Vintage 1889 — Restaurant in Fort Payne

Vintage 1889: A Culinary Journey Back in Time

As a seasoned restaurant reviewer, I recently had the pleasure of dining at Vintage 1889, located at 151 8th St NE, Fort Payne, AL 35967. Let me tell you, it was a delightful experience that left a lasting impression. This eatery effortlessly blends history with modern flavors, creating a unique and memorable dining adventure.

Ambiance and Atmosphere: The moment you step inside, you're transported to a bygone era. The rustic wooden beams, vintage photographs, and soft candlelight evoke a sense of nostalgia. It's as if the walls themselves whisper stories of days long past. The cozy booths and antique accents make you feel like a cherished guest in someone's home.

Lightning-Fast Service: Our visit began with a pleasant surprise—the service was lightning fast. Quicker than your favorite fast-food joint, yet with the warmth and attentiveness of a fine-dining establishment. Kudos to the staff for their efficiency without sacrificing hospitality.

The Culinary Highlights: Now, let's dive into the stars of the show—the food!

Pimento Cheese Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich: The Pimento Cheese BLT—a mouthwatering twist on a classic. Imagine crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and fresh lettuce, all hugged by slices of toasted bread. But here's the magic: the pimento cheese. Creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy, it elevated the sandwich to new heights. The texture danced between smooth and chunky, adding intrigue to every bite. Who knew pimento cheese could be such a perfect companion to a BLT?

Potato Salad: The potato salad deserves its own standing ovation. Creamy, well-seasoned, and utterly addictive. The potatoes were tender, and the dressing struck a harmonious balance between tangy and savory. Chopped chives and a hint of dill added freshness. It was like a comforting hug from Grandma, served on a plate.

Going Above and Beyond: Here's where Vintage 1889 truly shines. My wife and I often split an entrée, and the staff anticipated our unspoken request. To our delight, they brought out our sandwich and salad already divided onto separate plates. It's these thoughtful touches that set Vintage 1889 apart—a small gesture that made us feel valued and cared for.

Final Thoughts: Vintage 1889 isn't just a restaurant; it's a time capsule where flavors collide, memories are made, and service is an art form. Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, or simply seeking a memorable meal, this gem is worth a visit. And that split sandwich? It's a testament to their commitment to exceeding expectations.

So, raise your fork to Vintage 1889—a culinary journey that bridges the past and...

If you’re in Fort Payne, definitely skip this place. The last time I ate here was 7 years ago and it was amazing. Rather than get into full detail, I will state the basic. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get our food because the grill slip “fell in between the cracks of something in the kitchen”, as told to us by the waitress, who never realized that our food wasn’t given to us 🤔. I had to go ask about our food after an hour, as she never even stopped to ask us anything about refills, etc. Waitress was very confused about us even being there, which was rather strange, because she had walked past us at least 12 times. This was NOT a busy night at all, which was also baffling. She finally brought out our appetizer and then stated she would be taking those off of our bill due to the amount of time it took to come out. She told us if we could wait for 10 more minutes, they would bring out the main entrées and they wouldn’t charge us for those either. At this point, we waited so long so we decided to go ahead and wait. I ordered the fried butterfly shrimp basket, and my son ordered the barbecue bacon cheeseburger. Upon arrival 30 minutes later, not 10, there were 6 super tiny “butterflied” shrimp that we’re about paper thin and ALL breading; potato salad was lukewarm and tasted weird, like it was going bad; and the corn was overcooked and mushy. My sons burger came out black and charred, after he asked for medium, no bbq sauce on it and they gave him sweet potato fries instead of regular, which he also asked for. To add, this restaurant is very expensive for the quality that they offer. Last, but not least, the waitstaff was super rude and didn’t offer any apology, except one young lady who wasn’t our waitress. I attached a picture of my supposedly big butterflied shrimp. Whole meal was pitiful. We will never return, the other few people in the establishment also stated they will never return. It was just that bad folks. Definitely consider...

Well as far as the food, it is great, if you are expecting what you get. As far as getting what you order, well that’s another thing. I have been there twice recently and both times not gotten what I ordered. The first time I could kinda understand maybe the misunderstanding when I had the menu open to the salads and requested a chicken salad and I received chicken salad (as in the kind you spread onto a cracker or make a sandwich) instead. So I kinda was like well maybe. But the second time was like they completely ignored what I requested and just gave me what they wanted. I requested a plain ole cheeseburger, with lettuce, tomato, onions, mustard and ketchup. The waitress even read it back and asked if I wanted pickles which I replied yes. I again stated that’s all I wanted on it. It came back smothered in their “house sauce “ and I mean smothered. It was in the lettuce and everything. So I believe the waitress was surprised also when she asked was it not right. I ended up eating it at that point because one, the bun replacement she offered would have done nothing, and two I don’t believe it was her fault and frankly I don’t send food back normally for fear of the cook doing something to it out of anger, and that’s anywhere. So that was the last time I’ll eat there. Things here are nowhere near what...