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As the holiday season gears up, grabbing a table at your favorite restaurant can come with its challenges. Add a large group or family outing to the equation and you could be in for a long wait.

Co-Owners Beth Hussey and Executive Chef Emmele Herrold are ready to welcome those holiday crowds to Hazel’s, 1 Peabody Street in downtown Birmingham.

Open since 2018, Hazel’s serves up a seasonal menu of authentic regional seafood and an experience to match. Hussey and Herrold taste-tested their way up and down the coastal United States to hand-pick the extraordinary experiences they recreate right here in Birmingham.

The restaurant’s menu no rotates seasonally to offer authentic dishes, drinks and vibes from some of the most well-known seafood destinations. Regulars know Hazel’s as the place to share a Fresh Seafood Tower, dive into bowl of Cioppino, debate between a Hazel’s hot or cold Lobster Roll, Token Burger or Hazel’s Fried Chicken.

This time of year, it can be hard to get a table at your favorite restaurant. So, Herrold recently shared her advice on how to secure a spot when the festivities fill up your favorite restaurants:

• Come early or later than usual – If you’re thinking of showing up at peak dinner times, like a Friday at 6 p.m., think again. Herrold says it’s going to be easier to find a table during Happy ������ before 5 p.m. or after 8 p.m. as dinner crowds begin to thin out.
• Don’t forget the bar – Even during busier times, waiting near the bar can be a best-bet. Chances are if you order a drink and keep a keen eye open, a seat or two will open up shortly. Hazel’s offers a full menu at the bar. Often it’s possible to order and begin dinner in the time it takes for a new table to become available.
• Make a reservation when dining as a group – If you’re dining out with a crowd, don’t chance it. Hop online and reserve a table. Apps like Resy make it simple to do, or change as needed.“Whether it’s a month in advance or day-of, a reservation makes it so much easier for a restaurant to accommodate a group,” said Herrold. “You can change it; you can adjust the time. But you know you have somewhere to go and it doesn’t even require a phone call.”
• Can’t seem to find a reservation? Try for a weeknight – Just like off-peak hours can make it simpler to dine at coveted restaurants, weekdays like Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday tend to see lighter crowds.

Hazel’s remains an inviting place for the entire community to gather, in every season. Plan your holiday dinner, holiday party or festive reunion accordingly.

“We have lots of options, for groups big and small,” said Herrold. “You can have a space customized for 20 people or an even larger party.”

Just be sure to double check the location’s holiday hours.

Hazel’s will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024 and regular hours – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. – on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday Dec. 31, 2024.

The restaurant will be closed for the holidays on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2024; Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2024 and New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2025 to give the team a much-deserved break.

Learn more about Hazel’s @ Home holiday take away, make a reservation or place an order at . Call 248-671-1714 for parties larger than 8 people.