La Paree

La Paree was a steak and seafood restaurant located at 2013 5th Avenue North. It opened in the 1940s and remained in business until December 2003.

In its heyday, under the ownership of Michael Matsos and with Bill Demoes as executive chef, La Paree was known as one of the top downtown restaurants in Birmingham. Signature dishes included shish kebab, pilaf rice and spaghetti with burnt butter. Matsos provided free meals to the doorman at the nearby Tutwiler Hotel to drum up business.

In the year following World War II Demoes brought over several family members from Greece, fleeing guerilla warfare at home. Matsos proposed to sell him his interest in the restaurant, leaving him to found Michael's Sirloin Room at the Holiday Inn-Bessemer Super Highway with many of the same recipes.

In February 2008 Harbert Realty Services announced plans to demolish the restaurant in order to expand the Marriott Renaissance hotel they are developing in the adjacent Regions Plaza building.

References

• Natta, André (February 18, 2008) "la paree’s coming down." The Terminal
• Evans, Amy (October 3, 2006) Interview with Michael Matsos. Southern BBQ Trail oral history project. Southern Foodways Alliance.