I decided to eat here because British food is disgusting. I thought Spanish food would be safe? You know, flavors, good combinations using spices. Oh...I was wrong. The broccoli tapa was not braised. It was soggy and disgusting. The chicken was oily and lacked flavor....POLLO LOCO in the USA has better chicken than this crap. The albondigas tasted like my mom's Mexican albondigas? I'm not trying to be rude....but they tasted like Mexican style? The potato's were whatever. I've had better Spanish food across the continent? How does that happen? No idea. News to me. I should have researched this place before coming. You've been warned. read more

Tapas Revolution - Does this look "char grilled?" It was soggy. I was so disappointed by the food they put out and try and call it Spanish. - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Tapas Revolution (TR) is a chain of Spanish restaurants in the UK owned by Spanish celebrity chef, Omar Allibhoy. Having had a good experience at TR at Meadowhall in Sheffield, I was eager to try out their branch located in Birmingham's Grand Central (close to Nando's), especially after receiving a 50% off food coupon which they send when you sign up to their loyalty scheme, which is probably the strangest loyalty scheme ever as after signing up once you only receive further discounts if you're a student with an ac email address, and even then you can only claim on Monday's! I ordered three tapas - Paella with Chicken - Tortilla (Spanish Omelette) with aioli - Chorizo with potatoes and a fried egg. Sadly my favourite two tapa dishes normally, the Albiognas and Potatoes Bravas both weren't gluten-free, the latter was down to a shared fryer. I mean come on Omar, why can't you have a dedicated gluten-free fryer at your restaurants when you could be making what is a limited selection for coeliacs, much better. At full price, I wouldn't say it represents value for money but they do seem to do lunch offers which make it a little more reasonable but the gluten-free selection as a whole just seems limited. Most of my food was good, the main flaw was the potato, chorizo and egg dish was a little overcooked and there wasn't much chorizo at all meaning it wasn't as enjoyable as I'd have liked; my friend also ordered this and she got some shell in her food which is careless. I did really enjoy my tortilla which is probably the best Spanish tortilla I've had, which is a Spanish omelette with potato and onion, I liked how they also put some aioli on the side to give it a bit of a kick and to avoid dryness. My paella also was pretty good, they did seem to use the darker parts of the chicken however rather than just breast meat which I didn't like. The service and staff were pretty poor and made some awful mistakes which I hope were mistakes for my own sanity: - They tried to give me bottled water instead of tap water, meaning this would have cost me more if I didn't confirm it multiple times - They tried to sit my friend down again at a table as she was waiting outside for me as I was just finishing up, even though the same waitress has just served us to take payment 60 seconds prior to the aforementioned. - I began to check an email on my phone and another server tried to take my food away right in front of me, without acknowledging me or even asking me if I was finished. 3* - The food was pretty good, but each dish did appear to have a flaw, it is a little pricey but if you can get a good deal it is one of the better places to eat in Grand Central. They really do need to work on their workers making basic, cringeworthy mistakes though! read more

See all

I couldn't be happier with my visit earlier today. Going out for lunch on your own on Valentines Day is always a somber affair - but only because I'd been dragged up to Brum for work and the missus was back in London. I've been before and sat at the bar, which was fine but I much preferred a table as I had today. I ordered from the lunch menu which is cracking value for 9.95. You get some bread and garlic aloili, and the choice of two of several tapas. I went for the chicken paella and then the meatballs. Both were generous portions, and equally delicious. I'm not a fan of seafood and I have a really hard time tasting saffron (it's almost completely lost on my palate) but I really enjoy the paella from TR and have had it before. Never had the meatballs before but they were really good. Also - a decently speedy lunch if you're catching a train! read more

