Little Bird in Fairhope lands on New York Times 2026 best restaurants list

Reviewed by: Pat Byington

Reading time: 3 minutes

Craftsman-style home exterior with cream stucco walls, gabled roofs, bay window, and landscaped entrance walkway with ramp
Fairhope’s Little Bird opened its doors in June 2025 on Oak Avenue in Fairhope. (Virginia Merchant / Mobile Bay Now)

A fairly new Fairhope favorite, Little Bird, was just recognized by the New York Times (NYT) as one of the nation’s 50 best restaurants of 2026. Established in June 2025 and beloved for its fresh seafood served with a side of Southern hospitality, it’s no wonder that Little Bird flew to the top of NYT’s list.

The coastal Southern restaurant is one of 50 restaurants nationwide named to the New York Times’ 2026 list of best restaurants in America — and one of only two in Alabama this year.

Chef Bill Briand honors his mother’s legacy at Little Bird

Little Bird’s name draws from the middle name of Briand’s late mother, Virginia “Ginny” Eileen Briand. Eileen shares its roots with the Gaelic word for “little bird.”

A Navy nurse and devoted home cook, Ginny’s spirit shaped the restaurant down to its rooms:

  • The Ginny Bar
  • Victory Hall (named for her May 8, 1945 birthdate, V-E Day)
  • The Virginia Eileen Dining Room
  • The Daly Courtyard, named for her maiden name

Briand, a James Beard-nominated chef, leads the kitchen with an approach to Gulf Coast cooking he’s described as honoring tradition while leaving room to experiment. Little Bird is part of the Deep Roots Restaurant Group, sister to The Hope Farm.

Why the New York Times picked Little Bird in Fairhope

The New York Times’ scouting team — composed of 16 writers and editors who traveled the country to explore the best restaurants in the U.S. — doesn’t rank the list, and restaurants that made a previous year’s cut don’t repeat.

Reviewer Ryan Sutton singled out Little Bird’s gumbo, built on a dark roux in the Louisiana Cajun tradition rather than the tomato-based stews more common around Mobile Bay. He also highlighted the West Indies crab salad, candied jalapeño-topped boudin-stuffed quail and buttermilk pie best paired with a bacon fat old-fashioned.

“In this light-filled, two-story house, the kitchen draws lively crowds for assertive, technically minded coastal Southern cooking.”

Ryan Sutton, The New York Times

The folks at Little Bird shared their appreciation for the Fairhope community in response to the NYT recognition:

“This recognition would not be possible without our loyal guests, friends, and family. We are so honored to be on this list with some seriously big contenders! After just over 1 year open here at little bird, we could not be more grateful and excited about whats to come! This is just the beginning 🕊️”

Post by @littlebirdfairhope via Instagram

Alabama restaurants on the NYT list: 2025 vs. 2026

Alabama’s restaurant scene has been building momentum on the national list.

Last year, Birmingham’s Bayonet was the state’s lone representative. This year, two Alabama restaurants made the cut — with Fairhope and Little Bird now sharing the spotlight with Montgomery’s Perennial.

Little Bird address, hours + reservations

Mary Helene Hall
Mary Helene Hall
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