These are the 10 Best Restaurants in Mobile, Alabama

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Alabama’s only coastal city, sandwiched in between Florida and Mississippi, Mobile is oozing with Gulf Coast charm. It’s packed with historic sights, from the USS Alabama to the original home of Mardi Gras at Mobile Carnival Museum, which is to say there’s far more to Mobile than you might think.

To make sure you don’t sound too foreign, we’re here to let you know that Mobile is not pronounced like a ‘mobile’ phone; rather, it’s ‘mo-beel,’ with emphasis on the double ‘e.’

Then there’s the food. Mobile’s local cuisine is a wonderful fusion of hearty southern fare, Cajun flavors and the freshest seafood you can find. Add in a wonderful array of international restaurants, Mobile has a restaurant for every taste. So whether you want to sample the taste of the deep south or send your tastebuds on a journey to Mexico, Mobile’s food scene won’t disappoint.

In fact, for a city its size, Alabama’s coastal playground has more than its fair share of restaurants. To make sure you don’t miss out on the best, we’ve picked out the best restaurants in Mobile which you really shouldn’t skip.

Ruby Slipper

Any restaurant adorned with a sign reading “you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning” gets my approval. Ruby Slipper is Mobile’s number one brunch spot, perfect for a quick breakfast or a leisurely weekend brunch.

A special mention goes to the cocktail list which is impressive to say the least. Go for the Mimosa flight to get a sample of all their best creations.

Famous for their “Bennies,” their eggs benedict are anything but ordinary. Bayou shrimp is my favorite, served with pork tasso and Creole-inspired tomato sauce. For a southern classic, try the Chicken St. Charles or, if you prefer to keep it simple, go for One Tomato, Two Tomato.

In addition to their eggs, Ruby Slipper’s pancakes and sandwiches cater for pretty much every taste. House specialities include Shrimp & Grits, Migas – a Tex-Mex-inspired scramble with pico de gallo, chorizo and pepper jack– and Banana Foster French Toast, a New Orleans-style French Toast.

Le Moyne’s Chophouse

Set in the recently (and beautifully) refurbished Admiral Hotel, Le Moyne’s is one of the newest of the best restaurants in Mobile. Le Moyne’s is named in honor of Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, the French explorer who founded Louisiana.

It may be attached to a hotel but, like everything at The Admiral, Le Moyne’s isn’t just another hotel steakhouse. The décor and the service are a cut above, and the cuts themselves, better still. Their steaks are the star of the show. For a truly mouth-watering meal, splurge on the Wagyu.

If beef isn’t your thing, there’s grouper, scallops and daily fish special. Try to leave room for dessert, particularly their double chocolate bar with brandied cherries and candied fresh mint which is an indulgence no diet is worthy of turning down.

Wintzell’s Oyster House

A long established local institution, unassuming Wintzell’s is still holding its own as one of the best restaurants in Mobile. I don’t think anybody in Mobile would disagree with me in saying that this classic oyster bar serves authentic southern cuisine just as it should be.

Rockefeller, Bienville, Monterey or simply chargrilled, however you like your oysters, you’ll love Wintzell’s. If you can’t decide, go for the Oyster Sampler and try them all. Don’t worry if someone in your party isn’t a shellfish fan, Wintzell’s extensive menu includes fish, steak, salads and more.

Rooster’s

In the buzzing heart of Dauphin Street, Rooster’s is always busy. You might have to grab a stool at the bar, but its popularity is surely testament to Rooster’s status as one of the best restaurants in Mobile.

If you’re craving a taste of Latin America, don’t miss a visit to Rooster’s. Their extensive menu features everything from nachos to Caribbean-style Jerk Chicken and Hawaiian Mahi Mahi.

For something lighter, check out their paleo-style salads or warming chicken tortilla soup. Their rotating daily specials never disappoint either.

Dauphin’s

The ideal Mobile restaurant to celebrate a special occasion – or make the most of your last night in Mobile – Dauphin’s takes casual fine dining 424 feet into the air. The restaurant is on the 34th floor of one of Mobile’s tallest skyscrapers, and the only thing to match these great views is their incredibly tasty modern take on French Creole cooking.

