Bright Star Restaurant

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#1 of 105 Restaurants in BessemerAmerican, Seafood, $$ - $$$

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Bright Star Restaurant

Review

At a glance

Closes in 27 min

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Website

+1 205-424-9444Improve this listing

About

Since 1907, The Bright Star restaurant has been serving generations of customers its specialty Greek- style snapper and steak, signature seafood gumbo, luncheon specials, and famous pies. Located in Bessemer, Alabama, the restaurant has a regional following and draws patrons from throughout the Southeast as well as nearby Birmingham. The Bright Star’s exceptional longevity results from one family’s continued commitment to excellent food and service. Family patriarchs Bill and Pete Koikos emigrated from Greece in 1923 and two years later purchased an ownership interest in the restaurant from founder Tom Bonduris. Since 1966, Bill’s two sons, Jim and Nick Koikos have owned and operated the business.

Features

CUISINES

American, Seafood, Greek

Meal types

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Late Night, Drinks

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Full Bar

Gift Cards Available

Highchairs Available

Parking Available

Private Dining

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Takeout

Television

Wheelchair Accessible

Location

304 19th St N, Bessemer, AL 35020-4925

Parking Available

Does this restaurant accept reservations?

Yes

Unsure

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Hours

Suggest an edit

Closes in 27 min

Sunday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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4.6

916 reviews

Excellent

708

Very good

117

Average

Poor

Terrible

Rick H

1 contribution

From Murfreesboro and will be back

Oct 2024 • friends

We went here after playing golf on the RTJ trail. Was treated like immediate family, Service was fantastic as the waitress casually joined in conversation about the menu, fully knowledgeable about the dishes. Food was at least a 9.5 , fantastic stuffed mushrooms. We had grilled red snapper and it was spot on..

Written October 21, 2024

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anastasia Craig

Rick, we’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic experience! It’s great to know our team made you feel like family and that you enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms and grilled red snapper. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon!

Written October 22, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

mark h

Gadsden87 contributions

First Rate

Feb 2025 • couples

This was my first visit but won’t be my last!! The food was succulent and flavorful in every way. Pictured is KC extra cut steak, side salad and fried green tomatoes with coconut crème pie. The service could not have been more perfect 👌

Written February 26, 2025

Anastasia Craig

Mark, we’re glad to hear you had such a fantastic first visit! It sounds like you enjoyed a delicious meal and wonderful service. We can't wait to welcome you back for more flavorful experiences!

Written March 6, 2025

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chip C

1 contribution

Well pleased as always

Jan 2023 • none

Had lunch with friends on Saturday, January 7th and everyone enjoyed our dishes. All four of us ordered a different dish and had a variety of sides dishes. The snapper almondine, beef tips, Greek chicken and the country fried steak with gravy were all excellent. All the sides were prepared perfectly from the sweet potato casserole to the Greek potatoes, and everything in between, was perfect. Our friends who live out of state were well pleased. Great service as well.

Written January 9, 2023

Anastasia C

Thank you for your five-star review. Our team always strives for the highest standards. We are delighted we made your experience a positive one. Looking forward to next time!

Written January 11, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tracy w

1 contribution

Not worth our trip

Aug 2024 • family

Was disappointed. The food is in my opinion is not worth the price.There was nothing special about our meals.One waitress in particular made.it a point to keep starting at my husband everytime she passed our table,to the point she kept starring until he noticed her.Very tacky! Won't ever return for the price and the disrespect.

Written August 26, 2024

Anastasia Craig

Tracy, I’m sorry to hear about your experience. We strive for quality in both our food and service, and it sounds like we missed the mark. Your feedback is invaluable, and we’ll be sure to address your concerns with our team. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Written August 30, 2024

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

L B

Montgomery109 contributions

A bit disappointing…..

Sep 2022 • family

Cool building with a cool family history in the restaurant. It’s basically southern food also serving seafood and steaks. I had the “country fried steak and gravy” which tasted more like a sliced piece of roast w/ gravy (see pic). The "Greek Hash browns” (see pic) were cubed potatoes and bell peppers with some seasoning and would have been better if they didn’t have that reheated/leftover potato taste. My daughter had Red Snapper and disliked the large amount of olive oil it was soaking in on her plate because it was overpowering. She didn’t finish it, but did enjoy the mac n cheese. My son in law had beef tips and rice that he stated were good. He disliked his “Greek hash browns”. We walked away a bit disappointed with the quality of food served and the service, especially after reading good reviews. It’s not somewhere either of us would choose to try again.

