The Lakeview District of Birmingham has been growing over the last several years. There is a plethora of restaurant choices and each one is diverse and special. Babalu is one of those choices. It is Latin inspired that serves a large selection of tacos and other tapas dishes. It’s the perfect place to go to enjoy drinks and food with friends.
There is a rustic feel to the restaurant, as if it has been there forever. The walls are made from reclaimed wood. There are wooden pallets hanging from the ceiling. The front and side of the restaurant is covered with garage doors. When the weather gets warm I am sure they open these doors up for a nice breeze.
The taco selection is impressive. Each option is unique and very non-traditional. The chefs put a lot of care into how they prepare them. All the tacos can be ordered individually or three of the same kind. Since I love tuna I went for the Atun taco. The blue corn tortilla was loaded with diced Saku tuna, a Fresno slaw, Sriracha line crema, ponzu sauce, and topped with crispy tortilla strips.
The fresh, tender tuna was both sweet and spicy. The heat from the Sriracha crema packed a punch. The slaw acted as a calming agent for the heat. The tortilla strips added crunch and I felt that really completed the dish.
The drinks at Babalu were also quiet impressive. I am always excited to see sangrias on the menu. They make all of them with fresh juices. I started with the red sangria. It was sweet and smooth. It was very comparable to other sangrias I have enjoyed.
What I was excited to try was the rose sangria. Through all of my travels I have never seen a sangria made with a rose wine. This sangria was also sweet but it was lighter than the red version. It reminded me of a punch. It also paired nicely with the tacos.
For a fun evening out head to Babalu. They have a few locations throughout the South so visit their website at www.eatbabalu.com
Enjoy!
T
