Cotton Row in Huntsville

I love the appetizers and main courses. Im not that excited about their desserts.

Had the 3 course meal down in the wine cellar. Great experience, food, and service.

not good and expensive, got a medium rare steak, came out rare (bright red). asked to cook it slightly more and it came out well done no reminisce of pink. for a 50+ dollar steak at least cook it how i ask.

Food is always great and the service is impeccable. Still my favorite place in Huntsville.

Aweful! Just aweful! Cotton Row has ALWAYS been my favorite, go to restaurant since we ve moved here for the past four years. We had reservations last night. I don t know if they got a new chef or what but it was terrible. The Lobster Bisque was anything but! It tasted like Jared gravy with hints of tomato and the shavings on top tasted like shredded paper and absolutely NO lobster meat AT ALL! The Black Bass was really over salted that it was hard to eat. My husband had a bone in New York strip that he said was bland and served to him lukewarm warm. The apple tart seemed over baked that I couldn t get through it with a spoon, had no knife and barely any ice cream to go with the size of the tart. Usually I take pictures . For a $200 meal that was absolutely terrible! DO BETTER!! The wait staff is always incredible tho! Update 12/14/24 Maybe this was why my experience was so terrible!!! By Mike Brown Published: Dec. 13, 2024 at 5:00 AM CST HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Multiple times in 2024, we ve reported on high-end restaurants in downtown Huntsville receiving shockingly low scores. The trend continues this week. Madison County Cotton Row Restaurant on the South Side Courthouse Square was hit with a 76 this week. There were multiple food temperature violations involving tomatoes, butter and mushrooms. There was also black residue in the ice chute, dirty dishes mixed with clean ones and no sanitizer found in a running dishwasher. DO BETTER!!!! FIX IT! If it s a manager, chef or food supplier .. REPLACE THEM! You used to be the best! What happened to you!?

Its okay...but definitely not better than expected. Its among my list of go tos for a special occasion, intimate setting. The entrée portions are extremely small...so just order two or eat before you arrive there.

Meh. Food was ok. Service was good. Wasn t worth the money. Won t be going back.

Pretentious place tiny portions, high prices, average food. We were a large party but service was really slow took over 3 hrs.

Had dinner at Cotton Row with our team that planned and ran a technical Symposium at the VBC. Had heard many good things about this restaurant and this provided a great opportunity to try it out with friends. Everything about the meal and experience was excellent. I highly recommend it for special occasions or any time you want to have an exceptional meal and dinner experience. Parking: South Side of the Huntsville courthouse square.

This is a very good restaurant in a very competitive market.

Shocked to see this restaurant has Foie Gras on the menu and supports this immense animal cruelty and torture. We will not be back.

I was at Cotton Row for their gourmet dinner with Chef Boyce. Everything was great! My only complaint is, I miss having the Chef prepare the food infront of us. I know it depends on turn out but, I still miss it.

My second time going to this place. Going through front door we saw their health and food rating at an 85. We were hoping that the food was much better since we were their a year ago. SO over priced and none of the food is fresh. Everything is frozen. Although the service is fantastic, coming home and getting sick after spending $180 for two people, its absolutely not worth it. Its sad as this is supposed to be one of the higher end restaurants in the community. After going g twice within a year and getting sick both times....sadly its not worth the cost in my opinion..

Hard to decide. House cocktails and seafood chowder were awesome. Entrees, black bass and mushroom ravioli, outstanding. Best in town. However, we ordered a pinot noir with entrees, and the wine was right out of the fridge. Who serves a cold red wine, especially at that price? Then, our wonderful server disappeared. Didnt see him again after he dropped off our bill. We waited fifteen minutes and finally our bill was rung up at the bar with the reply, Dont know, when we asked where he had gone. Have no idea what happened, but that was not what we expected. It was also a birthday celebration, which I noted on the reservation and again with the server, but no one seemed to care. Best food around. Just seemed a fail at the end.

This review is mostly for our great server, Morgan I think. We came in to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. There were lots of things that happened beyond her control and she was so graceful and tried her best to make our experience positive. Thank you! We will return especially because of her!

First time in Huntsville, and we lucked out by walking in this place!

Probably the fanciest place in Huntsville. Excellent food and service.

When my Foodie fix needs a dose. . . Cotton Row is on the short list. Inside may be a little tight, yet when there is a breeze and suns low on the horizon. Nothing better than the patio! Especially when music is live on the square.

Went for restaurant week and the food was Fantastic as was the service.

Fine cuisine.

Fancy atmosphere! Pricey! Upscale restaurant for sure! They intentionally wait periods of time between checking on your table to make it feel more upper class, so be prepared to have a long, long dining experience. This is not a quick in-out place. Also, their website is out of date: No Valet service, even though listed on website, so no convenient parking. Also, they do not honor Resy. I specifically Reserved a basement winery dining experience, and was given the traditional upstairs dining experience. It was still nice, but not what I wanted. Preferred my experience at Char better. Probably won t be back until updates are made on the website. Parking: No valet, paid street parking

Wonderful experience, delicious food.

First off I have to say the staff is amazing! Great service, attentive without being over bearing, just the picture of great professional service while still making you feel like they are an old friend. The problem is for the price the food was extremely lack luster. To start with we split the scallop and risotto appetizer just because we wanted to try it because I love risotto, the risotto itself wasn t bad, a tad overcooked and definitely nothing to write home about, but the scallops were both very undercooked, I understand a properly cooked scallop my be a bit raw in the very center like a rare steak but they had only been cooked on one side and half was raw and ice cold. It can happen so we just chalked it up to an honest mistake and moved on to our main course. I had the ribeye and she had the short ribs both were just not on par with the price. My steak was ordered rare and was actually somewhere between medium rare and medium at best, not the highest quality ribeye either it was dry and tough, again not what you would expect from a restaurant like this that has such a limited menu. The short ribs were fine it was a perfectly acceptable dish, just not one you would tell anyone about or order again. I might try this place again just for the atmosphere and staff in hopes of a slightly better experience, maybe if their menu changes seasonally. But for a restaurant in this price range, that s wasn t over crowded and I was there on a Saturday night when you should be bringing your best, I can not recommend anyone spend the money for the food we received.

