This year, The New York Times sent its reporters across 33 states to uncover the 50 best restaurants in America.
From historic dining rooms to cutting-edge kitchens, in the heart of the South, they discovered something unexpected: a place where Gulf shrimp meets caramel, Alabama oysters share space with East Coast classics and fries with lemon aioli never leave the menu.
It doesn't have a celebrity chef TV show. It's not in a big city like New York or L.A., and it's not trying to go viral on TikTok with neon signs and $40 cocktails.
Welcome to Bayonet, Birmingham's own, that just earned a spot on The New York Times' prestigious list of America's Best Restaurants of 2025 .
What makes Bayonet the best restaurant in Alabama?
Opened by chef Rob McDaniel and his wife, Emily, Bayonet is