As old businesses begin to rebuild in Tuscaloosa following the April 27 tornado, the city is also welcoming a couple of new faces to town. Rooster’s Blues House will be opening this summer, hoping to bring good food, good music and good times to the “City of Champions.”

Rooster’s Blues House is a restaurant and bar that boasts great food and great entertainment. The restaurant hails from Oxford, Ms., where its first establishment is located, and plans to bring the same success it has experienced there to Tuscaloosa.

The restaurant will be located downtown at 2321 University Blvd., right next to the Historic Brown’s Corner, in the space previously occupied by Café Venice.

Hilary Young, a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama, is very excited about the restaurant coming to Tuscaloosa. A member of the Million Dollar Band and a music lover, she said she loves when restaurants incorporate music into the dining experience.

“I have friends that live in Oxford, and when I visit we often go to Rooster’s; the atmosphere is great, and the food is good, too,” Young said.

The menu offers a variety of food for even the pickiest eaters. Diners can start off with appetizers such as fried dill pickles, BBQ nachos or Rotel fries. Next, dig into an entrée of fettuccine Alfredo, their specialty Coldwater River Burger, or their Velvet Hammer, a 10oz filet topped with cajun cream sauce and loaded with savory grilled shrimp.

The restaurant has daily specials including 35-cent wings and $2 pitchers, half-price steaks, $5 Uncle Bud Burgers, and all you can eat catfish. Rooster’s will offer happy hour Monday-Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and various open-mic nights.

Continuing with its reputation for the best restaurant in town for live music, Rooster’s has already booked some top-notch acts for the this coming fall. In September, Rooster’s will be bringing Gary Clark Jr. on Sept. 8, Shannon McNally & Hot Sauce on Sept. 10 and Grayson Capps on Sept. 16.

Ricky Floyd, a rising junior at Ole Miss, said the restaurant is a great place for college students looking for a different feel.

“Good food, great music, weekly specials are the best around…by far my favorite place in Oxford,” said Floyd.

Rooster’s Blues House is currently taking applications via their online website. Rooster’s also allows bands to perform in the restaurant. Local bands can contact the booking manager, Brent Harding, for the opportunity to play there.

The restaurant is still currently under construction but will be opening within the next few weeks.