Absolutely delicious dinner.

I made online reservations for our anniversary. We were seated at a booth next to another couple. I do not recommend this restaurant for a special night unless you can reserve a table giving you some social distance from your neighbors. This ruined the evening for me. The fried green tomato appetizer was average. They should try Acres fried green tomato appetizer (in Auburn), its over the top. The rest of our meal was excellent. We had the grilled hearts of romaine salad, the porcini and truffle mushroom ravioli & the warm skillet apple tart for dessert. All of these items were sooo good.

Amazing

Awesome establishment for an intimate date night. Food is delicious, and service is impeccable!

Best restaurant in Huntsville. Food is amazing and atmosphere. BEST SERVICE FROM DAVID EVER! He s absolutely amazing! Super helpful and great. Will definitely be back to request David and have an amazing night!

I had an amazing time at cotton row, David took amazing care of us and we will definitely be coming back!

If you have severe allergies, stay away, as the management could care less about your personal safety in dining at Cotton Row. I am deathly allergic to fish, shellfish, and seaweed, and go into anaphylactic shock if consumed. I informed my server of my allergies and he went to speak with the Chef. They told me that all of the desserts at Cotton Row have seaweed in them. He went on to inform me that I could not have anything prepared in the fryer as they fry fish/shellfish in fryers so there would be cross-contamination and not safe for me. So I ordered their Wagyu burger could not have the fries as they are prepared in the fryer with the fish, but was never offered another side. I was very appreciative that they told me about the cross-contamination. After I had my burger, which was very good, I order the special salad of the day, a burrata salad. The salad was presented to me. Upon looking at the salad there were five bunches of fried basil leaf clusters in the cheese and among the heirloom tomatoes. I called the server over and asked if this was fried basil and if it was fried in a pan or in the fryer. He went to check and came back and said that it was prepared in the fryer and they could not guarantee that there were no fish or shellfish items prepared in the same fryer. I said that I would not eat this as I would go into anaphylaxis. I was not offered to have the salad remade without the fried basil so I could enjoy it. The server went and spoke with the manager about the situation. The server came back with the check and said, I was told I cannot take off the salad, and presented me with the check. So the careless kitchen tries to kill me and the manager never came over to apologies, but says you have to pay $18.00 for a salad that could have killed me if I did not ask about the preparation of the salad. If you have allergies stay away from Cotton Row as they really do not care about the safety of their guests, as they do not take allergies seriously. So sad for Huntsville for people with allergies, as I visited another restaurant prior to coming here tonight, and told the server about my allergies, and was informed, We do serve your type here.

We visited Cotton Row for the first time on Mother s Day for brunch. First of all, I was very confused by the brunch menu. There was one item on the menu that was a brunch item but everything else IMO was a dinner item. I ordered the quiche, which was chewy. Our daughter ordered her steak medium and it was cooked closer to well done (no pink at all). My husband had the lobster thermador and the sauce was very overpowering. This is after we waited over an hour for our meal. We had to ask for the check and cancel dessert because we were going to miss another engagement. Each item was around $65. After tip our check was close to $300 for a party of 3. I hate to leave such a mega review for a local business but I don t think we will be returning. Not the experience we were expecting.

Weve yet to have a bad meal! Great food and service!

Great time celebrating Valentine s Day Our food was cooked to perfection everything was AMAZING!!

My wife and I went to celebrate my Birthday and our 42nd anniversary which we told them at the time I made the reservation. I will say my wife enjoyed her meal however I order prime rib and it was the worst Ive had at a restaurant. Real challenge just to cut it. Partly my fault. I should have returned it but I waited for the server to return to ask how our meal was and the only time she returned was to give us the tab. This was our first experience there. Perhaps just an off night.

The wine cellar is a great room for dinner

Great food and service

Fabulous experience, great food, and drinks . Perfect for date nights.

Really cozy and nice restaurant. Great location and great food

Great gathering spot with professional and friendly service. Nice wine list as well. Our server explained how the PBJ in phyllo came to be, and we had to try it. . I was skeptical and quite surprised!

Best restaurant in town.

An all around wonderful dining experience! Short ribs were amazing!

A nice dining establishment in downtown Huntsville. Great service all around. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. The drinks were well-made I d recommend the smoked Old Fashioned. The food was good and cooked to order. The miso glazed king salmon was delicious.

Great food, excellent service.

Great food! The menu had a good selection of meats and fish. The presentation was amazing, and the taste was on point. Rodney, the bar tender, was friendly and quick.

This was a great experience. The happy hour was fantastic. Our server James was outstanding, especially with his knowledge of Bourbon. The steak was delicious, and the kitchen split our meals on two separate plates. This will be a go-to spot when we return to Huntsville to visit our friends.

Let me just start by saying that the service was excellent! The food however, is mediocre at best. We dined here on Valentine s Day where they had a set menu and my partner and I both ordered the beef wellington. Not only was it just not good, but one of our steaks was nearly well done while the other was cooked as expected, medium/medium rare. The appetizer and dessert were fine but nothing worth coming here again for. For the price point, there are several other restaurants in the area to have a much better and cheaper meal. Another side note, not sure if they typically offer valet parking all the time but the night of Valentine s Day was a DISASTER. They had one guy parking/retrieving all the vehicles himself. All while another employee manned the podium where all the keys were kept. She was being disgustingly rude and was talking down to the poor guy. It was apparent he was doing his best given that he was doing a job by himself that clearly 3-4 people should have been doing. If you re going to have valet parking either staff it well (especially on probably the busiest night of the year) or don t offer it at all.

