Cafe Dupont

Most of the less than satisfactory reviews seem to center on service. they don’t often fault the food.
We went there Saturday night for my birthday celebration, and it was obvious from the start we had an excellent waiter. We didn’t have to wait for our reservation, we were seated immediately. The waiter was at our table promptly and gave mouthwatering descriptions of the featured dishes.
When we ordered wine, he advised us to just try a sample, because their variety had an unusual tartness that some don’t expect. He also brought a suggested alternative which my wife chose. I went with a mixed drink specialty which was good.
My wife chose the pompano, which was excellent. I went with the ribeye. I ordered medium and should have gone with medium rare.
Our waiter suggested a strawberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream for dessert and we both loved it. Following dessert, the manager came by with two complementary flutes of sparkling wine (my birthday) and made sure we’d had a good experience.
An excellent dinner and the perfect preface to a show at the Lyric.

Presentation and the taste of the foods are exceptional. We really enjoyed every bit of it. Price is above average, but worth every penny. Good location with valet parking. Good environment. You can also get 5 – 8 courses of meal with a reasonable price. It’s a fine dining experience. Come and enjoy.

We made reservations for a Wednesday night. We walked up to the hostess stand, who was busy at the time, but were greeted by another friendly staff (I think he was the bartender). After a minute or two we were shown our table by the hostess, who was also very friendly. It wasn’t very busy initially, but then became very busy in the dining area as the dinner progressed.
Our server seemed a little rushed in taking our order when he came to the table, but again was very friendly. He didn’t seem like he wanted to take the time to explain anything on the menu or even recommend specific dishes (this just may be a personal preference of mine). We were served delicious bread with housemade butter and our waters were never empty.
We ordered the fried oysters and fried okra, which is a large portion for two. I probably could have been fine just eating the bread and fried okra. This was a great app though, oysters were «very large and fluffy» as said by my husband.
For our entrees, I ordered the beef short rib which came with a fried mashed potatoe pear, squash and green beans. Once again, this was a very large portion. The mashed potatoe was absolutely delicious though, I wished I had more of it and maybe less meat. Everything else was cooked perfectly on my meal, but like I already said, it was a lot of food! I didn’t find it appropriate to take home leftovers or not finish so I stuffed my face, and let’s face it, it was too good to stop eating anyway. My husband ordered pork tenderloin and lamb t-​bone, which came with strawberry-​basil relish, carrots and baked spoon bread. He enjoyed it, but thought the temperature wasn’t as accurate as he had hoped on the meats.
Overall, it was a very comfortable setting except it got very noisy in the main dining area. Service was very friendly and fairly prompt, our server just seemed a little rushed/​flustered. Food was definitely good and on a fair par with other Birmingham fine dining. I was left with an impression of feeling uncomfortable after dinner because of how much food was eaten!
Some people probably love large portions, but it left me thinking more about how full I was instead of how delicious the food was.
Next time I will just have to use some self control, if possible! And we will probably prefer to sit in the bar area.

My husband and I got married in 2010. Just a few weeks before the wedding, our rehearsal dinner venue closed its doors with no notice. The kind folks at Café Dupont were able to accommodate our event in their upstairs space flawlessly. They were easy to work with, the service was great and the food was delicious. We were very pleased with the full experience.
Each year for our anniversary, my in-​laws graciously send us a gift card to Café Dupont to help us celebrate. We have always have good service with some special touches for our anniversary (complimentary champagne and once an extra dessert). The menu does change seasonally but we haven’t been disappointed with any of selections. The menu is a bit pricey but worth it for a special occasion.
The have a nice signature cocktail selection and the dessert menu never fails. We love their beignets with coffee and the bananas foster is the best!

Went here with my son and family after he graduated UA, Tuscaloosa. Come to find out his friend from school also celebrating her graduation there! Coincidence both families driving an hour for food!!! Unilocal reviews apparently convinced her father as well!!!
Food was absolutely delicious!!! Service was 5 star! I had the fried okra & oysters! Yum! My exhusband who absolutely HATES peas ordered the pea flan and devoured it saying how delicious it was. The ex’s new wife who literally wanted to hate every restaurant I picked couldn’t help raving! She had the strawberry salad & short ribs claiming both were delicious! 2 takers on the steak which I was told had the perfect amount of smokiness! I got the pork loin chop which was huge but the cherry chutney and sweet potato were great accompaniments & to die for!!!
Be sure to end your meal with some beignets… Better than café de mondes in NOLA! Too bad we found this gem after my son graduated!!!

If I could give Cade Dupont 10 stars, I would. They are fantastic and each bite is memorable, for all 4 of us!
We were there for my boyfriend’s 40^th birthday on ⁴⁄₃₀. They went above & beyond to make the experience extra special.
Everything we ordered was superb, but the items that REALLY stood out were the Smoked Ribeye, Stuffed Quail and the Pea Flan (starter). The portions are nice as well.
I wish I remembered our server’s name, but he was so attentive and was quite easy to chat with. Next time I’m in Alabama, I will definitely be going to Café Dupont again!
Thank you everyone for making a special occasion that much more special!

Absolutely delicious– every bite had exquisite flavor. Service was impeccable. Cannot wait to go back.

Excellent food. The drinks on the menu (specialty cocktails are amazing!). I really can find nothing bad about this place but the price. However, it is worth the money!

This is our favorite fine dining spot in Birmingham. The service is impeccable and the portions are always generous. Last time we went was the Saturday of Valentine’s weekend. We managed to secure a spot at the bar and get to eat at one of our favorite spots without a reservation. We had the fried oysters and okra and fromage plate for appetizers. Both were absolutely amazing. Three in our party had the rabbit and the other had the steak and we all couldn’t rave enough about how great they were. The portions were so generous my husband and I couldn’t even save room for dessert so we ended the meal with champagne instead. We love this place so much and look forward to every time we get to visit.

