Phoenicia has been in the Eid family's hands since 1971, when Sameer Eid and his relatives opened the original restaurant in Highland Park. A decade later it moved to Birmingham, where it settled into the white-linen, upscale format that's defined it since. It's now the flagship of Chickpea Hospitality.
The cooking is refined Lebanese-American fare, and the bronzino and appetizers in particular have built a steady following among regulars — the restaurant counts fourth-generation diners among its clientele, a stretch few independent restaurants in the region can claim. Fresh ingredients and homemade preparation come up often among diners, along with a consistently busy dining room.
The James Beard Foundation named Phoenicia a semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality in 2022.
The cooking is refined Lebanese-American fare, and the bronzino and appetizers in particular have built a steady following among regulars — the restaurant counts fourth-generation diners among its clientele, a stretch few independent restaurants in the region can claim. Fresh ingredients and homemade preparation come up often among diners, along with a consistently busy dining room.
The James Beard Foundation named Phoenicia a semifinalist for Outstanding Hospitality in 2022.