Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)
Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)
Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)
Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)
Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)
Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)
Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)
Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)
Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)
Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
(3)
Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)
Stephen S.
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)
Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)
Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)
Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)
Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)
Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)
Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)
Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)
Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)
Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)
Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)
Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)
Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)
Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)
Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)
Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)
Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)
Osito S.
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)
Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)
April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)
Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)
Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)
Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)
Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)
Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)
Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)
Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)
Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)
Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)
Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)
Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)
TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)
Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)
LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)
Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)
Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)
Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)
Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)
Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)
Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)
Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)
Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)
Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)
Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)
City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)
Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)
David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)
Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)
ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)
Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)
Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)
Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)
Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)
Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)
Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)
Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)
Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)
Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)
Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)
Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)
Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)
Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)
Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)
Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)
Svetlana O.
Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)
Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)
Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)
Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)
Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)
Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
(4)
Stephen S.
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)
Lauren R.
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)
Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)
Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)
Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)
Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)
Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)
Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)
Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)
Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)
Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)
Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)
Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)
Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)
Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)
Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)
April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)
Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)
Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)
Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)
Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)
Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)
Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)
Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)
Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)
Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)
Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)
Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)
Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)
Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)
Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)
Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)
Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)
Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)
Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)
Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)
Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)
Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)
Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)
A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)
Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)
Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)
Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)
Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)
Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)
Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)
John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)
Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)
Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)
Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)
Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)
Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)
Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)
Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)
Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)
Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)
Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)
H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)
Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)
Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)
Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)
Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)
Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)
Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)
TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)
Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)
LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)
Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)
Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)
Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)
Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)
Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)
Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)
Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)
Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)
Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)
City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)
Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)
David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)
Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)
ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)
Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)
Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)
Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)
Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)
Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)
Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)
Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)
Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)
Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)
Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)
Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)
Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)
Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)
Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)
Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)
Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)
Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)
Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)
Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)
Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)
Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)
A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)
Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)
Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)
Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)
Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)
Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)
Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)
John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)
Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)
Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)
Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)
Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)
Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)
Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)
Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)
H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)
Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)
Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)
Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)
Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)
Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)
Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)
Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)
Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)
Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)
Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)
Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)
Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)
Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)
Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)
Lauren R.
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)
Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)
Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)
Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)
Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)
Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)
Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)
Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)
Svetlana O.
Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)
Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
(3)
Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)
Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)
Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)
Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)
Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)
Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)
Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)
Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)
Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)
Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)
Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)
Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)
Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)
Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)
Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)
Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)
Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)
Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)
Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)
Osito S.
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)
Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)
April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)
Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)
Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)
Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)
Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)
Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)
Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)
Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)
Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)
Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)
Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)
Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)
Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)
Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)
Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)
Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)
Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)
Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)
Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)
A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)
Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)
Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)
Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)
Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)
Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)
Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)
John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)
Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)
Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)
Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)
Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)
Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)
Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)
Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)
Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)
Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)
H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)
Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)
Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)
Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)
TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)
Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)
LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)
Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)
Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)
City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)
Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)
David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)
Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)
ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)
Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)
Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)
Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)
Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)
Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)
Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)
Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)
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Address :2221 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N
Birmingham, AL, 35203
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street, Validated Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Svetlana O.
Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
(3)Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)Stephen S.
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
(4)Eddie H.
Food was completely and totally underwhelming and menu is super overpriced. We started with the Conecuh Sausage Corndogs which were the highlight of the night and were delicious. Now on to the entrées. My wife got the special which came out completely different than described. The dish made no sense as it was fish with a tomato sauce, cheese (who pairs fish and cheese?) and onions all together on the plate. It was mediocre and not worth $26. I had the fish and chips and the fish was excellent but the batter was sweet, almost like funnel cake batter. Not how that's supposed to be. The beer selection is wide but didn't feel diverse. Overall I don't think we'll go back as we feel we paid a lot for not much. If you're thinking of going out to spend about $25 a plate, there are much nicer restaurants to do so at. And if you're looking for a pub type atmosphere, go to Carrigans.
(2)Lauren R.
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)Osito S.
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)Svetlana O.
Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
(3)Eddie H.
Food was completely and totally underwhelming and menu is super overpriced. We started with the Conecuh Sausage Corndogs which were the highlight of the night and were delicious. Now on to the entrées. My wife got the special which came out completely different than described. The dish made no sense as it was fish with a tomato sauce, cheese (who pairs fish and cheese?) and onions all together on the plate. It was mediocre and not worth $26. I had the fish and chips and the fish was excellent but the batter was sweet, almost like funnel cake batter. Not how that's supposed to be. The beer selection is wide but didn't feel diverse. Overall I don't think we'll go back as we feel we paid a lot for not much. If you're thinking of going out to spend about $25 a plate, there are much nicer restaurants to do so at. And if you're looking for a pub type atmosphere, go to Carrigans.
(2)Osito S.
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
(4)Stephen S.
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)Lauren R.
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)Blake C.
Pretty good food. Not crazy overpriced, but a bit, I can see if you happened to have bad service (which I didn't) you would leave disappointed.
(3)Andrew W.
If you're staying at the hotel on an expense account and like staff that chase you down to be of service, then service all over you whether you want it or not, come here for Sunday brunch. If you simply prefer reasonably priced food good food with, then run a mile. Maybe the bar is good, but the food is barely up to scratch as typical inflated hotel fare. My wife asked what fruit would be with her French toast and a veritable cornucopia was described. It cam with blueberries, at least one of which was rotten. Careless. She'd asked for extra banana, and eventually a side-plate with maybe a third of a banana sliced onto it. And sheesh, team, back up a bit with the eager-beaver intrusive service, will you! Someone needs to train the kitchen up, and train the front of house down. We're never going here again, which is a shame, as downtown is starting to pick up, and it could be a great venue.
(1)Damon S.
I was spending the night at the Birmingham Westin, and the Todd English PUB is the restaurant attached to the hotel. The atmosphere of the restaurant/bar was good, although it was a Sunday evening so it wasn't all that busy. Took a seat at the bar, a number of large screen TV's to watch, and even better a very nice beer list to select from. Beer selection here is at least 4.5 stars. Bartenders were friendly, and even better they were helpful with providing feedback & suggestions when I asked about a few beers. The food selection sounded very nice, however I would say that while it tasted fine it wasn't anything special. Also had a few issues with getting my entire order out (although they were apologetic about it, and got everything fixed). Food I would rate as 2.5-3 stars (fine but not great). Of course, given that I'm a beer fan that portion of my experience outweighed the slightly less exciting food portion of my experience, hence my 4 star overall review. While I don't know Birmingham at all, so maybe I'm missing out on places, but if I was back in town I would be happy to visit the Todd English PUB again, drink several more beers and try their food again.
(4)Evan T.
Quick synopsis: 1) Great food 2) Crappy service (bar staff was good, wait staff was either lazy or very poorly organized) Our groups food came in two waves, about ten minutes apart.... 3) Excellent beer selection.
(3)Sharon S.
We went here on Friday night. Atmosphere was good and the menu sounded different. Food first: We split the fish and chips as well as the hushpuppies. Both were very good, but the hushpuppies were supposed to be a appetizer and came out with the meal. Drinks: I had a flight of fruity "beers". Four samples, 2 diff ciders, a pear and a strawberry. All good. My husband got a alcoholic milkshake. It came out runny and room temperature with not much flavor. Service: everyone was nice but service was very slow. We allowed ourselves an hour and a half for dinner before our movie. Needless to say, we missed the movie. The bus boy came by twice to clear our table while we were waiting to pay. Not exactly how you want your date night without the kids to go! Overall, food was good, service was slow. They did take the milkshake off our tab which was nice.
(3)Scott S.
We really enjoyed this restaurant. The beer selection was huge, with many I had never heard of (an impressive feat). The menu was large and varied, with many interesting and creative options. All the plates that came by our table looked great. I had the andouille sausage, my wife the steak salad. Both were very good. My dish came with two sauces. I had the soy chili sauce, the jalapeño peach BBQ sauce, and added the English cheddar cream. I enjoyed the first two more than the last, but they were all good. Service was good. Prices were reasonable; we had two of the pricier items, but the quality fit the price and there were plenty of less expensive options. If I'm ever back this way again, I would not hesitate to eat here again.
(4)Alexandra D.
I normally like to think that I'm a very patient person and can normally excuse bad service as maybe the waiter had a bad day. My friends and I went here for brunch, you have the option to order from the menu or do the breakfast buffet for $18. We opted to do the buffet as it offered more options. Terrible choice, most of the food was already gone from the trays and we just assumed they would refill. However, when my friend went for seconds they had already cleared off the tables. It would have been nice if we were told beforehand that you can choose the buffet but it won't be replenished and will be cleared in 15 minutes. My friend had to get the silverware for our table as the waitress seemed incapable of the task. It took 10 minutes to get one water and our sad excuse of a mimosa which largely consisted of pulp was $9. The food was decent but the environment and service was horrid.
(2)Jacob W.
I am surprised at such bad reviews, because my experience was quite pleasant. We were immediately seated, had an attentive and polite waiter, enjoyed the food, and had my first Mead. The Pub burger and Chicken Biscuits were both great, however I preferred the burger. Reasonable prices for this class of restaurant and average sized portions leads me to believe the negative reviews must be related to the service, as is the case at Mugshots next door. Go try the Mead and the burger. As long as you get a friendly and attentive waiter, you should have a pleasant evening.
(4)Nadia R.
