50 Favorite Sandwiches, Soups & Salads

Each fall we award the 50 Favorites, best restaurant dishes found by B-Metro magazine and BirminghamRestaurants.com's food writer, Jan Walsh. Categories include 50 Favorite Appetizers & Cocktails; Sandwiches, Soups & Salads; Entrees; Desserts; and All Time Favorites, which are tried and true, memorable dishes that are repeat favorites for many years.

Big Daddy Chicken Sandwich – Dreamland Bar-B-Que
One half pound of hickory barbecue smoked chicken—chopped, sliced or pulled—is piled high on a warm bun, along with Dreamland’s legendary sauce and dill pickle slices. BBQ does not get better than this, unless you pair it with their tasty, toasty cheese fries.

Burger – Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
The only good thing I have found about this bad economy is the new $6 Prime Sirloin Burger at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. Available in Fleming’s bar area until 7:00 p.m. each evening, this scrumptious burger is sure to draw a loyal following. Made of prime sirloin, cooked to order, and topped with sharp cheddar cheese, blackened sweet and spicy bacon, lettuce and tomato—cheeseburgers do not get any better than this. Unlike fast food burgers—for the same price or more—this thick patty is served on a lovely braided bun—in style.

Caesar Salad – Shula’s Steak House
I have never found a better Caesar than Shula’s. The freshness and crispness of the chilled Romaine—with an right eye appealing balance of light to dark green in color—are mixed with a rich, creamy Caesar dressing that binds beautifully to the lettuce and the salad’s generously cut, crisp croutons. The salad is also topped with Parmesan cheese for additional creaminess.

Chicken Salad & Chicken Dumplings Soup – Nabeel’s Market
I take home all I can eat of the Chicken & Dumpling’s Soup from Nabeel’s Market. It is found in the refrigerated case in take home containers. I heat it over a gas eye on the stove. But you could microwave it. The broth is creamy white and thick. And large, soft dumplings and shredded pieces of white breast meat are found in every warm bite. It pairs great with a sandwich made of their white meat chicken salad.

Country Ham Sliders - Dram Whiskey Bar
The Country Ham Sliders from the “Victuals” list are four small and light buttermilk biscuits, filled with layers of thinly sliced Benton Farms (Tennessee) country ham, and served with apple butter. The flavors of the ham bring childhood memories of country ham and red eye gravy.

Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas - Cantina Tortilla Grill
Grilled Shrimp Quesadillas spark up my day. Warm tortilla envelopes hot, succulent, grilled shrimp with a spicy mix of black beans, yellow corn and roasted bell peppers. Enjoy at Birmingham area locations—Pepper Place, Patton Creek and Inverness Highway.

Grilled Shrimp Salad - Tavern on the Summit
Tavern on the Summit has a hearty daily lunch special that pleases seafood lovers. The Grilled Shrimp Salad has two hickory grilled shrimp skewers atop either a Tavern or Caesar Salad. A hot, delicious slice of cheese toast is served with the salad. Each bite is a delicious mix of hot and cold and a synthesis of creamy dressing, crunchy veggies and succulent, tender and delicate shrimp.

Ham & Brie Sandwich - The Wine Loft
Each Wednesday evening The Wine Loft offers a special meal and deal. Recently the ham and brie sandwich was served with fresh arugula, a drizzle of strawberry compote on warm ciabatta bread. Along with the sandwich there were two new wine pairings to choose from—all for only $10.

Italian Wedding Soup - La Dolce Vita
Owner and executive chef Benard Tamburello offers the Classic Italian Wedding Soup on La Dolce Vita’s lunch and dinner menus. The veggie and meat marry well in this classic Italian soup of  chicken broth, filet meatballs, and endive—finished with Reggiano cheese.

Lobster and Shrimp BLT – Chez Fonfon
A summertime Wednesday special at Chez Fonfon, this is one of the most wonderful and memorable meals I have ever had. I planned Wednesday lunches around this dish from summer into the fall. Big bites of lobster and shrimp, apple smoked bacon, tiny bites of tomato, red onion and leaves of romaine synthesize into a marvelous medley of flavors accented by fresh chives, parsley and shallots. It makes Wednesdays feel like a weekend. Catch it when you can.

Ocean Salad Greek Style - Ocean
My Ocean Salad Greek Style is a bowl of crisp greens with Roma tomatoes, red onion, calamata olives, topped with divine warm, golden bites of fried feta. It melts in the mouth, and each bite makes me crave another. I could make a meal of this fried feta!

Prime Rib Sandwich – Tavern on the Summit
The Tavern On The Summit’s Prime Rib Sandwich has a loyal following. It is consistently tender and arrives as ordered—whether that is rare or well done. This eight ounce trimmed prime rib is served on toasted sourdough with accompaniments of au jus and horseradish sauce. They first rub the beef with The Tavern’s special seasoning, put the prime rib on a sheet pan, so the juice can fall and settle underneath, and cook to rare in a moisture rich oven. Then based on the desired doneness of the guest, they either add the beef to au jus on the steam table or grill it to order. Both the sandwich and a pile of their potatoes cut into skinny sliver French fries arrive hot to the table, time after time.

Rib-eye Steak Sandwich - Billy’s Sports Grills, English Village & Overton
This hearty, marinated and grilled rib-eye is cooked to order and served on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Tried and true—I have enjoyed this consistently delicious sandwich for many years, at both Billy’s locations.

Ruben Supreme – Another Broken Egg
Lunch at Another Broken Egg includes many soup, burger, salad and sandwich offerings. My pick is the Ruben Supreme found on the Specialty Sandwiches menu.The Ruben sandwich arrives afterwards piping hot, sliced in half on the diagonal, served with a side of country potatoes and a pickle slice. Warm toasty slices of rye bread are melded to the flavorful corned beef and tart, crunchy sauerkraut with hot, melted Swiss. A touch of Thousand Island adds a hint of sweetness. And bites of crisp potato round out this comforting meal.

Seafood Gumbo – The Bright Star
No wonder The Bright Star’s Seafood Gumbo is so good. Preparing it is a four-hour process. Chef Austin Davis starts with fresh fish stock, chicken stock and a host of seasonings then adds fresh fish that were cut into filets in house. It is available by the cup and the bowl during both lunch and dinner. But I settle for nothing short of a bowlful of this gorgeous gumbo.

Sonoma Sliders – Avo
These divine mini burgers are made of ground tenderloin with melted foie gras, with caramelized onions. A port-wine Dijon adds another dimension to slider that comes on house focaccia.

Spinach Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette – Zea Rotisserie & Grill
Each leaf of the large mound of spinach is coated with Zea’s award winning Spinach Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette. Sun dried tomatoes, raisins, pecans, Kalamata olives, bleu cheese and sesame seeds add texture, creaminess, crunch and layers of flavor to this
light but large salad.

Tomato Salad – Hot and Hot Fish Club  I am in good company with my love of this dish because the Tomato Salad is a very popular dish at Hot and Hot Fish Club, during the summer when local tomatoes and other vegetables in the dish are in season. Fresh peas, fresh corn, fried okra, and chive aioli are combined with a stack of colorful fresh Beefsteak, Golden Delight, Rainbow and Sweet 100 tomatoes. A slice of crunchy Apple Wood smoked bacon is atop. 

Twenty Dollar Burger - On Tap Sports Café
Here’s the beef! More than a burger, it is a meal. Two, stacked, half pound, handmade Angus beef patties are topped with Swiss and American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, brown potatoes and On Tap’s homemade queso. It is served with fries or chips.