611 Doug Baker Blvd. (The Village at Lee Branch, off Hwy. 280, near Greystone)
995-1770
A 2007 City Scene review calls it "a fresh, comfortable place to dine on tasty food," family-friendly, with chicken salad "arguably the best in town." Extensive lunch menu, big on salads, plus sandwiches, thick milkshakes. Evening menu includes crab cakes, crepes, and northern Italian dishes. Pear salad, mozzarella caprese, Lobster ravioli got high marks. Beer and wine available; breakfast on weekends.

125 Inverness Plaza (off Hwy. 280 at Valleydale intersection)
408-0630
Lunch and dinner. Beer and wine available, outside dining. Casual, no-frills, intimate atmosphere serving Cajun food such as fresh crawfish, crab cakes, and pork Boudan. City Scene 2006 review gave good marks to crawfish and shrimp po'boys, Creole meatloaf; bread pudding was a disappointment.

5511 Hwy. 280 in Greystone
995-2881
Authentic Cuban cuisine, lunch specials weekdays. Fairly utilitarian atmosphere. City Scene 2005 review gave high marks to the sangria, but mixed drinks were watery. Black bean soup, fried plantain strips, roast pork (in tamales or entrees) drew raves. Yuca and picadillo criollo did not.

507 Cahaba Park Circle, Inverness (off Hwy. 280)
995-0533
Kitchen open late night. It's not real pretty (you might call it a dive), and about the only thing Irish are the green walls, but they've got good cheap bar food, like burgers, wings, philly cheese steak, taco salads and the like, with some good beer to wash it down.

1845 Montgomery Hwy, Ste 207 (Hoover/Riverchase, off Hwy. 31), 988-5558
810 Inverness Corners (off Hwy. 280), 437-1999
727 29th Street South (Southside/Lakeview), 320-1225
www.ontapsportscafe.com
Born in Birmingham and locally owned, On Tap Sports Cafe offers daily meat and veggie lunch specials, typical bar food. Some of the best wings in town. More than 150 beers.
Click here for Bhamdining.com review

225 Summit Blvd., Suite 100 (at The Summit shopping center off Hwy. 280, between Cahaba Heights/Vestavia and Inverness area)
298-1222
Lunch and dinner. Casual/conservative dress. A stylish, semi-upscale tavern. Burgers, soups, salads, steaks and seafood. Some of the most delicious artichoke dip we've had anywhere, but it is very noisy, especially in the bar. A December 2006 review in City Scene called it "a convenient stop for hungry, thirsty shoppers in the original section of the Summit." The review gave high marks to the spinach and artichoke dip, prime rib sandwich with horseradish sauce and Burgundy mushrooms, shrimp bisque, bacon burger, chicken salad melt, and the "incredible" hot fudge brownie. However, a strong hickory flavor overwhelmed shrimp, fish and pork chop selections, and the fish and pork chop were somewhat dry, reported the reviewer.

611 Doug Baker Blvd. (Village at Lee Branch, off Hwy. 280, between Inverness and Greystone)
981-8001
www.meltingpot.com
It's a chain with over 100 locations, but you won't find fondue regularly anywhere else in Birmingham. Designed for sharing, you can have classic cheese fondues for an appetizer, cook your own meat and vegetables fondues for an entree, and chocolate fondue for dessert. Reservations advised for weekends.