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4,20

Based on 175 opinions finded in 2 websites

4.2Ambience4.2Cuisine4.2Service
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Nº 1623 in 4016 in Birmingham

Nº 2 of 4 Spanish in Birmingham

CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH..tapaschickenoctopusporkcheeseprawnstomato

comment_iconOpinions

Best tapas I’ve had outside of Spain (and better than most I’ve had in there too!). Delicious dishes in a fantastic setting. We had the pleasure of sitting on the high tapas style bars in the window on a calm summer evening next to the open kitchen which is on display for all to see. The buzz of the staff and the smells of the food made for a dynamic and inspiring evening. We were amazed by the diverse and top quality food they were able to pour out of such a small kitchen - testament to the chefs’ precision and expertise. Reasonably priced given the highest of standards. The staff were expertly professional and made us feel relaxed (even when a random false fire alarm next door threatened to disrupt the evening - but they had it all under control (and to be honest the food was so good we paid no attention to the alarm!)). Will he go again? Absolutely. Special occasion, date night, client dinner, any reason at all I’ll be back soon.

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Willie Goagain . 2024-08-23

MORE AT Google

Nice place let down by the service. There was a long wait between our first dish and our other dishes, they seemed to come out when convenient for the kitchen and not when best for us. The food itself was good but we had 6 dishes between 2 and were still hungry after. The staff were quite unfriendly and abrupt, no “how was your food” or “thanks for coming”, just took payment and left.

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Sam . 2024-08-10

MORE AT Google

This is a jewel in the Birmingham food crown. Stunning food, amazing service, & an absolute bargain via the Birmingham Restaurant Festival. It’s a crime to miss this place for food - it’s worth every penny

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Mia Rose James . 2024-08-10

MORE AT Google

Exceptional food. Good portion sizes. Small in size but great decor. Relaxed environment. Definitely worth a visit.

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kamlesh patel . 2024-08-05

MORE AT Google

Overall not bad, it was a fine experience. Food was quite good but not really creative or interesting like I might have expected from a Michelin-star offshoot. Service was quite bad and it took about 20 minutes for the server to take our order, very little guidance or care taken, and were having noisy conversations with the kitchen staff which made it hard to talk to the wifey without interruption.

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David Taylor . 2024-08-03

MORE AT Google

My friend and l enjoyed a selection of tapas dishes this afternoon at Plates by Purnells, they were delicious. We particularly liked the pork belly and prawns, but overall the individual plates were really tasty. Excellent service and atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit 😊

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Sharon Carpenter . 2024-08-01

MORE AT Google

Simply excellent Tapas! Been twice and will definitely go again!

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Gerry Smith . 2024-07-29

MORE AT Google

The venue is small with some seating outside. Really nice on a summer's day. The food was delicious and well presented. The staff was tentative and accommodating. Little hidden gem. Great for quick light bites.

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Modelangel . 2024-07-29

MORE AT Google

Lovely little place. Great for lunch.

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Andy Capella . 2024-07-25

MORE AT Google

We walked in without a reservation on a Saturday lunchtime and although the restaurant was busy they managed to find us a table. Food and drink menu's were handed out immediately and we were given ample time to peruse both. Our orders were taken and drinks came quickly. Our small plates, tapas, orders came at a reasonable pace and were cheerfully served. Price point was slightly higher than other tapas restaurants but the quality was much higher.

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Kevin Mulvey . 2024-07-22

MORE AT Google

Visited Plates by Purnells for lunch and was blown away by the food, service and atmosphere. The staff went above and beyond to ensure we had the best experience. The food was outstanding - yummy small plates packed with flavour. Already planning our next visit!

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Victoria Shipp . 2024-07-11

MORE AT Google

A little tapas restaurant that met my big expectations! Every dish was fresh and so delicious, with my personal favourite being the aubergine chips. I can’t fault the impeccable service either in any way which just made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I will definitely be returning and i cannot recommend this restaurant enough!

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Harmony roberts . 2024-07-11

MORE AT Google

This is a top quality restaurant with very good food as you would expect from a Purnells venue. It is quite small with a tiny kitchen which amazingly produces a fairly extensive Tapas menu. Every dish we ordered was excellent from the bread with Tomatoes, to the prawns in garlic and the pistachio foam desert. The wine list is not huge but has a good variety and excellent quality. The whole meal of 5 shared dishes, 2 deserts, cheese, wine, beer and cocktails was under £140 without tip which we felt was very good value for money given the quality of the food and drink. Service was good and couldn't fault anything from our visit. Would highly recommend but should book as the place is quite small

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David P . 2024-07-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

There are no photos of our food as it looked too delicious to wait for photos! This is a stunning venue, with a mouthwatering menu! We had a range of food between us and settled on 8 plates between 2 people. The red sangria is FABULOUS! We couldn't fault a thing and will certainly be back in the future!

