Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

25 new Mobile restaurants to look forward to in 2017

Mobilians are buzzing with excitement about restaurants opening from downtown to west Mobile and across the bay. Some well-known brands are expanding with new locations, several new chains are coming to Mobile and some locals are opening their own eateries. It’s a great time to be a foodie in Mobile. Here’s the scoop on all the new places, and when you can expect them to open.

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Kimberly Price

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse

Currently under construction at the former site of Cheddar’s, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse offers hand-crafted beer, a Southern California twist on Chicago-style pizza and its signature dessert, the hot Pizookie topped with two scoops of ice cream. BJ’s is a chain of 180 restaurants from coast to coast.

Address: 3748 Airport Blvd.

Projected opening date: March 20, 2017

Website: www.bjsrestaurants.com

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Brick & Spoon

Construction is underway on the second Alabama location of Brick & Spoon, which opened in Orange Beach in 2014. Soon, the breakfast-brunch-lunch spot will open its second Alabama location in Mobile, in building formerly home to Bamboo Bistro in the Yester Oaks Shopping Center. Based in Lafayette, La., Brick & Spoon offers shrimp and grits, beignets and cornmeal-dusted Louisiana oysters as well as a “build-your own” Bloody Mary with more than 50 options.

Address: 3662 Airport Blvd.

Website: www.brickandspoonrestaurant.com

Projected opening date: Early April 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Bun-D

The first Bun-D in the United States is under construction in the historic Three Sisters building at the corner of Dauphin and Royal streets in downtown Mobile. Architect Douglas Kearley is designing the space, which will retain the existing original cast-iron columns and wood ceiling beams with beaded board coffers. Bun-D will offer pitas, salads, smoothies and breakfast items.

Address: 1 S. Royal Street

Website: www.bun-d.com

Projected opening date: Feb. 10, 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Chuck's Fish

After months of renovating the historic building on Dauphin Street, the beautifully appointed two-story Chuck’s Fish restaurant opened in early January to rave reviews. Like the other Chuck’s Fish locations in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, the fresh seafood comes directly from the company’s own Harbor Docks wholesale market in Destin. In addition to Gulf seafood, Chuck’s is known for its aged, naturally raised beef, cut in-house, and its award-winning sushi bar.

Address: 551 Dauphin St.

Phone: (251) 219-7051

Website: www.chucksfish.com

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El Papi

Though many diners were saddened when Café 615 closed last year, a new restaurant is under construction in its space. El Papi will be a sister restaurant to FIVE Bar next door – all part of the Harbor Docks family of restaurants, along with Chuck’s Fish. Further details about El Papi were not available.

Address: 615 Dauphin St.

Projected opening date: Early summer

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Eugene's Monkey Bar

Located inside the new Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Mobile, Eugene’s Monkey Bar is a sidewalk café on Bienville Square, named for one of Mobile’s most original and memorable characters, Eugene Walter. The craft cocktail bar and lounge will feature a food menu influenced by European cuisines with a focus on Southern and local ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. The cocktail menu will feature classic and modern cocktails, as well as versions of some of Walter’s own cocktail recipes. Eugene’s Monkey Bar will have an elevated patio fronting Bienville Square called “The Front Porch,” a reference to Walter’s favorite spot. Eugene’s will be operated independent of the hotel.

Address: 15 N. Conception St.

Projected opening: Feb. 1, 2017

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Foy Superfoods food truck

Since it opened in mid-November, Foy Superfoods has been such a hit in its location across from Bienville Square that Liz Garza and John Smith are taking their health-conscious fare to the streets with a new food truck. Customers rave about fresh pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, avocado toast and more.

Website: www.foysuperfoods.com

Projected opening date: May 2017

Read more here.

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Fuzzy's Taco Shop

Fuzzy’s serves fresh, handmade Baja-style Mexican food in 95 stores across 11 states. The new location in Mobile will have a bright, fun, energetic atmosphere with indoor and outdoor patio seating. Specialties include Baja soft tacos with feta cheese and Fuzzy’s sauce, as well as all-day breakfast.

Address: 5713 Old Shell Road

Website: www.fuzzystacoshop.com

Projected opening date: First week of February

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Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Founded in New York City more than 100 years ago, Grimaldi’s is known for its coal-fired, brick-oven pizzas and calzones made with fresh ingredients, handmade mozzarella and a “secret recipe” dough. The eatery makes its Alabama debut with a new location at The Shoppes at Bel Air.

Address: 3299 Bel Air Mall, Suite B1

Website: www.grimaldispizzeria.com

Projected opening date: Feb. 20, 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Jonelli's

Housed in the tiny former Saucy Q location on Government Street at South Georgia Avenue, Jonelli’s will be a mostly takeout restaurant specializing in Italian beef, Italian sausage and meatball sandwiches, classic Chicago hot dogs, bratwurst, a “true Rueben,” quesadillas and more, according to owner Mike Spina, who moved to Mobile from Chicago a couple of years ago after operating a pub there for 12 years.

