Have you ever had dinner in a jail cell? How about a historic schoolhouse or while fresh rolls are being thrown at you? Well, you can because when it comes to unusual places to grab a bite, it turns out Alabama has plenty of ‘em.
This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers what the most unusual place to get a meal in the state is, and it stirred up all kinds of quirky restaurants.
From a gas station that serves noteworthy sushi to a saloon located in a cave to a restaurant that’s slowly spinning 300 feet up in the air and even an eatery where you can have fried deviled eggs in a jail cell, Alabama has some very, very unusual places to grab a meal.
You can check out 10 of ‘em below, and you can see the full list of suggestions on the This is Alabama Facebook page.
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Rattlesnake Saloon is sheltered by a massive rock overhang.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
Rattlesnake Saloon
1292 Mt. Mills Road in Tuscumbia
When it comes to one-of-a-kind restaurants in Alabama, Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia was the first to come to mind for a lot of folks, and given that it’s built into the side of a natural rock cave, it’s easy to understand why. Part watering hole, part restaurant, part live music venue — the Rattlesnake Saloon offers a unique experience of enjoying dinner or lunch, which is offered Thursday through Sunday and includes a menu of sandwiches, salads, barbecue, burgers and more, in a setting unlike any other in the state.
Read more: A saloon in a cave? This Alabama restaurant is more than a novelty
Tannehill General Store
22732 Bucksville Road in McCalla
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Are gas stations unusual? Not really, but finding some of the best Southern food in the back of one is, and that’s likely why readers were quick to bring up what’s known as the Tannehill General in McCalla. Tannehill General is a Marathon gas station that doubles as a popular meat-and-three-style eatery known for serving a rotating menu of Southern classics like chicken and dressing, hamburger steak, fried catfish and all the sides to go along with ‘em.
Birmingham’s best gas station food
Bama Bucks Steakhouse and Wild Game Restaurant is located in Boaz, Ala. (Photo courtesy of Terry Turk)(Photo courtesy of Terry Turk)
Bama Bucks Wild Game Restaurant and Steakhouse
292 Bryant Road in Boaz
If you’re looking for an unusual eatery where you can get in an unexpected experience while also trying dishes you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, pay a visit to Bama Bucks Wild Game and Steakhouse Restaurant, open Thursday through Sunday, in Boaz. While there, you can tour the grounds, which have more than 300 animals, including ostriches, black bears, deer and kangaroos. Sit down to a meal of gourmet wild game dishes like Creole-battered gator bites, bison lasagna, elk steak and more.
Read more: Part wild game restaurant, part exotic animal park, Bama Bucks Steakhouse is one of a kind
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Main Street Cafe
101 Main Street in Madison
Main Steet Cafe in Madison doesn’t have an unusual name, but it offers diners an unusual experience — the chance to have a meal in a historic jail cell. The cafe, which is open Monday through Saturday, is housed inside Madison’s former city hall, for a dinner setting that’s unlike any other. Plus, with a menu filled with unique dishes like butter crusted chicken pot pie, low country shrimp and grits, fried deviled eggs and more, it’ll be easy to say it was “the best meal you ever had in jail!”
Super crunch roll with shrimp nigiri, miso soup and ginger salad at Bayou Fresh Seafood in Jasper, Alabama.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
Bayou Fresh Seafood
217 N. Walston Bridge Road in Jasper
Just when you thought a gas station serving up some of the best country cooking in the state was unusual, our readers decided to one-up it by pointing to the Marathon gas station in Jasper that’s home to Bayou Fresh Seafood. Yes, we are suggesting you buy sushi at a no-frills deli attached to a convenience store, and once you try it, you’ll understand why. Not sure what to order from its more than 30 rolls? It’s hard to go wrong when everything is made fresh and to order, but the Super Crunch Roll is a popular pick.
Read more:Six Alabama dishes worth seeking out in June
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Reds Little Schoolhouse
20 Gardner Road in Grady
Red’s Little School House in Grady is one of those unique locales that makes a good meal that much better. In business for more than 40 years, it’s open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday and dinner on weekends. Red’s has become known for its made-from-scratch pies, ribeye steaks and hot bar of classic Southern dishes. All of these are served to loyal customers inside a charming building that still very much looks like — from the chalkboards on the walls to the framed historic photos and more — the one-room schoolhouse it once served as.
Read more:Red’s Little Schoolhouse Restaurant teaches diners a thing or two about southern cooking
The Roadkill Café in Elberta. (Kelly Kazek/kkazek@al.com)Kelly Kazek
Roadkill Cafe
25076 State Street in Elberta
The Roadkill Cafe in Elberta likely draws in a lot of first-timers who are simply curious about its head-turning name — not to mention its “you kill it, we grill it” slogan — but its the popular eatery’s weekend lunch buffet of Southern favorites, including some of the best fried chicken in the state, that likely keeps its loyal fanbase coming back. So while the menu might be all that unusual, getting the opportunity to tell people you had lunch at The Roadkill Cafe, and loved it, feels rare enough to garner it a spot on our list.