The drinks were amazing. I would go there just for drinks alone! The selection was amazing. I loved their bourbon fig. The regular martini was anything but regular. The taste of juniper was incredible. The drinks were the best. We tried three appetizers: the grilled salad, the chacueterie board, and the truffle tagliatelle. All were delicious. For our meals we had the duck, 14 Oz ribeye, and the burger. The duck was the best I have had. For dessert, we tried the house-made ice cream, lemon tiramasu, and the chocolate caramel crunch cake along with their coffee and cappacino. Excellent! We will definitely be back!!! Our new favorite restaurant in Huntsville!

This place is hilarious!!! Please go some where worth it, fake hype on this place.

Great service from Miles! Food recommendations and accommodations were on point. Cozy seating. Mocktails were tasty and customizable. Truffle fries portion was bigger than I anticipated! Filet was *chefs kiss*, the pork chop special (recommended by Miles) was delicious, and the apple tart is for sure a fan favorite.

We love Rodney, you re amazing Very knowledgeable bartender! And the food is yummy too!!

First time to visit from out of town. We have an after rehearsal dinner planned there soon and decided to eat dinner and visit the upstairs banquet room. Very pleasant setting and the food and service were excellent. Only disappointment was having to sit near front door where we frequently got a rush of cold air every time the door was opened since it was a very cold night. Highly recommend the beef short rib . Family had salmon and halibut which looked amazing . We will definitely return. Reservations are a must .

Our server was lovely and the place is beautiful. But for the price we paid the food was underwhelming to say the least. My short ribs had no seasoning and when I asked to switch the grits for risotto (which they were kind enough to offer) im pretty sure they dumped the risotto into the grits. The duck was rubbery and tasted like the little smokies sausages youd find at a tailgate party. Maybe stick to the appetizers if you go.

I ll start off by saying that we had an amazing experience and the service was spectacular! The ambiance they provide is unique and their decorating abilities do not go unnoticed. Pros: Our waiter was kind and gave my husband a spot on bourbon recommendation that complement his meal perfectly. We ordered their charcuterie board which had items that complement each other beautifully. I ordered their Wagyu burger that came with Parmesan fries and a black truffle Aioli and my husband ordered the 12 oz New York Steak that came with lobster Mac and cheese and asparagus. Everything was cooked to perfection and was perfect for every bite. We ordered the tasting of chocolates for dessert that included a tiramisu, chocolate crème Brûlée and a marshmallow parfait. Our favorite being the tiramisu. Cons: we went the day after Valentine s Day and the restaurant, although busy, was not packed . Everything just took a long time. We had to wait at least 20-25 minutes to even get my drink. The charcuterie board although amazing, only came with 5 crackers? I was confused considering there was enough cheese and meat on the board that deemed 2x that amount of crackers. For the food, again, not denying it was tasty and cooked well, was a bit lackluster for the price. My fries could have been from the Freddy s fast food establishment and I wouldn t have been able to tell the difference. The lobster Mac&Cheese was ok, it didn t have anything that left you longing for more. And of the dessert, the crème brûlée top was a bit burnt and the marshmallow parfait was quite literally just Marshmallow with a raspberry and a chocolate graham cracker-esk round containing it. In conclusion, we would dine here again. More fore the service and the environment than the food itself. Parking: They offer Valet Wheelchair accessibility: Some areas of the restaurant are not due to them being up a flight of stairs ( not sure if they have a elevator to provide access for Wheelchairs)

Fine dinning. NOPE!!! NO WAY!! LOL!!Nice venue. Great waiter. Stay home and heat up a Hot-pocket. Very sad. Reply to Cotton Row. No denying we dined there 12/22/23 reservation at 6:00pm for 4. Was going to speak to manager, decided not to out of respect for others. 4 meals, each different. Regards

My daughters booked me and my husband a surprise reservation here and the experience was incredible. Everyone was so attentive and welcoming. They told us happy anniversary as soon as we walked into the door. The food was amazing and the service was great! Amazing place!

We had a wonderful experience and they still set the bar for the local restaurants. The duck is out of this world, I cannot recommend it enough.

Great food and excellent service.

Great seafood selection with creative options for appetizers. Cotton Row is in a historic location and building and has fresh and healthy menu options. I recommend the Cold Gulf Shrimp Salad, as the watermelon and avocado are an interesting and successful combo. Good streak and seafood dinner options and the bar is well stocked and wait staff is friendly and skilled. Great choice for dinner.

The Tuna is fantastic with a nice horseradish sauce. The Filet is excellent and the Salmon is a perfectly balanced dish. The Hazelnut Crunch is a great blend of tastes and texture for desert. Rodney was a Five Star bartender with an excellent Rye Manhattan and both wine and dessert cocktail recommendations.

excellent dinner. Enjoyed the seared scallops, seafood chowder and creme brulle

Great food, great atmosphere and good prices.

Lovely food, but unfortunately the bartender was not so pleasant.

Do NOT attempt to go there for a casual drink or expect to sit at the bar! Apparently they hold seats there even though they say it s open seating and first come first served.

