Yo Chef Surf and Turf Smokehouse

I was honestly torn between giving 4 or 5 stars, but overall the experience pushed it to a solid 5 stars. The décor is beautiful the red seats were my favorite and super comfortable. I went on a slower night, which was perfect because I’m not really a “crowd” kind of girl. The music was flowing, the shows on the TVs gave it a vibe, and the whole atmosphere felt chill and welcoming. Now let me talk about the hookah… hands down the best hookah I’ve had in Birmingham. Smooth, clean, and perfectly made. I didn’t even know Birmingham had places that could make hookah this good. I went on a Thursday, so the $25 hookah special was a plus. I got Mi punch mixed with mint, and it was amazing. For food, I ordered the whole fried snapper with collard greens and candied yams. The plate overall was good, but the collard greens were extremely salty for my taste. I told my server, Gracie, and she immediately offered alternatives. I chose the mac & cheese and THAT was the star of the plate. Truly some of the best mac & cheese I’ve had. That’s what honestly pushed the review back to five stars. My friend ordered the Cajun ranch fries and wings. He said the wings were overly seasoned with lemon pepper, but he’s super chill and didn’t send anything back. We ended up giving the food to someone in need afterward. Gracie did a great job overall. She opened up more as the night went on and made sure we were taken care of. I ordered a non-alcoholic strawberry lemonade, but the cocktail menu looked stacked, so this is definitely a place for drinks if that’s your vibe. I’ll absolutely be returning especially to try the oxtail Rasta pasta and definitely for that hookah again. The green ambiance, comfy seating, and overall chill energy made it a really nice night. Good food, great hookah, peaceful atmosphere. I had a time.

This place hands down was a 10000/10 !!! FOOD & SERVICE WAS AMAZING!!! I will be coming back ! The pasta dish I had was amazing and melts in your mouth and the shrimp was cooked to perfection my friend got the salom and oh man it was amazing I had to order some Togo. The owner came and talked to us and gave us a lamb chop & ox tail sample to try and it was out of this world and so kind of him. Both was so delicious , the ox tail melts in your mouth like butter. Our server nene was so kind and had a beautiful smile the whole time she was great I told her to make me something good to drink and she did exactly that It was. The atmosphere of this place is so beautiful and chill it’s definitely a place you should give a try !!

I don’t typically leave low ratings, but I believe in providing honest feedback. Unfortunately, my experience fell short in several areas. The restaurant was quite cold inside, and many patrons, including myself kept their coats on throughout the meal. The service was friendly; however, the use of terms of endearment such as “sweetie,” “hon,” and “love” may not be comfortable for all guests, particularly those who prefer a more professional tone. As for the food, the lamb chops were cold, tough, and heavily covered in jerk sauce, which overpowered the flavor of the meat. I had to remove much of the sauce just to taste it. The asparagus was overcooked, limp, and also served cold though the seasoning itself was good. The ribs were tough, the baked beans were hot, but the Cajun ranch fries were disappointing as well. Overall, the atmosphere is clearly geared toward the cultural, casual dining experience. Hence, the quality of the pictures. There’s nothing wrong with that, but this is not a fine dining environment, and expectations should be set accordingly.

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