220 Merrill

220 Merrill has anchored downtown Birmingham since 2014 from inside the handsome 1932 “Old Detroit Edison” building — a New American room where the historic bones do a lot of the atmospheric work. The kitchen leans on a wood-fired grill and an extensive wine list, with a menu contemporary enough to keep regulars interested and a setting polished enough for a night that matters. Weekend brunch and a lively happy hour round it out.

The vibe reads upscale but the dress code stays casual, which is very Birmingham. We have it on our list as a dependable date-night and special-occasion standby — the kind of long-running community staple that’s easy to take for granted until you remember how consistently good it is. Ask for a patio table when the weather cooperates.