Keeping up with all the new restaurants that opened in Birmingham in 2019 was a full-time job. From January all the way through December, new places popped up all over town, including a popular Jewish deli that began in New York, a barbecue establishment co-owned by a James Beard Award-winning chef, and a seafood and oyster restaurant that has already been recognized as one of the best new restaurants in America. Plus, some familiar Birmingham faces opened new places, and several emerging chains expanded into the Magic City. Here are a few of our favorite new restaurants from 2019. -- Bob Carlton

Photo by Cary Norton

Automatic Seafood and Oysters

Automatic Seafood and Oysters, from the dynamic duo of chef Adam Evans and his wife, interior designer Suzanne Humphries Evans, was easily the most anticipated new restaurant to open in Birmingham in 2019, and it has more than lived up to all the advance buzz. Delivering such fresh-from-the-Gulf dishes as roasted red snapper and crispy whole pompano, the Evanses have been reeling customers into their bustling Lakeview eatery since they opened the doors on April 1. Not only is Automatic Seafood and Oysters the hottest of the hot new Birmingham restaurants, but it has also been recognized as one of the best new restaurants in America by the likes of Esquire and Thrillist.

Address: 2824 Fifth Ave. South, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-580-1600.

Website: www.automaticseafood.com.

Read more: Meet the chef behind Alabama's most exciting new restaurant.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Bandit Patisserie

Kristen Farmer Hall and Victor King, whose charming Morris Avenue café The Essential made our 2018 list of The Hottest New Restaurants in Birmingham, have scored again with Bandit Patisserie, their new pastry shop and café that opened in early November on Central Avenue in Homewood. The pastry selection includes fresh croissants and pop tarts, and the lunch menu features kale Caesar salads, turkey Reubens and pimento cheese sandwiches. Although open only a couple of months, Bandit Patisserie has already become a popular neighborhood gathering spot.

Address: 2821 Central Ave., Suite 105, Homewood.

Phone: 205-460-1069.

Website: banditbham.com.

Read more: Bandit Patisserie opening in Homewood.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Bobby Carl's Table

Chef Trey McLemore -- whose full name is Robert Carl McLemore III -- and his friend Tim Lowe grew up together in rural Shelby County, and this fall, the two old friends teamed up to open a Southern-style restaurant inspired by the food their grandmothers served for Sunday dinner. Bobby Carl's Table, which took over the former Root to Tail space in English Village, serves hearty meat-and-three lunches and such comfort-food dishes as chicken and dumplings and meatloaf with mashed potatoes at night. McLemore's signature dish, though, is the Alabama Collard Melt, a Southern take on the Reuben sandwich, with collard greens and coleslaw instead of corned beef and sauerkraut. You'll need both hands and a stack of napkins for that one.

Address: 2031 Cahaba Road, Mountain Brook.

Phone: 205-202-4760.

Website: bobbycarlstable.com.

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Photo by Ginnard Archibald

Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurante

Andrew Collins and Josh Schaff from The Collins Bar turn back the clock to 1940s-era Cuba with their energetic new restaurant and bar that opened this summer in the Founders Station development on First Avenue North. Collins enlisted former Satterfield's Restaurant and Elyton Hotel chef Haller Magee to create the Latin-American-inspired menu, which includes braised pork tamales, grilled octopus and mofongo balls.

Address: 2015 First Ave. North, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-290-5115.

Website: cayococorumbar.com.

Read more: Cayo Coco Rum Bar & Restaurante is a nod to Cuba's pre-revolution high life.

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Photo by Laura Catherine Carlton

Greenhouse

The husband-and-wife team of Bray and Mary Claire Britton, who met while working together at Dyron's Low Country in Mountain Brook, make healthy eating fun at their fast-casual Edgewood eatery. Guests not only have a variety of soups, salads and smoothies from which to choose, but also Cuban, chicken salad and grilled cheese sandwiches -- as well as Mary Claire's popular Ridiculous Cookie, with chocolate chips, oatmeal and raisins.

Address: 1017 Oxmoor Road, Homewood.

Phone: 205-326-7727.

Website: greenhouse.bham.com.

Read more: Greenhouse, a new fast-casual restaurant, is coming to Edgewood Station.

