Michael's

Michael's Sirloin Room was a steakhouse owned by Michael Matsos and Connie Kanakis. It originally opened in 1958 in the Holiday Inn on Bessemer Super Highway, but quickly relocated to 431 20th Street South. It was a favorite of Bear Bryant who would sometimes bring the whole football team to the restaurant.

Sitting opposite the Parliament House, Michael's hosted numerous luminaries in its heyday including Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer and Yogi Berra. The walls were decorated with sports memorabilia and photographs. The menu featured charcoal-seared steer butt steaks along with shish kabobs and other staples. The restaurant was the first in Birmingham to be awarded three stars from the Mobil Travel Guide.

Matsos and Kanakis sold the restaurant in 1984 and it finally closed in 1992.

In 2004 Michael's was revived in a joint-venture between Golden Rule Bar-B-Q (which Matsos purchased in 1970), and investor Rusty Creel. The new first restaurant to bear the Michael's name was the $2.5 million, 6,400 square-foot Michael's Golden Rule Bar-B-Q at The Village at Lee Branch near Greystone on U.S. Highway 280 (now closed). In August 2006 a new Michael's Steaks and Seafood opened at the former R. J. Gator's location at the Riverchase Galleria. On December 31, 2006, the 280 location was closed so the company could concentrate on the Galleria location, which is reported to be doing very well. Future Michael's locations are in development for Nashville and Atlanta.

References

• Wilkinson, Kaija. (July 14, 2006). "Michael's Steaks and Seafood comes to Galleria." Birmingham Business Journal.
• Williams, Roy L. (December 3, 2004). "Michael's bringing back steaks, adding barbecue." The Birmingham News.
• Angell, Glory Clark (1983) Birmingham Inside Out. Birmingham: self published.
• Williams, Roy L. (January 23, 2007). "Business brief." The Birmingham News.

External link

• Michael's/Golden Rule BBQ website