Three Alabama restaurants were recently announced as the newest recipients of an international award recognizing exceptional dining experiences.
The Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) announced in July that Cafe Dupont in Birmingham, Little Betty Steak Bar in Mountain Brook and The Depot in Auburn would receive its Award of Excellence. The three Alabama restaurants are among more than 90 eateries, spread across the United States as well as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, to earn the recognition and a spot in the “Class of 2026.”
“Since 1990, the DiRōNA Award of Excellence has served as a trusted mark of distinction for discerning diners, honoring establishments that consistently deliver at the highest level across cuisine, beverages, service, and ambiance,” according to a press release from the organization. “The 2026 class joins a community of restaurants that have met that standard through DiRōNA’s thorough evaluation process.”
Cafe Dupont, which originally opened in Springville, Ala., in 1994 before relocating to Birmingham in 2003, offers a menu that changes daily featuring dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients and contemporary flavors. Some of its signature dishes include fried oysters and okra with cayenne butter sauce, seared sea scallops with goat cheese souffle, and classic beignets with home-grown strawberry preserves, according to their website.
A diner prepares to dig in at Little Betty Steak Bar.Little Betty Steak Bar
Little Betty Steak Bar, which opened in 2024 in Mountain Brook, also places an emphasis on serving unique fare made from fresh, local ingredients sourced from Alabama farms. Its seasonal menus can include a little bit of everything, from unexpected dishes like cornbread with caviar, roasted bone marrow or Wagyu croquettes to hand-cut pastas, fresh seafood and a wide selection of premium steaks.
Meanwhile in Auburn, The Depot has become known and loved for its selection of fresh seafood dishes since it first opened in the city’s historic train depot in 2015. Serving a diverse menu that changes with the seasons, the restaurant offers coastal dishes like jumbo red shrimp and grits and crab-stuffed Carolina rainbow trout in addition to a variety of steaks and other entree selections.
Restaurants that receive the Award of Excellence go through a detailed evaluation process, based on the organizations four core pillars: culinary quality, beverage selection, service, and ambiance.
“Each of these restaurants reflects what DiRōNA has always stood for, a dedication to the guest experience that shows up night after night, in every detail. That’s what this award exists to recognize.” said Scott Breard, CEO of DiRōNA.
Other Alabama restaurants to receive the recognition in previous years are Voyagers in Orange Beach, Ocean Restaurant in Birmingham and Dumbwaiter Restaurant in Mobile.
You can see the full list of restaurants included in the “Class of 2026″ here.
Dining and Cooking