Fumo in Birmingham

Ive been going here for 8 years. They just get better and better

We booked a table for 1pm and I'm so glad we did, as it was super busy! We had 2 x Pizza, and the truffle fries; followed by the most delicious tiramisu. Excellent!

I visited Fumo today, 22nd January, and had an incredible experience. From the moment we arrived, the receptionist greeted us with a warm smile and was extremely professional, dressed sophisticatedly. She offered to take our coats and even started a friendly conversation, which was a nice touch. She wished us a pleasant meal before we sat down, which set the tone for the entire visit. The vibe was perfect—elegant but relaxed, and as it got busier, it only added to the atmosphere. The floor staff were incredible—friendly, attentive, and really on top of things. They were quick to take our orders, always checked in on us, and made sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. Their professionalism really stood out, and it made the whole dining experience feel seamless. The food was unreal, the wine was spot on, and the service was warm and efficient. Prefect for a day night or a romantic meal. Would definitely come back again and bring a big group of people next time. Overall, a fantastic visit—definitely recommend Fumo!

Was seated right by the bar and had drunk customers bumping into us, talking to us, slurring over our food. Waitress was rude. Will not be going back. Complained and wasn't even compensated.

My partner and I had a wonderful experience at Fumo in Birmingham. Every member of staff was incredibly kind, and the food was absolutely delicious. As a vegan, I appreciated the waitress recommending great options, like the tenderstem and avocado salad. I also had a penne arrabiata (not on the menu, but kindly made for me), and it was gorgeous. We also visited last night for cocktails and had the same enjoyable experience. Highly recommend!

The food was exceptional and incredibly generous, I can honestly say that nearly every dish served was the best possible version of that dish. The table service was courteous and prompt, and the staff were incredibly friendly throughout. This was truly a delightful experience, really superb from start to finish.

Never had a bad meal. Great service and the food is amazing with a great amount to chose from.

We were drinking at the bar, so didn’t expect to be charged 12% service charge for our drinks order? But what made it worse, the waiter took the order pointed to the card machine without giving me my bill, so I wasn’t aware of the charge until I had paid. ADVISE YOU TO ASK FOR BILL FIRST. I have not divulged staff name , as it is a common practice of Fumo. Next round a different member of staff tried to do the same, but we were wise to the trick and ask for service charge to be removed.

Price doesn't reflect the quality of the food. We were squished into a corner by the kitchen. Could barely understand each other.

My partner and I booked Fumo for a celebratory meal, excited to experience its reputed quality. Unfortunately, the evening fell far below expectations. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a group arguing with the doorman that we had to pass through to enter. The bar area was overcrowded, and we had to squeeze past people to reach our table, which was inconveniently located on the outskirts of the bar. The noise levels were overwhelming, making it impossible to hold a conversation across the table. Large coats knocked past the table as the bar remained 2-3 people deep throughout our visit. We requested a quieter table and were offered a different table, which we eventually declined as the noise levels were equally unbearable (evident by people leaning over tables to hear!). It was clear that Fumo prioritises its bar atmosphere over a restaurant dining experience. The manager approached us to address our concerns but claimed that Fumo is “more bar than restaurant.” To us, it felt more like a pub, with shouting and pushing…not what you expect when paying premium prices for something dubbed as a “cocktail bar and restaurant”. We reluctantly finished our two glasses of wine, (totalling £41) and left. Thankfully, we salvaged the evening with a much more enjoyable experience across the road at The Ivy. Avoid Fumo if you’re looking for a relaxing celebratory meal. It’s overpriced, loud, and more of a bar scene than a fine dining experience. There are far better options in Birmingham that deliver on both atmosphere and quality.

Disappointed. The restaurant has really gone down hill since our last visit a few years ago. On arrival the lady at the desk was on the phone. Fully appreciate that she was dealing with a call but she did not even acknowledge us. Whilst we were eating a customer passed our table and knocked one of our prawns on to the floor. It was an accident, no problem, and we made the waiter aware. He said he would replace the dish. He later returned with one small prawn on a side plate. We questioned this and he said he would have to speak to a manager. The manager arrived, argued with us then reluctantly took away the original dish and the individual prawn. We were given another portion but the prawns were smaller than the original. Waiters were constantly coming to the table, asking if they could take plates away. It all felt very rushed and not relaxing. When the bill arrived there was a discretionary service charge. We asked to pay the total without the charge. The waiter asked why and we explained. He said he would have to ask a manager to remove the charge and produce another bill. All in all a very poor experience.

Visited early afternoon on a Wednesday. The place was quite busy but served promptly. Friendly team and great service and speedily served quality food. The only negative was they were clearly short staffed and getting their attention was sometimes difficult. Keep an eye on your customers please guys.