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Photo by Laura Catherine Carlton

McFly's Bird Shoppe

The latest concept from entrepreneurs Jeremy Fall and Henry Costa, McFly’s Bird Shoppe offers a new twist on the traditional chicken tender. Selections include chicken, turkey and sausage tenders served with such signature sauces as black garlic ranch, Nashville hot mayo and Bloody Mary ketchup. Their chicken shop opened in November in Five Points South.

Address: 1024 20th St. South, Birmingham.

Phone:

Website: www.facebook.com/McFlysbs

Read more: McFly's Bird Shoppe and Unplugged set opening dates in Five Points South.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Mile End Delicatessen

Mile End Delicatessen, which is inspired by the Jewish delis that founder Joel Tietolman remembers from his childhood growing up in Montreal's Mile End neighborhood, began in Brooklyn in 2010 and came to Birmingham in January 2019. It is the real deal, with wood-fired-oven bagels, potato latkes, matzo ball soup and hickory-smoked brisket, as well as New York-style cheesecake.

Address: 1701 First Ave. South, Suite 135, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-558-8011.

Website: mileenddeli.com/birmingham.

Read more: Mile End brings Jewish-deli favorites to Birmingham.

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Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Rodney Scott grew up working the pits in his family's barbecue joint in Hemingway, S.C., and smoked his first whole hog when he was just 11 years old. Many years later, he met Birmingham restaurateur Nick Pihakis, co-founder of Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q. They became close friends and eventually partnered to open the first Rodney Scott's BBQ in Charleston, S.C., in 2017 before coming to Birmingham two years later. In between, Scott won a James Beard Award for best chef in the Southeast, so in Birmingham, he fits right in alongside fellow James Beard winners Frank Stitt and Dolester Miles of Highlands Bar and Grill and Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club. In addition to whole-hog barbecue and slow-smoked ribs, the menu at Rodney Scott's BBQ features smoked turkey, fried catfish, collard green, hush puppies and Ella's banana pudding, named for and inspired by Rodney's mom.

Address: 3719 Third Ave. South, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-506-2711.

Website: rodneyscottsbbq.com.

Read more: Rodney Scott's BBQ opening in Birmingham this week.

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Photo by Cary Norton

The Thirsty Donkey

Kathy and Greg Stein left Birmingham two years ago to move to Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where they opened a restaurant called the Thirsty Donkey. After Hurricane Irma devastated Saint John later that same year, the couple eventually moved back to Birmingham and re-opened the Thirsty Donkey in Avondale this summer. A mix of Caribbean and Alabama influences the menu features Conecuh sliders, a fish sandwich and Caribbean pasta, along with a selection of cheeseburgers and veggie burgers.

Address: 4100 Fourth Ave. South, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-777-3229.

Website: thirstydonkeybhm.com.

Read more: This new eatery brings Caribbean food and flair to Avondale.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Yummefy Asian Restaurant

After their Chai Market was destroyed in a fire earlier this year, owners Sam and Rose Pokhrel reorganized and opened Yummefy Asian Restaurant at the far end of the same block in the former Farm Burger space in The Waites development on Birmingham's Southside. The menu features such Nepalese dishes as steamed dumplings, noodle soup and spicy Himalayan chicken, as well as traditional Asian favorites such as fried rice, stir-fry and chow mein. (Note: The popular and beloved Yum Yai Thai Takeout, which adjoined Chai Market and was also destroyed in the same fire, is expected to reopen in early January in a new location at 5426 U.S. 280 in Greystone, according to a recent post on the Yum Yai Facebook page.)

Address: 707 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. South, Suite 104, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-324-4873.

Website: yummefybirmingham.com.

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Old Places, New Spaces

Here a few Birmingham restaurants that expanded to open new locations in 2019.

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Shauna Stuart/sstuart@al.com

Abhi Eatery + Bar

Nearly three years after opening his Asian fusion restaurant Abhi Eatery + Bar at the Summit, Birmingham chef and sushi master Abhi Sainju opened a second location of Abhi in early December in the former home of Avo restaurant in Mountain Brook Village. "It's not only the food that I'm bringing," Sainju told AL.com's Shauna Stuart. "I'm bringing the best drinks. I just wanted to bring the best to Birmingham." The dinner menu includes a rotating selection of sushi rolls, as well as salads, skewers, shared plates, noodle bowls and desserts.

Address: 2400 Montevallo Road, Mountain Brook.

Read more: Go inside Abhi Eatery + Bar in Mountain Brook.