Tapas Revolution - The lunch deal is seriously good value! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Top quality tapas that is sure to please more than just the travelling crowd, if you are travelling this place will really get you back on track after/during a journey and the service is very fast, but it's worth a visit for any tapas fan in the city. Located on the balcony of Grand Central in the food court (I hate calling it that as it belies the quality of the places that occupy it, not somewhere to just grab a spud!) they have done a nice job of decking out their space, there's also a good view over the atrium and the skylight over the station makes it a lovely light space. For me it lacks the atmosphere for an evening meal, it's just a bit open and the noise of the station is around you. The main thing though is of course the food and it is across the board excellent, this is the group's first foray out of London and it's clear that they really care about what they put out. They are brave with things like chilli in the oil to give you a good punch of flavour and the octopus probably ranks as the best I've ever had. Also worth noting that they do delicious churros, something I'm not normally a fan of and you can often just pick it up to go if you want a tasty treat. Staff were really friendly and they actually corrected a mistake they'd made before we even brought it up with them. Drinks are understandably limited but the house white was a great accompaniment to all the food and at a good price. read more

See all

I d been meaning to try Tapas Revolution since Grand Central opened but it always seemed very busy...perhaps it was the delicious aromas enticing passerby in. We need to grab some food before a gig on Tuesday and after the day I had I really needed a large gin, thankfully they are 241 between 5-7 at tapas revolution and they offer a range of high end G&Ts using fever tree tonic. I asked for slimline which seemed to confuse the server but the manager sorted it out. We ordered a package of tapas as selected by the restaurant for £24 and all arrived with the sauce on the side as requested by me & my silly garlic intolerance. We had fresh but crunchy bread topped with Parma ham, chorizo, battered calamari, cod, mussel and potato croquettes & a tomato salad with olives. I was still a bit hungry so ordered some pork belly too! That was the most delicious part of the whole meal, the sauce was spicy but sweet and added some interest to the other dishes we had ordered. I do think I'll need to go back and try some of the other dishes. Unfortunately the restaurant was freezing and lots of people were complaining about it - I think it's more the design of grand central than anything that tapas revolution can remedy but i will consider this next time before I go. The meal came to around £40 which isn't bad with the Gins but we were in and out within 30 mins so I probably would t go on an evening where I want a longer dining experience. read more

See all

Tapas Revolution is a great addition to New Street station and has become a go-to place of snackage/weekday eating for me. Their tapas are reasonably priced, reasonably portioned, and most importantly, delicious. They have a great selection, and the menu changes every so often. My favourite thing about Tapas Revolution has got to be their half price jugs of Sangria during happy hour! That Sangria... mmm... Definitely worth checking out if you're in grand central. read more

Tapas Revolution - Calamares Fritos - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

See all

Tapas revolution is a open space restaurant on the upper floor food area of grand central. They serve tapas, drinks and churros. The menu is vast and the staff are great. On this occasion I was trying the churros and still am waiting to sample everything else on the menu. Churros are one of my favourite things to eat when I'm in Spain. I can confidently say Iv tried most of the churro places in Barcelona and have acquired a appreciation of quality churros. So far a lot of churros available in Birmingham have underwhelmed me. I often find they are too hard or too oily. Tapas revolution serve decent churros! They aren't the best churros Iv ever had but they certainly taste authentic! So if your looking for a churro fix or haven't tried churros this is a great place to go! read more

Tapas Revolution - Churros in grand central - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

