Greg Boyles

What a great experience!! Food was excellent and the service was absolutely wonderful!!! It’s like you step back in time! If you’re looking for a unique experience this is the place to go! It’s a little of the beating path but worth every moment! Don’t bypass this exceptional place!!

David B

We ate her on Thanksgiving afternoon. The food was great! I has a snapper almandine. It was so big, and tasty! Perfect. Suzy had the turkey dinner. Good, but too much for two people. This was a great Thanksgiving meal. A shout- out to Marlon!

Hunter McKelvey

100 years ans still excellent in food and service! A truly unique and marvelous experience for travelers and long time local patrons. Great for special events or any celebration.

+6

GuitarHero

We are huge University of Alabama fans, and they seated us at the Bear Bryant table! What a great experience! Food is always good here and service is great too. I insist that you try the Lemon Ice Box Pie. It's so good it should be mandatory. We live this place.

Bambi Darnell

Everything was superb ! Our waitress was great. The atmosphere is so quaint. We had the broiled snapper, country fried steak, mac n cheese, fried okra, yams, rice and spinch casserole , black eyed peas and bread pudding. It was soo good .

Jill Simpson

We made an unanticipated trip to The Bright Star on Sunday and it was absolutely perfect as always! The staff, servers and manager were all very friendly, inviting and courteous. The food was absolutely wonderful, promptly served and freshly prepared. The beautiful atmosphere is always clean and comfortable. You can never go wrong with the Bright Star. Anytime, any day!

Lisa Weldon Payton

We stopped in yesterday to eat lunch. Both my middle and my baby boy started their work careers at Bright Star! My baby son was the recent victim of a violent crime and they had been praying for his recovery. One thing that hasn’t changed is the food is still heavenly divine along with the ambiance. We had a lovely server named Anna, and Mr. Nikki one of the owners came over to speak to me which is always a blessing! Andreas the other owner and I exchanged a few words where he told me he was grateful Blesset was doing well. I can’t say enough about this place! Marlon is a longtime employee who just radiates love and respect for customers and it’s always clean and has a very homey feeling! One can’t go wrong with the menu as they have the best of fish and crab claws plus soul food that’s cooked to perfection. It really is the best restaurant this side of heaven! Lunch items are less expensive as the dinner because it is more of a superior type of meal for that time of day. Please take the time and treat yourself and your family and friends 💙

Mario Marin

This was my second time here, and it was better than the first. I ordered the boneless Short Ribs, which were fork tender and seasoned just right. The plate came with potatoes and choice of 2 sides. My server Vivian was on point with everything.

Bennett Cowie

One of America's truly great restaurants!! What an amazing place full of history - if only the walls could talk! Phenomenal food and friendly service. Can't wait to get back and try more things. Thank you for an amazing experience!!

+1

Teakeyman

Been here several times and every time it is a treat. The staff is so friendly and welcoming. The history alone is impressive as the oldest restaurant in Alabama. The food is always delicious and served with large portions. This is a special place to many and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone.

+1

The Bright Star Restaurant is an absolute Alabama institution, and it never disappoints. From the moment you walk in, you feel the history, consistency, and pride that only comes from decades of doin…

This restaurant has become a yearly tradition for my family. The Greek Style Beef Tenderloin is delicious and tender every time. It's always a fun time seeing the historical interior, I hope to keep …

The food was good and hot. The service was speedy. The staff was nice and very attentive to our needs. The place was clean and inviting.

The food was good and hot. The service was speedy. The staff was nice and very attentive to our needs. The place was clean and inviting.

The food was good and hot. The service was speedy. The staff was nice and very attentive to our needs. The place was clean and inviting.

We dine here a couple of times a year for a couple of friend's birthdays. This visit did not disappoint. Although most everyone in our group gets the Greek tenderloin and the greek salad, I alway…

The Bright Star is a family favorite and holds a special place in my heart. From the "Old Money" ambiance to the fine dining and Greek cuisine, I have never had a meal there that was less than exce…

The Bright Star is a family favorite and holds a special place in my heart. From the "Old money" ambiance to the fine dining and Greek cuisine, I have never had a meal there that was less than exce…

First time eating at The Bright Star.\nOur server Vivian greeted us with a warm smile and a wonderful aura.\nWe had a delicious meal. Peanut Butter pie is top shelf.\nVivian was just super the whol…

We absolutely love visiting "the oldest restaurant in Alabama"! Everything was fantastic from the martinis at the bar to the peanut butter pie. We had Greek oysters to start. Our main courses were …

We just made reservations and had a family dinner here, it was FABULOUS! The service was phenomenal, the place was clean with a nice table presentation, but most of all, the food. I had the prime r…

Every time I'm in Bessemer, I eat here. I have tried several of the entrees, but my absolute favorite is the greek salad. I eat it at least once a visit if not more. The salad is always fresh a…

The food, the service and the environment was great. The server was on point and extremely kind and helpful. The facility was clean and we enjoyed every minute of it. There was approximately eight …

Wonderful food and atmosphere! Service is always special. The art in the restaurant is beautiful! The peanut butter pie is delicious!

