2417 Third Ave. South (downtown)
328-3232
www.grumpsgrill.com
Breakfast and lunch weekdays. Cheerful, eclectic decor with food served on plastic and Styrofoam. Menu leans toward deli-inspired sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs and "spuds," plus several salads. City Scene praised the eggs, biscuits, Western omelet, Magic City steak sandwich, French fries, bacon and cheddar burger, homemade peach cobbler.  Low-carb and Weight Watchers Points-friendly menus. Plenty of parking. Wireless connection.

1915 4th Avenue North (downtown)
251-4540
Tucked between a parking deck and a parking lot, they have the best chili-slaw dog in town, plus other burgers, sandwiche, breakfast sandwiches. From Southern Foodways Alliance: "Gus Alexander, a native of Greece, opened Gus’s Hot Dogs, sometime in the late 1940s. Alex Choraitis (who owned Andrew’s Bar-B-Q) took the place over in the 1960s, when Gus and his wife returned to live in Greece. Then, George Nasiakos took it over soon after his arrival to Birmingham in 1997. George came to Birmingham from Tripolis, Greece, via Chicago, where he worked at his brother’s restaurant, Chris’s Grill. The hot dogs served at Gus’s are your typical Birmingham fare: a grilled dog with mustard, onions, and the elusive special sauce. The sauce recipe used there today is the original concoction that Gus Alexander created ... (but) George says he’s added his own touch to the sauce in the intervening years." Read our review.

1808 3rd Ave. North, Downtown
251-9952
Breakfast and lunch. Across from the Alabama Theater downtown, this family-owned business serves everything from grilled cheese sandwiches to Greek salad to breakfast food in addition to hot dogs and burgers.

2125 Second Ave. North, Downtown
323-7995
Lunch and dinner; bar stays open later, live music. This loft district watering hole is a "shabby-hip hangout," according to the Birmingham News' City Scene. Order-at-the-counter service of sandwiches, homemade soups and salads. Examples include The Raging Bull (roast beef, cheddar, pepper jack, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, mayo and spicy mustard on old-fashioned white), The Farm (BLT with cheddar), and vegetarian options such as The Four Cheese and The Veterinarian (cucumbers, mushrooms, tomato, olives, onions, peppers, garlic, lettuce, swiss and cheddar on stone ground wheat). Also freshly sliced deli meat and cheese, homemade salads by the pound, and Big Sky breads.Outdoor sidewalk/patio dining. City Scene gave it good marks for Brunswick stew, turkey melt, but Reuben was a disappointment.

121 20th St. North, Downtown
250-7878
Breakfast and lunch weekdays -- everything from New York-style deli sandwiches to gyros and falafel to a Southern-style steam table. Breakfast is similarly multi-regional, with bagels, grits and English muffins sharing the menu along with eggs and breakfast meats.

1925 2nd Ave. N., Downtown (near McWane Center)
252-2905
A Birmingham institution, tucked between two downtown buildings. Get them "all the way" with onions, kraut and special sauce, or get a "special" with added meat sauce, and eat it standing up in this narrow, historic hole in the wall. A top 5 finalist in the Birmingham News' 2001 "Top Dog in Town" contest.

4921 Messer Airport Highway (Eastwood area)
591-1462
Get hand-patted burgers with a Mediterranean flair at this family-owned lunch spot. A finalist in the Birmingham News' "Best Burger Around" contest.

2320 Second Ave. North, Downtown
250-8200
Breakfast menu features bagels, biscuits, scones, fruit, grits topped with smoked sausage and cheese. Serving coffee from Primavera Coffee Roasters in Cahaba Heights. Lunchtime offers hearty eats on a rotating basis, including homemade soups and sandwiches served on Continental Bakery and Big Sky bread. Also cold case items such as chicken salad, pimiento cheese, fruit, pasta salad, and other salads. You'll find baked goods, including cupcakes that Black & White said were "in the first-class category". In addition to the culinary offerings, enjoy shopping amongst a selection of antiques, handmade art, candles, books and other unusual and unique items.

225 Country Club Park (Crestline Village, Mountain Brook), 871-0060
1819 5th Ave N. (Downtown), 252-5200
180 Main Street, #140 (Patton Creek, Hoover), 989-4020
1830 29th Ave S, Suite 115 (SOHO, Homewood, one block down from original location), 870-1100
www.zoeskitchen.com
Greek favorites emphasizing fresh, healthy food. Grilled chicken pita, Greek salad, grilled feta sandwich and other sandwiches, plus salads and a small number of hot plates.