This place is awesome- located in Uptown it's in a really cool area. We had the kale salad, the sticky buns, the pub burger and the lobster roll and it was ALL a fantastic. The praline bacon on the sticky buns is to die for- very unique, and the grits and collard green sides are all also amazing. The lobster roll was on par with any of the ones I've had in Los Angeles- and everything was fresh and unique tasting. The beers are also very very good and Jarrod was a great server- very friendly and helpful and attentive and even offered us samples of the beer so we could pick what we wanted. Highly recommend this place and I would love to come back and try more items- including the mead! How cool is that? Also, you get a free dessert for writing a help review! We got the brownie with icecream and strawberries and caramel popcorn and it was delicious!
(5)Silvia G.
We were starving after a late night flight and this pub was pretty much the only place that was opened near the Sheraton/Westin. We were seated by the bar and given the late night menu. Since it was my first night in Birmingham, I decided to stay away from a traditional burger and went with the Seafood Dynamite. It came in a small cast iron plate with lots of oil/cheese, skimpy pieces of seafood and a few slices of bread. The flavor wasn't really there and it was very spicy for my taste. I had to eat some of my friend's fries to calm my hunger and be a little more satisfied. 2/5 Service was friendly and the pub itself is very pretty with floor to ceiling windows 4/5 My colleagues ordered salad and the burgers and they seemed to enjoy it so it was probably my dish. Next time, I'll stick to something familiar when I'm starving! Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 12/100
(3)Sam N.
We came in for brunch on Sunday. I had the grit bake and it was delightful. My wife had had the corn dog pups and mac and cheese, and both were very good but the mac and cheese was a little salty. We finished the meal with an ice cream flight and cookies our friend ordered, and they were delicious. The peach ice cream was the standout, but the bourbon cherry ice cream was also wonderful. Cortnei was very helpful and was a pleasure when serving us.
(4)Gigi L.
Will, the waiter who has been working here for four days as of today, is fantastic. My coworkers and I came out here after a few flights and have thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance and people who work here. We will be back, we will bring friends. Great job, Will!
(5)Raye F.
Todd English P.U.B. was outstanding. Aside from the food, the service simply reigned supreme. It truly is a new spot in Birmingham that has a team mentality. Everyone from the front of the house, the chef, servers (Kyler and Shelly were awesome!!) and busboys had a "pleasure to provide stellar service" attitude. I can appreciate that! I've only dined at TE once for a yelp event and that opportunity felt as if the red carpet had been rolled out. For starters...the featured cocktail was tasty: Cotesworth No8- yummy in my tummy. For the food, I was so pleased at the amount/variety of food: (note: see picture for details) House Smoked Chicken Wings: TE host & BBQ- both flavors were so awesome and the bleu cheese was a perfect touch (never seen or tasted fancy shreds of bleu cheese). Mini TE tacos: Perfection with each bite. These little things can fill you up quickly- it's amazing how they get all those ingredients on such a tiny two-bite app Fish on a Stick: TE's take on fish and chips, but all in one! This was hands down my favorite! I can't even put into words how good this was, yet so simple. The flavor was totally there. I could honestly order this with a side and be satisfied. Ahi Tuna "Tar Tare": This dish was cool if tar tare is your thing. I loved the crispy wonton and am so glad I tried it. Overall I would say this was probably my least favorite app offered because I prefer my fish cooked. Nonetheless, tasty if once again tar tare is your thing Deviled Eggs: I loved the idea of okra topped eggs, the sexy scallions added a nice touch! There you have it. If the full menu is anything like the appetizers above, you are in for a treat. I believe items are reasonably priced. In full, the menu is extensive, offering a great variety to serve all taste buds. The desserts seem amazing for those of age and willing to take the plunge. Also the brew selection is awesome, serving at least one of all local brewery brews. Happy hour from 3-6 aims to please, check out those specials! Live bands Tuesday and Wednesday night... Grab a group of friends for an evening uptown after work or on a lazy Saturday afternoon- that's my kinda speed of an enjoyable evening out versus a crowded bar atmosphere. TE P.U.B. is the place to be for great service, great food and a fantastic upscale pub right in our own backyard. Happy eats and wonderful treats! Enjoy! *I would need to dine on a typical evening to better determine if 4 stars can increase to perfection...be on standby for an updated review**
(4)Eddie H.
Food was completely and totally underwhelming and menu is super overpriced. We started with the Conecuh Sausage Corndogs which were the highlight of the night and were delicious. Now on to the entrées. My wife got the special which came out completely different than described. The dish made no sense as it was fish with a tomato sauce, cheese (who pairs fish and cheese?) and onions all together on the plate. It was mediocre and not worth $26. I had the fish and chips and the fish was excellent but the batter was sweet, almost like funnel cake batter. Not how that's supposed to be. The beer selection is wide but didn't feel diverse. Overall I don't think we'll go back as we feel we paid a lot for not much. If you're thinking of going out to spend about $25 a plate, there are much nicer restaurants to do so at. And if you're looking for a pub type atmosphere, go to Carrigans.
(2)Stephen S.
We had a late lunch here this Sunday. The space is nice and menu is promising. We were one of only a handful of tables. While the menu had great promise, the service was very poor. Our water glasses were never refilled at all during our meal and water was the only drink anyone ordered. Worse still, our waitress missed one plate on our order and so it was 10-12 minutes into everyone else's meal before the plate finally arrived. When it did finally arrive, the sandwich was inexplicably cold. After delivering the dish with no explanation, our waitress disappeared and never returned to our table. After 30 minutes we ultimately had to get up and find the manager to get the check. The only bright spot was the fact that we were not charged for the missing sandwich but then again only a portion of it was eaten because it was cold.
(1)Lauren R.
An island of relief for my taste buds in a sea of crappy southern food. I was here for a conference staying at the Westin and didn't have a rental car, so I was pretty much limited to what I could walk to. The surrounding restaurants were either mediocre or awful and had poor variety, so this was a nice reprieve. I ate here twice and for lunch the first time I had the beet salad with some amazing steak on top in a red wine demi glase. I also had the mac and cheese. They were just what I was craving- REAL VEGETABLES! The steak was seared and delicious on the outside and nice and tender inside, and the sauce went very well with the beets. I would only say a little more goat cheese would kick it up a notch. The mac and cheese was solid- not the best I've ever had, but still tasty and hit the spot. For dinner I had a (large) number of delicious dirty martinis, the tuna tartare, deviled eggs, and wings. The tuna tartare was out of this world and I would eat it every day if I could. The combo of the seaweed, crunchy wonton, and some great quality tuna was delicious. The deviled eggs were also legit the best deviled eggs I've ever had anywhere- this is not your typical picnic deviled egg. It had some great spices in it, but it was topped with some really delicious pickled okra and applewood smoked bacon. The bacon really took it to another level. The wings were delicious and crunchy and definitely much more than your typical wing appetizer. Overall, I wish I had been able to eat here more often instead of getting stuck with the conference food!
(3)Jeremy E.
All but one of my visits has been during happy hour, which runs from 4-6 every day. They have some good deals on select drafts (and have an extensive selection, too!) The happy hour wings are delicious too...some of the best that I have had anywhere. The regular menu is a bit expensive for what you get. We did have New Year's dinner here last year, and the food was great. Decor inside is very cool, and the patio outside is definitely a big plus. Be aware that they do add on a "fee in lieu of tax" though, which ran us about 22%!!!! This fee is not mentioned anywhere on the menu...
(4)Sheila L.
Met my BFF here for drinks...ended up staying for dinner. The Happy Hour advertisement is a bit misleading though. The only wine available at 1/2 price was a pinot noir with was fine. The beers available at 1/2 price were very limited as well. I choose the chicken sliders w/sweet potato fries. I'm not a sweet potato fry fan, but these were tasty. Lightly sprinkled with flaky sea salt, they didn't need ketchup. The chicken sliders were tasty. I wish the mini biscuits that were used as buns had held up better, but that didn't stop me from eating them with a fork. My BFF ordered the Happy Hour wings (6 for $6). She ended up with about 8 and was happy with the smokiness of them. The place has a nice vibe, but it can get loud in there. And single ladies . . . the place was crawling with men! :) Perhaps there was a convention in town?! I look forward to going back and sitting outside and doing some people watching in the near future. Nothing better than a cold drink, a breeze, and friends to share it with.
(4)Henry S.
The waitress was most inattentive ever... thanks to the Manager (Domenick) for saving the day... will return thanks just to talk sports with the Manager! I ordered the "jerk" flavored wings but that was not "jerk seasoning" ... tasted more like charbroiled shoe polish! The beer was cold! Thank God for cold beer!
(1)Nathan D.
I stayed at the Westin so the PUB was very convenient. First night I went for happy hour which had $1 wings $2 oysters $3 sliders and 1/2 priced pints. The sliders were good and the choices for beer exceptional. The PUB does have one of the most comprehensive beer menus I've ever seen. I went back the following morning for breakfast and had some great biscuits and gravy but the orange juice was way overpriced for the size that you get. As othets have said the food can be extremely slow in coming to the table but the waitstaff was attentive, so it is most likely a kitchen issue. There is a basic 15 minute breakfast option available but if you have the time, sit it out for the more complicated and time consuming dishes because they are well worth the wait.
