Writing this with a full belly, one of my buttons missing from my jeans, and a grin that could rival Harry’s victory on The Traitors! Well, let’s be honest, the real triumph here is that I’ve just encountered something pretty extraordinary at the spanking new establishment – The Rabbit. My jeans might need some therapy, but trust me, it was worth popping my buttons for!
Originally known as “Riverine Rabbit” this restaurant has embarked on a significant journey, relocating from South Africa to the heart of the Birmingham neighbourhood. Ash and Erin, the masterminds behind The Rabbit, originally founded by Ash and her sister, Mandy, in Cape Town, have seamlessly combined South African roots and flavours with seasonal British produce while practicing sustainable farming. Ash’s culinary journey began at the tender age of sixteen, starting as a prep chef in a local restaurant. She further honed her skills at cookery college and went on to work alongside culinary Masters such as Luke Dale-Roberts of The Test Kitchen, listed among the World’s Best 50 Restaurants, and Brad Carter at Carters of Moseley in the UK. Erin, the co-owner of Riverine Rabbit, leads a double life as a Materials Scientist by day and assumes the role of Front of House Manager at The Rabbit by night, adding an extra layer of expertise to the dining experience on Pershore Road.
Nestled on a street dominated by iconic foodie gems like Eat Vietnam, Soi 1268 by Buddha Belly, Verbena, and award-winning bars such as Couch, Stirchley feels like the foodie Olympics, almost like Birmingham’s version of the Avengers. So, when The Rabbit hopped all the way from Cape Town to get in on the action, snagging a table became a must.
On a Friday afternoon, I rushed down Pershore Road almost like I had a flea up my butt and gasping like a mackerel on dry land, bloody trains ey? I entered The Rabbit and met up with my esteemed companion, Emma. She’s like a ray of sunshine, actually, she reminds me of the sun in The Teletubbies, basically she is bloody lovely and we were both very overally excited about what’s next to come. Seated at the counter dining table, I suddenly felt relaxed and I took in the great view of the kitchen. The ambiance resembled an intimate gathering in a friend’s kitchen, I really liked it. This inviting atmosphere, far from intimidation, extends a warm welcome to anyone entering. We were advised to order approximately three to four plates per person from the enticing selection of around 14 dishes. To be honest, there was not one dish I didn’t fancy on the menu, and it became increasingly tricky to choose, so we sought the expertise of Ash and Erin, and they ordered for ourselves.
To begin, we were served sourdough bread with hay-smoked butter—an opulent and creamy delight. Perfectly baked, with its ideal thickness and soft, fluffy interior, it proved to be a versatile companion throughout our dining experience. That butter? Well, I could have had a tub of it and eaten it like ice cream. Next up was the Marinated Beef Tartare with rapeseed, smoked soy, and toasted nori. Scooped up in the nori sheets, creating the perfect little parcel, one mouthful, and BOOM! Incredible flavours of sweetness and smokiness came powering through. It was precisely in this moment I thought, ‘Holy Shit… I think I just found my new favourite restaurant.’ I had quite the Ratatouille moment until Emma blinded me with my selfie light.
Ash then presented the hay-smoked salmon paired with gentlemen’s relish, Earl Grey, chicory, radicchio, and apple. The salmon, at the perfect temperature and impeccably sliced, sent a shiver of delight through me. The dish was stunning, refreshing ensemble that felt light and boasted impeccable seasoning. Ash’s captivating explanations of each element, the ingredients, and the cooking process for each dish added an extra layer of enjoyment. It was evident that a tremendous amount of love and dedication went into crafting these dishes.
Drumroll, please! The moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Crab Muffin, featuring Brown Butter Hollandaise, pickled lemon, and sea herbs, finally graced our table. I’ve heard so much buzz about this dish, and truth be told, it was one of the main reasons for making the reservation. Imagine sweet white crab meat on a toasted English muffin, seemingly floating on a sea of buttery brown hollandaise. It nearly knocked me off my chair, was absolutely stunning and hands down one of the best dishes I’ve enjoyed in a long while.
Next on the lineup was The Wedge salad, flaunting sherry dressing, walnut, horseradish, and Colston blue. The robustness of the Colston blue was nicely tamed by the sherry dressing, what’s cool is how well it played with the other dishes, I found myself scooping the beef tartare and crab muffin with this.
And we are not stopping there, oh no! We were then served the Rarebit, made up of three cheeses, Henderson’s relish, and plenty of yeast – yes, this is the part where it could get very dangerous for me, with a yeast intolerance; it might be a one-way trip to the bathroom for a couple of hours, but my eyes couldn’t help but light up at all the plates we had to devour. Nothing was going to move me, actually no, The Traitors final, I had to be back by 9pm. Cheese lovers unite because the rarebit is a must-order if you’re obsessed with cheese like I am, powerful punches of cheese but not too overpowering as the relish easily balanced it out.
Suddenly my belly was touching the counter; it was almost as if my belly was trying to capture the attention of Erin to order more dishes – my gut has a mind of its own! And then, Ash placed down a glorious and almighty Pork belly bao with Gochujang, Miso, hispi, cukes – Lord Jesus, Christ on a stick, Mother of Mary – the food is immaculate, it’s hard to raise a complaint, how could you? This was just incredible culinary genius, and whilst eating my bao, I scanned their website to see if I could book another date – now this is a first. Our last dish was the hash browns. Hash browns, eh? But these were far from your salted hash browns you get from McDonald’s; oh no, these hash browns served with spiced salt and ponzu were little naughty buggers that can catch you out easily; they were bloody fantastic. Crunchy, with a pinch of spice and slight tart-tangy flavour which I really enjoyed.
Well, I managed to pop a button on my jeans, possibly making history as the first person to order a dish using their belly button. But let me tell you, this ranks among the most memorable dining adventures I’ve encountered. The journey from start to finish was an absolute delight—one that Birmingham locals shouldn’t miss. The cosy kitchen vibes with friends set the perfect tone, and the dishes, reaching fine-dining excellence and beyond, truly left a lasting impression. It not only blew my socks off but also the button on my jeans. Honestly, it’s an experience worth sacrificing a button for.
The bill came to £62 together (that includes drinks – non-alcoholic), but I have to say I was incredibly surprised by the price. I expected it to be more, and to be honest, I would have been more than happy to pay more. For the quality and skill in the dishes that were brought before us, I truly think this is something very special, and I, for one, am delighted that Ash and Erin have chosen to set up a permanent site right here in Birmingham. It’s an absolute honour, really. An incredible dining experience that is well worth your money and will deserve all the attention that it will get this year; one to watch for sure, do yourselves a favour and book!
BAB ABOUT TOWN 