Avoid at all costs if you are vegetarian, have any allergies or intolerances'. I attempted to eat here with my fellow directors, 1 who is vegetarian and myself Gluten Free. The menu for anyone with an eating requirement is appalling and you are presented with a folder from the 1950's which has no relevance to the main menu. The folder was in English, the main in Italian and the food not listed in the same order. When I asked about what choices I could have, the manager stated he was unable to help as it had to be my choice. I consulted the folder for 20 minutes trying to collaborate this with the main menu. When I pointed this out the manager arrogantly said it was easy to understand and then struggled to show me the items I was after. I simply asked if a steak was gluten free. On the folder it stated not, how is this possible. Then the bombshell. He claimed that the kitchen was so tiny that they could not 100% guarantee that there would be no cross contamination at all with any food. I stated that in this case how can they ensure than Vegetarian food doesn't come in to contact with meat and how can my steak is not going to be prepared without any gluten, he said it was impossible. To that point we finished our wine, which they charged us for and left. I will never set foot back in the restaurant again and neither should anyone else.

Nice decor, food was OK nothing more, staff were awful. Barman looked like I'd farted in his face when I ordered a drink. Waiting staff weren't any better. Mains got delivered with starters. All in all,wouldn't recommend and definitely won't return.

Totally lacking in customer service, we had a reservation at 7:00 on Saturday night and left in plenty of time to be there early. Due to an incident on the Christmas market (judging by two ambulances trying to battle through traffic) the traffic was gridlocked. At 6:50 I called the restaurant to say we were delayed in the traffic but definitely coming estimated 7:17. I was told of the 15min late cancellation policy and said we will be there or there abouts. We got to the check in at 7:17 and we told she remembered our call but our table had already been taken. I fully understand snd accept a cancellations policy however in these circumstances where a customer has taken the time to ring and confirm there should be some consideration.

We had a table booked for 7pm on Saturday evening. We were stuck in traffic in a taxi ( Birmingham was gridlocked!) so at 6:50 my husband called the restaurant to say that we were on our way but wouldn’t be there for 7, it would be 20 past at the latest. He spoke to a lady. We arrived at 7:18 to be told our table had been cancelled and given to someone else!! I totally understand that tables are held for 15 minutes after booking for no shows but when you’re courteous enough to call to explain that you’re on the way and will be no later than 20 mins late it’s a bit off!! No apology just told to sit in the bar and wait to see if a table became available! No thanks ….. we went elsewhere. Very disappointed!

What has happened at this place. Since expanding to a second restaurant in Selfridges the jewel in the crown has dived to the cellar. Poor service with poor food. Note to Management. You've took your eye off the ball at this place.

Style over substance. We were colleagues staying in Birmingham for the evening. Maybe we chose incorrectly but it's definitely not somewhere I'd choose to return to. I wasn't expecting Michelin (I've been to plenty to know what they're like) but neither was I expecting a below average meal. The Pinot wine tasted like a £4 bottle. The lobster ravioli advertised with PRAWNS came over sauced and with what looked like market value shrimp. The meat platter looked and tasted like cheap luncheon meat that was most likely supermarket bought. The mozzarella on this platter was dry and the artichoke like it was dragged through dirt. The prosciutto was the only decent meat on the plate. Positives were the truffle fries and colleagues said that the carbonara spaghetti was ok. What a shame that it didn't deliver. Thank you to the member of staff who helped us at the end but only deducted the service charge off the bill! Not worth the £175. Thanks but no thanks,

Food was great although bought slightly too fast and ended up feeling a bit rushed Lychee martini was fab Tuna tartare states made at the table however was just bought to us

Fab food as ever. Love this place for vibe and lunch

The food was great, but the service was a little bit rude. We usually get perfect service at all the other San Carlos especially San Carlo Leicester and Fumo in selfridges but the one on temple row was unhelpful. Food was brilliant, but we were rushed and our waiter was rude (we were there for 1.5 hours in total and weren’t told at the start there was a limit on the table). I didn’t complain at the time, as I love the brand and hoped it was a one off but truthfully that’s twice now at that fumo they’ve been unhelpful and rude and so I won’t be returning.

Went to Fumo for drinks with my friend, we had a great time and the service from the bar tender was exceptional, I think his name was Georgio however I may be wrong as this was a a couple of weeks ago!

Unfortunatly we could not eat here (despite having a reservation) as they can not cater for ceoliacs according to the manager as the kitchen is too small. I appreciate his honesty. This review is just to save ceoliacs from making a booking and being disappointed.

Everything was just amazing, from the members of staff, to the quality and price of food. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience here!

Brilliant food , I highly recommend the pasta alaragosta è molto buono! the aptmosphere was warm and welcoming and the interior design looks modern. This is my favourite Italian restaurant and it is apparent that the food is traditional . If you are looking for a good night out and want to have a warm serving of delicious food , this is the place !

Fantastic small Italian dishes. The Duck Ragu was fantastic. Service was slow. 20 mins to take our order.⁸

I didn't like it. The food is not bad, but it is not much better than any other Italian and the portions are very small. Impossible to eat for less than €50. The place is beautiful, more noise than nothing…

Visited twice in the past month. Nice table layout, professional staff and fast service. Extensive menu offering multiple small plates all freshly cooked and delivered as they are ready, perfect for sharing. Particularly enjoyed the carbonara which was rich and creamy, good helping of bruschetta likewise big portion of pollo Milanese. Very good for pre theatre meals

Decent service, great music and cool drinks. Great Saturday night out

The place is beautiful and the food is very good too!! Portions too small, made everything more expensive!!

