I Found A New Favorite Dish At This Chic New Restaurant In A Small Alabama Town

This love story may be my most simple yet. I finally tried the new restaurant, Southern Grocery, in northern Alabama a couple of weeks ago and fell head over fork for a salad. I always enjoy visiting Alabama's music city and seeking out the best restaurants near Muscle Shoals for a bite to eat with friends while I'm there.

On this visit, I joined a couple of friends at Southern Grocery, which is one of the area's newest restaurants. It's been hotly anticipated by locals and visitors alike. I imagine it has helped that is in a noticeably "high profile" location across the street from another longtime local staple restaurant. (Totally different experience and also worth a visit!)

When you walk in Southern Grocery, you're immediately met with a cozy, upscale, and welcoming atmosphere. Dark walls blend with warm wood floors, colorful pops of art, and the occasional eclectic focal point, like a smattering of ornate, gilt-framed mirrors hung high along one wall.

We eased through the main dining room to an equally spacious secondary dining space with a beautiful bar that extends almost its entire length. The cocktails are as pretty (or more) than the space. The restaurant offers over a dozen specialty drinks in addition to any classic you'd like prepared. We arrived fairly early and the bar filled up through happy hour and peak dinner time.

We shared a couple of starters, choosing the zucchini fritters and crawfish and shrimp bruschetta. While they were both tasty, I think I'll try their Divine Deviled Eggs or sautéed "Muscles" next time.

And this salad? Just wow. It looked delicious when it arrived and won my devotion with every bite. It's "The Famous Nicoise" on the menu, and I understand the fame. It sure didn't mind being paparazzied, either.

It comes with herb-roasted tomatoes, sliced new red potatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, feta cheese, and a Greek vinaigrette over crispy romaine lettuce. I chose the blackened shrimp for protein.

One friend ordered the Zydeco with salmon as the protein, which was topped with Cajun corn mache choux, served over a bed of shrimp and crawfish stuffing. Collard greens are the savory side.

Our other friend kept it classic with a burger, and that thing was large and in charge. It's a certified Angus beef patty served on brioche with your choice of cheddar, American, or Swiss cheese. The fries were scrumptious and all the usual fixings were stacked on the side.

I cannot wait to go back and try different dishes and drinks, although it's going to be tough to not go for that salad again!

If you're planning a visit to Southern Grocery in Northern Alabama, you can check out the restaurant's full menu on the Southern Grocery Facebook page. The complete Southern Grocery website appears to be under construction and coming soon.

If you make a point to go (do!) be sure to do the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio tour and the many other music and cultural attractions in this lively northwest corner of Alabama. Let us know what you think! We'd love to hear all about it.