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Gemma Yates . 2024-07-06

MORE AT Google

Brilliant service (girl with the tattoo on her arm - sorry didn't catch your name), tasty food and great atmosphere! Nice little gem in Birmingham!

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Daniel Stanyard . 2024-06-27

MORE AT Google

Didn’t get as far as the food. Poor service even though restaurant was fairly quiet. Dirty toilet facilities— inexcusable Judging by other reviews, we didn’t miss out on food. What a shame. Surprised Purnell is associated with this poorly run establishment with inexperienced staff.( not their fault)

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Bernie G . 2024-06-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Just had a great Sunday lunch here with my wife. We ordered 8 dishes, which was well plenty, and 2 glasses of wine. All the food was excellent (the portions just right for tapas), and the service was prompt, polite and attentive. It's lovely to see young people cooking and serving to this standard. Favourites included calamari, pork belly, prawns and aubergine chips. Bill came to £80 odd including service, which in this day and age, and for the quality, we thought was fair. Now for a good Sunday afternoon snooze.

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Ian R . 2024-06-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Great food but terrible service. 30 minute wait from the first dish to the last dish being served (we only had 5 dishes) had to get up and ask for more drinks and enquire where the remaining dishes were. The waiting staff never looked around to see if we needed anything. Would make me think twice about going again.

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Karen Howlett . 2024-06-05

MORE AT Google

Food was delicious and well presented, probably ordered 8 or 9 dishes between us and they were prepared fresh and brought out a few at a time with staff being fully aware when we were nearly ready for the next plates. Not all allergens and ingredients are on the menu though so for example if you don't want cheese or nuts etc then please ask when ordering otherwise you might have a bit of a surprise when the food arrives

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Jason Brimelow . 2024-05-17

MORE AT Google

A hidden gem. Didn't think I was hungry until I started eating here. Fresh, clean flavours. I have no idea if this is authentic tapas or not but it was great. Veggie options superb. Recommended.

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Steve Savory . 2024-05-11

MORE AT Google

Tried Plates by Purnell based on the reputation of Glynn Purnell. Obviously it’s not a high end restaurant but we were expecting interesting and delicious tapas and a nice restaurant as it’s located in one of the better parts of Birmingham city centre. Sadly we found the environment more of a cafe experience and most of the dishes we ordered were uninspiring. For example the potato based dish was fairly flavourless chunks of potato possibly oven cooked but not enough to be tasty, in a minimalist tomato purée. The one dish we particularly liked, however, was the aubergine chips - these were flavoursome and well cooked. I sure with some changes to the menu, the restaurant could be great, but as it stands, we found the dishes generally pretty basic. As an aside, we also noted that the disabled toilet has a small step down into it, which seems a bit of a design fault if catering for people with disabilities. This could be easily addressed.

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Nicky B . 2024-04-27

MORE AT Google

This is our favourite tapas around and we love the intimacy of the restaurant. I can’t believe some of the reviews below. We’ve been here a few times now and always leave wanting to come back. Staff are always pleasant, cocktails are tasty and the food is delicious. We look forward to dining again here next month.

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Louise & Shawn . 2024-04-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

A tiny and intimate restaurant, which had a nice ambience for an evening meal. We loved the food but we're sad to discover that they had ran out of the special for a 7pm dinner booking. The plates are on the smaller side for tapas but tasted great and we just kept ordering until we were full. Total bill that included carafe of sangria, 2 large beers, and 10 plates of loveliness, was extremely reasonably price (£111 total) We've paid much more for lower quality pub food. We definately recommend.

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jenni s . 2024-04-06

MORE AT TripAdvisor

3/5 stars A cosy and intimate experience of tapas style dishes at Purnells. A concise selection of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes, nicely presently and full of flavour. The restaurant is small and intimate, but still offers privacy. I enjoyed the wine selection on the easy to read menu. Good service, not excellent. I was disappointed with the lack of harmony in the menu, some of the dishes clashed in flavours and didn't work together. The menu was also printed on white paper, I expected more professionalism and formality. I recommend the aubergine chips, sea bream, and the prawns. The rest of the dishes were lacklustre, the meatballs were nothing but balls of oregano, and the patatas bravas was not seasoned. I'm sad to say I expected more. For such a beautiful location and interior, Purnells has let me down! I won't be returning.

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nayha . 2024-03-31

MORE AT Google

An intimate, and delightful little venue with amazing service and food. The small setting is definitely one to be experienced, and the knowledge and hospitality extended by the staff is second to none. Authentic food, and a great atmosphere.

