Kozy's Restaurant, Tuscaloosa

A bright red neon sign effuses a cheerful glow onto Kozy's simple white cottage building, never betraying a hint of the elegant gourmet feasts to be found inside. Lauded as a "hidden gem" by the editors of VisitSouth.com, Kozy's embodies founder Sylvere Coussement's dream of mingling Southern culinary curiosity with a speakeasy's old-fashioned charm. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a scene described by _Southern Living as "unique ambiance with an old-Hollywood theme". As house musician Henderson Huggins's live piano jazz mingles with the sound of the courtyard's antique cherub fountain burbling into the koi pond, waiter clad in smart black tie garb bear plates full of seasonal, French-influenced meals. Plates might hold Gulf shrimp and grits, center-cut filet mignon, Andouille-crusted pork, and stuffed mushrooms declared one of the "100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die" by the Auburn and Opelika Tourism Bureau. This dedication to inventive quality extends to the bar, which houses bottles of the restaurant's extensive wine list as well as precision mixologists ready to turn out impeccable cocktails. On warm nights or sunny days, guests sip these drinks on the fenced-in garden patio, surrounded by fragrant flowers and leafy trees.

In addition to serving memorable meals, Kozy's crack team of caterers and event professionals also lends the restaurant's signature flavors to both off-site events and fetes thrown in their private party room or courtyard. Though Kozy's has no de facto dress code, most of the clientele complements the classy surroundings and haute cuisine meals with attire that ranges from business casual to Monopoly man.