Birmingham’s Destination for French Tacos Sets an Opening Date

Forthcoming restaurant Hazel, Ravines and Downtown is poised to open on Monday, October 29, in downtown Birmingham. The sprawling establishment from One-Eyed Betty’s alums-turned-independent restaurateurs Beth Hussey and chef Emmele Herrold is setting up shop at the former home of the Stand Gastro Bistro at 34977 Woodward Ave. Suite 100.

The massive 10,000-square-foot restaurant will be divided into several distinctive spaces under one roof: a restaurant, mini mart and lunch counter, and private dining spaces. The grab-and-go market will fill the entryway with snacks, retail beer and wine, and a walk-up window serving eclectic lunch items like a French taco — French sandwich that’s filled with options like vegetables, beef, or chicken and then wrapped in a tortilla and grilled like a panini. The dining room will seat roughly 120 people with views of the kitchen, a horseshoe bar, and a raw oyster display.

The main menu will be divided into sections based of familiar comfort foods, trendy foods, and internationally-influenced dishes. Diners can expect items like Greek salads, bone broth soup with roasted marrow bones, burgers, and Argentinian-style grilled meats.

Hussey and Herrold are working with Ron Rea of Ron and Roman architects on the redesign of the space, which is estimated to have cost around $1 million. The exterior will feature details like a lighted “grotto” entrance and a 22-foot-high weathervane.

• Take a Peek at the Renderings for Hazel, Ravines and Downtown [ED]
• One-Eyed Betty’s Alums Take Over Birmingham Restaurant Space [ED]
• Hazel, Ravines and Downtown Pushing For End-of-October Open Day [ED]
• All Openings Coverage [ED]