Excellent experience at Chez Fonton. I was in town for work and was surprised to see a restaurant so packed on a Wednesday night. I sat at the bar and the service was fantastic. The bartender recommended an excellent port pairing with my dessert and had me try it as well. The burger with the aioli was excellent and so was their chocolate pots de creme. Would highly recommend eating here and I recommend it to everyone I know visiting Birmingham.

We’ve visited Chez Fonfon twice in the last month, once for Valentine’s dinner and today for a going to way lunch. Both experiences were wonderful. We’ve been served by Vesna and Nate, who were both wonderful and very accommodating! The shrimp tartine, steak tartare (our favorite), venison, flat iron steak, and the burger are all fantastic with a good depth of flavor. The ambiance in Chez Fonfon is comfortable but elegant, and very French with the theme. We would definitely return! We did consider bringing a cake for one of our visits and were informed that they charge $5/person to serve it to everyone at the table. Just an FYI!

One of our favorite places in Birmingham! Small, quaint, and perfect! This beautiful French bistro and cafe run by James Beard award-winning chef, Frank Stitt, is impeccable. Not overwrought, it’s simplicity will win you over. The attentive and joyful waitstaff never miss a chance to make your stay enjoyable. Down to earth and not stuffy, the atmosphere is more neighborhood family and friends than fine dining. But, the food and service match the exacting demands of the owner-operator. We started with the seasonal Paradise Farm roasted figs, farmer's cheese, ham, hazelnuts & mint. I had the Hamburger Fonfon, comté, grilled red onion, pickles, with pommes frites. I’ve had this burger probably eight times and it never disappoints. My wife enjoyed the Omelette with ratatouille, chèvre & basil. The texture was unbelievably fluffy and perfect. Since we were celebrating a birthday and anniversary, we ended with both the Coconut pecan cake and Berry trifle paired with black decaf coffee. The handwritten chocolate well-wishes were a nice touch. Highly recommended!

Let me start by saying this restaurant is owned by a James Beard award winner. I’ve never had a bad experience here. Lunch is just as special as dinner, in a very French way. The menu is French, and literally nothing you could order could go wrong. I recommend the trout and the escargot. My top favorite cocktails are the aviation and the French blonde. Both will pair perfectly, with so many of the dishes. Don’t skip on desert at this place!

A small French bistro style restaurant in downtown Birmingham. Popped in here for a quick snack while driving through. As soon as we walked in we knew it was going to be good. Great atmosphere. A small well staffed place with tons of French inspired food. We had the chicken liver moose, the Fish paillard, and Steak Tartare. All very well executed and just enough to entice you to want more. I will definitely come back for the full experience next time I pass through. Great place

Not sure why this place is so highly rated. I’ve been to lots of French restaurants in Southern California, not to mention France. This place doesn’t measure up. The croque madame didn’t have much flavor and the burger was just average. Matter of fact it was salty. I took 2 bites and left the rest. The coconut cake and pot de creme were good. There are much better French restaurants in BHAM like Cafe Du Pont. I don’t recommend this place.

The food was delicious. The outside patio area is a very relaxed vibe. Offers a unique atmosphere in Birmingham compared to other restaurants. First impression was excellent and I would recommend to anyone that’s visiting the area and also locals

Delicious, as always! Really enjoyed hanging out on the Patio. Given COVID issues, it feels safer to be outdoors, and they have set it up so that it is very pleasant.

I was visiting in Birmingham for the weekend and a friend highly suggested this as it’s one of his favorite restaurants in the city. The restaurant has an authentic French bistro feel and a nice vibe. The staff are very friendly and the food is delicious. It’s a fine dining experience. I had the Bibb salad, chicken liver mousse to start and for the main the steak and frites. Do not miss out on the coconut pecan cake and lemon meringue! The dessert was the cherry on top.

(5+ stars) This is a true French cafe experience. And it’s clear that Chef Stitt had high standards for service and the menu. We had a magnificent meal and experience. The interior is warm and welcoming and very much in a cage or bistro style. It is truly bustling. We sat just off the bar and Patrick was our server. Cocktails are well made and the wine list offers many interesting options at a variety of price points. The steak tartare is very good although I’d prefer a slightly smaller dice and a bit more acidity. The frites are as good as they get. I had the veal special and it was perfectly cold and so delicious. The trout amandine is so flavorful with a wonderful nutty hint from the brown butter. We finished with the Basque cake that is almost pudding-like in texture and so buttery delicious. The service is impeccable. It’s clear that everyone knows they have many jobs and they operate like a finely tuned machine. There’s a lot of pride in their work and it truly shows. Thank you! (Get reservations)

Chez Fonfon is one of my personal favorites and a must visit each time we come to Birmingham. Make sure you plan your visit and make reservations in advance. On this particular visit we started with the soup of the day and a salad. The soup was a white bean and bacon. It had a creamy yet savory flavor. We ordered the poulet rouge with duck fat potatos and the veal medallions (Tuesday special). The poulet or chicken had a rich depth of complex flavors. The veal medallions were tender and delicious. For dessert we ordered the Basque cake and the lemon meringue tart. The cake was a buttery pound cake with a rich cream sauce. The lemon tart was velvety acidic filling in a crisp tart shell. We enjoyed both desserts, but the Basque cake was perhaps one of the best desserts I've ever eaten. Garrett was our waiter and the level of service was impeccable.

Everything was wonderful! The ambience was old and comfortable. I definitely recommend this restaurant but plan ahead as you cannot get reservations same day.

