This Alabama restaurant is a perfect finalist for a James Beard Award, and here’s why

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Dinner service begins at at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

A dish is served at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Executive chef and co-owner of Bottega, Frank Stitt, updates servers on the particulars of a dish ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Executive chef and co-owner of Bottega, Frank Stitt, updates servers on the particulars of a dish ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Bottega photographed in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Executive chef and co-owner of Bottega, Frank Stitt, seen ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Servers take notes on a new dish at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

A dish is served at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Servers Brooke White and Jose Mederos attend to customers in the café at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Servers are asked to name different pasta shapes by culinary director Adam Grusin ahead of their dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Bottega maitre d’, Hannah Hooten runs down the list of reservations with servers ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Executive chef and co-owner of Bottega, Frank Stitt, seen ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Chef de cuisine Julio De La Rosa preps the kitchen ahead of a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Kitchen staff prepare for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Kitchen staff prepare for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

A customer digs into a meal at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Manager Katelyn Galbreath hugs veteran server Pat Noling at Bottega after learning he married over the weekend, in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland |AL.com)

Jo Ann King and Melanie Turner talk over a glass of wine in the café at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

A server attends to customers in the outdoor seating area of Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Dinner service begins at at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Tables are set for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

The café of Bottega photographed in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Executive chef and co-owner of Bottega, Frank Stitt, seen ahead of their dinner service in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

A server attends to customers in the café at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Servers have a meeting at the bar ahead of a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Tables are set for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Tables are set for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Dinner service begins at at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Tables are set for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Veteran server Pat Noling monitors the dining room at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Customers walk into Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Kitchen staff prepare for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Matt and Paige McClees decide what they want to order at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Dinner service begins at at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Erin Halliday attends to customers at the bar at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

An appetizer is served at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Tables are set for a dinner service at Bottega in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Bottega photographed in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, April 2, 2026. (Will McLelland | AL.com)

Bottega sets a gold standard on Birmingham’s dining scene, thanks to its superstar owner/executive chef, Frank Stitt, and seasonal menus that emphasize creative dishes with fresh ingredients.

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