Fairhope diners are getting a fresh look at a longtime local favorite this month, as the restaurant formerly known as Old 27 Grill has officially rebranded as Bill-E’s, aligning the eatery with the small-batch bacon brand that shares its owner’s name. The menu, the building and the laid-back atmosphere that regulars have come to love remain unchanged — only the sign out front is new.
Owner William Stitt, known to friends and customers simply as Bill-E, opened the restaurant years ago along Highway 181, a road long known to locals by its former designation, County Road 27. What started as a modest hot dog and hamburger stand has since grown into a bustling restaurant known for live music, a funky, laid-back vibe and a loyal following. Stitt’s small-batch bacon has also built a following of its own, showing up on shelves and menus around the Mobile area, and the rebrand ties the restaurant’s identity directly to that growing brand.
Regulars say the move makes sense: many customers already associated the restaurant with Bill-E’s bacon long before the official name change. The kitchen’s approach hasn’t changed, with unpretentious comfort food and cold drinks still the order of the day. Longtime fans point to the Mardi Gras Dog, paired with a cold beer, as a can’t-miss order, and diners are encouraged to try anything on the menu that includes the restaurant’s namesake bacon.
Meanwhile, pizza lovers across Baldwin County have a sweeter — or rather, more heart-shaped — reason to celebrate this Valentine’s Day. Rotolo’s, the Baton Rouge-based pizzeria chain with locations in Fairhope and Saraland, is offering heart-shaped pizzas at all of its restaurants from Feb. 8 through Feb. 14, just in time for the holiday.
According to the chain, the heart shape can be applied to any of its signature pizzas, or customers can build their own pie with up to three regular toppings. Rotolo’s makes its dough from scratch daily and prepares its own sauces in-house, while fresh vegetables are cut by hand rather than shipped pre-processed — a point of pride for the chain, which also serves pasta, calzones, sandwiches, soups and salads. Couples who would rather skip a crowded restaurant on the holiday can still mark the occasion with a heart-shaped pie delivered or picked up, whether they’re staying in or celebrating on the go.
For those who prefer to spend Valentine’s Day at home altogether, a warm bowl of shrimp bisque offers an easy, flavorful alternative that works as either an appetizer or a light main course. The recipe below serves as a simple homemade option for anyone looking to set a cozy, romantic mood without leaving the kitchen.
Shrimp Bisque
Ingredients: ¼ cup European-style butter, 1 red bell pepper (sliced), 3 medium carrots (chopped), 1 medium white onion (chopped), 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, ½ cup chicken stock, ½ cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 cloves garlic (peeled), 12 to 15 large shrimp (peeled and deveined), and Creole seasoning to taste.
In a heavy soup pot large enough to accommodate an immersion blender, melt the ¼ cup of butter with the olive oil. Add the bell pepper, carrots and onion, and cook until softened. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chicken stock and cream, and continue cooking over low heat while pureeing with an immersion blender, or transfer the mixture to a blender in batches.
In a separate small skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and add the whole garlic cloves, cooking until browned. Remove the garlic, finely chop it, and set aside. Season the shrimp with Creole seasoning and cook in the same skillet for about one minute per side. Add the cooked shrimp and chopped garlic back into the soup pot, along with any butter remaining in the skillet. Serve garnished with fresh chopped parsley.
Between the restaurant rebrand in Fairhope and the seasonal pizza special stretching from Fairhope to Saraland, Baldwin County has no shortage of ways to celebrate the holiday of love this year, whether dining out or staying in.