3439 Colonnade Parkway, just off U.S. 280 near I-459.
969-7998
Susan Swagler's September 2007 review in City Scene called it "the busy-mom jackpot," "a casual and fun, family-friendly restaurant that is both inventive and inexpensive." The surfer-themed burger joint is owned by the husband-and-wife owners of Taziki's. Classic beef burgers and a variety of gourmet burgers: a lamb burger with taziki sauce, an herbed salmon croquette burger with remoulade, a turkey burger with Alecia's peach chutney and blue cheese, a vegetarian "burger" made with a grilled portobello mushroom. Indoor and outdoor dining, lunch and dinner, wine and beer available.

323 20th St. North
327-2300
New Orleans-inspired weekday breakfast and lunch spot. Also serving a Friday dinner special. Opened in summer 2010 by a New Orleans native. Serving a variety of New Orleans po' boys, Muffulettas, meat-and-three specials featuring Cajun and Southern dishes. Beignets at breakfast.

2012 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook (English Village)
879-2238
www.billysbarandgrill.com
Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday. Casual pub fare featuring burgers, sandwiches and salads in loud, watering-hole surroundings. Known for handmade burgers and chicken sandwich with white sauce. City Scene's Fletcher Harvey, in a 2005 review, gave high marks to fried mushrooms, queso dip, Greek sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich, cheeseburger. Other items didn't fare as well, such as cold fries and overcooked patty melt.

214 20th St. North
297-8636
www.brickandtin.com
Mauricio Papapietro, after working for some of Birmingham's top chefs, opened this lunch spot, focusing on the humble sandwich as a really good medium for really good ingredients. You can even read about the Alabama-sourced ingredients, such as poultry and eggs from McEwen and Sons, pork from Fudge Family Farms, and veggies from Jones Valley Urban Farm and Snow's Bend Farm. Offerings include a Cuban sandwich; a Coosa Valley (scrambled farm eggs, sliced avocado and bacon); the Provence (roasted farmer's market vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil and goat cheese); and more, including salads, soups, and sides such as empanadas and deviled eggs. Beer and wine, too. Check out these pix from Birmingham Magazine.

2737 U.S. Hwy 280 South, Ste 101 (Mountain Brook Plaza)
871-0887
www.chappysdeli.com
Advertising "New York Flavor, Southern Hospitality," Chappy's also has locations in Montomery and Auburn. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, free delivery. Sandwiches both classic and gourmet, burgers, soups, salads, ice cream counter. Scarce parking at times.

2808 University Blvd. (Southside, Lakeview area, one block east of St. Vincent's Hospital)
458-1007
www.chriszs.com
Great place for a cheap lunch -- burgers, hot dogs, salads, hot and cold sandwiches. Behind Golden Rule BBQ.

903 Broadway St., Homewood
908-4126
Cozy lunch-only sandwich shop in the former Lag's Eatery location on Homewood. Menu includes items from basics such as grilled cheese and club sandwich to a Cajun chicken tortilla and a half or whole muffuletta. Order at the counter and help yourself to a drink. A June 2010 Birmingham News review by Deeana Crider praised the Texas Hammer, with grilled sliced ham and pepper jack cheese served in a hoagie bun and dressed with hot sauce and spicy salsa. The Juicy Lucy, a ground beef patty stuffed with cheddar, was found to be rather thin and dry, served on basil focaccia bread. The Greek marinated chicken in the Greek chicken pita also was said to be dry and lacking in flavor. The Greek salad, a creamy pasta salad rather than the traditional greens-based version, had "an overwhelmingly tangy flavor." Nevertheless, the restaurant got three stars out of five, and the service was fast and friendly.

1413 Montgomery Highway, 979-1515
Serving gourmet sandwiches in Vestavia for 20 years, where it also sells more than 500 wines and the area's largest selection of imported beer. Chicken salad, Reuben, sausage sub, muffaletta, soups, salads, desserts.

3439 Colonnade Pkwy. (Off Hwy. 280 near intersection with I-459)
499 Southgate Drive (Off Hwy. 119 in Pelham)
180 West Main St., Patton Creek, Hoover
987-0790
www.edgarsbakery.com
Sandwiches, soups, salads, coffee, cookies, cheesecakes, danish, pies, artisanal breads. City Scene gave high marks to the fried green tomato BLT, roast beef and Swiss, and the Colonnade club. Not as good were chicken salad plate, spinach dip. The sweets are a little too sweet for our taste, but that's a matter of personal preference.

1154 11th Avenue South (Southside)
252-2300
This hole-in-the-wall near UAB's campus isn't much to look at, but Sam makes a mean sandwich, cold or hot, with homemade french fries, plus a few Middle Eastern specialties like gyros, falafel and hummus.