Nice restaurant. Service good , food good. But ruined by a very rude woman sitting next to us. The tables are too close together and she said she was trying to eat her meal 🤷🏼‍♀️ so were we. We were laughing and talking ( it was my birthday ) but that was it. Might be an idea for her to stay in in future so she can be miserable at home. Face like she was chewing a wasp. Wouldn’t go again.

Very rude manager working 23/10 food was lovely but won’t be coming back for the service

Bit expensive but a nice treat.

Delicious food, excellent friendly service. Thoroughly enjoyable lunch.

I was in fact quite disappointed on my visit. You see, we were visiting Birmingham and our children wanted Italian food, so it was our luck that we f.ound you. Or unluck. To be honest, service was good and fast, and food tasty. But, the size of the plates were like dessert plates, and were barely appetizers when it came to filling us up. The quantity to price ratio, we found, was ridiculous. And, we had a 5 year old child, who we didn't get a child menu or option for, and the size of her food was the same as two 48 year old adults, and a 12 year old that could've ate all 4 mains as an entrée.

Food is great but we were sat in a confined alcove in the bar, horrendously noisy....which spoilt it for us..

First time bringing my wife to fumo, was amazed by quality of service and standard of food, the waiters looked after our every need, will definitely be returning and Riky was fantastic five star food with a five star waiter

Does Fumo not employ bar women? Never see one in all the 12 or so years that I’ve been frequenting this bar. Equal opps guys - get with the programme already! We didn’t eat at Fumo last night - food smelt great though👌🏾 it took ages to get served at the bar, load of barmen bouncing around but doing nothing. To be fare the guy who eventually served us was friendly and professional. When we ordered 2 pints of Peroni we were told no pints here just halve glasses! I thought he meant they’d run out of pint glasses, but after telling me twice I got the message - they don’t serve pints anymore and he couldn’t tell me why🤔 Then the bill arrives: £9.++ for 2 halves! It was about 9pm but that was daylight robbery !!! And a Flippin’ service charge! What’s going on? So let me summarise: wait ages to get served, then can't get a pint, then get ripped off for the said (sad) half pint and a slapped with a service charge on top of all that!😡 Really??

Used to be my favourite place. Popped in for a drink. Peroni only by the half pint !!! What a joke. Enquired why. Was unformed didn't want to become a pub type environment. Stayed for1 deinkbanf left. 2 men at bar made similar comments. Fumo not a pub, does not attract pub type people. Why change it !!

I mean what can I say, been a regular for the past 15 years, service has dropped big time and now they even don't serve pints. Whoever thought of that idea needs to be fired. Paying £4.50 for half a pint is a joke. Wake up guys you have been in the game long enough not to be playing stupid games like this.

Our experience of Fumo was very disappointing throughout. On arrival we were told to stand at the bar and wait for our table to be ready despite being on time for our booking. We were given a table right next to the bar and very quickly the bar area filled up with drinkers who were stood centimetres away from our table as the bar area was not large enough to accommodate the large crowd of drinkers who were loud and tipsy. This meant my friend and I could not hear each other speak and were becoming irritated by having drinkers on top of us. We assumed from the interior this was a fancy restaurant however it seems to be more like a rowdy bar which was not the vibe we wanted. Unfortunately the food did not redeem our experience. When our carbonara arrived the waiter asked us if we wanted Parmesan which we said yes to and the Parmesan was never given to us and was forgotten. We ordered garlic bread to eat with our pasta and the garlic bread took SO long to come out that we had eaten our pasta by the time it arrived meaning we could not eat them together and we had garlic bread and nothing to go with it. The garlic bread itself tasted just like the Weatherspoons garlic pizza bread and was dry and thin. The garlic used was not fresh and instead was the garlic puree from a tube as tasted slightly vinegary and not fresh, exactly as the tube garlic tastes. The waiters did the bare minimum and did not really speak to us. As expected they put a service charge on our bill which we took off as the experience was so disappointing and there was no service. We definitely won’t be going back and I would not recommend Fumo to anyone.

A little disappointed during my visit as I know the reputation of this place and have been before but a very long time ago. When we arrived we found half of the main menu wasn't available due to a shortage of chicken- issues with the supplier. I understand that can happen. The dishes I did go for were quite tasty, but I feel as though you have to order quite a lot of food for it to fill you up. This made it extremely expensive. Service was fantastic, very professional and friendly. Would return again but maybe not on a Sunday!

excellent service and exceptional quality of food, especially pleasant experience with waitress sharron so lovely and warming, would recommend and definitely will come again.

