Birmingham College of Food in Birmingham

Super food, niceley served in the College's 'training' restaurant -- most dishes as good as starred restaurants!

Found this by chance when walked near the Victoria Town Hall. I saw good review on Google map and never regret with my decision to give a try and the influence of the good reviews. The lamb is super yummy, when I start eating I was doubting was I ordering a beef steak but it wasn’t, is lamb. I’m very impressed with the texture and the taste of the gravy. Excellent! The appetisers and snacks are all yummy and served in style. This is a place where you see the restaurant manager guiding the trainee students and they execute their role up to standard. I’m not sure who is the lady that guiding the trainees but I just very certain she is a great person to take care of the restaurant and the trainees. She oversees the overall services and the training. Impressive! And Appreciate!

The restaurant is a little tricky to locate as there is no sign. Inside it is very spacious and a nice quiet sitting. On their website it states this is a world-class training restaurant and guests will get to experience award-winning, exceptional value food. The food was very impressive. The food is cooked by students but honestly if someone told me it was cooked by an experienced top end chef I would not be able to tell the difference. Service of a high standard is also provide by students. You can see certain people in the restaurant who are marking or monitoring these individuals and at times you are asked for feedback which is not intrusive at all. The price paid for such exquisite food is amazing, 3 courses for £30. Highly recommend.

Absolutely amazing! From start to finish the staff and the food are simply perfect. A big thank you to all of the staff especially Mike the head chef and Sarah and Keely front of house that made my Fathers birthday very special. All of the students are professional and well trained this is Michelin star food and service, we can’t wait to return.

Absolutely amazing! From start to finish the staff and the food are simply perfect. A big thank you to all of the staff especially Mike the head chef and Sarah and Keely front of house that made my Fathers birthday very special. All of the students are professional and well trained this is Michelin star food and service, we can’t wait to return.

amazing everything, our servers were truly lovely and professional, a lovely atmosphere and truly divine eating experience with a fantastic wine selection, these youngsters are obviously getting exceptional training and without doubt will go on to blossoming careers, well done everyone

Second visit to the Birmingham College of Food and it gets better every time. Our waiters Ellis and Amelia were amazing. Attentive and knowledgeable, without being intrusive. It's a hidden gem, and if you love good food, great service and ambience then it's a must go to in Birmingham. Can't recommend it highly enough, especially as its only £35 for three courses. The Halfpenny Green wine is a must too 🥂

The students who cook the food and serve the table here do an excellent job. The service was friendly and professional, with obvious knowledge and understanding of the food and wines. The food itself was outstanding. I had the mushroom risotto to start with, and I can honestly say it was the best I’ve ever had. The flavours were so good, and the addition of three small arancini added a delicious crunch. My main of lamb was perfectly cooked, beautifully presented and I savoured every mouthful. I had a cheesecake parfait to finish, and again the combination of flavours and textures was wonderful. My friend had salmon and scallop followed by cod, and again was deeply impressed by the cooking. The wine list contained a very interesting selection of some unusual grapes and countries of origin. I thoroughly enjoyed the food, wine, and service, and next time I’m in Birmingham, I will come again. The students should be very proud of their work.

Fabulous three course meal in a very pleasant and informal setting. Students did a great job and the standard of food was top class. Incredible value too! This was the perfect place for our work reunion and we plan to come back next year. Thank you so much

Despite the restaurant being helmed by students, you would mistake it for a professionally-run restaurant. Had dinner here a few weeks ago. The servers were attentive and polite. Wasn't much of a fan of the pig's cheeks as the sauce was ordinary and unimaginative; tasted like Heinz BBQ sauce. However, the apples and celeriac slaw in the starter did complement with the sweetness of the sauce though. The mains that followed was quite impeccable. The fowl was cooked to perfection; moist, juicy and tender. Also really loved the sauce/jam on the plate. The good and warm apple tart helped to finish the meal on a nice note. I would said it is one of the better restaurants out here in Birmingham >>> Orelle, Bistrot Pierre etc.

Had a wonderful lunch here today. Thought the students did well. Food was amazing.fantastic value! Will definitely be returning soon.

Super food. Excellent service. Great staff, very helpful.

Great food. Service was good, but have to remember that the servers are college students learning the trade. Definitely value for money for a stylish quality meal.

3 of us had dinner last night. Lovely food. Good service. Only niggle: I counted 6 huge screens in the room. Don't think that's needed. It's distracting and takes away from the ambience. Otherwise, exemplary.

Simply some of tbe best food I have tasted in ages, beautifully presented and an amazing experience. We were out for an early Christmas work celebration and our evening experience was made extra special by the lovely French lady, Michael and Ethan. This is definitely a restaurant I would return to. We all wish you a wonderful career in hospitality, if you can 'hold your own' with a crowd like us......the world is your oyster.Thank you for making our 2023 work event extra special. From the Cranberry sauce Lady. 😋

Really fantastic food, with great service. Students studying and running the restaurant. Go with the spirit of the place and you will have a great time. We had supper, 3 courses. You have to go in via the main university entrance, but arrive in a great fine dining restaurant space

New students were evident, so they have to learn. All done in a pleasant way and supervised. Food was great, as usual and obviously carefully vetted before coming out. Bargain at lunchtime. Well done. We'll be back again soon. Long may you prosper, a great asset to Birmingham and all trainees involved. Thank You.