Address: 1252 Government St.

Projected opening date: February 2017

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La Cocina Mexican Restaurant

The third location of La Cocina opened in mid-December in the former El Chico location on the west-side service road of I-65, just south of Airport Boulevard, much to the delight of its many Mobile fans who have packed the tiny original location in the Regency Square shopping center for years. (La Cocina also has a location on Section Street in Fairhope.) The expansive new restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine and margaritas for lunch and dinner every day.

Address: 830 W. I-65 Service Road S.

Phone: (251) 378-5837

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Courtesy Amy Thompson Communications

La Floridita

Bob Baumhower's newest concept, a Cuban speakeasy, will feature classic dishes and cocktails inspired by Mobile's sister city of Havana. Baumhower, who visited the original "La Floridita" in Cuba more than 10 years ago, is pictured in front of Aloha Hospitality's Loxley headquarters with his fully restored 1949 Plymouth, which has a CUBA1 license plate. La Floridita will be located in the basement bank vault of the RSA Trustmark Building downtown. Among the offerings will be a daiquiri a la Ernest Hemingway, who invented the iconic cocktail during the 20 years he called Cuba home. On the 34th floor of the same building, Baumhower opened Dauphin's last spring, with what OpenTable dubbed one of the "100 Most Scenic Dining Views in America."

Projected opening date: Late 2017

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Laura Graham - Andree Photograp

Mediterranean Sandwich Co.

The fourth location of this locally owned restaurant opened around the first of January in the Yester Oaks Shopping Center. (Other locations are in downtown Mobile, west Mobile and Daphne.) Fans love their gyros, flatbread sandwiches, wraps, orzo pasta and salads.

Address: 3698 Airport Blvd.

Phone: (251) 308-2131

Website: www.mediterraneansandwich.com

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Mellow Mushroom

The popular Atlanta-based pizza chain already has two restaurants in Mobile, the original one on Old Shell Road at University and the Midtown location on Airport Boulevard in the Loop area. Construction is underway on the largest Mobile Mellow yet, in west Mobile on Schillinger Road near Cottage Hill Road. The new location will have a pirate theme, with a large party area and year-round covered outdoor seating with heaters, fans and TVs.

Address: 1110 Schillinger Road

Website: www.mellowmushroom.com

Projected opening: April 1, 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Moe's Original Bar B Q

Founded in 2001 by three Alabamians who met at the University of Alabama, this barbecue chain opened its third Mobile location in January, in Semmes. (Moe’s is also in Daphne, Foley and Orange Beach.) The menu is a “Southern soul food revival,” featuring pulled pork, smoked chicken and turkey, ribs, wings, fried shrimp and catfish and much more. Try the pimento cheese with house-fried chips as a starter.

Address: 3385 N. Schillinger Road, Semmes

Phone: (251) 410-7428

Website: www.moesoriginalbbq.com

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

MoonPie Kitchen

The MoonPie General Store opened Dec. 30, 2016, just in time for the Moon Pie Drop from the top of the building where it’s located on the first floor. Eat breakfast or lunch at the old-fashioned soda counter. On the lunch menu: a MoonPie burger, topped with RC candied bacon and caramelized onions with a chocolate MoonPie for a bun.

Address: 107 St. Francis St.

Read more about MoonPie General Store here.

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O'Daly's Hole in the Wall

O’Daly’s Irish Pub already includes a traditional pub, a draft-beer sports bar, a live music daiquiri bar and an outdoor patio. Now Matt LeMond has added the Hole in the Wall, which will be open Monday through Saturday starting at 4 p.m. “until.” Among the offerings will be Trash Can Fries (pictured): Crispy Cajun waffle fries smothered with house-made roast beef and gravy and cheese curds; Country Fried Shepherd’s Pie; Reuben Wontons; and The Cycle pizza, topped with pepperoni, ground beef, Canadian bacon and Conecuh sausage with Mozzarella.

Address: 562 Dauphin St.

Website: www.odalysirishpub.com

Projected opening date: Grand opening on Feb. 3, 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Osteria Nofio

The newest eatery in the Dauphin Management family that includes OK Bicycle Shop, Dauphin Street Taqueria, Liquid Lounge and Union Catering, Osteria Nofio (pronounced “NO-fee-oh”) will eventually offer an Italian menu with a nice wine list. But Chef T.J. Knight, who recently moved to Mobile from Philadelphia, will start out with a simple menu featuring Neapolitan pizzas, made with San Marzano tomatoes, plus salads, cheesecake, cannoli and – are you sitting down? – Nutella pizza. Diners will be able to watch the pizzas being made behind the bar. Osteria is located at the corner of Conception and Conti streets, in the ivy-covered space that has been home to Panini Pete’s and Loretta’s.