A lovely place to eat hidden at the top of Selfridge's. Food was exceptional, service was good in parts (some missed opportunities to sweep the room and missed items on the order) We had an evacuation mid way through the meal so the first things we ordered were gratas. The evacuation was a little slow and they didn't make any additional consideration of the wheelchair so we had to make our own way out and find an evacuation point. (Thankfully the selfidges security took over once we found our way to an evacuation point near a lift). When we got back after the evacuation we got fresh new orders. Again the food was excellent the carbonara was delicious 😋.

Came here for our anniversary dinner and all aspects of the visit were great. Food was fantastic and the service was so attentive, thank you Riky!

My husband bought me here for my birthday meal after shopping! Very good service and absolutely amazing food! Mentioned it was my birthday and they bought out a desert for me 😉

Best place for cocktails in Birmingham. Beautifully decorated and has a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Also a great little spot to end up at the end of a shopping trip for a light meal and a drink before the taxi home from a girls day.

My wife and I love Fumo! We have eaten here several times and the service, ambiance and food are all excellent. We usually sit at the nice long bar and enjoy their tapas'style small plate dishes. Some of our faves include the branzino, smoked chicken caesar salad, and the pecorino and truffle ravioli. We have never been disappointed here. Go!

We regularly visit this group of restaurants so when we were heading into Birmingham for the Bank Holiday weekend, we tried to book. They were full but I submitted a request on the website and they rang and said they could accommodate us which was great! After booking, I came onto Trip Advisor to read the reviews and was disappointed by the relatively poor recent reviews, almost to the point that I debated cancelling the reservation but in the end we decided to stick with it, and I’m so glad we did as we had a fantastic time! Not everyone realises food comes at different times/once ready so we did a starters order first and ate those, then we did a mains order, which worked really well. The food was absolutely excellent, really delicious and perfectly sized portions for you to order a few between you (there were three of us, two adults and a 12 year old). We ordered four starter dishes and five main dishes between us. The restaurant was incredibly busy but service was excellent and food arrived quickly, the atmosphere was great too. I do agree with previous reviews that being told you’ve only got 90 minutes on your table when seated is unwelcoming but I guess they need a way to manage bookings and we were grateful they had squeezed us in. Overall, we had a great time and we will definitely be back!

Beautiful location and beautiful view .Unfortunately i can’t say the same about the service that we experience in our visit there.We didn’t get the service quality that we payed for we payed five star prices but we got one star service. Unfortunately we will not be returning. My recommendations would be to send the Staff to a Gordon Ramsey Training school

We selected this venue to celebrate my wife’s birthday, as she is fond of the branch in Selfridges. Unfortunately, our experience was deeply disappointing from beginning to end, with subpar service and food that fell well below expectations. Regrettably, I cannot think of a single positive aspect to highlight. There are far better alternatives nearby, and I sincerely wish we had chosen one of them instead.

The place is lovely however, we should have ordered more. I assume all the dishes are starter size, going by price and portion size. Would rather pay more so I can have a fuller meal. The steak was mid, and the pasta was good. The prawns were also impressive. Service was fantastic. I'm a little confused at the concept. Is this a restaurant or a light bites place. I'm not an expert, but I can only rate what I have experienced. It made sense why the prices were so low when the starter portions came out. I think the lady should have explained this to us. Otherwise 5 stars.

Carlos my Friend we have met many Times over the years in San Carlos across the Country But although Fumo Birmingham is busy than you possibly can ignore this Honest Review Please Nite this is a Bar / bistro not a restaurant The attention & service from staff is Dreadful staff Have no smiles and very unprofessional the previous reviews here should not be warranted. Would you like another Bottle of Wine Sir They just took my empty glass Away without asking . Food was Good however But Don’t expect parmesan on your pasta as the stuff just walk away and forget you . £10 Service fee on my Bill is a Laugh !! Mr Trevor Durber .

Went here for brunch to celebrate my birthday. From ordering food, within 5 minutes the all full dishes came out. It was very dry and tasted like preheated stale food The manager changed all dishes , which all tasted average (not amazing as it usually is). At dessert stage they also bought out a stale profiterole with no happy birthday message. I’ve been to Fumo Selfridges many times and had the best experience but this wasn’t good. Really disappointing as this had been one of my favourites .

Lunchtime tapas, bit pricey but worth it. Food was tremendous, probably over ordered with three dishes each between six. £488, including drink.

Lunch for 3 on a Monday (husband and I, and mother) as a pre-birthday treat. From the moment we arrived, we felt well looked after. Staff were friendly, with the appropriate level of professional formality with a smile. We were reminded that the restaurant serves food Ciccheti-style, so small plates - which suited as perfectly as we prefer this over large courses (if you're a starter + main course person, maybe think before coming - some of the other reviews seem to be the result of not checking before booking, perhaps?). Our first selection arrived quickly, although mine - the tuna tartare - took a few minutes longer. Again, no problems as we'd been alerted to this beforehand. And it was delicious. Our second round involved a fabulous monkfish dish, with which I ordered some spinach and sampled some of my husband's peas - again, every dish was lovely. We all had gelato for dessert. All the food was lovely. The service was wonderful. Pricing is as one would expect bearing in mind the quality of the food and the thought that has gone into each dish, the location and the general ambience. We fully recommend this restaurant - definitely for a leisurely but stylish weekday lunch.