(4)Gerald H.
The food was great and the service was excellent just don't get the ribs if you are a ribs connoisseur. I was there on a rainy night so it wasn't crowded (and loud). Great decor and bar area...just not sure why this place is here in B'ham and Vegas and not in a major metropolitan city (sorry B'ham folks). We got here for happy hour so that's a winner. Draft beers were great. I will come here again when I visit B'ham.
(4)Scott F.
I have eaten here twice and never been disappointed. Good fried southern food.
(4)Janece M.
I'm honestly a fan of Todd English P.U.B. because of two things. The fish selections and the fact that I can order a delicious beer cocktail! My favorites include the following: Ahi Tuna Tartar (that includes Hawaiian blue fin tuna, fried wonton, seaweed, ginger sesame vinaigrette, & toasted macadamia nuts), Deviled Eggs, Ahi Tuna Burger, Fries, and Todd's fish and chips. Handcrafted Beer Cocktails picks include: Black and Blue Guinness Stout and Blue Moon, Black Velvet Guinness Stout and Strongbow Cider, and Black and White Guinness Stout and Blanche de Bruxelles. The location also has a decent variety of local and state beer options including: Avondale, Back Forty, Cahaba, Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Trim Tab Brewing, and Yellow Hammer. The service is also solid and the prices are reasonable when you consider the location in the Uptown area. Overall, Todd English P.U.B. is a good place to stop if you find yourself working or playing in the Uptown area for a quick drink and some yummy appetizers!
(4)Svetlana O.
Not impressed. My boyfriend and I ordered the wings appetizer and then burgers. Although the wings were very large and had plenty meat, the sauce was just too runny. We can't pin the flavor issue either, but they started to taste foul once they were cooling down. My burger was dry (ordered medium well), so I had no desire to finish mine. My boyfriend ordered medium in anticipation of them overcooking it. He won. Hah.
(2)Bruce K.
Not quite a pub, Todd English P.U.B. is more of a sports bar with a pub theme. Comfort foods and higher end stuff on the menu. Lots of TV's around that are tuned in to the sports game of the moment. And speaking of menus, they have a large one with all sorts of beers listed. I really wanted a local beer but they were out. I ended up with something from Charleston SC that was good but... I had the grilled cheese sandwich that had some strange name. Inside, three kinds of cheese, bacon and tomato. Probably not very healthy but it was tasty. A huge bucket of thin fries that were salty and spiced. They picked up ketchup quite nicely. It's a great idea that they give you a bowl of popcorn when you sit down but wow, was it salty!
(3)Mike M.
I wish I liked this place better. I want to see he Uptown area thrive but given the crowd at lunch, they're not drawing the numbers they need to. A few issues: -Slow service. If you're there for lunch, plan on an hour and a half minimum. -Availability of menu items. Several items were not available, blamed on a seafood truck that was running late. This was at 1:00 in the afternoon. Another was simply no longer offered the waitress told us. -General cleanliness. Not that it's really dirty but there are some issues and the client I was with on this visit pointed a couple of those out. First, according to her, the bathroom was a bit less than clean. The stained concrete floor has expansion joints that collect crumbs and stickiness. My client pointed that out, too. Just some basic things that need to be addressed.
(3)Malcolm N.
First let me say we've eaten here at least 6 times. We love Todd English "Olives" in Vegas and we want to love the one here in our hometown. To go straight to the worst the problem is the hostesses. They have ranged from benignly incompetent to just rude. When they first opened they had some less than stellar wait staff but the last several visits the wait staff has been efficient and engaging, this visit very good service terrible hostess. The positives nice interior but loud. The patio is awesome in the spring and summer evenings. They have a very good and varied beer list although the wait staff doesn't seem to know much about them. The food has always been at least ok and many items such as the pub burger very good. It's a shame management can't get this place together. On the most positive note yet we had a long conversation with Dominick the new manager of 2 weeks and I feel confident things will improve under his guidance. I encourage everyone with a less than positive review to give it another shot in a couple weeks as I'm convinced it's moving in the right direction.
(2)Amber L.
Not worth it. This place is a good place to get over priced drinks and the service was bad with mediocre food.
(2)Robert J.
Two stars is being a little generous. The food was very meh. The portion sizes were weird and in general, the food lacked seasoning. I had the Fish and Chips, but was not impressed. Some in our group got the Crab Cake Sandwich, another got a Wedge Salad with Chicken Wings. The wings were described as "bologna meat." After the meal, everyone was pretty disappointed. My advice - find somewhere else for dinner.
(2)Matthew V.
another celebrity chef corprate gastro pub. located in the Westin lobby. two words. HAPPY HOUR. 6 half price pints and wines. $2 oysters. very nice space. attentive staff. hand pulled Chimay. another great place to spend your corporate expense money for sure.
(4)Emily G.
I hardly ever leave reviews of my experience at restaurants but in this case I am reviewing this establishment on as many restaurant review formats as I can in hopes of spreading the word about how terrible this place is. Took forever to get waited on by bartenders and servers. Waited 45 minutes for my dinner last night and my breakfast this morning. I really wish I had seen the reviews for this pub before giving the restaurant my business. My fiance was charged $30 for a drink when his friends were only being charged $10. I don't plan to stay at the Westin in Birmingham again simply because the food options are practically limited to this pub and my experience over the past few days has been horrible.
(1)Gaston C.
Between service and kitchen, the experience was awful. Food was cold, salty, late and small. Overprice for Birmingham standards... no surprise this place already has terrible reviews. If you stay at the Weston, DO NOT EAT THERE!
(1)Mary H.
The beer selection is amazing..... That's about the only good thing they have..... I've had better service at McDonald's, and it's over priced bar food. But they have things other pubs don't serve. I got the tomato capresse salad, and it was good, nothing really special about it. I also got the tuna tar Tare and it was soooooooo salty, it was almost uneatable!!!!! We also never got our complimentary popcorn!!! I wouldn't go back because our waitress was awful (and I mean awful) and it was really over priced to not be that good!
(2)Mike B.
It's right inside the westin so I went in. I'm down south so I figure I'll get some brisket w biscuits. A pound is $28 and doesn't include fries. Pretty pricey. It's a sports bar pub but I get seated next to a post where I can't see anything although the restaurant is near empty at 230 on a Friday. The brisket was awful. Looked more like grey meat. Loaded w fat but not flavorful or tender. Fries were forgotten. Brought out loaded with salt. Too much.. The biscuits were tiny and flavorless. Can't quite figure it out. Fancy spot where they get all the basics wrong. SMH
(1)Roy B.
What are the odds of having eaten at both Todd English Pubs in the U.S. within two months on accident? We tried TEPUB in Las Vegas during a birthday celebration in May, and in July we find ourselves in Birmingham for the Porsche Driving School and stumbled upon the second! After reading the reviews we were a little scared- they were all over the place- But having already tried the menu, we went against our "review instincts" and were glad we did. Anna, our server, came right away to offer us drinks and was spot on when she was looked for. Not only friendly, she engaged us in light chatter about the town and what to do. She, however, did not overstay. The right mix of help and privacy. The food was very good as well. The mad russian had the tuna burger that she loved in both locations. Poached shrimp in a spicy salad- dressing... hot like as in 7 out of ten hot was good, too. Kobe beef sliders went down well with the "Good People" brew I had. Overall, we really liked it here and would definitely come back again-- as a matter of fact it's adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel--- I might just see them in an hour for a cold one.
(4)Ryan G.
Such a fun night... Great food and killer tunes by Steven Padilla... Shelley took care of us!
(4)Scott S.
It was our last night in Birmingham after a grueling week at the National Junior Forensics League debate championship. We went here for a team dinner after the award ceremony. There were nine of us and even though we didn't have a reservation they accommodated us (albeit with a little bitching). I had 8 oysters and the fried green tomato salad. The fried tomatoes had mozzarella cheese melted on top which totally ruined the dish for me. It's like they were trying to turn it into some kind of pizza salad. Skip the cheese and just give me some lemon to squeeze on it.
(3)Catherine C.
We came during a shift change so started off a little rocky, but our server Jarrod rocked it! Super attentive, polite and great recommendations. Double fried chicken was amazing! Never thought of marinated in sweet tea... Will be trying that at home. Fish and chips also great. And my steak was cooked perfectly.
(5)Jason R.
Not sure why only 2.5 stars overall...great atmosphere, consistently decent food, great beer selection. A jewel of gastro-goodness in BHM.
(4)Lady B.
