As my last semester of college is coming to an end I’m feeling a mix of so many different emotions. This is crazy that I’ve spent almost four years here at the University of Alabama. In this blog post, I’m going to be talking about the perfect graduation bucket list that you need to do before you graduate. I think I can confidently tell you the ins and out of Tuscaloosa. It will range from the best places to eat, where to get your nails done, the best places to go on a walk, and everything in between. No matter what age you are or year everything in this blog post you should check out. Let’s start with the most basic topic, restaurants. My favorite Mexican restaurant is jalapeños, But be careful there are two different locations and Tuscaloosa. the better location is in downtown Tuscaloosa right next to Avenue Pub. If you’re feeling Italian go-to place Evangeline’s. it’s a little upscale, but it’s definitely worth the price it’s also towards Northport, so it’s a new atmosphere instead of always going downtown. I personally think Depalma’s isn’t that good and not worth it. For the most part, I don’t trust sushi in Tuscaloosa, but I do enjoy Fresh Markets sushi. sometimes if I’m feeling crazy I will use my dining dollars at Ajian, but it’s typically hit or miss. What I like most about Ajian is how you can really customize your roll. Chucks sushi isn’t too bad, for my girls I suggest going on Tuesdays for ladies’ night. Certain cocktails are 50% off and $2 off the sushi rolls, make sure you go early though because the wait gets really long. Did you know at Chucks you could also pay for a table when it is super busy, that’s a little secret. If you want a good steak for a reasonably good price you need to go to Nicks Original Filet House. It is a family owned restaurant opened up in 1953, and their prices are unbeatable. It is a super hole in the wall place, but It’s definitely somewhere you need to check out before graduating.
Let’s move onto breakfast places, my top favorite one is Waysider. This restaurant is historic for many reasons. They have been serving authentic Southern food since 1951. Their biscuits are personally my favorite. Another great option for breakfast is Metro Dinner, you can’t knock it till you try it. My favorite is the avocado toast with an egg and a side of hash browns. Let’s now go into the coffee shops you need to try before you move away from Tuscaloosa. My top favorite is Heritage House Coffee & Tea. It is a comfy environment and you can get an impressive coffee. They also have a huge breakfast and lunch menu. The place is decorated in the cutest antique pieces and mismatched wooden chairs, making it feel cozy and like home. My favorite drink is the banana split and food items are the baked oatmeal with fresh strawberries or the freshly baked scones. My next favorite coffee shop is Turbo Coffee. I often go there to do my homework and I order a skinny vanilla latte with avocado toast with an egg. Their prices are also pretty affordable for college students. The last coffee shop you need to hit is Monarch Espresso Bar. A sweet University of Alabama alumni couple returned to Tuscaloosa a few years after graduating to open this coffee shop. As soon as you walk in you’re going to want to take out your phone and Instagram something because it’s so cute and cozy in there.
Another classic you need to hit is Rama Jama’s. If you ever have attended an Alabama football game, you’ve seen this restaurant before. It is located just a few feet away from the Bryant Denny Stadium. They serve comfort food like burgers, biscuits, fries, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Their burgers are the best in Tuscaloosa, they also serve breakfast all day. Let’s now get into all the best bars of Tuscaloosa. How to achieve the best night out on the town. I’m going to categorize the best bars to go to based on what year you are, because I feel like the older we get our favorite bars change. Starting strong as a freshman you have to go to Rounders on the Strip. Rounders is iconic for the drink blue motherf*****s. Also, it is iconic for tee shirt Tuesdays, it is when freshmen dress up in just casual tee shirts and just go crazy. You can not graduate unless you have been to the Boom Boom room, that’s all I got to say. Of course, leaving Rounders you need to get messy fries at Quick Grill on the way home. Another bar is Rhythm and Brews. If you are an out-of-state student it’s perfect because it has a Southern charm to it and has a bull you can ride. You also can’t graduate unless you ride the bull at rhythm. I think the most popular bars as a sophomore is Moe’s original BBQ. What brought us to Moe’s was the Thursday $5 32 oz wells. They started past 9 PM but of course, we had to get there early, so we didn’t pay cover. Buffalo Phil’s was also popular for their $5 32 once wells. Then as a junior things start to change because everyone starts to actually be of age. I think as a junior and senior the bars start to mix some you need to check out are Innisfree Pub and the Booth. Innis an Alabama tradition and is the best because there is over 5,000 square feet of Irish food, drinks, music, and a lot of great atmosphere just north of downtown Tuscaloosa. They have great happy hour deals and the food isn’t too bad. The booth is a smaller bar that feels more intimate with live music and the iconic drink called Slippery’s. Some more chill bars that are amazing are Nocturnal, sessions, and catch. The vibes of these cocktail bars are immaculate.
Before you graduate you also need to go on a long walk around the river. The River Walk is an excellent-paved trail along the southern bank of the Black Warrior River near downtown Tuscaloosa. It is a little over 4 miles, so it would be great to run as well. Something else that’s fun to do with your friends is having a picnic on the quad. Get Chipotle on the strip then walk over and set up camp. We also have great shopping in Tuscaloosa, so you should hit midtown and explore. Lastly, you need to try a yellowhammer at Gallettes. Overall there is so much to do in this Town. I hope you I you some inspiration and I wish you luck and I think you can do it all! Of course, if you don’t hit everything on the list that’s totally okay you’ll have an amazing four years at this University no matter what. See you all on our next stream!
