Arthur Ave

Went for lunch… service was good but the food was not; tried the chicken parmigiana sandwich and vodka pasta– both below average and the pasta was undercooked

I was cold. It was winter and I accepted this. I was ready to enjoy the warmth of some good Italian food and maybe a glass of red wine. We walked into Arthur Ave. The casualness of the interior design was a bit surprising; on par with olive garden, but with a warmer design. It isn’t that I mind, but generally, the restaurants in the area tend not to be this casual. We set at the table… I was still cold. We ordered our food… beef tenderloin with rosemary and parmesan fries and the bolognese. In typical fashion, bread was brought to the table… did I say bread? Well it was those hard sticks that are like a thick pretzel. that is crunchy all the way through. What tha fuzzy is this? At this point, I was not in the mood for a drink. What I wanted was to not feel the freaking cold from outside, while inside. There is only one door from the sidewalk into the restaurant. Every time someone comes in or leaves, a cold rush of wind fills the restaurant. The manager said they are working on that. Now to the food. The tenderlon was okay. The fries… not that good. the steak to fry ratio was way off (see the picture). The fries looked and tasted as if there was a half effort to actually make parmesan fries. the cheese and the rosemary did not stick to the fries so you had to grab them both to try and have a better fry experience. The bolognese was pretty good and the right sauce to pasta ratio. The manager was nice. Our waitress was good. The overall experience was meh.
Décor: 3 out of 5
Food: 2 out of 5
Drinks: 3 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Cleanliness: 4 out of 5

Went to this restaurant a month or so ago so perhaps things have improved. We showed up and were promptly seated by the hostess. Then we sat there waiting, and waiting, and waiting. This was despite the restaurant being nearly empty as we were eating early. Finally a very nice waitress arrived and took our drink orders. Again, more waiting and waiting. Finally drinks arrived. Ordered some soup as an appetizer, it was barely warm. During this period the restaurant became nearly full. Despite ordering our entrees earlier than others, we got ours later than them. I don’t think it was the waitress’ fault. But all in all, none of our party was impressed. We won’t be back as neither food nor service was that good.

I sure expected more! I really really wanted to love this. I’ve been excited to try it and its sister restaurant Au Cochon since they opened. We decided to try Arthur Ave. and our friends were going to join us late once they got out of the theater.
We were met by what I assume was a friendly trainee trailed by another waiter. I wanted to try the lasagne but they were sold out. My chicken loving husband asked about the Chicken Vesuvius and she described it as «Chicken all cut up with bones. but they are really tiny bones so you don’t even notice them, with potatoes and peas on top» WHAT? If there are bones in my chicken I’d like to notice them, thank you. My husband passed on that scary dish and settled for a safer Chicken Parmesan. I asked about the chicken Marsala, knowing it would have mushrooms that I could pick out (don’t like them) but the waiter advised me to go with Chicken Piccata since the mushrooms are small and in the sauce. We were starving so we ordered Garlic bread and decided to split a chopped salad to start.
The salads came out right away & looked good but had an overwhelming odor of vinegar. I found it hard to eat –bitter and the vinegar taste unpleasantly overwhelming. Our meals came out quite a bit later, which surprised me because they were well staffed and it was late and fairly empty. Most of the staff seemed to be engaged in an odd glass shining activity that we were riveted on. A team would approach an empty set table. then vigorously shine small water glasses then one of them would pull out a flashlight and would shine it into the glass check for spots. It was very odd in that not only could/​should (?) it be done in the back, but between her and her shining partner they handled the glasses inside and out and their shining rags were all over the place — not sure how clean the glasses were after all that handling… ew!
My Chicken Picatta was smothered in a dark gravy accompanied by broccolini. The chicken was salty and tough & seriously hard to eat. I tried… and absolutely could not eat it. Even the Broccolini was undercooked and hard to eat– hard to cut with a knife. Husbands Chicken Parm was overcooked and accompanied by angle hair in pesto. We couldn’t believe how bad everything tasted! The pesto was just awful… We were still waiting for that garlic bread to stave off our hunger but it didn’t show and neither did the waitress. Finally she stopped by and I asked about it. She gasped that she forgot and ran back to get it. That took a really long time as well. When it came my we decided to just scoff it down and leave. We had already warned our friends not to come and join us.
The garlic bread… Italian food staple… was awful! It was bread topped with a bruschetta type of topping then doused with more of that white vinegar !
The manager came over to apologize for the garlic bread and asked how everything else was. I never ever ever complain about food to the manager, but there were no redeeming qualities in this experience– even the Arnold Palmer was bitter.
He was nice and listened I tried to hack off a piece of my chicken picatta with the edge of my fork and it was like leather. He took our plates and apologized. We asked for the bill from the waitress who had tried to make herself scarce. She brought us a bill for the entire order. My husband paid with cash and left her a 20% tip — realizing that she was new and her mistake was not the worst part of our meal. As we were putting on our coats the manager came back with her and gave us a new bill minus the bread and chicken piccatta. Told us to try them again and gave us his card saying call before you come. That was nice. He handled it well. We might try it again and get pasta? Someone needs to tweak that menu though. yuck! We met our friends at Red Coat and split a burger so the night ended well… somewhere else.

