Jubilee Joe's, Pelham

One might not expect to find an authentic Cajun seafood restaurant on the outskirts of Birmingham, but it's hard to question Jubilee Joe's credentials. Owner Kash Siddiqui sources much of the restaurant's shellfish, fish, and alligator from Troy Landry and his son Jacob, fishermen extraordinaire and stars of History Channel's "Swamp People". As chronicled on ABC 33/40, the duo sometimes visits the restaurant: an upscale seafood shack with tiled floors, modern hanging lights, and framed illustrations and photographs of seafood.

Though there's a chance the Landrys are just dropping by to say hello, they might also be stopping in to sample the chef's authentic Cajun cuisine. Jubilee Joe's menu features pots of seasoned low-boil shrimp, crawfish, and crabs, as well as Southern staples such as fried green tomatoes, grouper, and bayou oysters. The culinary team stacks po' boy sandwiches with catfish, lump crab, and gator tail, and crafts entrees such as blackened tilapia, New Orleans–style blackened chicken, and crawfish alfredo. Once a year, they bring the food out of the restaurant and into the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre for the Crawfish Boil. The event highlights the chef's signature dish amid live music and family-friendly activities designed to appease the angry Lord Crawfish, sending him back into the ocean depths for one more year.