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Richard Harper . 2024-03-30

MORE AT Google

Disappointed. This spanish tapas bistrot is the little sister of Purnells gastronomic restaurant. And let me tell you that this place is damaging the reputation of Purnells. The place is missing a soul compared to her big sister, the decor is cheap and the food is not great. For the prices the bite sized dishes are ridiculous. We were 2 and took 7 dishes, we didn’t take dessert and went directly to another restaurant for a quick meal and dessert. On top of that our server, which looked like the manager doesn’t know her wines by the glass, had to bring me the menu again as all she could say was the word Rioja. The organic grenache and the alvarinho were good. Foodwise the eggplant were good as well as the bread con tomatoes. The cheese was not great, the octopus was small, the prawns didn’t taste of garlic, the artichoke and olives were a joke.. straight out the jar. I still put 3 stars because I work in the food&beverage industry and I know that 1 star reviews can easily damage the overall score. I hope that the chef will wake up and put more love in his food.

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Sacha M . 2024-03-30

MORE AT Google

It was so good. The food was amazing. Get the aubergine chips. Honestly the best “chips” I’ve had in my life. The sauces that came with the prawns and the fish were incredible. Get extra bread to dip. The service was lovely. And the atmosphere was nice and intimate!

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Hayley Fung . 2024-03-28

MORE AT Google

Don’t recommend Plates. OK ish food, stale oil used to deep fry and I felt sick through the night (not food poisoning but felt sick). Service was nonexistent. No one asked how the food was, did we need a top up of the wine, we paid and left. No smiles, no thank you, no see you soon again. Like I would. It’s hyped up by Mr Purnell’s name but I doubt he has ever sent a mystery guest to keep a check on his food quality and service delivery.

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Nit Bhatia . 2024-03-27

MORE AT Google

I'm going to first put the spotlight on the staff, what a super nice team that works here. The passion shines through. And now the food, I ordered 5 dishes, and everything was delicious. Add a bottle of Albariño. The dish of the day/week was pork belly with chimmichuri… 10/10 Yes, you should just go here to eat something and give yourself time to order more than you can eat. Because you just have to taste everything.

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Dave Dalgliesh . 2024-03-16

MORE AT Google

Some outstanding Tapas. Plates by Purnells is a touch of Spain in the heart of Birmingham city centre. If you're out for business lunch or friends. Chatting over some perfectly cooked tapas is a fantastic way to relax and unwind. This is my third visit, I miss some of the old menu items but love the new ones. Everything was the responsible price. The service was good with the waitress suggesting items that would go with dishes. I used the independent Birmingham app to save even more money.

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Matthew Bowater . 2024-03-13

MORE AT Google

We have fined at plates several times previously and were keen to return with friends. Sadly this time the whole experience fell short of our expectations. We were served water promptly on arrival and then advised there was no draft beer no truffle chips and there were no special dishes as we’d always been told of previously. Thus being early on a Saturday evening which seemed surprising to be so low at this point. . We waited some time before anyone cane to take our order. We made an initial order of a tapa selection of 10 or so dishes, we had a steady flow for the initial part of the evening then waited and eventually chased up the remaining 3 dishes and added on cheese and charcuterie. By this time we’d been there almost 2 hours! We ordered red wine at the start of our meal and were presented with the smallest glasses. We faked for a larger red wine glass and were told they only had 2 in the restaurant and were in use!! We did indeed notice later in the evening another table of 4 getting served their white wine in the said glasses sling with 2 gin bowls. For an establishment that’s carrying the name of Glyn Purnell this all seemed very poor. We asked the staff why it was all so wrong and said we felt they were trying their best but it was obvious there was no organisation and the whole experience was disappointing and very average. We did ask if GP was actually still involved as we couldn’t believe this is the standard he would allow. I see no one comments on reviews so I doubt this will be read or taken into consideration and a training plan implemented but felt the need to hopefully get the message over and really hope this wonderful gem of a place isn’t heading downhill and we were just unlucky. And that Glyn sends some decent glasses over.

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Linda J . 2024-03-10

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Cosy tapas restaurant with good service and delicious beautifully presented small plates. The meatballs are superb. Will return.

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Melanie Jackson . 2024-03-09

MORE AT Google

A really disappointed experience at this restaurant. They claim they do "sharing plates inspired by classic Spanish tapas"...well, I think they need to be more inspired and practising and testing more dishes before including them on a menu for sure. Very average food and cero knowledge of the waiter who served us about the menu (maybe a bit more training to the staff could help on this) The floor toilet was sticky dry and very dirty (probably from the night before) and the music is another concern, latino american music is not Spanish music. For whatever reason this place is not right, it seems more like a "I wanna be a restaurant" than a restaurant. It could have potential in the right hands.