Returned to the Westin for another stay, and two more terrible meals at the PUB. Highlights included after me making reservations for my nieces birthday and triple checking (three phone calls across 3 days) that they understood it was a birthday dinner and would be open when my flight landed and we arrived and would have cake we could put a candle in - getting off plane to a message saying they were not busy and were closing early.... We rushed in a half hour before our reservation and waited for a server to tell us the kitchen had locked up most of the food already..... Gluttons for punishment/lazy and hungry we returned for more bad service and bad food and burned coffee the next morning. A table next to us walked out mentioning they had been there three times as they worked in a nearby office and refused to pay for their food or service; the place is terrible. I like the hotel- this Resturant is awful.
(1)Matthias F.
We had to wait forever to be seated. That told us that we need to check the Yelp reviews. Sure enough 2.5 stars. We walked out BUT since we were in a hurry decided to try anyway "because it is Todd English, surely it is decent, right?". NO. Horrible RUDE service. Took FOREVER to get our food, which was only 2 salads and the prime rib (all of which is cooked, you just need to prepare them, why does it take so long??). My lobster on the cobb salad was WATERY, the lettuce was watery. It was served on a long rectangular plate and not tossed. For example, all the bacon was on the very left side of the plate. How do they expect me to mix it all together on such a narrow plate?? The wife's prime rib was ALSO watery. Most of it was bland but everynow and them you got a salty bite. The sauces served on the side were nasty: both were extremely sweet. The mac and cheese was phenomenal, the grits (which we didn't order) were borderline cold. The beer flight I ordered came with beers that I didn't order nor where on the menu. I finished the flight LONG before our food arrived, but she never asked me if I wanted another beer. And of course expensive as all get out AND NOT WORTH IT! How can upper management not know that this restaurant is getting KILLED on Yelp and isn't doing anything about it?!?c
(1)Preeyam P.
Food is okay from what I could tell that I had. However beer selection is excellent. This place had awesome location but the staff was a little stuck up. They were pushing us around from hostess to hostess to see who wanted to serve us. After we were seated service was a little slow but the atmosphere was fun.
(4)Melinda M.
QUICK SUGGESTION: Go here over The Southern Kitchen & Bar. All beer is available on draft, bigger selection of beer, colder beer, knowledgable bartenders, bigger TV's, and much better Mac & Cheese! I had the lobster rolls with Mac & Cheese as a side it it was absolutely amazing! Not sure how this place has such low reviews.
(5)Pam C.
Sat at the bar for happy hour, 3-6pm. Drafts are 1/2 off the $5 & $6 beers. Ordered the deviled eggs, with pickled okra, nice size portion...3 whole eggs!!! For only $7. Flavor was pretty good, not my favorite, but definitely edible. Decided to splurge and get the lobster rolls...yes that was plural..there were 3, thay are probably about 4 inches long, STUFFED with lobster in a brown butter sauce...O.M.G....so good. Great bar service, would go back.
(4)Tanya C.
I was in town for the NCAA Gymnastics Championships and stopped in to grab a bite to eat for dinner before the team finals. I grew up in Alabama, but haven't been to the BJCC since high school. Todd English P.U.B. is in this new development of restaurants surrounding the BJCC. It's a great addition to the complex because the surrounding area used to be dead. We were there for an earlyish dinner, but the place was pretty full with other people attending the event. We were seated immediately at a high top for two. Our server promptly brought out a bucket of popcorn for us to share while deciding what we were going to eat. I thought this was a nice touch that was different than your usual pre-meal items. I ordered the chicken parmesan sliders. I asked the server what came with the sliders and she said it was a small salad. I decided to add on an order of skinny fries to go with the sandwiches as well. Thank goodness I did because the small salad was puny. A few pieces of shredded iceberg lettuce, a few diced tomatoes and some balsamic vinaigrette. The sliders were ok. The chicken didn't quite fill to the outer edges of the bun so you were left with several bites of the sliders without any chicken. The fries were the best part of the meal. I always ask for a side of mayo to go with my fries. The server brought out the mayo, but it was not mayo. It was miracle whip. This is not real mayo, people!! Service was slow while we were there. We asked for the bill and the server brought out the bill for another table. We then had to wait another 10 minutes for her to stop by again to request the correct bill. She promptly brought it back and apologized. While I'm excited about the new dining options at the BJCC, I think I'll check out one of the other establishments the next time I need to visit.
(2)Osito S.
Good lord, I would have have thought in the last year they would have gotten their shit together. For breakfast, with barely anyone in the restaurant, it took 15 minutes just to get s spoon to stir the sugar in my coffee. The scrambled eggs were runny and barely edible, and watching everyone else in the restaurant -- the other two tables -- sitting and waiting for their food even though they were sat before me, is just plain sad. If this restaurant wasn't in my hotel, I would neeeeeeever come here.
(1)Veronica R.
The valet only gives you two hours at the restaurant or you pay $14!! Not only that the valet ticket they gave us was over an hour and a half earlier than we actually arrived which you can barely see so we didn't realize until they charged us. Such a bad client experience.... No matter how good the place is, the valet was ridiculous. We tried to complain to the Westin and they said its a third party, but I'm sorry your name is on the valet sign!?!??! I travel all over the country and have never had an issue like this. Most major cities with limited parking valet is complementary if you use their service for the establishment, I think this means Todds won't cover the charge if you are there a long time?!?! We had $100 check person for a party of 5. I think they would have made their money back.
(1)April G.
Four stars based on drinks and apps only. Great draft selection, nice cocktail list, and they offer sample pours of wine! Had peel and eat shrimp. Decent texture for the South, but still covered in Old Bay (yuck).
(4)Lisa C.
Ick. Had attended an event at the BJCC and was letting traffic die down before heading home. Ordered drink#1- Old Fashioned. WAAAAYYYY too much bitters. Not enough sugar. Ick. Placed our food order and tried drink #2. Margarita "it can't go wrong, right?" Wrong. I think the bartender poured salt into the drink. It was so sour and salty, my mouth puckered up. The chicken wings were undercooked. Inside=pink and raw looking. The bright spot was my slider was good. If I come back here, I will order a bottled beer that cannot be messed up.
(1)Scott M.
Leighton James and his staff provided us with a wonderful dining experience including top-notch service and a delicious meal. Everything was delightful. Make sure you try the charcuterie plate!
(5)Dave R.
This place was held in high regard, and had a great reputation. Being from Chicago, the bar for good service and good drinks is high in my mind to begin with -- but above all, the experience trumps both of those things. As a customer, you (subconsciously) require one thing at any place of business: Feeling like you matter. This first and LAST night at Todd English we felt the farthest from that. We entered the bar with the intention of spending a few hundred dollars on drinks - there were four of us. We got seated at a table, and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The problem was when our drinks came out in plastic "college" cups. When we asked our server why we didn't get our 12 dollar drinks in glassware like they had hanging all around the bar, their reply was epic: "Well, because there is an event going to let out really soon, we pulled all of our glassware so we don't run out during the rush we're anticipating.". Awesome. So ours, and every other patron that so consciously drove over to Todd English for the experience and product don't count as much as the event goers who are A) not there yet, and B) will likely be stumbling in out of convenience. Todd English, that was a poor poor call on your part. When given the opportunity to rectify the matter - which in our eyes was just realizing that yes, this was in fact, a stupid move, they did nothing. We paid our bill, tipped, and left. I hope this review persuades you to spend your money elsewhere because this place has no idea what good customer service is. They could have the best drinks in the world, but I went to college once - those plastic cups only brought me right back to those terrible parties. Well done.
(1)Antonice L.
Went here yesterday, with some friends for Happy Hour. It was 3-6pm with 1/2 off pints(selected ones), 1/2 off wine bottles $1 wings, $2 oysters and $3 sliders. I'm not a beer drinker so drink Angry orchard and our server suggested the fruity flight so I can have my try of 4 kinds of fruity beers. They have a huge selection of beers so, no one would be left out! We each got the wings and a slider. The sliders were a little greasy but that's my only negative comment. Overall, a good experience!!
(4)Steve S.
Service at bar was good. Has an interesting menu, but unfortunately today they had a limited menu. We had the lobster rolls which were only so so and not worth the $20 price. You definitely are paying for location over substance. If not for the beer selection would have rated only 2 stars. But the beer is way overpriced.
(3)Rachel A.
Clearly this place is not worried about the local clientale. If you are in town for business and on your company's expense card then you won't feel as bad doling out money on bad service and subpar food because it didn't come out of your own pocket. We made reservations for 8 at 8pm on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and asked for our drink orders. Now, the place was pretty packed but it appeared that they had sufficient wait staff on hand. We waited over an hour for our food to come, which was kind of expected since it was so crowded. But our food came out cold and missing several of our side dishes and we had a wrong order come out. Our waiter could've handled it better but it was clear he was frustrated as well. After our first water refill, he was no where to be seen. My friend got up, got the water jug and refilled it ourselves. Now to the food. OK so when you see a nice restaurant and higher than avg menu prices, you expect a higher quality of food. I have no qualms spending money on a nice, flavorful meal. I got the lobster rolls, they did have flavor but it would've been nicer if they had come out fresh. The slaw has red onions in it fyi but i found it pretty tasty. The wedges were also pretty good. The pub burger my husband got was overcooked and cold. Bad combo. The shrimp and grits had no flavor and barely had any shrimp in it. The pork cheeks did not taste fresh and of course could've been better if it wasn't cold. Salmon could've been more flavorful. Both salmon dishes were missing their side dishes. Seasonal veggies were ordered. Came out not seasoned at all. Waiter definately never mentioned the restaurant was out of broccolini, just was going to charge them for the full meal. We had one preggo friend and our waiter said our bartender does not do mocktails, he never went to ask or anything. OVERALL, subpar food for what we paid. The restaurant in general has a nice ambience, nice bar, TVs for sports fans, clean. Unfortunate, their kitchen and staff can't get it together. Will not be back!
