When it comes to restaurants, Alabama doesn't disappoint! From fine dining establishments to local, hole-in-the-wall eateries, there are several types of restaurants here in the Yellowhammer State. One restaurant, in particular, is The Red Door Cafe. For information about this cafe, including what makes it truly unique, take a look below.
The Red Door Cafe, which is a former boarding house, is a charming cafe that's located in downtown Cullman, Alabama.
What really sets this cafe apart from others is its main purpose. The Red Door Cafe acts as a community funding resource. Its profits are donated to charitable and community organizations.
Speaking of lunch, this charming cafe serves the most mouthwatering burgers. These include the Red Door Cheese Burger, Bacon Mushroom Burger, Aloha Burger, and the Traditional Burger. Each burger comes with your choice of slaw, chips, or potato salad.
Another popular lunch entree is Miss Leta's Boarding House Lunch, which has been called "Cullman's BEST plate lunch!" This delicious lunch entree is served Monday through Friday, and it's available in the following three options: Vegetable Plate, Meat & Two, and Meat & Three.
For more information about The Red Door Cafe, you can view its Facebook page here. You can visit this charming cafe at 324 4th Ave. SE, Cullman, AL 35055. Its hours are as follows: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday, closed.
Have you ever eaten at The Red Door Cafe? If so, please share your experience with us in the comments.
Another charming cafe in Alabama that offers a pleasant dining experience is BuzzCatz Coffee & Sweets in Orange Beach. For information, click here.
Tucked away inside The Lodge at Gulf State Park lies Roasted Oak Coffee & Wine Bar, a hidden gem of a beach cafe in Gulf Shores, Alabama. While it doesn't have much seating of its own, you won't mind once you see you can opt for the veranda and expansive views of the Gulf of Mexico. Guests of the lodge know that as the day begins, the tantalizing aroma of freshly brewed coffee begins to fill the air around 6 a.m.
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Early risers avail themselves of the cafe's many specialty coffees, espresso, or latte to kickstart their days.
As the waves roll in and hours gently pass, the scene gracefully transitions into a relaxed wine bar, complete with handcrafted cocktails, an assortment of canned beers, and a carefully curated wine list.
To go with your choice of beverage, you can indulge in the cafe's scrumptious menu offerings – savory cheese and charcuterie boards, flavorful dips, hearty sandwiches, warm paninis, and sinfully delicious desserts.
During the cooler months, you can warm up by the cozy fire in the lobby. While it would be hard to resist sitting ocean-front whenever possible, both places offer beautiful views for piling up with a drink, a book, or getting some work done on your laptop (if you absolutely must).
What's more, Roasted Oak gets positive reviews for its friendly and attentive staff, affordable prices, and laid-back atmosphere. It is an ideal place to leisurely while away a day or afternoon, seamlessly transitioning from coffee to cocktails, if you want. It's not just a caffeine and cocktail oasis for vacationers staying at the lodge – visitors are welcome, too!
Have you visited Roasted Oak at the Lodge at Gulf State Park? We'd love to hear about your favorite drink or treat at this beach cafe in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Almost every night of the week, you'll find the small parking lot overflowing at a tabletop gaming cafe in Decatur, Alabama called Current: Coffee + Collectibles. The city's only all-vegetarian restaurant opened in 2021 and quickly became a hotspot for gamers looking for a welcoming, cozy space.
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It quickly became my go-to for veggie burgers, smoothies, and my favorite cookie besides my mom's. I have been delighted on every visit and am not even a gamer.
And that's all good with co-founders and longtime partners Seth Downs and Justin Wiley because a big part of their leap into entrepreneurship was to create a welcoming, inclusive place, no matter who you are.
Between the games, the drinks, and the food, people of all ages and interests can find something they'll enjoy inside this small, mid-century brick building near the Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Downs and Wiley are proud nerds. And they wanted a business that caters mostly to people with similar interests in "novelty, pop culture, and geek stuff." As far as I can tell though, no one checks nerd cards at the door.
Every first and third Monday, the shop hosts the River City Board Game meetup. People can bring their own board games or choose among the shop's collection of opened games to try before they buy.
Meanwhile, every Monday is One-Day Monday, with a beginner-friendly Dungeons & Dragons event that allows role-playing gamers to jump in and out as needed.
Tuesday events always focus on creative expression of different kinds. For example, second Tuesdays are 2-2-Tuesdays, an open mic night for local performances of all varieties, from comedy to spoken word to songwriting and more.
Then on the fourth Tuesday of every month, crafty nerds can enjoy their creativity with camaraderie on Crafternoons. These events feature guided crafting and mini-painting sessions.
On Wednesdays, Current hosts a Warhammer league night, which always includes a raffle for a Warhammer mini figure. When Friday rolls around, Magic: The Gathering players ... gather ... for Friday Night Magic.
Saturdays are for Satur-Play, when the cafe hosts events focusing on Lorcana and Pokemon card games to start the afternoon. The night ends with karaoke. Current also hosts monthly Pride events leading up to the annual River City Pride weekend in early summer sponsored by the Southeastern Diversity Project. The cafe allows customers to round up their purchases to support the event.
Besides games and gifts, do not sleep on the food and specialty drinks here, like The Kermit, a hot matcha tea. My favorite drink there is the Berry Pouch, a smoothie with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries. Then there's The Bluth, a banana smoothie that definitely costs less than $10.
The menu ranges from salads and wraps to sandwiches, burgers, and pizza. Everything is vegetarian and can be further tweaked to be vegan on request. A favorite sandwich is The Gravity Hammer – a panini-style piled with cheddar cheese, avocado, spinach, garlic aioli, and onion. Yes, you will need a mint, maybe several. Worth it.
The Heartless Burger is another can't-miss for a hearty meal. The burgers start with perfectly seasoned Impossible patties and can be dressed in a variety of ways. You can go with the classic lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, etc. – or opt for a BBQ, Southwestern, or Shaggy (pizza) version.
Last, you must try The Wookie, which is Current's signature chocolate chip cookie. If you need a vegan sweet treat, there's a peanut butter option for you! If you're not hungry, buy one to take home and thank me later.
Even when events are happening, the cafe has a lobby with tables for all players. There's also a semi-private game room available by appointment.
Current: Coffee + Collectibles is perfectly located for a swing-by after walks around Delano Park less than a mile north. Plan a short getaway to the area and stay in this pretty Airbnb home that overlooks Delano Park. The park is beautiful year-round and extraordinary in the spring.
You can see the full menu for the cafe on the Current: Coffee + Collectibles website and keep up with special events on the Current: Coffee + Collectibles Facebook page. If you've had a chance to visit or stop in soon, we'd love to hear about your experience.
