Whether you’re new to Hoover, visiting the area, or you’ve lived here your entire life, Hoover Restaurant Week, July 17-25, is a wonderful opportunity to experience the best dining Hoover has to offer. It’s a showcase of classic favorites and new additions.
Enjoy Hoover: When you first envisioned the Hoover Restaurant Alliance and helped launch Restaurant Week, what gap were you trying to fill in the local culinary scene?
David Cohen: We started Hoover Restaurant Week simply to help our restaurant community survive COVID. Over the years, it has become more of a goal to see our community grow and gain the local and regional recognition that it deserves.
EH: Hoover has been rapidly transitioning to offer “big city” dining experiences while trying to maintain its small-town hospitality. How does Restaurant Week showcase that specific balance?
DC: While we need the corporate restaurants, there is something special about going into a local restaurant, bar or ice cream shop that you see ownership, management, people who really care about making your experience more than you expected. The “big city” dining experience for us is in the quality of food, the menu variety, and the service. However, our goal is for people to see that all that in a way that shows that we want you here. This year’s SEC is a prime example. We want them to come back to Hoover not just for great baseball, but a feeling that we appreciate you being here.
Grimaldi's
Celebrating two years in Hoover, Grimaldi’s is a hot spot for New York-style pizza in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
EH: What are you most excited about for this year’s restaurant lineup? Are there any new participating spots or culinary trends you’re thrilled to see represented?
DC: While our lineup of restaurants is still coming together, we are excited about the new and “newer” restaurants like Toujours, Desi Twist, Cookie Fix, Biscuit Belly, Las Garzas and Hoover Steaks & Wines that are successfully making our “Southern Hospitality, Hoover Style” come alive. Along with the Tre Luna, Farelly’s, Moe’s BBQ, Saw’s, and a host of other restaurants, we are excited about showing how great our city is.
EH: The Hoover Bartender Challenge, happening July 14 at Brock’s Gap Brewing Company, has become a major highlight leading into the main event. Why was it important to elevate the beverage and bartending community alongside the food?
DC: We want to be a great, well-rounded food and beverage experience for everyone. Great bars and great places for live music add a special energy to our city. Brock’s Gap Brewery and all the participating bars showcase that wonderful part of our city.
Grimaldi's
EH: The official kick-off at Aldridge Gardens with Jeh Jeh Pruitt is always full of energy. Why is Aldridge Gardens the perfect setting to ground this community event?
DC: WBRC and Jeh Jeh Pruitt have always been big supporters of our city. Being on Good Day Alabama shows off to a bigger, more varied audience than any of our restaurants could manage on our own. Aldridge Gardens, like all our 35 different city parks and venues, offers a great view of our city. Aldridge Gardens, being off Lorna Road, is perfectly fitting. Lorna Road has a culinary experience as diverse as our city is. There is truly something for everyone.
EH: How can people stay informed about this year’s Hoover Restaurant Week?
DC: Follow us on Facebook and our Hoover Restaurant Week website, hooverrestaurantweek.com, for an up-to-the-minute list of participating restaurants. With almost 10 days of HRW, there is an opportunity to visit lots of our favorites and try a few new ones. It is truly a chance to enjoy “Southern Hospitality, Hoover Style.”