(2)Jon B.
It's hard to believe a "famous" chef like Todd English would attach his name to this place. We'll start with the pros: -Our waitress was nice and she was honest. When I asked about recommendations she tried to help. -Their beer list is large and they had the delicious Stone Sell By 12/26 IPA -the bar area seemed fun That's it for pros. On to the cons... -one of their signature dishes (chicken and waffles) was sold out...at 6:45pm...on a Friday night -the Prime Beef was awful. I ordered medium rare and got medium well. On top of that their was no flavor and generally looked awful. -the Mac and Cheese had some sort of velveeta concoction on it. -the shepherd's pie and the chicken pot pie were TINY -the corned beef was flavorful, but so fatty that you were lucky to have three good bites. -$12 glasses of mediocre wine -the whole restaurant smells like a movie theater, i.e. Overwhelming popcorn odor Overall, there's no reason to go here when you can walk to The Southern or Bottle & Beef and get better food and better drinks.
(1)Heather G.
Food is not that great and the service is terrible! Bad service starts with the blonde manager that was sitting at a bar side table while most of the employees spoke amongst themselves. Have been here an hour and the manger is still enjoying the Auburn VS Wisconsin game. What a great job to have!!!
(2)Ann S.
A hot mess. Please don't waste your money or your time going here. Horrible service and mediocre food.
(1)Wendy S.
Slow service, mediocre food. Had to flag down people other than our server multiple times. Had to send back an entree and order something else. And it was expensive!!
(2)Dax B.
I lived in Boston from 98 to 06 which was during the era of Todd's rising star (although I Olives came well before then) and liked my multiple visits to Figs (pizza) enough but never went to Olives. However, I was excited about the concept of his PUB thinking it would be a great concept albeit with a fairly large menu. Good fish and chips are hard to find in BHM and you can basically forget about lobster rolls plus raw bar options are always great. Anyway, I have been twice now and thought it was ... ok. The first time I had the fish and chips and I thought the fish was overcooked and the breading was too dark (oil issue or too much time in the fryer) and had something of a burnt taste. The "fatty" fries are ok but you don't need too many unless you want to waddle out of there. The second time I went I was going to get the pastrami but switched to the lobster "rolls" at the last minute. Those are not lobster rolls on a split top bun like you would find in New England but the lobster filling is pretty darn good and squished into a thick cut piece of brioche which is liberally buttered and toasted. I also got some forgettable slaw and a few of the fries (fatty again, just like I am becomming). At $16 and $18, respectively, these dishes (not counting soft drinks or apps) do not make for an inexpensive lunch but are fine on an expense account. I will return to try the pastrami but I'm not rushing back. For my (personal) money, right now I'd rather head over to Carrigan's.
(3)Corey G.
Absolutely love this place. We came here twice while in Birmingham for the Bruno Mars concert. I have no idea why they get such rough reviews, maybe the city of Birmingham isn't ready for a place like this. They have an awesome craft beer selection with lots of local and regional selections and even better happy hour deals! My girlfriend had the chicken and waffles and I had the hand carved corn beef plate and they were both on point. The average price point on food was on the higher end but not bad considering the quality and portions. The atmosphere was very chill and laid back during the day but was in full gear when we came back at night before the concert. I'd recommend this place to anyone visiting the downtown Birmingham area.
(5)Chris S.
Good beer selection. Sat at the bar and ordered a lobster roll. Food was very good and service was good too. Menu items were a bit overpriced, however.
(3)Shiraz M.
This place is a great place to start the morning. The service here is great, especially Olivia, who is just awesome and always has a friendly smile!
(4)Charlene W.
The mead was cold and delicious and the martini was perfect! The service at the bar was great BUT the Mini Corn dogs were floating in grease and the skinny fries were cold. Took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Very disappointing and will never order food from there again.
(2)Jessica K.
I'm staying at the Westin. Todd English looks like a nice and I've had a busy day.. so figured I'd order some food to-go for dinner. I read the reviews and saw that the customer service isn't that great, but in getting a to-go order, I'm really not worried about that. Wasn't I wrong... The girl answering the phone did not possess even the normal standard of customer service I'm used to finding at even an Applebees...seriously. When I told her I wanted to place a to-go order she replied with, "ok what is your order?" her entire demeanor had an edge of rudeness to my surprise, and I was tempted to cancel my order before I even got off the phone. I didn't though. I gave my name and number--in a rude tone she asked me to repeat, and I did. To that she says, "ok thank you..." and that was it. When is my food going to be ready? What's the total? I had no clue... But then she called me back. Apparently the tuna tare tare I ordered wasn't going to work for them. No seafood orders allowed over the phone "because it can make you sick" What??? I told her I was staying at the hotel and was going to walk down and get it whenever it was ready..I'm right upstairs. She told me to walk down and order at the bar. Order cancelled and I won't be eating here now or anytime I stay here in the future. Very surprised this place is connected to the Westin, because my experience at this hotel has been nothing short of fantastic.
(1)Todd L.
I saw several negative reviews on this place, but as a hotel guest there are not a lot of options in the area. I had breakfast there 3 time and dinner once. One of the 3 breakfasts were reasonable when it came to service and food. The other times were bad. The dinner was a Signature dish...chicken biscuits. They were the worst chicken biscuits I've ever had. I can say that of the 4 times I ate there the service was only good once. It seems they have half the wait staff they need. I hope I don't have to eat there again.
(1)Phillip Y.
This is more glitz and glamor than it's worth. Convenience was the main reason for having dinner here. I was staying at the hotel before flying out and already dropped the rental car at the airport. Popcorn was given as munching snack before food came. It was super fast so no complaints there. The salmon was sold out so had to settle for chicken on the salad. Overall, it was pretty good but I don't know what all the fuss is about this place. For the price, you can find something else but I just needed a simple meal so this served it's purpose.
(3)A-V H.
more attracted to their patio seating and location than their food or drinks. came with friends who wanted to try it out for happy hour. Not many savings. $1 wings is not my idea of a happy hour savings. the wings were good but they were definitely proud of them. $2 oyster is not much of a happy hour saving either. enjoyable experience but over priced for mediocore food.
(3)Brad H.
My rating would be 4 stars if they fixed the prices. EVERYTHING is overpriced, food and drinks alike. You'd have to ONLY drink during happy hour (3-6 PM) when draft beers are 1/2 off or slam your pints in under 7 seconds each to get them for free (yes, they have a 7 second challenge). Example: a pint of Blue Moon is TEN DOLLARS. Ridiculous. Food was great, but again, the prices are way too steep.
(2)Jin K.
This is difficult as I stay at this hotel whenever I'm in town. The food here has been consistently difficult to accept, even with adjusted standards such as acknowledging they have a captive customer base given their location. Chicken tacos: a bone was discovered, and the kitchen staff's comment was that it happens sometimes. Fried calamari: inconsistently salted and fried, many pieces of fried batter with mo calamari. Some sandwich: absolutely cold in the center; cheese was actually not melted. This really is a comment to a kitchen that is sloppy, and is clearly not getting feedback, else there would be corrections or staff changes. I would say this is a restaurant Todd English should check regarding standards of his kitchen staff. These comments cover 3 months of visits to the Westin. The bar however, is nice, and the wait staff has been great each time.
(1)Tim M.
Went in because it was attached to our hotel and while it looked like a good place, everything was a let down. There are tons of servers running around, all looking busy but no one is carrying food, drinks or empty plates. They just appear to be looking busy. After sitting down we promptly received a bucket of popcorn and water. When our waiter finally came over to take the drink order (a single beer) it took probably ten minutes or so for him to come back. Then he set the beer down and walked away. After sitting for another 10-15 minutes and no one taking our order, someone, I assume a manager, came over and started taking our order when the waiter miraculously returned to finish the job, my guess is he spends a lot of time wrapped around a bong. We ordered two things. I got an order of calamari and my mom ordered a turkey sandwich. Something like 20 minutes later, our food arrived. The turkey sandwich was 'deconstructed', which means each part is just laying on the plate, and apparently they don't trim the turkey. The calamari, which I have eaten calamari more times than I can count, was the worst I've ever had. The rings were the size of a dime and so thin that even with breading they were translucent. They also didn't taste like anything and were served on top of a salad. When I noticed our waiter coming by, I stopped him to ask for the check for fear he would never return. I left to go to the room, my mom hung around for awhile hoping to order a drink but apparently he never returned. This place had bad food, bad service and the only reason I could imagine anyone going there is to sit at the bar and get loaded so they don't have to take their car out of valet parking. Avoid this place at all costs.
