Birmingham Restaurant Is James Beard Finalist

BIRMINGHAM, AL — While the COVID-19 pandemic has restaurants closed in Alabama, that does not mean the accolades for Birmingham's culinary scene have stopped pouring in. Once again, a Birmingham restaurant is a finalist for a James Beard Award this year.

Automatic Seafood & Oysters has been named a finalist for Best New Restaurant. The awards, now in their 30th year, are regarded as the Oscar Awards of the culinary industry.

Automatic Seafood & Oysters, created by Adam Evans, and Suzanne Humphries Evans, has been nationally recognized already in its short existence.

Last fall, the Lakeview restaurant was named by Esquire Magazine as one of the nest new restaurants in the country.

Automatic Seafood & Oysters opened its doors in April 2019. The menu offers a variety of seafood dishes, featuring fish primarily sourced from the Gulf of Mexico, oysters from waters along the Southern and Eastern coastlines, as well as a selection of land-based produce and proteins.

The restaurant is named for the building's past life as the Automatic Sprinkler Corporation manufacturing facility.

The James Beard Award winners will be announced Sept. 25.