Best Restaurants in Decatur, Alabama: A Local's Guide

Best Restaurants in Decatur, Alabama: Where Locals Actually Eat

Where do locals actually eat in Decatur, Alabama? Decatur's downtown splits into two corridors, Second Avenue and Bank Street, plus the city's long-running Big Bob Gibson's vs. Whitt's barbecue debate, and two real gaps still worth knowing about before you move here.

I recently googled 'where to eat in Decatur, Alabama,' and half the results were national chains. If you're moving to Decatur, Alabama, you already have chain restaurants in whatever town you're coming from, what you don't have yet is the list locals actually use on a Tuesday night.

I've spent more than 50 years in North Alabama, the last eight of them helping people buy and sell homes all over the Decatur area, and 'where should we eat' is one of the questions I get asked the most. So here's the real list, not exhaustive, but the spots locals and I actually hit.

Second Avenue: The Brick Deli and Tavern and Mother's Italian

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=31s

The Brick Deli and Tavern sits on Moulton Street near the corner of Second Avenue, close to Mellow Mushroom and the Princess Theater. It's one of the most popular lunch spots downtown, known for its sandwiches, a strong beer selection, and a Saturday-morning Bloody Mary game that's on point. My go-to order is the Smokey Joe or the American Club with a side of beer cheese soup.

One heads-up if you're driving: the parking lot that used to sit next to the Brick is gone, the Alabama Center of Arts is building a dance studio there. The good news is the parking deck across the street is free Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a window the city set aside specifically to support downtown restaurants.

A couple of blocks down Second Avenue, in the Brick's old location (and before that, home to the Railyard), you'll find Mother's Italian, one of the newest restaurants downtown, open about four or five months as of this video. The meatballs and fried mozzarella are standouts, and the rigatoni alla vodka is worth ordering with extra meatballs. The menu changes seasonally, the space is smaller and more intimate, and dining service cuts off earlier than you might expect, so don't plan on a 9 p.m. table.

Bank Street: 609 Social Market, Bank Street Grill, and Simp McGee's

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=306s

Bank Street is home to three more Decatur staples. 609 Social Market and Provisions stands out because it actually sells fresh fish, you can buy it, have them season it, and cook it at home, on top of a dinner menu with pimento cheese, wood-fired pizza, shrimp and grits, and a French dip that's worth ordering on its own.

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=408s

Just up the street, Bank Street Grill is the more casual option, lunch and dinner, live music some Friday and Saturday nights, and a 50/50 burger (a Black Angus beef and bacon blend) that keeps pulling me back no matter what I intend to order instead.

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=486s

At the end of Bank Street, near the Old State Bank and the amphitheater, sits Simp McGee's, one of Decatur's oldest and most recognizable restaurants, with a Cajun and Creole edge. My wife and I go for the mushroom caps almost every time, though the seafood and steaks are just as solid.

The Barbecue Debate: Big Bob Gibson's vs. Whitt's

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=594s

No restaurant conversation in Decatur is complete without Big Bob Gibson's Bar-B-Q. It's the most famous restaurant in the city, the home of Alabama white sauce, and a multiple-time winner at the Memphis in May barbecue competition, one of the most respected competitions in the world. If you're not local yet, you can order sauces and rubs shipped straight from their website.

Whitt's has a different kind of following. It's more local, with four or five locations spread between Athens, Moulton, and Decatur, and it's not chasing competition trophies, it's chasing consistency. You'll get the same sandwich every time, at every location. Big Bob Gibson's has the deeper side menu (their macaroni and cheese is a standout); Whitt's keeps things simpler. Both sit on Highway 31, a couple of miles apart, so there's no reason not to try both and pick a side.

Where Decatur's Restaurant Scene Still Has Gaps

Watch this part -> https://youtu.be/hUqmCvfo7BM?t=749s

Two honest gaps are worth knowing about if you're moving to Decatur, Alabama. First, there's no local mom-and-pop breakfast spot downtown right now, a couple used to be there and have since closed, so your options default to Cracker Barrel and Waffle House. Second, there's no true meat-and-three in the city since City Cafe closed. For that plate of one meat and three vegetables, the closest option is Libby's Catfish in Priceville, about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Decatur, which also does excellent fried catfish.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best restaurants in downtown Decatur, Alabama?

Downtown Decatur's local favorites include the Brick Deli and Tavern and Mother's Italian on Second Avenue, plus 609 Social Market and Provisions, Bank Street Grill, and Simp McGee's along Bank Street.

Is Big Bob Gibson's or Whitt's better barbecue in Decatur?

Both have loyal followings. Big Bob Gibson's is the more decorated competition team, known for its Alabama white sauce and sides like its macaroni and cheese, while Whitt's is the more local option with several locations and a consistent, simpler menu.

Where can I get a meat-and-three near Decatur, Alabama?

Since City Cafe closed, the closest true meat-and-three is Libby's Catfish in Priceville, about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown Decatur.

Thinking About Moving to Decatur, Alabama?

Knowing where to eat is one small piece of getting to know a new town, the bigger questions are usually about neighborhoods, commute times, and what your budget actually buys here. If you're relocating to Decatur or anywhere else in North Alabama, watch the full video above, and reach out when you're ready to talk specifics.

Call or text me at 256.476.4201.

Sincerely,

Clint Peters

REALTOR(R) | Real Broker

256.476.4201