Babalu Tacos & Tapas restaurant and bar opens today in Birmingham’s Lakeview District – al.com

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The new Babalu Tacos & Tapas restaurant and bar is at the corner of 29th Street and Seventh Avenue South in Birmingham’s Lakeview District. (Photo courtesy of Eat Here Brands LLC)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Babalu Tacos & Tapas opens its first Alabama location today in the new 29 Seven retail and residential development in Birmingham’s bustling Lakeview District.

The restaurant, which also has locations in Jackson, Miss., and Memphis, serves gourmet tacos, Spanish-style tapas and handcrafted cocktails with a Southern twist.

Babalu Tacos & Tapas is at 2808 Seventh Avenue South, at the corner of 29th Street and Seventh Avenue South.

Starting today, the restaurant will be open for lunch through dinner 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. until midnight Fridays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays.

“We are excited to join the thriving Lakeview District in Birmingham,” Bill Latham, president of parent company Eat Here Brands LLC, said in a media release. “We pride ourselves on serving the highest-quality food and drink for our guests and are eager to share our flavorful menu with Birmingham.”

Each item on Babalu’s menu is made from scratch daily, according to the release. Babalu sources local ingredients by partnering with farmers throughout Alabama, the release said, and the menu features daily specials, including a fresh fish, soup, taco, veggie and enchilada of the day.

David Soreano is the general manger of the restaurant and Eric Bartholomew is the executive chef.

The name Babalu references the song that Cuban-born singer and actor Desi Arnaz made popular on the old “I Love Lucy” TV show, and the restaurant’s multicultural menu similarly reflects the street foods of Latin America.

“From a culinary standpoint, the concept was born out of, or driven by, the ethnic street food craze that has come across the nation the last six or seven years, through food trucks and chefs who are doing more ethnic foods and smaller portions,” Al Roberts, executive vice president and culinary director for Eat Here Brands, told AL.com in an earlier interview. “That’s where we headed with Babalu, and it kind of evolved over the years.”

Much of the menu features tapas, which are chef-inspired small plates that are designed to be shared and may be combined to create a full meal.

Appetizers include black-eyed pea hummus ($4.95), lump crab ceviche ($7.95), flash-fried calamari ($10.50), and guacamole that is prepared tableside ($9.95).

Tacos, which come in servings of three per order, include house-smoked chicken ($8.00), beef tenderloin ($8.50), spice-seared yellow fin tuna ($8.50), braised pulled pork ($7.50), grilled or fried Gulf shrimp ($8.50), and veggie ($7.50).

Tapas include Mississippi Delta tamales ($8.95), pan-roasted redfish ($12.50), Gulf lump crab cakes ($12.95), beef empanada ($7.95) and grilled skewered tenderloin ($10.50).

Sandwiches on the Babalu menu include a Cuban torta ($9.95), grilled lamb sliders ($12.95), and a yellow fin tuna “BLC” with bacon, arugula and marinated cucumber ($11.95).

To see a full menu, go here.

Prior to today’s opening, Babalu hosted a soft-opening event for friends and family of the restaurant that benefited downtown Birmingham’s Jones Valley Teaching Farm.

“Creating food that showcases local ingredients is a major component of our food and cocktail menu,” Roberts said in the media release. “We are excited to partner with Jones Valley Teaching Farm and support its initiatives to educate local students and impact the community through sustainable growing and learning.”

In addition to its three Babalu Tacos & Tapas locations, Eat Here Brands operates the restaurants Table 100 in Flowood, Miss., and Interim in Memphis, Tenn.