This evening we went to Cotton Row and sat at the bar to have apps, cocktails and dinner. We had two seats and one chair saved for a friend who was looking for parking. We ordered our cocktails (crystal ball and French 75) and appetizer (truffle fries) while we waited for our guest to arrive. We enjoyed the Halibut for dinner and we the Crunch Cake for dessert. Service from Host (Jessie I think), Bartender Rodney, GM Lauren, and wait staff was exceptional, as always. Cocktails, dinner and dessert were on point, and delicious! We enjoy every visit to Cotton Row, wether it s for Drinks or a complete meal with dessert! Highly Recommend

Such a lovely date night spot! The atmosphere is so calm and pleasant, and we were immediately greeted by a friendly smile at the host table. We went straight to our seats and we were greeted by our first server, asking about water options. Then our main server, Jared, joined us and was incredibly kind and knowledgeable about all they were offering. He came around just enough, didnt bother us or abandon. We ended up ordering soups (crazy delicious sea food chowder and butternut squash soup) and they delivered fresh baked bread (also fantastic). Main course we got lamb chops and the daily fish special -- cannot rave enough about how well they were each cooked! Best scallops ever! Yes, its not inexpensive, but the portions are very large! For dessert, I opted for the hazelnut chocolate caramel crunch cake. It has coffee ice cream on top. It wasnt too sugary or too decadent, just right! We had received a gift card for Christmas, which is why we went. But we will absolutely be back! It was worth every penny!

I was apart of a prom group that went there. We had reservations and had a large party so we expected to wait longer for food. We never had a glass refilled in the two and a half hours we were there and had to get our food to go as were late to our event and pictures. I feel we were treated differently due to being the younger crowd at the restaurant. We expressed our grievances to the wait staff and were made to feel as if we were less important than other guests. there were other large parties that arrived after we did and left long before we did. No compensation or generosity was given to our group. If you send a young group in like ours I would recommend a parent be present so they may actually care about their services provided.

Romantic atmosphere. Excellent food. My wife and I have eaten here many times and have never been disappointed. Chef James Boyce owns several restaurants in Huntsville and Birmingham, and I would recommend trying all of them.

Why have dinner reservations start 15 minutes before your valet service even arrives to do their job?

This place was amazing. A true fine dining experience. The service was amazing. Food was amazing. Food did not take long to get out to us. Will definitely recommend and definitely go back again.

This place was ok but if its the best Huntsville has to offer, then Huntsville needs some new restaurants. I recently moved to the area from Charlotte NC and they had a multitude of restaurants that are higher quality than this place.

Cancelled our reservation with 48 hour notice due to a private event. Adequate notice but unfortunately it was booked weeks in advance as a meaningful birthday celebration.

Excellent farm to table. Ordered the beet salad, scallops with wilted baby greens & chocolate carmel cake.

Food was excellent. The service was terrible. I was charged $80 for two drinks. It s been difficult to rectify, I ve had one call back to resolve issue. The manager changed $80 to $60. I still think that s too much. The waitress got the groups credit cards all mixed up. She was unable to present me with a bill upon leaving the restaurant. I really wanted to straighten out with management before I disputed the charges. It s not even worth the time I ve spent trying to resolve it, now it s just on principle that they should not over charge people without being upfront.

Great restaurant! Had amazing service!

Amazing date night, they set the standard for service and amazing food. Extensive wine and dessert menu.

Charming restaurant with great food. Does not have a TV, which allows them and the guests to focus on the atmosphere and the food, which are great.

Absolutely delectable .. everything was Great , the Wine , dinner, crème brûlée. I was very pleased .I had the special of the evening iWonderfully prepared. Our Server Was Awesome very knowledgeable.

My favorite restaurant in the Rocket City. Always great service, great food and wonderful atmosphere.

Phonemenal

Our experience at Cotton Row was unfortunately quite underwhelming. While the waitress was really trying to be kind, her initial correction of our request for bread service left a strange impression. We simply wanted some bread to accompany medication I needed to take, but she explained that the tiered service meant we would receive bread after the menu was cleared. We didnt appreciate being corrected or questioned in that moment. There is absolutely no dining etiquette that supersedes a server being conscientious that a guest feels welcome and at ease. The bread itself was delicious, but unfortunately, we couldnt say the same about the other aspects of our meal. The fried green tomatoes, which we shared as an appetizer, were completely flavorless. They were plated with a thin swirl of remoulade-style sauce, which was barely enough to enjoy one bite of the bland Panko-breaded discs. We had to use our bread plates to share the appetizer, as the waitress failed to bring appetizer plates, which was surprising considering her emphasis on the formal tiered service for the bread. She could clearly see that we had only taken one bite and indicated that we were done with it, but she never inquired or cleared the plates until we asked her to do so, in order to make room for our entrees. I m a private chef and my palate is reflective of my competency. I understand the importance of seasoning in a dish, and unfortunately, my mushroom ravioli with short rib entree was quite under-seasoned. After only three bites, I found it bland and uninteresting. My husbands salmon dish was also disappointing, and he only had a few bites of it. We should have sent everything back to the kitchen, except for the bread, but frankly, I didnt want to engage in shop talk and have to explain or qualify my feedback to their chef or management. The sheer lack of food actually consumed should have sent a message to the server. What disappointed me the most was that the flavorless and uninspiring food hid behind the facade of a fine-dining experience. I would have been more forgiving of the pretense if the food had lived up to expectations. We ended up ordering room service at our hotel, which turned out to be fantastic, further highlighting the contrast in the use of seasoning between Cotton Row and our hotels dining options.

Great food and service. Glad we tried this place. Definitely worth another visit.

We went here for a birthday dinner recently. Beware of any greens you get. I got swiss chard with my venison and it had sand in it. I felt the grit in my back teeth and couldnt believe it. They were well seasoned though! My spouse tried a bite and experienced the same thing. Just avoid greens and youll be ok!! Also only had 3 pieces of sweet potato gnocchi and when the plate is over $40 you kinda expect zero sand and maybe like 5 pieces of sweet potato gnocchi. Maybe its because we came for a later dinner past 7:30pm. But probably will not come back due to issues mentioned above.