Finally, I made my stop at Tapas Revolution in the Grand Central station in Birmingham! The location is cool and colourful, on the second floor of the station and people can choose where to sit (bar or table).The space is quite small but everything is well curated. Note that it's quite cold because it's an open space and that - if you aren't familiar with the concept of "Tapas", tapas are finger food (small dishes thought to be shared with friends). Tapas are thus quite small in portions but I've found the two dishes, Torreznos con Mojo Dulce and the Pisto, really rich in flavour, original (traditional) and not oily. Piso is a sort of ratatouille without potatoes (thanks god): vegetables such as aubergine courgettes and peppers slow cooked in tomato sauce. The was recommended by Alfonso who also made me some company and had a nice chat with. (Nice to hear Spanish again) He's really friendly and told me a lot about Spanish cuisine and his way of cooking. Torreznos con Mojo Dulce are pork bite fried and flavoured with a particular glaze which spicy and slightly sweet. I knew already that taste, Spanish pimiento is spicy, dry and with a particular bitter twist unlikely chilli peppers. Despite this dish was fried, every single piece was crunchy and fragrant that is perfection in this case. Everything well presented. They were both fulfilling. I was craving to try churros and got some, the plate was filled with: such a surprise! Churros are fried dough accompanied with hot chocolate. Here too, the churros were perfectly cooked, fragrant and not oily. Unfortunately, the added sugar and cinnamon (despite nice and close to the Brit taste), deviate from the traditional concept, but all in all, they were delicious. I've got 3 tapas for around 11£ with a student discount. I would say too much, but all was well cooked and really fulfilling. It's weird to eat at the bar and seeing the staff around but I enjoyed the chat and the meal. Unfortunately, it's still too cold but the Tapas Revolution corner is better (in term of temperature) than Pho which is too exposed. Next time, no cinnamon and sugar on churros, please! read more

See all

This is me altering my review from 5 star to 3 because recently me and friend sat at the CHURROS BAR section. We behaved, we were kind, cleanly, we didn't take up too much time we ordered food but the lady and the staff kept glaring at us like we were aliens. I guess they're not use to having East Indian people at their restaurant or we didn't suit the theme of the restaurant. After what seemed like only 15 mins they lady quickly asked us if she can get the bill for us. The two gentle men that were sitting to our left had been sitting in seats prior to us sitting down, not ordering anything, one was even facing the other way whilst talking on his phone, yet she left them. I should have questioned her but didn't I felt insulted and really sorry for my friend that I thought I'd take with me to this place. read more

Whenever I get a hankering for some patatas bravas, there is one place in Birmingham I can count on to deliver every time. Tapas Revolution is the brainchild of Madrid native Omar Allibhoy, who is on a mission to spread Spanish cuisine across the United Kingdom. Brum was chosen as the first location for a Tapas Revolution outside of London, and Grand Central is a good fit for this style of restaurant. Tapas Revolution has a sit down area, a bar, and a takeaway counter facing the food court concourse. The seating has a lovely view overlooking the main lobby of New Street Station from the second floor of the building. I recently spent some time in Barcelona, and Tapas Revolution lets me relive my experiences there. The Sangria is delicious (£11.95 for a jug), and Estrella (£4.85 a pint) flows from the taps. The usual suspects are all here, including pan con tomate, patatas bravas, queso manchego, and padrón peppers. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I recommend dropping in between noon and 5PM on the weekdays to take advantage of their lunch special, with includes Paella or a Spanish Burger (with one veggie option), and tap beer/sangria/or house wine to drink all for £7.95. Although the prices are reasonable for the food quality and the location in Grand Central, you'll be wishing you were in Spain, where Estrella is €1 and most tapas do not exceed €3. If you don't mind a sugar rush or expanding your waistline, an additional £3.50 will net you some of the best churros and dipping chocolate you'll find in the UK. There is a convenient separate takeaway area and sign dedicated to the churros that faces the main food court area in Grand Central, clearly designed to grab the attention of random shoppers. It honestly works, and even though the churros are on a case display, they will be cooked to order just for you. So far in my visits I've tried their toasted breads, piquillo peppers stuffed with mushrooms, patatas bravas, pimientos de padrón, and the spanish omelette. All of the vegetarian items are priced below £5, and you can easily become full on two tapas. These items have been expertly prepared on my visits, and are a cut above even some of their counterparts that I've tasted in Spain. Most of the professional and friendly wait staff are Spanish to add an air of authenticity, and are very prompt in taking food orders and getting it out to you quickly. I'm not sure if Tapas Revolution is going to start one, but at the very least this is a solid, well-executed tapas bar that still has character despite being stuck in Grand Central. Oh, and did I mention that they have horchata? read more