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Read more: 11 small-town Alabama restaurants that serve up big flavor
Lambert’s Cafe
2981 S. McKenzie Street in Foley
While all restaurants serve food, Lambert’s Cafe in Foley has become well-known for also throwing it — at least in regards to its hot and fresh rolls, anyway. In addition to its “throwed rolls,” the popular eatery, which first opened in 1996 and now serves lunch as well as dinner seven days a week, has become an annual stop for many beachgoers headed to the coast thanks to its eclectic menu of home-cooked dishes, including hamburger steak, fried pork chops and chicken pot pie, alongside its lively atmosphere.
Read more:10 things you might not know about Lambert’s Cafe
Wilson Dam in Florence, as seen from the 360 Grille.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
360 Grille
10 Hightower Place in Florence
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It doesn’t get more unusual than a restaurant, located 300 feet in the air, that is slowly, but steadily, spinning. At the upscale 360 Grille at the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa in Florence, diners can enjoy a one-of-a-kind view of the Tennessee River and the city below while also enjoying steaks, seafood, salads, burgers and more at the state’s only revolving restaurant. Whatever you order, be sure to save room for dessert. That white chocolate cheesecake with peach compote, amaretto whipped cream and chocolate drizzle is a standout too.
Read more:Inside Alabama’s only revolving restaurant: Come for the view, stay for the $36 burger
The Hatter Cafe
4277 Alabama Highway 117 in Mentone
Who doesn’t love a restaurant with a theme? At The Hatter Cafe, you can have everything from a cup of tea to a full-scale meal, all while easily envisioning yourself in Wonderland thanks to the eatery’s charming and relaxed atmosphere. Open Thursday through Monday for breakfast and lunch, The Hatter Cafe offers diners an assortment of eclectic eats — ranging from heart-shaped biscuits to waffle sandwiches, cheddar grit cakes and more — almost as unique as the decor, making it a fun experience for everyone.
Read more: You can have a tea party in this Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant
Tennessee Volunteers forward Alyssa Latham (33) fouls Alabama Crimson Tide guard Jessica Timmons (23)Thursday, March 5, 2026, during the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament second round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Alabama Crimson Tide won 76-64.
(Alex Martin/Greenville News, Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Former Alabama guard Jalil Bethea has officially committed to Pittsburgh, per Rivals’ Joe Tipton.
Bethea struggled to make a consistent impact throughout his one and only season at Alabama. The former Miami transfer averaged 3.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists this past season, as Bethea could potentially play a much larger role throughout his time at Pitt next year. Bethea averaged just eight minutes per game this season as well, as the former Crimson Tide guard will now turn his full attention towards a fresh start with the Panthers.
Bethea was ranked as the No. 3 shooting guard and the No. 7 overall player from the class of 2024, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. He was listed as the No. 1 overall player out of Pennsylvania as well, as a return to his home state could undoubtedly be exactly what Bethea needs to turn his career around during the 2026-27 campaign.
Following the commitment of Bethea, Aiden Sherrell and Taylor Bol Bowen are the lone Alabama players in the portal who have yet to announce a transfer decision.