Amazing first visit today with my besties. The food was amazing the staff friendly and confident without being overbearing. Had a lovely couple of girls looking after us called Lily and Isabel thank you both for making our visit special . Enjoy the summer girls see you again when you re open in October

Wow what an amazing experience. 37 years since I was also in these students shoes. Absolutely blown away with the food, service and atmosphere. We had a lovely lunch served by Keeton. Keeton we wish you well in your future career, you will be an absolutely wonderful credit to your future employer. Thanks again to all of you. We will certainly come back to see you all.

As a relatively well established Google reviewer, I can quite confidently say that I have frequented some amazing restaurants and food outlets. However, this is the best dining experience for me to date. Not having heard of this venue before I drew my own conclusions prior to attending and thought "University, experimental perhaps, worth a try...". I was blown away by the whole evening. We arrived to be greeted like I have never been greeted before when going out to eat; there were multiple young waiting staff ready to take my coat, see me to the bar and attend to my pre-dining alcohol needs. (Lots of bar staff - and AMAZING prices!). We took our seats when all were in attendance and we were seated at suitably sized tables. Generous in size and a well thought out floor plan / layout. Great décor, perfect ambient temperature and genuinely helpful staff. I chose a starter of Cajun Salmon (mango salsa, cucumber, tempura squid), followed by a Guinea Fowl main, with bacon jam, gem lettuce and peas. We were provided with a complimentary goats cheese cracker with floral decoration (tasted amazing). The starter and mains were mind blowing. No other description for it. The meal was a taste sensation and one of the best I have ever had. Everything was cooked and presented to perfection. I opted for a whipped chocolate ganache dessert and this too was culinary heaven. We were even provided with complimentary birthday chocolate / lemon drizzle cakes to end the evening. Just absolute perfection! I will stop raving about this venue now, however I cannot recommend it enough!!!

Fabulous food at great prices. The students do a fabulous job supervised by some great staff.

Just go there and support this hidden gem. Superb cooking in a lovely environment.

An excellent experience all around

Another amazing meal. Great service

I went there for dinner with a friend and thebfood was delicious. The students were great and friendly, the drinks were amazing and they food was beautiful. I am definitely going back to this hidden gem in Birmingham.

A fantastic dining experience and a brilliant initiative for students to gain high end hospitality experience in a controlled environment. From the moment we walked through the door FoH staff were attentive and welcoming, taking our coats and even explaining our seating plan so we could converse without the need to shout. The space itself is light, modern and full of other visitors, but spacious enough to feel we had our own space. Starters arrived quickly and our pork belly was really well balanced between fat and acid. Mains came next and I am being served cod, caviar and monkfish tail. Wow. There are not many places in Birmingham you can expect a main like this, high end ingredients but the chef did a fantastic job with them. A shout out to the BoH staff at this point, all your dish ideas were really innovative. Finally dessert, we had one of each and I'm struggling to decide who got the best, we were all winners! We will 100% be back, thanks for a great birthday meal!

It was my first visit, but I was blown away at how good it was. The food was excellent and focused on quality. The service was great! Not to mention that £19 for 3x courses is exceptional value. You'd pay three times this elsewhere for similar. A huge thank you to Cara, Georgia, Emily and Layla for looking after us. They were professional and served very well, making us feel very welcome. You need to eat here, you're in for a treat!!

Excellent food and service great Michelin star food served by students at a fraction of the price

A total surprise. Unexpectedly amazing, students were attentive (first service of new college year), food presentation 10/10 & choices definitely worth a visit.

16镑三道菜，买不了吃亏买不了上当，看到的快来吃啊！（记得预约） The food is good in taste and price～

Thank you for an amazing night celebrating my sons 16th birthday. We were blown away by everyone and everything. I can see why its the best food college in the UK. We will definitely be back soon! X

Seven of us ladies had lunch yesterday, 26th May and it was SUPERB. From the moment we were greeted at reception, we experienced lovely polite interactions with all the young people who looked after us. Stools were positioned where requested for one or two needing to elevate a limb and the service was exceptional. All of our menu choices were perfectly executed and served. My starter of smoked duck was delicious and my main of salmon was sublime, the accompanying vegetables perfectly cooked and presented. And the lemon tart! The most wonderful crisp short pastry case filled with lemon yummyness and topped with sorbet. We drank quite a lot of Halfpenny Green red wine, which was a revelation. For some of us, local wine was a first and we were not disappointed. Our coffee orders did not go quite according to plan, but we coped! Our thanks to all for a wonderful dining experience.

Such a delightful experience today . But I must say it always is ! Over the years I have enjoyed many truly splendid meals and attended many special event nights. Today,my friend Sue and I enjoyed a spectacular feast of salmon followed by the lamb. It was superb and the lamb was to die for ! We were so impressed by the four young men that looked after us . It was great to see the way they worked as a team and supported each other. I caught a little whisper of them reminding each other ‘ clear from the right’ Which they did with such polite aplomb. I am gluten free and they catered for my needs with confidence and little fuss . We told them how totally impressed we were and they were really chuffed. Hats off too to the tutors who must be doing a brilliant job. Thank you again for a meal that’s up there with the very best and served so beautifully! Thank you ! Liz

Had an amazing evening for my birthday with my partner - the starter was my favourite the Chorizo and Aranchini rissoto. The other meals were excellent though especially my partner's fillet steak and my creme brulé. Keep it up guys!

