I haven’t written a food review on here for quite some time, that may be due to feeling a bit too comfortable writing short and snappy reviews on Instagram, dealing with exhaustion since last year and just not feeling excited to write about something. However, a trip to a restaurant in the Jewellery Quarter sparked the excitement inside of me and suddenly I remembered why I loved writing on this blog. There’s something about places like this. Quiet, not much of a social media presence, sitting on a busy street on a Saturday lunchtime with no diners inside, even though they’re serving one of the most impressive value lunch menus in Birmingham. And honestly…kind of pissed me off.
Because it should be full on a Saturday lunch. It should be full every day it’s open from Thursday to Saturday. So I guess it sparked that fire in me again, to shout about incredible independent businesses like this, the ones quietly getting on with serving brilliant food while everyone chases the latest opening. And that’s exactly why I’m back writing food reviews on this blog.
Folium has been sitting on Caroline Street in the Jewellery Quarter since 2017, run by Chef Ben Tash and his partner Lucy Hanlon. And embarrassingly, I’ve pushed it down my “must visit” list more times than I’d like to admit. New openings kept taking priority. Hype, press nights, noise… you know how it goes.
But finally, I made it.
We arrived at 12:50pm on a Saturday lunchtime and the restaurant was quiet. In fact, we were the only ones dining there for lunch, which after the meal we’d go on to have, felt absolutely baffling. We were greeted by Lucy, who was lovely from the moment we walked through the door. Josie threw out an “I think I know you from the MySpace era” and within minutes they were chatting away like old friends. That’s Birmingham for you! As we settled into our seats, the first thing I noticed was the soundtrack. HAIM. The 1975. Sam Fender. Basically my emotional support playlist in restaurant form. At that point, even if the food had been average (spoiler: it absolutely wasn’t) – I was already halfway won over.
We went for the short tasting menu — six courses for £45pp, which genuinely made me raise my eyebrows so high I thought I might need Botox to bring them back down. “That’s ridiculous,” I said to Josie. And it is. But in the best possible way.
First up – chicken liver parfait with burnt onion. A delicate, crispy tuile made from caramelised onion purée, deepened with burnt onion skins, wrapped around a silky chicken liver parfait and finished with pickled thyme ketchup and a fresh thyme leaf. It’s rich but not heavy. Sharp but not overpowering. Apparently it’s been on the menu since day one, and I fully understand why. In fact, I feel like Folium need to cram these little beauties into some sort of Christmas selection box, Forget chocolates, give me 24 of these behind little advent calendar doors and I’d absolutely lose my mind!
Just saying. But honestly… can we make this happen?
Then came the sourdough with cultured butter. Warm bread, a crisp crust, that slight tangy depth from fermentation, and butter that melts instantly when spread on. Simple, but absolutely beautiful.
Next up were the biodynamic grain noodles with shiitake mushroom – earthy, savoury and comforting in a way that feels almost medicinal. Like if you were feeling a bit run down and someone handed you a bowl of this, it’d probably cure your cold on the spot!
And then came the Staffordshire lamb with chicory. Perfectly cooked lamb so tender, deeply flavoured, with a beautiful sweetness running through it. This was the highlight of the menu and one of the best lamb dishes I’ve ever had. And that’s saying something, because lamb is my favourite meat. I’ve eaten a lot of it over the years, but this is genuinely the best I’ve ever had. It was so good I nearly had a moment when Lucy came to take the plate away. Not that there was much left on it anyway (it was all gone to be honest) Just a thin line of sauce, which In fact, I very briefly and quite embarrassingly used my finger to mop up the last bit of sauce – Zero regrets!
Then onto dessert — Yorkshire curd tart with birch syrup. Light, gently sweet and properly comforting. Slight caramelisation on top, almost Basque-style in feel, served with ice cream and raisins. Beautiful.
And finally, the perfect petit fours to end our meal: a Bee Pollen Financier with Chamomile and a Manjari Chocolate Financier with Woodruff. Perfect with a cup of tea and the ideal way to gently finish off what had been a wonderful dining experience at Folium.
Lucy deserves her own paragraph, honestly. Service wasn’t service in the transactional sense, it felt like hospitality in its truest form. We ended up talking about Birmingham, the food scene, life, all of it. It didn’t feel like staff and customer. It felt like people sharing space, sharing stories, and I think that’s quite rare. There’s something really grounding about a place where people genuinely care – not performatively, not for show, but because they truly believe in what they’re doing. It was lovely to speak to Lucy. Within minutes it felt like we’d known her for years.
I genuinely don’t understand why Folium isn’t constantly spoken about in the same breath as some of the louder, more hyped restaurants in the city. Because this, for me, is right up there. In fact, I’m slightly confused it hasn’t been picked up a Michelin star. In my opinion, it matches — and in some cases surpasses — a lot of restaurants currently holding one across Birmingham and the West Midlands. Maybe that’s exactly why this review brought me back to writing.Because restaurants like Folium deserve people shouting about them.
A special restaurant. One I’ll absolutely be returning to. And one I really hope gets the recognition it deserves, not just in Birmingham, but far beyond it.
Do you remember that video of people in a bar watching one of the Euro football games and when England scored, the whole place went wild with beers flung everywhere? I imagine a similar reaction from most of Birmingham when Buddha Belly announced they were opening their first restaurant.
After making their name in the city as top-notch street food vendors, Brum’s foodies have been calling for them to set up a permanent spot where we can feast upon owner Sai’s cooking to our hearts content. And now our dreams have come true! Say hello to Buddha Belly’s newest venture: SOI 1268! Situated on the busy Pershore Rd, next door to trendy Japanese bar Ikigai, of course, it had to be Stirchley, right? Would I have liked it to be Sutton Coldfield? Obviously, but Stirchley is just so cool…and I guess, it just had to be you, f*** Stirchley…anyway, back to the review!
The restaurant captures that rustic Thailand street food vibe throughout, and it’s relaxed dining at its finest. Once we sat down at our table, we wasted no time and ordered some ice-cold drinks, I went for a pint of DEYA. As we flicked through the menu, I was happy to see some Buddha Belly classics such as the deliciously moreish Beef Massaman and their beautifully crisp and tender Thai Fried Chicken. Its order at the bar service and we got into it straight away.
Let’s start with the Thai Fried Chicken, adorned with fragrant Thai herbs, crispy batter, and a divine sweet sauce. That tantalising crisp when biting into it tastes as good as it always has. But let me tell you, their King Prawn Toast, accompanied by a heavenly sweet and sour sauce, claims the title of the best prawn toast I’ve ever had. It’s the best in the Midlands, and I will fight you if you disagree!
The Garlic & Lime Wings were a perfect balance of tanginess and sweetness. Paired with a fiery tamarind sauce, personally, I couldn’t resist smothering them in sweet chili sauce because, well, I’m a bit of a slag for sweet chili sauce.
Another new dish, Pork Pa Lo, brought together braised duck egg, chili and garlic pickle, five-spiced succulent pork, and fragrant jasmine rice to create a symphony of flavours that left us longing for more. It was undoubtedly my favourite dish of the evening and definitely the dish to order. To balance out the rich flavours we ordered the refreshing Som Tam Isaan salad. The combination of shredded vegetables, fermented fish sauce, and a hint of chili was a delightful palate cleanser, with a cheeky little spicy kick! Prices in my eyes are very reasonable, and the portions are big so I do feel its great value for money here.
Before visiting, I must admit I felt a sense of nervousness. Having worked with Buddha Belly before, I knew first-hand how much passion they had poured into this venture. I felt like I was part of their journey in some way, and I’m forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such an incredible team. And, as expected, they absolutely smashed it. SOI 1268 has been a huge success, and it was heart-warming to see people with smiles on their faces, enjoying the dining experience with their families. The Buddha Belly team has achieved something special with this new restaurant, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for the team.
I think I am getting the hang of this fine dining thing… I started with Adams moved on to 670 Grams and now for one of the most distinctive tasting menus in Brum (or so I thought) – The Wilderness. Located in the Jewellery Quarter, hidden away down a dark alley, you’ll wonder if you are in the right place. Entering the restaurant is like walking into Voldemort’s lair – if Voldemort liked AC/DC that is. Subtly lit, black on black and moody as fuck, I like it.
Staff are friendly enough and know what we want straight away – to be seated before time and handed the drinks menu. Good start. We didn’t go for the wine pairing, probably not the way to do it but as a 5 ft 1 lightweight who gets loud off a WKD, it’s certainly for the best. I went for the Venetian Kiss featuring salt baked peach, raspberry and elderflower. So good I ordered two more. I went for the £110 8-course dinner menu and within 10 minutes the first dishes arrived.
A plate appears with three ‘snacks’; Shrimp Doughnut, Celeriac tart – Hazelnut, and A5 Wagyu – Nori – Comte. They all hit the spot, especially the shrimp doughnut, I could order about 50 of those to go.
The fourth dish is served, and it was my favourite. The Mackerel is absolutely beautiful and was swimming in a delicious consommé that I ended up dribbling down my front. I was like a cat with a saucer of milk, I couldn’t stop lapping it up.
The fifth dish was the Cod and Iberico, it was just perfect, the way my knife sliced into the cod and it just fell apart, it still sends shivers down my spine!
Although a rather successful start, I was somewhat confused. I’ll be honest, The Wilderness is known for its “fuck it” reputation. I knew there was an edge, but I was struggling to find it in the food. But, it was early days…
The next dish was The Carrot 2022 which started to turn the night around for me. I know, how could a carrot do that?! Well my dears, this was so much more than your bog standard chantenay. Braised carrots with nitro frozen feta crumbs in fact. The frozen feta crumbs are a bit like marmite really, you love them or hate them. I really enjoyed the combination and thought it was a match made in heaven. Another dish where I couldn’t get enough of the sauce, I should of brought a bloody bib.
