Restaurants

Tuscaloosa has a problem supporting non-chain restaurants, and we editors are not yet to the point where we can hit the high end places frequently so this will initially be heavy on the low-mid price level places.  All opinions are unbiased and based on the dining experience for which we paid.
 

BBQ Ribs

Archibald's / Woodrow's Pit BBQ (Original Archibald's or the Woodrow's on Highway 43).  Consistently the best place to get ribs, and their sauce is very good. 
Out-of-town visitors would be wise to stop by a Dreamland to pick up some jars of sauce and proceed to Woodrow's for real ribs.
 

BBQ Pork Sandwich 

There is a hole-in-the-wall (literally) place attached to a Chevron gas station on Highway 43 N just before the Fayette County line in Tuscaloosa County.  The menu is actually quite extensive, but I was told to only order the small pork sanwich(es).  Place your order at the window and then go in the food mart to grab a drink while they prepare your order.  There are no tables, and you can't drive somewhere else or the bun will soak up the sauce and get mushy.  But that's how it should be isn't it?  No frills. No place to sit aside from your car seats.  There's a woodpile, a pit, and a window.  The sandwich is wrapped in waxed paper and put in a plain white bag.  The pork is good quality, it is smoked adequately (i.e. you can see and taste the effects of the smoking process) and the sauce is pretty good too.  My mentor explained to me that you only need sauce to cover up bad meat, and I think this sandwich would be just fine with no sauce, although it is better with it.  It's a tad far for us townies to get there frequently, but those days when you can afford a 90 minute lunch and want a good pork sandwich, make the trip.

Chinese

Swen - Most chinese places have regressed toward the buffet mean in the last several years.  At Swen you'll find no buffet, low prices and large quantities of good food.  $5 at lunch gets you an entree with rice, soup and an egg roll (water to drink).

Meat & 3 / Diner / Blue Plate

City Cafe
15th Street Diner
 

Burgers

Oasis
5 Guys
Buddy's Rib & Steak 

General Sandwiches

Firehouse
Subs N You
Broadway

Specifics

Ribs - Woodrow's Pit BBQ
BBQ Pork Sandwich - BBQ joint in the Chevron @ Tusc. / Fayette County Line
Burger - Oasis or 5 Guys
Steak - Fleming's at the Summit in Mtn Brook
Saltwater Fish - Outback Steakhouse *sigh*
Catfish - *pending*
Buffalo-style Chicken Sandwich - Tie: Logan's Roadhouse
Buffalo Wings - *pending*
Steak Sandwich - Make Your Own
Chicken and Dressing - City Cafe (the Diner can't seem to make moist chicken)
Fries - Buddy's Rib & Steak, 5 Guys

Bargains 

Grouper Fridays - Every Friday the 15th Street Diner has blackened grouper as their special.  For $8.99 you get exactly what you'd get at Cypress Inn for about 1/2 the price.

Coffee Shops

Ambiance - Crimson Cafe

Quality - Starbucks

Outdoor Seating - Badass

Unfortunately, no one knows how to roast coffee beans like Starbucks.  In fact 1 of the 3 places above appears to be owned by someone who really doesn't like coffee. It's the opposite of that dude who founded the Samuel Adams brewery who's on TV commercials shoving his nose into a handful of hops.