Amazing food, cooked to perfection and not bad price for a high class 3 course meal! We will definitely be back and can't recommend it enough. My fillet of beef melted in the mouth 😋

My first job job was working as a pot washer and waiter in a high octane restaurant. Needless to say, I didn’t last that long as I had no idea what I was doing an ended up microwaving some ice cream when serving a dessert which the customer, and my boss, weren’t too impressed with. The guys here do a great job and have a great career in catering / restaurant-erring ahead of them (unlike myself) The food is really good and also much better than my own.

Great lunch venue. Good menu choices and food really well cooked and presented. Staff were friendly especially our waitress Rosa. The tables were well spaced out and we felt COVID safe. Definitely recommend the restaurant.

Food quality and taste were very good. Staff were generally good but struggled slightly with the large table size (8). Portion control was a little off, the duck starters of a whole leg dwarfed my two malteaser sized balls of goats cheese and yet my gigantic tiramisu dwarfed all other sweets. But at the price it's hard to justify any criticism.

Had a really great time at this restaurant. The food is top-notch and the service is great with a relaxing ambience. There are a mixture of different sized tables for different events. The wine list is pretty interesting, with a good representation of local English wines from Halfpenny Green (outside Wolverhampton) and interesting but lesser-known European wines, such as Furmint variety. The only disappointment was to find that they couldn't accept tips on card, especially when the food and drink is so well priced - so make sure you have some cash.

An exceptional experience. The food and service were first rate. The students have obviously been well prepared by the teaching staff as they showed such competence and confidence. Special thanks to Annabelle and Harriet our servers, Jack the restaurant supervisor, Kasia on the bar and Helen the supervising tutor, you have nailed this!

Sensational for the money can't be beaten, service exceptional too

My husband and I visited the restaurant for the first time yesterday. We were pleasantly greeted on our arrival and shown to our table. The service through out our meal by our hostess Harriett was excellent. She was very smiley and friendly and engaged in conversation while obviously keep an eye on her other tables. Our three course meal was excellent. We were very pleasantly surprised with the content and presentation of each course. Cooked to perfection! Our compliments to the chefs. All in all a wonderful experience which we look forward to again. Ninnin.

I have been bringing friends here for the past few years , the food is prepared and laid out to the highest standard , it melts in your mouth and the flavours test your taste buds to the limit .. compliments to the chiefs.The students provide a brilliant service and interacted with us throughout our meal, it's a shame some customers do forget that these kids are still learning. .many thanks for a great night to Liz our server jack ( Charlie ) and the rest of the students . can't wait to go back..

What a fantastic place the food is amazing and staff who are all students do an amazing job. Excellent produce and value for money. The resturant is very modern and contemporary.

I booked this partly for a catch-up with an old workmate who lives in Birmingham and partly to try the college restaurant where my daughter is working / training. My expectations were for a good quality meal at a very reasonable price. I was correct about the very reasonable price but the standard of the meal was way higher than I’d expected. It blew my socks off! My guest, who eats out a lot in Birmingham had never heard of this place and will definitely be returning with friends! Cooked with care and skill, the food was beautifully presented and the service was fantastic. It’s a very odd but good experience being waited on by your daughter! Not having a sweet tooth, I’m no expert on desserts and frequently opt for the cheese board but on this occasion I chose the Blackcurrant Mousse and Poached Pear. It was genuinely one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. I’ve paid a lot more for food vastly inferior to this!

Had a pleasant experience, went with best friend after 8 months apart due to COVID 19. Had Duck Salad to start, Fish and chips for main and Profiteroles for pudding. Students very professional as ever, and although new we will still very impressed.

UCB dining has always been a pleasure for us. Nowadays we all have to contend with restrictions in restaurants. How are they doing? They are coping rather well; and this generation of students will have memories of how they coped. It’s clear that there has been some careful menu planning for the autumn season. The dinner menu is available on-line (another recent development) and so far we have enjoyed starters – small in size but full in taste – pork cheek and tiny vegetable accompaniments, and guinea fowl encased in a cabbage leaf- again superb contrasting and complementary textures in a few mouthfuls. These formal starters were preceded by an amuse bouche – a scallop encased in ravioli. Chef da Vito’s brilliantly inspired main courses include the Cotswold lamb, a duo of meat, with apricot puree as a sweet contrast. The succulent Gressingham duck comes with seasonal accompaniments- tiny beetroot, blackberry, and blackcurrant reduction. Desserts, courtesy of Chef Gary, include mousse – Chocolate or seasonal Blackcurrant – we have our eyes on the Lemon Brulee for the future. The wine list is select, with some excellent and unusual additions, and advice on matching wine with food available; advice we have been happy to take, given the knowledge and expertise of staff members (Mr Bisconti in particular), and growing knowledge by the specialist students. Of last year’s students we have seen Sarah; and encountered Chris, in his first year and showing great enthusiasm and potential. All students are wearing face-coverings, even Shrey at the bar, which makes contact and discussion less easy than before, but not impossible. They keep a social distance which makes for an interesting way of distributing plates! Seating in UCB is well spaced suitable for the present situation – we estimated 18 people now occupy the space previously given to about 60. We’ll continue to be in those 18 for as long as service is maintained! Karen O’Rourke & Paul Dolan