See all

There was a point when I couldn't scroll through my Twitter timeline without someone saying that they were, or had just been, here. So I took my time before paying Tapas Revolution a visit. Every time I walked past there was always a queue, and it seemed to be a busy place. So I had no doubt that they are doing something right or they wouldn't have the custom. When I finally got the chance to make a flying visit with Mr Ting one evening before heading to the cinema, I wasn't disappointed. The food came out very quickly, though the restaurant was pretty quiet at that time of the evening. We enjoyed quite a selection of tapas but the highlight was the roasted cod loin for me (thanks to great textures, and a lovely balance of flavours). The small paella was a little dry however so not a favourite - shame but it is tricky to make mini paella as well as a full size dish. Mr Ting's favourite was the steamed octopus, which was divine. The paprika was perfectly balanced, and not overdone thankfully. I did try their nod to an espresso martini and to be honest found it not to my taste. I will stick to the wine when I next return. Or perhaps have a look at some of the other cocktails. I do like the menu with a few options under each heading. It gives a nice range of options to choose from though if you're vegetarian or vegan you may struggle on return visits to keep finding inspiration. After spying what other diners were ordering we decided that we would give the churros a try. They were crisp on the outside, doughy in the middle, and not too sweet. That may be a disappointment if you have a particularly sweet tooth but for us it was great. We are planning a revisit in a few weeks time actually. There are some things on the menu that we didn't get a chance to taste that we would like to. And I want that cod again. read more

Tapas Revolution - Torrijas. The queen of desserts. @Tapas Revolution - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

One of the many new food outlets in grand central. I quite liked the atmosphere once sat down, but you may not really notice it while walking past as the others appear more inviting. Nevertheless the staff were really friendly and service quick-good if you only have a hour to spare. I wouldn't call the food revolutionary, but I love chorizo so all is good!;) read more

Tapas Revolution - What to choose?! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Birmingham, XWM

The waiter added the "optional" service charge without asking me if I wanted to pay it, and then he just took my card whilst my back was turned and paid via contactless before I had a chance to notice. I only realised afterwards once I saw the receipt. Appalled and disappointed, will not be visiting again. read more

This spot has a special place in my heart after offering smiles and red wine to my sister and me when we were sorely in need of a cheer up! I won't indulge in the unfortunate series of transport related fails that left us exasperated at New Street with an hour to kill before the next train. But it was enough that when my sister pointed to this sign up on the Grand Central 'balcony' I said yes immediately. Two minutes later and we were sitting on high chairs at the bar counter chatting to a cute waiter. He asked if we knew how tapas worked in his Spanish accent so I replied 'si', at which point he switched into Spanish sounding impressed! Admittedly I could only keep up and reply to him in Spanish for another two questions but it still felt pretty good :) A glass just didn't seem enough and a bottle too much, so a three-quarter porron of merlot it was. Turns out it's a tricky devil to pour without spilling, woops. But with some free tapas bites and a little chat with another friendly waitress they soon had us feeling recharged and ready to deal with commuter life again. Muchas gracias, guys! read more

I am a regular customer here, however I will never be visiting this establishment again. Student discount is false. Usually in order to receive a 50% discount you show student ID, however today I was told I would have to sign up for a code to be sent to my email. Now nearly 4 hours later I have not received a code and had to pay in full. Food was basic and not worth the money. Chicken wings were rock hard or horrible. Will not be visiting again and would advise students to go else-wear due to false advertising of student discount read more