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Fde Capel . 2024-03-02

MORE AT Google

Food was enjoyable but the biggest shock was a charge of £14.50 for 1 glass of wine! Also my husband told the manager at the table he had left them a £10 tip in cash. She didn’t mention that a service charge had already been added to our bill? Couple of things that didn’t sit right so I doubt we will recommend or return

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smeetsred . 2024-02-24

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Best tapas I've had outside of Spain with Purnells level of quality and service.

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Kirstie Ashworth . 2024-02-24

MORE AT Google

We booked this for an anniversary lunch as I previously lived in Spain and adore tapas. The menu was small but sounded delicious, some classic favourites. Sadly these didn’t live up to expectations. They brought no olives/bread on arrival, gambas al ajillo was served without bread and not sizzling but like warm. The berenjenas con miel were served like churros and were fatty not crispy. Patatas bravas were mediocre and the only saving grace from our selection was the croquetas which were hot, tasty and flavoursome. Staff were lovely but after ordering the Spanish named dishes they confirmed the order with the English translation of the dishes. The table we were given was too close to the gents for my liking and a little cramped. Sadly not the best first impression of a Purnell experience. Quite underwhelmed overall and a little disappointed ☹️

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Morgan Kirkden-Smith . 2024-02-24

MORE AT Google

It was just alright... I'll start of by saying that the food quality is very good and tasted very nice so in that regard can't fault them really with the stars being the focaccia and the pork belly. The amounts you get are absolutely tiny though even for tapas, we had about 10 plates between the two of us and left hungry. There was something really odd as well which I could just not wrap my head around, for a place that has mostly 2 seater tables (1 4 seater) it seemed so odd that every single dish served came in odd numbers so really wasn't very sharing friendly, seems like something small but was actually a bit annoying after a few dishes. Atmosphere was nice inside, we were in the "corridor" section and were comfortable enough, they achieve a lot with the space they have. Service was generally good but plate clearing could have been better, we were overflowing with plates at one point and they wanted to add more. The order of the dishes seemed a bit odd too, more than happy for things to come out as they are ready but would have expected at least a tiny bit of grouping i.e cheese board, cured meats and bread together Won't be rushing back any time soon.

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Rudolf Bohmer . 2024-02-20

MORE AT Google

Amazing experience, and the staff was so lovely. Food was amazing, Honestly the best tapas we’ve had! Will definitely be returning!

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Clare Fitzpatrick . 2024-02-18

MORE AT Google

My second visit and I was not disappointed, all the tapas were of the highest quality. The staff were attentive and friendly

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Ed Lacey . 2024-02-15

MORE AT Google

Cute tapas spot, delicious food, friendly staff . Would recommend booking a table as there is not a lot of tables

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Estelle Patil . 2024-02-14

MORE AT Google

Superb food, great service. Great value. Staff are so friendly & helpful. Will definitely be returning.

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catherine knox . 2024-02-07

MORE AT Google

Plates had been on our list of places to try for a while. Despite this surely being one of the smallest restaurants in the City Centre, they do a great job at making you feel at ease and relaxed in the surroundings. it’s definitely an intimate feel without being overly cramped. The menu includes many of tapas favourites - Patatas Bravas, Chorizo, Squid. We felt the food was good without being exceptional. All the dishes were enjoyable, without any standing out as truly wow. It is though incredibly good value, a nice ambience and well worth a visit

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mattdrink . 2024-01-28

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Nice atmosphere on a Saturday evening It’s Tapas so you know what size the food is and it’s recommended that you have 3-4 each but including a desert we had 10 & they were all good (could have done with a couple more pieces of bread). There’s not loads of choices but I would say just about enough. Good selection of wines & at reasonable prices So for 10 dishes & a bottle of wine we spent just over £100 inc Tip & I think that is very reasonable. I will be returning & definitely recommend

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paul14hc . 2024-01-25

MORE AT TripAdvisor

First time visit on Saturday 20th January, staff were very friendly and attentive. Food was delicious, piping hot and so flavourful. We really enjoyed the seafood dishes. One less star on atmosphere due to the seating, but that would not put us off going again. Would definitely recommend to others. I wish had taken pics but was too busy enjoying the food!!

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Jas . 2024-01-22

MORE AT Google

My fav tapas experience ever! Food is incredible and staff are so helpful and friendly. Prices very good too, my new weekly visit!

