Noah Oliphant :: Blog :: Cafe Dupont

Birmingham Alabama restaurant review #2

This weekend my father and step mother visited us in Birmingham, with the request that we find a nice restaurant that utilizes local ingredients.  We had previously been to Highlands Bar and Grill, so I decided to bring them to another great restaurant in Birmingham : Cafe Dupont.

I've eaten at Cafe Dupont 4 times now.  Twice it was outstanding.  Twice it was just fine.  This was one of the times it was just fine.

For more information about Café Dupont click here.

One feature of this restaurant that I enjoy is that it has a flexible tasting menu.  For $85 you can try everything on the menu.  Or you can pay $65 and pick four items with desert included.  This latter option is really fun because you can pick any four items you want (appetizers, entrees).

Unfortunately, this time the tasting menu options were not listed on the menu.  I asked our waiter if it was still an option and he informed me that we could choose 4 for $85.  Unacceptable.

Instead I decided to start with their fried oyster and okra appetizer, followed by a main course of beef tenderloin.

Fried Oysters and Okra
Although it was late in the oyster season, the oysters were excellent and fresh.  This dish was served with two sauces: A mustard butter, and a soy cream.  The sauces didn’t really work together very well which was disappointing.  I thought the fine cornmeal breading could have used a little seasoning.  My step mother ordered this too and was delivered her appetizer in a different plate and only one sauce.  How can you give two people at the same table different versions of the same app???

Beef Tenderloin
This was really the highlight of the meal.  Perfectly cooked to medium rare as ordered, and well seasoned.  The beef was topped with a small amount of blue cheese and was served with navy beans, shrimp, and fried red onions.  The sauce was a red wine reduction with a hint of molasses.  I found this dish to be inventive, unique, and delicious.

Bananas Foster
We ordered to deserts for the table.  Café Dupont bananas foster is great.  You won’t be disappointed here.

Pear Tart
Pretty disappointing really.  Not flavorful, not sweet, and a pretty terrible texture.  Unfortunate end to the meal.

The service left something to be desired.  The dining room was crowded and cramped.  Despite making reservations well in advance, our table seemed to be added at the last second.  If I leaned back in my chair I came in contact with the diner behind me.  Too close for my taste.

The food came FAST.  This was great, but it took a long time for our waiter to take our order.  Once my father asked for water with no ice and had to remind the waiter because he forgot.

All in all, this was a decent meal.  The service was acceptable but not great.  The food was pretty great and my entrée was phenomenal.