Fumo in Birmingham

I had a terrible dining experience at Fumo by San Carlo (Waterloo Street, Birmingham). I ordered the lobster pasta, and it was absolutely awful. The lobster meat had a very strange taste—dry, rubbery, and completely unpleasant. It was nothing like fresh lobster or even decent seafood. Honestly, the dish was barely edible. When I raised the issue with the manager, I was met with a shockingly arrogant and dismissive attitude. He flat-out refused to explain anything or acknowledge the problem, showing no interest in customer satisfaction at all. This place pretends to be upscale, but the food quality is poor and the service is even worse. I strongly advise everyone to avoid this location. There are other Fumo branches in Birmingham—make sure you don’t end up at the Waterloo Street one. It’s simply not worth your time or money.

I found myself having lunch today at Fumo on Temple Row, just by the Cathedral, and I must say – what a fantastic surprise. As an Italian, it’s not often that I come across a place that gets it right, but Fumo absolutely did. The Sicilian arancini were the first highlight: finally, a version that resembles the original in both size and taste – rich, authentic, and satisfying. I then tried the panzerotto, which was also excellent, followed by a miniature pizza – small in format but full of flavour. The real gem, though, was discovering that Fumo serves millefoglie just the way I like it: crisp, light, and perfectly balanced. I closed my meal with a double shot of Amaretto di Saronno, which made the entire experience feel complete. One thing that caught my attention was the tapas-style format of the lunch. While I appreciate the creativity, I find this concept a little ambiguous when applied to Italian food. Italian cuisine is traditionally built around enjoying one course at a time, and mixing too many at once risks affecting temperature and experience. That said, my dishes arrived at nicely spaced intervals – I might have preferred a few extra minutes between them, but overall, the pacing worked. The atmosphere was elegant and refined, with a view over the Cathedral gardens that added a serene, almost cinematic touch to the whole experience. And of course, the staff was impeccable – professional, warm, and attentive. In summary, Fumo is a stylish and authentic Italian spot that manages to impress both in taste and ambience.

Went to Fumo with my partner and honestly, I left pretty disappointed. The food tasted alright, but both of us ended up with stomach issues not long after, which kind of ruined the whole experience. We ordered the pizza, and it was tiny. Like, ridiculously small. It looked like two slices rather than an actual pizza. Not at all what we expected, and definitely not filling. I left the place still hungry. To make it worse, the food was really expensive for what we got. The portion size just didn’t match the price at all.We also had the millefoglie for dessert, and that was another letdown. The puff pastry was soft and soggy, like it had been sitting in the fridge all day—not the light, crunchy texture you’d hope for. All in all, it just wasn’t a good time. I don’t think I’ll be going back. Maybe if you’re just after a small snack or something quick with a drink, it might be okay—but if you’re looking for a proper meal, I’d say skip this place.

The food was amazing and the restaurant looks really good. To be honest i expected to pay much more than i did for lunch - prices are fairly reasonable

Nice atmosphere, ok food, a little expensive. It's good for making a good impression

Very entertaining bar staff, excellent service and delicious food.

A very pretty restaurant with some amazing food and great service by Sharon as well.

The establishment represents a significant overcharge; superior dining and beverage options are readily available in the vicinity.

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

Delicious food and very efficient, friendly service. The decor of the restaurant is also quite opulent, which added to the great experience. Sadly, I didn’t take any photos of the food, because we were enjoying ourselves too much and wanted to dig in as soon as the tapas dishes started arriving! We tried 1-2 dishes from each section of the menu. I would particularly recommend Baked Norma (tomato, aubergine pasta with basil) and Pollo Milanese (thin chicken breast in breadcrumbs). I would definitely come back!

Amazing place and the bar staff made our night, Alex on the cocktails all night was something I’ve never experienced before as his passion and customer service made our night. Can’t wait to come back.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Fumo in Birmingham, and it was truly an exceptional experience. From the moment we walked in without a reservation, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. The staff went out of their way to ensure we were well taken care of, making us feel like VIPs throughout our visit. Now, the food – absolutely fantastic! Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. The quality of the ingredients really shone through, and you could tell that a lot of care and attention had been put into every plate. Whether it was the starters, mains, or desserts, each course exceeded our expectations. The service was attentive yet unobtrusive, with the staff providing helpful recommendations without being overbearing. It's rare to find such a perfect balance of excellent food and top-tier service. I would highly recommend Fumo to anyone in the area – whether you're a local or just visiting, this restaurant is an absolute must! We’ll definitely be returning.