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Molly R . 2024-01-21

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Great place, we couldn't fault anything. We went for lunch on a Saturday and the food was amazing. The portions are quite generous and each tapas plate can be shared between three people. We ordered 6 plates + 2 desserts for our party of three people and it was quite filling. The quality of the food is some of the best I've had on Birmingham

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Nish S . 2024-01-21

MORE AT Google

Amazing little venue, inès our waitress was fantastic! Can't wait to go back for more anchovies

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Jasmin Siouxsie . 2024-01-20

MORE AT Google

Food was excellent as usual, but on this occasion i felt badly let down by the service- we were a table of four and the service was much slower than usual even though it was an early evening table.Another group of 3 who came in just after us were told there was a delay as they were busy .However the main issue came towards the end of our meal when we were reminded of the time to vacate our table- this wouldn't have been a problem if desert had been served promptly - it wasn't, and it was accompanied with our bill !!!!! I have never experienced that before .On leaving we had to literally push our way past waiting diners who had obviously been told that it was us holding up their table - and they made their feelings very well known to us - including slamming the door behind us .

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Dawn SILVERTON . 2024-01-19

MORE AT Google

I came with my partner for some food and drinks and everything was so nice! The best tapas i’ve had in England and the drinks were exceptional. Amelia and all of the team were more than happy to look after us the whole time!

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JamesWoody1996 . 2024-01-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

We received a warm welcome, we were looked after very well our waiter was called Ines was a real sweetie advised us on the tapas selection which was all delicious, our only criticism was the bread 2 small slices of bread £5 over priced so don't order bread!

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Peter0401 . 2024-01-14

MORE AT TripAdvisor

The food was excellent throughout. We even had to order more Calamari it was that good. However, it is the first time I have been given the bill with dessert. We ordered 1 dessert then waited 15 minutes for it to arrive. As it was served the waiting staff apologised but said that as we had overstayed our welcome we needed to settle immediately. On leaving we had to make our way through waiting customers who gave us verbal abuse about being so late even though the delay was due to slow service and it was only 15 minutes. They then slammed the door shut on the back of the final guest. Previous visits have been far better for all four of us but this one was very disappointing and far from welcoming.

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Adrian Lyden . 2024-01-14

MORE AT Google

While Plates by Purnell bears a Michelin recommendation, my experience was somewhat underwhelming. The dishes, though served with care, leaned towards lukewarm, and the flavours were subtler than expected. The chorizo, unfortunately cold, and the prawns, somewhat tasteless, left room for improvement. Nevertheless, the restaurant's ambiance and service were commendable and the drinks cocktails and wine were very good. We did raise this with the staff and they did remove the dishes from the bill but it really left me disappointed having expected so much more :(

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Sam H . 2024-01-13

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Had an amazing espresso martini, the tastiest lemon vanilla margarita and a delicious basque cheesecake with rubarb compote made by the kitchen manager! The waitresses and staff in general were really friendly and chatty, the perfect little spot to have snacks and drinks. We will definitely be back to try some small plates in the future!

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Fi S . 2024-01-10

MORE AT TripAdvisor

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY, absolutely shocking! We received a voucher from our daughter as a present. We were so looking forward to visiting after the matinee performance of the pantomime at Birmingham Hippodrome as had heard good reviews. An hour after we sat down we received frozen prawns, white and disgusting in a watery sauce. Next up the waiter chucked the chickpea dish on the table, I had to ask him what it was🙈lukewarm and disgusting. We cut our losses and left, had a nice bottle of red wine but that’s about it! How can GLYNN PURNELL put his name to this restaurant? No atmosphere, staff lacked training, it was a shambles We went to Riva Blu to have a pizza as we were starving! Do not waste your money on this establishment!!

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Lesley0691 . 2023-12-19

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Loved it. Particular praise due to the two servers: their brilliant Portuguese colleague and their new colleague, who was only on Day 4. Great chefs who engaged with us and had a laugh. Nice to see Glynn pop in to make sure all was well! And of course the food - superb Tapas. Best calamari I've had, best cheese croquettes I've had, an amazing Sea Bream on a rich smoky paprika Thai curry-style sauce, even the simple tomato bread with smoked anchovy and coriander salsa was absolutely delicous.

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Tom M . 2023-12-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Fantastic food, great food selection and excellent service. Thank you for a wonderful meal.

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Ramona Allen . 2023-12-17

MORE AT Google

We had dinner here last night, all of the staff were friendly and attentive. We ordered many dishes and every single one was delicious! Our favourite two were the chicken wings and patatas bravas. The sparking sangria was a real treat. We look forward next visit!