Next up was Barbaray Duck in Blood Orange. Now I am not a fan of duck so this dish didn’t do anything for me and I feel it would be unfair to review it. I’ll let you in on one thing, it’s cooked well. That’s all I can say. Alex informed me he could of changed the duck to something more to my liking, so my bad.
Many have seen or heard of this next dish – The Wilderness’ signature course Ch-Ch-Changes comes in the form of a Ba-Ba-BANANA. I’ve always been curious about this one and the man himself, Alex Claridge, came over to explain it. “Like banoffee pie but in a banana”. Right okay, the thing is…I hate banana. So I wasn’t looking forward to it to be honest but it was nice to finally speak to Alex, He seemed authentic and obviously passionate about what he does. When you are so passionate about something you do of course get defensive if someone says one bad word, I get it. “Eat it however you want” he says.
I decided to scoop it up in my hands but didn’t realise how much of a slippery fucker it was, My fellow diner was having a right laugh watching and I must have looked like I belonged in a zoo shrieking while the banana danced around my hands. When I finally caught the little bugger, it was surprisingly delicious. A super cool and imaginative dish and I wanted more of the same, but sadly didn’t get it.
The next plate wasn’t for me. Rhubarb with Mascarpone and Buckwheat was my least favourite dish. Firstly, it was freezing, I mean it numbed my teeth as soon as I bit into it, and it’s bloody tricky to eat as the mascarpone is proper hard, Something just wasn’t right. The dish didn’t do anything, and I just felt the flavours didn’t compliment each other.
The last course was Hot Lips. Perfectly plump, blood red and in good proportion. I was not expecting to yell “bloody hell, it’s like a Victoria Sponge!” I felt I needed a brew with it, so I ordered one. A sweet and refreshing end to a rather tasty but confusing meal.
Would I recommend The Wilderness? That is the million-dollar question. I feel like after a pretty mad year of trying out some of Birmingham’s best tasting menus, I’m gutted to say it but this was ever so slightly disappointing. I just wanted something different to the typical dishes you would find in modern, British fine-dining restaurants and I was looking for that edge that I originally thought the Wilderness would give me. Thats not to say I wouldn’t visit The Wilderness again, I will be visiting again but maybe when theres a new menu and hopefully next time it will be more to my liking. There were a few standout dishes but with the price you pay surely every dish should make you say ‘fuck that’s good!’ What I did like was the vibe in there, it’s laid back, so laid back I wore Adidas sweat pants and felt right at home. Service is on point and the rock and roll soundtrack is a nice accompaniment. However, it’s over-shadowed by other relaxed, fine-dining spots in the city that deliver that wow factor for the same price or cheaper. The quality of the ingredients is obvious, as is Alex’s talents as a chef, but I think a few will leave thinking they could of got more for their money elsewhere.
The three words that I said out loud soon as I left 670 Grams. Firstly, because it was so bloody cold out and secondly because I was experiencing a mixture of emotions. Stunned, content, extremely satisfied and angry, anger connects with the Pinch my nips because I was so pissed at myself for trying 670 Grams so late in the game. Everyone was right, soon as I mentioned I was going to 670 Grams I had people all over Instagram and Twitter messaging me, really punching in that excitement of going and high praise all round for 670 Grams. I went with an open mind and left mind-fucked…in a good way.
Booked in for 7.15, 670 Grams is located in Digbeth (Gibb Street) in The Custard Factory. It’s small but surprisingly comfortable – Graffiti plastered on the wall with grunge interior, Tim Burton meets Brum. The first words that come to mind would be “What the fuck is this” especially if you’re brought here for a special occasion by your partner for a “luxury evening of 15 courses” it doesn’t look luxurious but that’s what I love. FUCK the luxury fine-dining lets blind-side you and WOW the shit out of you…I will warn you there is going to be a shit-load of swearing in this but it’s okay, I am no pro and I like food writing enit?
Service is sharp and friendly straight away, we were introduced to Zac who I have to say was perfect from start to finish, none of this false customer business, Zac is authentic and really sold the evening for us both. He was impressive throughout. We started our evening with cocktails priced at £12 – James went for the Pineapple Express and I went for the Eye Candy. Pineapple Express was presented in a Pineapple glass – tangy, sweet, and satisfactory. The Eye Candy was my kind of cocktail that included my three favourite ingredients – strawberry, tequila and Champagne. It took us 10 minutes to settle in with our drinks and soon after the tasting menu began.
HOT & SOUR AND PINEAPPLE
A course made from all the leftovers they have in the kitchen from herb spices added to chicken stock served alongside the pineapple that is marinated in soy sauce and ketchup Manis. Both make a punchy introduction to 670 Grams, I could of had about 10 shots of that soup – We are off to a good start.
SCALLOP & LANGOUSTINE
Served with raw seasoning with aloe Vera and chilli with a dressing made 38-year-old soy sauce! Topped with a raw scallop that’s lightly torched over fire and caviar – A truly fantastic dish that is beautifully presented and the sauce was just incredible, we couldn’t help but use our fingers to wipe up all the access sauce.
MACKEREL
This course was the only course I wasn’t crazy about like the others but that’s maybe because I am not a big fan of mackerel so this may be a bit unfair to review. The mackerel is served with fresh Japanese Wasabi and frozen apple.
BHAJI
Rice Bhaji served with coriander mayonnaise and mango jelly, one delightful bite and it was all gone. Love the little tangy kick from the mango jelly.
TURBOT
Another beautifully presented dish, the pan-fried turbot with a sauce made from all the shells and heads of the fish finished with white wine and burnet lemon then topped with caviar. What a sensational dish and I remember this was the dish where a lightbulb suddenly went off in my head…MICHELIN ALERT. The excitement flowed through out and we decided to order two glasses of the Domaine Drouhin morgan red wine blend that complimented our next dishes perfectly especially with the lamb!
LOBSTER
The next dish (in which many people messaged me about to look forward to) was delicious but I wouldn’t say it was the stand out dish of the night that many praised it to be. Not your typical loaf of bread, it’s a Langoustines bread that is cooked directly on the barbecue with a home-made cheese spread and spring onion oil. The cheese spread reminded me of Dairylea but of course, at a totally different and much higher standard. The bread was baked perfectly – again, another great dish.
SWEETHEART CABBAGE
This dish was a total surprise, a dark horse that completely opened my eyes to be more open with cabbage as well, come on…it’s pretty bland as fuck, but no, 670 Grams whipped up something incredible yet again and made cabbage…SEXY. Cooked in burnt butter with a mussel sauce with wild garlic oil and crispy seaweed – OOF! Gorgeous.
CELERIAC
The perfect consistency – confit celeriac roasted on a barbecue in beef fat with black truffle puree pickled red cabbage and fresh English truffle – I bloody love truffle and I bloody loved this dish. We let Zac decide our next drink in which he said he was going to give us a glass of his favourite drink which was the Mullineux old vines white blend 2020 – An unusual dessert wine that I really enjoyed, it was like liquid gold!
NEW YORK DELI
I don’t think I have ever called a dish “A Sneaky little fucker” but hey, there is a first time for everything and this dish is exactly that. This dish doesn’t look much, it looks like a burnt truffle to be honest so when I threw it down my gob, I was incredibly surprised to all of a sudden I could taste a Big Mac in my mouth. Zac said it’s a New York Deli sarnie or a Big Mac, you choose. How? What? Why? Oh bugger it, I had too many questions to ask but I knew Kray is on some next level culinary-wizardry shit after that dish. Those are the kind of surprises I want to encounter and 670 is plenty of them.
LAMB
Now, this was just sensational – Neck of lamb braised in curry powder with a jerk chicken gravy, it was astounding, taste buds going into overload with incredible bangs of flavour and that lamb just crumbling away in my mouth was just sublime, stuff you could only imagine/feel in your dreams.
FOIE GRAS
This was one of James’s favourite courses – a dish dedicated to a great independent in Kings Heath: The Early Bird Bakery that made the perfect introduction to the desserts of the evening. White chocolate pepper ganache with blackberry and soy compote with grated foie gras.I am more of a savoury dessert kind of girl, I don’t like overly sweet puds or a pool of ice-cream on my plate, so this simple dish was just quintessential and exciting to eat especially for James, I have never seen a grown man get so excited over a little pastry…
POPPADOM
A bloody poppadum for pudding EH?! How’s that supposed to work I whinged but my god, it worked. Tomato masala chutney masala mango yoghurt ice cream cucumber and lime Espuma cucumber rice cracker. Reading this, I would just simply skim past soon as I got to the yoghurt part as I’m not a fan but to my surprise, this is one of my favourite dishes along with the lamb and New York deli. Like fireworks of Punchy and zesty flavours in your mouth, clever throughout and a real treat!
IT’S NOT TERRYS, IT’S OURS
It’s not Terry’s it’s ours, Terry fucking who? This dessert was just beautiful. Sweet, seductive and love the combination of sweet flavours and the crunchy texture from the pork scratchings…Pork scratchings and chocolate? Bloody genius trust me babs.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
Unfortunately, I am one of those basic bitches that loves a pumpkin spice latte from Autumn to Winter, it’s basic but I don’t care. So, when I heard this was on the menu I was very intrigued. It had quite a thick texture, it does stay on the back of your throat for a bit. Silky, salty, and sweet – Yet another winning dish.
To finish we ended on sweets and chatted to a lovely couple who sat next to us exchanging restaurant recommendations. After a two-hour tasting menu with fantastic beverages, I sat back in my chair and reflected. The experience was just impressive and imaginative throughout. 670 Grams felt like no other fine-dining experience I had encountered before, it was chilled throughout, none of this poshy-noshy bullshit or pretentious aesthetic, I could chill in there with my Nike trainers listen to a bit of Snoop Dog eat great food and not feel judged. That’s my vibe, I don’t want to go to these fine-dining restaurants and feel like I’m judged by the whole room. Kray and the staff were great, Kray introduced some of the meals and was up for a chat afterwards, nothing pretentious at all, he is very likeable.