I have to say that I consider myself and my dining companion foodies. We have traveled the world over in search of a good meal.
This by far was the first time I walked out of a Resturant. It was horrible from the décor, the service and the food if you want to call it that.
Inedible and not sure who is writing the other reviews but they must think Olive Garden is also worthy of 4 stars
Stay away !!!

Went this place a couple times– seriously good food. I am not a big fan of the décor but the food is amazing. Everything we had was awesome. My fav dish is the squash :) ! Ever since I moved from the east coast to the midwest, I have been craving good Italian food with a modern twist — I guess I have found my spot :) well done ! By the way, sweet-​tooth alert – tiramisu is the real deal here

I went here with a large group of people and loved it !
The service was great and the staff was very friendly and helpful. They chose two bottles of wine for us that were incredible ! Exactly what we were looking for and in our price range.
The food was very flavorful and perfect portions. Not too big. We orders appetizers and dinner. I ordered the gnocchi that I wasn’t to fond of so I ordered the lemon Picatta and loved it.
Oh! And I absolutely loved the environment !! I felt like I was in an old Italian grandmas basement! Lol awesome!

This is based on three visits over the last few weeks. Really very impressed. The décor is fun and relXing without being too casual or played down. It’s a little kitschy and tries a little too hard to be New York, but we get it. Love the smallish menu, not 15 salads or anything. All of the basics. We have had soup, minestrone was a little peppery, not bad but beware. The garlic bread was garlicky but good. Caesar salad was fine, just fine, but it’s a Caesar salad so not bad.
Main courses we had the penne vodka with shrimp which was very good and good sized portion. Two of us did not finish. Also had chicken Marsala which we really liked. Dessert was tiramisu. Tasty, clearly fresh but not amazing. But good.
Service as at all of zack’s places was very good. Our server Nicole tonight was great. Explained the for. Good timing on the meal, did not rush.
A nice addition to birmingham. Be aware and I live here, it’s a birmingham scene If that puts you off beware

The food was actually good. The servers were very nice but clueless about the menu. The wait for food was very very long. The problem is the kitchen. Don’t go for a quick meal.

Last night, after a first visit to Arthur Avenue, I left with a rapturous smile on my face. The food — all of it — was terrific. Gutsy Italian-​American dishes with deep, satisfying flavors, amazing service, large portions, and a relaxing and unpretentious atmosphere. I’d go back for dinner tonight just to have the garlic bread and chicken parmigiana again. I grew up eating this cuisine and can tell you it’s the real deal, and fabulous.
A few tips. Make a reservation. Don’t sit at the tables that are directly in line with the door: you’ll get hit by a blast of cold air every time people enter or exit. (Our waitress told us that the restaurant is in the process of reconfiguring the entrance area to prevent this.) Be nice to the hostesses, not to get to the head of the line but because they’re genuinely nice, helpful people.