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Dawn Roberts . 2023-12-09

MORE AT Google

We went to the restaurant for dinner, sat on the table close to the kitchen, nice to see the chef working hard but please do something for those christmas decorations on the windows as i found myself fighting with those light repeatedly during the dinner. Food was average but tasty, I would personally work more on the presentation seen the price of the whole experience. We ordered a bottle of wine that was decent, overpriced for the quality. Service was ok, again for the name of the place I was probably expecting a little bit more from the service, both manager and waitress looked like they didn't want to be there. Presentation and price quality/ratio, 100£ for a bottle of wine ans 6 tapas. Will not come back

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Valeria Cirolli . 2023-12-08

MORE AT Google

We dined here 6th December having seen the restaurant listing in the Michelin guide. The food was amazing. The restaurant serves tapas style plates and has plenty of choice. We had seven different dishes. Of particular note were the meatballs, bream and croquettas. The prices are reasonable too. Our bill came to just over £100 including drinks and wine. If we lived closer to Birmingham we would definitely frequent this restaurant on a regular basis

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Michael B . 2023-12-07

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Really lovely food, one of the best meals I’ve had for a long time. Only downside was that it became quite smoky in the restaurant from the kitchen which made our eyes sting and left our clothes smelling once we’d left (maybe need better extractor in the kitchen!). Would defo return though as the food was so good.

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Hollie cooper . 2023-12-03

MORE AT Google

Great food, loved the sauce on the chicken wings and chorizo too, literally a game changer. Nice venue and good location but a bit of a squeeze if you are one of the few sitted at the front. The Sunday menu looks a bargain 👌 Will come again 😋

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Michael Wheale . 2023-11-27

MORE AT Google

It's a great place, with brilliant food at a great price. Service and atmosphere were excellent 😀

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Nino Addio . 2023-11-22

MORE AT Google

We booked a table and we're greeted courteously and seated at the far end of the restaurant. We were provided with menus and left to our own devices for a dlfew minutes before the waitress came to take our orders. We ordered several tapas to start and the house red which was good. The stand out dish was the aubergine fries which were beautifully crispy on the outside and melt in the mouth on the inside 10/10. The prawns in ginger were excellent with a great spicy kick from the sauce 9/10. The chorizo was tasty but not exceptional,8/10, as were the meatballs and the potatas braves, both 7.5/10. The potato croquettes were very nice, 8/10. The patron peppers were nice without being outstanding. The tomatoes served with them were nicer than the peppers, 7/10. We doubled up on some dishes. Overall the food was good, with one or two outstanding dishes. For the price (£170 for 3) with 2 bottles of wine, I would say it was decent, but not exceptional, value for money. Without checking the price of the wine, hard to say how much the food was, maybe £40 per head for approx 15 dishes? Would go again as the standard was good.

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MrSteve31 . 2023-11-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

They could do with a friendly staff. We sat at a table and a waiter abruptly asked us to move (there was no Reserved sign on that table). That went on twice. We decided to leave. Definitely NOT going back!

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Gabin-Wilfried Kayumbi . 2023-11-05

MORE AT Google

Food was amazing. Really enjoyed the fact that we weren’t rushed. Shout out to our server Layton who was an absolute delight.

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Dawn Broad . 2023-11-01

MORE AT Google

Absolutely top evening with the most delicious food and wine, and great service. Loved every dish we chose. Almost every dish deserves a mention but the chickpeas and prawns really were something else. Desserts were fantastic too - light and airy and utterly delicious. Lovely atmosphere. Can’t wait to visit again.

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Kat de Polo . 2023-10-28

MORE AT Google

Great food and service. Then charged £40 as a no show! Yeah it will be in your bank in 5 days. Cheers

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Alan H . 2023-10-21

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Delicious tapas, lovely wine and the service was spot on. We will definitely be returning.

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Lesley Elsom . 2023-10-19

MORE AT Google

Great food!, those Aubergine chips are lush. Service with a smile and very polite staff, beautiful decor, tables could be bigger but it is small plate tapas. Will most definitely go again and recommend 👌🏽.

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Ell BIRBETH . 2023-10-15

MORE AT Google

We visited this restaurant mid week for lunch. It has a small but pleasant interior with a Spanish theme. Our visit didn’t get off to the best of starts. We were seated at a table, given one menu between the two of us and then sat there for 10 to 15 minutes listening to raised voices between the kitchen staff and a front of house person. The menu is quite limited, and when we eventually came to order, one of the items was not available. We were very disappointed in the quality of all the dishes, in particular the chicken wings were dry and chewy. We were sat quite close to the kitchen in this small restaurant, and the cooking fumes were overpowering. My partners eyes were watering. In summary, the environment, food and service were all extremely disappointing.

