Bayonet opened this past spring and is the brain child of the owners of their next door neighbor- Helen. If we’re honest, we were a little cynical coming into our first visit to Bayonet because we’re not big fans of Helen, as everything seems to taste like it’s cooked in a Big Green Egg. We also viewed Bayonet as being yet another uber-expensive restaurant in the Birmingham landscape that’s more style than substance. Another place that takes pride in staying one-step ahead of it’s customers in sophistication. We were pleasantly surprised.
The Atmosphere
It’s a small space, which we liked. It was warm and cozy but still felt cool and comfortable coming in from the sweltering heat. The lighting was perfect, and it has a killer marble bar.
The Food & Drink
We started with a glass of 2019 Domaine Goisot Chardonnay $16, which had a taste we weren’t expecting. Not bad, but lacking the crispness of a typical chardonnay, it was incredibly light. We switched to a 2023 Easton Gamy Noir $17, which was served at the perfect temperature, and the French Vouvray Domaine Pichot $12, which is always a great seafood wine.
They had 34 types of oysters from the raw bar. Three for $9.30, six for $18.60, twelve for $37.20. (Makes you wish for the good-ole-days when you could get a dozen Gulf oysters for $20.) We asked for the biggest, sweetest and saltiest oysters, and the server recommended the Aunt Dotty’s from Massachusetts and Norumbegas from Maine. Both were medium sized but absolutely delicious and superb quality. Served with a vinaigrette and hot sauce both in droppers, which we’d never seen before. From there we had the Crab & Tomato Salad with corn remoulade $18. It was fantastic with the right balance of tomato, crab and sauce. Next we had the Wahoo Chop $28, aptly named. It almost had a pork chop taste, which is a compliment. It was great, but the cucumber garnish stole the show. As sides, we went with the crowd pleaser- Hand Cut Fries with Garlic Aioli $10. It was fine. And the server recommended the Bok Choy, which we didn’t like. It was too smokey and too saucy. The bok choy seemed lost, and would have been better served with more of the stems removed.
What Didn’t Order, But Wanted To.
> The Caviar Service $200 with Champagne $75. A rare luxury in Birmingham that’s great to see on a menu.
> The Martini Cart $15-$20. A custom martini made tableside.
The Service
Great. We were greeted by two enthusiastic and friendly hostesses. We arrived just before 7pm on a Wednesday, and there were tables available. But we sat at the bar. Our server at the bar was attentive and welcoming, but a bit uncertain about our inquisitiveness on the chardonnay, which was no big deal at all. He did feel bad about his bok choy recommendation, so he topped off our glasses of wine for free.
The Parking
Here’s a tip if you’re not familiar with parking downtown. If you park in a lot, it’s not cheap and they will tow you in a New York minute if you don’t pay. Always look for a spot on the street, and don’t bother paying the meter. If you’re not lucky enough to find a spot on the street, they share a valet with their neighbor, and it’s the easiest option.
The Bottom Line
There’s no shortage of high-end expensive restaurants in Birmingham. This is one of them. But we loved the bar. Coupling some oysters and sharable plates with drinks is the way to go.
