Bistro 1847 opening in Birmingham was very warmly welcomed to the (very slowly growing) Vegetarian/Vegan scene. After already having two successful restaurants in Manchester, I was very excited about visiting Bistro 1847 after hearing only good things about it. Set in the beautiful Great Western Arcade, I thought it was strange to open a restaurant here. Especially after 6pm it is the only place open usually! But the atmosphere of the restaurant complements the peacefulness of the arcade. The interior of the Bistro is minimalistic and modern. Being someone who is allergic to Dairy and Wheat intolerant (I know!), Bistro 1847 is one of few places I don't feel weird at. The whole menu is Vegetarian, with dishes that can be adjusted to vegan or gluten free or both in my view. My and my friend were feeling fat so we both went for three courses. I had the curried Swede Cauliflower, Cashew nut butter and cinnamon cornflakes. So many flavours going on in a small parcel was a great choice. For the main I had "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside" (all dishes have these quirky little names!) which is a modern Veggie twist on fish and chips in case you hadn't guessed! I had the vegan version which had two huge pieces of smoked tofu which I really struggled to finish along with the chunky chips! I wasn't defeated and enjoyed all parts of the meal. For desert I had the "Good ol fashioned lover boy" I enjoyed it although I thought maybe the chocolate was a bit over powering as was so much going on. But the jelly was a nice compliment to the richness. The menu contains a large selection of cocktails and deserts for sharing if you and your friends are in search of lots of sweetness. This was my third visit on a Sunday since opening and has been progressively busier each time which is great to see. Bistro 1847 is a very relaxing experience and ideal place for a date or a catch up with a friend. And of course the food is amazing! read more

1847 Birmingham - Oh I do like to be beside the seaside... Veggie one far, vegan gluten free version near... - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Oo-ee this is indeed a very classy vegetarian restaurant. The decor is modern, simple and stylish - shades of white and grey, nice white table linen, with a few tables downstairs, and more upstairs on the mezzanine level. There's a large window looking on to the arcade, which is great for watching people come and go. The food was fantastic. It's a fixed price menu, at £19 for two courses, and £25 for three. There's also a pricier tasting menu - the couple sitting next to me had chosen that option, and were really enjoying it. To start, I had the puy lentils, with roasted carrot, spring onions and garlic tofu. The tofu was done as a silky sauce - I'd never had tofu prepared in that way, and I thought it was really delicious. For main course, I chose the bell pepper ragu, with polenta. Again this was superb, with the polenta served as crisp little triangles on top. Both my courses were gluten free, as well as vegan, and their menu is very clear to understand. It feels like the sort of place you can completely trust to get things right. Service was quick and friendly, and there was a nice atmosphere, with other diners just quietly enjoying their meals just as much as I was. I'll definitely be back here next time in Birmingham, and I'll look out for their restaurants in other cities too. read more

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I was truly excited to hear about this new Vegetarian restaurant opening up in the City last year. Situated in the Great Western Arcade (which is a genuinely gorgeous spot to visit), it's a little hidden away from the main thoroughfare but couldn't be better situated. The exterior and interior just oozes "high concept" from the get go. With it's bleached white wood woods, floors and furniture and candles on every table, it really did feel like a good choice for "date night". There is only room to sit around 30 (at a push) diners in this little Bistro, which adds to the sophisticated and relaxing aura it radiates. As soon as we entered, we knew we would be well looked after. We were greeted by the lovely staff and advised we could sit anywhere we wanted. Following previous reviews, I felt it would be better to avoid the table by the door (as it can get a bit drafty) and aim for somewhere closer to the back of the venue. This ended up being a good choice, as we were advised (due to the building's listed status) that the door won't always close properly and cannot be replaced. Once we were seated, our smiling waitress bought us over some water and menu's straight away. We were using a voucher (which can sometimes be awkward), but were treated with care and courtesy all through the meal and the experience. The short (but sweet) menu presented us with a challenge. A few of the Yelpers that had previously visited were full of recommendations, but everything looked so good; we had to take our time to decide. Once the waitress had explained that the starter I had been debating (a bruschetta dish) was like a "deconstructed Bloody Mary with frozen Vodka", I was sold. The starter was delightful. Full of fresh flavors and different textures, the Vodka slush really bought it all together to be an intriguing and genuinely unique dish. For the main's, I had gone for the "hen's egg" (being the worlds biggest egg fan). HOW CAN A SOFT BOILED EGG BE DEEP FRIED?! It was all cooked so amazingly well with the egg being served on a "nest" of what felt like "grits" and roast potatoes. Our voucher came with a glass of Prosecco (one of my favorite things), which washed the meal down nicely. Their cocktail menu looked inventive and interesting as well, but having had some cocktails before we had gone out for dinner; we decided to take it easy. At the end of the meal, we didn't actually owe anything *shock Horror*. The experience was so nice (apart from the breeze), they got a hefty tip and a hasty booking for the following week. **As a top Tip - Visit before the end of Jan for 50% off food** read more

