R Bistro — Restaurant in Alabama

I don’t even know where to start! I cannot recommend this restaurant enough, everything was perfect! This place was some of the best food I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I came in right before close and were somewhat nervous but Taylor greeted us with the warmest welcome to a restaurant I’ve ever had. She proceeded to be so incredibly polite that my fears of when we arrived were eased instantly. We were seated at an outdoor table and the view and vibes were so cozy yet upscale at the same time. The seats were comfortable and I enjoyed the table layout. The inside of the restaurant also carried wonderful vibes and felt cozy. Our server Erik was very friendly while helping us pick our food and explaining the menu. He was very attentive to our table and kept our gases filled and things clean. I was very impressed by the service this close to closing time. The food was even better than the service! We started with the crawfish macaroni and cheese which came out still sizzling and was so delicious! For entrees I got shrimp and grits and my girlfriend got a bowl of gumbo, an order of green beans, and an order of spinach. The shrimp and grits came smothered in a delightful crawfish and pepper sauce, a perfectly cooked Gouda grit cake, and the best cooked and tastiest shrimp I’ve ever had in my life. The gumbo was savory and reminded us of red beans and rice and was so hearty and delicious. The spinach was the best we’ve had as well, it was salty and hearty and was reminiscent of bay water in an incredible way. The green means (Harcourts vert) were not to our liking but were cooked very well and for someone else would surely be great! We ended the night with a crème brûlée that was so perfectly prepared; the sugar on top was the perfect toast and hardness level and the custard beneath was light and perfect. My girlfriend usually isn’t a fan of the sugar on top but she had almost more than me! I have to reiterate that we came in very close to closing time and still received the greatest service of any restaurant I’ve been to. Erik and Maura were so polite and friendly and we even had a great conversation with Erik after the fact; and whatever they’re paying Taylor is not enough! I cannot recommend this place enough to anyone in the area. The prices were very fair for the portions and quality we received. For two people, an indulgent meal and a generous tip we only spent $116!! I want to personally thank everyone working here for the food, hospitality, and overall...

The close up pic of the grits (fried to perfection) shows some of the smoked gouda cheese inside. Additionally, the shrimp were cooked perfectly — plump and juicy — while accompanied by a delightfully rich sauce and plenty of crawfish tail meat. Just enough spicy heat to leave the mouth tingly! 😋

Seldom do I comment on bread, but the crispy cracker crust and moist interior was ridiculously delicious with a little bit of butter! Got several desserts to go: a cupcake-size carrot cake, similarly minimalist cheesecake, and a peanut butter/chocolate mousse — all good and assembled with great attention to detail and all with fresh fruit, edible flowers, and/or sprigs of spearmint.

Eric was very attentive and knowledgeable: plus he was eager to share his own personal menu favorites. Great location away from the “big city” of Fairhope — though inside the facility, future investment in some more sophisticated and effective interior lighting would be welcome (as would be a few “happy hour” options for earlybirds like us). Might also gently suggest tidying up the grounds with a good powerwashing for both the outdoor seating and entry areas — removal of multiple, unused wooden pallets and debris notwithstanding.

Take home: first visit, looking forward to...

They've really gone to great lengths to prevent having obese people eat here so if you're terrified of large folks this place has a safe spot for you. It all starts with the outdoor seating options: heavy patrons will find the barbie doll sized tables and chairs to be too dainty to even think about trying to park their derriere on and if they did dare such a thing the chairs are equipped with a device designed to make the chair collapse leaving the overbese person on the ground. Then comes the entrance, if a hungry large person decides to venture inside they'll find it impossible to navigate thanks to strategically placed tables and chairs that make it too tight a fit to squeeze thru. In the unlikely event that one does slide thru with the help of a loved one they'll find no haven there either. The dining area is arranged so that even the skinnies are elbow to elbow and it is required that if a person's buns need more than one chair they must pay for each additional chair. Then there's the portions. The buffet lovers will be left hangry after cleaning their plates and will be forced to exit thru the back in shame after the gravy stains on their shirt cause them...