Fried oysters and okra dish was a scrumptious starter. Oysters were meaty; fried perfectly so that they were done, not overdone, and very tender. I don’t know how to describe the batter on them. It was light, but fully covered the oysters; there was absolutely no residual oil or batter flaking off-​just superb. Usually, I note off tastes even in fresh oysters, but not with these. Every bite was delectable. Served with a cayenne beurre blanc sauce. This was an ample portion for a starter.
I chose the red snapper as my main plate. It was accompanied by fingerling potatoes and a wonderful port wine sauce. Also, on the plate were green beans and some root vegetable rings that I could not quite identify, other than to note they were interesting. While all was very good and super fresh, it was a very small portion.
The requested bread was freshly baked and tasty. It was served with an herb butter.
My wife had a caesar salad which she liked and said was a proper size for her. But again, I thought it was very small.
For her main she had the rib-​eye which was really toothsome; cooked as ordered. It was plated with onion rings and roasted potatoes, braising jus, black garlic/​sage butter, turnips, radishes and roasted asparagus. This was a sufficient portion and a wonderful combination.
Service was very good and the atmosphere is… well, it’s like a French bistro. Bön appétit.

Great food in a classy historical environment. Consistently good food. Great for both lunch and dinner. Lunch is reasonably priced for the quality of food and service received.

One of the best meals I’ve had in Birmingham in years. Phenomenal service-​2^nd to none!

I will start off to say. Café DuPont cooked the best meal I have had in the south so far! I’m from New York and lived in Hoover for the last year and a half.
I ordered the beef shoulder entrée. It was cooked to perfection every bite melted in my mouth. It also came with grilled zucchini and egg plant soufflé which was sweet and amazing!
I will be back!

What an incredible Wednesday night dinner at the bar. I had the sous vide braised beef shoulder, and mentioned that I had a sous vide setup at home. When presented with the dinner, I asked The bartender «I wonder what temperature it was prepared at» and she knew! She actually asked beforehand to be prepared for my question.
Sweet service. Did I mention that on Wednesday they have 20% off at the bar? Wow.

Throw caution to the wind. Order the seven course dinner and let the chef choose for you. Let go of your need to control your life while plate after delicious plate is set before you. Ponder your place in an infinitely vast and intricate universe as you experience bold — yet well balanced — flavors. Mourn briefly the rigid life that came before but embrace with vigor this new existence of uncertainty and wonder.
Also, don’t skip the coffee. It’s pretty good.

Superb service and great, flavorful food. This is the best dinner that I’ve had in Birmingham, but you’ll pay a little more for it. I had their lamb medallions, and I wanted to eat it off the bone like fried chicken when I was done.

Nice fine dining restaurant in Birmingham. We enjoyed the ambience.
The food was good.
Not our favorite. Nothing was wrong but nothing really stood out as exceptional either.

Close your eyes and you are in New York City or LA.
What a blessing to the city of Birmingham this place has become. Very upscale, but a cozy and intimate atmosphere with 5 star food and service. High marks for creativity here, in fact I had to ask our server to repeat a few of the specials because I was having difficulty processing. Maybe it was the pork cheeks that threw me off, but they are delicious. If you’ve never had these give it some thought.
The last time I was here was in a party of 8, usually a recipe for disaster and the backbone of one star reviews on Unilocal.However our server was as efficient as the kitchen staff, our drink order was managed swiftly, the appetizers delivered promptly, and the recommendations for entrees did not disappoint. I’d never had Skate before (thats a fish I think) but it was phenomenal. Perfectly prepared, light and flaky with a delicious Beurre Blanc sauce. This was the surprise of the evening. Likewise, the filet, smoked prime rib, and other entrees got very high marks from all the diners.
Café Dupont rates as one of the finest restaurants I’ve ever experienced. In fact, given the choice of eating in downtown Birmingham, or Spago, you’ll find me at Café Dupont. Its that good, and for a restaurant of this caliber, I don’t find it to be pretentious at all. And BTW, if you are a fan of fried oysters like me, you’ll be especially surprised here if they are in season, the best I’ve ever had. Just a special dining experience that everybody is guaranteed to enjoy. Reservations suggested, and they do have valet parking.

Everything about our lunch was excellent, from the sushi grade tuna to the scallops (best ones we’ve had), to the dessert (a delicious chocolate concoction), to the service.

25% off everything if you sit at the bar on Wednesday before 7 p.m. Why isn’t this shouted from the rooftops?!
I stumbled upon this place. I was in the area and quickly looked up close by restaurants. Bam this one appeared and I decided to try it.
I gave my coat to the hostess at the door and chose to sit at the bar. Nobody told me until after my meal that it was 25% off at the bar before 7 p.m. on Wednesdays! Say what?! I can’t believe a place like this offers that.
I ended up getting the cheese plate and the veggie root salad. The cheese place had a nice variety of cheese, but it was the salad that made this meal. Dare I say it was the best salad I’ve ever had? Yes, yes I dare. Do yourself a favor and get this salad! It had a great spice to it and homemade ricotta cheese.
The bar is a popular place with most tables here ordering a drink. I saw the bartender constantly moving. It is pretty amusing to watch.
The décor of this place is dark rich wood and beautiful. This is not a place you would wear jeans to. However the surrounding area leaves a lot to be desired. The hostess told me some people even feel unsafe leaving their car around there. I can definitely see why.