Forever Home
Galley and Garden celebrates 10th anniversary in its Highland Avenue home.
By Jan Walsh
Tonight, Galley and Garden is hosting a VIP Cocktail Party to celebrate the restaurant’s 10th Anniversary. And we are welcomed at the door by the ever present, General Manager, Virgil Morris. Galley and Garden is now ten years old. But its building, original home, dates to 1898 when it was constructed as the home for an attorney, Alexander London. After his death in 1908, it became the home of the William Henry Merritt Family. It is one of only nine, of the original 100 Highland Avenue homes remaining. Galley and Garden is owned by Ed Hardin, Chairman/Owner, Jessica Lindeen, Executive Chef and Co-Owner, and Virgil Morris, General Manager and Co-Owner.
So many happy memories inside these walls! I have made cooking videos with the chefs. I have attended or hosted private events in every room of the house. And my family and I have celebrated holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries at Galley and Garden. Allow me to give you a tour down memory lane…
The Food
Over the ten years Galley and Garden’s cuisine has evolved with its chefs. From the beginning, with Chef Thomas Robey’s New Orleans influence to today’s Chef Jessica Lindeen’s eclectic, seasonal, Southern influenced menu, dining at Galley and Garden is always a pleasure. And Galley and Garden classics, such as braised pork belly and shrimp and grits, continue to sustain and fulfill us.
The Service
Maître D’ Stan Reynolds has been the constant through all the years. Two decades of experience at Commander’s Palace manifests in his personal attire, demeanor, graciousness, sense of humor, and attention to detail. His keen eye is on everything and everyone. And I attribute much of Galley and Garden’s success to him. He is always there, on the phone, in emails, at the hostess stand, walking the floor, and popping in and out of the kitchen. But somehow, he has the time for table visits, delighting us with his welcoming wit. No detail is too small… He always has a bottle of sparkling water chilled in a champagne bucket waiting for me.
The Garden
Reynolds grows the front flower garden and fruits in the back, which are incorporated into Galley and Garden’s seasonal fare. Not only does he have a green thumb, he has the hands of an artist. Drawing on his art degree from Auburn, he adorns Galley and Garden’s walls with his scenic watercolor paintings.
The Dining Room
Galley and Garden is one of the few fine dining, white tablecloth restaurants that remain in the city. And the dining room is an intimate experience and perfect for romance. Kev and I have celebrated our anniversary here several times. Afterall, Galley and Garden is known as Birmingham’s most romantic restaurant. The table in front of the fireplace is mine. So, sit somewhere else, please.
The Bar Pull up a stool for your best view of the bar. Slide into a cozy booth. Or get a chef’s table experience near the galley window. It is the spot for a relaxed dinner. And the place to watch your handcrafted cocktails be shaken, stirred, and poured. Much like the wine list, here you will find the finest selection of spirits. Here in the bar tonight, I am sipping a bourbon-based Southerner’s Word and a rummy I Love Lamp. Both are highly recommended!
The Holidays
This year Kev and I celebrated Father’s Day at Galley and Garden. Our family will also be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. All fathers were offered a complimentary six-ounce steak, and everyone a cocktail on the house! Hospitality at its finest! The joy of not cooking Thanksgiving and dressing up for the occasion is something every mother loves. And Christmas Eve Supper is a late afternoon comfort food fare that allows you to get to church on time. Last year’s Turkey and Dumplings were the best dumplings dish ever! And next year we already have Mother’s Day at Galley and Garden on our calendars.
The Porch
When dining al fresco on the porch of this old, Southern mansion, I can sense faint whispers of the Merritt family in the garden’s breeze. And I imagine them having a meal on the covered porch to escape the heat of the kitchen. Somewhere in time, the porch was enclosed, until the restaurant’s restoration in 2014.
The Patio
The patio seats large and small groups. It is the place to be on summer nights. And when autumn arrives its fireplace warms the chilly nights. Much like the bar, it also provides a less formal ambience for more casual dinners.
The Wine
Galley and Garden has Alabama’s most awarded wine list, thanks to the passion of Chairman and Founder, Ed Hardin. It has received Wine Spectator’s prestigious Award of Excellence annually since 2016. This award level requires the restaurant’s wine list have a minimum of 90 selections. The wine list must also feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers, and be matched in theme to the menu, in price and style. And Galley and Garden was named one of 100 Best Wine Restaurants in America by Wine Enthusiast. Dylan Lunsford is the sommelier and beverage manager, who manages the extensive wine collection, wine dinners, and wine tastings. Lunsford is a Master Court of Sommeliers Level One. He is currently preparing for Level Two, Certified Sommelier course and test.
The Events
Galley and Garden has private dining and event spaces, both large and small. For the ultimate food and wine experience at Galley and Garden reserve The Wine Room, the best seats in the house! Redwood and mahogany surround vintage, first class—and first growth—wines in this 1,500-bottle capacity cellar. Displayed under lock and key, the wine cabinets boast antique bronze screens and personal wine lockers for VIP patrons. The Wine Room seats eight guests.
I was hosted by the restaurant for a private lunch here in 2014 and years later enjoyed a private dinner here with friends. Two memories I will never forget. The Board Room is the private dining room off the foyer. Gather family and friends. They will feel at home here. A group of old friends, from my hometown of Oneonta, and I found it the ideal spot to reconnect and linger over a fine meal. The Parlor is perfect for a birthday party, especially a surprise one, or your office holiday party! The Great Room seats 80 or can host 125 for a standing reception. A local radio station and Birmingham Restaurants once hosted a wine event here for Jordan Winery. And we have enjoyed several IWFS wine dinners here. It is complete with a veranda with big city views.
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