Alabama’s ‘Highlands’ named one of the ‘30 most influential restaurants of the last 30 years’

Birmingham’s Highlands Bar and Grill has had an impressive run in 2018.

This year, the restaurant took home the most outstanding restaurant honor at the James Beard Awards, while pastry chef Dolester Miles won the award for the most outstanding pastry chef.

Robb Report named executive chef and owner Frank Stitt’s restaurant Monday one of “The 30 Most Influential Restaurants of the Last 30 Years.”

Star Chef Mike Lata praised Highlands Bar and Grill in Robb Report’s rundown, saying Stitt has “paved the way for new Southern cooking.”

From Lata, via Robb Report:

“Highlands paved the way for new Southern cooking. Frank Stitt had studied in France for a long time and basically brought back all his knowledge and sensibilities and his passion for French food and applied it to Southern cooking. He then created a great experience—both food and service—that hadn’t been achieved of yet in the South. It’s around 35 years old, and it’s still recognized today as being a restaurant that has changed so many people’s outlooks on what was possible with Southern food.”