What do you do when you want a taste of fine dining but you have kids? Sure, you can get a sitter… but at Dyron’s Lowcountry, you can just bring them along with you. You’ll find this Crestline favorite across the street from the O’Neal library (121 Oak St., Mountain Brook), open for dinner from 5:30 p.m. until closing Monday through Saturday.
It all started back in 2009, when Dyron Powell and his wife Sondra visited the lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia and fell in love with the unique regional flavors. They quickly decided to bring the coastal cuisine back to Mountain Brook. Dyron’s Lowcountry is a place for those who have been to revisit their memories and refresh their pallets and a place for those who have never been to get an authentic taste of the unique foods. While it is certainly fine dining, this upscale restaurant is warm and welcoming. (And not to mention delicious!) They even have an outdoor seating area for nights when the weather is nice.
They offer a great kids menu (that includes a kids steak!), highchairs and booster seats, and gladly accept even the youngest of diners. There’s even a group of moms who typically roll up for drinks or an early dinner each week with their kids in strollers. In fact, Dyron’s only hires staff members that are enthusiastic about having littles in attendance. If you’ve ever tried to bring kids into a nice restaurant, you know it rarely works out well. But somehow, ages 8 to 80, everyone at Dyron’s is all what you might call “polite company.”
Not only is it kid-friendly, Dyron’s is also fresh. “We use no seed oils,” Dyron explains. “Almost everything is organic; it’s all fresh, no chemicals. It’s a whole, healthy product, cooked over real wood.” They don’t even spray their pans with chemical-filled sprays! Don’t be surprised if you see Sonya or Dyron when you’re visiting—they’re in the restaurant almost every night. To them, visiting a restaurant is personal, and so they are continuously striving to offer their patrons the best experience possible. A belief that readily extends to their staff, who is very attentive—my glass was never empty and the food came quickly!
So what exactly is “lowcountry” food? you might wonder. While some menu items seem like “Southern staples” (like the Joyce Farms’ Fried Chicken), many of the dishes offered aren’t all that common for Birmingham. For example, Hoppin’ John, Corn Pudding, and Country Captain are all cooked in the coastal Carolinas’ Gullah style. If you’ve never had West Indies Salad, that is a must for your visit—not only is it their single best-selling menu item, it’s unlike any “salad” you’ve ever had. (Don’t picture leafy greens—think fresh Alabama crabmeat soaking in a tangy cider vinegar, served over ice!)
If you’re a seafood lover, be sure to try the Greg Abrahms’ Red Snapper, served over cheese grits—you won’t regret it. But truly, they have a whole slew of seafood options, from their seafood gumbo to their Bayou La Batre baked oysters to other types of freshly cooked fish. If you prefer a hearty red meat, I implore you to try the Beef Tenderloin, served alongside a twice-baked potato and charred okra.
Whether you’re a chocoholic (like me, my hand is raised) or lean toward fruity, dairy-free options like sorbet, you’ll find you can finish off your dining experience with a number of delightful desserts. (And some of their drinks, like the espresso martini, even taste like dessert in and of themselves.) Needless to say, use the money you were going to spend on a babysitter and take your kids to Dyron’s for a healthy, fresh meal you won’t soon forget. Visit dyronslowcountry.com or Resy to book your reservation now, or call (205) 834-8257.