Please drop what you are doing and head there now for spaghetti and meatballs! Perfectly al dente with incredible sausagey balls and rich tomato sauce. Nice atmosphere. Crowd not so attractive — older– but hey I loved it! Large wine pours.

The food was very good… service was good…
Foodies gone love it… the gnocchi were home made. The meat balls were perfect!!!

Came here for dinner, service was great. The bolognese was the best dish our group ordered, the vodka pasta was good as well — bit spicy. Gnocchi melt in your mouth. Garlic bread was meh, wouldn’t order that again. Meatball was OK.

If you love salt, then this is the place for you. Lasagna, meat ball appetizer, and pasta Bolognese, were way over salted and portions are over priced. This is Italian food, which bears a low food cost. For a chef/​owner who studied at the CIA, I am not impressed. We were disappointed and surprised at this first experience. We frequent his other restaurants and enjoy Social kitchen and Beau’s. Ordered as carry out and would not do it again. Containers were not conducive and too large for the portion. We will however, give it another chance. As a former chef and manager of fine dining restaurants, I always give a new place two opportunities to perform. Please don’t expand too fast and let your talents go to the wayside.

Great addition to Bham. We’re lacking quality Italian food so this is a pleasant change. Our server was excellent the entire time. Food was great, we had mozzarella sticks (try them), gnocchi and lasagna, along with cappuccino and ricotta fritters for dessert. Hearty portions, good flavor, and they offer gluten free pasta on request. The ricotta fritters with blueberry jam were a pleasant spin on dessert. Will definitely be back. As an additional bonus it’s right next to a parking structure for easy access.

We have followed the progress of Arthur Avenue and its adjoining dining spot, Au Cochon, with interest. After reviewing the menu at Au Cochon and not finding it to our liking, we stopped by Arthur Avenue. While the co-​diner parked the car, I ventured inside and asked about the wait time. When I was told it would be 45 minutes, I was prepared to exit and return at a later date. Fortunately, after speaking with the very nice women at the Au Cochon host station, we learned that the 2 restaurants (both under the management of Zack Sklar, of Social, Mex, and other establishments) worked cooperatively, and we were allowed to sit in the Au Cochon dining area and order from the Arthur Ave. menu. Problem solved — thanks to the willingness of the staff to get creative. Glad we got lucky, and the evening improved from there onward. Our server, Christopher, was friendly, helpful and very efficient. Although he was not all that familiar with the (newer) Arthur Ave. menu, he was more than willing to ask on our behalf, and said this would help him to learn. The restaurant features many Italian American standards, but some have a unique twist. I ordered Broccoli Pesto — substantial pasta in a substantial portion — I ended up taking some home and enjoying it for lunch the next day. To accompany my pasta, I ordered the spaghetti squash side, which was very good indeed. It featured honey, Parmesan cheese, and a hint of almond flavor. The co-​diner got his favorite dish to order when going Italian: eggplant parmesan. This was a better-​than-​usual take on a standard. The eggplant was fresh and fried to a just-​right degree of crispness, and well seasoned. The dish he ordered from the Sides section was green beans, and these were a bit disappointing. The color was too close to what you see when you open a can (not saying that’s what happened, but the look was wrong). The seasoning was a bit off as well. But all in all, we found the selection large and reasonably priced, the portions generous and the flavors very nice. One hint to diners: If you are accustomed to receiving bread and butter when you sit down at a restaurant, you will be disappointed here. There is garlic bread available: for $ 7 — on the low end of the appetizers, but still… If, however, you are willing to settle for complimentary breadsticks, ask for them, and they will be produced. Only, it seems, if you ask. Overall, however, we were quite favorably impressed — more so than we have been at other establishments under the same management. In fact, we will in all likelihood return to sample other items on the menu. Arthur Avenue, you are off to a very good start.

Delicious!!! I was impressed with the dishes and the amount of flavors in them! The Gnocchi and the Chicken Vesuvio was outstanding. The whole restaurant ambience from the food, drinks, tables to the waitresses was excellent. I highly recommend this place and believe that it will be great for years to come! It was a great pleasure to meet Zack Skylar during our dinner. He’s very friendly and passionated about bringing the best food to the area. Keep up the good work Zack!

