"Mobile's best argument for Gulf seafood — book chef Jim Smith's oyster bar for a first date over crab claws, oysters and the biscuit service."
The Hummingbird Way is the Gulf Coast oyster bar of chef Jim Smith, set in a house in Mobile's Oakleigh Garden Historic District on George Street. Smith competed across two seasons of Top Chef, won the Great American Seafood Cook-Off and spent eight years as the Executive Chef for the State of Alabama before opening his own room. The cooking is a love letter to Gulf ingredients — the oysters, fish and crab landed a short drive from the door.
Start with the raw bar: fresh Alabama boutique oysters and the marinated crab claws that regulars come back for. The biscuit service — hot buttermilk biscuits with cane syrup, whipped butter and smoked sea salt — runs about $10 and is a signature in its own right. Beyond the raw bar come whole grilled fish and Gulf seafood plates, with a full dinner landing in the $$$ range. The kitchen leans on what the coast brings in, cooked with care rather than fuss.
The setting is a restored house in a leafy historic district, intimate and unshowy, with a handful of rooms and a bar that gives the place its easy neighbourhood feel. Service is friendly and knowledgeable about the day's catch. It reads as a special-occasion spot that still feels local rather than grand, comfortable for a date or a relaxed dinner with friends. Tables are limited, so book ahead, especially at weekends.
For a first date, a relaxed celebration or a seafood dinner with out-of-town guests, The Hummingbird Way is Mobile's choice: a chef-driven oyster bar in a charming historic house. A natural first-date and group-dinner table.
Not for a large, loud party or a budget walk-in — The Hummingbird Way is a small, chef-driven oyster bar with limited tables, best booked ahead for a considered meal.
The Hummingbird Way is helmed by chef Jim Smith, a two-time Top Chef contestant, Great American Seafood Cook-Off winner and former Executive Chef for the State of Alabama.
It is at 351 George Street in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District of Mobile, Alabama, set in a restored house with a raw bar and intimate dining rooms.
Order the fresh Alabama boutique oysters and the marinated crab claws, and add the biscuit service — hot buttermilk biscuits with cane syrup and smoked sea salt, about $10.
A full dinner with the raw bar and seafood plates lands in the $$$ range; it is an upscale, chef-driven oyster bar rather than a casual everyday spot.
Reservations are recommended, especially at weekends, as the restored historic house has limited seating across a handful of intimate rooms.
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