Odette Offers Destination Dining In Florence

By Susan Swagler

Florence calls itself Alabama’s Renaissance City, and that feels right.

Located along a beautiful section of the Tennessee River, with the University of North Alabama anchoring the educational and cultural scene, Florence has a lot going for it. Billy Reid and Natalie “Alabama” Chanin have made it remarkably fashionable. The musical history in this part of our state is legendary, and the W.C. Handy Music Festival offers a fresh reminder of this each year. Odette, with delicious destination dining, is one of a growing number of locally owned small businesses drawing people back to this exciting town’s downtown.

For nearly five years, restaurant owner Celeste Pillow and executive chef Josh Quick and their team have served elevated American fare in a comfortable, inviting setting (the space originally was a shoe store). The food, Southern in nature with international influences, is made with locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. Cocktails range from traditional favorites like an old-fashioned to more modern concoctions (a watermelon mule) and sometimes things that are both (the “George & Tonic” gin-and-tonic slushy).There’s a little shop up front where you can buy homemade jams, Alabama honey, Odette T-shirts and the restaurant’s own roasted red pepper and thyme ketchup. And Odette has one of the largest (if not the largest) bourbon collections in the state. Monday through Thursday, most of these bourbons are half price during happy hour.

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