(1)Jacob L.
Went today for the first time. The place had a pretty cool atmosphere and had music playing in the background at a comfortable level. They have a large selection of beers to choose from and a good variety of sandwiches and entrees. My food had a good flavor but it was a little cold and tasted like it wasn't prepared fresh to order. If it would have been hot off the grill/oven it would have been really good. So please work on getting everyone's food prepared at the same time so it will all be hot.
(2)Khurram H.
Great food, staff and space. Watched the NBA playoffs with my friend and enjoyed tasty lobster rolls and crisp/cold Kronenberg. Jwayne, Michele and the rest of the staff were so helpful and friendly. We will definitely be back
(5)Amber G.
Todd English PUB is a neat addition to the Birmingham craft beer scene. I am impressed that they offer Chimey and Innis&Gunn Rum Cask on draft...nice. PUB also has an interesting and tasty selection of local and regional beers. Back Forty Peach Wheat is hands down the best original wheat beer I've had. It's the perfect summer beer, and worth the trip downtown just to try it. As far as the food is concerned, it's really good pub food, traditional with a twist. The bread pudding is very good. I had the fried oysters, which is a starter but large enough to be a meal. The fish and chips are huge. The menu is a bit pricey, but it's not your typical fare you'll find elsewhere. And the portions tend to be generous, which is better than other local pub-types. The downside is the parking. I understand that this area of town is trying to make a come-back. I hope it's successful. But unless affordable parking is offered, it's not going to work. We found parking on the street. You can also park under the bridges. However, this may not be the safest choice to make at night. Love this PUB though. The decor is truly nostalgic. I do hope the parking situation is addressed for the entire area.
(4)John-Bryan H.
It's good! Best pub food in town and proud it is in Birmingham. Not fancy but you feel like your somewhere else... The food varies from burgers to wings. Many of the beers are from local brewers and then nightlife is always hopping from teens to 30 somethings.
(4)Michael N.
This is a great place to go if you are wanting to wind down after a conference at the Sheraton Birmingham as the restaurant can be reached through a sky walk. It is actually attached directly to the super swanky Westin. I went during Happy Hour which is from 3:00 - 6:00. They have 1/2 off Pints with a seemingly unlimited choice of draft beers. There are also food specials at this time. $1 Wings (when the bartender tells you they are hot believe him/her they are not lying), $2 Raw Oysters, or $3 Hamburger Sliders. I tried each of these items and they were all really good. I can't stress to you enough though the wings are HOT!! The fun comes in with the 7-second challenge. What is this you say? Well if you can drink a pint in 7-seconds you get it free (hint: Get a non-carbonated beer like Guinness) They have hourglasses all around the bar that they turn and then a big ruckus is made while the attempt is being made. Very fun experience. I haven't been here for a proper meal yet and look forward to it. I will say the atmosphere is great.
(4)Stephanie P.
I've eaten at the P.U.B. in Vegas and this location is very similar. The menu has a good variety but is very expensive. Our waitress was below par. I ordered a Pinot Grigo and she didn't know what that was. Gave me a Chardonnay instead. I ordered the Roast Beef Sliders and she asked how I wanted it cooked - it is a roast beef sandwich, I don't think I get to choose how they cook it. She have me point at what I was ordering - she didn't know the menu at all. The food was good. Hopefully the staff will improve over time. I view this as more of a hotel restaurant because of the prices. Birmingham isn't like Vegas - most people don't eat $25-30 lunches. The bar should do well before and after events at the BJCC - they have a great beer selection.
(3)Steven H.
The food is decent at best, but extremely overpriced. It offers a wide variety of supposedly "upscale pub food". While some of the menu items are unique, most are average, but decent relative to the rest of Birmingham's fare. Be careful, their happy hour clam/chicken wing special is the same as the normal price...which the waiter admitted after our party pressed him on it. If you have to eat here, I recommend the salmon. The P.U.B's service definitely leaves something to be desired. I observed on several occasions that the restaurant has very few servers per shift...ultimately taking at least an hour to get your food. This just lays credence to the fact that my party had the same server 3 times within a 8 day period and he didn't show recognize us, The only highlight of the restaurant is its beer selection (if they have your choice stocked that is). They claim to have over 80 beers on tap, but I've been here for over a month and have yet to see them restock 8-10 of the beers that were unavailable since I came here on my first visit. The recent kicker however, which prompted this review, was their decision to reduce their high alcoholic content beer glasses from 12 to 8 oz to cut costs. It's not enough that they charge $8 for a delirium tremes, but now you get 1/3 less for the same price! If you're looking for somewhere to eat long term, there's a subway by the Sheraton. I also think a Ruth Chris is 10 miles away (since the Texas de Brazil still hasn't opened).
(1)Chris M.
I don't know where to start....bartending staff was terrible. There appeared to be three bartenders (which was plenty for how many patrons were in the bar at 10 o'clock). I stood there for about 8 minutes before my group and I were even acknowledged. A member of our party ordered a manhattan on the rocks. The bartender proceeded to shake it (what!) which left it foamy for the entire drink....the best part....it was 16 dollars and change. I live in L.A. and prices aren't nearly that high. My jack in the rocks was around 13 dollars and had more rocks than jack. None of our group will ever return.
(1)Molly C.
The hostess staff was very accommodating! Especially Versa. She made the entire experience very enjoyable. The food was good, a little pricey, but good. The oysters were small but very tasty. The wait staff was friendly. Loved the atmosphere.
(4)Camp H.
Great looking menu. Great looking beer selection. Pretty cool Scene for Birmingham but the service kinda just basically was obnoxiously rude except for a bar hop named Gary who is the only reason I tipped. It's a great place to get a headache during a football game. Felt like Buffalo Wild Wings with a decent menu. Food was par. Cob salad in the pic was ok at best very dry. Oysters grossly overpriced especially for the quality. Good luck. This place needs it. Total mental masturbation.
(2)Diosa B.
We're spending the week in the Westin, so after a long day, Todd English was a no brainer for a quick dinner before we slunk up to our rooms and passed out. Unfortunately, that quick dinner took over 2 hours. Now, some folks might think that's good-- and it can be to not be rushed in a restaurant-- but given the circumstances, it was borderline awful to have to wait so long for our food. A few good points: the restaurant is very much in the modern pub style, which is slick and nice. The waitress and guy who got water were both incredibly friendly and helpful, keeping the drinks coming without us even asking. The fried pickles came out quickly and were pretty good- not the best I've ever had, but I'd order them again. The sauce they come with (a bleu cheese BBQ) is a great compliment. The pickles themselves were nice and crisp, not soggy at all. Dinner was a burger with cheddar, cooked medium well. The burger came out cooked perfectly in color, but it was just. . . meh. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. It could have used more cheese and the meat itself needed a bit more seasoning of some sort. I got the skinny fries, which were ok. Other party members got the hot dog (it was alright) and the chicken parm sliders (which he hated). When I finally got my check, my burger, soda, and pickles came out to something like $34. The food was ok, but not $34 good. The wait was especially not $34 good. If you're traveling and just looking for a nice "safe" spot, this is it, but I'm not sure I'd recommend this place outside of that.
(2)Moose W.
Okay... Been to the one in Vegas several times so when I saw TE pub was here too, I had to stop in. Food: bland, cold and pretty unremarkable. Use salt and pepper, people! I had the junk chips - cold, sent them back. 2nd try was better; and the Pub Burger. Med rare was completely raw and cold, grits on the side tasted soapy. Wait staff was lethargic and flaky. Wouldn't do the Todd English Birmingham experience again.
(1)Jessica P.
Not a fan unless you order one of the bottle and bone options. Food is prefab... Or at least that's what it tastes like. It's too much of a chain for my taste.
(2)H S.
They were simply terrible - the worst service I have ever seen. Especially the bar tenders - you are not doing us any favors by serving us. As a platinum Starwood member (it's in the Westin), I am going to let the hotel management know that by associating themselves they are losing their best clients
(1)Heath H.
Ok. I read the bad reviews....and I waited. Read more OK reviews...and I waited. Wanted to give them some time to work out the kinks. Well, as if lunchtime 1/10/14 the kinks...for the most part....are worked out. Server...great...front of house manager...great...hostess...good...dude that pours water....not so good...atmosphere....great...food...great. One of the best Corned beef Rubens I have ever had...corned beef melted in my mouth....quality bread...great meat/kraut/1000island ratio. Fresh cut fries would be nice at this price point. Beer list looks outstanding. Can't wait to come back and belly up to the bar and take a beer tour. Didn't earn a 5 star on this visit....4 this time...but I want them to bring up their average so I hung 5 on them. I will be back.