The food was so great. And the service was great. Everything was great. The ricotta fritters were amazing. So was the garlic bread, the chopped tomatoes gave it a better less dry absolutely delicious taste. The service was way above average, everyone was so friendly. They love to know how you liked your food and if anything should be changed. I would definitely go there again. In my 11 years of life I have never had a better dinner with my mom. (This was written by my daughter)

Sometimes you just want a huge plate of pasta to warm your belly. Well fellow foodies — I have the perfect place for you! Arthur Avenue opened last night so of course I had to go investigate. The space is warm and inviting, not at all fussy. When you walk in there are tables in front that have windows that open up to the sidewalk. This front area is a shared space with sister restaurant Au Cochon. There is also a bar upfront with ample seating. The rest of the space is tables.
My friend and I opted to sit at the bar. As it was opening night, the restaurant was not crowded but it still had great ambiance and energy. The cocktail list is not as big as Au Cochon’s but there are still interesting cocktails. I opted for the Mulberry St. and my friend, the Manhattan Sour.
Now the important details: the food was great. Simple, flavorful, and oh so delicious!
Appetizer — Garlic bread — «Garlic» being the operative word. Lots of garlic, tomatoes and great flavor. If you love garlic, you will love this appetizer.
Salad — Panzanella — my friend ordered this salad, which was full of flavor and texture. Tomatoes, roasted red pepper, crunchy garlic croutons, fresh mozzarella and Parmesan.
Gnocchi — to die for! The gnocchi were light and fluffy. The sauce was porcini mushrooms, walnuts, Parmesan, olive oil and perhaps Marsala wine? It was so delicious that I had the bartender pack up the remaining sauce so I could take it home and use it for a pasta dish the next day. Total comfort food.
Bolognese with pappardelle — perfectly cooked pasta and this sauce was also full of flavor.
I was so full I didn’t order dessert, which if you read my reviews is a rarity. I always order dessert. I’m definitely coming back to try the other dishes. The seafood pasta was not available as the chef was still tweaking the recipe.
I think the you will find this a great place for a great plate of pasta with friends. Definitely a big thumbs up from me.

Stellar !
The venue gives you the authentic feel of little Italy in NY. The vibrant ceilings and décor fills the space with a homey family feel. You know what you are about to eat is going to be the most delicious !
The staff was top notch, extremely knowledgeable of the menu options and what dishes will fill your belly with warmth and joy!
Prices were totally reasonable — only one item was $ 20 ! everything else was less. Portions were well made as well.
Onto the good stuff — the meal ! The breadsticks are provided on the table, loved them, ideal thickness and seasoning. We ordered Garlic Bread –which is crispy and has fresh tomatoes on top, this is the most ideal garlic bread that has graced our lips.
Classic Caesar Salad, the croutons are like chunks of the bread — could maybe have parmesan baked into them and then they’d be top notch.
Eggplant Parmesan — WOW — layered perfection, thinly sliced and breaded perfectly, the combination of the cheese, eggplant and sauce blows any other egg plant parm out of the water. see image.
Broccoli Pesto Penne — whoa !! legend is that the chef’s mom used to sneak veggies into her and her siblings meals, one way she did it was by adding broccoli to their familys pesto — and dayummmm! she nailed it. the only other time I’ve felt such joy from pasta was in Italy.
Chicken & White Fish Piccata — it was super dank, like heaven on a plate wow !
Sides — Green Beans — were with a red sauce and cheese, I didn’t get a chance to try them because my dad and sister ate them all up while I was diving into my penne.
Butternut Squash — I think this side should really be more of a dessert because it was SO sweet, with the spicy honey, brown sugar, and almond oil.
Definitely will be coming back very soon! & to try more dishes, we saw the gnocchi go by and it looked incredible.
A+ on all accounts ! but there really could be valet, we didn’t have trouble with the street parking, but could see this spot being super popular and not enough parking.