Fine level of dining

On September 10, the very highly anticipated Pernoi – 310 E. Maple Road, Birmingham – finally opened its doors. Once inside, guests found multiple dining experiences offered at the restaurant, owned by acclaimed chefs Luciano DelSignore and Takashi Yagihashi. There’s the Maple Room – named after its location – the most elegant space in the new establishment, with jackets required for men, and a la carte and prix fixe menu options, the latter which will be rolled out at the beginning of October. Going along with the aesthetic – made to feel like being on a motor yacht in days of yore – is the slightly more casual Port Room, as in port and starboard, which will have the same a la carte menu as the Terrace, a 35-seat outdoor courtyard that is open April through the beginning of November. The menu features items like Moroccan glazed squab, Iowa Wagyu beef, and tuna sashimi with a sweet onion vinaigrette. “I’m proud of every single item,” said DelSignore. Drinks include a wine list with 400 options and a cocktail program with over 100 recipes. Pernoi isn’t just about the food and drinks, but bringing fine dining to another level, with the hospitality to match. “We’re trying to create an experience,” DelSignore said. “This is the finer things in life.”