670 Grams provide the best-valued tasting menu in Birmingham, it’s a fact – 15 courses, 15 incredible courses for £70 like wherein the actual fuck do you find a bargain like that?! it’s also a fact that it’s a complete steal and that Kray was robbed of a Michelin star which is mind-boggling to me as mostly every dish was of a Michelin star level. After the news of Tom Shepard’s restaurant receiving a Michelin star and booked up until June, I could consider it a godsend for 670 Grams, as I don’t want it to get too popular that I can’t book in every month as I believe this is just the start of beautiful dining friendship between us. I think where it’s a bit pricey is the drinks as they do bump up the price, I think we spent around £130 on cocktails and wine.
Look, its bold, daring, unique and unpretentious, and I am a complete tit for just finding that out. I’m fairly confident that it is one of the top dining experiences in Birmingham and 670 grams is definitely not one to ignore. Don’t a be a tit, book it.
If you haven’t heard of ‘that Peruvian restaurant in Moseley’, Chakana, then where have you been for the past two and a half years bab? Everybody’s talking about it.
Chakana made OpenTable’s list of the top 100 restaurants in the UK last year, the only Birmingham restaurant to be included. Critic Jay Rayner gave it rave reviews stating “it’s all kinds of fabulous”, and after my recent visit I threatened Twitter followers that if they didn’t book a table I would eat my beret. Thank you friends for saving me from dry mouth, indigestion and regret.
On a Friday evening in January, I booked their Peruvian 9-course tasting menu priced at £60 PP. Located in an old bank on the Alcester Road in Moseley and run by Michelin-starred chef Robert Ortiz, Chakana is stylish and underrated. Stark white walls dressed only with pops of vibrant artwork, Chakana is a sleek and modern salute to traditional Peruvian fare. As I take my seat, I feel comfortable right away thanks to the friendly welcome from our server. Within five minutes, our Peruvian experience began with a pre-dinner cocktail priced at £8.50. James had the Chakana Pisco Sour and I opted for the Melon Pisco Punch, the perfect little taster of what was to come. Our spirits were certainly lifted!
The first dish was the Peruvian quinoa corn bread with rocoto chilli tigers milk yoghurt which was a great introduction to Peruvian cuisine.Combined with the yoghurt it was light but tickled the taste buds perfectly. Now I want more.
Next up was the Tuna Quinoa Nigiri served on quinoa instead of rice, one mouthful and it was gone, just like that but was incredibly satisfying. The tuna was zesty fresh and the quinoa a perfect replacement for the traditional sticky rice.
The course that many people rave about is the Sea Bass Ceviche with tigers milk, sweet potato and canchita corn. I had a bit of a Ratatouille moment, one bite and the whole room fell silent, I zoned out, all that mattered was that dish. I don’t think I have ever had an experience like that, it was incredible and possibly the best fish dish I will ever have.
Service is sharp if perhaps a little speedy as they rarely give you a break in-between courses. I didn’t mind this, I don’t like waiting for food but a word of warning for those who get full up easily and like a break. After the Ceviche which is a tough dish to top, we were served the hand-dived orkeny scallop tiradito with Andean chillies and it was well up for the challenge set by the ceviche. It was sweet and punchy, a dish that doesn’t look like much but my god, it packs some phenomenal flavours. It’s just a shame there wasn’t more of it.
After the scallop dish, we noticed that the time between courses seemed to be getting longer as the room started to fill up. From a 5-minute wait between courses it became a 20-minute wait and a bit of a pain in the arse to try and grab someone for a drink. I could see there were only three staff members on that night with a full house of diners, so we understood and carried on with our night but made sure to two order two drinks instead of one!
Next course was the Asparagus Causa which was a nice refreshing dish with an organic egg, It was a bit of an unusual dish and not my favourite but was pleasant enough. The Pisco poached red mullet was packed full of flavour and I found myself constantly moaning “Mmm!” for the whole minute it took me to finish it. So far, the dishes were pretty quick to eat and with the waiting time getting longer I couldn’t help but feel very hungry in-between courses.
Up next, the 24 hour confit suckling pig (the only meat dish on the menu) was cooked to perfection. The meat fell apart easily and each mouthful was like a box of fireworks going off in my mouth. It was a definite second favourite and I was thankful they offered a bigger portion of this dish.
Now I am not a dessert person at all. Although I am partial to a pack of Lidl’s chocolate pretzels time to time. But Chakana reminds me to treat myself and explore variety. A chocolate bomb is not exactly adventurous as M&S seem to be flogging them every Christmas, but Chakana’s 75% Amazonian Domm with blue potato jam was a clever and dramatic way to end a tasting menu and the Petit Fours were the cherry on top of a delightful evening.
Service was great at the start, within 10 minutes we were served a cocktail and our first course however as the evening progressed the waiting times got longer but is understandable as the restaurant was packed and I could only see three staff members serving. Can dishes get Michelin stars? Because Chakana’s Ceviche should definitely have one. One thing that may not be everyone’s cup of tea was 80% of the dishes were swimming in sauce. Now for me, I didn’t mind it as long as it’s full of flavour I don’t really care, but some people may end up desperate for something crunchy and crispy.
Exciting, vibrant and plentiful, Chakana is compelling throughout and is worthy of all the praise it gets.
Many people (outside of Sutton) would scoff at this guide as many are under the influence that Sutton Coldfield has nothing to offer. I would agree there does seem to be more boarded-up businesses than open businesses in the Centre. We can all agree that the City centre is in desperate need to be restored, However, with revamp plans floating around, we may just be getting that. The foodie scene in Sutton Coldfield is a bit of a scavengers hunt, believe it or not, there are fantastic foodie gems scattered in and all-around Sutton Coldfield. For the past two years, we have seen some new and exciting businesses popping up and bringing a bit of excitement to Sutton Coldfield. So, I have put this foodie guide together to show off some of the great Independents we have in the North and trust me, over the next couple of months this guide will get even bigger! Watch this space.
BRUNCH, BAKERIES AND COFFEE SPOTS
Windowbox Cafe:Located on Birmingham road in Wylde Green, Windowbox is one of my favourite brunch spots in the North of Birmingham. Offering a variety of brunch options from American pancakes to breakfast flatbreads, this is one brunch hotspot that you must visit when you come to Sutton Coldfield.
Silver Tree Bakery: A little bit of Lapland in Sutton Coldfield because, why the hell not? Its a lovely little bakery in Water Orton that offers fantastic cakes and hot food such as toasties. The staff are fantastic and it’s a lovely little gem over in Sutton Coldfield.
Jubilee Garden: Located on Birmingham rd just before Sutton Town Centre you will find new Cafe/wine bar Jubilee Gardens that serves up a lovely brunch with a Hong Kong twist! They serve speciality coffee with a great offering of cakes and savoury delights! Did I also mention they do orange wine? Oh yes! They have a fab variety of wine that is specially picked for the cafe! Its a must-visit whenever you come to Sutton so make sure its on your list!
Bakehouse by Baked in Brick: A friendly neighbourhood Café serving up freshly baked bread, patisserie and Brunch daily on Holland rd. In the evenings (Thurs to Sat) they serve up some gorgeous street food plus they do a fabulous Espresso martini!
Deli Social: Located on Boldmere high street, The Deli Social offer a great selection of brunch dishes and hot drinks. The full english breakfast is a cracker and they also do street food Fridays and is open till 11pm on the weekend.
90 Boldmere: A new brunch/bar on Boldmere High Street serving up great brunch dishes such as french toast and American pancakes plus offer a great bar menu.
Blackroot Bistro: Set within the stunning Sutton Park, spanning 2,400 acresand attracting two million visitors a year, the family owned Blackroot Bistro is perched above Blackroot Pool on the edge of a natural meadow. They seek to provide an informal, relaxed and welcoming vibe, offering food and drink from local suppliers wherever possible.
Bean Green Kitchen: Boasting one of the best brunch menu in the north of Birmingham for a champion breakfast its got to be Bean Green Kitchen in Mere Green. They serve classic cafe faves with healthy twists and tasty alternatives.
Caffe Botanico: A lovely coffee shop inside House of Fraser in Sutton Coldfields Gracechurch Centre, its a popular lunchtime spot for many. I love the coffee here and they also do some fantastic salad dishes aswell as brunch options. The cakes are great too so make sure you dont miss out on them!
Onthebreadline: One of the most popular bakeries in Sutton Coldfield and one where you got to be quick as they sell out fast! The cakes are seriously delicious, people que for them from the morning till closing so you best be quick!
Under Pressure Espresso: Fantastic coffee shop in which you could say its the best coffee shop in Sutton Coldfield. Offer bench seating, cakes and coffee beans to buy
The Pear Tree Creperie: The Creperie, located just outside of Lichfield, has been the flagship restaurant of the Heart of the Country Village for over 30 years. They offer a wonderful brunch and specialise in savoury galettes, sweet crepes and delicious authentic French dishes.
Strawberry Fields Farm and Coffee: Families will adore this place, a Woodland paradise where you can enjoy delicious brunch and coffee.
AFTERNOON TEA
New Hall Hotel: New Hall Hotel is the perfect backdrop to experience a tradition made famous by the royal household at New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. Classic afternoon tea starts at £22.50 and includes a selection of finger sandwiches, chef’s daily selection of cakes and mixed scones served with jam and clotted cream. They also offer a savoury afternoon tea and cater for children too.
The Belfry: Enjoy a British Afternoon Tea with a range of finger sandwiches and home-made scones accompanied by tea breads, delicate pastries and a selection of herbal teas or coffee, all served in the finest Bone China. Available daily from 12pm-4pm.
The Fig & Olive: Served Monday – Saturday between 2pm and 4pm, their signature afternoon teas are baked fresh by our talented in house bakers and are simply perfect for any occasion. They also offer vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free afternoon tea. The Fig & Olive is a great spot for all day dining serving up a delicious lunch and dinner menu – its a must when you come to Sutton Coldfield.