What a gem of a French restaurant. We were driving home to chicago and accidentally found this place on google maps. It was so delicious that truthfully we didn’t even take any pictures of the food. All that was left was a cup of Parisian tea on the table :-) we had the croque madam and the lamb as well as the chicken liver which seemed to taste just like in France. The coconut cake was super tasty as well. Not a cheap lunch but very well worth it. Will be back when going back to Orange beach!

Wonderful service! Brian T really took care of us! Food was amazing! The Trout was a show stopper! The Basque cake was soo decadent!

My wife has eaten here for lunch and dinner several time but this was my first time and it did not disappoint. We ate here to celebrate a birthday and the food was amazing. Our server was very nice and did an excellent job.

Our server was amazing. The food was great! I wish I had time to savor it before it got cold, but I can't argue with thermodynamics... Also, the outdoor patio was GORGEOUS.

The food is amazing. This coconut pecan cake is a Janes Beard award winner. So good. Every dish was perfect. At the bar you can get fresh boiled eggs from the chefs farm.

3 of us had to eat at the bar. The establishment expects to serve meals at the bar. Meals took 40 minutes to prepare and taking into account another 40 minutes to eat and have desert the bar chairs were very uncomfortable. Better chairs with backs should replace the back braking, leg numbing chairs that exist. Had the bartender serving us not been pleasant the experience might well loose a star rating or two.

Today was about my third time dining at Chez Fonfon. I’ve had nothing less than an excellent experience each time! Hard to get dinner reservations here, which is perfectly understandable. Not many places to dine that offer excellent quality, good food, great service, an on top ambiance and atmosphere consistently with each dining experience. Dined at lunch time today. Sat at the bar until my table reservation time. Sipped on very tasty cherry coke on the rocks (lol!), that was “the best I’ve ever had!” Ordered the lobster and shrimp BLT, of course everything I’ve ever eaten here has been superb tasting. Yet, as I stated to the waitress, I must admit “that BLT was also the best BLT I’ve ever had”!

Amazing food and service. The appetizers (escargot and chicken liver mousse) were perfect. I wish we would have taken a picture of our entrees but we ate them as soon as they got to the table! My husband ordered the coq au vin which was delicious and I had the mussels which were also incredible. Next time we are definitely getting dessert.

Bar service was fantastic. Escargot was great and the burger was definitely worth try and very good. I’ll be back to try some of their other entrees for sure.

Wish I could give this French restaurant 6 out of 5 stars, everything was so perfect! Tyler is an excellent server and the chef makes the best food in Birmingham. Try the crab cake!

This place was amazing. I was in Birmingham for a work trip, and I liked the restaurant so much I went twice. I sat at the bar both times solo without a reservation, but it did get pretty busy so try and get a reservation if you can! The Trout is amazing (my favorite). The burger is amazing. Also the Coconut pecan cake is a must. There were other appetizers that people next to me ordered, and they all looked great. The bartenders were very knowledgable and made me drinks that weren't on the menu. Well crafted. Would highly recommend this restaurant!!!

10/10 recommend this gem of a restaurant. The ambiance is low lit and romantic, however a little loud since it's smaller and packed, but no complaints here. Our waiter was top notch. Cordial, explained the menu well, never let our drinks drop an inch, and very attentive. The salad appetizer was delicious. Plenty for two to share. Husband had the special fish of the night (forgot the name) over zucchini/squash/some sauce which was cooked to perfection. My steak with fries/salad was indescribably good. I've honestly never had better french fries in my life. We also tried three non-alcoholic drinks. The lime/ginger mint, the grapefruit/orange/lime, and the watermelon one. All delicious!!! Oh and get their espresso shot. My Brazilian husband approved! The prices were really not bad compared to other places we've been. Totally worth it!

Absolutely delightful. Service was great. Food was delicious! Ambiance was amazing. Top notch dining right here.

Fantastic service and a warm atmosphere combined with great food made for a magical dinner in Birmingham.

We’ve been returning here again and again for years. The excellent food, impeccable service, and comfortable atmosphere keep us coming back. My personal favorite dish is the croque madam- a hot ham and cheese sandwich with a delicious creamy sauce and fried egg. Their pommes frites are the best I’ve had. They have a nice wine list and innovative yet classic cocktails- think fresh watermelon margaritas in summer. Don’t pass on desert- theirs are worth it. Make sure to get reservations 2 weeks in advance.

Wonderful food and wine! The flavors were all on point and our sever Caroline was super sweet and very helpful and patient. The wait time is a little long, but absolutely worth it!!! Lovely place overall

I have been blown away, service - as expected - first class - the bartender (deserves a better title) was knowledgeable and friendly. The food , charcuterie platter exceeded my expectations as did the moules. There was a sweetness that was balance by spice. I was delighted by the wine list. I have a thing for the Jura, they delivered. I was also fortunate to meet some great people to chat too, trailering , alone on my bday so it was nice. All in all , this is the place to go, enjoy and go slow.

The Basque Cake was quite literally the best dessert we’ve ever had. Waitress was wonderful and was spot on with both wine and dessert recommendations.

Excellent food and atmosphere. Outstanding service. Covid precautions followed well. Please do not skip the bread and butter! Highly recommend.

Wonderful dinner - again. Food was superb, every bit as good as the last time. You sometimes have concern when it's that good they won't repeat. But they have it down to ensure the food that comes out is spot on. Prices are fair, wine a bit pricy (French!) and the bill always is accurate but seems to grow more than expected as the night goes on