For those familiar with the old New Street Station and Pallasades shopping centre, the new look station and Grand Central are a breath of fresh air. What was once a concrete block of misery is now a spacious white dome straight out of a Stanley Kubrick dream. Its detractors may complain about the lack of independent business within the curved walls and they are right in doing so, but I remember just how rubbish the shops were in the Pallasades. Call me whatever you want, but I will gladly now take Cath Kidston over Gimme Gizmo, and John Lewis over Poundland. The same argument appears to have been rolled out for the restaurants here. Walking around the open plan floor it does feel a little predictable with the usual suspects of nationwide brands and a smattering of smaller groups still trying to find their feet outside the stampede that is London. It is one of these smaller brands, Tapas Revolution, that would feed us tonight. I am sorry if you have come here looking for your corporate fix, though if you want to read someone trying to ascertain just how cheeky a Nando's really is, please do me a favour and never talk to me again Tapas Revolution already feels polished enough to be in every city. They have a glossy brand, modern interior and counter seats. More importantly they have a menu that screams 'EAT ME' in every possible way at a price that wont break the bank. There is proper hams from the correct pigs, regional dishes such a Asturian sausage and the promise of a lot of garlic. I want to love it but I cant. Everything we try was flat in flavour and lacking in love. Take the paella. At best it is a textural delight of rice - some bits crispy, others tender - heavy on the flavours of chicken stock and saffron. Here it was one level of overcooked rice and metallic saffron, with meagre pieces of chicken and green beans. It is under seasoned to the point that I fail to detect any salt at all - a problem which would repeat itself nearly as much as the alioli the following day The disappointments never stopped there. Pisto should have been the Murcia version of caponata; a punchy salty, sweet and sour display of Mediterranean veg at their best. Nothing. If my doctor ever tells me to cut salt out of my diet I will show him this dish and load the revolver for him. We make the most out of a bad situation by piling it on to bread smeared with alioli overloaded with intense garlic. A tortilla with potato and onion suffered similar levels of blandness. Perhaps the best thing we ate was hot croquettes, big on ham flavour and deep fried to a crisp exterior. These and a potato, chorizo and egg dish indicated that there was a degree of skill in the kitchen, though just how much is debatable. The bill at £35 with a couple of beers puts it in the same bracket as the brilliant Rico Libre. I know which one I would choose. If convenience is your thing, please head to the domed roofs of New Street Station. If its big, gutsy Spanish cooking is what you are looking for take a left at the stairs of the station and keep walking until you hit Digbeth. read more

The mostly Spanish staff are lovely as well as friendly. Everyday 4-7pm is sangria time meaning regular specials on drinks offers like 2 for 1 on cocktails. The light snack menu is very tasty and you can from the bar seats, see everything being freshly cooked and prepared. I've been back seven times now, taken many friends all of whom have loved it too. service hasn't dropped if anything I feel it is even better. And I love their choice of desserts - its how I choose my restaurants. One thing I really do like is that you are offered tasters on anything you're not sure about, both with food and drink. read more

Scrumptious food, great service and prime location! Great date night with 241 G&T which is always a winner. Andrea our waitress was wonderful and we have left feeling happy, full and stink of garlic. read more

I've visited Tapas Revolution twice, the first time I wasn't too impressed... Maybe because it was winter and so the openness of the station made it feel cold and unwelcoming, maybe it's because the food wasn't really anything too special. However on my second visit more recently, I had a much better experience. The staff were attentive without overcrowding us and the food was a lot better. They say two to three plates per person but we ordered a lot more as we were feeling hungry, the cod with peppers and olives was really good as were the goats cheese and spinach pastries and the butternut squash salad with manchego cheese which gave a great contrast to the warm dishes. We washed it all down with a bottle of the house red and finished with some churros and a chocolate dipping sauce. The only let down on this visit was the patatas bravos which were not crispy enough for my liking, other than that if I was shopping in town I would definitely stop by for some food. The menu offers enough choice that there are plenty of dishes I still need to try. read more

Tapas Revolution have some of the best tapas I've ever eaten outside of Spain. Having lived in Sevilla for half a year and travelling the country extensively, I've had my fair share of tapas, and Tapas Revolution really pleased me by offering a wide range of options, as well as authentic drinks and even whisking me up a tinto de verano at request. I particularly enjoy the classic patatas bravas (wonderfully cooked but could be served with a little more sauce for my liking), calamares and croquetas de bacalao, but branch out to the beef skewers or chorizo a la sidra and you will not be disappointed. The only downside is the quite small and noisy location, but it offers a wonderful lunchtime spot or somewhere for a quick bite to eat before catching a train. The price is reasonable, the staff have always been wonderful to me, and the place manages to have an atmosphere despite being just a corner of the larger Grand Central. Instant favourite! read more