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So thrilled I finally had the opportunity to check out 1847. Went with my husband for dinner. Neither of us are vegetarian but we still agreed this is one of the best meals we've had in Birmingham in a while. Prices are really reasonable for the quality of produce and presentation. For a starter I had the mushroom pate and as my main the seasonal vegetables with coconut. My husband ordered the 'Fish' and Chips, which were fried halloumi balls and they were SO good I kept stealing them off his plate! Attentive but not overbearing service. The atmosphere of the place is simplistic and I think that's a good thing. Cosy but manages not to feel too cramped, even when full. The menu is seasonal so I'm excited to go back and see what they have planned for the spring! read more

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Hmmm, Ok! So how to assess a delicious meal that cost me just £20, including three courses, a glass of red and a very nice tip, but which would have normally cost me around £35? And so it's January and times are tough for folks running small indi places. The punters have splashed the credit cards on more junk at Christmas, so the wallets and purses are firmly clamped shut; the wannabee keep fit types are sat at home with the Ryvitas while watching their new Benny Hill does Pilates DVD! What's a poor Bistro to do? Well one solution (maybe?) is to stay with the regular, well reviewed quality, but cut prices 50% to attract us all out of hibernation. It worked with me at least. Until the end January you can bag 50% off your food bill here making Bistro 1847 about the biggest bang for your buck in Brum! Had I gone in without the 50% off I'm not sure I'd offer a full 5*****. I loved the food, the service was attentive, the environment nice enough, and the presentation throughout was absolutely solid. But drilling down beneath the overall look and feel of my individual plates I'm not entirely sold on the bang for pound ratio. We have the now entirely necessary 'smears' of stuff on the plates, the careful placement of grub objects and the spartan amounts. Everything hangs together nicely but there is a vague 'facsimile' about things. It's what one might expect in a high end place like this and there's no surprise here. And herein lies the quandary. For £35 I'd have wanted a tad more ... something?! Be it inspiration, flair, flavour, complexity, presentation. I dunno. I missed something. It's my bad I can't put my finger on it. It could even have been vibe ... when I was there it was empty most of the time, so just chef and waiting person being very polite. But let's not get carried away. This is really good for £20. I mean really good! The desert, something all white choc and creme fraiche, was perhaps one of the best desserts I'd ever eaten. It worked beautifully, all the components meshed perfectly. Nothing jarred or tasted out of place. High five (stars!) on that one. The crumbed mushroom starter was nice enough; overall happy with the choice. The main of battered halloumi with three times fried chip railway sleepers pretty damn nice, but I could have done with a bit of extra 'smear' - it ended up just a bit on the dry side when I ran out. I could have done with a bit of tart vinegar too #pleb The only mild irritants were the 'cool' salt and pepper pots, neither of which worked that easily, and the very average Spanish red ... such a small glass for £4.10! The glass of water with cucumber was a nice to have. Would I go again? Yeah, I would for sure, but I'd be careful about what I order to ensure best value and, some of the plates of food are pretty small, to fill my tummy enough that I don't immediately need to pop into the newsagents for a snack after. Highly recommended! read more