I have been longing for years to eat the fried snapper throat at this place since having that plate at the Sunset Pointe in Fairhope. Much to my dismay, it was not available on the day we were ther…

The misses and I enjoyed a wonderful NYE dinner at the Bright Star. There was a limited menu for the holiday but they still had a good selection. We had the oysters and stuffed shrimp and both were…

We were a group of 16. My daughter and I had the Texas combo of Greek steak, Greek snapper and lobster and crabmeat ai graten. Steak was amazing! Loved the fish! The lobster and crabmeat was a little…

We were a group of 16. My daughter and I had the Texas combo of Greek steak, Greek snapper and lobster and crabmeat ai graten. steak was amazing! Loved the fish! The lobster and crabmeat…

We were a group of 16. My daughter and I had the Texas combo of Greek steak, Greek snapper and lobster and crabmeat ai graten. steak was amazing! Loved the fish! The lobster and crabmeat was a li…

From the original decor to the music you will feel like you’re taking a trip back in time. The wood panels , marble and tile floors all sang of an era gone by. We had the pleasure of siting in the…

Since we were just passing through and had been on the road for a few days we decided we wanted something different. Decided to look for some seafood. We found a Gem!

Got there Wednesday at 12:15. Imagine that .....we had to wait. Not very long. There were church groups, touring group from Columbus Georgia, and one group from a nearby nursing home. Regardless th…

This was my first visit but won’t be my last!! The food was succulent and flavorful in every way. Pictured is KC extra cut steak, side salad and fried green tomatoes with coconut crème pie. The …

This was my first visit but won’t be my last!! The food was succulent and flavorful in every way. Pictured is KC extra cut steak, side salad and fried green tomatoes with coconut crème pie. Th…

We love the booth's privacy and intimate conversation opportunity. Bright Star always provides a special atmosphere for celebrations.

Daughter and I had business in Bessemer. Not our first time at Bright Star and absolutely not our last! The food and service was great!. Went on a Thursday at 11 AM and lots of people already wai…

We went here after playing golf on the RTJ trail. Was treated like immediate family, service was fantastic as the waitress casually joined in conversation about the menu, fully knowledgeable abou…

A great experience for our family. Food was delicious and server Kristin was so kind and helpful. We had a meal comped because the steak was not ready and an order was left off but the server accom…

We wanted to try restaurant after seeing in Southern Living and on GPB tv. Not disappointed at all. We were seated for lunch w/o reservations but there was a wait by the time we left. Very old …

We just got the steak tips and fish. Food tasted fine. Aren't really into the foods covered in sauces or toppings. I'm from NY and the Greek diners are very different. Have you ever considered adding chicken, beef or shrimp kabobs over rice pilaf? Or gyros or pitas? Or dolmades? Or even club sandwiches to your menu?

I'm born and raised in Birmingham and I live 15 minutes away and this was my first time at Bright Star. I've been missing out! There are not a lot of places left where you can get a meat + 3 for under $20. The food was great and the atmosphere was chill. Great lunch spot for meetings, a bite with coworkers or friends.

Jessica Reece

We stopped in on the way down to Tuscaloosa. The history is incredible. The service was amazing. The bar makes some of the best drinks ever. The steak was scrumptious. However the veal Parmesan was not seasoned enough for me. And I have literally never ate a baked sweet potato without cinnamon. The bathroom seat was barely holding on, so it really needed fixing. I would recommend stopping. Just be sure to get the steak!

James Coram

I have more positives than negatives but the negatives are big ones. Like for instance my first complaint is that the crab meat au gratin was very bland and I only tasted the breading. Secondly the snapper was very bland, no seasoning at all. Finally, my last complaint would probably be the portion size, it wasn't horrible but almost $40 for a thin steak. Now on to the positives, the beef (as they called it) was very juicy and the best tasting in Bessemer and that goes the same for the chicken! Secondly the gumbo was very good but kinda wish it had shrimp but that's my preference. Lastly the staff was very friendly and we were seated faster than most places in my opinion.

Mark P

I’ve always enjoyed eating at The Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer, Alabama. Having lived in Birmingham for the past 25 years, I’ve had many opportunities. The atmosphere is an interesting fusion of diner, farmhouse, lodge and elegant restaurant with hand-painted Euro-like pastoral murals on the walls and early 20th century octagon floor tiles, and lots of wood, brass and marble throughout. Their menu is extensive enough to meet most patrons’ dietary needs/desires with seafood, steaks, and everything in between. I would personally recommend their snapper and shrimp entrees, and I like the Greek style of cooking (broiling with Greek spices and sauces and lots of lemon). Recently, I tried their baked/broiled oyster appetizer and it was superb. I would steer away from the bread pudding as enticing as it might sound, but then, I’m a sort-of bread pudding snob having savored that of Muriel’s in the French Quarter. Nothing could compare… but I digress. Stick with their peanut butter pie for dessert. You won’t be disappointed. I give them four stars mainly because the food portion and quality doesn’t correlate well with the prices. You can eat at several Michelin quality restaurants in Birmingham for about the same price.

