night. Pork Sandwich special was pretty dry but other entrees were very good and there was obvious pride among the staff and owners.
(4)