Hot off the heels of Anniston’s Restaurant Week, Calhoun County should brace itself for more great news on the dining front. Anniston will soon be welcoming a new restaurant. Lulu’s Place is setting up shop at 1021 Noble St. in the Stewart Building and expect to open their doors (barring any unforeseen delays) on October 5, 2023. While they were in the exciting frenzy of consultations and receiving various product shipments, I got the chance to talk to several folks involved in this endeavor.

Its menu will focus on seafood and steaks with a Southern twist. Executive Chef Theorun Anderson touts a cooking career that has taken him across the U.S. from Birmingham (his hometown) to places like San Francisco on the West Coast. His most recent gigs were as a chef at Carrigan’s Public House in Birmingham and Garfrerick’s in Oxford. Assisting him will be Sous Chef Blake Owens, a Calhoun County local who has quickly made a name for himself on the local restaurant scene. He’ll be assisting Chef Theorun in perfecting and serving an upscale menu in a casual setting, sure to please foodies in our area.

Highlights to be expected on the menu include coastal cuisine main courses like halibut, salmon, “catch of the day,” and scallops. They’ll also have meat offerings like a 12 oz New York steak, pork chops, and Lamb Ossoboco. Some of the featured appetizers will be calamari, raw oysters on the shell, and a unique crawfish boil dish. Side dishes like fried green tomatoes, a twice-baked potato, and mac & cheese will have a touch of Southern flair, while an interesting twist on corn chowder containing succotash and Swiss chard is sure to be a favorite choice among future diners. Folks can expect desserts like classic banana pudding, chocolate cake, panicotta, and seasonal cobblers.

While the dining room was not set up as yet, the bar, set with a stunning new grey marble top, was framed by a lighted backdrop with “Lulu’s Place” lit up in neon–a fixture that can change colors, from blue to red to turquoise to purple. Once open, the restaurant will offer draft beer, cocktails, and fine wine. The walls will be decorated with art from a local artist, available for purchase, and dining on the terrace will be an enjoyable option for guests, with the capability of seating up to 40.

The Front House Manager, Jared Tucker, whose resume includes Oxford’s Buffalo Wild Wings and Garfrericks, said that the restaurant will have rustic decor while celebrating the history of downtown Anniston. First off, the restaurant will open with dinner hours of 4-9 pm Tuesday through Thursday and 4-10 pm Friday and Saturday. They will plan to eventually be open for lunch and a featured Sunday Brunch. One of the events Tucker shared they’d love to host is a “Bruch Crawl” where folks sample brunch cuisine at local Anniston restaurants like Lulu’s Place, Effina’s Downtown, and Classic on Noble. 

“I’m hoping we can be another piece in the puzzle, so that Noble Street will be an even more vibrant place, with more businesses bringing more business–like a chain effect,” Tucker explained.

The restaurant will have a private banquet room available for special events, and they also plan to offer a catering service. Live instrumental music is another thing they’d love to offer patrons once they’ve settled in.

The name “Lulu’s Place” is a nod to Priscilla “Lulu” Stewart, wife and mother of the co-owners of the restaurant–former U.S. Senator Donald W. Stewart and his son Taylor Stewart. Both these men also practice law together in Anniston and have supported the city for many years, along with Lulu, philanthropically. In recent years, another business was opened in Lulu’s name–Lulu’s Bed and Breakfast. Taylor Stewart, who was present on-site, shared that his mother is a two-time cancer survivor and that naming the restaurant after her was their way to honor her.

Mark your calendar for October 5th and plan to be one of the first residents of Calhoun County to enjoy Lulu’s Place, located at 1021 Noble St, Anniston, Alabama. For more information call 256-624-6117.