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Photo courtesy of Carrigan's Public House

Carrigan's Public House

Downstairs from Abhi Eatery + Bar, another Birmingham favorite, Carrigan's Public House, also opened a second location in the space formerly occupied by Dram Whiskey Bar. The original Carrigan's, which opened on Morris Avenue six years ago, is still doing a booming business, and the new one in the heart of Mountain Brook Village is off to a fast start since opening in late November. The menu features some of the favorites from the Morris Avenue location, as well as a few new dishes, including a bison burger and a roasted squash salad.

Address: 2400 Montevallo Road, Mountain Brook.

Phone: 205-582-2221.

Website: carriganspub.com.

Read more: The Mountain Brook location of Carrigan's is ready; here's what's new.

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Facebook/Dreamcakes Cafe

Dreamcakes Cafe

Ten years ago, Jan Potter started Dreamcakes Bakery in Cahaba Heights, and as word of her luscious cupcakes quickly got around, she outgrew that space and moved Dreamcakes to its current location in Edgewood. Earlier this fall, Potter and her husband and co-owner, Dwight Potter, branched out to open a second place, Dreamcakes Café, in Ross Bridge. In addition to Dreamcakes' popular cupcakes, cakes, cookies and macaroons, the menu includes breakfast and lunch options.

Address: 3601 Market St., Suite 1010, Hoover.

Phone: 205-319-9888.

Website: dreamcakes-bakery.com/dreamcakes-cafe

Read more: Dreamcakes opens Ross Bridge location.

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Chain Reaction

With its booming dining scene, Birmingham is a popular destination for some of the country's hottest new chain restaurants. Here are a few of the big ones that came to town this year.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Flying Biscuit Cafe

Known for its "creamy, dreamy" grits and its "fluffy flying" biscuits, this Atlanta-based all-day-breakfast concept opened its first Alabama location in the Shops of the Colonnade this fall. All the main dishes on the menu are named after famous rock and pop songs, including the "Gimme Three Steps" bacon and eggs breakfast, the "Dixie Chicken" chicken biscuit and the "Go Your Own Way" breakfast burger.

Address: 3419 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 100, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-438-6857.

Website: flyingbiscuit.com.

Read more: Go inside Alabama's first location of the Flying Biscuit Cafe.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

Now we don't have to go to Memphis to get a plate of Gus's hot and spicy fried chicken. Gus's history goes back more than 65 years to the small town of Mason, Tenn., and since opening in Memphis nearly 20 years ago, it has grown to include more than 25 restaurants nationwide. The first Alabama location opened in February in The Battery development in downtown Birmingham. Dark- and white-meat chicken plates come with such Southern sides as fried okra, collard greens and mac and cheese. Desserts include chocolate chess, coconut, pecan and sweet potato pies.

Address: 2201 Second Ave. South, Birmingham.

Phone: 205-538-5337.

Website: gusfriedchicken.com.

Read more: Gus's Fried Chicken opens first Alabama location.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Ruby Sunshine

This all-day brunch concept from the owners of New Orleans' Ruby Slipper Café opened in the former Bartaco space in Homewood's Edgewood neighborhood in early August. The Big Easy-inspired menu features barbecue shrimp and grits, bananas Foster pain perdu and eggs cochon Benedict. And Bloody Marys and mimosas, of course.

Address: 1017 Oxmoor Road, Homewood.

Phone: 205-496-8710.

Website: www.rubysunshine.com.

Read more: Ruby Sunshine coming to Homewood this year.

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Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com

Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar

Address: 6401 Tattersall Park Drive, Hoover.

Phone: 205-538-2700.

Website: walk-ons.com.

Another Louisiana-based restaurant chain, Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar, began in Baton Rouge, where former LSU basketball players Brandon Landry and Jack Warner opened their sports bar and grill near Tiger Stadium in 2003. The new Birmingham-area location opened in early December in the Tattersall Park development off Highway 119 in Hoover. Former LSU and current PGA golfer Smylie Kaufman of Vestavia Hills and former Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson of Hoover are among the investors. In addition to a sports-friendly atmosphere with big-screen TVs everywhere you look, the menu includes such game-day grub as waffle cheese fries, boudin balls and boneless wings, as well as salads, sandwiches, seafood and burgers.

Read more: Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar opens in Hoover, hiring 250.

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Graphic by Ramsey Archibald/rarchibald@al.com

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