The scallops are absolutely wonderful, the staff is friendly and the vibe lovely. Well be back for more!

Only bad thing I can say about the place was the portions were on the small size, but other than that it was great food and atmosphere.

Bread was amazing and staff were friendly but the main course did not live up to expectations.

Extremely expensive for the service and the food. Maybe in its prime it would have been amazing. Everything including the people are tired. The large price tag doesnt seem to help anyone.

Crab cake & scallops are excellent!

Small menu but the food was great. The filet was very good. The short ribs were fantastic. Fall apart tender and seasoned to perfection. Higher end on the pricing but worth it. The staff was friendly and accommodating. We would go back without a doubt.

One of Huntsville s great places to go for lunch or dinner, so so good

First I walk in and the hostess stand had Robitussin on it. I noticed from entry the waiter was rubbing his nose eyes beard and mouth which is nasty. The manager was coughing all over the place. Both made me feel like I needed to run out but I didnt want to offend my friends. This was the most nasty atmosphere I have ever encountered. I wish I worked for the health department so I could shut this place down until they got rid of these two. I was disappointed. Food was great cant take that from them

The food and service were excellent.

Food was decent - some very good, some okay. But our waiter was fairly inattentive. He would only stop by the table when food was delivered. Each course took a while to come, which is fine, but as someone who used to waitress I think its perfectly acceptable to stop by here and there to give an update and make sure everything is going well. Whenever he would offer us upsells and we would decline, he kind of gave us a look like we werent worth his time. But, the water girl was AMAZING! She was very kind and stopped by our table every time our glasses got close to half empty. She would ask us how everything was going. We ended up privately tipping her just because she did an amazing job.

Very well-prepared cocktails -- particularly, the gin martini. Nice cozy atmosphere, with a diverse and well thought out menu. Id recommend it as a good choice for a special occasion.

Great atmosphere. My food was good, but not amazing. Patio was nice for people watching. Food : 3/5

The absolute best meal I ve had in Huntsville and is firmly in my top 10 best meals ever. The flavor profiles of each meal are carefully executed, and the freshness of the ingredients really make the meal. The cocktails are fantastic, and they really factored into the overall experience. Everything about Cotton Row makes for a great night. Definitely take the time to reserve a table, and really go all out. It ll be well worth the money.

Lovely restaurant with nice outdoor seating and nearby walkable shops.

an exquisite dining experience, from appetizers to dessert.

The Venison was delicious. The steak was perfect! The hazelnut caramel cake with the toffee ice cream was amazing! The avocado lime sherbert was perfect! Parking: Complementary valet parking

Anyone complaining about anything from Cotton Row Restaurant mustve just had a bad day. I escorted a group of Foreign Dignitaries and US Army Senior Officials (20 people) to the Cotton Row for a business dinner in May. We had dinner on the second floor overlooking the old courthouse. Everyone of us give huge kudos to the Chef, his Staff, the Wait Staff and the management. An excellent experience supported with a great meeting place, really fine food and a friendly and professional staff. What an awesome evening function. This is a must visit establishment.

Cotton Row has top tier food, service and atmosphere. I highly recommend it to all. They care about their reputation. You will be taken care of when you visit this establishment. I cant say enough good things. You will have to experience it for yourself to know.

Weve enjoyed Cotton Row since we moved to Huntsville 15 years ago. We went less often starting a couple years ago because the menu had become stale and the food quality had seemed to decline. Our last two visits have really been great and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner this past weekend. The service is always superb and we look forward to our next visit!

What a wonderful dinner we had for our girls trip. Our party has gluten free requests and these were attended to quickly and without difficulty. Our dining experience was high-end, but with a modest price tag. We will be back. Dietary restrictions: They were easily able to handle gluten free restrictions and are Celiac friendly.

Went for my son s bday. Told them when we came in. Service was excellent. Didn t have to wait too long for our food. They presented his dessert with Happy Birthday message so felt we definitely appreciated that. Food is good and presentation exceptional. Will be back!

Since we ve been to Iberian Pig in Atlanta,GA and a very high end restaurant located inside Ritz-Carlton hotel. The local Huntsville restaurant-Cotton Row, disappointed us for our anniversary dinner. The food ingredients were really okay. Chicken and orzo, wagu was nothing delicious but greasy somehow. The chicken was dry and the oysters are fried which makes the oysters not appealing anymore. I would go back to The Bottle again but not Cotton Row for sure if I have to dine in Huntsville. Our Server was really nice and I like her. Just wish the food was good.

Great service !! Southern traditional food done well!

The atmosphere of Cotton Row is very quaint and welcoming. I thought the food was hit or miss. My venison entree was superb, but they were out of our first appetizer choice, and the cornmeal crusted oysters were small and mostly breading. I would be embarrassed to serve them if I was running that kitchen. The server was very unenthusiastic, but the food was delivered on time and well prepared for the most part. All in all, I would eat here again, but I would not rank it as highly as some of the premier Birmingham restaurants.

Made reservations three days ahead of time, upon arrival they wanted to seat us outside on the patio. It was very hot and we were all seniors. I had my reservation confirmation with me and showed it to them. They had open tables inside and refused inside seating.

Horrible service. Just spent $368 on wonderful food but the most pathetic service. Dirty dishes left on the table the entire dinner service, server was awful. Best service was from the valet. Don t waste your time & money. There s good food other places.

We had an excellent dining experience at Cotton Row. We ate on the 2nd floor and everything was delicious and cooked the qay We like it. If you are going to Huntsville for the first or a resident, its a must go to. You wont regret it.

Elegant cuisine with a first rate staff serving. Will is classic. Explained the menu and was very attentive.