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LauraDaveJames . 2023-10-13

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The garlic prawn was so tasty! Perfect with bread. We had like 7 tapas, portion was small but enough for 2 people. The octopus and aubergine were super tasty. Meatball was nice too. They don’t have pork belly anymore which was a shame. We also ordered burrata salad which was nice with figs and nuts. The sangria was strong, service was great. The panna cotta desert was super creamy!! Would come back again :)

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Jichao Bai . 2023-10-04

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We were really well looked after😁

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Andrew Roberts . 2023-09-30

MORE AT Google

I've not always been a tapas fan. Long menus of fairly average stuff. Plates has a very small menu, and the food is very good. Incredible calamari, delicious burrata salad, and meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. Everything was great...apart from a really odd creme Catalan, which wasn't set and tasted of squirty cream. We sent this back and it was knocked off the bill, all done very amicably. Champagne is Purnells own, short list of very nice wine, and some sherry to finish. Lovely service, and all very affordable. Give it a go. Forgot pictures, it was my birthday, and I was boozing.

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Alex B . 2023-09-29

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Came to plates by purnells after a long time of wanting to visit, was very excited to come and share this experience with my husband travelling from Warwick as we love good tapas but don’t have any good places where we live that offer tapas....

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Nakita S . 2023-09-24

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totally blown away, amazing flavours, cooked with care & passion , everything was just divine, great work all involved, would give 6 stars if I could

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Phill Crowe . 2023-09-18

MORE AT Google

Tapas was not authentic Spanish tapas at all (parmesan on the patatas bravas??) and the dishes were insanely tiny and the prices definitely did not reflect this. All the dishes were generally bland (some weren’t even hot when it came out) and we left feeling extremely hungry afterwards.

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Leanne Chan . 2023-09-07

MORE AT Google

Love it! The staff are brilliant and so friendly. And the food is delicious! The truffle and honey aubergines were to die for.

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Callie Thirsk . 2023-09-02

MORE AT Google

We went with friends. We had been looking forward to this for awhile. However,it's one of the worst tapas meals we've had. Very small amounts(smallest we've had at a tapas restaurant) chicken drumsticks were very vingary. We had to order another calamari due to not being enough in first dish No atmosphere and one of the waitresses looked very miserable. We felt that we were sat in a corridor with it being narrow Will not be going back and wouldn't recommend, nothing special!

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Gail . 2023-09-02

MORE AT Google

what a lovely place this is ! from the moment you arrive the service is wonderful the food is divine and the seating area is lovely I can highly recommend a visit here for a friendly no fuss experience.

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Daniel Broughton . 2023-08-31

MORE AT Google

We love the cosy and laid back vibe of this restaurant. The food is delicious, the service attentive yet friendly, the whole experience was fantastic. We can't wait to go back.

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Marie Hutton . 2023-08-30

MORE AT Google

Really disappointing experience after eating at Purnell’s other restaurant. Tapas were average and overpriced. Interior was cheap. Strange restaurant set up, was sat right by the toilet which wasn’t a vibe.

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Zara . 2023-08-29

MORE AT Google

Really nice place, we will definitely be going back there and would recommend this place to everyone.

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Roberto Henley . 2023-08-23

MORE AT Google

We had a great meal here, it was well priced and delicious. Especially the Canarian potatoes. The plates were great for 4 people sharing. We ordered about 10 different dishes, all delicious. The drink selection was small but the wine we chose was fab. The...

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leandaw2021 . 2023-08-20

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Exceptional food.. high quality and the best tapas I’ve had! Chicken wings are awesome!! Well the whole lot was good.. refined food and a great place to eat… also good prices! Will be back!

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Lee Smith . 2023-08-16

MORE AT Google

Reading the reviews we had such high hopes but we left disappointed. I’m not sure if we got them on bad night but the service was poor- you couldn’t tell who was in charge and everyone looked a bit lost and like they were in training (which is fine but maybe not on a Saturday evening). We were in a cramped table in the window near the toilet so maybe forgotten about and missed out on the ambiance of the restaurant. The food was nice but not all dishes were thoroughly warmed through. They forgot one of our orders and we had to ask for it. We are used to having tapas so understand it can be staggered but it was one dish every 10 mins so you couldn’t really create a plate of the different foods and enjoy them together. Everyone was pleasant enough and perhaps we’d go back, we just really expected more based on the reviews and hype and left feeling a little let down by the overall experience.