What a very unique and hidden gem this was. 😊 Today I went to the Restaurant @ Birmingham College of Food. A restaurant that is run by students who are training to be future ambassadors at heart and has a modern and bright feel to it with contemporary food options. The location was also offering 50% off food and soft drinks during this period. I popped in for lunch and booked a table in advance. I was greeted immediately on entry and shown to the table. Hand sanitiser was avaliable with NHS test and trace in operation and tables adequately distanced. All staff were wearing PPE. Inside has a very minimalistic approach with tidy decor and neutral colours. The key thing here was the service. It was spot on and I could see some of the students were nervous in that regards but they provided excellent customer service skills and were very attentive. They regularly asked how I felt during service and the attention to detail was great. Ample cutlery was avaliable in the middle of the table. The manager was actively interacting with customers and directing their team to do a good job. I actively started speaking to the team about their experiences at UCB too. I went for this today: Starter - Griddled Lamb Kofta (With feta, cous cous, pomegranate, yoghurt, mint and lime dressing and pitta bread.) The kofta was cooked well done and it had a very tender taste to it. I had no issues with it. The pitta bread was warm and lightly toasted. The cous cous tasted fresh and the cheese well was 🧀 🤣. Complimentary sourdough bread and butter was also given. A bonus 😊 ----- Main - Chargrilled Hangar Steak (With spinach, Salsa Verde, rocket leaves and parmesan fries) Presentation wise this was good. Though the fries literally just had parmesan over them. 🧀 overload! They were crispy and well salted though. The steak was sliced and cooked medium rare. It was cooked exactly how I liked it and was rich in flavour with not much toughness to it and was delicate as such. The green stuff also accompanied well. ------ This came to £9.65 The menu is excellent value for money even before the discount. I do hope that after lockdown that this location reopens as I can thoroughly recommend it 10/10. ⭐ I felt good dining at somewhere which supports our future generations.

Tried this for the first time today and the food was on point, the staff/students were lovely (if a little timid, which is to be expected to a degree). Had we have booked more in advance we would have got a table in the main restaurant area, but the bar tables are perfectly fine - just a little more 'chilled' than the decor of the restaurant. Cocktails on the menu too, so I was a happy bunny. Would recommend booking in advance and visiting! The Covid safe measures were all in place and whilst it's not ideal from a guest experience (having to lift your plates and drinks off the tray for example) - totally appreciate the extra precautions but miss that "full service" feeling - no negativity to the team specifically, I just would have been perfectly fine with someone bearing me to place a plate down (personal perspective). Look forward to visiting again

Excellent one of Birminghams best kept secret

A lovely meal. Could not fault anything. The food was incredible and the waiting staff were so lovely and attentive. Came with my son for a birthday lunch and we both really enjoyed the experience. We will definitely be back!!

End of term service. Food very good. Service not quite as good as previous visits but customers need to remember it's a learning environment. Different levels of students work in the restaurant on different days so can vary.

love it, brunch with my two daughters!

Just had amazing food cooked by amazing students so high quality, innovative menu and good selection of wine at reasonable prices.

Absolutely stunning food and pricing for a 3 course fine dining very cheap

Students are wonderful. Staff exceptional. Best bargain in Brum!

Wonderful food, Attentive service, Amazing value, Highly recommend you visit and see for yourself

Had crispy confit duck leg to start then slow cooked Cornish lamb followed by a chocolate ganache desert. If you want great quality food at a reasonable price this is the place to go. Food is cooked and served by the students. We dine here 3 or 4 times a year as the menu only changes at the start of the school term.

Brilliant service, beautiful food 5 stars all the way.

Ridiculously cheap for the food quality, the staff are students so you have to remember it's a training environment.

Really excellent food at a decent price. Not the most polished experience if you're used to fine dining, but that to me gives it even more charm. The students who serve there are friendly, enthusiastic and really trying to get everything right. The food was exceptional, perfectly cooked, fantastically presented and the thought that went into the flavour combinations was impressive. Totally recommended, would return again.

Superb food. Good atmosphere. Value for money

I cannot eat pink beef and asked for my beef to be cooked a bit further. It came back burnt and no senior member of staff came to check if I was happy with the second plate. The rest of the meal and service were great.

Went for birthday lunch, amazing food and superb value

Sensational food prepared by the future Chefs. Attentive service by front of house students. Wonderful selection on the menu

I have been to the Atrium twice and really loved it. It's a really lovely space, relaxing and professional. The food is lovely and a good choice (for someone who doesn't eat pork it was great to see options without it ~ some other places tend to have this too much ~ even in the vegetables and with fish dishes). It was nice for a complementary drink before the meal. The menus were fun in lighting up 😊 The prices are so reasonable for the quality of food and service you get. The students and teachers are really great very welcoming but not in your face. The toilets were clean. I would really recommend.

