Tamara's Downtown — Restaurant in Fairhope

For our third wedding anniversary, my spouse and I decided to celebrate at Tamara’s Downtown, a decision that resulted in an evening of culinary delights and unmatched service. The ambiance of the establishment, coupled with the attentiveness of our waitstaff, set the stage for a memorable celebration.From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by not one, but two incredibly hospitable waiters who understood the importance of our celebration. Their attentiveness was impeccable; they remained unobtrusively present throughout the evening, ensuring every detail was perfect. Their colleagues also periodically checked in on us, contributing to a seamless dining experience. This consistent attentiveness allowed us to navigate a delightful multi-course meal without ever feeling overlooked.Our culinary journey began with an invigorating round of lemon drop martinis, paired excellently with a dozen succulent raw oysters. A standout appetizer was the innovative avocado fries — crispy on the exterior, yet marvelously creamy within. Following this, we indulged in rich New England clam chowder and a robust French onion soup, each dish setting a high standard for what was to come.The main course featured exquisitely prepared meats: a prime rib with au jus and a zesty horseradish sauce alongside an 8 oz filet, each expertly cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Accompanying these were thick asparagus spears, cooked to retain just the right amount of crunch, and a sublime mashed blend of Yukon gold potatoes, creating a harmonious balance of textures and flavors.As our meal drew to a close, and we were savoring the last bites of our entrées, our waiter thoughtfully boxed our remaining prime rib. Then, in a delightful surprise, the staff presented us with a dessert and serenaded us with a song in honor of our anniversary, adding a personal touch that deeply moved us.I highly recommend Tamara’s Downtown for anyone seeking a dining experience where the sublime interplay of exceptional cuisine and sterling service meets every desire for a truly unforgettable evening. In honor of such an experience, I dedicate this Anthurium, a plant symbolizing hospitality, happiness, and abundance. Its striking, heart-shaped blooms not only convey warmth and welcome but perfectly encapsulate the essence of our anniversary celebration at...

I've pretty much half the menu here. The food is top notch, the staff are great, and the restaurant has nice decor inside. I miss the lobster roll. OMG, so good. I also love the sea bass dinner, which is still available. The panko bread crumbs make it especially nice.

I would like to suggest that Tamara's please stock this beer: "Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier." It is available at the Fairhope Piggly, so I assume the local distributor stocks it. Not sure if that is ABC or not. This beer is far superior to the local "craft" beers made in Alabama, which are all over-hopped and lack sophistication.

I would recommend a better ventilation system in Tamara's considering the times in which we are now living. A bit more fresh air. With a full house, the oxygen levels seem low.

Also, an effort to serve more dishes using avocado oil or olive oil would be fantastic, even if this is an upgrade on the menu over canola and vegetable oil, which are very bad for one's health. Please note that olive oil "blends" do not count. The importers of the oil nearly always lie about the percentage of canola oil, which is far cheaper.

Extra Virgin olive oil for salads is ideal. I would gladly pay for the upgrade if it were available. Some good brands for oil includes Chosen for avocado oil, and California Olive Ranch 100% California. Colavita is good for olive oil as well, and its balsamic is quite good, while not being very expensive to buy in large restaurant size quantities.

I tried the crab meat pie today. The crab freshness was borderline iffy and the pie was very cold in the middle. I didn't like the crust. The pie came with some weird little things, as sort of a side. No idea what they were. I ate one and passed on the rest. I wanted to ask the waitress to take my order back, and get something else, but I didn't have the energy to go through with it. I ended up eating it and didn't get sick. I was grateful for that. The waitress was kind of a grim septuagenarian, but polite. She seemed tired as well. But everyone seems tired these days. It's hard times we are living in.

This restaurant sells healthy food and makes sure to protect the health of...

Wife and I arrived just after 3pm for Happy Hour. My wife had the house wine and some Boom Boom Shrimp (which was not good, soaked in a red sauce), I had 2 miller lite beers then ordered 2 beef tacos. I asked our waitress (who's hospitality was insincere) for a doggy bag for the Boom Boom, smartly she replied " didn't you read the rule at the bottom of the Happy Hour menu, it says we can not give to go containers for Happy Hour meals. We can sell you one for .50 cents.." I told her and the Manager (short haired young woman) I was disappointed about their rule to charge for a doggy bag and that on two previous visits, we were given doggy bags. The Mgr. said "well they broke the rules". I know of no other restaurant that charges for doggy bags. She replied "we do". So, I told her, we will pay you .50 cents for the to go container for the Spinach and Artichoke Dip my wife had just ordered (because the Boom Boom was not good). I told the Mgr., " OK, you make .50 cents, now please deduct $6. for the bad Boom Boom, take back the 2 tacos I ordered for $6. and I save $11.50. We paid our tab and I hesitantly left our disingenuous waitress $5.12 tip (wife made me do it) for a $20.88 (CASH) tab. The Manager was lacking. See the online Happy Hour Menu, it's old, it has no rule about doggy bags, Menu says meals are $5. the menus now have a black marker covering the $5. with a $6. (tacky, get new menus). The beer is now $3, not $2 like picture shows and wine now $6. Also, on every table it says they charge extra for credit cards, cash saves you money. May you all have a more pleasant experience...