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How can I put it? I DO love everything about Great Western arcade. Yes, if I could I would shop every day there. Well, not every day but there is something about this place that makes me passing by there now and then. And Bistro 1847 was one of theses places that I wanted to visit at Great Western, for ageeeees. I managed to have a quite bite some weeks ago, but i definitely will visit again for the full meal experience. Yes, a modern Vegetarian bistro. Well said. A beautiful one, I should say. The menu is tempting. From the starter to the dessert. And for a quick bite looking by the window people coming and going in the arcade, it`s a very cool way of spending a nice afternoon. My gorgeous aubergine panini was really nice and yes, I never ate an aubergine in a bread before so I was more curious about it than anything. It worked and the presentation is really spot on. From the vegetarian restaurants in Birmingham, it's a very trendy one. With a very clean ( not simple) decor. How not being tempted to try a meal that is name like this: " Oh I do like to be beside the seaside". Creativity is synonymous of good food as well! And I have to say that I LOVE the bar display. I can't take my eyes off it and It's definitely an invitation to have some drinks there. Bistro 1847 is a small restaurant and I noticed that it's a good idea booking tables before passing by. The service is really friendly and welcoming. I definitely will visit soon and treat my husband with a nice vegetarian meal. And I have to say that am very, VERY MUCH intrigued by the Gary Lineker`s style Tempura. So it`s more than obligated to visit Bistro 1847 again! read more

1847 Birmingham - aubergine and bread? yes, it works! - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Now don't be confused by this check in I am 100% not changing to vegetarianism! I can however appreciate a well-cooked plate of food, and 1847 is serving up some outstanding dishes. The food we had tonight was packed full of freshness and looked fantastic on the plates. The highlight has the be the falafel starter, I am a big fan of falafel and this has to be one of the best I have ever experienced. I have to say I did not miss the meat from my dishes tonight. I would say to any meat eaters thinking about trying this place to give it a go. A peaceful and pleasant dining experience, that encourages you to try something new can never be a bad thing. My only negative is portion sizes, don't arrive after not eating all day or you may be stopping off at a takeaway on the way home! read more

1847 Birmingham - Falafel starter - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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I wasn't really sure how a restaurant in the Great Western Arcade would work. Sure, it's a beautiful old Victorian shopping arcade but the units are rather small. However, good things do sometimes come in small packages as Bistro 1847 shows with a lovely rustic yet crisp and minimalist decor it still manages to deliver a feeling of decadence. And then there's the food. I went for the port and stilton pate to start which was fantastic followed by an exquisite goats cheese and red onion tart served with chili brussel sprouts (I know - awesome) and the smokiest bean hash in the world. Couple these with a glass of prosecco and that was one fabulous meal. The service was excellent, both members of staff were friendly and chatty and the food was delivered promptly with no fuss. The menu is as small and perfectly formed as the establishment, which is something I prefer. Less confusion for me as I tend to over-think my decisions when dining. I will most definitely be back to try their apparently regularly changing menu. Bistro is a fantastic addition to Birmingham's growing amount of vegetarian dining venues. read more

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This is my first review so bare with me... The decor and feel for this place is really nice and the staff go out of their way to be pleasant which is positive. However, we were sat by the front door which didn't close properly which lead to less than inspiring cold draft. The main battered halloumi was very nice but the deserts were rather small. If you want to take your partner out for a classy meal then this is recommended (just fix the door!). If you want something a bit more cosy and mainstream then don't bother. read more

1847 Birmingham - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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I was very lucky enough to be invited to try out the new menu at this great little vegetarian restaurant in The Great Western Arcade. The venue is clean and bright, though simply decorated. We sat upstairs, which I have found to be quite a nice space as long as there is a group of you. One of the pre-starters was Beetroot soup, which I'd never had before-it was delicious! Our main course was ratatouille, which was so colourful, I couldn't wait to tuck in!! Something else I'd never had before- a pre-dessert , consisting of poppy seed, banana custard, peach rhubarb and micro coriander - I wanted more! Alongside this we had accompanying red and white wines. I didn't especially like the white, a bit sharp for me, but the reds were quite fruity and went well with our menu. I can't wait to go back again - the guys that run it are so lovely! read more

