Have you ever noticed how a day of swimming can make you just ravenous? If you happen to be doing that on Alabama's Gulf Coast, I have a solution for you. Limber up your fingers and be prepared to use both hands to lift a sandwich at The Beli, a celebrated deli in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Billing itself as "the Original Beach Deli," The Beli (a mashup of beach + deli) has developed a loyal following since it opened in 2021 on West Beach Boulevard.
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Owner Anna Beth Ryan told Alabama News Center she came across the minty building being constructed while staying nearby with her family at their beach house. They had been quarantining there together during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan, a Gadsden native, was previously living and working in New York following her culinary training there.
She struck up a conversation with the owners one day when she asked what was planned for the space. They intended it to be a restaurant, and she suggested a sandwich shop – something she believed filled a bit of a gap in the local food scene.
One thing led to another, and The Beli was born. If there was a gap for scrumptious sandwiches before, this little open-air beach shop has filled it – perhaps even overstuffed it, and no one is complaining. In fact, The Beli was voted "Best Deli in Baldwin County" in the Gulf Coast Media's Best of Baldwin Awards in early 2024.
One of the top sellers is The Big Momma, which is two thick slices of toasted sourdough hugging a sweet and savory center of turkey, provolone, feta, jalepeno, raspberry jam, and hot sauce.
There are seven other specialty sandwiches, too, including the sunburned tomato with chive mayo, spinach, roasted tomatoes and feta, turkey, jalepeno, and onion – barely contained by toasted sourdough.
Breakfast at The Beli is available the first two hours of the day, when you can choose among four different breakfast sandwiches. The OG has bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese on a white or everything bagel. I was not kidding about needing both hands!
If the massive sandwiches aren't enough for you (or you just want a little snack instead), there are chips, pickles, muffins and cookies to round out your meal.
You can peruse the entire menu on The Beli website and see its latest updates by following The Beli on Facebook.
Next time you stay in Gulf Shores, be sure this spot is on your list. We know it's hard not to eat fresh seafood every meal, but you won't regret switching things up with these sandwiches. Please let us know if you go.
And if you've already been to this deli in Gulf Shores, Alabama, share your favorite sandwich!
Fluffy biscuits smothered in chocolate gravy? Yes, please. And add a Western omelet stuffed with sauteed veggies and seasoned meats. I will just be over here waiting with my No. 1 Grandma mug full of coffee.
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These are the thoughts I had one recent morning after (finally) visiting Carl's Deli about 20 miles southeast of Decatur on Alabama State Route 67. This roadside diner in Somerville, Alabama, has been on my radar for a while after a few folks recommended it. (While I love discovering good "hole-in-the-wall" highway hidden gems, it's even better to get tips! Please send them my way.)
A longtime friend of mine had heard similar reviews, and she hadn't been, either. It just made sense to check it out for a catch-up over coffee a couple of weeks ago. We happily scrapped our earlier plans to swing by a local chain and made the trek to Carl's instead.
Despite plugging the location into my Google Maps app and knowing it was a straight shot down Highway 67, I still almost missed the unassuming little building. Carl's Deli is located in a former gas station, which even has a large banner along the side. Still, I was expecting something a bit bigger, and it appeared almost too fast for me to slow down. "Hmmm. This is it," I said, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
Look: I know from many experiences that you can find some of the best food you've ever had in little, low buildings like this on rural highways. That is a road-tripping fact that has been in place for generations – long before the Interstate Highway System, chain restaurants at every turn, and, more recently, independent restaurants outdoing one another for the best TikTok and Instagram visuals. I love them all. There's just something extra special to me about these OG places.
After taking in the rustic (and a bit rusty) country-market exterior, the inside is probably what you'd expect. It's small with mismatched, well-worn tables and chairs. And yet a glimpse at all the business cards, notes, and fan art from kids reveals its devoted following.
Here's the understanding at rural roadside gems: If the food prep is tidy, the plates clean, the coffee hot, and the menu enticing – and all served with a smile, no one expects anything the least bit fancy. And the food is probably going to knock your socks off.
Amid the assortment of tables and chairs, of course what stood out was the cutest antique chrome-edged Formica game table. Somehow it was the best-looking little table in there, despite maybe being the oldest. Then, our server brought me a No. 1 Grandma mug for my coffee, and I was sold.
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While it would have felt more special if I actually was a grandma, I like that anyone can be one at Carl's. I mean, I did have on a homely gray cardigan with my hair in a claw-clip bun. And some of my friends are grandmas, so ... I am fine with it.
As I happily pondered these thoughts, our plates arrived. A family wrapping up their meal in the booth next to us helped us make our choices. The mom told us her family had been coming to Carl's for years and that you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, whether it's breakfast or lunch (the only times it's open).
Our newfound friend and Carl's devotee told us she'd just finished a favorite, the porkchop, so my friend went for it, plus an egg and biscuit soaked in sausage gravy. She approved and was thankful for the tip.