PESTO: Enjoy an assortment of sandwiches, Italian desserts and fruit scones with jam & clotted cream for only £14.95 per person. Served daily from 2pm to 5pm. Great afternoon if you love a bit of Italian!
Strawberry Fields Farm and Coffee: Families will adore this place, a Woodland paradise where you can enjoy brunch and AFTERNOON TEA. They offer three afternoon teas (Standard, luxury and childrens) and they also offer GF afternoon tea. Prices are from £16.95. Strawberry Fields is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, please contact regarding afternoon teas via website
DINNER/PUBS/ROASTS
Pizza by Goli: My favourite restaurant in Sutton Coldfield serving up fantastic Italian cuisine and exceptional service HOWEVER be warned, this restaurant can get extremely busy so please book beforehand. Fantastic restaurant for date nights and group bookings, I have been going here for years and always have a great meal without fail. The Lamb cutlets in red wine sauce is one of my favourites and the garlic bread is always a winner.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Eleon: A great Greek restaurant and meze bar that is very popular in Sutton Coldfield and I can see why because the food is beautiful and service is exceptional. You are always guaranteed an exceptional dining experience here in Eleon. The Meze feast is must, experience the greek way of social dining by tucking into 21 dishes from Pork Souvlaki to Baklava all for just £27.50 pp.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
SUSHIDO: A true gem in Sutton Coldfield offering excellent Japanese food that is available for you to dine in or take out. Sushi lovers will adore it here offering a great variety of sushi dishes that caters for vegetarians and vegans, they also offer hot mains such a as red thai curry and bao buns.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
The Bracebridge: A charming restaurant that can be found within Sutton Park that offers a fantastic dining experience with a pretty impressive view of the lakes in Sutton Park. This is a great option for that special occassion, a little bit on the pricey side however they do offer a fixed menu of two courses for £19.95 or three courses for £25.95 on Wednesday and Thursdays.Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Giggling Squid: Giggling Squid is one of the latest additions to the area, a restaurant that specialises in Thai Cuisine with restaurants in Harborne, Leamington Spa and so on. This restaurant has quickly become one of my favourites in the North of Birmingham. The lamb shank dish is a must, and the cocktails are pretty fab here too! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Veerus: Veerus serve up delicious authenthic Indian Cuisine with a great atmosphere. Prices are very reasonable here for the quality of food you get, and its a great place to chill out with a beer and tuck into some quality food. If you go to Veerus you must order the large mix grill, its pretty incredible! Vegetarian, options available
Cock N Bull: Juicy monster Buns and Camden Hells on draught, thats what I am talking about! Really chilled out place and is perfect for catching up with friends, pre drinks or date night. If you love filthy burgers and kick ass fried chicke, you’ll like this place. Vegetarian and vegan options available
Romantica: A great Italian restaurant located in Mere Green, The food is pure quality using the freshiest ingredients and the service is second to none. A great choice for date night or to celebrate a special occasion. The Antipasto sharing board is a must and pair that up with Romanticas Carre di Agnello (rack of lamb) you got yourself a pretty fine meal. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Panache: One of my favourite Indian restaurants in Sutton Coldfied, Panache is top quality serving up amazing authentic indian cuisine that is full of flavour and will leave you wanting more! I always have a great experience here and thats why its one of my favourites, the staff are professional, the food is fantastic and overall its a great dining experience. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
Chelo Persian Kitchen and bar: Persian food at its best, I had a few takeaways from here in lockdown and was pleased with everyone of them, next up I wil be dining in the restaurant very soon! The food is gorgeous, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. Vegetarian options available
The Butlers Arms: Lovely pub in Mere Green that provides a great atmosphere, from lunchtime to Dinnertime they have you covered with some great dishes on offer from the Indian Spiced Chicken to Belly Pork that will surely satisfy those pesky taste buds. They have some cracking ales on offer here and its a nice place to sit outside with friends with a pint and enjoy the weather. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten options available
The Four Oaks: Recently refubished The Four Oaks is a beautiful pub just on Belwell Lane where they offer brunch, dinner, small plates, Sunday roasts and a beer garden that is perfect for the Summer!. Beautifully decorated without with plenty of seating, many will enjoy it here and I especially love going here for wine with friends!
Your Flamingo: New Pizzeria on the Boldmere Rd serve up traditional stone baked Neapolitan pizzas that are delcious! Plus they offer a great cocktail menu where you can grab 2 cocktails for £14. Open Tuesday – Friday 3pm-10pm and Saturday 11.30am-10pm (kitchen closes at 9pm)
Tikka Nation: On the Birmingham rd going into Sutton Coldfield you will find Tikka Nation, specialising in Indian “Street food” serving up gorgeous curries, wraps and tasty sides.
The Farmhouse Bistro: A lovely Bistro just on Weeford Road serves up a fantastic all-day menu full of traditional favourites to contemporary classics. The Roast dinner is a must here and they also serve afternoon tea.
Narmaste : Serving up traditional Indian and Ghurka cuisine in Wylde Green. Located just above The Lane’s shopping centre, Namaste offers the very best in Indian cuisine with high reviews, its one to book
BARS/BREWERIES AND STREET FOOD
XO LOUNGE: XO Lounge is the place to be where you can sample a variety of fine wines by the glass any time of day (18 to be exact), a unique location with a high quality and extensive spirit and cocktail selection. XO also offers high quality independent coffee, good quality beer with some food and nibbles to match. They also host monthly street food pop ups.
Simpsons gin bar: Located in the heart of The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, Simpsons Bar looks to provide you with an extensive menu of high quality spirits, beers and cocktails. Big fan of the gin here and they also serve hot drinks, you can have your drinks outside on the new lovely outdoor terrace area.
Quinto Lounge: I do like the food from Quinto (especially the brunch) but I feel that the cocktails are on another level. Quinto provide variety, and a great spot for pre-drinks or a night out with your mates. Prices are very reasonable and if you get peckish you can always order a couple of tapas dishes with your cocktails! Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available
BAR 28: On the Birmingham rd as you come into Sutton, you will find new bar “Bar 27” taking over the old Mutiny Loft venue. Here you can enjoy a great range of cocktails, food, live sports and a game of darts.
The Townhouse: Sleek and stylish through out, The Townhouse is a lovely boutique bar/hotel serving up good homemade food, fabulous cocktails, live music and more. A Hotspot in Sutton, weekends at The Townhouse are pretty lit!
The Station pub: Iconic pub in Sutton Coldfield, I have been going here for years! It seems to be everyones favourite pub in Sutton Coldfield with a great variety of booze on offer, live music and DJ Sets. Its one to visit!
Leviathan Brewing: A hidden gem in Sutton Coldfield located on Reddicap Trading Estate offering a great variety of beer (and plenty of alcoholic options) and host monthly foodie pop ups which have seen What the Cluck, Patty Dabblers and more popping up at the brewery. A fantastic taproom offering a great atmosphere here, it’s absolutely worth the visit.
Cask and Craft: An Independent craft beer bar & bottleshop. Focusing on small independent brewers, small batch Gins/Rums and Ciders and hosting street food pop ups every month. A great place to chill with friends with a pint and tuck into some fantastic street food such as Cleopatra Kitchen, Sticky Beaks and more.
Pitalicious: Mid East Lebanese street food here in Sutton Coldfield, Pitalicious is definetly worth checking out. The lamb shawarma pitta is incredible and I am pretty sure the chips from Pitalicious are the best chips I have ever tasted. Great for quick bite or you can dine within the restaurant. Vegetarian and vegan options available.
The Ale Hub: Located in Mere Green, this is a great micro pub that specialises in cask ales, craft beers and a variety of gins. Lovely little spot, they usually put on themed nights and host quiz/bino events.
Burger Boi: Located in Wylde Green on the Birmingham rd, You will find Burger Boi who serve up smashed patties and tasty buttermilk fried chicken.
As a resident of Sutton Coldfield, I am often frustrated with the lack of Independent’s and exciting restaurant chains – no, I am not talking about Nandos and please don’t ever mention Nandos to me because I will most likely roll my eyes and scream. Recently there has been a flutter of new openings in the Sutton area in which I am delighted about, but I am greedy – I want more. Giggling Squid is one of the latest additions to the area, a restaurant that specialises in Thai Cuisine with restaurants in Harborne, Leamington Spa and so on. As soon as the announcement was made and bookings were opened, most of Sutton flooded to try it out and I am one of many, that is delighted about this opening.
Please note that this experience was gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
I was invited to experience Giggling Squid and decided I needed a second opinion so I brought my lovely friend (and fellow blogger) Small House Big Trips. As we walked in together for our booking at 6.30 pm, we could see that it was very busy. The restaurant is decorated beautifully, very floral, bright and just generally very appealing to the eye. I had seen some bizarre comments about uneven photos on the walls ruining peoples experiences at Giggling Squid this didn’t bother me at all and quite frankly I’m not here to review the decor or give you a course in how to straighten a photo correctly.
We sat down for our meal under a beautifully decorated arch covered in flora. We noticed that it was very echoey and it was quite loud, but what did we expect? The whole of Sutton Coldfield was dining here tonight. We browsed through the drinks menu and I opted for the Silky Pink Cocktail which is a Lychee Martini with a mouth-watering mix of Fair Quinoa Vodka, Kwai Feh lychee Liqueur, Peach and Jasmine Green Tea. Very refreshing, and something different to the usual Strawberry Daiquiri that I have murdered to death in many restaurants. Kelly went for the Lychee Angel cocktail in which she really liked and found it very refreshing.
We both found the service quick. Our Waitress “Anjali” who is also a fellow food blogger (Anjeatsss) was full of knowledge and very helpful when it came down to ordering. She was able to explain each dish and pick dishes that best suited our taste buds! So to start, we ordered the Sharing Platter which came with hand-cut pork grilled skewers, salt and pepper squid, Thai chicken wings, vegetable spring rolls. A very generous portion for £16.50 offering a great variety of flavours and was a great introduction to Giggling Squid.