I struggle to think when I last had a meal out that I enjoyed this much. Absolutely beautiful. Everything was top quality and fairly priced. Even in Italy the food isn't always this good. Certainly beats a few of the big names in Warwickshire.

Popped in for a drink before eating out..glass of fizz (half a glass, not measured just couldn’t be bothered) & pint of lager £25!! Bar staff don’t interact or come across as pleasant then have the audacity to charge service on drinks..daylight robbery! ! I suggest going to anywhere else but here for drinks x

Visited Saturday night with friends. We were not told that they don’t do starters and main servings ie: starter 1st followed by main later 🤷🏼‍♂️ Consequently when 3 starters arrived, as so did one main course, cramming the table with plates as my friends were sharing a starter. When questioned, the waiter stated firmly “ We don’t do starter and main” weren’t you told ! Whole evening (1-1/2 hr slot” was rushed, as the starters didn’t arrive for half an hour. Totally spoiled the dining experience. Very poor !

An old favourite with some old friends who had never been before, food as always delicious, eclectic mix of customers, just need to fix the air conditioning!!

Good margherita pizza / average spaghetti bolognese / delicious rosemary potato wedges / excellent and fast reception and service

Restaurant was really relaxing atmosphere staff were very polite and attentive food was amazing deffo will go there again

Modern and beautiful interiors - this restaurant is a personal fave! Love the tapas concept and although the portions seem small, they do fill you up so do order around 2-3 pp with a side or 2 to share! Food was delicious - highly recommend the lobster ravioli, prawns and lamp cutlets! Absolutely delicious! The truffle fries were a bonus! Would come again although prices are dear, it’s worth a treat here and then! Great service - very authentic! I do actually prefer this to San carlo next door haha!

As soon as we arrived we were immediately told we only had 1.5 hours until we had to leave, which was an odd way we welcome people. While the service was friendly it felt like the dishes were brought out very quickly and it wasn’t long until every dish was on the table, it would have been better if the staff had explained the dish which was being served - which happened on a previous occasion.. The experience would also have been better if there was time between some of the dishes to enable you to enjoy the food and also thought about the order they were brought out. Our side of broccoli was brought out at the end after all other dishes. It is an expensive restaurant and you don’t mind spending the money if you are made to feel it is a special experience, unfortunately the service was no better than a mid-range, standard Italian restaurant.

Camelia assisted me with the booking and she was absolutely brilliant. I had a big party of initially 23 people but then it reduced to 18 people by the time of the event. She was so helpful with menus and dietary requirements. When 5 ladies dropped out she also arranged for refunds. On the day of the event, Charlene and Gabriel were superb, service second to none. They made the event run seamlessly and the waiting team were outstanding. The variety and quality of food were exceptional. Being vegetarian, flavours and variety are important, I received all of that and more. Everyone loved the food and had nothing but glowing reviews at the quality and variety. I'm super impressed with Fumo, Camelia, Gabriel, Charlene and the team and I've even booked a father's day lunch at Fumo because I want my family to experience the exceptional food and service.

Good place for food and drinks. Decent atmosphere as usually always busy.

It looks lovely and the staff are lovely to couples or groups. But this is the 3rd time I’ve been on my own and felt like a smell on the head waiters shoe. What is wrong with coming for a drink and meal on my own. Why can’t people be kinder. You never know when you might be on your own, and you don’t know why someone is on their own.

The food here was excellent. Many chain restaurants do struggle to maintain quality but no such worries with our meal here. The restaurant is pretty cramped and noisy but that seems to be a common theme. The service could have been better: it was great when we arrived but by mid afternoon it was really difficult to get anyone's attention and when we did, they said they would send someone else but that never happened. The table next to us refused to pay the service charge. I can't blame them and considered it myself but that would just have resulted in us waiting around even longer. So, great food, patchy service and quite a cramped and noisy restaurant. I'd still happily go back but at least now, I know not to have too high expectations.

Visited yesterday and was unbelievably appalled by the shocking service. The waiters / waitresses were ALL disinterested, demotivated and completely USELESS. It took 20 minutes to get served despite the fact that including bar staff, there were almost as many staff as diners. And when the kitchen signalled a bell for service, this was usually ignored whilst hot food got cold. We ordered two starters and two mains. Though when our dishes arrived they all arrived together, though one starter was missing. An APPALLING experience though the food is actually good. We gave our tip to the chefs. As for the waiters and waitresses, they should all be SACKED and new, enthusiastic replacements recruited IMMEDIATELY !!

