It’s an exciting time to be a restaurateur or a foodie in Mobile. More new restaurants are on their way, as well as coffee shops, bakeries and breweries, giving us all places to relax and socialize. Some of them have taken longer than others to finally open, but we’re patient here in Mobile. We can wait.

Here are 25 places you’ll want to check out this year.

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The Brick Pit

Renovations are underway at the beloved Old Shell Road barbecue joint, which is going to reopen under new ownership. Brick Pit devotees will find an improved version of same great barbecue, with new additions like macaroni and cheese as well as beer and wine on the menu.

Address: 5456 Old Shell Road

Projected opening date: TBD

Website: https://www.thebrickpitbbq.com/

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Braided River Brewing Co.

The name of this new canning brewery and taproom comes from the way multiple rivers come together in the Delta as they make their way toward Mobile Bay. Braided River will be on the ground floor of the historic Wheeler Building, originally a Chevrolet dealership, and will have food trucks on hand.

Address: 420 St. Louis St.

Projected opening date: Fall

Website: www.braidedriverbrewing.com

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Cook Out

This Greensboro, N.C.-based fast food chain has been a big hit with University of South Alabama students who can’t get enough of the chargrilled burgers, quesadillas, hot dogs, chicken fingers and milkshakes. The price is right, and it’s open late.

Address: 116 S. University Blvd.

Opening date: Dec. 28, 2018

Website: www.cookout.com

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The FORT Container Park

The FORT is a dining and entertainment hangout made of repurposed shipping containers. Located in Spanish Fort, it’s adjacent to Town Center and includes Beakers Coffee/Sno Biz, Bleus Burger, Deuce Coop, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit, Dragonfly Taco Bar, Happy Pizza, Soul Bowlz and Tap Station.

Address: 26000 Bass Pro Dr., Spanish Fort

Opening date: Late February

Website: www.spanishforttowncenter.com/container-park

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Game Over Retro Pub

Splatter paint and ‘80s music set the tone for this bar that has a craft Philly/burrito menu. But the star of the show is the selection of pinball machines and coin-operated retro arcade machines lining the walls. Bring lots of quarters!

Address: 225 Dauphin St.

Opening date: Mid-February

Website: https://www.facebook.com/gameoverretropub/

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Happy Sushi

Fans of Happy Sushi in Bel Air Mall, where sushi is served from a conveyor belt, will be happy to know that there’s now a second location in Yester Oaks Shopping Center, next to Brick & Spoon. The menu includes sushi, ramen, poke bowls, wings, bubble tea and more, and dishes arrive to the table via a “train” that runs on a track. That’s enough to make anybody happy!

Address: 3662 Airport Blvd.

Opening date: Jan. 4

Website: https://www.facebook.com/happysushiyesteroaks

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Iron Hand Brewing

Located in DeTonti Square, a historic neighborhood adjacent to downtown Mobile, Iron Hand offers hand-crafted beers including ales, porters, stouts and seasonal brews. Its menu includes bratwurst, shepherd’s pie and, on Fridays only, fish and chips.

Address: 206 State St.

Opening date: Jan. 18

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ironhandbrewing/

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It's All Greek to Me

The owners of this authentic Greek restaurant jokingly recommend not eating for a day or two before visiting and wearing pants with an elastic waistband. The menu includes traditional Greek specialties (think Dolmathes, spanakopita, kalamari, Greek lemon soup, lamb chops and more.

Address: 108 N. Section St., Fairhope

Opening date: Early February

Website: www.itsallgrk2me.com

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The Juicy Seafood

This Montgomery-based restaurant chain is opening a Mobile location in the former Zea site. The Juicy Seafood specializes in fish, crab and shrimp.

Address: 4671 Airport Blvd.

Opening date: TBD

Website: www.thejuicyseafoodusa.com

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La Floridita

We’ve been waiting for this one for a long time from football player-turned-restaurateur Bob Baumhower. This 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. On the 34th floor of the same building, Baumhower owns Dauphin’s, which offers an incredible view of the city.

Address: 107 St. Francis St.

Projected opening date: TBD

Website: www.godauphins.com

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Maple Street Biscuit Company

The former site of Rester Brothers Auto next to Lavretta Park in Spring Hill will soon be home to Maple Street Biscuit Company, which started in Jacksonville, Fla., in 2012. Serving "comfort food with a modern twist," the restaurant specializes in fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits and serves its own brand of coffee. From the menu: the Garden Bird, a flaky biscuit with fried chicken, an over-easy egg and collard greens splashed with hot sauce.

Address: 5054 Old Shell Road

Projected opening date: TBD

Website: www.maplestreetbiscuits.com

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Meat Boss

After years of serving breakfast, lunch, whole meats and meat by the pound at its original location on Cottage Hill Road, the popular Meat Boss barbecue restaurant opened a second location at the corner of Downtowner and Michael boulevards, serving breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday.

Address: 1087 Downtowner Blvd.