Excellent food, fantastically friendly and a wonderful experience!

Fuimos un lunes (no aparece como abierto en la página web), entonces el restaurante atrio, supuestamente los sistemas 'opciones - no nos habíamos dado cuenta!Título = 14 libras. 95, absoluta ganga!Estoy de acuerdo en que la carta de vinos es quizás demasiado caro, pero 6 cenas, varias ginebras y 2 botellas de vino por £134. 50 todavía es muy bueno.La comida es buenísima, muy bien cocinado, presentado y servido.Mini-queja = siendo abordadas como 'mcomimos' (73) estoy por la calle 1 año camarero aprendiz posiblemente en su primera aparición pública fue, er, inapropiadas. Mencioné al tutor en cerca de jugar, ella dijo que volvería a poner su hombre derecho.Totalmente recomendado.

Trendy place with good drinks choices

Este lugar es una joya! He visitado varias veces y siempre he tenido el mejor servicio y la comida más exquisita. El frente de estudiantes de la casa son muy profesionales y están deseosos de mejorar la experiencia de la cena. La comida es increíble y hay una gran lista de vinos para acompañar la comida. Los estudiantes y tutores deben estar muy orgullosos de sí mismos.

Este restaurante es dirigido por University College de Birmingham, así todo el personal están aprendiendo su comercio. La comida es mouthwathering en la Brasserie y el servicio de primera clase. Está abierto de martes a viernes almuerzo y cuesta £13,95 por 3 platos y café. Hay un montón de opciones para todos los gustos. No te vas a encontrar una mejor relación calidad-precio en cualquier lugar de la ciudad y que lo prefiero a más venerados creciditos restaurantes donde podrá pagar más por un plato!Fuimos a celebrar el cumpleaños de un amigo. El lugar está bien distribuido, decorada con buen gusto y muy relajante.No puedo dar una recomendación lo suficientemente alta aquí. Ten en cuenta que sólo abre durante el período en la escuela.

Visitamos el restaurante Atrium hoy - fue realmente fabuloso una de las mejores experiencias que he tenido en mi vida.Desde la llegada al restaurante, el servicio es excepcional, nos ofrecieron un asiento en el bar, nuestras bebidas pedido y trajo a nuestra mesa. Nos dieron el menú, había una selección de 6 entradas, 6 platos principales y 5 postres. Los camareros nos enseñaron a nuestra mesa y cogimos el orden. Nos obsequiaron con un pre-entrante, una deliciosa sopa de hongos, entonces nuestros entrantes: la mía era un ballotine de pollo y mi marido tenía las vieiras. Los aperitivos estaban muy bien presentado y increíblemente bueno.Al lado estaba los platos principales - tuve el bacalao frito, que era excelente, fresca y muy bien presentada y mi marido tenía el cordero de los Cotswolds - esta fue probablemente el mejor cordero cocido que he probado nunca.Luego vino una pre-desierto, luego desierto, tuve un hermoso Coconut ruibarbo y Chris tenía la selección de quesos que un estudiante cortadas y presentado en la mesa, explicando los tipos de queso y donde proceden de.En general, el servicio era fabuloso - los estudiantes fue increíblemente atento, notando cuando dejas la mesa de re-doblar el pañuelo y sus sillas plegables, revisar la comida estaba bien y limpiar las mesas rápidamente.Creo que esta es sin duda una de las mejores comidas que he tenido y el servicio es uno de los mejores que he probado.Por favor, visite este restaurante y apoyar a los estudiantes - no te decepcionará.Sin duda recomendaría este hotel a otros y volveremos pronto!

La Brasserie y un atrio un doble esta semana y fue fantástico.Brasserie: agradable pescado pastel para empezar, excelente pato main muy bien cocinados medio raro, Irish crema y chocolate cheesecake para el postre, excellent petit fours, café, además de un pre entrante. Todo por el precio de £14,95 bargainous!Atrio: pre un entrante, un plato realmente excelente Pigeon pechuga, el filete main, que era magnífico, postre, uno de los mejores quesos junta que he tenido y petit fours. Esto era £26. Yo que encontréis a encontrar mejor comida en Birmingham por menos de £30.Para rematar, está en una buena causa como son restaurantes de estudiantes. Me gustaron particularmente el hecho de que los consejos durante el año son agrupados para ayudar a financiar una comida relacionados con otra excursión a Europa para los estudiantes en el verano. Así que dan generosamente!Finalmente, sería negligente por mi si no mencionar uno de los mejores logros de waitering que he visto. Uno de los estudiantes tenía una copa de vino tinto puedan derrocar a su bandeja sólo para el Tutor evaluar su paso y coger sin vertiendo una gota.