Written September 17, 2022

Anastasia C

Hello, We're sorry to hear that you were less than impressed with our food, but we appreciate you letting us know about these issues so that we can work on improving them. We take pride in providing a great dining experience for all of our guests, and this includes making sure every dish is cooked perfectly. Your feedback has been passed along to the kitchen team here so they can make any necessary adjustments. Please consider trying us again in the future.

Written September 20, 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Melinda

Huntsville2 contributions

Birthday Dinner

Jul 2022 • couples

We drove 2 hours to get to The Bright Star. Our waitress was very inattentive and service was lacking, she was too busy wandering around and apparently knew people at the table behind us. I am not sure what happened but a waitress for the table next to us had a mishap and food landed on my husband’s arm, which was never acknowledged. Food was ok, but the bread pudding came out to me looking like slop thrown on a chipped bowl. No one honestly asked but it was my birthday dinner.

Written July 30, 2022

Anastasia C

Hi Melinda, We are truly sorry for your experience and for mishandling of the dish. The service you received does not meet Bright Star standards, and we will use this information for training purposes. We'd like to make things right, and would appreciate if you could reach out to us at info@thebrightstar.com. Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Written August 4, 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Chris B and Scott

Helena1 contribution

60th birthday get together.

Oct 2022 • family

We went for a very much anticipated visit to the bright star restaurant. It was for my wife 60th birthday. The service was fine but unfortunately the food didn't live up to the standards. I had the broiled snapper or maybe half a broiled snapper. The taste of the fish was overpowered by mushy olive oil. I think I ate two bites. I had Black eyed peas and Greek potatoes. I think I had two bites of each of those. The taste just did not live up to what we had hoped for and been a part of in the past. We went to dinner two years ago for my wife's birthday and had a similar experience. Left with a large bill and still hungry. We don't get to go out often and we were really hoping for a better experience. My wife and I both left with significantly full go boxes knowing we weren't going to finish them when we got home. It's a shame and I hope they correct it. Money is hard enough to come by and food prices are very high these days it's a shame to have to throw things away that you paid such good money for. Unfortunately that's our last visit unless they make it right. Should have said something to the waitress before we left but my wife convinced me not to. We had lunch at between one and two on Saturday October 15th. I see all the wonderful reviews about this restaurant and I don't think I get to experience them. Not sure what the secret is but I sure would like to know. Restaurants are so hit and miss these days. And that's a shame as much money as people are having a shell out. I don't believe restaurants will stay in business with the type of food we had today.

Written October 15, 2022

Anastasia Craig

Hi Chris. We are so sorry for your poor meal on Saturday. We pride ourselves on the consistent quality of our snapper and vegetables, and we hate we let you down. That is not the normal Bright Star experience. We will talk to the kitchen and investigate what happened. We would like to make it up to you. Please contact info@thebrightstar.com and we will invite you back for another meal.

Written October 19, 2022

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Anthon-ee

Missouri2 contributions

Excellent !

Jul 2023 • family

Former resident of Alabama and when I visit , we always make a trip to the Bright Star. Through the years , the service , the food , just the traditional feel of the place never changes. Excellent , excellent ..... did I mention excellent ?

Written August 8, 2023

Anastasia Craig

Thank you, we're glad to be excellent for you! We look forward to welcoming you back next time you're in town!

Written August 13, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Troy F

Tuscaloosa7 contributions

Disappointing Broiled Seafood Platter

Dec 2023 • family

I have ordered this dish for many years at the Bright Star. The only hot portion of my platter was the baked potato and the seafood souffle. Scallops are no longer part of the entree and the broiled oysters were about the size of my index finger nail.

Written December 13, 2023

Anastasia Craig

Hi Troy, We're sorry your broiled seafood platter was not to your liking this time around. We appreciate your many years of support, and we will be sure to pass along your feedback to our kitchen for further review. We hope you will give us another try in the future.

