quote:
Hey NA, I'm coming to the Marriott for a conference starting tomorrow. Any bar/restaurants that you would recommend in the Florence/Shoals area?

Yeah, actually the bar at the Mariott is pretty awesome. It's called Swampers (named after the studio band that recorded music for the stones/aretha franklin/etc, etc, etc....). It's got tons of awesome pictures of the musical history of the shoals. There's also great acoustical music there from 5-7 every night but Sunday I think. Can be a bit pricey, but a good place to relax... and try out some of the local beer (singing river... I suggest the porter).

Sam's Sports Bar isn't far from the Mariott, it's definitely where you want to go to watch any sports... ton's of TV's, really good food and reasonable prices. (1.50 natty's all day if you want to go real cheap) Their chicken fingers are off the chain, and their pizza and burgers are great too. Haven't had anything there I didn't like, but you gotta get the chicken fingers at least once. The crowd there is usually a little older though, not gonna be a party scene or many young hotties.

On the Rocks is where ya wanna go if you want something between a Club and a Restaurant Bar. It's a straight up good bar with reasonable prices, food is pretty good but nothing to rave about. They have good live music most nights and that's one place you'll find a younger crowd that stays out later and will be packed Friday and Saturday night, but you'll still be able to get a drink fairly easily (during the week it's usually still crowded, just not slammed). It's downtown on Court Street.

Flobama is the more Club like bar, it's also on Court Street just up the street a block or so. It's big and open, food is not that great, but it has a big stage and that's where the bigger bands usually play and is slammed packed on Friday and Saturdays with young women willing to make bad choices.

Go to Truly Cigars if you want to go and enjoy a cigar and some scotch or bourbon, it's not to far from the Mariott either. Cool little place to go pick out a cigar and chill with great service. Has a patio if you don't want to sit in the bar/lounge.

Restaurant wise...

Ricitoni's is a long time go to place in Florence, really good Italian food at a reasonable price. It's also on Court Street, straight across from On the Rocks.

The Pie Factory is also on court street right next to On the Rocks. It's a great place to go for some REALLY good pizza and some craft beer (good on tap selection). It's owned by the same guys that own On the Rocks.

Bunyan's BBQ is that hole in the wall place. It's kinda in the ghetto, but there's no REAL ghetto in Florence. Nowhere unsafe really. But it's the place to go if you want to get some really awesome BBQ hot slaw... the BBQ is good, but the slaw is the fricking tits. Don't go there to eat, just call in a order and pick it up.

La hacienda is just right up the street from the mariott in the k-mart plaza. Awesome Mexican food, good clean atmosphere, always crowded and been around forever. It's a local fav. If you like spicy stuff order a Benji (not on the menu).

If you want steak, go across the river to George's... Good steak, little pricey, but not bad for a good steak house.

There's some pretty good sushi places, if you're in to that let me know and I'll recommend some of those.

The 360 grill is the place to go if you want to spend some money and get a great view of Florence. It's at the top of the tower right there at the mariott and the restaurant spins so you get a great view of the whole shoals area and the river. The food is very good, but you're paying for the atmosphere and view as well.

I'll try to think of some others.