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I was invited down to the Kickstarter launch at Bistro 1847 and I didn't know what to expect. From start to finish the night was brilliant. I turned up early but was warmly welcomed by Damien, the owner, and asked to take a seat wherever I wanted. I chose upstairs so I could get a full view of the restaurant. Very quickly a nice glass of wine appeared in front of me and to be honest, I was happy with just that! One the rest of the crowd had turned up, we started on the food. The pre-starter was a collection of three canapes. There was pea puree, jam and grapefruit in a pastry case, pickled mushroom and cucumber and beetroot soup with coconut and chocolate. Each one was amazing and I was pleasantly surprised by the soup, I have never had it before but I definitely will now! The starter was a poached egg (cooked to a perfect 63 degrees), char grilled asparagus and salted baby turnip. Beautiful! The egg was perfection and if possible, I'm going to try and recreate it at home but I think I'll just leave it to the professionals. The main course was Ratatouille. I've never seen it presented so well before! Each mouthful was amazing, from the pepper jus to the hash brown to the tomato to the aubergine puree, each taste was new and exquisite. If you think there was going to be just a desert, you'd be wrong, after all this amazing food we were then treated to a pre-desert AND a desert! The pre-desert consisted of a poppy seat base with banana custard with peach rhubarb and micro coriander. I loved the crunch of the poppy seed and the sweet bitter taste of the rhubarb. The main desert was an apricot and thyme jam with almond creme and strawberries. Again, it was amazing. Each portion was beautifully put together and well thought-out. The service was excellent. We were talked through each course and our glasses topped up throughout. But whatever I write, it won't do it justice, you'll just have to go and check it out for yourself! read more

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So I would like to begin by saying that I visited on a Monday lunchtime and had seen a deal on twitter where if you booked using the code 'MFM' ("meat free Monday") then you got 50% off your bill. Which took this down from a pricey Monday lunch to a quite average price. We ordered from the two course for £20 menu. We had mains and dessert. I thought the 'fish' and chips was absolutely amazing and would 100% order this again. Who knew that beer battered halloumi would be so great?! In fact I wish this was an option in every fish and chip shop. My friend had spatzle (kind of like a short German egg noodle) and also seemed happy with her choice. For dessert I did my usual and went for the chocolate option, 'textures of chocolate', which was rich and tasty. Dehydrated chocolate mousse is a new one on me. One thing that was a little odd, is that two people came in a few minutes after us without booking and were told they couldn't be fitted in as they were fully booked. For the full hour or so we were there, there were several empty tables. So I'm not sure why he turned the custom away. Overall, an interesting and tasty meal. I think I would return if I was using another deal but due to small portions i wouldn't feel satisfied if paying full price. read more

1847 Birmingham - 'fish' and chips. Amazing! - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Really interesting recipes and all vege or vegan is a kind of novelty for myself. But in all the meal here was satisfying and service was great. I had the mushrooms for a starter, great tasting but a tad heavy on the batter. The spiced pumpkin wrap for a main was nice. The place could do with a few pieces of art on the walls and such. All in all though I'd highly recommend the place if you're in for vege fodder :) read more

1847 Birmingham - Mushrooms! ! )))) - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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If you're again eating meat then this is your place you won't be disappointed I loved the dishes plus the price wasn't that bad read more

As a long-time vegetarian and a certified halloumi head, I was quite pleased to finally pop into 1847 to give their veg-only menu a go. 1847 bills itself as 'modern vegetarian' and has grown to several branches (3) outside of the Brum restaurant in the Great Western Arcade. The restaurant is named after the year that the vegetarian society was formed in England. Local, fresh produce is a big focus, outside of modernising some of the most well-known British gastronomic dishes. Aside from an entirely vegetarian menu, I was drawn here by 1847's take on 'fish and chips'. I feel that the meal has attained an almost legendary status, with friends and even random acquaintances in Birmingham extolling the virtues and creativity of the dish. First, let's take a look at the chips. Perfectly fried, high-quality potatoes - I have no complaints here. The 'fish' in the dish are deep fried halloumi balls. I've eaten more than my weight in fried halloumi, including a rival pub oriented take on this dish at a Greene King in the East Midlands, and I have to say there is something inherently special with the preparation of the dish. This squeaky cheese is not too over-seasoned, but neither dull in flavour, and is so addictive they could sell these in cones on a street corner and probably run through Cyprus' supply of the cheese in months. Instead of the uninspired mushy peas in a ramekin as a side that one would normally expect, the peas are made into a paste with lemon curd to decorate your halloumi. The plating is so pretty you could easily frame it! 1847 has a wide range of drink choices, with beers, wines, and cocktails. The beers are bottled and of a small variety, with the big focus being their wine list and custom cocktails. I tried a glass of the house white, which paired perfectly with the vegetarian entrees we enjoyed. The interior of the restaurant covers two floors in the arcade, but the seating can feel a bit cramped, especially downstairs with a lot of foot traffic. The upstairs area offers a reprieve, however a lot of noise echoes from below throughout the high ceiling. I would not recommend if you are looking for a quiet, romantic place to dine. Service at 1847 is exemplary through and through. Our table of four was very thirsty during our visit, and our server continuously was on point refilling our water glasses despite being the only diners upstairs. The pricing is a bit more than your average chain, but much lower than Brum's other celebrated high-end eateries. If you are a vegetarian, or even a carnivore looking for something a bit different, 1847 is a no-brainer! read more

