Gilchrist — Restaurant in Mountain Brook

I have lived in Birmingham, AL for over 30 years. I LOVE to eat as is clear by my many posts on dining. Eating is a passion for me and my family. You would think, after 30 years I would have tried every place in Birmingham, and you would be wrong.

To set this up, I love fine dining, steakhouses, Oyster bars, Sandwich shops, and McDonalds. What I really love is great food, comfort food and a feeling of warmth. It does NOT have to have a white tablecloth, but it does have to strike a cord usually of a past memory. That is my setup.

Gilchrist has been where it sits in Birmingham, AL for a very long time. When my daughter wanted to take me there, I fought her because we were downtown at the time. All I asked her for was a GREAT BREAKFAST sandwich. I get to the place, and I instantly feel in LOVE. Everything was old, potato chips lined up on the side wall with lots of candy by the cash register. Two table of men sitting just talking, all about my age (I am old) or older. The bathroom was through the kitchen up a slight step. On the side counter where they prepared the food, was two huge stainless-steel bowls with the remnants of Egg salad and Tuna Salad just made for lunch. I knew I was IN THE RIGHT PLACE. I rated the Atmosphere as 5. Understand, it is a "Hole In A Wall" kind of place and nothing is fancy about it. That is full disclosure.

I ordered a comfort food breakfast Sandwich. Toasted Whole Wheat Toast, Egg, Cheese, Bacon and Mayo. I love that kind of sandwich. I was NOT disappointed. Now I want to go back for lunch for egg salad, tuna Salad or chicken salad. How did I miss the cultural gem all these decades. Want fancy, go somewhere else. Want history and taste, come to Gilchrist. I found my new place.

Eat well, drink well...

Love their Chicken salad and Chili💯 But this is my second time there and the first time i went there which was a couple days ago I purchased a large limeade which was served in a big (large) cup then today i decided to order over the phone and asked for a large limeade again so when i went to pick it up they charged me for a large but it was in a smaller cup so I asked if that was their large and the girl said yes so what is the large if 2 days ago it was served in a bigger cup n today i get charged the same but served in a smaller cup? Don't know what to say i mean the younger ones that work there seems to not care about their customers but the older ones seems to know their knowledge and welcome everyone that comes in the door just a little dissapointed it wasn't busy today so I know the 2 younger woman heard me but seems they just arn't paying attention to what they are supposed to be doing. Also they didn't give me my crackers that is normally served with chili so I don't think these 2 younger ladies seems to know what they are supposed to do or they just didn't care...

What a charming old-style lunch counter! Only recently learned of this Birmingham staple's existence and had to try it out. It was absolutely bustling at noon on a Saturday, with no table free when we walked in. Seats at the counter didn't take too long to open up, though. Staff was unfailingly friendly, though understandably very busy. It was definitely loud and hard to hear at times inside as well. We had initially ordered to go, but were impressed at how seamlessly they converted to dine-in when they saw we had found seats.

Ordered a large limeade, chicken salad sandwich on white toast, egg salad sandwich on white toast, and vanilla and strawberry milkshakes. The limeade is deservedly famous, fresh squeezed to order and fantastic. The sandwiches and shakes were very good, but not mindblowing. Shakes other than vanilla are made with vanilla ice cream and...