Responding to a request to attend a fund-raising event on behalf of 'The Springboard Charity' being hosted at The Atrium Restaurant in Birmingham, I was intrigued to discover that this wasn't the latest 'pop-up' featuring some 'new boy in town' keen to make his name and fortune, but a familiar landmark which most Brummies drive past, not knowing what treasures lie inside. For this is the trade / academic / public interface of the University College Birmingham (UCB) catering courses through their Brasserie and Atrium training establishments (which were known, in ancient times, as the College of Food and Domestic Arts) and which are open during term times, for lunch and dinner, Tuesdays to Fridays.So, having braved Friday evening commuters, road closures, the NIA (aka Barclaycard Arena) disgorging spectators to the Davis Cup (1st round - tennis) and the Open Badminton Championships .. in the snow .. was it worth it ?Yes. It was; and I encourage you all to go (though not under similar circumstances).Our Champagne reception and 4-course meal (though billed as a "Supper" .. strange, that) was cooked and served by students in a manner befitting any 'fine-dining' establishment, which is obviously where many are destined to go .. even if they remain in Birmingham, a city with an escalating reputation for food and drink. I therefore qualify what I write by saying that I judge them from the same standards that I would expect from the best in the land for, if you aspire to be the best, that's how you must expect to be judged.Dining 'banquet-style' (i.e. everyone having the same service), our scallop starter impressed by retaining its fresh 'seafood' flavour, even though contrasted with Chorizo; a testimony to their freshness and to the delicate cooking that they had received. How often, when tempted by these morsels, are diners presented with seafood with the consistency of a pencil eraser and with the taste cooked out of them ? Definitely not the case here.An interesting touch was that a Halibut substitute provided for someone with a seafood allergy was so well disguised and cut so as to be indistinguishable from other diners' plates and that extra reassurance was needed that their requirement had been acknowledged. Nice touch.This course was followed by Beef Fillet with a variety of vegetables, of which the Butternut Squash purée stood out on the plate for its colour, its shape (like a butternut), but above all for its concentrated taste. The only quibble was that there weren't enough vegetables to enjoy - particularly when the menu mentions items in the plural - pommes (there was one), sprouts (there were two halves), carrots (well, there were two, but hardly championship-winning specimens). The meat was melt-in-the-mouth but it perhaps deserved a Jus that had more power and potency to match its flavour.The Alunga (I had to look it up, as well) Chocolate Mousse which followed was sensational. A soft delight of chocolate which pleased even those to whom chocolate can be too cloying. Not on this occasion; and the accompaniments were equally pleasing to the eye and the palate.The cheese course of hard, soft and blue was overwhelming in its generosity; but also, overwhelmingly French (not that we're allowed so say anything against/about the French at this particular moment) but, when British cheeses are having as much of a resurrection as British wines, it might be an idea to encourage knowledge of home-grown products alongside imports ?The wine .. haven't I mentioned the wine ? Mostly as these 'do's' you get a singleton with each course .. but tonight was 'hospitality hall' .. presumably to encourage purses and wallets to open-up in the auctions and prize-draws which were to follow, it being a charity fund-raiser. Neat trick.Service was delightful and demonstrated that the staff haven't missed a trick in teaching formal etiquette. Eye contact obtained an immediate response. No doubt the staff hope that their students will maintain this aspect of service each and every time they meet the public, throughout their careers.So, like I said, high standards indeed, from kitchen, from front-of-house, and from staff; all of which added to the success of the evening and furtherance of the charity 'Springboard'.The UCB is obviously providing a springboard for the future of its students.

Hemos visitado el restaurante Atrium varias veces a lo largo de los años, y es tan bueno como siempre. Los estudiantes eran profesionales y diversa de la confianza y el gerente estaba en mano coaching y apoyarlos en su caso. El servicio fue impecable y la comida excepcional. El restaurante está decorado con un alto nivel de calidad y no te sientes como si estuvieras en un colegio. También probamos el bar y los cócteles eran increíbles, una inusual combinación y la excelente relación calidad-precio. Nos encantó ser parte de los estudiantes aprendiendo viaje y sentirse muy afortunado de haber esta College y el restaurante de nuestra ciudad. Gracias a todos los estudiantes y el personal al frente de la casa y detrás de las escenas para una comida agradable y por la noche.

Soy un fan de excelentes restaurantes y hemos comido en muchos restaurantes caros, especialmente en Birmingham. Y tengo que decir que la comida aquí era el mejor de ellos. Y sin embargo sólo £26 por tres platos. increíble!La comida era tan bien presentada, y consistía en una serie de elementos presentados con delicadeza y una mezcla de sabores.El frente de la casa no fue tan bueno si soy sincero, pero donde éste hubiera sido molesto en otro lugar, fue entrañable aquí porque era jóvenes aprendiendo su comercio y el único problema era experiencia, todo el mundo estaba tratando muy difícil, era increíblemente educado y siempre bajo el ojo del gerente/Tutor que también fue muy amable y claramente apasionado.Sin duda, recomiendo este restaurante, y sin duda volveré yo, así como de la Brasserie que funcionan durante el día.

Comida excelente con muy buena, el servicio es amable y los precios son muy razonables, no hay duda ocasional en el servicio, pero no se olvide que son estudiantes sigue aprendiendo. El menú es imaginativo y la comida es muy buena. Creo que la lista de vinos es demasiado caro. Esta fue mi segunda visita, y lo recomiendo encarecidamente.