1847 Birmingham - Spätzle. - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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A chic, minimalist vegetarian and vegan restaurant, Bistro 1847 is a great restaurant for Brum. In the fabulous Great Western Arcade, 1847 has a slightly minimalist French grey chic look, with cool condiment containers (it's like being in a little lab). Food has been created with a lot of care and attention- if you're a meat die-hard then it isn't for you, but as a meat water I didn't miss it at all. Some of the food has been locally foraged, too, which is a great feature of the menu. Service is friendly and attentive- they serve tea by the cup, but our waitress made sure to bring up extra hot water as she said she herself always likes to have more than that. I was particularly impressed that they were able to do a both gluten free and vegan version of the 'fish and chips' (battered halloumi or tofu), although you might have to ask for that in advance. You can get a two course or three course set menu, which aren't that cheap, but not too bad. The two course would be perfect for lunch, but at a normal level of hungry I think I'd have to go for the three course as the portions aren't that big. This time I had the parsnip curry to start and the blue cheese and pearl barley as a main, both lovely and quite simple- the flavours tend to be subtle rather than rich and in your face. Anyway, it's very cool, service is great and I'll be back soon I'm sure!! read more

I find eating out with vegetarians is sometimes a daunting task, however I heard that there was a Veggie restaurant open in the Great Western Arcade. A very cute little restaurant, and on Mondays they have 50% off if you quote Meat free Monday when you book. The food was presented well and I enjoyed the halloumi and chips, though three deep fried battered halloumis was a bit too rich for my liking. My pudding of Creme Brulee was OK, I've had better. Overall, anice meal and the price was reasonable, my vegetarian friend was amazed by the amount of choice on the menu. read more

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We all know the story; vegetarian food has had a bad reputation as being stodgy plates of food either gracing the righteous movement and full of lentils or being distinctly ordinary food minus the meat. Then along comes along chefs who actually seemed to know what they're doing. I don't know about you, but I'm bored of the cliche. And that's where Bistro 1847 comes in. Since opening in Manchester, and then in Birmingham last year, they've joined a wave of restaurants redefining what we know of vegetarian cuisine. And thankfully so. When they first opened in Brum their menu, a standard a la carte affair, was playful, quirky and the meat wasn't so much missing as never really invited to the party to start with. However their new concept has gone a little further with two menus. The 'Grazing, Sharing and Exploring' menu has a range of smaller dishes which are designed to encourage a more communal dining experience, similar to tapas. The First Date - Taste of 1847 menu is, as the name suggests, a taster menu which compromises of five courses during the week and seven course taster menu on Fridays and Saturdays. Eager to see what Bistro 1847 had up their sleeves, I went down mid-week and samples some dishes from their Grazing, Sharing and Exploring menu. It's recommended to have 2 - 3 dishes per person, so my guest and I tried six of them between us: Tarragon polenta crisp, pickled wild mushroom, goats' curd, baby aubergine, tahini and petals; Baby heritage potato, crispy bean curd skin, carrot seedlings, breakfast radish, onion ash and textures of coconut; Crispy potato & Old Winchester dumpling, herbed sauce, toffee apple, mead reduction, caramelised celery and foraged herbs; Heritage tomato & preserved lemon, pearl barley with Yorkshire fettle; Beer-battered halloumi, seashore herbs, mushy pea emulsion, smoked lemon curd, gin pickled shallots; and Garden pea mousse, broad bean, Yorkshire fettle and sesame filo shards. Each of the dishes was beautifully presented, think more a molecular-gastronomy and fine-dining than soggy mushroom pastry. A particular favourite was the baby heritage potato, crispy bean curd skin, carrot seedlings, breakfast radish, onion ash and textures of coconut, which had a delicious laksa style taste, moreish yet satisfying. The Tarragon polenta crisp, pickled wild mushroom, goats' curd, baby aubergine, tahini and petals dish was truly lovely, but somewhat confusing as it felt like a dish which straddled main course and pudding, being quite sweet and therefore somewhat confusing on the palate. We spoke to Bistro 1847's development chef, Alex Claridge, who said that the menu had been designed, with careful consideration, to take advantage of seasonal and foraged produce. Each dish had a number of components which were designed to complement each other and for the most part they did superbly. The only item we found that didn't really seem to add much to the overall dish was the toffee apple, which didn't have much apple flavour, though with the crispy potato and cheese dumplings were delightful by themselves. The puddings have a similar sharing element to them, suggesting 2 - 3 dishes between two people. We were quite full after six dishes for dinner so opted for two between us; the Peanut brittle, slow-roast pineapple, Hoxton gin snow, white chocolate crème fraiche; and Foraged blackberry & almond sponges with hay cream. The peanut brittle and white chocolate creme fraiche were delightful, interesting and unusual and very in-keeping with the innovative new menu. The blackberry and almond sponge was a little more conventional, something you might expect to see on a standard menu but still perfectly pleasant. Although we were too full to order it, we saw an Allotment Aero pass by, which looked high on the whimsy scale and definitely worth trying next time. I was already a fan of Bistro 1847's stellar efforts to showcase vegetarian food as a cuisine in its own right, but their new menu is something else. Whilst the taster menu might have the moniker First Date, this is a place to savour and enjoy over and over again...we certainly fell in love again like it was the first time. http://fulltothebrum.co.uk/ read more