I ordered the Western omelet, thinking of a basic version that usually only has bell peppers, onion, ham, and cheese. I asked the server not to include ham. because I don't eat pork or beef often. There, now, I thought to myself. You can find something hearty and sort of vegetarian anywhere you go. Out comes the plate, and I quickly realized they'd followed orders: No ham, but plenty of massive chunks of sausage and big, crispy squares of bacon.So, that day was an exception in that I did eat pork, and it was delicious. A related note: Our fellow diner told us Carl's sources and processes its meats locally, which a lot of people prefer.
I also ordered a gravy biscuit – yet mine was different and one of Carl's Deli specialties: biscuits with chocolate gravy. I didn't know such a thing existed until high school when a friend's mom treated us to them the morning after her slumber party. I hadn't had one since! We were told someone described trying these chocolate gravy biscuits at Carl's Deli for the first time as "a religious experience." I can understand.Then, my friend suggested we add a little sprinkle of cinnamon from the table shaker. We just assumed that is why the cinnamon was even on the table alongside other more common condiments. We were told adding it to the chocolate gravy biscuits is not a thing, but we suggest you help us make it one. It's fetch.
As we visited the register to pay, we took in the notes for the daily lunch specials. People rave about the meat-and-two country cooking plates at Carl's almost as much as the breakfasts. Other favorites people rave about include burgers, cheeseburgers, and home fries.
After such a big, delicious breakfast, there was no room for lunch for us that day. However, I did enjoy watching the ladies prepare a big batch of fried okra (my favorite!) on the grill. I left with that visual, which will remind me to come back soon for a midday meal.
So happy to have found a new favorite in this roadside diner in Somerville, Alabama. Have you taken the opportunity to stop for a meal at Carl's Deli? We'd love to hear about all of it when you go. If you want to stop and walk off a bit of your breakfast, take Highway 67, about 9 miles back toward Decatur to Wheeler Wildlife Refuge. The Flint Creek Trail is an easy, 1.6-mile loop with a pretty boardwalk and views of the water. You can read hiker reviews about the Flint Creek Trail on AllTrails and sign up for an AllTrials Plus membership before you hike to get even more details.
As soon as it was announced in 2021, mouths began watering in anticipation of the sixth location of Big Mike's Steakhouse on Lake Guntersville. Since it opened in the summer of the following year at the City Harbor development, praise has been rolling in. Folks can't say enough good things about the food, atmosphere, and service after stopping in for a peaceful dinner and enjoying their "steak by the lake."
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I shared with you not long ago about what a great getaway you'll experience at nearby Lake Guntersville State Park. At the time, I only hinted at the many choices for dining to be had at City Harbor. So let's take a closer look at one of the most popular choices and what's so special about this lakefront steakhouse in Guntersville, Alabama.
Founded in Thomasville, Alabama, Big Mike's Steakhouse now has multiple locations through its franchise program. Besides Guntersville, communities with locations at this writing are Andalusia, Orange Beach, Auburn, and Moundville.
After a long day, there's nothing quite like unwinding at a comfortable table with delicious food, excellent service, and a peaceful view. Indoors, people love the warm ambiance, tasteful decor, easy lighting, and expansive windows allowing great sightlines should you choose to forego the patio. If the weather is nice and a patio table is free, though, I'd recommend you grab it.
Big Mike's is renowned for its flavorful Certified Angus Beef and named Alabama's best ribeye by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Almost needless to say, you can count on a satisfying steak no matter which cut you choose. There are options for every discerning carnivore, from the chophouse hamburger steak to The Big Mike, a 24-ounce ribeye. Shown here was a special offering during Alabama's October Beef Month in 2022, a 26-ounce Porterhouse.
There's much more than steak on the menu, too. The restaurant also rotates chef's choice pasta dishes to showcase the freshest seasonal ingredients on hand. One week featured a creamy pasta studded with cherry tomatoes and summer squash, served with a generous helping of crusty French bread for soaking up the flavorful sauce.
Another week, diners discovered the delicious flavors of smoked chicken and spinach gnocchi. Big Mike's also keeps us guessing with its catch of the day. You can choose to have the fish prepared how you like it – blackened, bronzed, grilled, or fried. Then choose among three sauces, if you prefer. The featured fish is served over blackened Cajun rice or twice-baked potato casserole.
And then there's the Sweet Water Stack, a customer favorite that blends a famous Southern staple with fresh seafood. It features a base of fried green tomatoes topped with scrumptious crab cakes, housemade remoulade, and grilled shrimp.
If you're of the mind to earn your big meal with a workout before your visit, you're in luck. There are lots of lovely trails around this area. The easy-rated, 4.4-mile, out-and-back Cutchenmine Trail at Lake Guntersville State Park tops the favorites among AllTrails reviewers. Sign up for AllTrails for all the details and read other hikers' tips.
You might motivate that hike by checking out the full menu on the Big Mike's Steakhouse website. You can also stay in the loop on chef's picks for pasta dishes and the catch of the day by following the Big Mike's Steakhouse-Guntersville Facebook page.
Have you been to this lakefront steakhouse in Guntersville, Alabama? We'd love to hear about your time there and what you recommend we try next.