For mains we went a little crazy, we ordered; Giant Butterfly King Prawn Pad Thai, Lamb Shank Massamann, Sticky Chicken, Morning Glory greens, Roti, Sticky rice, and coconut rice. One mouthful after the other was a constant punch of flavour that was just irresistible. The lamb shank was my favourite, the meat was cooked perfectly, falling off the bone and into the rich base of coconut milk, cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise. The sticky chicken was sticky, moist and sweet, exactly what it says on the tin with an almighty crunch of crisp, just the way I like it. Sticky and coconut rice both blending beautifully with the lamb shank, scooped up with the roti flatbread helping both to blend perfectly. I grabbed a bite of Kellys Pad Thai that was also perfectly cooked and full of flavour.
To finish we ordered Black Sesame ice cream, however as I am not a big fan of ice cream, it just wasn’t for me. I felt the flavour was very peculiar and unfortunately I am a basic bitch in the ice cream department that opts for just vanilla, so it’s a no from me.
I read some iffy reviews of Giggling Squid (mostly all of them coming from Harborne) which left me feeling a little confused. My experience of Giggling Squid was exceptional, the food was fantastic and so was the service. We loved it so much it has quickly become one of our favourite restaurants in Sutton Coldfield. Is it the best Thai restaurant I have been to? No, but the team have surely put a lot of work into this restaurant for it to work, and it does. I enjoyed it so much that I visited again 3 weeks later (Non-gifted) Yes that’s right ladies and gentlemen, I DO PAY. I had the exact same experience again but service was a little bit slower but it’s early days, new restaurants need time to find their feet and find a structure that works. The food was exactly the same, fresh and full of flavour – no complaints.
A great addition to Sutton Coldfield/Mere Green, one that you will most definitely need to book before as it’s super busy. As a new opening, I was expecting a few hiccups here and there but I didn’t experience any of this. Kelly and I couldn’t stop praising our experience at Giggling Squid. I feel Giggling Squid is a wonderful addition to our town, which I hope now will give the Sutton area a bit of a boost and attract more appealing chains and most importantly Independents.
UPDATE: Sadly, we have to give an update or more so, replace this “positive” review with a negative review as my last two trips to Giggling Squid in Mere Green have been not so good. I hate it when this happens, but my last two visits have not matched the above review. I dont know what’s happened, where its all gone wrong from dirty tables to uncooked food, surely this is not the same restarant? Sadly, I can no longer recommend this restaurant as it seems to have slipped and gone downhill since opening. Its a real shame.
The 12th of April is coming, and The UK will slowly start to emerge from Lockdown following the UK governments Roadmap to recovery. Restaurant’s and other hospitality venue’s will open however only providing Al fresco dining but many will be cheering about the news of the curfew and the substantial meal rule being scrapped. I have put together a list of restaurants that are now taking bookings and planning to open from the 12th of April 2021 in the North of Birmingham. Many are booked up already so be quick if you want to get out of the house and dine outside huddling together under a heated outdoor lamp.
I will be updating this list every week, so please check back!
It’s that time again Babs, V-DAY is coming. Many businesses have already been promoting their Valentines day meals, gifts and hampers, and I thought it would be a great idea to feature some amazing independents and their Valentines day offers. As we cant celebrate outside our homes, don’t just give up on celebrating! This guide is full of some lovely ideas to spend with your loved ones or have a night in with yourself! From afternoon teas to five-course fine dining meals, this guide will surely get you in the mood for some Ol’ loving, HIT IT BARRY!
DINING IN SET MENU’S
Here is a list of restaurants and foodie small businesses who have put together awesome Valentines day meals for you and your loved one to enjoy in your own homes this V-Day. Simple and stress-free cooking, leaving you with plenty of time to snuggle on the sofa or strangle each other after a heated discussion about who used the last loo roll…
Birmingham-Pre-order by midday on Tuesday 9th Feb for Nationwide delivery on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th February 2021
From £60 for Vegetarian-From £90 for non-vegetarian-Five Course meal for two-Order via their website here
COPPICE/THE FIG & OLIVE
Sutton Goldfield-Collection only
£50-£70 V-Day Steak boxes for two-One Course Steak and wine-Please contact via telephone 0121 308 7197 and head to their website for more information here
THE CORNERSTONE KITCHEN
Sutton Coldfield-Birmingham
£45 pp non-Vegetarian five course and £35 pp for vegetarian five course– Email James@thecornerstonekitche.com to order and head to their website here to check out menu options
BAKED IN BRICK
Home Delivery-15 miles from B23 Birmingham
£30 per person-Vegan options are available-Three course menu-Please download the app to order, you can check out the menu here
LIBERTINE BURGER
Leamington Spa/Rugeley-Nationwide delivery on 12th February 2021
Teaming up with Urban Cheesecake and NICE wines for their Valentines kits for £49.95-2 burgers + sides + cheese cake + wine- order your kit via their website here
OPUS
Home Delivery from Birmingham up to 10 miles radius on 13th February 2021-Collection also available on 13th February-please check times on website.
Five course menu with complimentary half bottle of Champagne per person-£75 per person-Vegetarian options available-Order via their website here
DUBBERLEY DELICIOUS
Staffordshire-Free delivery within 10 miles radius/Collection options available
Dine at home packages-Five course set menu for £45 PP–Vegetarian options available-Order via their website here
MAKE IT REALLY SPECIAL: SET MENUS OVER £100
CANARY & KITCHEN
Birmingham/Solihull area (Please check the website to see if they cover your area)
Love in Lockdown set menu for £42.50 pp-delivery on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th-Please order via their website here
BARE BONES PIZZA
Nationwide Delivery
Valentines Day DIY Pizza kits for two with a bottle of wine from Wine Freedom in Digbeth and two milk chocolate hearts from Bloom for £34.99-Pepperoni or Vegetarian option available-Order by 7th February for delivery on 12th or 13th- Order here
LAND
Birmingham-Local delivery within 8 miles radius on 14th February and nationwide delivery available on 13th February 2021
Three/Five course vegan set menus for one or two people from £27 to £70-Wine can be paired up with meals-Order via their website here
PULPERIA/AKTAR AT HOME
Nationwide delivery-order by the end of Wednesday 10th Feb and will be shipped on 12th February 2021. Collection available from Opheem in Birmingham
£150 for five course menu with wine-South American inspired menu-Nationwide Delivery- Order via their website here
670 GRAMS
Birmingham-Collection only from 670 Grams in Digbeth
£195 set menu for two-A special V-day menu like no other-Modern fine-dining at its best including champagne/gin cocktails-Email reservations to reservations@670grams.com and you check out the menu here
THE PLOUGH HARBORNE
Collection only
Valentines Three-Course meal for £125 with wine, cheese, and ice-cream-Collection on 13th February 2021-Order via their website here
AFTERNOON TEAS
THE EARLY BIRD BAKERY
Kings Heath-Birmingham-Collection options are available too!
£45 for vegetarian afternoon tea and £50 for non-vegetarian there is also an option to have mixed for £47.50– From Savoury to Sweet options-Please order via their website here
ROCHERS PATISSERIE
Sutton Coldfield to Lichfield delivery only
£25 per person–Vegetarian afternoon tea is also available for £25-Sweet & Savoury-Add ons are available such as Spa gifts from Heaven Sent in Boldmere/Lichfield-Please email your orders to info@rochers.co.uk and you can head to their instagram here to check the menu.
VALENTINES HAMPERS
GRACE + JAMES
Kings Heath-Birmingham-Check postcodes on G+J Website
G+J popular hamper with a Valentines twist for £50-Wine/Cheese/Meats/Chutney/Crackers-Order via their website here
MISS MACAROON
Nationwide Deliveries or click and collect option available
Chocolate Lovers hamper with sparkling wine for £60-Macaroons/Chocolate/Sparkling Wine-Miss Macaroon also provide vegan hampers-order via their website here
TASTY VALENTINES DAY GIFTS
BETHEL BAKERY
Delivery to Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield, Walmley, Walsall, Wednesbury and Tamworth. Collection is also available.
Various V-Day treat boxes from £18 to £30-Biscuits/Cakepops/Cupcakes-order via their website here
BEKI’S BROWNIES
Nationwide Delivery-Boxes delivered on 11th February 2021
Going live today at 6pm Beki’s Brownies Valentines treat boxes for £20-Order via their website here
COOKIE MUMSTER
Nationwide Delivery
Don’t mind if I FONDUE BOX for £20-28 pieces of cookies and brownies with sauces to dip-Special message option-order via their website here
BROWNIES BY US
Coventry-Delivery to Birmingham/Solihull/Sutton Coldfield
The His & Hers Valentines box for £25-Gooey Brownies/2 bottles of Prosecco/A Box of Lindt/and a Rose-Order via their Instagram here
BOSTIN BAKERY
Free UK Delivery
Box of seven Valentines cookies for your loved ones for £16.50-Variety of flavours available-Suitable for Vegetarians-Order via their website here
Veganism is growing bigger every year especially at the start of the year where Carnivores are stuffed full of turkey, buffet leftovers and so much booze they end up turning into a blooming brewery. Many like to start the new year detoxing and taking part in Veganuary. Many stick with the vegan diet, or limit down their meat content as they find their health has improved, they have done their research and don’t agree with the exploitation of animals, or maybe because January is a bleak month with nothing going on, so what else is there to do?! I have so many people asking me about vegan restaurants in Birmingham, vegan brands in Brum and independent shops with a great variety of vegan products, It’s all about VEGAN BABY and, I’m all for it. This will also be my very first year of doing Veganuary and so I thought it would be very handy and helpful to put a little guide together featuring some great businesses that sell/serve fantastic vegan products, food, and more in Birmingham and Beyond.
VEGAN BRUNCH
Although some of these may not be entirely all vegan they do supply a variety of good vegan options for Breakfast/Brunch!