Como un regalo que me llevé a mi madre para comer aquí el miércoles. Había muy recomendable desde un cliente de negocios.Almorzamos en el restaurante Brasserie y la decoración y distribución era excelente. Nunca lo que supongo que estaba en una universidad.Las opciones de comida era excelente y la atención del personal y los estudiantes una delicia.Presentación de la comida y la calidad de la comida era excepcional.Nos impresionó tanto que reservamos para el atrio en 2 semanas de probar el menú de la cena.En general, bien vale la pena visitar. Os garantizo que no te decepcionará. Ya que la relación calidad-precio, calidad y sabor son lo que se puede esperar en restaurante de 5 estrellas.

Un grupo de cuatro de nosotros fuimos al restaurante Atrium y disfrutar de lo mejor de las noches. No había estado por algunos años, así que no estaba seguro de qué esperar, pero fue una experiencia maravillosa. Conocimos a nuestros amigos en la zona del bar, que estaba bien diseñado con cómodos sofás de cuero y un personal muy atento que nuestros abrigos y preguntando a probar algunos deliciosos cócteles.El restaurante no es muy grande, pero está bien distribuido.Una vez más, el personal (estudiantes) fueron muy atentos aunque se puede detectar algún nerviosismo que es comprensible.Por dónde empezar a la comida ... lo que digo no le hacen justicia. era magnífico, y todos los involucrados merece mucho crédito para contribuir a nuestro precioso atardecer. Antes de que nos terminado nuestra comida que habíamos planeado volver!Si tienes la oportunidad de ir hacerlo lo antes posible.

Nos reunimos con amigos por lo que resultó ser un t anuales de visitar este restaurante con precios razonables. La comida y la calidad como cabría esperar era bueno y el servicio era razonable. No creo que el precio del vino era caro, pero como era una celebración festivo nos parece que vale la pena. El único inconveniente de este lugar es la dificultad de reserva. Es muy popular y tiene algunos asientos, que es quizás por eso nuestras visitas parecen ser anual

Visita a más tardar al atrio fue el 27/11. Todo fue bien hasta los altos estándares habituales que nos hemos acostumbrado a esperar de este lugar. Los estudiantes que sirven están bien entrenados y muy profesional en su perspectiva. La comida es de muy buen nivel, de excelente calidad y una delicia para comer. El único problema con este lugar es que es muy difícil reservar una mesa que me hace reacio a recomendar en caso que soy nunca pudimos conseguir una mesa otra vez! Todo el mundo debería disfrutar de la experiencia al menos una vez en la vida.

I have visited the Brasserie and Atrium Restaurants a few times over recent years and never been disappointed. It is highly commended with good reason. Food excellent and service good. Students anxious to please.

The food in Atrium is always excellent. The students will occasionally make little mistakes in the service, but it's almost part of the place's charm to see them learning those skills. Great value for money overall. I definitely recommend it.

Mi hermana y yo tuvimos una comida fantástica aquí. La comida era excelente y muy bien presentado. El servicio era un poco lento, pero eso significaba que tuvimos una muy agradable cena y disfrutamos muchísimo de la experiencia. No había duda de que todo el mundo era muy servicial y dispuestos a dar el mejor servicio posible.Fue verdaderamente 'restaurantes' y me quedé muy contento con la calidad, la relación calidad-precio y la excelencia de la comida que nos sirvieron.El único punto negativo es que nos cobraron por nuestras bebidas pero esto fue corregido rápidamente y será reembolsado tan pronto como me preguntó.En general, una comida muy agradables - una experiencia recomendable.

Students happy and smiling , always polite . Atmosphere very good modern decor, very clean . Food and service excellent for a very reasonable cost of £13 99 for three courses and tea or coffee .

The college provide a very unique experience of trying fine dining foods in a very relaxed and highly services restaurant. Professional and a fun night out.

Visitamos con mi madre para el almuerzo hace dos semanas. Cenamos en el restaurante Atrium, que es un bonito restaurante pequeño y muy elegante. La comida era comparable a otras buenas experiencias gastronómicas y en la fracción del precio. La presentación de la comida era de primera categoría y simplemente no me puedo quejar nada, desde el principio hasta el final. El primer plato de mi madre de queso de cabra, que a menudo no estoy interesado en , era delicioso y luz y desearía haber elegido, yo. La presentación de también era precioso. [ver fotos] El plato de cordero que pedimos estaba deliciosa, preparada y condimentada justo con grasa fresco encantador. Mi madre también realmente disfrutó su plato de marisco del genial y gambas crujientes. Pedí un dulce en vez de un entrante y optamos por tarta limón [uno de los favoritos] servido con sorbete de frambuesa [me encanta frambuesas] y no me decepcionó. El limón era preciosa con el equilibrio de dulzura y tartness y el sorbete era nuevo y justo.Sobre todo nuestro almuerzo desde el principio al fin, fue bastante impecable y ya tengo ganas de volver. Estoy interesado en probar el menú brassiere también. Los estudiantes son sin duda haciendo un trabajo estupendo aquí, sigan el buen trabajo. Lo recomiendo para aquellos que quieran disfrutar una buena comida en un entorno agradable para darle a este restaurante.

