Microgump: Bama Bistro Serves True Lunch Only Cuisine

View from Table Coratio

After "gut bombing" my system at Chris' Hotdogs yesterday, my stomach settled and I coerced a fellow gumpster (a/k/a The Shadow Pup) to lunch to eat something other than the usual meat and three. As we wandered down the odd numbered side (West) of Commerce Street with the tourists trying to find a worthwhile downtown lunch experience, the words "Bama" and "Bistro" caught my eye, as well as, the well-worn Colonial Bank wording etched into the granite building next door: 15 Commerce Street. Having visited before, I knew familiar faces and a lunch-only cuisine was close at hand. Greeted personally by Executive Chef Coratio (yes, that is what it says on his tunic), my lunch companion was impressed that I possessed the "inside" scoop on the place. When you look at the menu, you wonder how the food and the place are entwined together. There in the menu was a plethera of real restaurant dishes like chicken pesto pasta, pork chop supreme and others. I assured my companion (I swear I am not gay--not that there is anything wrong with that) that whatever was ordered, WOULD be good. After much discussion and the fact the Bamastrami no longer is offered, we both settled for the Bama Beef Brisket --- make that Bama "Smoked" Beef Brisket, as Chef Coartio gave us the reasoning for the distinction. This food was simply, outstanding--nuf said. The sandwich, which came with a side, with tax, was $7.69, well under the defined mark for Gumpster lunches. With Bama, Bistro, Smoked and under $10.00, I give it four.five Yellow Hammers out of Five Warren St. Johns. RTR.


The "Bama Bistro" is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. M-F.