My experience wasn’t up to par with what I expected from Fumo. I started with the tuna tartare which specifically stated on the menu it was “prepared at the table” but it arrived looking like it had been dropped out of a mould, the waitress put it down and walked away. It was delicious but part of the reason I ordered it was because of how it was supposed to be presented. We ordered a selection of Italian bread which was meant to be served with an olive tapenade and a sundried tomato one. The only brought out the olive tepenade and when I asked where the other one was the waiter said “we’ve run out”, aren’t you supposed to tell me elements of a dish are missing BEFORE I order it? I had the halibut for main along with my partner. He asked for extra chilli and they added it to the sauce and cooked the fish with it and he really enjoyed it. A table of women next to us ordered the same dish but also with extra chilli. The woman had the fish placed down in front of her and a ramekin of cold chilli’s on the side. When we raised this to the “manager” he literally scoffed and when I pointed out the difference in dishes he didn’t know what to do and just walked away. We were the only people of colour in there along with the table next to us and it was super obvious the difference in treatment received. I ordered a side of peas which were probably one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen while eating out. The peas were a very dark khaki green and completely doused in flavourless cream. I handed them back to the waitress (working evening 29/05 with brown slick back high pony) and said “these are not fresh can I send them back please” and she just stared at me for 3 seconds… I said “HELLO these aren’t fresh can I send them back”. She snatched them out of my hand and didn’t even apologise. I was really looking forward to eating here as I drink at the bar a lot but so many small things were missed and staff need some lessons on decorum and people skills. One thing I will say, the young Greek lady who took the time to make sure we were happy and ok was absolutely lovely. She gets 5 stars for sure. Stick to the Fumo in selfridges, it’s much better.

Very beautiful place and BEST ITALIAN FOOD IN BRUM

Nice restaurant! - Please note that it is a type of tapas restaurant. The posted prices seem tempting. The food was very tasty and the portions were still perfectly fine. There are deductions because several items on the menu were not available and my work colleague was only brought her drink long after the food was there. (It was simply forgotten.)

Love this place. Food is always amazing and service top notch.

Trendy wine bar come restaurant that serves tapas style ‘smaller’ plates as standard across the menu. Staff are all friendly and professional though it’s not a fine dining type place. 12.5% Service charge as ‘standard’ but that’s many places now. In the pricey side but that’s all relative to what you order and your wallet. Overall a good place to take a partner for a few drinks and a lunch / dinner. Has that higher end feel that won’t go wrong if you’re taking someone out, though seating is limited around the central bar area. Music later on. I tend to start here if I’m going out with my wife for a night out in Birmingham.

Fumo used to be my go to restaurant each weekend, have been away for about a year but the past few times have been really bad experiences ultimately let down by poor service and really poor management when issues are raised. Have given them a few tries thinking this was a one off but seems to be consistent. The Same goes for San Carlo next door which is such as shame as that was once an awesome place to go. There are now so many great competitors around this area, I think they are struggling to find their place in that mix in terms of cost and quality. My suggestion is focus on quality

Excellent food and service great choice from menu good contrast to sister restaurant San Carlo will look forward to returning

We went there for lunch and ordered a few plates to share. We absolutely loved our appetizers but a little less the lemon chicken. This is a beautiful restaurant, with a good ambiance and a nice service. A bit on the pricy side though.

Been here several times recently, food is good and staff also , good atmosphere but can get a little noisy at times. I can only speak for the gents washroom but a thanks must go to a great washroom attendant keeping things very clean. One thing that must be said on this visit we were sat at tables by the bar on the entrance, which was not a good experience, lads at the bar noisy and we were frequently bumped by people going in/out not good for the prices being charged, suggest that this side of the bar should be zero service and kept clear.

Although the service was a bit slow and We did have to wait a bit but definitely worth it. The atmosphere is really nice and food is delicious but bear in mind this is on the pricier side though

Absolutely love this restaurant. Had a pre Birthday meal recently and the service and food were absolutely amazing. The atmosphere is always high energy but not overwhelming- you can still have an intimate conversation/ meal. Decor 10/10 Food 10/10 Service 10/10. A must visit while in Birmingham!

Bang average, much better places in Birmingham to spend your money! On arrival we stood outside waiting to be checked in for 5/10 minutes, eventually the cleaner spotted us & tried to help just as a member of staff also walked in the door. Sat with menus for 30 minutes before being asked for drinks order. Had to go to the bar myself to replenish water bottle. No service at the table. When waiter eventually asked for our order 45 minutes after sitting down we were told of the unconventional order process of no courses just plates. ???? Walked away Came back 10 minutes later & took our order. Food arrives randomly ie pizza then 10 minutes later fries Food was average at best, bland flavour & tough meat & chewy calamari Used bathroom 2 toilets blocked… cleaner facilities at the shopping centre! There must have been a change of waiters as 2nd service (Alex) was much much better- attentive & helpful! We got our bill, I spoke with a manager who changed bill not sure what was done as didn’t see the first copy. Manager apologised for everything & arranged for birthday desert for son, nice touch but too late for change of mind. I don’t recommend this place for food or service & am unlikely to return

Bar staff are you most annoying creatures in Fumo. A glass a Rose Prosecco is £10.75 on drinks menu. Card swiped £12.10. Without permission an automatic add in for pouring a drink at the bar. That happened to each of us. Next round a bottle of Prosecco Rose £45. Tell staff to not automatically add your service charge. We are sat up the bar area. The staff are annoying filling your glass after a few sips. Keep topping you up. Can’t relax and sit and chat without the annoying vultures bothering you. Sets you off nothing relaxing about that bar. They need less staff as they obviously have nothing to do than overcharge and annoy customers.

