THE BRIGHT STAR RESTAURANT
BESSEMER, AL
If you are in the Birmingham, Al, area whether staying at Oak Mountain State Park, Birmingham Southern Campground or one of the others in the area and you have a small sense of adventure let me suggest The Bright Star in Bessemer, AL. It is celebrating over 100 years of serving good food in Bessemer.
There is not a good place to park your RV close by so I suggest this only if you have a tow vehicle. Free two hour parking on the street is available for several blocks in any direction. The outside is less than impressive, but once inside you will be pleased. There is an air of elegance, history and sturdiness.
The restaurant’s walls are decorated with pictures of the great and near great who have dined there over the years. The Bear (Coach Paul Bryant) of course as well as Senators and other luminaries are well represented.
The wait staff is dressed in black pants and white shirts and they provide prompt service. You will note many older hands eating there and you just know they’ve been doing so for many years. They open at eleven in the morning seven days a week and close at nine or ten depending upon the day.
What brings people back is a solid menu with plenty of diversity. I enjoyed the chicken and dumplings while my wife had chicken croquettes, though we could have had country fried steak, blackened flounder, or gulf red snapper among other choices. We sampled squash, field peas, pasta salad, and carrot and raisin salad. We also tried the coconut pie which my wife pronounced excellent. We will be returning in the near future.
The Bright Star
304 19th St. North
Bessemer, AL 35020
205-429-9444
Review originally written for an RV publication.
Jack Kean
