Odette

Had dinner here last Friday and was fantastic. This wasn’t our first time to dine here but was the best visit yet. Got the deviled eggs for appetizer and they were good, not great. I had the special of the night which consisted of ribeye that was seasoned with a tomato paste, brown sugar, and red wine. Amazing. Was served with roasted cauliflower and a mushroom risotto. Just an amazing dish. My wife had the steak frites and was happy as well. For dessert we tried the cinnamon/​lemon filled donut. Loved it. Prompt service, great waitress. One of the top places in The Shoals.

Great place to meet up with friends and grab a drink. The staff is friendly and educated, and the drinks are always wonderful.

I’ll keep it brief: I love creative menus and craft cocktails. If that’s your thing, this is the best restaurant between Nashville and Birmingham, and would stand out even if it were in either of those towns (which are exceptional for food as it is). It’s also the best bar… The whiskey selection will shock you. Wine list isn’t spectacular but after the cocktails you won’t care. Florence is a cool town these days, but this place is waaaaaay cooler than you’d expect in a town this size. Not to be missed.

We are lucky to have a great restaurant like this in Florence. Downtown Florence is where it’s at

This was a great find! The food has such great taste and there are several original cocktails. I’m only in the Florence area for a few days and thanks to Unilocal,I found this treasure. I highly recommend.

Close call between 4 and 5 stars. First of all I want to compliment the great bourbon selection. ½ price top shelf bourbon during happy hour. I finally was able to try the Old Forester Birthday at a bargain price. The food is excellent and the place is cool. A great addition to Florence and probably the best overall food.

The décor was modern and very tastefully done. The staff friendly…
The food was on the gourmet side. We had the deviled eggs appetizer, and pumpkin arepa. Both delicious. Then we had the burger and a quinoa buckwheat Brussels sprouts salad. My son had the baked fish with white beans and fries. It was all delicious though I was left looking for a little crunch to break up the monotony of the fish on the kids plate.
I did notice that the place while the first appearance was clean… The more I looked the more I saw that it needed a good cleaning. There were cobwebs on nearly every light fixture on the walls. It gave me cause to wonder if the kitchen needed a good cleaning too…
Otherwise the lunch was very enjoyable and we would definitely return in the area.

The handcrafted cocktails are amazing and truly handcrafted, just like everything in the kitchen. This place is healthy, delicious and they care and you can tell :) they have options for everyone including kids and the elderly. The GF and the diabetic…

I have eaten here twice this year when I’ve been in Florence, and it’s becoming one of my favorite restaurants! The cocktails here are incredible! The Bee’s Knees is always great! I love their Saturday brunch items, but the lunch items my friends have gotten also look wonderful. The design of the restaurant is also great — a mix of hip/​modern style and a nostalgic southern style. Fun and delicious!

Came here after work on a work trip. Awesome food and wonderful service. I had the steak and frites which was very tasty along with 2 raspberry-​lemon martinis!!! Décor was fantastic loved everything about this place. The menu was small, but had a variety of options such as seared catfish and burger. The also offered small plate options.

Definitely my favorite place in the Shoals for a cocktail or glass of wine with friends. I’ve only eaten a few things here but they were all delicious and I have never been disappointed by any of the food, especially the burger! But we typically come here for drinks since it is one of the few places in town where the music isn’t so loud that you can’t hear your friends speak. All of the bartenders are friendly and love to talk the art of booze with you. The atmosphere can come off a little pretentious but don’t let that keep you from asking questions. Once you do, you’ll find that the staff is friendly and inviting.

Very inventive food combinations. Always tasty. Small and large plates available. Don’t overlook the burger if you’re in the mood. Most sophisticated bar choices in town. Lively atmosphere but not too loud. Good for a date night or a gathering with friends. Great downtown location. Open late.
Don’t miss it if you’re going to be in Florence.

Delicious! The owner tells me that this is the best spot in the state from Birmingham to northern Alabama. Well, I TELL’ YA WHAT. I do believe him!
I had the blackened Alabama catfish and it was perfect. PERFECT! Nothing much else to say. Great risotto, great fish, excellent use of FRESH, LOCAL PEACHES in the seasonal garnish. nom nom nom. How do they make a spinach leaf taste so good? I mean, wow!
The wine list was GREAT and servers eager to PLEASE. Excellent service here.
Please save room for dessert. The CHOCOLATE CHESS pie has suddenly brought more meaning and depth to my life. haha. okay okay. I’m just saying that it is downright DELICIOUS! The BEST I have ever had. (Sorry to all the other pie makers!) Take a bite of pie with COCONUT shreds or enjoy with the zippy WIDFLOWER. Reminds me of mexican chile chocolate. Just TASTE for yourself and see.
Ambiance is chic and HIP. Sit outside for brunch or sit indoors against the CLASSY high booths. Florence is so LUCKY to have Odette.

