re: For those who have been to Tuscaloosa

There's actually an even easier parking area and quick route to Bham than the University Mall parking lot and it's also only $10 to park. Take the Campus Drive exit off of McFarland Blvd (exit that Hampton Inn is on). Instead of turning right just after taking exit like you're going to Bob's Victory Grille/ Hampton Inn....go straight down the hill until the exit dead ends into Campus Drive. Immediately to your right there is a small school where they charge on $10 to park. It's only a 300 or so yard walk to the free shuttle (by the softball stadium) that takes you to the Quad. If you leave early 4th quarter when the game is likely out of reach ;) you'll get just ahead of the long shuttle line. Get off the shuttle where you got on and walk 300 yards to your car. Getting out of this lot is extremely easy and convenient. Turn right out of the parking area, you come to a dead end where you turn right. Turn right and go about a mile and you'll dead end into University Blvd. Turn left onto University Blvd and simply stay straight from there. You'll end up coming out on the Coaling exit on I-20/59 about 12 miles east of Tuscalooosa. If you leave the game just in time to get ahead of the main rush this route will be clear sailing. All bets are off this way if you wait until after the game though. By far the best plan to go back to Bham as you don't have to fool with McFarland Blvd traffic all trying to get on the interstate at one time.

You're welcome

We park at Central High School. Easy walk to the stadium. And an easy shot back to the interstate and Meridian.

Actually the majority of their fans have no respect for themselves and every year they invent new ways to prove it

Finally getting back around to this. Awesome advice guys and much appreciated.

We were feeling ambitious and booked flights late last Saturday. We are actually getting into Atlanta early Saturday morning, driving in to TTown for the game, and have to stay in Bham as that gets us closer to ATL for a noon departure Sunday.

Not going to be a fun travel day by any means, but one hell of an experience.

I'm from Tuscaloosa. Don' shoot me. I go to school at LSU.

I'm focusing on places that are either on the strip or in downtown area which is walking distance from the strip. This means you basically can just hop from place to place.

Best Sports Bar : Will Hagens. Lots of seating, pool tables, interesting food menu.

Best Cocktails : Alcove or Catch 22 (Downtown Area). Probably less game day bar. Surin a Thai restaraunt is probably the best place for cocktails on the Strip, believe it or not. Especially if Joey is behind the bar.

Best place for Beers : Loosa Brews. Avenue Pub. Avenue Pub has pretty good food. There burger is up there.

Club Atmostphere : Rounders, Galletes. Latter is a Frat Kid/Sorority kid hang out. Of course game day is more diverse.

College Crowd : Innesfree ('Irish' pub), 1831, Copper Top, Moes. Mostly for cheap beer. These are college spots normally, they are more known for serving staples. Innesfree has a ton of space its where the crowd would be.

Downtown Pub - Less of a college atmostphere lots of space.

Grey Lady - Martins and Beer. Its a middle ground place.


Barbecue : Archibalds in Northport or the Original Dream Land. True hole in the wall BBQ experiences. If you want more of a sit down fare, there is Jim and Nicks.

Sea Food : Chuck's Fish. Dinner Only. Its expensive (30-50$), but they get fish fresh daily from destin. They are part of a family of restaraunts around the south that is affiliated with a fish market there. The restaraunts all have different names, but nearly all are best in area.

Moderate Down Town Area restaraunts : 5 Bar. They only do 5 dishes. Owend by people who own Chuck's fish.

Side By Side is a Chris Hasting's restaraunt. Its not as good as his Birmingham Restaurants though. Personally I'd skip, but some people like it.

301 Bistro Beer Garden- Skip. Mediocre fine dining.


R Davidson chop house- This is a place for a group and not a couple. Sides etc are all meant to be shared.

Animal Butter- They do eccentric Asian/Mexican fusion. Really creative mostly farm fresh menu. Around 10$.

Post Office Pies for Pizza and Beer.

Cravings - Specialty Grocery that does New York Style Bagels. I think they actually get their Bagels from New York.

Rama Jama's for a burgers, chicken fingers that kinda thing.

Guthrie's - Zaxby's and Canes both are knockoffs of this place (true story). Canes is better imo. The Box (Plate) Combo, No Slaw, Extra Toast started here.



Breakfast:
Holler and Dash- Creative take on Southern Breakfast, around 10-12$

Waysider : traditional southern breakfast.

Another Broken Egg is also there.


Coffee : Monarch Espresso Bar is similar to Mag Pie or French Truck Coffee. All Alabama roasters. Right next to the Alcove

Starbucks Style Coffee shops :
Heritage House (Baked Goods are Amazing), Eidelweiss (German Bakery), O'henry (starbucks).

Best advice....don’t go. It’s a shithole.

Cannot give much advice on parking and restaurants, but can give you a heads up about in-game replays on the Jumbo-Tron: If LSU makes a good play, do not expect to see it again. They never (at least in 2003, 2005, and 2011) replay a bad play for Bama.

Aside from that, it is a very nice tailgate and campus.