(5)Hazel C.
The new Westin buildout near the Civic Center drew us to try out P.U.B. A celebrity chef restaurant coming to the downtown Birmingham area has been big news for our city. The area is still under buildout as more restaurants and shops are being recruited so when you first drive to the area, it still has an "under construction" feel. You can tell that Todd English spent quite a bit on the buildout of this attractive restaurant space with a huge u-shaped bar with a nice raw bar packed with oysters, shrimp, crab and more featured in the middle. The bar area looked so appealing we decided to sit at the bar and order some snacks and drinks. The restaurant wasn't very busy, but the bar was staffed with several bartenders anyway, all female. The bartender who approached us did not seem very knowledgeable about the menu. We asked about several menu items and all she could say, "Well, I don't know. I haven't tried that." We were eager to try the oysters, but she could not give us any details about them, either. They stock a tremendous selection of beers. Again, we asked for recommendations to a befuddled blank stare from the bartender. I tried to explain the type of beer I like to get some help in picking out something I had never had before. The bartender said she wasn't really into beer. What!? How can someone enjoy work at a bar like that and NOT be into beer? We ordered some wings to start us off and while we were still looking over the menu, a guy washing dishes behind the bar approached us, introduced himself (Damon?), and said he would be happy to help us. He answered our questions with such enthusiasm, that we decided to order oysters and he recommended a great beer to pair with them. He later overheard us comment on how expensive the menu is (a bologna sandwich for $14!) and in a very unobtrusive way, explained that a lot of the ingredients are made in an artisanal fashion by the restaurant. The way he explained things made us want to taste everything. Seems like management prefers a glorified Hooters girl behind the bar. Was odd to have the guy washing dishes be much more professional than the bartenders. He was great, but said he wasn't authorized to check us out as he was just a barback. The wings tasted smokey and lightly spicy. Good, but probably some of the most expensive wings in Birmingham. The bill was a shocker. Not only are the menu prices high for Birmingham, there's some sort of odd tax tacked on to the bill that's about 18%. It says on the bill, "Fee In Lieu Tax." I asked the bartender to explain, but she couldn't give us an answer. For this kind of pricing and lackluster service, I'd rather have a meal at Veranda, Fon Fon, or Ollie Irene where price, quality, and service all match. As we left we asked if we could see the manager to ask about the tax and have a general chat about our experience. We heard the hostess ask another staff member, "Has anyone seen Brad?" We waited for several minutes and decided to go ahead and leave. There's a nice patio area but the weather is too cool at the moment. Nice to have some outdoor options, though, and would love to check it out again in the summer time for happy hour. If you hit happy hour between 3 and 6, wings, sliders, and oysters are at a reduced price. Maybe they will have better trained staff in place by then.
(2)Brian K.
When you are spending $30+ per person for lunch (that's with one beer) one should expect the hostess to be standing and ready to greet the guests (especially at 12:10) while looking sharp as a tack -- but this was not so. One should also expect a server to be knowledgeable about the menu, but this was not so. Service was way below average in quality, knowledge, speed, and eagerness to help. Food was bland and way over-priced for lunch. I honestly could have had better fish & chips at a fast food chain. The place has been open long enough to get the kinks out. I could have spent the same on lunch at Fon Fon while not only enjoying the meal but also having additional cocktails and dessert. Not worth the time or effort.
(1)TM T.
If I rated this place only on service, it would go to 11.If I rated it on food. It's a 9. If I rated it on value. It's a 5. After arriving at the Westin, I had lunch at the P.U.B. and met Shay. That was the start of an awesome weekend. I had the pork sliders for lunch, and while they were good, they were merely average by Kansas City standards. I had two more meals there, and they were equally very good, but not great. During dinner on our last night, my brother ordered king crab legs, and was served lobster. Who does this? The upside? I met Shay at breakfast the next morning, and she apologized for that error. How does she know that I had dinner the night before AND that they screwed? The answer is that they pay more attention to service details than kitchen details. While that's not surprising for a Todd English restaurant, it's a nice recovery for most. Well done Shay! I'll definitely see you again on my next trip. My gut tells me that you remember my name. Cheers!
(4)Frenchelle T.
I have been very excited for this new gastropub. First, I want to say I love the Westin, it's gorgeous. The location of Todd English is prime and the decor is wonderful. That being said, my experience was very disappointing. I will concede, the night we tried Todd English was the night of the Kid Rock concert. It was very busy and because we had difficulty finding parking our reservation was voided. No problem...we opted to stand in the bar at the communal table. No waitstaff ever approached or acknowledge our presence. Finally, after 15 minutes we were able to get the attention of a manager who took our orders and brought them to the table. I ordered the pulled Pork sliders and fries....it was outstanding. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals, but the drinks were a different story. One of my girlfriends ordered a Cosmopolitan at a cost of $16....wth. I don't think so Todd! Don't know if I will try it again, maybe, but not anytime soon.
(1)LL C.
Well, let me first say this...there is a lot of potential here. Overall, it was ok and I will go back. Now, in terms of service, which everyone seems to comment on...it does seem to be a tad spotty. However, our server Shay was excellent. But the issue had to do with one of her co-workers who THOUGHT he had our table and he came running up (20 mins after we'd been there) saying he was so sorry and he would be right back. Ok. Um weird. Anyway, seemed like a lot of miscommunication in our area of tables. The hostesses seemed a bit confused and none of them wore the same tops...they looked like regular patrons so they blend in a bit. Each table receives a small, silver tin of popcorn to munch on while you wait to place your order. And each person can request their own tin if they want. As for food, it was a strange mix of a LOT of food. Like, too much going on with the menu to really understand it all. There is an Irish Pub theme, kinda, but it's not overwhelming. There's a section for burgers and sliders & sandwiches (which are EXPENSIVE) but then there's a section for favorites which includes a special kind of burger, but it's NOT in the burger section. There's a raw bar section, a meat and bread section (like ordering at a churrascaria I guess), salads and appetizers. And then there's a PICKLE section. Say whaaa? Yes, a whopping two ways to order pickles, but does that warrant its own section? Could that not have been listed under extras or whatever it's called? Don't get confused if you see some burgers or sandwiches listed without fries because not all of them come with fries. Also, there are two types of fries, SKINNY and FATTY...fatty being similar to steak fries. Again, the menu takes a lot of time to 'digest' (ha, see what I did there), but hopefully you'll get a great server like Shay who will be patient enough to explain it all. Please note that they do have a side salad for $6, but it's not listed on the menu. You have to ask for it. Apparently, they didn't anticipate anyone wanting something other than fries for a side. Our server told us that they had to suggest to the chef a smaller option for their salads. The salads are huge AND expensive, nothing less than $13 or so and that's minus chicken or shrimp. I got the prime rib chilli which tasted pretty good, but there needed to be more 'soup' to the chilli. Basically, it's very, very chunky and it's served in a small, shallow skillet, not a bowl. It has chunks of carrots, steak and what looks like maybe chunks of sirloin/ground beef? Lots of beans and tomatoes. Again, GREAT flavor and taste but I needed more of the soup part, not the chunky part. Oh, the cheese melted on top looked like a square of American, not shredded cheddar. The chilli is served with slices of toasted bread placed on top of the chilli. The menu says 'gluten free if ordered without bread'. I also ordered a side salad. My friend ordered a salad and the hushpuppies. The three hushpuppies were placed on a bed of black eye peas (which looked more like bbq baked beans, but I was told they do taste like black eye peas) on top of a bed of greens. Different, but she didn't complain about the taste, but it wasn't quite what she was expecting. The other side of the menu is nothing but beer descriptions and a very small wine section. But no where in all of that will you find a list of other beverages like Pepsi or Coke products or tea, you just have to ask. They are a Coke facility btw. There is a happy hour that sounds fun and seems to have good food and drink deals...no food over $3 if I remember correctly. I'm looking forward to going back for happy hour because it seems like it might be a hopping place. Didn't have any alcohol during my visit so it will be interesting to see how much they charge for a basic margarita. Overall, I liked it and I will be back to test out more of the meals and determine if they warrant the high prices. I like the fact that it's something cool and different in downtown and considering that before this all they had was a Subway, well, I have no real complaints.
(3)Trevvor C.
If you're looking for a place to revisit quirky knockoffs of college drinking games with decent food, I found a spot for you in Uptown. Todd English's P.U.B. (Public Urban Bar for the uninitiated) was the early arrival in the new entertainment district, but it hasn't grabbed me. The atmosphere reminded me of something similar to a Hard Rock Cafe, but without all the "hard rock" paraphernalia - just basic decor in huge open spaces with high ceilings. The menu is a large two-sided sheet that is a bit hard to navigate at first because of the font size and the arrangement of the restaurant's fare. I went with the no-nonsense "Pub Burger," ringing up at a cool $19. It was alright, a decent burger and fries overall, but definitely not worth $19 + tax + tip, and that's not including an appetizer or drink if you're so inclined. Meanwhile, as my party was eating, the occasional ruckus would erupt from the bar area - someone was attempting to "slam" a beer in seven seconds to get it for free. That may be all well and good for a college bar, and it seems to be a holdover from the P.U.B.'s original location in Las Vegas, but in an area that's trying to posture itself as an upscale, business conference/business traveler district, it was rather off-putting. That said, I'll take my $19 and go get two burgers at J. Clyde in a much more enjoyable atmosphere.