Been here twice. Will be back. The blackened catfish with shrimp risotto is in my top 3 meals in Lauderdale county

I travel a lot and eat out a lot and I am always looking for what I found here at Odette. The deviled eggs were killer and the fish was fresh and perfectly done. I sat outside and watched the world go by on a beautiful spring evening in a gorgeous little college town. I even stayed a little later to sip an after dinner bourbon just to extend the experience. This one is on my list. It should be on your list too.

[Updated Review!] It used to be that Ricatoni’s Italian Grill represented all that was good with downtown Florence. This was a fact, etched in stone and engraved in mantra. Odette’s, officially has changed that.
Since my last review (see below), I’ve had a chance to sample their fare and … why wouldn’t you have it any other way?
If you’re looking for the best burger of your life, try the cheeseburger ($ 11) and order it MEDIUM (like a normal person). You won’t be disappointed. Delight yourself to learn that it’s all farm-​to-​table from local, North Alabama ingredients. Yes, including beef.
The staff here is awesome, I’ve overheard them teaching the history of absinthe to entertaining a drunken chocolate martini.
I recommend the $ 12 Grandpa’s Coffin, which will not disappoint you and change the trajectory of your family tree for 3 oz of bourbon. (I’m serious)
Speaking with the bar manager, it’s funny to learn how they pride themselves on driving 2+ hours for the best ingredients (that does taste like CHERRY vanilla bark in my bourbon), and hear the rejection stories he tells of local — ahem — unaccustomed college-​esq riff-​raff.
This is not a place for a red bull– vodka. This is not a place for a bud light. This is not a place for jäger.
This is a place to brag about. And remember.

First, the overall look of this place is unique and contemporary enough to win acclaim in Nashville or Atlanta.
Past that, the bar program is very forward thinking, with interesting concoctions; I had The Bootery and a Classic Manhattan. Both were spot on, but I wish I had saved the Bootery for dessert as it had a hazelnut vibe. Interesting note: they manipulate the smell vs. taste of a drink. A drink will smell smokey, but have no taste of smoke. What a (good) surprise!
There is definite skill in the Charcuterie tray, as it ranged from soft to hard cured meats. My Steak Frites was cooked exactly to temp, however after the drinks I accidentally ordered it medium instead of medium rare. Still delicious, and I blame the bar.
My only «con» is the portion size of the steak was a little small for an entrée portion, possibly 4 – 6 oz. However, this was reflected by a lower price, so I’m guessing they are trying to make the average ticket price more appealing for the area.
I will definitely return.

This place excites the senses and wows the tastebuds and is tucked away in Florence Alabama… Wow! A taste of Europe out of the most unexpected place! You could come here every week and never try the same bourbon twice. Ask for Jim Beam and you’ll have one of the best bartenders on Court Street.

The absolute best restaurant in the Shoals. I’ll never claim to be a «foodie», but I have many friends who would, and they universally claim Odette as the best in the area. The ones who really know what they’re talking about say it’s the best spot in Alabama.
Some complain about the prices, but you have to understand they are complaining about the prices in comparison to other options in Florence. You put this place in any major city and everything on the page doubles in price immediately. You have to understand that. If you don’t, go out to a restaurant this good in a «big city» and you will.
Odette is yet another major step in the revival of Florence. We’re lucky to have it.
(And if you’re on a budget, one of the best burger and fries in Alabama can be found here, with a glass of water and a basket of weak-​in-​the-​knees homemade bread for $ 11. Keep that in mind.)

It’s hard to say which is better: the ambiance, the staff or the quality of the products. All three are superb.
Tucked back into what looks like a converted old storefront shoppe, Odette immediately greets you with an atmosphere that one could only refer to as ‘classy.‘
Boasting the State’s largest selection of bourbon and a plethora of high end mixers and accoutrements, Odette is equally suited for cocktail hour or a nice dinner. The room is long and narrow with hardwood floors and a high ceiling adorned with decorative tin panels, the whole place had an open-​air feeling and bistro noise level. The colors are clean earth hues and the warm lighting is more appreciated after dark as the whole place seems very bright when the sun is still streaming though the front windows.
The staff are some of the most knowledgable I’ve come across, especially the bartenders. Speaking of which, the care and detail put into the old world cocktails they craft are almost an art form. Rarely do you see homemade bitters, eggs, hand-​crafted tonic water and such an immense selection of fresh, uncut fruit behind a bar in Alabama. It’s obvious that the proprietor prides himself on operating a high-​class lounge which doesn’t feel out of place in the same room with a modern restaurant.
Dress is casual, but I would feel out of place if I came in not attired like an adult. Slacks, button up shirts and sports coats seem to be the common fare for male patrons. I get the feeling shorts and a T-​shirt would be welcome, but they would not fit in.
Edited to add: I just found out even the hamburger buns are homemade
Seriously, ask the bartenders about any cocktail you might want. They are versed and equipped to make anything on Buzzfeed’s list of 20 Cocktails everyone should try