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Becks Clement . 2023-08-13

MORE AT Google

The menu has a great number of options of lovely Spanish inspired tapas, and the food itself was delectable. The staff, however, I found weren’t overly friendly and seemed mostly very uninterested. We had booked a table, but it seems we were not allocated one because the person who “greeted” us at the door appeared to discuss with his colleague how the only table they could put us at was one that was squashed between the bar and the front window next to the door, and any other time we asked for something, like another drink, that wasn’t from the hostess, who was the only one who actually smiled and seemed friendly, it seemed as though we were being bothersome. I give a 3 for service because the hostess that mostly served us really was lovely, but the rest of the service really wasn’t quite miserable. Not sure I’d return, unfortunately- great service can make up for average food, but great food can’t make up for poor service.

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Nicole Boyd . 2023-08-10

MORE AT Google

Expected more from the Purnell name. Food was nice but not unforgettable. Minimal choice on drinks - unless you want wine (I guess it is Tapas). Friendly and welcoming staff. Would visit again but not in a hurry. Worth a visit.

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Jodie S . 2023-08-08

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Excellent service and food. We had the prawns, potatoes and octopus and they were all outstanding. 100% recommend this restaurant for an evening out.

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Jordan Matthew Cajigal . 2023-08-02

MORE AT Google

Staff were great and the food was nice. The atmosphere was really good...you could have been on Holiday with the Spanish Music in the background at just the right volume. This is a Tapas bar so no great slap up feed here. They were really...

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Blooflame01 . 2023-07-30

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A new favourite of mine. Delicious food, fantastic atmosphere. We walked in on a late Saturday afternoon and we’re greeted with such friendly staff, and were lucky to dine al fresco. We had mostly everything on the menu, the ones that stood out the most were aubergine fries, sea bass, padron peppers, & garlic prawns. The staff spoke to us about every dish upon service, which was a nice touch. So delicious, we ordered around 9 plates between 2, including a bottle of wine. Will definitely return :)

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Shelly Patel . 2023-07-29

MORE AT Google

Fabulous evening with brilliant service. Many thanks

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Chris Connolly . 2023-07-28

MORE AT Google

Walked in door... no one to greet... bar staff indicated 1 minute... server looked at me Ana said they have nothing available then walked of completely ignoring my follow up questions... for a first impression for the ratings that persuaded me to go.... was not...

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Climber03440222050 . 2023-07-27

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The food is good and very quick, but some dishes lack the edge you'd expect. Still really good for the price. There is definitely an emphasis on great service, despite it being a Friday night we were always looked after quickly and kindly, even with a young baby!

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Sana Gull . 2023-07-22

MORE AT Google

Walked past and decided to give it a go. We were blessed with the weather so were able to eat al fresco as the place was already fully booked. The service team was very helpful and friendly and the food was very tasty. The surprise of the day for me was the pickles that came with the bread. I’m not usually a pickles person as I often find them a bit too sharp or salty but these ones were perfect for me. The only thing I’d say, and it’s purely personal preference, is that I would’ve preferred the bread to be softer and more like bread loaves rather than the crunchy bruschetta pieces that were served. This would’ve allowed me to mop up the sauce. A nice and unexpected surprise treat overall. If you’re looking for a place to chill and share a selection of bite size good food, this is certainly a hidden gem worth considering.

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Charles Bellington . 2023-07-21

MORE AT Google

I had been really looking forward to this, largely because of the Purnell name. Yes, it was nice and had it not been I the Purnell family, I would have given it a 4 instead of a 3. But our expectations were high, and it didn't quite deliver. It was nice, just not as good as we expected, and we expected it to be really special.

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Craig Holden . 2023-07-18

MORE AT Google

I'll start by saying that everything we ate was lovely and well prepared, however i've got to say the portions are very small for the money. The menu presents as a menu you'd see all over Spain which was great to see, however the the...

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samjJ6340EZ . 2023-07-16

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We really enjoyed the aubergine,seabream and octopus dishes including the smoked anchovies .The beef was soft but the sauce was underwhelming.The service was touch and go depending on who it was.

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Deepti Shinh . 2023-07-15

MORE AT Google

A Purnell restaurant, did I build that up too much in the light of my past experiences? Our reception....professional but cool After reading the menu, we were in anticipation... Did the reality live up to those expectations...regrettably, no, it fell short of achieving the flavourful delights...of authentic Spanish tapas

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Jane Biggs . 2023-07-15

MORE AT Google

Excellent food, a chilled vibe and great service. Simple dining and good value… highly recommend for any occasion!

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Sidney Brass . 2023-07-06

MORE AT Google

Went after work with 3 girlfriends. Arrived and seated quick. Ordered drinks. I ordered the Cheese Croquettes which were really nice £7 and Crispy Squid £8. Friends had Bread with olive oil and tomato spicy potatoes Prawns and Garlic Chorizo with cider and honey and...

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kim h . 2023-07-05

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