Highlights include Rasta Pasta, a delectable fusion of Italian-American and Caribbean flavors, and Banana Dock’s Chicken, a plantain-crusted chicken breast served with saffron rice and pepper jelly sauce. Shrimp & Grits, market-fresh fish and succulent steaks are also on the menu, and, despite the location, the prices are moderate.

Loda Bier Garten

I’ll be the first to admit it feels a little out of place when a German-themed restaurant serves chicken and waffles, but Loda somehow makes it work. Just down from Rooster’s on Dauphin Street, Loda is another busy spot, and it’ll come as no surprise to a Mobile local to find it on a list of the best restaurants in Mobile, particularly for casual dining.

Aside from their 100-plus beers, Loda serves up classic unpretentious American comfort food, and they do it well. Highlights include what they claim to be the “best burger on Dauphin Street.” We can’t claim to have tried all of the burgers on Dauphin Street, but Loda’s burgers sure are good.

Their chicken and waffle sandwich is an artery-clogging overload with a taste that makes it all worthwhile. If you’re craving beef, the Mobtown steak bomb will blow your tastebuds off and The Saenger is the bacon-mushroom-Swiss cheese burger to end all burgers.

For something a little lighter, try one of their basket meals, including fish and chips, shrimp and chicken tenders. The desserts look stunning and, we’re glad to say, taste just as good as they look, too. Loda really is one of the best restaurants in Mobile, but maybe the only things missing are currywurst and Wiener schnitzel.

Squid Ink Eclectic Eats & Drinks

As the name suggests, Squid Ink Eclectic Eats & Drinks is not your typical eatery. If we were adjudging the best restaurants in Mobile for the novelty value alone, Squid Ink doesn’t really have any competition for first place.

One of Mobile’s newest gastropubs, the dining room is decked out with stylish squid-inspired décor. The menu features squid every way imaginable, although the shrimp Po Boy and shrimp scampi are the pièces de résistance (you have to use some French in Louisiana). Salads, burgers, fish and chips and chicken make an appearance too, whilst the cocktail list is the perfect accompaniment to every item.

Noja

One of the best restaurants in Mobile for taking a break from southern cooking, Noja serves a taste of the Mediterranean in a trendy exposed-brick café just off Dauphin Street. On a warm evening – and there’s no shortage of them in Alabama – Noja’s courtyard is the ideal place to dine.

Their simple set menu concept showcases the finest fresh produce and proves that fine dining doesn’t need to be expensive. Choose from a choice of six appetizers followed by a salad course before moving on to your entrée. Their signature lamb chops come with a $10 surcharge, but it’s well worth the splurge. Other highlights include hanger steak, duck and veal alongside a number of seafood dishes.

Grace

Home to Dauphin Street’s only rooftop bar, Grace is a casual, relaxed venue for fresh, honest food. There are no airs and graces, no ridiculously complex names for dishes, just homecooked from scratch food in a unique space.

Be aware that Grace’s opening times vary by day and season, so check their website before you go. Lunch features fresh salads and hearty sandwiches, the pastrami Ruben and Grace burger is divine. For something more filling, choose their catch of the day or 8oz filet steak.

Come evening, the menu gets better still. The steaks are as succulent as can be and, for an unusual, but tantalizing, combination, choose their pineapple mango salsa on the side. Whatever you choose, round off your meal with a cocktail on the rooftop bar, watching the hubbub of Dauphin Street from your own peaceful haven.

Moe’s Original BBQ

Texas may be famous for its barbecue, but Alabamians have also been barbecuing since the 19th century. It all started when local farmers began slow cooking hog roasts over open firepits to bring communities together, and the love for pulled pork continues to this day.

Moe’s Original BBQ is famous for their traditional pulled pork sandwich. Doused in barbecue sauce, with or without a generous helping of pickles, you can taste that it’s been smoked on site. Their other signature, the Shrimp Moe Boy, is enough to send New Orleans into meltdown.

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