What are the opening hours?

Monday 11am - 9pm Tuesday 11am - 9pm Wednesday 11am - 9pm Thursday 11am - 9pm Friday 11am - 9pm Saturday 9am - 2pm 5pm - 9pm Sunday 9am - 2pm 5pm - 9pm

The Essential

Name: The Essential
Address: 2215 First Avenue N, Birmingham, AL, 35203, US
Telephone: +12057187612
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.8

An American Bistro
Lunch - Dinner - Weekend Brunch
Craft Cocktails - Natural W**e - Good Food
(515)

American bistro open all day with fresh pasta, craft cocktails, natural w**es, a really good chicken, and weekend brunch.

09/26/2026

Turns out it really was all sunshine and rainbows at our Southbound lunch with Chef Chaz + Chef Victor.

Thanks to everyone who came to hang, eat and have a good time. Cheers to you guys, bologna sandwiches & high fives from Chaz.

Southbound Food Festival🍴
Chaz Lindsay
Victor King

09/23/2026

Southbound is back baby!

This Friday, we’re hosting lunch (yes LUNCH) with the very fun duo of Chef Chaz Lindsay of Pulito Osteria in Jackson + our own Chef Victor King.

They’ve put together a three-course prix fixe featuring Two Dog Farms heirloom tomatoes, Bear Creek Farm rigatoni all gricia + housemade pavlova. Or, for those who prefer their lunch handheld, the best bologna sandwich you’ve ever had.

And because apparently lunch wasn’t enough: for the low, low price of $1, you can purchase a one-of-a-kind high five from Chef Chaz himself.

You’re going to want to be here for this one.

09/17/2026

As you very well know, we love a mushroom at The Essential.

Especially when it’s foraged chanterelles from Washington in an Ireland Farms green tomato sweet & sour sauce on top of our housemade tortelli filled with Bear Creek Farm pork shank.

09/11/2026

Big-city bistro energy, Birmingham address. 🍸

Walking into The Essential feels like you’ve immediately been transported to a corner spot in the West Village — sunny windows, natural w**e, house-made pasta, and a bar in the back (hi, Paul & Tina’s) that’s just the right amount of mischievous.

This is the kind of neighborhood spot every city needs and not enough have. Long lunches that turn into w**e. Dinner that turns into a nightcap. A tuna dip we’re still thinking about.

Swipe through for our full order — and go ahead and start with a cocktail, you deserve it. 🍸🤎✨

📍 The Essential, Birmingham, AL

09/05/2026

Labor Day plans: come for the $15 burger + b**r special, stay for the lemon raspberry ice cream sammies (they taste like fruit loops)

09/03/2026

What better way to cool off from this never-ending summer than a shrimp + crab roll? Gulf shrimp + crab tossed in remoulade, tucked into a house-made roll with iceberg + dill, served with fries.

And because one new dish is never enough: gemelli with local shiitake mushroom XO, sunflower seed pesto + burrata.

08/26/2026

Sit down at the table with us for episode 4 of our Chef Series, as we get an inside taste of The Essential, Greater Birmingham’s neighborhood bistro. 🍝😋

Owner and Head Chef Victor King established roots in Greater Birmingham at a young age. Learning from local legend Frank Stitt, King prioritizes local ingredients that create recognizable flavors for all guests. This intentionality, paired with The Essential’s signature hospitality, is at the heart of what makes the restaurant so special.

We’re so glad to have The Essential in the Magic City! Give them a follow and stop by to experience the warm welcome and delicious flavors that make dining a memory worth making. 🍽️✨

08/24/2026

Sitting at Paul & Tina’s bar at The Essential comes with loads of perks: great bartenders, comfy stools, something good on TV and, of course, a giant cat painting.

But now there’s more.

Introducing bar snacks at The Essential - available exclusively to our bar guests. This week’s lineup: pepper poppers, chicken parmesan wings and cheesy taters.

Pull up a stool. You’re a bar person now.

08/17/2026

Summertime sippin’ just got two new best friends!

Pearfectly Said - a pear-forward riff on the classic Last Word, with gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino + housemade sour pear cordial, finished with a hibiscus-dyed pear “cherry.”

3:10 to Lima - a sparkling pisco sour with local melon, fresh mint + bubbles. Dry, refreshing & made for this warm weather.

08/14/2026

A hot weekend calls for cold crudo!

New to the menu - king salmon pounded thin with cucumber mayo, shaved cucumber, sesame, crispy okra + ginger pickled with Steen’s cane syrup.

Cool, bright, crunchy & oh so delicious.

Address

2215 First Avenue N
Birmingham, AL
35203

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 9pm
Tuesday	11am - 9pm
Wednesday	11am - 9pm
Thursday	11am - 9pm
Friday	11am - 9pm
Saturday	9am - 2pm
	5pm - 9pm
Sunday	9am - 2pm
	5pm - 9pm

Telephone

+12057187612

Website

https://essentialbham.com/

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