First-Ever Restaurant on Lake Tuscaloosa Aims to Open in August

An already successful local business owner is weeks away from opening the first-ever full-service restaurant on the banks of Lake Tuscaloosa.

Justin Holt owns Southern Ale House in north Tuscaloosa, which celebrated 10 years of service earlier this year, and also recently opened the Deli Press, a newspaper-themed sandwich shop across McFarland Boulevard from his first restaurant.

Holt told the Thread when he was approached by developers who had purchased the now-closed Bob's Marina about building a restaurant there. They envisioned a place where patrons could drive up from the hundreds of residences, businesses and churches in rapidly growing North Tuscaloosa or use about 18 public boat slips to visit before, during or after a day on the Lake.

"You go to other lake properties around the state, especially down around the Intracoastal waterway, and there are restaurants and bars and things for people to do everywhere except for Lake Tuscaloosa," Holt said.

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Even so, Holt wasn't interested at first. SAH and the Deli Press were demanding enough of his attention and a new restaurant just seemed like a recipe for worse headaches.

The entrepreneur took time to think it over and discuss matters with his wife, banker Dana Holt, with his father, Cal Holt, and with his God. Ultimately, he said, the opportunity proved too good to pass up.

"We prayed about it, we talked about it, went through all the scenarios and I knew if we don't do this, somebody else is going to and I'll regret it and wonder why I didn't take the leap," Holt said. "I think we signed the lease the next day and just said look, let's have no regrets, let's do this. We know we can do this, we can do it right, and it needs to be done."

So Holt and the investors have partnered on Southern Ale House Dockside, which he hopes to open in late August, and they broke ground on a brand-new "Barndominium"-style building there in February.

The restaurant will be a place for boaters and lake enthusiasts from all walks of life, Holt said, where the food will be as good as people expect from the Southern Ale House brand and no one will think twice about walking through in swim trunks.

The place also has to plan for winter months when lake activity dies off, and Holt said he's excited to serve the families in the area who've had to drive much further than the old Marina site to find severely limited options for a sit-down meal.

Logistics will also demand a smaller, more controllable menu at Dockside than at the original restaurant, and Holt said he plans to focus on a few key fish specials, possibly including fried shrimp and cornmeal-battered catfish, but also offer Ale House favorites such as meatloaf and chicken tenders.

The property was originally in the county, but the Tuscaloosa City Council voted to annex it into the city and that body has also granted Holt a liquor license for Southern Ale House Dockside, allowing him to sell drinks all week - the county is still dry on Sundays.

The restaurant also features a long, grassy hill between the building and the docks where Holt said he hopes to add picnic tables, cornhole games and more, creating a unique, family-centered environment where all are welcome and the food is top-quality.

"In May or June of the first year we were open in Tuscaloosa, I walked into the restaurant and we had customers had that come off the lake, they were in swimsuits and next to them this group had come from a wedding at Indian Hills Country Club," Holt said. "We had people sitting at the bar in tuxedos next to people in swimsuits and towels and at that point we realized everybody just felt comfortable. I think that's what we're looking for here, we want the same thing, a place for everybody."

"We'll work hard every day just to make sure we put the best product out that we can," he continued. "It's a relaxed atmosphere, it's going to be fun, not fine dining. We're not trying to overthink things and just want everybody to come have good food, enjoy the view, enjoy the company and enjoy their lunch or dinner, whatever it might be."

An official opening date and set hours of operation are expected to be announced soon - stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread for more coverage of this project and other restaurant and retail development news as it develops.