Opening date: February

Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheMeatBoss/

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Nixon's

Owner John Thompson of Callaghan’s in Mobile and Manci’s in Daphne has opened another neighborhood bar destined to become a favorite. Named for the drugstore that operated in the space for decades, Nixon’s offers “relaxatives” in the form of 21 draft beers and eight wines on tap, as well as a full bar. The menu also includes appetizers, sandwiches and wraps.

Address: 1801 Old Shell Road

Opening date: Mid-February

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Nixons-546481102517305/

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Nova Espresso

Mobile’s newest coffee shop has opened in DeTonti Square, serving espresso, filtered coffee, tea and “other sips,” as well as snacks and grab-n-go lunches prepared by Southern National. And, of course, it has fast internet.

Address: 306 St. Anthony St.

Opening date: Feb. 11

Website: www.novaespresso.coffee

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Old Majestic Brewing Company

This craft beer distribution brewery will have a public house taproom and beer garden. It’s conveniently located behind The Cheese Cottage, which just opened last year and already has a devoted following.

Address: 656 St. Louis St.

Projected opening date: Spring

Website: https://www.facebook.com/OldMajesticBrewery/

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The Pier Bar & Grill

Shux on the Pier is reopening this year with a new name and a new menu. Operated by the Gambino family of Gambino’s Italian Grill, this casual eatery on the Fairhope Pier will offer sandwiches, burgers and a new gift shop.

Address: Fairhope Pier

Projected opening date: March

Website: https://www.facebook.com/shuxonthepier/

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POST Crafted Cocktails and Wine Bar

This upscale venue is the latest addition to the O’Daly’s family of bars on the same block of Dauphin Street.

Address: 571 Dauphin St.

Opening date: Opened in late February

Website: www.postdrinks.com

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Rock-n-Roll Sushi

“Rock out with your chopsticks out” at the newest location of this Mobile-based sushi chain in the Publix shopping center in midtown Mobile, next to Taco Mama. "Headliner" sushi rolls are named for rock stars (among the most popular: Michael Jackson and the Red Hot Chili Peppers).

Address: 100 N. Florida St., Suite A

Opening date: March 11

Website: www.rnrsushi.com

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Sempre, a Restaurant

The former Cream and Sugar coffee shop in Oakleigh Garden District will be transformed into “a culinary innovation with cutting-edge world flavor profiles and Southern swagger,” according to Sempre’s Facebook page.

Address: 351-B George St.

Projected opening date: TBD

Website: https://www.facebook.com/semprerestaurant251/

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The Spiffy Fox Pizza and Pub

If you’ve missed La Pizzeria in the Leinkauf Historic District, you’ll be thrilled to know that a new pizza place will be opening in its space soon with a Gaelic/Irish take on traditional ingredients. The restaurant will be opening in phases, starting with takeout only. By the summer, the owners plan to open the pub, which will have a speakeasy feel.

Address: 1455 Monroe St.

Projected opening date: March

Website: https://www.facebook.com/thespiffyfox/

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Sprinkle's Bakery

The newest bakery to open in Mobile is right behind the popular seafood market called Mudbugs at the Loop. You’ll drool over the display case at the assortment of cakes (whole or by the slice), brownies, cookies, cupcakes, turnovers, muffins and more.

Address: 408 Dauphin Island Parkway

Opening date: Opened mid-February

Website: https://www.facebook.com/mobilesprinkles/

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Stevie’s Gumbo Bar

Stevie Watford of Stevie's Kitchen is opening a smaller location in the former Artology gallery in downtown Mobile. He describes it as a New Orleans-style "hole in the wall" serving gumbo and other Creole and Cajun dishes, as well as his signature Boar's Head sandwiches and salads, as well as a full bar and specialty cocktails.

Address: 300-A Dauphin St.

Projected opening date: TBD

Website: www.stevieskitchen.net

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Truman's Diner

Antiques dealer Bill Appling is preserving as much original architecture as possible as he renovated the space for Truman's Diner in downtown Mobile, named for his personality-filled beagle named Truman, who went to the Rainbow Bridge in 2018. Appling describes the restaurant as "an Art Deco-style Southern diner" that most people have never experienced, he says, because most of them disappeared by the 1970s. Truman's will serve Southern food, simply, he says.

Address: 14 S. Conception St.

Projected opening date: Spring

Website: www.facebook.com/trumansdiner/

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Wacked Out Weiner

The Wacked Out Weiner started in Foley in 2016 and has since opened franchises in Gulf Shores, St. Louis, Bay Minette, Pensacola and Robertsdale. Now it's coming to Mobile. The family-friendly restaurant serves Nathan’s all-beef hot dogs and sausage dogs with a huge topping bar to customize your, um, weiner.

Address: 209 Dauphin St.

Projected opening date: March

Website: www.wackedoutweiner.com

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Yellowhammer Coffee

After starting out as a mobile coffee and espresso bar, Yellowhammer has now opened a tiny brick-and-mortar location with a drive-through near I-65. Hot coffee drinks include lattes, caramel macchiatos, white chocolate mochas; on the cold side, there are fruit smoothies, frappes and espresso drinks.

Address: 3249 Dauphin St.

Opening date: March 2

Website: https://www.facebook.com/YelHamCoffee/

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