Watch out Birmingham- Huntsville is creepin’ up on your Alabama foodie city spot. In the past few years, the restaurant scene in Huntsville has grown in a way that has made this hometown girl proud. I love seeing new spots trying new things, and that’s exactly what Kona Grill is doing at their new Bridge Street location- the first in Alabama! President and CEO Berke Bakay said, “Huntsville’s vibrant food scene made it a prime location for Kona Grill to plant its roots in Alabama.” Whooo rep yo’ cit’!
Kona is a “contemporary American grill” whose menu hosts dishes like jalapeño yellowfish sashimi, the big kahuna cheeseburger, and passionfruit creme brulee, alongside their crafted cocktails. Their new location at Bridge Street (near Belk) is now open, and you should go try some of their dishes for yourself!
I was kindly invited to their grand opening party last weekend and got to try a few of their delicious dishes. They have a huge menu, with options for gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diners, as well as calorie-conscious options for those of us trying to exercise a little restraint!
I was immediately struck by how gorgeous the space is! Very modern, but with a few rustic touches like a reclaimed-wood-looking bar front and antique-looking lightbulbs. There are booths and tables inside if the weather is acting up, but my friend Joel and I sat out on the patio. The bar is indoor/outdoor, meaning there are bar stools on both the inside and outside, which was so cool! I also noticed one table that looked like it had the potential to be a fire table, which will be so great once it cools down a little.
Seeing as this was a pre-opening party, they didn’t quite have all of their drinks ready, but I did get to sample a few! They were serving beer, wine, white sangria, and red sangria, as well as a few non-alcoholic options. I tried both the red and white sangrias, and although both were delicious, I HIGHLY recommend the white! I could happily (although not safely) drink a lot of those!
I noticed they have several taps at the bar with local brew pulls, so I expect we can find some great local options now that they’re fully open!
One thing I was immediately struck by was how varied the menu was. They have flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads, entrees like New York strip steak, and sushi options. Honestly, it would be so easy to find something for everyone in your party, even picky kids! I happened to see quite a few kids last weekend really tucking in, so that’s a good sign!
Joel and I started small with some sushi. We loaded up our plate with Salmon and Tuna nigiri, a Rainbow Roll, and a Philadelphia roll. It was all super tasty, but I think the thing that impressed me the most was the fresh wasabi!
We also tried a chicken and vegetable potsticker and few of the flatbreads, like the buffalo chicken, the margherita (with a fig balsamic), and the portabello and goat cheese options.
Joel and I agreed that our favorite of the flatbreads was the portabello and goat cheese. I may be a little biased because of my intense love of goat cheese, but it was so good!
For us, the two stars of the show were the yellowtail jalapeño sashimi and the cheeseburger sliders. I was a little wary of the sashimi because raw fish and jalapeño are not two things I would ever put together, but it WORKED. Big fan!
Joel’s favorite was the cheeseburger slider. It has cheddar, shredded lettuce, tomato, brioche, and homemade pickles. He said the bun was delicious, and he loved that the lettuce was shredded. The size was much more manageable than some of those absurdly thick restaurant burgers, and, most importantly for him, the last few bites weren’t soggy! These sliders are a lunch item only, but I wish they had them on the dinner menu!
I am so excited that Kona Grill is open now in Huntsville, and I 100% recommend checking it out! The dishes I mentioned here are all winners, but there are so many more that are most likely equally as delicious.
Kona Grill is open at Bridge Street daily for lunch, dinner, and late night, along with specials like Wine Down Wednesdays. Make sure you swing by and let me know what you think! Cheers!
