This week, AJ and the Alabama Eats crew are at John’s City Diner, a restaurant that has been a staple in downtown Birmingham for more than seven decades.

“A 70-year-old institution — John’s Diner — 10 years ago was kind of transformed by us into a more modern take on some Southern favorites,” said John’s owner Shannon Gober. “It’s upscale comfort food, as we like to say.”

With dishes like “Not your mama’s mac & cheese” and chicken and waffles, to crispy duck and Gulf shrimp and oysters, it’s no wonder than John’s has remained a favorite of the downtown lunch and dinner crowds for so long.

By blending a bit of the old with the new, the restaurant still maintains much of the charm from the past, while the décor and menu have undergone a facelift to meet the needs of the increasingly food savvy Birmingham public.

Check out our visit to John’s in the video above, and make sure to stop in next time you find yourself in downtown. Believe us, you won’t regret it.