CHERRY REDS-Birmingham-Cherry Reds is one of the best places maybe even the best for Vegan breakfast and brunches, They have a fantastic variety from Pancakes to Vegan fry ups at great prices – Instagram
MEDICINE BAKERY-Birmingham-Although Medicine Bakery is not a vegan bakery it still has some great vegan and vegetarian options as well as delicious vegan bakes to take out! Visit their Instagram here
MORRIDGE-Birmingham-For a nice hearty breakfast/brunch I would 100% recommend Morridge, although not entirely vegan they can cater for vegans with some fantastic dishes and let’s not forget about their coffee, that is just amazing! Visit their Instagram here
JU JU’S CAFE-Birmingham-Another great place with fantastic vegan options from Breakfast to Dinner, Ju Ju’s is a cracking vegan winner, The veggie hash dish is a much-loved favourite of mine! Keep up to date with the latest here
WAYLANDS YARD-Birmingham Bull Street-Another favourite of mine is, of course, Waylands Yard with some great vegan dishes such as the vegan brunch, one thing I love about Waylands is that they know how to feed you! Great flavours and very generous portions! Keep up to date with the latest here
DISHOOM – Birmingham – One of my favourites and a great place for vegans from breakfast to dinner – They have great VG available here and yes, you can get your vegan naan roll! – Website
THE HIVE CAFE & BAKERY – Jewellery Quarter – A great Vegan/Vegetarian restaurant offering one of the best Vegan brunches in the City – Instagram
LAND-Great Western Arcade-Vegan/Vegetarian based restaurant where all dishes are plant-focused and based on ingredients that are best at the time, the menu is changed seasonally and LAND would be the perfect choice if you’re looking for something a little bit special. Head on over to their Instagram to find more.
BA-HA-The Rainbow pub in Digbeth-Award Winning, and well deserved, BA-HA create humane, plant-based food that changes with the season. They do coffee, bakes and sensational brunches and dinners. Find them at The Rainbow in Digbeth venue and check outtheir Instagram
PHO – Grand Central Station – Vietnamese Street food restaurant have some great vegan dishes and is a lunchtime favourite of many in Birmingham!
RUDYS – Bennets Hill – Rudy’s have a great vegan pizza range for Veganuary! Check them out here
TAMATANGA – Birmingham – Tamatanga has a great vegan menu from curry bowls to vegan naan and puddings – Instagram
THE COVERED WAGON – Moseley – specialising in traditional authentic Punjabi food and they offer a great vegan menu – Instagram
THE IVY – Birmingham – Feeling fancy? You can dine in The Ivy and try out their vegan menu offering a great variety of dishes from starters to puddings – Instagram
HOTEL DU VIN-Birmingham-Last year I tried one of my first vegan afternoon teas and, it was quite spectacular! Hotel Du Vin does a pretty grand Vegan afternoon tea priced at £22.50 with an impressive selection of vegan savoury bites and mouth-watering bakes – Instagram
MALMAISON– The Mailbox Birmingham-at £19.95 its a fantastic vegan afternoon tea that must be tried by all, even non-vegans! Great variety of vegan options, plenty of savoury and sweet to satisfy those pesky tums of ours! – Instagram
HARVEY NICHOLS-The Mailbox Birmingham-Just announced for 2021 Harvey Nichols are celebrating vegan dining and have introduced their brand new afternoon tea from £22 which looks pretty tasty! You can book online on their website.
KILO ZIRO BAR – Digbeth – The UK’s First Zero Waste Cafe Bar & Refill Taproom serves up possibly the best afternoon tea in Birmingham – Their Afternoon Tea’s are a mix of vegetarian and vegan pieces – if you would like just the vegan only option this can be requested from £26 – Website
THE OLD CROWN-Digbeth-Because no one should go without a roast dinner, right? The Old Crown offer a delicious sweet potato wellington for just £11.
BA-HA – The Rainbow pub in Digbeth – Let’s start 2022 with a BANG with a bangin’ roast, BA-HA offer a fantastic variety from Jack Mc Guinness to King of roasts to Lentil loaf all priced at £13 and available from 12 to 8pm on Sundays
1000 TRADES-Jewellery Quarter-Anyone for a cracking vegetable Wellington?! 1000 Trades have created a Vegan option for they’re Welly stuffed with mushroom and smoked tofu with all the glorious veg and carbs, that sounds pretty amazing for £15.
THE RED LION-Jewellery Quarter-The Red Lion is another pub that provides great vegan meal options as well as a vegan roast too!
THE HIGH FIELD-Edgbaston-Going for something a little bit different how about a VE pie roast instead?! Sounds like a new trend, The High field have a great spiced sweet potato and kale pie dish for vegans to enjoy on their Sundays!
THE WOLF-Birmingham- The Wolf have a set Sunday menu where vegans can choose a two/three course meal. The main is a Mushroom and Spinach Wellington with butternut squash mash and season roast veg for £13
LA POP!-Edgbaston-I was quite surprised to find out that LA POP actually have vegan options! They have dairy-free gelato and sorbets available for you to takeaway HOORAH!
MISS MACAROON-The Great Western Arcade/Birmingham-Offering a great selection of vegan macaroons/hampers to gift yourself or your loved ones this January and you can order online!
FACULTY COFFEE-Piccadilly Arcade/Birmingham-Speciality Coffee and tea shop that have a great selection of vegan bakes and cakes for your to choose from, and they taste pretty darn great!
Birmingham Brewing Company-Stirchley-Multi award-winning Brewery serving high quality and VEGAN beer, they are also all gluten-free and taste amazing Bab – Instagram
Attic Brew Co-Stirchley-New world beers that embody old school pub culture and taste pretty god-damn good Bab! Great Tap-room and meeting place for pals to come and relax with a good strong pint of Attic in hand – Instagram
DIGBREW CO-Birmingham-The vast majority of Digbrews beer is vegan, there is the odd occasion where they have used lactose however they are very clear when they do this! The beer is awesome and its a personal favourite of mine so SHOP BABS – Instagram
ROCK AND ROLL BREWHOUSE BAR-Jewellery Quarter-A much loved Brewery by all vegans and non-vegans, The Rock and Roll Brewhouse sell awesome hand crafted vegan beer that is brewed on the premises and its blooming lovely Bab!
THE INDIAN BREWERY CO.-Birmingham-Not strictly Vegan but The Indian Brewery do have an amazing lager on tap and in can called Birmingham Lager, and it’s a banger Bab – Instagram
ZUMHOF BIERGARTEN – Digbeth – Offering a variety of German beer and cocktails with a few vegan options – Instagram
NORTH TAPROOM – Snowhill – New Taproom have a good variety of Vegan beers available aswell as good vegan food options – Instagram
VEGAN SHOP/TREATS/ESSENTIALS
THE CLEAN KILO-Digbeth-Zero waste supermarket is a great place for vegans to pick up some great vegan essentials, also if you care about the environment The Clean Kilo are plastic-free so its great way to shop well and protect the environment!
INDIGO WHOLEFOODS-Moseley-Another great store is Indigo Wholefoods which stock a range of fantastic vegan food and household products. They recently launched an online store and currently have Veganuary offers on!
XOVER NUTRITION-Kings Heath-Xover Nutrition is a natural health food and organic beauty store that sell a wide variety of vegan-friendly products to fill up your kitchen and bathroom cupboards! They also have a great Zero waste refill weigh and pay station!
PIPS HOT SAUCE – Birmingham – Pip offers a great variety of hot sauces from mild to EXTRA SPICY! Seriously need one of these sauces in your food cupboard!
Introducing a vibrant new independent to Birmingham located in the Great Western Arcade you’ll find The Pineapple Club, A new bar that is currently slaying the Birmingham bar scene. Neon lights, pink interior, art deco furniture and the Basic Bitch photo opportunities to be had here, The Pineapple Club is bringing the EXTRA that Birmingham so badly needs!
Opened in September, bookings are filling up quite fast so I managed to book in for early October on a Friday from 5.30 pm to 7 pm for drinks and food. Arriving at The Pineapple Club you enter into the shop where they sell a variety of wines and cheeky alcohol beverages, looking a little bare yes, but its quality over quantity here Bab and there is quite the impressive selection of booze on offer. Walking up the stairs you are hit with botanical and pink neon scenes that is sure to make you eye lit up!
Straight away, this place oozes sexiness and style, So stylish with the 1920s interior with art deco styled furniture throwing in a bit of futuristic neon creating those Instagram photo shoots opportunities. We all are a sucker for a little of neon and pink so straight away my eyes lit up to this and got me quite excited!
Sitting down at our table we took a look at the drinks menu which is very impressive, you got your basic bitch cocktails like Pornstar Martini but then you got your fancy and creative cocktails such as candy club punch and Kawaii Milk. If you don’t fancy a cocktail you can always opt for Wine and beer. They also provide non-alcohol cocktails and soft drinks for those who fancy a quiet one or don’t drink alcohol. In regards to the food menu, they do a good selection of Spanish tapas inspired small plates from meat dishes such as chorizo to vegetarian dishes such as Colombian Arepas with guacamole. We did worry a bit with the amount of food we were going to order as the table was quite small so we did ask if we could change tables however this was not allowed as all tables were booked up.
For the drinks, I ordered a Candy club Punch, Beefeater pink gin, fruit wine, cranberry and vintage candy cordial, so fruity, so sweet and so satisfying. Very easy to drink too however could be going down the dangerous route as I was drinking it like fruit juice! For food, we ordered Gambas al Ajillo (prawns), chorizo, chicken skewers, Colombian Arepas with guacamole and the cheese board for two. The lady who served us was very informative, one of my friends only eats Halal meat so she was very helpful in advising which dishes would be best to eat such as vegetarian dishes.
The food came within 15 minutes, and it was quite the squeeze fitting it on the table however we managed it. The chorizo dish was beautiful but it never came with sliced bread in what the menu said (however we did ask for this and it came straight away, no problem)The prawns were cooked to perfection, couldn’t fault them and full of flavor. Colombian Arepas was surprisingly delicious (it was the least dish I was looking forward to) and the portion was pretty generous!
