The view provided at Tip Top Grill inspires both the name and returning customers. Photo by Gavin GillilandGavin Gilliland - Contributorgjgill@uab.edu
Tip Top Grill is a small restaurant located in a small community in north Hoover called Bluff Park. The view is absolutely stunning with picturesque rolling hills for up to 55 miles on a clear day. The Grill is situated inside a converted gas station originally built in the 1950s with the conversion to a restaurant occurring in Oct. 2003.
At first glance, the Tip Top Grill is definitely a place that has seen years of use. When you drive up to restaurant you immediately get a sense of a small town diner nestled in the treetops. The exterior is also true to the nostalgic 1950s style of construction. The interior of the restaurant is very small, with only enough room to place your order. There is a sitting area inside with bar-style seating and one large table, but the majority of the seating is outside at picnic tables or at bar style seating on the cliff side deck. As you walk out onto the deck, you are met with a view that is unlike any restaurant in Birmingham. Seated at the outdoor bar, I felt transported into a peaceful, natural landscape. It felt hard to believe that that I was less than 10 miles away from a bustling metropolis.
The menu is fairly small and simple, with options ranging from a variety of hot dogs such as “the Special” (a hot dog covered in mustard, kraut and ground beef sauce) or a chili dog, as well as a variety of hamburgers. The prices are especially affordable for a Birmingham-area restaurant. I was able to purchase a cheeseburger with all of the toppings, a regular side of fries and a regular drink for about $7 including tax. The price is low but the portions are large, and I was not able to finish my entire meal.
Before I got my meal, though, I had the chance to speak with Curt Reamer, the owner of the Tip Top Grill. I asked him several questions about the area but the most powerful response I received was after I asked him about what brings customers to Tip Top Grill.
“I would hope it would be the food, but I know better than that,” Reamer said. “The view is spectacular.”
The cheeseburger was juicy, hot and had that homemade burger taste. It even has a special sauce that has a southwestern spicy flair but without the intense heat. The fries were a crispy golden brown with just the right amount of crunch. The fries were absolutely my favorite part of the entire restaurant.
After my meal I spoke with one of the regular customers. Roy King has been coming to Tip Top Grill for about five years periodically throughout the year.
“It’s quiet, has a great view and good food,” King said when asked about his favorite part of Tip Top Grill. I asked him what his favorite items on the menu are, and he remarked that the Special Dog was his favorite.
My visit to Tip Top Grill was complete with stunning views, college student-friendly prices and first-rate food. If you are looking for a change of perspective during lunchtime, you should put Tip Top Grill at the tip top of your list of places to eat in Birmingham.
