Gulf Shores, AL — The grand opening of Safari & Vine was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted in partnership with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, officially welcoming the new restaurant to the Gulf Shores community. A bold new dining destination located on the grounds of the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, Safari & Vine is owned and operated by Pam McLaurin-Lee and Chef Rich Lee, the team behind the beloved Portabella’s in Foley, and introduces an entirely new concept, menu, and atmosphere to the Alabama Gulf Coast dining scene.

Described as “a global cuisine experience,” Safari & Vine features a thoughtfully curated menu inspired by flavors and culinary traditions from around the world. Guests can enjoy everything from Peri-Peri Wings and Ahi Poke Bowls to North African-spiced flatbreads, Carnitas Chilaquiles, and elevated dinner offerings such as Chargrilled Lamb Lollipops and Stuffed Filet Mignon. The restaurant also offers weekend brunch, complete with mimosa flights and a Bloody Mary bar, alongside an extensive mocktail menu crafted with natural syrups and spices for guests who want a handcrafted beverage experience without alcohol.

Unlike traditional zoo dining, Safari & Vine was designed to be a destination all its own. Located within the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo property, the restaurant is open to the public and does not require zoo admission to visit. Guests can enjoy lunch seven days a week, dinner five nights a week, weekend brunch, cocktails, outdoor patio seating, and a private dining room that accommodates up to 25 guests. The owners also plan to introduce live entertainment, themed nights, watch parties, and additional community events to create an energetic and immersive dining atmosphere.

Originally from New Orleans, Pam McLaurin-Lee and Chef Rich Lee were not actively searching for a second restaurant concept when the opportunity at the zoo arose. However, they quickly recognized the potential to create something truly unique while also supporting a larger mission. “We saw that this was a beautiful restaurant that needed to be filled again,” they shared. “We wanted to be a partner with the zoo to help steward our resources and aid in their conservation efforts.”

While Portabella’s has become a local favorite for Italian cuisine, the team intentionally took Safari & Vine in an entirely different direction. “We didn’t want this to be Italian like Portabella’s—we wanted it to be everything but,” said Chef Rich Lee. “We started asking ourselves, ‘What can you have on the menu at a zoo?’ We wanted to pull dishes from where the animals come from and create a menu with heavy African, Asian, Middle Eastern, South American, and Australian influences.”

The result is a globally inspired menu focused on introducing guests to flavors they may have never experienced before or have only encountered while traveling overseas. Safari & Vine also places a strong emphasis on inclusivity, offering a dedicated vegetarian menu, numerous gluten-free options, and a fun, research-backed kids menu developed with input from children’s focus groups to better understand what young diners actually want.

Among the restaurant’s standout offerings is its signature burger, served three unique ways: traditional beef, black bean, or locally sourced shark. The shark is harvested from Gulf waters by Alabama's only federally licensed charter permitted to catch and process shark for research purposes. “It’s truly from the boat to the table,” the owners explained.

The opening of Safari & Vine adds another exciting attraction to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, which continues to expand guest experiences while furthering wildlife education and conservation efforts along the Alabama Gulf Coast.

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