Comimos en el restaurante a la hora de comer y disfrutamos mucho. El restaurante es atendido por los alumnos de la universidad. La comida era excelente y el servicio muy atento. La habitación en sí era un poco deficiente en atmósfera, siendo muy pequeña y bastante sombrío. Sin embargo, los precios son muy razonables, y sin duda lo recomendaría. Usted podría ser acertado reservar, ya que es sólo un pequeño. Aparcar en la zona es posible, pero no es fácil.

managed to get a cancellation as they were booked for a Friday evening 3 months in advance!! fantastic welcome by students in bar with good explanation of the cocktails they had on offer, so we ordered 4. the quality/taste/presentation of dishes served to us were fantastic, what a brilliant way for the students to learn and grow by having this restaurant, well done to all the waiting staff but a big congratulations to all the chefs. keep up the good work!

Realmente disfruté de mi comida aquí, cada plato estaba bien presentado y muy sabroso, el servicio muy bueno, unos pequeños contratiempos pero entonces es un restaurante de formación, y teniendo en cuenta el bajo costo es sin duda comparable. Sin duda volveré y llevar a diferentes grupos de amigos junto conmigo.

We went with 2 friends on a recommendation,not to sure what to expect food wise,but the food we had blew our minds,absolute perfection,so well presented,cooked to perfection and presented to a Michelin standard.We had caramelised scallops and pan seared foie gras,the main,beef fillet and braised cheek and roast venison loin excellent.All in all the overall experience was up with some of the best restaurants we have eaten in,the downside is the college closes for 4 months so we will have to wait before we book another table,roll on September!To all the young students I wish to thank-you for such a wonderful evening and cannot wait for September to come round.

We were treated to a lovely lunch time a la carte meal. Beautifully presented, exceptional taste. All three courses couldn't be faulted. Well done!

Went back for the fourth time last night and once again it was fantastic. Someone else commented that it was Michelin star quality and I have to agree.Value for money is unbeatable and it is great to know that all the youngsters working there are learning their craft....and buy, what a good job they are doing!Full marks to the tutors helping the young people finding their way in the industry.I would recommend this restaurant to everyone.I am a celiac and forgot to tell them when we booked. When I pointed this out to our waiter he went to get a book to show me showing all the meals and ingredients as a guide to anyone with a food intolerance.

We always have a superb meal in the Atrium Restaurant at the College of Food. Our wine circle has been holding its annual fine wine dinner there for the last few years, and every year we come away gasping at what a wonderful evening the students and tutors put on for us. The meal is just exquisite and the serving staff (the students) are so helpful. We also eat there as a couple at least once a year, although it is often difficult to get a table as the restaurant is only open on weekdays and only open during term-times. We love going there, quite apart from the excellent meal, it's a great atmosphere and the staff are so welcoming! And it's wonderful value for money - the food as well as the wine-list!

No booking required for dish of the day in the bar area....which today was beef burguirginon.This is served between 12....1.15 ish which works out quite well with a 2pm matinee performance at the B'ham Rep.....which is a 5 minute walk away.The dish was devine...cost for 2 with soft drinks £11.What generally lets these college places down is lack of atmosphere and furnishings....but the Brassiere area was furnished in a very contempory style.However if you opt for this option remember their is no choice....ideal if you just want a quick snack .

The food and service may be by students but the qualityof food and service is excellent. A thoroughly enjoyable meal

University College, Birmingham has two restaurants open to the public. They enable students to experience the demands of being a busy chef, being creative with food, working in a kitchen and serving food at table. Notwithstanding that some students may have just started learning how to serve at table so may be a little nervous, the overall impression is of a high professionalism and comprehensive training. It is important to book as both restaurants tend to be very popular. On arrival, we were met with a smile and our coats were left in the cloakroom (standard ticket system). We were a lttle early so we had a quick drink in the bar. After, we were shown to our table. The food can only be described as exceptional, beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. For example, our main dishes came with stuffed peppers, mashed potato in the shape of pears and broccoli gratin. Some restaurants find it hard to cook broccoli perfectly...it's either hard or mushy, here it was just right.We finished with wonderful desserts and coffee, I don't think Birmingham's several Michelin starred restaurants would serve food at a higher standard and with the entire meal coming to about £14 a head, it was a bargain!

This is an annual event for us and it never fails to disappoint. Food excellent and service amazing.

My 2 friends and I had booked early in Sept, as it is so popular for lunch. On entering we were presented with a glass of Kir Royale, which was delicious. A four course lunch followed by coffee and mince pies was wonderful. All of the food was really well prepared and presented and was so flavoursome. Some of the students had only been at the college a few months and they did a grand job, there were a few nerves on display, but after we had a chat with them about their course they were put at ease. This is a wonderful place for lunch, a great bargain for brilliant food and service. The only downside was the telephone booking system, we kept missing each other, please have a manned phone.

Oh, this is a wonderful restaurant - if you can get a booking. The downside is that they are only open Monday to Friday and they are closed during the school holidays. However, this is really an experience not to be missed. The food is like a top Michelin star restaurant, all cooked and served by the students - under supervision of course. Very reasonably priced, and you get an amuse bouche before your starter course - ours on the evening we went was a very small portion of a wild mushroom soup - it was just delicious! The wine list is excellent and so reaosnably priced! You have to book a long time in advance, but it's well worth the wait. The atmosphere is really buzzy and the staff (the students) are so friendly and explain the menus to you very precisely. A superb evening! When can we go again!