Top Restaurants in Huntsville, Alabama

Po Boy Factory

Cuisine: Cajun, Creole
Price: $$

With tastes that seem plucked straight out of New Orleans, Huntsville's Po Boy Factory makes some of the best Cajun and Creole cooking found in Alabama. Try a po boy stuffed with seafood or chicken, the house etouffee or the jambalaya. Very affordable prices and a casual atmosphere have popularized this restaurant, and the authentic flavors of Louisiana have garnered acclaim from even connoisseurs of the cuisine. It’s also made the restaurant more popular than the space allows, meaning there's often a short wait for a table during the common dining hours.

801 Franklin

Cuisine: New American
Price: $$$

For a night of great wine, stellar food and impeccable service, there is no better restaurant in Huntsville than 801 Franklin. This amazing downtown restaurant features a selection of small plates and large plates prepared with a bit of inspiration from French cuisine. While seafood plays a strong role in many of the dishes, that is mostly due to Alabama's easy access to fresh fish. There are still a number of dishes that are based on other meats and even a few vegetarian choices are thrown into the mix. The main dining area is quite formal but the bar area provides a more relaxed environment, though it's still worth getting a bit dressed up to eat or drink even there.

Rosie's Mexican Cantina

Cuisine: Mexican
Price: $$

Rosie's Mexican Cantina thrives in a region where Mexican food is virtually unheard of, excepting national fast food chains. Operating two locations in Huntsville, the massive buildings the restaurants occupy are a testament to Rosie's incredible local popularity. If the food is somewhat less than authentic, it's about as close as it gets to the real deal in northern Alabama. At Rosie's the atmosphere is almost as important as the food, and the efficient, friendly service does a lot for the restaurant's reputation. Order up a huge serving of sizzling fajitas or a plate of the spicy tamales and enjoy this delicious Tex-Mex cuisine.

Gibson's Bar-B-Q

Cuisine: Barbecue
Price: $

Huntsville's favorite barbecue institution, Gibson's Bar-B-Q has been in business since the 1950s. In the intervening decades, the restaurant has honed its amazing, tangy, vinegary barbecue sauce to perfection. Still family-owned, the friendly, down-to-earth service highlights the renowned Southern hospitality of the region and makes even those from hundreds of miles away feel right at home. The pulled pork plate is Gibson's signature dish, served with two sides and plenty of barbecue sauce for dousing the meat in. Other dishes, including smoked beef, smoked chicken and fried catfish fill out the menu and give everyone a chance to enjoy this fantastic local fare.

Tortora's

Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
Price: $$

Sitting just a few miles down the road from Huntsville in Owen's Cross Roads is Tortora's. This amazing restaurant features delicious Italian food and a great family environment. Thin crust pizzas sit at the heart of the menu, made delicious with the specialty toppings that include both American favorites and traditional Italian ingredients. Available in either an individual 8" size or a larger round to share, these pizzas are satiating without being overly cheesy. Calzones, pasta dishes and chicken entrees provide more variety within the menu and there are also special child-sized portions of some dishes under the kid's menu.