3 Alabama restaurants win 2026 Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award of Excellence
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Three Alabama restaurants — Cafe Dupont in Birmingham, Little Betty Steak Bar in Mountain Brook, and The Depot in Auburn — were named 2026 Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) Award of Excellence recipients in July 2026.
The prestigious honor, which was announced in July 2026, recognizes restaurants across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean that excel in delivering the highest level of cuisine, beverages, service and ambiance.
Other Alabama DiRōNA honorees
Established in 1990, only three other Alabama restaurants have earned a spot on the exclusive DiRōNA Award of Excellence list:
All recipients undergo a rigorous evaluation process to earn the Award of Excellence. According to DiRōNA, about 500 restaurants have received the award.
Cafe Dupont, Little Betty Steak Bar and The Depot in Auburn are part of the class of 2026.
“Each of these establishments embodies the highest standards of quality and hospitality. It’s our privilege to recognize their achievements and share their commitment to elevating the dining experience.”
Scott Breard, CEO of DiRōNA
Committed to service, culinary creativity and local foods
The three Alabama award winners are committed to service, culinary creativity and local agriculture.
Led by Chef Chris Evans, Cafe Dupont is a champion of the slow food movement — basically, cooking local, cooking traditional, and keeping it sustainable. A Birmingham culinary pioneer, the restaurant has been a mainstay in the heart of downtown since 2004, which has become a mecca for foodies throughout the country.
“We are honored to have been awarded the 2026 DiRōNA award of excellence this year. We strive at the cafe to give our patrons the best experience we can through exceptional food, service and ambiance that our cafe can provide. Our team at Cafe Dupont looks to personalize our guest experience from the beginning to the end of their meal.”
Chris Evans, Chef, Cafe Dupont
By contrast, nearby Little Betty Steak Bar is a new kid on the block within the Lane Parke development in Mountain Brook Village. Established in January 2024, the popular fine dining restaurant has already expanded by opening a new restaurant adjacent to Little Betty called Sea Bar.
The third honoree, The Depot in Auburn, which like Cafe Dupont is located in an historic building, is the first restaurant in the State of Alabama to receive the James Beard Smart Catch Leader Award for their commitment to serve sustainable and responsibly harvested seafood.
DiRōNA’s Scott Breard summed up the meaning of the Award of Excellence honor.
“All of our DiRōNA restaurants are truly memorable, which is what we’re looking for when we give this award. For diners we want to make sure they feel like they’ve had an incredible experience.”