Having walked past here a number of times and seeing what looked to be an intereating menu we decided to make a booking for a Monday afternoon late lunch, we would have preferred an evening slot but on Mondays they only offer the lunchtime dining until 5. Presented with the lunch menu (a couple of light bites and then the reduced a la carte menu) we opted for the 3 courses with a glass of house for £18pp and it was worth it. We had ordered the cheddar creme brulee with onion chutney and toast soldiers & tempura vegetables for starters, followed by the halloumi fish and chips and panko fried soft boiled egg with new potatoes and whiskey cream for mains and topped it all off with a ginger nut meringue with fresh raspberries and caramelised banana & a rum cake brownie. The experimental nature of the food gave a taste sensation that we weren't quite expecting, but in a good way, you could tell that parts of the menu had been adapted by Alex (head food honcho) following his departure from running the previous incarnation of the warehouse cafe, it was also a nice surprise to bump into him when we booked the table. The service was fantastic and choosing not to dine between 12 and 2 gave us pick of the seats, the only 2 things we could comment on were the limited lunch menu (3 items per course instead of the usual 5 or 6) but that was due to us booking when we did and the fact that they had been having plumbing problems (which are hopefully now sorted) which meant we had to use the arcades facilities, though they were more than happy to allow this and give access to us. Fantastic all round, great service with a smile and definitely looking to go back to have a go at the larger evening menu! read more

Posh vegetarian food in a small but interesting space in an arcade. I enjoyed the small plates of food and managed the cheese plate as a dessert. Just enough and all interesting flavours. read more

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Best vegetarian food I've had in a long time - and great prices too. Service was very friendly and the Goose Island IPA washed it all down very nicely. will definitely go again! read more

My favourite restaurant in Birmingham. It challenges the stereotypical view of vegetarian food and creates such gems! The beer battered halloumi is my personal favourite, I have it every time I visit. The food is always beautifully presented and incredibly yummy. read more

1847 Birmingham - My dessert at bistro 1847 - British Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

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Very good vegetarian restaurant that manages to tempt my meat eating friends here as much as my vegetarian ones. It's quite simplistic, and stripped back inside. There is seating upstairs too. The menu offering now includes a tasting menu, in addition to their a la carte. I find that the food here is well thought out. It's never any trouble to vary dishes for dietary requirements too. So vegan, dairy free, gluten free etc can be catered for. I've never left feeling hungry, or that the meal was missing anything. We always enjoy our meals here, and the presentation of each dish is lovely. Very Instagram worthy sometimes. Such a shame that their drinks menu is quite limited. Otherwise it would have been top marks. read more

