Cotton Row Restaurant
Alabama
Cotton Row occupies an 1821 brick building on Huntsville's Courthouse Square, originally part of the city's cotton exchange. Chef James Boyce opened the restaurant in 2009, bringing modern American cooking with Southern influences to this historic downtown address. His seasonal menus use classical French technique with seafood, vegetables and meats from the region. The dishes make that combination clear. Gulf flounder and rock shrimp arrive with new potatoes, field peas and basil beurre blanc, while pan-seared redfish is paired with mushroom risotto, crispy okra and smoked tomato butter. Short ribs with yellow grits and lamb with preserved lemon offer alternatives to seafood. Private dining and chef-led culinary experiences add further ways to use the three-storey building.