Turning lunch into happy hour

Published 6:07 pm Monday, July 14, 2008

Honeybaked Ham boasts a reputation for providing families with savory hams for holiday dinners and special occasions.

The restaurant got its start in the 1960s when Harry Hoenselaar created a signature marinade and patented a special machine to cut each slice of ham in even slices. The company now operates 400 stores across the country, including the Alabaster location.

What many don’t know is that they can get the same mouth-watering flavors they love at holidays in the form of sandwiches at lunch.

ATMOSPHERE

The restaurant sits tucked into the Colonial Promenade shopping center inviting guests in with colorful signs and the scents of baking ham and smoking turkey.

Once inside customers immediately see jars filled with rubs, spices and sauces, as well as refrigerators filled with sides and desserts to go with their meal. The decor of the building’s interior immediately makes you feel like your sitting down to lunch in the home of a family member.

The setting is bright and cheerful and implores customers to make lunch their happy hour.

With light music playing in the background, the restaurant stills allows for conversation with friends at lunch. The restaurant seats about 15.

MENU

Honeybaked Ham offers and extensive catering menu but if you simply want to bite into a juicy sandwich that’s possible too.

Customers can choose from the classic ham sandwich with swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, savory sauce and honey mustard, all atop a bakery roll, or from other favorites like the signature chicken salad sandwich with creamy chicken salad stuffed with grapes and walnuts on top of a fresh croissant.

The deli also whips up salads with ingredients like ripe tomatoes and crisp lettuce, as well as strips of ham, turkey or bacon.

If the kids need something a little smaller then this family–friendly restaurant can put together a good peanut butter and jelly or a simple ham and cheese.

If you do want to stop by and grab a full meal for the family, there are homestyle sides like sweet potato soufflé, broccoli casserole or cornbread dressing.

For those who do seek some help catering a large event the options are many. The restaurant provides everything from boxed lunches to breakfast buffets and dessert samplers.

SERVICE

It’s a must for Honeybaked Ham employees to be willing to serve, especially when a mother or father comes in needing to feed an army of family members at the family reunion.

Families can grab full hams and several sides or even ribs to satisfy the hungry crowd. It’s always good to call ahead, though, to ensure the store has everything you might need.

FIND IT

100 South Colonial Drive

Suite 600

Alabaster, Ala. 35007

205-620-9899

Hours:

Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.