Ambiance and staff are always wonderful. But the food has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Portions are smaller and not as flavorful. Their crabcakes used to melt in your mouth and the tas…

ambiance and staff are always wonderful. But the food has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Portions are smaller and not as flavorful. Their crabcakes used to melt in your mouth and the t…

Ambiance and staff are always wonderful. But the food has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Portions are smaller and not as flavorful. Their crabcakes used to melt in your mouth and the t…

Ambiance and staff are always wonderful. But the food has gone down hill in the past couple of years. Portions are smaller and not as flavorful. Their crabcakes used to melt in your mouth and the t…

My family and I went for Thanksgiving dinner. It was way below the normally great food..which is phenomenal. This was just cafeteria food ( brought it out on a cafeteria tray) and worse than my d…

1-5*\nTotal 4.5*\nLove the history, old time atmosphere as well\nSnapper amandine 4.8 \nBlack eyes 5+\nFried okra 5*\nGlen beans 2.5 little over cook, wife like them\nShe had \nGreek chicken breast…

First time visit here! I'm a foodie and people have told me, You've got to try Bright Star for YEARS! So I was super excited about this visit - literally giddy. lol!\n\nThe service was wonderful. O…

It is expensive!! On the first visit, the food was good, IMO the carrot and raise salad had too much vinegar in it. The salmon was very tasty. The service was great and quick. The restaurant is 100…

It is expensive!! On the first visit, the food was good, IMO the carrot and raise salad had too much vinegar in it. The salmon was very tasty. The service was great and quick. The restaurant is 100…

Very meh. Limited menu with not a lot of great options. Neat place and cool ambiance. Service could’ve been friendlier. I ended up getting spaghetti with meatballs. Only got one meatball which wasn…

Very meh. Limited menu with not a lot of great options. Neat place and cool ambiance. service could’ve been friendlier. I ended up getting spaghetti with meatballs. Only got one meatball which wasn…

I have ordered this dish for many years at the Bright Star. The only hot portion of my platter was the baked potato and the seafood souffle. scallops are no longer part of the entree and the br…

This place was recommended by the desk clerk at the hotel we were staying at. They're very proud of themselves at this place and it shows in the waiting room which is plastered with the restaurant's memorabilia. Having been in town for over 100 years is their claim to fame. They say it's a Greek place but it isn't. It's a fairly limited menu with some steak cuts and seafood. I ordered the stuffed snapper and my wife had the stuffed jumbo shrimp. The stuffing was the same for both, tasted like leftover Thanksgiving stuffing with a sprinkle of crab meat. Her shrimp were far from jumbo and way overcooked. The snapper was fresh but without any flavor, served with a side of rice and spinach casserole which was lukewarm and some kind of sauce that tasted like dishwater with a hint of lemon. The dinner also came with an appetizer, I had the choice of the worst gumbo I have ever had and my wife had the salad which along with the bread was the highlight of the entire meal. Maybe, we're spoiled and expected to much from Bessemer,AL but all things considered this place is pretty bad.

I hate to write this negative review since this is one of my favorite places. However, tonight, I got one of the worst steaks I’ve ever had in my life. I ordered MR and I got Med-Med-well. It was dry and tough. It definitely was not 14oz as stated (KC ribeye). I remember ordering this last year and it was so good. The baked potato was a joke! Barely any cheese on it and so small. I’ve got better baked potatoes from Wendy’s. The gumbo was good. The waitress forgot it, but she did make it right, so it’s forgiven. The service, overall, was good! My uncle’s tenderloin was also dry, which is unfortunate since we are pretty regulars there. I think the “Best steaks in Alabama” should be reevaluated. I had better steaks at Longhorn. 😬

this place should not have 4.3 stars. Bad servers, they had rotten teeth and horrible breath. The food is just way over priced and not worth it at all. The whole place stinks and was outdated... …

we ate at Brightstar for our anniversity. We have eaten there before and purchased gift cards for friends as well. Last night was an extremely disappointing experience. The food was barely warm at …

Tech Serv

This restaurant use to be a family favorite in which the owner who is so sweet would greet you and it truly felt like an old hometown experience. The customer service staff has truly declined in which I will save the restaurant the embarrassment of the audio recorded call by law, but I will post a screen recording of a hold time which was done intentionally due to the fact that my coworkers were getting through speaking to a male operator without an issue while I still was on hold. Keep in mind, there was a greeting when answering the phone and an immediate sigh shouting, "Please HOLD", without any form of speaking with the female operator. This feedback is not to belittle the staff in anyway because over the years they have provided stellar service. However, if a day is not going as aspected, it's okay to step away and gather some restraint when feeling overwhelmed. Best wishes to the staff and hopefully this review impacts change to where "no other breath of life" has to go through witnessing a staff supporting this type of behavior in the restaurant industry. Order cancelled. Happy Holidays everyone🙏