Nice food, but awful service – not catering for a foodie crowd. My partner had been here previously on a quiet weeknight. He had enjoyed the food but not had the full sharing experience as he had come with work colleagues and everyone just ordered their own thing, so we decided to come back for his birthday meal. When we first arrived, we were shown to a table with a speaker blasting out music to our left, which made it hard to have any sort of conversation – imagine wanting to talk to your partner?! This is a restaurant that doesn’t particularly care about your actual restaurant experience and is more concerned with people sat at the bar drinking cocktails so there is more of a “nightclub” vibe. We were even told there would be a DJ from 9pm – literally the last thing I’d want at a restaurant. We arrived slightly before our 6.30pm booking, but were still told we’d only have an hour and a half at the table, so it felt like they just wanted to churn people out. Despite this, service was awful so we ended up staying later than our window. One plus is our waiter did turn down the music slightly after we asked, so it made what experience we did have slightly better than it could’ve been, but that’s not saying much. We ordered 3 starter plates, 3 main plates, and a side. We were told it would come out as it was ready. Even then we were very confused when our 3 mains and side came one-by-one, rather than all in one go; having a side of peas on its own is pretty poor planning on the kitchen’s part. The wait staff were clearly confused too as two came up at different points and asked if they could clear our plates and we said we were still waiting for our starters. The second waiter went to see what had happened and eventually all our 3 starters came at once after all our mains. It can’t be too difficult to get some bread, olives, and cold meats on a plate quickly to bring out first. Very confusing as the two tables near us seemed to have everything all at once. It was odd to have the “main” dishes first, what you are usually looking forward to the most, so it ended on a bit of an anticlimax. We did order dessert – a selection sharer, which was all just cold, so again would take no time at all to prepare. The limoncello that came with it arrived quickly but we were waiting ages for the dessert to arrive. We only got the dessert as the wait staff popped over and asked if it had come and then had to go chase the kitchen. Wait staff in general just seemed chaotic, lots of them but no no one had any idea what was going on In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t paid the service charge, but I thought we might as well pay it to not cause a fuss and just never come back, which we won’t. When we first arrived, even though the vibe wasn’t quite what we were hoping for, we thought we could at least try their sister restaurant, San Carlo, another time (we think they use the same kitchen). Seeing as the main issue seems to be with the kitchen, we won’t even bother doing that. There’s plenty of other places with just as decent food, but also a nice experience, in Birmingham.

Been coming here for over 15 years now. Service is hit and miss when it’s busy but overall the food is spot on. Lasagne is a must!

Having italian heritage, one does have high expectation levels of Italian cuisine. Thankfully Fumo lived up to those expectations! Properly cooked pasta, authentic carne dishes and grappa. Bellissimo.

The atmosphere was really good for an afternoon lunch. I really enjoyed the meal with a friend and it was amazing. I got the ribeye adding truffle sauce with it was mind blowing amazing I wish they add it for the menu. Although the waitress did make it happen for me easily. It was really a good combination.

Sunday afternoon is a more peaceful time

Delicious food and attentive service.

Ordered about 8 dishes for two of us, the first 4 arrived pretty quickly which we ate then 15 minutes staring at empty plates and numerous empty glasses piling up then finally taken away, another 15 mins later we asked where the rest of the food was and the rather grumpy manager blamed the waitress for not capturing it properly. In the mean time I’d gone to the bar myself to get drinks in as we were being ignored largely. I wouldn’t mind but the place was pretty much empty at 5pm Sunday. In the end I asked for the bill for what we’d had and was charged full price which was disappointing given I had to then go home and cook. 2yrs back We used toggle between Fumo and Sancarlo every weekend, but have been away and only recently returned. I think the service and food quality has become really poor in both of them, there are now so many better alternatives in the immediate area, I wouldn’t give Fumo another try which is a shame.