I had read about Cotton Row in Southern Living and in other travel blogs, Pinterest, etc. and was genuinely eager to dine here. Our dinner at Cotton Row was meant to be a nice date night, but it turned into a memorable experience for all the WRONG reasons. I had made reservations a few weeks prior. Upon arrival, the hostess was very stand-offish, vague, and hard to understand. She said we had a table outside (I dont recall requesting patio seating, but may be I did), but we never given the opportunity to to switch to sitting inside. The hostess showed us to a table, but then acted like may be we were meant to be at another table, and like she was deciding between the two, so it was awkward when I had to ask if this was to be indeed our table or not. It was just a very odd interaction. The weather was fine for dining al fresca, but I would have liked to sit inside, since the outside dining is on a sidewalk by a busy intersection and across from a construction site (which did conclude around 8 pm). Our dinner for 2 took almost 3 hours!! It was ridiculously slow. The inside restaurant was half empty and our table was only 1 of 3 outside, not including a small private party upstairs. Our waiter was beyond disinterested in us and often MIA. We ordered cocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, dessert. The fried green tomatoes were well done, but the bourbon lacquered quail was the ittiest, bittiest quail Ive ever seen. It was laughably non-existent. My date would order a drink, but the waiter would never ask if I needed a refill, nor would he be at the table long enough for me to say something. We had to keep flagging him down as he went to/from the table next to us. I asked for the wine list so I could order a glass with my entree; the wine list materialized, but the waiter didnt return. By the time I received my glass of wine, my entree was gone. I had ordered the scallops for dinner and they were slightly undercooked. Our dessert came out fast, but we werent quite sure we were given the correct dessert. We had ordered a hazelnut caramel cake with coffee ice cream, and what came out was more like a lava cake (also on their menu). At that point, we didnt even care. We just wanted to get our check and be released from the longest dinner ever. Honestly, this dining experience was just a fail. We will not be back.

Amazing!

Always a pleasant experience at Cotton Row. The food, service and overall atmosphere is top-notch.

Not accommodating to make a reservation. Called and was told open seating available and not taking reservations. Online showed tables available. Arrived and told not taking additional parties or reservations.

During a recent evening visit to downtown Huntsville, I popped into Cotton Row for a drink. After being greeted warmly at the door, I took a seat at the bar, where bartender Rodney expertly crafted my Manhattan. As Rodney recommended, I upgraded my fried green tomatoes appetizer by adding shrimp -- a great choice. I enjoyed Cotton Rows atmosphere, the rest of the menu looked great, and I plan to return soon for a full meal.

Fantastic ambience, wine, and food!!! Highly recommend if visiting Huntsville and it s growing downtown F&B scene!

I been here once and it was enough to not go back. Overpriced. Overrated.

Food was great. Had the Halibut

Got the surf and turf, surf lobster tail is a joke. It s lobster in the MacNcheese

Update: I recently had the pleasure of revisiting Cotton Row Restaurant in Huntsville, Alabama, after a decade-long hiatus, and I must say, the transformation is nothing short of impressive. Under new management, this dining establishment has made significant strides in providing an exceptional culinary experience. The food, on this occasion, was absolutely delicious, exceeding my past, bad experience and memory from my last visit. Each dish displayed a remarkable attention to detail and a sophisticated blend of flavors. Its evident that the kitchen staff takes pride in their craft, and the result is a menu thats nothing short of remarkable. Service, too, was a standout feature during my visit. The staff was attentive, friendly, and efficient, ensuring that our dining experience was not only enjoyable but also memorable. Its apparent that the team has been trained to offer top-notch hospitality. The atmosphere remained delightful, with a cozy ambiance that complements the culinary delights perfectly. Whether youre visiting for a special occasion or a casual dinner, the ambiance sets the stage for an enjoyable evening. During my visit, I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse, the manager, who is a genuinely friendly and welcoming individual. His presence added a personal touch to our dining experience, making us feel truly valued as guests. In light of these positive changes, I wholeheartedly recommend Cotton Row Restaurant. The memory of my previous review may have been deleted, but the new experience is one that I will cherish and gladly share with others. This restaurant is now a shining example of what fine dining should be, and I eagerly anticipate my next visit.

Great food and cocktails!

Great birthday dinner with family ! Atmosphere was Awsome !! Kid-friendliness: Grandson loved the ice cream!

Had one of the best meals in a long time at Cotton Row. It had incredible wait staff that offered some of the most professional service around. You will want to make reservations well in advance and plan to spend some money, but for a nice occasion it is worth it!

It took 3 hours to eat. The food was good, but it was not $50/person and 3 hours good.

Phenomenal as always.....never a disappointment

We went here for our anniversary dinner, the food was delicious. I got the duck, and my boyfriend got the steak with the lobster mac and cheese. Both of our plates were clean by the time we were finished. We also got the warm apple tart for dessert. It finished off the meal perfectly. The service was also amazing.

Dont be fooled by the ambiance of this restaurant. I ordered the Halibut and it arrived dry and salty. It took over 2 hours to finally receive our main entree.

Food was below average and did not meet my expectations. Service was terrible. I waited 50 minutes for my meal. And it wasn t a busy night by any means. Atmosphere was nothing to write home about.

We had a wonderful Anniversary dinner here! Our waiter was awesome and so was the food! I had the filet mignon with lobster Mac and cheese and my husband had the sirloin! Both were delicious! Actually everything we ate was delicious!

Take Commerce Kitchen up a notch, and you have Cotton Row. A little fancier, and a lot more expensive. If you are lucky enough to dine on the main floor, its a good experience. If they send you down to the cellar, just leave. The cellar is claustrophobic and the premium atmosphere becomes non-existent. The food is good, but its not that good. Youre paying for ambiance, so get what youre paying for.