1847 is a really delightful independent restaurant in the Great Western Arcade, which serves exclusively vegetarian food. The restaurant itself is a little cramped, and the seating makes it feel more like a cafe than fine-dining, but once you've got over this point, the food is definitely worth it. One of my favourite things about this place is the presentation. It is always absolutely perfect and really stylish. The flavour combinations are always very creative, and out of a three course dinner for two, there was only really one dish where we weren't sure it entirely worked (earl grey tea and beetroot in a dessert!). I can highly recommend the battered haloumi and chips - it is absolutely incredible and the crushed peas gave it that classic 'fish and chips' feel. The service was fantastic throughout the evening. The owner Damien is keen to invest in young people and the two young girls on the night really were fantastic - very friendly but not too intrusive. They also didn't laugh at my attempts to pronounce certain things on the menu, which I always appreciate! 1847 has an awful lot of potential, and though you couldn't help but feel it could really do with a bigger space, the quality of the food made sure that's not what you came away thinking about! It is also very reasonably priced for fine-dining, and the menu is constantly updated to reflect seasonal ingredients, so be sure to make more than one visit throughout the year! read more

Incredible flavors and excellent presentation. We had three courses: tofu scallops, pomme anna, and parsnip cake.

Veggie restaurant Bistro 1847 is just about to reach its first birthday, and when we heard the menu was changing we thought it was definitely time to go back and review again. Most people when thinking of veggie food conjure images of stuffed peppers and mushrooms or meat replacement products like tofu. You'll not find any of that here. The food is original and vibrant, and very very tasty. It's also considerably achieved in terms of technique. From his small kitchen Chef Alex Claridge (a dead ringer in face and public persona to Jack Whitehall) summons molecular cookery and classic techniques to bring you dishes such as garden pea mousse, with black sesame crisps, broad bean, and Yorkshire fettle; or pickled candy beet, spiced honey & smoked yoghurt, salt baked beetroot, rosehip, and beet falafel; and desserts such as the Allotment aero (the best bubbly minty creamy chocolate you'll ever have). Alex's excitement about the food is absolutely visible in every dish. The new menu is a departure from the strictly à la carte offering they used to have. Now it is split between smaller plates, sort of like veggie tapas for sharing, larger versions of the smaller plates if you want a good feed and don't do sharing (à la "Joey DOESN'T share" from friends), and also a set taster menu. The small plates average around £6.50, with the larger versions around £13. There are two taster menus, £27 for 6 courses Monday to Thursday and Friday and Saturday lunches, or for that special Friday or Saturday night dinner £40 for 8 courses. They call these "first date" menus - I think anyone would be dead chuffed to be taken on a date here. Bistro 1847 is one of my favourite restaurants in Birmingham. It may seem fairly casual, but the plates of food are more like something you'll find in the considerably more expensive fine dining establishments. Great value, great food. read more

We went here with my boyfriends mum&dad as she's a vegetarian and had never been. We're all meat lovers so weren't sure what to expect even though we'd heard good reviews. There was four of us and we were seated down for lunch and poured cucumber water which was a first, even though it was really nice. I had the halloumi fish and chips, it was really really good but was meant to be served with pea purée which I never got and only a few chips. Everyone enjoyed their food as we all weren't sure what to expect beforehand, we all had starters, main &dessert. What I remember the most though is one of the drinks I had it was an apple pie cocktail. As soon as we got home that night we were straight into concocting our own version. It was delicious! It tasted just like apple pie. I remember some of the beers being priced quite expensively I think a small Duvel Belgian beer was £7/8, when normally they are a quarter of that, but apart from that the food was brilliant and the woman who served is was lovely. read more

For the record I am not currently a vegetarian, but have been for large periods of my life, and as such appreciate vegetarian cuisine. Generally speaking the food was pretty good, albeit not worth the asking price. We went here in a party of 16 for a birthday meal, the tables were arranged so densely packed together that the guests couldn't all sit down, there were spare seats around unused for the time given, so I'm unsure why the space could not have been utilised better. The waiters were polite and courteous, no complaints with the service at all. The water jugs brought around weren't clean, and the drinks were exorbitantly overpriced. The food was of decent quality, but the portion sizes were generally small and of disparate size depending on the dish. (The child's side portion of Mac and cheese was larger than the adults main.... At less than half the price) I had the falafel and Halloumi, which was good (although despite the small portions it got very stodgy very quickly.) The portion of chips provided (I say portion, it was 6 fries) were laughable. The 4 pieces of Halloumi and 6 chips were the largest item on the menu, and that is not saying much. Eat well before you go! 16 people were in agreement that this was totally overpriced and downright mean in places. It's a shame because with more food and attention to details this could have been a decent restaurant. read more

Lovely presented well cooked food. Flavoured and seasonal. The coconutty winter veggies each piece perfectly 'al dente'. Loved my starter of crispy egg and bulgar wheat. read more