A Brief Look at Birmingham Italian Restaurants - Guideppe's Cafe, Bettola, and Lovoy's
Birmingham, Alabama has a wide selection of Italian restaurants. Ranging from budget-minded to lavish, from southern Italian to northern Italian, whatever variety of Italian food you want, you can almost certainly find it in Birmingham. Three of the many choices available are Giuseppe's Café, Bettola, and Lovoy's.
Giuseppe's Cafe is located at 925 8th St. S (Gable Square). This is an old-school Italian restaurant, with the green, white, and red sign and traditional brick building. Here you can find what some believe to be the best pizza in Birmingham. The 16 inch Greek Delight pizza is a popular choice. It has tomatoes, onions, oregano, olives, garlic, and fresh feta cheese. You also have the option to build your own pizza. There are homemade calzones and pasta dishes, and an espresso bar that is well worth visiting.
Bettola, at 2901 2nd Ave. S. is located in the Martin Biscuit building, as part of the Pepper Place development. This is a small trattoria that also offers some really good pizza. Here, they're made like in Naples, with flat, wood-fired crusts, and topped with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella cheese, and basil. You also have your choice of traditional dinner entrees, build-your-own antipasti, oven roasted Italian dishes, and a take on bruschetta with eggplant, capers, and basil. They serve beer and wine too. If you like Neopolitan style pizza, then Bettola is your place.
Lovoy's, located at 420 Green Springs Hwy, is open for dinner every night of the week except for Sunday. It is what you think of when you think of the classic Italian restaurant in America. They serve amazing meat ravioli, veal parmigiana, and baked lasagna. Seafood is also prominent on the menu, with baked oysters being one of Lovoy's signature dishes. The restaurant has been a family business for over 40 years, and the dishes served are the ones that have stood the test of time and become the classics of the American Italian restaurant.
Birmingham has developed a great culinary tradition, as evidenced by its enormous range of restaurants. Whatever your taste buds are craving can be found in Birmingham, whether it's a cheeseburger, sushi, or great Italian food.