Been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, so my husband brought me for my birthday. For all I have heard, I was anticipating to die for food. We were disappointed with our entrees of Filet & Ribeye, Lobster Mac n Cheese & asparagus. The steaks were overdone for the temperature we ordered & came topped with a gravy of sorts which was flavorless like the steaks. The lobster Mac also didnt have much flavor & not very cheesy. The charcuterie board & fried green tomatoes were the best part of the meal! Even the Apple Tart/pecan ice cream was hard to cut & tasted a little on the bitter side. After the money spent & the outcome of the food, I can say we probably wont be returning. Sadly disappointed

Fantastic dinner. We both had fish dishes. Well prepared. Excellent wine list but at a pretty generous mark up. No bread service, seemed odd.

Please please fix/replace the worn chairs. They have become very uncomfortable to sit through dinner in. Its been several months this way.

crammed, seating, slow, service shoulder to shoulder with people. The fish was dry drinks were OK. Was not worth $180 to eat here with my girl. In my opinion, J Alexander s, Commerce kitchen, The bottle are way better places to eat. For whatever reason, Huntsville just has not caught up with the rest of the world in terms of fine dining.

Dined here recently expecting good things. The entrees were good. The appetizer and dessert less so. Ok but not great. Table service was good, welcome was not. Honestly, the welcome was awful, we felt like we were being interrogated as to whether we had a table rather than actually welcomed to dine. That test over (yes, we had a reservation) it turned out our table wasnt ready and we were sat at the bar. Given that we were exactly on time this was disappointing, although these things happen.. Then another couple who arrived after us were also sat at the bar, but then mysteriously given a table moments later. We asked the hostess if we could perhaps be seated, given that tables seemed to be available, and were given a confused look before being told that we could maybe take the table over there and left to our own devices to go find it and seat ourselves. After this we met our actual server who was very friendly and nice although appeared to be doing the work of six people, so things were obviously somewhat slow. Overall, for the price, we had high expectations. Our server Katy was very friendly but clearly overworked. The food was ok but not worth the asking price. The experience did not start well. We dont think it was worth what we paid, there are other options in Huntsville that are.

Really good food and service.

James was awesome. We had our Christmas party here and there was no one else I would prefer wait on us. He was on top of everything the whole time and everyone was very pleased with their service. Definitely request him if you visit this place!

I will start this out stating we might of had preferential treatment due to my company. We had dinner in Cedar Pipe Cellar with a group of 11. It had an awesome ambiance to it. The staff was friendly and on top of their game. They let us enjoy our own company while being accommodating. Never a empty glass. Their take on a caesar salad was on point. Char lettuce with a fantastic dressing. Yummy!! I had the redfish with okra which was moist and light. Paired perfectly with the white wine I had. I would definitely recommend. An enjoyable night and so glad we were able to get in with our party.

Dinner was excellent the fish and scallops were good excellent.

I was really looking forward to dinner in this charming restaurant when I walked by and saw the menu. I made reservations for my next visit into town. The website said valet parking was available. When we got there, around 7 on a Saturday evening there was no parking anywhere and when I called the restaurant they said their parking garage had been torn down a couple months ago. No valet any longer. Okay. We had to park almost a half mile away. We asked for water after our long trek in the heat and we re never asked if we wanted any tho g else to drink for the remainder of the evening. ? We started with fried oysters and fried green tomatoes. These tasted exactly the same only the texture was different. The oysters were greasy and had pieces of shell inside. It was if they had been cooked together in the same pan. Entrees: short rib and salmon- which we were told remained on the menu as favorites. The salmon was hot but placed on a bed of Luke warm noodles. Poor quality fish as well with that swampy aftertaste. Yuk. My short rib was on some yummy creamy grits- but short rib? I ve never ordered a $35 short rib and not gotten the rib . No bone, no depth of flavor. It was tender , yes. But honestly could have been a piece of Chuck roast. Wow. Never again.

Overall experience was fantastic, the food was outstanding and the staff was excellent. It was unfortunate that the espresso machine wasnt working but other than that it was perfect.

Amazing service, yummy dynamic menu always something new, love Faust bold red wine in half bottle. Parking: Arrive early to find parking along the street, stay later to enjoy walk in bustling downtown.

Excellent experience. Food, drink and service was great.

Coming from out of town we were not sure what to expect. It was above and beyond. The atmosphere is top notch along with the staff and the amazing food. We even had the privilege to connect with the owner who was so talented. We will be coming back to Huntsville just to eat here again. Would highly recommend.

Our group of 8 had an amazing time. We came down from Nashville to see a show but never expected to find a restaurant with food, ambiance and staff this good! We ordered every appetizer and nobody could decide which was best. Our entrées were all cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. James and his wife have done an amazing job turning this building into a perfect rustic fine dining experience. We all cant wait to come back for a private dining experience with Jimmy!

Good food, neat atmosphere.

Amazing, delicious, superb, friendly, talented! Those dont even begin to describe the food, staff, chef and ambiance of Cotton Row. Each person in our party of 8 were all so impressed with our experience here. We will be making the 2 hour drive again just for dinner. Highly recommend this restaurant!!

Excellent food, great service...

Amazing dinner loved the Filet and my husband enjoyed the Lobster risotto

Was there for a private event. Event waitress was kind, knowledgeable, and seemed to do her job without interfering with the event. Food was amazing - loved the menu.

Walked in on a Wed evening, quickly seated, great service, great drinks and the food was outstanding.

Delicious dinner with amazing service. If you ever get the chance to eat in the cellar it s a must, it s a great space for any occasion.

Eh

Another outstanding meal. Great restaurant with a small menu with things like red fish, scallops and short ribs. The entrees are about $34.

Great fine dining experience. You will probably have to make a reservation, even on a weekday! Make sure you get the fried green tomatoes!

We were there on 7/28. Food and service were good. We had red fish and risotto. Thats about all I can say.

