Birmingham Eatery Named Best Italian Restaurant In Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Daily Meal, a national culinary publication, put together a study to find the best Italian restaurant in all 50 states. Those results were released this week and Birmingham's Bottega captured the top spot for Alabama.

The poll used a methodology that involved review of a bevy of "best restaurant" lists. From there, the publication consulted rankings and reviews from local publications across the country, scanned menus and ratings sites, and kept its eyes open for restaurants that have amassed huge local followings for their cooking. The poll didn't consider big chains.

"While devoted regulars may have trouble steering themselves away from Stitt’s classic dishes at Café Bottega like the seared beef carpaccio, Niçoise salad, and chicken scaloppini, they’ll find themselves particularly rewarded by any of the eight pizzas on the menu," The aticle states. "There’s a white pie with fennel sausage, a grilled chicken and pesto combination, and even a pizza with okra and corn. But the signature pie that the restaurant pointed to as the biggest crowd-pleaser is the “Farm Egg,” topped with mushrooms, guanciale, Taleggio, and porcini oil."

The Daily Meal credits Bottega owner Frank Stitt for raising the bar in Birmingham's culinary scene, which has gained international recognition over the last several years.

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