2 yrs ago I always used to toggle between San Carlo and Fumo each weekend as they always guarenteed a great service along with quality of food. I've been away since then and am amazed at the deterioration of both of brands. This evening (Sunday) we went to Fumo around 4pm and the place was mainly empty. After sitting at the table it took 10 mins before someone asked us for drinks (annoying#1), We ordered food and received half the courses and then it stopped. We finishes eating the first dishes and then sat there for 15 minutes with empty plates - see picture. The next table to us was used for staff who came and went to eat their dinner and then used to fold napkins for the evening service. The Manager came and went to supervise that table completely oblivious we we sat there with dirty plates and empty glasses for 15 mins. I ended up going to the bar to get drinks and upon returning which was ultimately 30 mins waiting for the final 3 courses I asked for the bill excluding them....I had to ask twice! The manager (10 mins later) came out and blamed the waitress for not capturing the order correctly which I do not believe, the manager was quite rude to me earier. When the bill came it was full price for the food we had, no service charge, fair enough but I challenged the manager that I'd expect a discount for ruining our day, he ultimacy blamed me. I had a similar experience in SanCarlo a month back, I think both these restaurants had a monopoly in this area back in the day, I think they'll struggle to survive with the new competition on their door steps - I certainly won't be going to either of them again...such a shame. If owned either of these restaurants I would sack the managers as they do not reflect customer centric values.

Nice place, good food though a little pricey. Good atmosphere and the cocktails are to die for!

While Fumo boasts an impressive menu and a vibrant atmosphere, it sometimes falls short in terms of service. During my visits over the years to both restaurant’s in birmingham , I've encountered inconsistencies in attentiveness and efficiency from the staff. While some servers are attentive and accommodating, others seem disengaged or rushed, detracting from the overall dining experience. However, Despite this drawback, the restaurant compensates with its luxurious and high quality furniture, adding a touch of elegance to the dining environment., Fumo's culinary offerings remain a highlight. The Italian pizzas, in particular, are crafted with quality ingredients and bursting with authentic flavour. The ambiance adds to the dining experience, with a lively atmosphere that reflects Birmingham's vibrant culinary scene. Overall, while Fumo has the potential to be a top notch dining destination, improvements in service could elevate it to even greater heights.

Nice Italian restaurant in the center of the town! The food was great and the service was good and quick! (A very kind lady served us). We definitely recommend it 👌

Awful encounter. Visited with friends and family. My main arrived followed by sides and my starter came after I'd finished my main. We complained to be told it all comes together total rubbish. The customer service especially the manager was appalling I won't be returning

The food, personally, is overpriced for what it is We spent £250 between 3 of us, and I was still hungry. Food quality was okay Sharing sea food starter was worth it

Beautiful place with an upbeat atmosphere. Me and my friend enjoyed a meal out here together comfortably, with staff being attentive and service fairly fast. The pricing was also very reasonable and the bill not hefty at all, however it is worth noting that neither of us had any alcohol. Would happily come back!

We visited on a Saturday afternoon at 3 pm, the restaurant was very full & very loud. The food was average & the servings were small. The staff were friendly but rushed off their feet. It all seemed a bit manic.

The food was lovely, but its very noisy and somewhat sensory overload

Conveyor belt feel. Yes we were told we had a 90 minutes table time limit but this is because when you order a starter such as brushetta or mozzarella balls and a main such as truffle steak with truffle sauce you are expected to eat both the bruschetta/ mozzarella balls at the same time as the steak....absolutely ridiculous considering on arrival we were told that each person should order 2-3 dishes tapas style( totally unnecessary as each dish is far greater than tapas size) and actually virtually impossible as the extremely cramped table for 4 people can only hold 4-6 dishes in total when you include wine glasses, water glasses etc. I'm so glad we didn't listen to the staff member or we may have had to place plates of fresh food on the floor due to lack ofnspace in the cramped environmemt. We decided to separate our food courses order to force the restaurant to serve all 4 starters together and to stop starters from arriving at the same time as mains, when the mains came there was a mix up with the order delaying us eating our food meaning my steak was tepid at best when my side arrived. The food itself was delicious despite the rude serve. The manager / suited bearded Italian man was quick to throw us from our table despite us not ordering dessert yet. He came across as arrogant and actually used the word 'allow' as he said we couldn't have dessert ( despite the delay with our mains mix up). He then popped off and returned telling us they'd had a cancellation for a 90 min booking so he would allow us 25 minutes for dessert. The manner in which he said it made my birthday guests push their menus into the centre of the table and say almost in uniso "no thanks let's go" then the bill was thrown at us with the audacity to ask for an automatic service charge. We quickly removed the charge, paid up then left. On a lighter note despite the cramped room environment, over crowded table, conveyor belt feeling, strange tapas concept, tepid temperature, order confusion and staff arrogance......the food was delicious.

Table is given for a hour and a half slot. About ten minutes before the table was due our food was swiftly removed without the waiter checking we had finished. Which by the way we had not. When I realised what was happening I managed to keep hold of my lobster ravioli. During the course of that hour and a half 6 different wait staff asked us if everything was ok, I now know we were being rushed to finish. We were very much made to feel rushed and unwelcome. When I asked to speak to the Manager he brushed it off as not being his section? We were then ignored entirely for about one hour, which made no sense as the table was now well and truly overdue. A 15% service charge was automatically added, which my partner (annoyingly) paid, despite the service being entirely infuriating. Will definitely not return here, which was such a shame as the food was quite nice. Can't comment on desserts as we were not offered a dessert menu once we had finished. If you want to be made to feel like your patronage is an inconvenience this is the place.