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Lawrence County crash kills mother and 2 children, injures 2
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TEACH OTHERS THESE SAME SKILLS. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT AT REGIONS FIELD, THE SKIES ARE BLUE. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE ON THE FIELD, AND JUST A GREAT DAY TO SOAK UP THE SUN 84 DEGREES RIGHT NOW IN BIRMINGHAM AND ACROSS THE MAP. WE ARE IN THE MID TO LOW 80S FROM 84 IN WINFIELD JASPER ALABASTER. SAME THING IN PELL CITY AND ANNISTON. THE WARMEST SPOT ON THE MAP 85 THE COOLER SPOT IN THE MAP UP IN COLEMAN AT 82 AND 82 DEGREES UP THERE IN ALBERTVILLE TOO. RADAR IS DRY. HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST 6 TO 7 DAYS, AND THE REST OF THIS EVENING WILL REMAIN DRY. WILL DROP TO THE 80S LOW 80S BY 7:00, MID 70S BY 9:00, AND THEN OVERNIGHT WILL DROP TO THE 60S AND WILL WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S. SO MAYBE A LITTLE BIT CHILLY FOR SOME, BUT OTHERWISE WARM AND WARMER THAN WE SHOULD BE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR, NOT ONLY IN THE MORNING, BUT IN THE AFTERNOON. TOMORROW TOO. WE’RE BACK IN THE MID 80S, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE WERE TODAY, WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE HUMIDITY. NOW WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT MUCH RAINFALL SO FAR THIS ENTIRE MONTH. THIS IS MONTH TO DATE. AS YOU CAN SEE, TODAY IS THE 12TH. WE HAVE UP TO 11. AND ANYWHERE YOU SEE THAT ORANGE COLOR, THAT’S WHERE WE’VE SEEN NO RAIN. THE BEST RAINFALL WE GOT WAS LAST WEEKEND, MAINLY ON SATURDAY WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. NOW THIS IS JUST FOR BIRMINGHAM AND IT REPRESENTS A DROUGHT. AND THAT’S NOT JUST THE CASE FOR BIRMINGHAM. IT’S THE CASE FOR MOST OF ALABAMA. THIS RED AND THE DARK RED COLORS REPRESENT ANYWHERE BETWEEN ONE AND UP TO THREE, IF NOT FOUR INCHES OF A 30 DAY RAINFALL DEFICIT, MEANING WE NEED MORE RAIN THAN WE’VE GOTTEN IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. AND THAT LACK OF RAIN PULLING A LOT OF MOISTURE OUT OF THE GROUND DUE TO THAT DROUGHT IS WHY THERE’S A RED FLAG WARNING IN PLACE FOR BOTH NORTH AND PARTS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA. FROM FLORENCE ALL THE WAY DOWN LINEVILLE CLAY COUNTY, TALLADEGA. SHELBY. JEFFERSON. JEFFERSON WALKER ALL THE WAY UP TO MARION COUNTY’S. JUST MEANS THAT THERE IS A HIGHER FIRE DANGER. SO DON’T BE BURNING ANYTHING OUTSIDE TODAY, EVEN THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, BECAUSE FIRE RISK IS HIGH AS THE DROUGHT CONTINUES. HERE’S A FORECAST MODEL SHOWING WHERE WE COULD SEE THE MOST RAINFALL OVER THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ALABAMA, GEORGIA, FLORIDA, NOT MUCH. NORTHWEST ALABAMA COULD SEE A TRACE OF SHOWERS AS THESE TINY ISOLATED SHOWERS POP UP MONDAY EVENING ACROSS MARION FRANKLIN LAUDERDALE COUNTY BUT EVEN THAT CLEARS OUT AS EARLY AS 10 P.M. MONDAY NIGHT. AND OVERALL, IT’S NOT A WHOLE LOT. BUT HERE’S THAT SEVEN DAY FORECAST. HIGH STICK AROUND IN THE 80S AS HIGH AS 89 FRIDAY AFTERNOON. A FEW CHANCES FOR ISOLATED SHOWERS THURSDAY THAT RETURNS SATURDAY A
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Lawrence County crash kills mother and 2 children, injures 2
Updated: 7:42 PM CDT Apr 12, 2026
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Video above: Weather forecastThree people died and two were injured, including children, in a northern Alabama car crash Saturday, according to our news partner WAFF.The Lawrence County coroner told WAFF that a vehicle driven by Ashley Hagood, 33, was hit on the side by a truck near Highway 157 and Highway 24 in Moulton.Hagood and her four children — Bryant Ballew, 13; twins Bryleigh and Brynleigh Pledger, 7; and Bentley Pledger, 10 — were inside the car at the time of the crash. Ballew and Bryleigh died at the scene, while Hagood was taken to a hospital, where she later died.Bentley and Brynleigh were taken to a hospital in Birmingham. According to WAFF, Bentley was taken off a ventilator Sunday afternoon. Brynleigh is recovering from surgery and dealing with brain swelling and bleeding, which doctors anticipated and hope the surgery will alleviate. Brynleigh also reportedly suffered seizures Saturday night.The crash remains under investigation, according to WAFF.
MOULTON, Ala. —
Video above: Weather forecast
Three people died and two were injured, including children, in a northern Alabama car crash Saturday, according to our news partner WAFF.
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The Lawrence County coroner told WAFF that a vehicle driven by Ashley Hagood, 33, was hit on the side by a truck near Highway 157 and Highway 24 in Moulton.
Hagood and her four children — Bryant Ballew, 13; twins Bryleigh and Brynleigh Pledger, 7; and Bentley Pledger, 10 — were inside the car at the time of the crash. Ballew and Bryleigh died at the scene, while Hagood was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
Bentley and Brynleigh were taken to a hospital in Birmingham. According to WAFF, Bentley was taken off a ventilator Sunday afternoon. Brynleigh is recovering from surgery and dealing with brain swelling and bleeding, which doctors anticipated and hope the surgery will alleviate. Brynleigh also reportedly suffered seizures Saturday night.
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The crash remains under investigation, according to WAFF.