Still one of the best places in Huntsville for a romantic dinner or drinks out with friends.

Excellent service. Tomato Burrata very good. Chowder excellent. Short Ribs excellent. Scallops and Shrimp entre excellent. Parking: Valet Parking NO Longer available!! Park at Paid Parking lot next to church block away

This is the best meal Ive had in the Huntsville area. The experience is second to none and the food is divine. Dinner for two was just over $200 but we did go all out with an appetizer, mains, desserts, and drinks.

We had a quite and lovely outdoor dinner. The service was thoughtful and kind. We had fried green tomatoes and seafood chowder for appetizers that were both tasty. The main course was fish for both and we liked it too. A nice place that worth a try if you are in town.

If youre in Huntsville. I would highly recommend dinner and drinks at Cotton Row.

Best date night in Huntsville

Chyle and mackena provided exceptional service while serving a delectable meal!

Great food & great service in a beautiful historic building! This is our favorite place to eat when we travel to Huntsville. This week, we enjoyed another great meal. Our waiter, Caleb, was the best!

I dined in with a couple for colleagues. I had high expectations since the place was highly rated, but I was disappointed. I ordered the NY steak medium and it came medium well, I told the server that it was not cooked as I ordered and that I was too hungry to complain, he apologized but nothing else. Steak was flavorless and not worth the price tag of $60. Honestly Texas Roadhouse and LongHorn make a better steak. Went to the Purveyor restaurant the next day and got a NY steak which was amazing, and the price was $45. If you go for the steak, I advise you to try something else.

I travel frequently and eat at many hyped reastaurants. However, CRs halibut really overdelivered and one of the few places Ive dined recently and felt wowed. Rodney at the bar was great. Thank you!

37th anniversary. First food was very good and our waiter was very nice. Everything else was wrong. Made reservation a few weeks ago requested a window seat. Some of this may seem picky but there was enough here where it really got annoying. Walked in about 30 minute early and was told the table we were suppose to have was just given to someone else. Only table left was up against the walls. So basically our reservation was screwed up. Gets better. Order drink. We like certain drinks smoked. Waiter comes back and tells us the smoker is broken. Humm. Ok I own one I am aware of what they are so I asked what can be broken on this. Well the lighter does not work. Ok do you have a match? My wife told me to be quiet. So we order our starters and main course. After a while we asked if they had any rolls. Al the other tables were served rolls. We were informed that those are buy request only. So how about you ask if we would like rolls. Never heard of rolls being by request only. So rolls come out and one minute later our main course comes out. After diner we wanted coffee and desert. We order pressed coffee. This was horrible. Basically it was water colored brown. When you order pressed coffee it is typically for them to bring the press to the table after it has been brewed for at least 3 minutes and they press it in front of you. No, coffees came out we have no idea if they were pressed. It was water so we asked for another cup. The other cup was just as bad. Perhaps just an off night this is typically a great place to go food is excellent. Suggestion because as we went through all these events restaurants like cotton row need to start adding a 20% tax for cell phone usage. Use your cell phone in this establishment your bill increases. What is wrong with these people coming to a fine place like this with guests and you are all on your damn cell phones. Maybe we are a bit old school but when we go out like this we have certain expectation this evening did not live up to what we are use to from cotton row.

Went here for our wedding anniversary dinner & it did not disappoint. We ordered the charcuterie board for our appetizer, & it was quite delicious, it had a great variety of cheeses, meats, some sort of sweet walnuts, delicious type of jam, etc. For our main courses i had the halibut & my husband had the short ribs both very yummy. The wine also was great. Our service was excellent & we loved that it was a nice, quiet, low key restaurant.

We came for Thanksgiving Dinner at around 3:00 in the afternoon. It was quiet and the ambiance was nice, which is unfortunately the only good thing I can say about our experience. The appetizers arrived and were room temperature, at best. Our main course was also quite disappointing. Two in our party got the prime rib (which was an additional $10 charge) and the meat was awful. Undercooked, cold, and extremely rubbery. I got the turkey and it was also served at room temperature, drowned in a tasteless gravy. The salmon our final member got had a good flavor, but was, again, cold. For dessert the creme brulee tasted like it had been charred hours before, the cheesecake two in our party had was still frozen, and the final dessert, the chocolate cake, tasted of the freezer. For a reservation only plated meal that came out to over $100 per person, it was abysmal. We couldve gotten better food at Cracker Barrel.

Excellent atmosphere and service. The food was very good. Tons of wine to chose from. Really enjoyed the experience!

Tried to make a group reservation. Was a nightmare. No one calls you back. Customer service is terrible

Cotton Row is an exceptional fine dining experience. The filet was cooked to perfection and the service was impeccable. Every dish was beautifully presented and the atmosphere was sophisticated yet welcoming. I highly recommend Cotton Row for any special occasion. Five stars!

Our first trip to Huntsville for a reunion. I looked for a place with really good food and found Cotton Row. What a find!! We were two couples from out of town and all were so happy with our choice! Fried green tomatoes and the seafood chowder were excellent. Main courses delicious, service excellent. If were ever back in Huntsville, Cotton Row will be our first meal!

With the restaurants now opening for sit down and few girls decided to have a night full of good food and lots of talk! The food was phenomenal:) We started with drinks and The Lola is such a good drink! For starters we split the crab cake, the Maine lobster ravioli, and the cheese board. The ravioli was to die for. I got the jumbo sea scallops, they were perfectly cooked. We opted for the dessert board which featured chocolate cake, the peanut butter and jelly in phyllo, and the creme brulee. The chocolate was good very rich and heavy, the peanut butter in jelly was different but tasty, but the creme brulee I could eat all day. The custard was smooth as silk. Overall such a wonderful experience. This foodie will definitely be back!