(2)Jay T.
I met three friends for lunch today at Todd English's Public Urban Bar (P.U.B.). I'd been once before for happy hour, and I was excited to try the food. After asking our waiter for his suggestions, one of my dining companions and I ordered the fish and chips ($16). If you're billing yourself as a "pub" you should be able to master fish and chips. The other two members of our party ordered the chicken tacos ($16). We were served small buckets of popcorn while we waited for our lunches. Service was attentive, and we sat outside on the spacious patio with a cool breeze. The atmosphere was great. My lunch, on the other hand, was not good. First impressions of the fish and chips? One fillet of fish, deep fried in what appeared to be a beer batter, perched atop a large pile of large cut fried potato wedges. Included on the plate was a side of coleslaw made with white cabbage, red onions, fresh baby peas and sliced green beans. Also included were two dipping sauces. The dipping sauces described on the menu were tartar sauce and a "malt vinegar aioli." The tartar sauce was easily identified. The other condiment was a milky looking liquid. I made the mistake of dipping my fork into it to try to identify what it was. There was very little to taste. When my dining companion brought this dipping sauce to the attention of the server, the server couldn't identify it either. She brought us a side of the malt vinegar aioli, which is what the white liquid was supposed to be. I think what happened was whoever dished out the aioli simply poured off whatever liquid had collected at the top of the container and served it to us. Gross. Condiment problem solved, the fish wasn't very good. While it tasted fresh, and it was well-cooked, it was bland. The batter had practically no flavor. The fries could have been crispier, and the red onions in the slaw weren't very fresh and overpowered the other flavors. My lunch just wasn't worth the $25 (with diet Coke and tip) I paid for it. I'll go back for happy hour, but I'm not so sure I'll go back for lunch.
(2)City M.
Ok food. Great beer selection. But the service is incredibly slow and inattentive. I waited about 10 mins to get seated and desired to find my own place. I was then moved because they were going to have a bartender meeting and I sat where they like to hold it. There were only 8 people in the place. I them waited for someone to bring me a menu. I ordered and the food did come out quickly and was tasty. I had the Egg White and Young Spinach omelette. But they never gave me any cutlery. The lady filling up the ice in the raw bar was nice enough to go get me a fork. I just felt like I was in the way... At night the place is hopping but last night there were only two servers so it took a while to get a drink. I decided to order take out to eat in my room and asked for their late night menu, the bartender told me there wasn't a paper menu and it was only in his head. Nice. For me, this one gets a 2 for consistently bad service. It sucks because they have everything else right.
(2)Randy R.
Read some reviews and was a little hesitant to go, but I am glad i went. The staff was great, The drinks were excellent ( old fashion made by Alethia was great and the food was fabulous.
(5)David S.
We had a great meal here tonight. I'm staying at the Westin, and I've had some great meals at other Todd English locations, so I figured his P.U.B. in the lobby would be a good gamble. I was right. We sat at the bar and started off with the tuna tartare. It was the most I've ever enjoyed tuna. It was fresh and the wontons were crispy. The sauces on the plate were perfect compliments. We then had the prime rib sliders (good), the smoked chicken wings (awesome... the wings are smoked before they're fried) and the chicken pot pie (delish). We finished off with the bread pudding, which I thought was just ok. It had nutmeg or clove which I didn't like, but the ice cream that came on top was very good. I also had a few of the beers from the rediculously extensive draft beer list. While sitting at the bar, we chatted with one of the sous chefs (I think his name was Eric Rivers), who was shucking oysters. He was enthusiastic about the menu and gave us some helpful recommendations. That added a lot to our great experience. I will try to go to this restaurant before the end of my trip.
(5)Laura H.
Terrible service! The beer list is incredible. The menu has some good options. The food is average but the service is absolutely terrible. Our waitress did not know any of the entrees and kept telling us she had never had an item or she didn't like it. She came by only to drop off drinks or food. She never came by to check on us and we had to beg for refills on drinks including wine and beer. The wait for food was over an hour. I would recommend this place as a bar but not as a restaurant. For what I am paying I expect some level of service.
(2)ben h.
Food is AWFUL! Really really AWFUL!. Lobster rolls were cold, meat tough and tasted of freezer burn. Fish and Chips were greasy, old tasting, and generally disgusting. If you just want a beer, go for it. If you want anything to eat, go anywhere other than here. I can't even imagine trying it again and I love his restaurants in Orlando, Vegas, etc. How can food be so bad when it is tied to such a great chef? I would give it ZERO stars, if that was an option.
(1)Chris W.
Excellent atmosphere, though a bit loud and echoey. Bread pudding w/ captain crunch was excellent! I went back again the next day for lunch with a friend and was not let down. The chef's recommendation of a crab cake sandwich was superb.
(4)Tameka J.
I stopped in for drinks after a business dinner. I did not eat but the atmosphere is nice, it was a trendy departure from the dullness of the hotel (it's located in the Westin, which is next door to the Sheraton and the convention center). I checked out the menu and it does seem pricey for a sports bar, however given the food alternatives it may be worth a try?!?!? I was in the area for an entire week before I discovered this place, there ended up being a large group of convention folks at the bar so we had good drinks and lots of laughs.
(3)Shane G.
Only good thing about the place - great selection of beers. Other than that, over priced food & slow service - two things that shouldn't be in any review.
(1)Aimee W.
Stopped in for a beer and got enticed by the raw oyster selection from Hog Island, VA. Our bartender Molly was very helpful guiding us with local beer selections and even offered us complimentary popcorn and peanuts. Didn't have anything else but there was a crowd in for Monday Night Football and had good service and good beer. The acoustics are terrible but a lot of money was spent on the ambiance.
(3)Chris R.
give TE 4 stars. I travel all over the US and live her in Bham and I can say without reservation they have the best wings I have ever tasted. They are smoked (really smoked) and they have just the perfect hot sauce. The best thing is you don't feel like you need a shower ot havr to use 5 wipes to get the grease off as they are the best. I will go to TE any day to get wings now. My place to get wings from now on.
(4)Mallory P.
This was literally the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. When we got there we were told there was a 5 minute wait but the restaurant wasn't even busy and there were plenty of tables open...15 mins later we were finally seated but only after the larger group who had arrived after us were seated first! We ordered 2 appetizers and waited forever for them only to be disappointed, the calamari was so bland no flavor at all and the junk chips were just weird all together, I still don't understand what kind of taste or flavor that they were supposed to be. I ordered the roast beef sliders and I'm sure they would have been good except they were cold and covered in thousand island. My brother ordered the medium rare stout burger that when finally served was charred and came with burnt buns. Another member of our party ordered the chicken Caesar salad and the lettuce was not even chopped up! She had to cut it herself, at this point I had had it with this place! Then our ticket came and we noticed we had to pay a fee for sitting at a table...REALLY?!? If you want to severely over pay and waste your time on terrible food then this is the place for you! I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and I am really puzzled as to how this place is even still open.
(1)Sea H.
We were guests at the new Westin, where this restaurant is attached to and since it's the only restaurant on site we ended up eating here a lot. We were very excited on our first visit as the atmosphere was trendy, good music and nice crowd and the menu looked amazing. The decor is spot on, everything is very nicely done, the bar is awesome and half open kitchen is nice. We ordered a ton of food during our first visit but were underwhelmed with most dishes. The service was mediocre but the bus people were really helpful and welcoming and we ended up in a lovely conversation with one (Brendan?). The bartenders were especially rude although the bar set up itself is really fun, they have built in brass sand timers and if you can finish your beer before the time is up, you'll get that beer free and they'll ring a bell and the bar cheers - the bartenders (particularly the female ones) could've been a lot friendlier especially considering the drinks were not anything special. There are TV's everywhere and good table formations, making it a good place for larger groups. We ate here again at least 3 times and - dishes such as the fish and chips (too greasy), the tuna tartare (too much fish sauce in the sea weed salad), fried green tomatoes (not crispy enough) were all misses; the breakfast/brunch items were really special. The spinach omelet was one of the best I've had, the french toast was excellent (although for the price, they could've doubled the portion) and the blueberry pancakes were perfect. The raw bar is actually very good and we thoroughly enjoyed the oysters. The rest of the menu needs tweaking, some items should just not be on there. Since the restaurant was so new, I'd give the waitstaff a pass as I'm sure most of them are adjusting to the atmosphere. If you are staying at the Westin, you will eat here, but be prepared to overpay for your meal and leave a little underwhelmed.
(1)