Galley and Garden Fine Food and Drink James Boyce Galley and Garden Fine Food & Drink

Galley and Garden Fine Food & Drink Awards

This Magic City venture in a Highland Avenue landmark is from Huntsville chef James Boyce.
Openings: Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner Mon.-Sat., Brunch Sun.

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Galley and Garden Fine Food & Drink, Birmingham, AL


Galley and Garden Fine Food & Drink Restaurant Review:


The historic white-columned Merritt House on Highland Avenue that’s home to Galley and Garden has an outdoor seating area that leads into the thoroughly transformed interior where neutral colors and an elegant marble-topped bar await. Southern-influenced Cali-French cuisine rules ever since chef James Boyce and his wife, Suzan, Huntsville restaurateurs, partnered with Ed Hardin, who owned the precursor restaurant, Veranda. Start with one of the flatbreads, perhaps the wild mushroom and caramelized onion or the Chappapeela Farms pork belly with Alecia’s tomato chutney and a drizzle of white barbecue sauce. Crispy Gulf oysters might entice, nestled by a fennel and apple slaw with sauce ravigote. Seared yellowfin tuna is crusted with Sea Island benne seeds, laid out with puffs of avocado mousse and topped with seaweed salad and crisp wontons. Slow-braised Hereford short ribs are a favorite, served with Anson Mills Parmesan grits, sautéed greens, horseradish gremolata and red-eye gravy. Who can resist a honey semifreddo in a pool of huckleberry sauce spiked by a column of honeycomb candy? Brunch on Sundays offers special dishes, such as Duncan Farm rabbit enchiladas with pico de gallo and salsa verde, with a poached egg. The extensive wine list explores the world of wine in depth, and some local brews appear on the beer list. Mondays on the Patio brings featured foods and $5 specialty cocktails and live music. French press coffee is a special blend made for the Boyces’ restaurants.