Several Birmingham area food service establishments, including Davenport’s in Mountain Brook, Lakeview’s Red Cat, Blackmon’s Cafe in Birmingham and Cowfish Sushi at the Summit received 95 and above on their health inspection scores in December 2019.

As a public service, Bham Now publishes monthly Jefferson County Department of Health restaurant inspection scores and profiles local establishments that received A+ scores in the past month.

How are the inspections conducted?

The food service inspection scores are updated regularly on the Jefferson County Department of Health website. In this food service inspection edition, the scores were received after November 1st.

Here are our featured establishments for this month.

Davenport’s Pizza Palace – 95

Named after a childhood friend of the owner Rex Hollis, Davenport’s is known for it’s made from scratch pizzas and family-friendly atmosphere. Established in 1964, Davenport Pizza Palace is an Mountain Brook institution. It is one of the original pizza restaurants not only in the Birmingham area, but the entire South.

Blackmon’s Cafe – 95

“Save a Penny, Eat Plenty!” That’s Blackmon’s Cafe’s motto. If you are looking for authentic soul food, this is your “go to” place. Located near Miles College at 5620 Avenue J, Birmingham 35208 (plug it into your GPS), the restaurant is across from the Marathon gas. Btw – I recommend the two pork chops soul food dinner.

Red Cat Coffeehouse (in Lakeview and Railroad Park) – 98 & 97

This is a first. Both Red Cat locations scored a above a 95 in December 2019. The Lakeview location notched a 98, while the Railroad Park site scored a 97. One of Bham Now’s favorite places to meet, I am personally addicted to the “Breakfast Bowl.”

Cowfish Sushi – 95

Who doesn’t love gourmet burgers and sushi? Cowfish Sushi opened up at the Summit back in 2017. The menu is one of the most diverse in Birmingham ranging from burgers to sushi – hand-spun milkshakes to cocktails. The place is one of a kind!

Additional places scoring 95 and above

El Sol -95

Ousler Sandwiches – 99

Fruitta Bowl at the Summit – 96

Great Harvest Bread Company – 98

Super Oriental Market – 96

Egg house & Wing Stop – 96

Silver Kati – 97

Website

Visit Jefferson County Department of Health’s Food Service website for the latest scores. These food service inspections are invaluable and help keep us all safe. It is our “right to know.”

Pat Byington Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.