Well That's Cool

I love to take people to Nick’s that have never been there before as their first impression of the joint is priceless. It’s a small cinder block building with no sign. And you know what? That’s fine because it doesn’t need one.

Nick’s in the Sticks is a Tuscaloosa gem. A true diamond in the rough. A Nick’s steak is without a doubt a deliciously cooked masterpiece. Most steak places I’ve eaten at in town are a hit or miss. Sometimes cooked appropriately other times not. But at Nick’s, it’s never been anything but perfect…And I’ve eaten there a lot over the past 15 years. Adorning my steak is always its expected counterparts, the baked potato and salad. As you would expect, the salad isn’t going to be getting any awards for the amount of various fresh greens and vegetables in it, but it’s satisfying. Plus their house dressing is a blend of ranch and bleu cheese which is great to quench the thirst even the snobbiest of ranch dressing eaters. Namely myself. It’s good.

But man/woman can not live on steak alone. No sir. There has to be a tasty beverage to wash it all down. Nick’s has such a beverage aptly named the Nicodemus. Had a rough day at work? Had a rough week at work? Did your dog die? Did your wife get pregnant after you had a vasectomy? The Nicodemus is potent enough to cure all these ailments and more. It’s red, will come with a cherry and be served in a styrofoam cup. Oh, and it’ll be topped with a shot of 151 Bacardi. The rest of the ingredients are a secret but if I were guessing, I’d say it had rum, vodka, tequila and Hawaiian punch. And a little bit of love. Drink two of these and you’ll know no pain.

When you get to Nicks, you’re probably going to have to wait for a table. It’s going to be that busy and there’s only 10 or so tables in the place. Here’s what you do. Get your name on the list and then go inside. Walk up to the bar and order a round of Nicodemi for your party. If you look like you’re in college, have an ID handy for each drink you order because they will ask. Then go back outside and enjoy the patio, drinks and your friends. Just like most restaurants I eat at in this town, Nick’s is laid back so leave your BA at home.

Intangibles:

1. Having a party of more than 6 will make it damn near impossible to get a table. I’d recommend a party of 4 or plan on sitting separately.
2. You won’t get a check after your meal is done. When you’re finished eating, walk up to the bar and point at which table you ate at.
3. Weekends at Nick’s is the most crowded time. I’ve eaten there on weekdays and not waited for a table at all. So I recommend going during the week.
4. You can probably forget eating there on gamedays.

If you’ve never been to Nick’s, I’d recommend getting someone to take you there. Unless you know what you’re looking for, it’s a little hard to find. Give me an email, I’ll go with you.

Here’s Nick’s in the Stick’s

Popularity: 16% [?]

Nestled in between Highway 69 and Highway 43 in Northport is the Brown Bag Restaurant.  It’s a place that claims that they are high on quality and high on ratings.  And from the lunch that I had there, I must agree.

The Brown Bag is a combination of a couple types of restaurants. I’d call it a cross between a bbq place and a soulfood – meat and three.  From their menu, I had their BBQ Chicken, string beans and turnip greens with a side salad (ranch).  The BBQ chicken was juicy and the BBQ sauce came on the side.  It was a surprisingly good mustard based spicy sauce. Normally, I’m not that big of a fan of mustard based BBQ sauces but this one was definitely one of the better ones I’ve had in town.  The greens and beans were prepared normally as you’d expect from a soulfood type place.  Their flavor wasn’t directly out of the can as you’d expect from City Cafe. They put their own little twang to it.

The indoor decoration of the Brown Bag is not going to be winning any awards for their interior.  But I found it to be a welcoming place.  It has standalone tables and booths with a counter up front. When you get inside, go ahead and take a seat. It’s a server/patron type place not an order at the front and then go wait for your food. The staff of the Brown Bag was a highlight of my trip. My server was a no-nonsense lady that did not offer much chit chat.  As gruff as she was, I have to smile when I think about her.  See below for what she told someone next to me when they ordered.  The cash taker at the register was a genuinely sweet lady. A salt of the earth type that made me feel good with her smile and charm.

Overall, the Brown Bag was a postive experience and I’d recommend the 5-10 minute drive north of town to try it out. On future visits, I’ll probably try the pan trout or the catfish as well as some of their other vegetables (fried okra).

Map

Menu (provided by J. Robertson McIlwain’s Tuscaloosa Menu Project)

Intangibles:

• Order some greens or you might catch some hell. My server scolded a man because he ordered a burger.  She told him that they “have good food in here, don’t get no hamburger.”
• They had moist towelettes in plastic gladware boxes on the tables
• Napkins were in brown paper bags on the tables.

Popularity: 10% [?]

I have seen many restaurants over the years claim that they had the best [insert food item here] in town. A lot of times, this claim goes unfounded. The Oasis over in Cottondale is no exception stating right in their menus that they have the best cheeseburger in Tuscaloosa. But guess what, they’re right. It’s the best in town, and that’s no mirage.

I’ve heard for years that The Oasis cheesburgers are great. But to look at the little green building from the road and the flashing sign advertising biker night can be a little intimidating. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll practically eat anywhere. But for some reason, I always pictured a butt whipping awaiting me inside. So I just never made it in there. That is, until last Tuesday when I went there for lunch with my coworker, Claire. We stood inside the door for a second to take in the sights of the inside. It is definitely bigger than I had pictured. I found it to be a clean establishment with bar and table seating with a flashy jukebox in the corner and a pool table in the back room. The server/bartender was courteous and told us we could sit anywhere we liked. Although she gave us menus, we already knew what we wanted. Their cheesburger. I got one with lettuce, fries and a side salad so I could sample their ranch dressing.

The burger was a handmade patty that was cooked to perfection on a properly toasted bun. The patty was thick and large, but uniform throughout. The lettuce was a leafy-green piece of iceberg that was crispy. And to put it simply, it was the best burger I’ve ever had in Tuscaloosa. I might even go as far as saying in the state. The fries were crinkle cut and hot and went well with some of the best ranch dressing in the area. In fact, I crowned it king of all ranch dressings just edging out my usual favorite from Bob Baumhauer’s. I think the atmosphere of the Oasis pushes it over the top.

Without a doubt I was most impressed by the Oasis’ food and service. Like Nick’s in the Sticks, it’s another diamond in the rough. It is definitely going on my list to take out of towners when they come to visit. Since I went there in the daytime, the only thing now is to sample a bit of the Oasis nightlife. I bet one of their burgers with a beer with the local crowd as a backdrop would be tantalizing. Anyone want to go? email me at ericstc (at) gmail [dot] com and come along for the visit. And while I’m on that subject, feel free to tag along with me when I go eat at a place to review. If you like eating at odd places and like new things, send me an email and come on!

Map

Intangibles:

1. Go ahead and sit down at a table if you are eating in.
2. Pay up at the counter when you’re done
3. They have a jukebox
4. They’re closed on Mondays

Popularity: 7% [?]