Unfortunately, the cheeseboard was a little bit disappointing in regards to size and variety, I expected more cheese’s and more meats HOWEVER what was there was delicious, just could do with a bit more variety. The cheeseboard also came with pickles and breadsticks, there was nothing to dip the breadsticks in so to me, it was quite random, it would have been better to have a dip (aioli) or freshly baked bread to put the cheese and meats on top. Early days of course for Pineapple Club but maybe these things can be considered.
The meal came to £60 between three £20 each, which I was very happy to pay and really enjoyed the meal. If you’re looking to improve your Instagram game and chill out with a couple of cocktails and eat some good food hit this place up! It is really thriving and quite busy in there, but no wonder, they got it right, Brum needed something like this. We need more neon, botanical, fancy pink interior and basic bitch vibes because let’s face it, we all have a basic bitch in us and we bloody love it!
There is no doubt in my mind that The Pineapple Club will continue to succeed and become a much loved independent in Birmingham by Brummies and travellers to our City. Thank you to The Pineapple Club for having us and Welcome to Brum Babs!
Disgustingly satisfying burgers, over the top fancy cocktails, and a bathtub full of balls? Welcome to the NO BASIC BITCHES ALLOWED Club. You can’t miss the neon signs, the pinkness, and the jaw-dropping cocktails, this isn’t no basic bitch restaurant Bab! Located in Leamington Spa and tucked away on Augusta Pl (just look for a pink sign) step on through to the world of FEMME celebrating the power of FEMALE! This restaurant just screams girl power and is a must-visit for us girls to meet up, have a bitch, with a couple of prosecco’s in hand or by the end of it…all down us!
From mountain high Mummy Harts roasts to colourful brunches where you can pimp your burger or eat a stack of rainbow pancakes, Hart + Co means business when it comes to having fun and eating good food. On Saturday, my Cousin and I decided to try out the bottomless brunch for £30-£35. We were running a little bit late due to the changes of train timetables, when we informed Hart that we were going to be late they were very accommodating and told us not to worry, our table will still be there waiting for us.
Arriving at Hart & Co, they took our names and walked us over to our table which was under a beautiful pastel display of balloons. The tables were spaced out and social distancing was taking place so straight away I felt very safe in there. We were then approached by our server who asked us what drinks we would be going for, we opted for the beer bottomless brunch as the last time I had prosecco it was a complete and utter disaster…I lost my trousers…like seriously.
Our server then went through the house rules “Don’t fall asleep” “Keep your glasses topped up” very tongue and cheek, and straight away creating that fun experience! We were advised it was table service only, ordering food is done via Instagram. The brunch menu was to be found on Hart & Co’s Instagram story displaying the options for brunch where you could choose from waffles, pancakes, burgers, etc. Ordering your food, you would need to confirm the table number and your order via Instagram message to Hart & Co, very different but also something that maybe the older generation may not like due to not having social media however I am sure Hart & Co would take the order there and then.
The beer was served straight away after house rules were explained and they were HEAVY! I do love a good pint of beer, but this was like two pints in one! Very generous and very satisfying, ice-cold just the way I like it!
Looking around, every table was full of girls, it made me realize how bloody loud us girls are! Sometimes It was hard to hear but when you are in a room with girls and unlimited prosecco, what do you expect?! The layout of the restaurant is very FEMME, Walls covered in Pink, some feminism artwork scattered around that tied in really well with the restaurant, and fun props such as a bathtub full of balls which is set up at the front of the restaurant where groups are invited to take photos accompanied with a selfie light however Due to CO-VID this was sectioned off but still plenty of photo opportunities to have here!
When it came to ordering, I went for the cheeky Hog burger, a beef patty with lots of cheese, chorizo, bacon, crispy onions and topped with brioche. My cousin went for the Cheesy chap which is a beefy patty smothered in all kinds of cheese! Within 20 minutes of ordering the food arrived and…Dayum.
I swear to you, this is a burger alright! It was monstrous! Swamped in chorizo, cheese, onions, and just pure delicious FILTH! Of course, I could not finish it with a side of “basic bitch” fries but it was pretty fun to tuck into especially been given some gloves to try and hack the mess of eating it. The beef was cooked perfectly and what an experience to trying stuff all that in my gob!
Soon as the food arrived, we were asked if we wanted another beer, so they do keep you topped up quite well here and the staff are bloody lovely.! Filling up quite quickly with the massive portions and unlimited beer, this is one brunch where you won’t be leave starving and running to McDonald’s.
I will say it was very HEAVY, very heavy, an overload of carbs and meat and within five minutes I was stuffed. Dining at Hart & Co was so much fun, the brunch is pretty impressive, fun, creative, and massive portions with a quirky twist, I will be honest it’s not my favourite brunch I have ever had but it was definitely an experience and it tasted delicious! We had a lot of fun here and that’s what Hart & Co is about, having fun and eating good HEARTY food.
The cocktails are next level, cocktail in a chinse takeaway box? out of a Russian doll? They certainly do pull the phones out of your pockets!
Many may look at Hart & Co as just another Instagram restaurant to lure these IG kids in to take photos all day, yes everywhere you look is an Instagram worthy post but What I love about Hart + Co is that they are creative and fun with food, they dare to be different, I mean, Who thinks of a spaghetti Bolognese burger?! Only Hart & Co…
They care about their guests, and they want us to have fun whilst tucking into some seriously amazing food and sassy cocktais! An experience that all must experience visiting Leamington Spa, and an independent that is bound to be loved by all for being so EXTRA and fabulous!
Hart and Co are offering their bottomless brunches every weekend, please head on over to their social media page here to book. If you fancy a fun afternoon out with the girls with lots of bubbles, sterling food, and smiles for hours, then make sure you book in with Hart + Co, you won’t be disappointed…Okurrr!
Secret Garden meets Narnia without the snow in Westminster tube station…Intrigued? confused? of course you bloody are. I just involved Narnia and a tube station in a review of a restaurant in Birmingham! Craft Dining Rooms is not the typical dining experience that you will find on every street in Birmingham or any City! Bringing artistry, coolness, and a very British feel giving diners a unique dining experience that they would want to experience all over again.
The last time I went to Craft was for the launch of Crafts Secret Garden back in January/February time, it’s been on the list for ages to try out and finally, on a chilly Friday afternoon, my cousin and I got to try out Craft, finally! Located just outside the ICC opposite the bridge to Brindley Place (you can’t miss it) full of blooms, sleek design, and awesome futuristic dining pods outside. Upon entering Craft, you walk through a tunnel of flowers which is an impressive touch, and I can also hear the squeal of those Instagram Girls eyeing it up for their next post, An blooming lovely great impression.Inside the venue, you are greeted by the receptionist on the front desk, and on your right is a pretty cool cocktail bar that is oh so chic! We first had our temperatures checked which was a pretty odd experience as we just stood in front of a device on the wall which looked like a camera, and then the receptionist confirmed all was well and showed us to our table, technology these days hey?!
The dining room is just stunning, it’s so sleek, so fancy and so clean! Covered with blossoms and a pop of yellow here and there making it already quite the classy dining experience my cousin and I were looking for.
A set menu is displayed on your table: starter and main for £33 or starter, main and pudding for £39, and there is also a four-course set menu for £45. We decided to go for the two-course menu, starter, and main as I am not really a pudding person! A staff member came over and collected our orders. I ordered a raspberry gin with lemonade, for my starter the salted beef, pickles and mustard, then for my main I ordered the lamb, garlic and aubergine.
The cocktails came out first, refreshing, and delicious, and plenty to get through! Within ten minutes the salted beef starter came out, I loved how quirky the dish is, very beautifully presented and it was full of flavour. Accompanied by a Brioche roll, we were off to a great start with our meal! My cousin went for the tomato soup which she said was very delicious and quite filling.
Onto the mains and the lamb came out within 15 minutes, lovely and tender, absolutely full of flavour and I will say this, that was some of the best lamb I have had in a very long time! complimented with garlic, aubergine, caramelized onion, and a variety of purees, it really was quite a powerful dish. Now, a little criticism all though the food was sensational, the one thing I would have liked to be offered is CARBS, a few potatoes would have topped of the lamb dish and filled that pesky little bit of hunger in my stomach after finishing my meal. It just would have been nice to have the option of ordering a side dish to accompany the main, maybe this is something Craft can look into?
That is all the criticism I have to say. The experience and the food is sensational here at Craft, the staff are an absolute joy to talk to, so helpful, so polite, and they really do make you feel quite important here at Craft! Our server was amazing, full of information, and was delightful!
Upon our visit, we managed to get a sneak preview of About 8 which is Crafts sister restaurant opening on 8th October which is going to be the ultimate fine dining experience and something Brum has never seen before! I won’t go into too much detail but if you’d like to know more then please do head to their website here and make sure you book yourself in!
The option of private dining is available, as Craft offers a beautiful private dining area for that special occasion, and let’s not forget booking one of the garden pods which adds a bit of uniqueness to your dining experience. For £33 for a two-course meal oozing fine British dining at its best with a side order of fantastic customer service, beautiful scenery and delicious cocktails is something not to be missed when visiting Birmingham, Craft is a must-visit for all to experience something a little bit different to your “Basic Bitch” chain restaurant dining.
Craft is that unique dining experience we all crave occasionally, however once visited you’ll be craving it once a week. The attention to detail, the creativity, and the passion that this restaurant has put in to create a positive and special dining experience to guests is something that should be admired by all. Craft dares to be different and is a fantastic representative of the foodie community here in our amazing city, which is sure to be loved by all.
WARNING: Some Seriously New High Fashion Food Coming Your Way This Summer/Autumn.
Introducing Pinch of Masala -POM- A family-run catering company in Smethwick who cater for weddings and events but unfortunately was hit hard by the pandemic, looking for ways to get business back on track they decided to offer a new takeaway service across Birmingham. This is one takeaway service that stand’s out from the rest, I can assure you. I was gifted a free meal of my choice in exchange for my views. I posted quite a few photos on Instagram and you were all gagging for a full review so here it is, expect nothing less than 5-star service and food from Pinch of Masala.