Written December 14, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

family traveler

23 contributions

Good but nothing spectacular

Aug 2021 • family

We went here based off the reviews. Meal wasn’t bad but wasn’t memorable either. Our waitress was amazing super polite and sweet. We ordered onion rings and they were good. Salad that came with meal was cold and crisp. Main portion of the meal was disappointing for the $$$ the portions are very small. Got the sampler and the best thing on it was the chicken, I would order that by itself. The tenderloin was just okay as was the snapper. Came with cauliflower and it was just a small bowl of it, which my son ate all of. Adult spaghetti for the price was a let down, you think for $17 you’d get a nice size bowl of pasta but it was a small plateful with 2 meatballs. The child portion was a good size though my 11 year old was able to finish it all. The bread was really good. The atmosphere was fun and loved the history presented on the walls and was neat to be there.

Written August 3, 2021

Anastasia C

Hi there, Thank you for visiting and for providing feedback on your visit. We're glad to hear that your server took great care of you and that you enjoyed the atmosphere! We value your feedback on the food items you ordered and will share this with our kitchen. We are always striving to provide the best experiences for our guests and really want everyone to love what they order. We hope you will visit us again.

Written August 5, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Debbie F

Columbus22 contributions

Truly a Bright Star!

Dec 2023 • friends

We wanted to miss 5:00 traffic as we traveled thru B’ham and found this restaurant for an early evening dinner. It was wonderful . The seafood was fresh and cooked to perfection! The French dressing for cabbage salad was fabulous! The hostess and waitress staff were very pleasant.

Written December 8, 2023

Anastasia Craig

Hi Debbie, Thank you for joining us, we're glad your meal was wonderful! We appreciate your feedback, and we hope you'll join us again soon.

Written December 9, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

00rc

Northport11 contributions

Casual , murals are beautiful.atmosphere great, serve awesome. Everyone needs to go!

Aug 2023 • family

Wow, this place is awesome! Worth the hour and 1/2 drive. Our very favorite restaurant! Here is a list of all the food we have had there one time or another, crab claws, fried green tomatoes. Creek style tenderlion, snapper throat. Shrimp. Spaghetti and meatballs, creek style chicken. Gumbo, coconut pie.. Several different cocktails, Long Island tea, my favorite. You must eat there. Won’t be disappointed

Written August 24, 2023

Anastasia Craig

Hi there, Thank you for making the drive to come visit us - we're glad you enjoyed your experience! Your feedback is appreciated, and we can't wait for the next opportunity to serve you.

Written August 29, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

HelloHolland

Chattanooga23 contributions

Greek Alabama style

Apr 2023 • couples

We wanted to try restaurant after seeing in Southern Living and on GPB tv. Not disappointed at all. We were seated for lunch w/o reservations but there was a wait by the time we left. Very old school w/ meat & 3 feel. We had Greek red snapper & fried shrimp entrees, each made us moan with delight. I want to go back SOON.

Written April 13, 2023

Anastasia Craig

Thank you for giving us a try! It was a pleasure to provide you with a great experience, and we hope you'll join us again soon!

Written April 17, 2023

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Beth B

6 contributions

Birthday Celebration

Sep 2020 • family

The Bright Star was filled with a welcoming atmosphere. As soon as you walk in the door, it feels like you are transported back in time to a different era. We were so impressed with how amazing the food was. From the very first bite, every morsel was delicious. To start we had the gumbo (on your first visit you get a free bowl of gumbo...wow) a shrimp cocktail, and a basket of corn muffins and yeast rolls. Next were the best Greek salads I've ever had. The vinegrette dressing along with a parmesean cheese mixture was mind blowing. Then the entrée, our party had the ribeye, salmon, and beef tips. Everything we had was prepared to perfection. To end we had the most sinfully delicious pies. Our server Christy was so amazing, and knowledgeable. She gave us suggestions on what to order. She was so good! As a first visit...very impressive. We will be back many times. Thank you Bright Star and Christy for making our daughter's birthday such an amazing experience!

Written September 27, 2020

AnastasiaC685

Hi Beth, Thank you for taking the time to leave us this fabulous review about your visit! We very much appreciate all your kind comments and support, and we're so glad that you had such a great experience with us while celebrating your daughter's birthday. It was a pleasure to have you all, and were glad that Christy helped your experience so special. We are looking forward to having you back again soon for another delicious meal!

Written September 29, 2020

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

rogersober

Clermont39464 contributions

What a Classic

Sep 2021 • couples

Greek steak split two ways along with great onion ring and shrimp cocktail starters made for a great meal. The baked potato and gumbo sides were good as well. The Captian’s best service made our meal great in this classic bit of Americana.