August has arrived, the whole country is sweltering in the heat, and that means College Football is just around the corner. Another year passes, and a whole new set of students are going to get to experience game day in Tuscaloosa for the first time. On top of that, a good 100,000+ more people all flood into the overcrowded town every Saturday until the whole place is busting at the seams.
So if you’re coming for the first time, things can feel a bit overwhelming. For the game itself, there’s the few
really important logistics: where to park, what to eat, and how to get there.
For the most part, you can try to aim somewhere near campus and just look for parking lots (near the rec center often has some good options if you’re early), or maybe closer to downtown, or even south of campus, near the railroad tracks, where you can often find people opening up their driveways for some paid parking.
Worst case, you can always park at the University Mall on Skyland and take a shuttle.
Once you’re on campus, the first stop should always be the Quad. If you’re into pregame stuff, the team will have a walk and the band will have their thing before the game. Otherwise, the Quad is going to be full of tailgating, if that’s your scene. You can also hit the Bryant Museum if you want to see a fun building full of exhibits of championship-winning Alabama squads.
With all of that, though, something I found to be the most fun during my years in Tuscaloosa were the places off-campus that became my favorite places to eat some excellent food.
So, let’s start there.
For breakfast, there are really only two options… And let’s be honest, you better get there early on a gameday. City Cafe in downtown Northport has been around forever and makes a great breakfast. It’s a favorite of students for getting early morning coffee. The other is the Waysider off of Greensboro. It’s buried behind some train tracks and can be a bit cramped inside, but it’s covered in Alabama football memorabilia, and is famous for being the oldest restaurant in the city and was a routine favorite of the legendary coach Paul Bryant.
Now, if you’re in town a little later and want a great lunch, we have a few options. I credit Tuscaloosa for being the first city to teach me about Greek food, and that honor goes to Hooligans. They’ve changed buildings a few times, but the food is always way better than it seems like it should be. The gyro pitas, pita plates, and french fries are still in my dreams, and if you’re feeling a burger, they’re hard to beat as well.
There’s a couple of other Greek restaurants as well: first, there’s Glory Bound. They’re a more American take on gyros, and have some really creative flavors. They’re right on the Strip on University Blvd., so expect it to be crowded. Second, a favorite of mine from Mobile recently moved up to Tuscaloosa – the Mediterranean Sandwich Company. They’ve also now built a location on the Strip, and the Redneck Gyro is one of the best amalgamations to ever exist.
Now, if you’re willing to get out of town a little, the Brown Bag is way out in the sticks north of the city, halfway to Lake Tuscaloosa, and is about the most authentic deep southern food you’ll ever find.
Finally, for dinner, there’s nothing like a good sports bar and grill. A personal favorite is the Avenue Pub in downtown Tuscaloosa – they make one excellent burger. However, expect the crowds. If you get out of downtown, two other great options are Billy’s in Northport or the Southern Ale House off of McFarland.
The game itself, of course, is the real attraction. But if you’re looking for good food in your pilgrimage to the homeland this year, I hope this gives you a good inspiration if you never tried any of these places. Happy eating, and Roll Tide!