Everything was fine. Friendly staff, good food. I recommend!

Booked here for my wife's mother's day meal, had a booking but knew we would be 15 mins late so rang ahead to warn and they said that's fine. When arrived was told our booking was cancelled, and was very abrupt. Then we questioning why and saying you said it was ok on the phone they suddenly changed there mind. The food has a good reputation so was expecting exciting things, but to be honest for the price it was rather bland and very underwhelming. It very visually pleasing so for social media it might be your thing, but for us the rudeness and the overpriced bland food means we won't be returning.

Food came out very quickly, was very tasty and well priced.

Lovely meal had the rib eye steak was cooked perfectly, friendly staff and nice surroundings very good atmosphere too would recommend

When we arrived, the doormen aggressively manhandled us, claiming we couldn’t stand around the bar, even though that’s exactly where we had been told to wait. When we raised this with the manager, he simply responded, “That’s their job,” which was absolutely absurd considering we had paid nearly £100 per person to dine. Later, when we received the bill and explained to the manager why we had removed the service charge, he insisted that “his” security wouldn’t behave that way and said he would check the cameras. By that point, we didn’t care whether they checked their cameras or not, the damage was done. The lack of customer service in this establishment is shocking, and we will be taking our complaint to head office to express our dissatisfaction.

Always 10/10 across the board, service is delightful, every plate of food is hot, tasty and generous for tapas!

Went there for dinner. When we were ordering food, they told us that they mostly don’t cook in real time at the restaurant. Everything is pre-cooked, and served after re-heating. I was not expecting this from a restaurant at such price points. An example would be - their staff said to us ‘we don’t have fresh peppers, it’s pre-mixed’ - this sounds to me like a jazzed up version of McDonald’s with ‘ready meals heated up’. Key difference: ‘fancy plates, and cuttlery!

Alex was great! We had a lovely time

One of my favourite restaurants, nice atmosphere and friendly staff. Service is very good too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Fantastic Atmosphere & Great Drinks! This place has everything you want in a great bar—amazing ambiance, skilled bartenders, and a fantastic selection of drinks! The cocktails are well-crafted and balanced, and they even have an impressive list of wines and craft beers. The staff is friendly and attentive, making sure you always have a great experience. Whether you’re looking for a casual night out or a place to celebrate with friends, this bar is definitely a top choice! Highly recommended.

Always love a visit to Fumo. Great food, service and surroundings.

Excellent service and every visit is special

One of our favourite restaurants, beautiful place food amazing and service is always great.

Tuve una bienvenida encantadora y una gran mesa, el menú de precio fijo no estaba disponible, así que aunque todo lo que quería estaba en que tuvimos que pedir desde el menú de tapas. Teníamos un plato de vieiras, calamares y un par de gambas grandes. Para dos personas la porción era ligeramente pequeña y no constituía una relación calidad-precio, sin embargo la comida era muy buena en general, pedimos unos seis platos. La bandeja mixta del desierto era impresionante. Creo que las porciones podrían ser un poco más grandes, pero aparte de eso fue una tarde encantadora. El Rose Prosecco era completamente caro, pero sabía suave y cayó bien.

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

Visité este lugar para almorzar mientras estaba en la ciudad. El personal de seguridad, bar y restaurante era genial y atendió mi pedido muy rápidamente. Era un lugar agradable y tranquilo para estar en una hora de almuerzo del viernes. El pan de ajo y la ensalada de pato eran excelentes. El servicio al cliente era genial también.

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!

Gran entorno, buena comida y buen servicio del personal muy bien entrenado e impecablemente vestido. Tiene porciones estilo "tapas" así que tuvimos 5 platos entre dos de nosotros. Todos estaban deliciosos.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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,

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

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!

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.

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!

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 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!

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.

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 .

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.

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.