Also: Watch for the War Eagle Supper Club to open this summer behind the Bike Shop.

Address: 19 S. Conception St.

Projected opening date: Feb. 1, 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

P.F. Chang's

The restaurant chain’s stone horse is standing guard outside Mobile’s first P.F. Chang’s, at the entrance to The Shoppes at Bel Air. The Mobile location will feature a custom mural with cherry blossoms – a nod to Alabama’s Southern hospitality. Everything is made from scratch and made to order at P.F. Chang’s, and all of the rice is grown in the United States. The Mobile menu will feature favorites like Chang’s Lettuce Wraps, Cecelia’s Dumplings and Mongolian Beef, and the restaurant will have a full bar with wine, beer and specialty cocktails.

Address: The Shoppes at Bel Air

Projected opening date: Feb. 13, 2017, at 5 p.m.

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Rooster's Latin American Food

It's the year of the Rooster, indeed. Frankie Little’s much-anticipated new restaurant in downtown Mobile promises fast, fresh, delicious Latin American-inspired cuisine, including tacos, burritos and tortas (Mexican sandwiches) made on Cuban bread from G’s Bakery. Little has hired Mike Devaney from The Bull as a consulting chef for the first couple of months.

Opening date: Jan. 30, 2017

Address: 211 Dauphin St.

Phone: (251) 375-1076

Website: www.roostersdowntown.com

Read more about Roosters here

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

Serda Brewing Co.

The much-anticipated Serda Brewing Co. – a microbrewery, tap house and beer garden – will specialize in craft beer, not food. But it will have scheduled food offerings from food trucks and possibly local food delivery from other restaurants that offer that service, according to Todd Hicks, brewer. “The Warren Street side of the property will be developed into a food truck alley with fencing, lighting and landscaping,” he said. “Patrons can order delicious stuff and sit in either the brewery's pub or Government Street-side biergarten.”

Read more about Serda Brewing Co. here.

Address: 600 Government St.

Projected opening: June-July 2017

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Southern National

Duane Nutter, who gained fame as the chef at the former One Flew South in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and the popular restaurant’s beverage director, Tiffanie Barriere, along with restaurateur Reggie Washington, will soon open Southern National in the onetime location of John Word’s. Nutter was quoted in Eater Atlanta as saying that "Southern National will feature locally sourced seafood from the waters around the great city of Mobile, as well as some fun fish that I have been fortunate enough to get to work with during my days serving over 800 people a day in the first fine-dining restaurant in the world's busiest airport." Mobile architect Douglas Kearley is designing the space.

Address: 360 Dauphin St.

Projected opening date: Spring 2017

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Michelle Matthews | mmatthews@al.com

The Crepe Crusader

If you think you know waffles, think again. The upscale Crepe Crusader food truck will offer crepes made to order and Liège waffles made with dough rather than batter so that they're crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. Among the breakfast and lunch offerings is a BB&T (pictured), consisting of thick-cut peppered bacon, melted brie and grilled tomato with fresh basil and peach jam served on a waffle.

Projected opening date: End of February 2017

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Courtesy Amy Thompson Communications

The Ox Kitchen

Bo Hamilton, seen here, will soon open his new venture, The Ox Kitchen, at Windmill Market in Fairhope. The new lunch spot joins Will Hughes Market and Catering, MaryAnn's Deli and Frios Gourmet Pops under Windmill's eco-friendly roof. Hamilton honed his craft in Auburn, Jackson Hole, Wyo., and most recently Thyme in downtown Fairhope. Like Windmill's other offerings, The Ox Kitchen will focus on down-the-road fresh local produce and products. Its name is a shout out-to Oxford, Miss.

Address: Windmill Market, 85 N. Bancroft St.

Projected opening date: March 1

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Wedgie's Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Wedgies’s, which opened in December in the former Picklefish location across from the University of South Alabama, celebrates and elevates the grilled cheese sandwich. Consider these sandwich choices created by Chef Tyler Shields: The Holy Grill, with house-brined corned beef, sauer kraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on rye; the Southern Comfort, grilled five-cheese macaroni and cheese on Texas toast; and The Matterhorn, with spinach, artichokes, Swiss, Parmesan and Brie and pesto mayo on wheat bread. This family-friendly restaurant includes a chalkboard-lined patio, where dogs are welcome. Live bands will perform on the deck.

Address: 5955 Old Shell Road

Phone: (251) 287-6134

Website: www.wedgiesgrilledcheese.com