Pinch Of Masala have a website where you can order your food [here]once accessing the website you’ll realise straight away that this is not your typical Indian takeaway! Full of colour and beautiful photography, A website that is very easy to navigate around and what I love about the ordering process is that POM provides photos of all the food on the menu so you know what to expect. You can book delivery on the day or in the next couple of days which is fantastic if you are having a little gathering and inviting your friends round!
With such a large selection of meat, vegetable, and vegan dishes I did just want to order the whole menu! A Fantastic menu for all and also for vegetarians and vegans, loads to choose from! Also people with allergies there is an allergy guide on the website telling you about all the dishes and what they contain, which will come in very useful. They also have set menus, and offer dessert and BEER!
MY ORDER
Starter: Masala Fried Prawns Jackin’panko wings
Main (Feeds up to two): Palak Gosht (Lamb and Spinach) Butter Chicken
I was going to be sharing between three people so I thought this was plenty! I chose a 7 pm time slot and my food arrived at 7pm in which, from all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield was very impressive. I met the owner Dinesh who was so friendly and passionate about his business, full of positively and was just so lovely to meet. What caught my eye straight away was the most fashionable takeaway bag I had ever seen! compared to a Selfridges kind of style (but way better) I knew straight away that POM are not playing when it comes to standing out. Another impressive point was that the food came in containers that are made from plant fibre and recycling plastic! great for those who want to look after their environment and it just makes the food look a lot more appealing using these containers instead of those hideous plastic 20P boxes.
I have to say, from coming all the way from Smethwick to Sutton Coldfield and opening the lid of the food seeing the heat rise made me gasp, I just didn’t think it would be hot and ready to be served so it was such a surprise, it was like taking it out of the oven there and then. Straight away this takeaway was screaming high quality to me, The packaging, the food, this takeaway is definitely different to my down the road Indian takeaway I usually go for.
The masala fried prawns tasted perfect and very similar to Dishooms Prawn Koliwada dish, they may look small but these guys pack a powerful punch of spice however combined with my mint yoghurt dip I tamed them down a bit! Prawns were cooked very well and also went well with the little salad garnish. Onto the Jackfruit wings, a favourite for vegans! one portion gives you 5 pieces in which they are quite big and my god, tasted lovely! There’s also a little surprise in the middle [Wink Wink]
The butter chicken with the pilau rice, a little bit on the sweet side but I like sweet and it tasted so bloody good! Chicken cooked to perfection, and sauce for days! Such a tasty dish that even when finished we were all craving more!
Now I don’t usually go for lamb curries because every time I’ve have done the lamb has just been way too tough to eat so I thought I would put POM to the test and oh my, they passed with flying colours alright! Lamb was perfect, couldn’t fault it at all, every piece (I was hogging on to it…) was nice and tender. Accompanied by the mixed vegetable pilau rice this was defiantly my favourite dish! The portions of the curries were perfect and very generous, shared between three there was still a bit of curry left for even a fourth person!
The Chili Cheese Naan was BANGING! full of chilli and all the cheesy cheese you need for those sweet dreams….or nightmares. Accompanied by the garnish tub and a bit of mint yoghurt, pure joy!
The poppadoms came with a variety of sauces such as mint sauce and mango chutney, A must of course with any curry! We ordered one portion which is two poppadoms in eight pieces and that was also the perfect amount for sharing.
In conclusion, This has been one of the best takeaways this year, definitely the best Indian takeaway I have had and definitely the most stylish takeaway! Very generous portions of food that is packed full of flavour that is cooked to perfection. POM has a wide variety on offer that will tempt you to challenge yourself and try something new, and yes, it’s absolutely worth it! If you fancy something a bit different to your basic chicken tikka masala and garlic Naan then I would definitely recommend to push the boat out with POM, A fantastic new takeaway service that will no doubt in my mind will go far in Birmingham and beyond.
Delivery is Thursday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm you can opt for delivery or pick up, they also are available on the Deliveroo app. There is a postcode checker for delivery that you can check to see if they deliver to you and also displays the fee, POM would like to mention if you live too far then you can also give them a call and they can see what they can do.
Last weekend I was gifted an afternoon tea experience at Browns in Birmingham by the lovely Craft Beer Pin Up to celebrate afternoon tea week that certainly did lift the mood on a miserable rainy day in Birmingham. Snugged just under the Bullring, it has been a while Browns, I think the last time I visited was about three years ago for a Christmas roast dinner so it’s nice to return and try out something different. If you know me, you’ll know I love a good brew and love stuffing my face with sandwiches so I can never turn an afternoon tea down even if Weatherspoons offered one…
Arriving just before our time 3.15 pm, we asked if we could sit down early in which the staff were very happy to assist. We were seated at a gorgeous green marble table (it went very nicely with my green bag!) looking around Browns they certainly do have style, it just screams British Summer with all the floral however I was also getting a bit of 1940s American with the super stylish bar aswell! Tables were spaced out, hand sanitizer was displayed on the way in and social distancing was in place here, straight away I felt very safe.
We were brought the afternoon tea menus right away and left to decide, The traditional afternoon tea was priced as £18.50 however we saw the G&T afternoon tea and we just fancied a bit of a pick me up after our boozy previous night. A staff member came over took our afternoon tea order and asked us what hot drinks we would like to go for, we both opted for English breakfast.
After a five minute wait, the rhubab and raspberry G&T cocktails came out, a very generous glass in which I could possibly get lost in as a 5ft 1 woman. Ice cold and refreshing, the flavour was a little bit on the strong side at first however as the afternoon progressed it became less strong! Our tea followed shortly after and then the afternoon tea.
The Browns Afternoon Tea Includes:
Sandwiches: Prawn & baby gem lettuce, ham & dijon mustard, cucumber & cream cheese, egg mayo brioche bun, smoked salmon & cream cheese on a whisky & thyme oatcake.
Home-baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.
Sweets: Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle cake, almond macarons and chocolate praline mousse in a chocolate flower pot.
One Pot of English Breakfast tea or any tea of your choice
One glass each of Tarquin’s Rhubarb and Raspberry G&T
Price: £25.50
I was very impressed with the sandwich selection, for some reason I didn’t think I was going to get that much however I was pleasantly surprised. The quality is nothing to be amazed about but it was still pleasable, the sandwiches tasted fresh, there are no arty-farty ingredients here but you can’t beat a traditional cucumber & cream cheese sandwich can you? The egg mayo in a brioche roll was my favourite, just a shame it was a bit on the small side! The only sandwich in which I wasn’t so fond of was the prawn & baby gem lettuce it was a bit too heavy with the sauce creating almost a slimey texture.
The scones were definitely on the small side but I am not a massive cake/scone fan so I actually preferred them that size plus I can’t stand having the massive scones that completely crumble everywhere, you spend more time cleaning yourself than stuffing yourself with them. They were also warm and tasted fresh, so I was pretty pleased with them!
Onto that impressive looking flowerpot, which at first I thought was for decoration but it is a lovely chocolate mousse, perfect for those chocolate lovers out there. The lemon drizzle cake was delicious and so was the Victoria sponge, Wasn’t too mad about the almond macaron. Maybe could have squeezed another sweet (maybe a tart?) on there however I like the variety and I like the portions of the sweets so maybe I’m just being a little bit greedy! I have to say the chocolate mousse is very filling on its own!
The Afternoon Tea with the G&T really complimented each other well and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised with this afternoon tea. For £26.50 I think it’s pretty good for the money, I have to say I have paid £30+ in grand places where I have received a small/basic afternoon with just a pot of tea, no fizz involved. I believe they have the right balance of sweet and savourly, and I have to say I was pretty full after eating it so I didn’t have to venture out to McDonald’s after.
Browns Quintessentially British afternoon tea with a splash of Gin went down a success, offering a great variety and good quality for all to enjoy. priced at £26.50 with a very generous glass of G&T, a pot of hot tea and an impressive selection of savoury and sweet,I believe that this is a worthy contender for you all to try out in Birmingham.
From the 3rd of August to 31st August the government will implement a new scheme to encourage diners to dine out in restaurants and to protect those who work in the hospitality industry. Diners will be entitled to a 50% off discount to use in UK restaurants that have signed up to the scheme. The establishments who are taking part in the scheme can then claim the money back from the Government.
I have put together a list of all the restaurants in the North of Birmingham area (Erdington to Mere Green) who have signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. The 50% off discount will be applied to your bill automatically this is 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks (maximum discount of £10 per person) from Monday to Wednesday.
What are the rules?
Discount can only be used at restaurants that have signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme (please check the list below or head to the Gov website here)
Discount valid every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 3rd and 31st August 2020.
Discount is not valid for alcoholic drinks or service charges.
The discount only applies to eating out, and cannot be used for takeaway.
Who can use the discount?
Everyone! and let’s not forget the little Babas!
How do I claim the discount? What do I need to do?
You just need to turn up and feast Bab! just decide where you want to go, make sure you book in, turn up, enjoy your meal/drink and the discount will be automatically applied to the bill, Simples.
Can I Combine Eat Out to Help Out with other discounts?
For some places but not for all! For those you can, you can end up saving more! For example a two-course meal deal for £10 you can use your Eat Out to Help out discount and you would only have to pay £5, BOOM! HOWEVER this may not apply to ALL businesses, so please double-check this.
How many times can I use my discount?
There is no limit on how many times you can use the discount per day, so knock yourself out!
Okay, GIMME! Where can I get the Eat Out to Help out discount in the North of Birmingham?
Below are a selection of all the businesses who are taking part and running the Eat Out to Help Out discounts. Check them out, head to their social pages, keep up to date with the latest and get yourself booked in and most importantly, enjoy!
If you are participating in this scheme and not on the list then please send me an email and I can get you added on. I will continue to look into this weekly and add to it, so make sure you keep up to date with ya Bab!
