Tom’s Kitchen Comes To The Mailbox

A new restaurant opening in town is always an event to celebrate and Tom’s Kitchen coming to Birmingham is certainly worth raising a glass to.  The Birmingham branch of Tom’s Kitchen is located in the heart of the The Mailbox in Birmingham city centre.  It’s not just a restaurant either, as there’s a bar and a deli (situated outside the restaurant in The Urban Room and perfect for a quick meal or snack).

Foodies will be very aware of Tom Aikens as he is one of the UK’s top chefs.  As part of his development he worked in top restaurants, including the legendary Pierre Koffman’s La Tante Claire.  At the early age of 26 he became the youngest British chef to be awarded two Michelin stars. Tom’s Kitchen currently has five sites across London, two international outposts in Istanbul and Dubai, as well as the new Birmingham restaurant.

The restaurant is open daily, the restaurant and serves Tom’s take on British classics with an emphasis on seasonality and ethically sourced ingredients.  With a relaxed, informal feel, the restaurant looks like the perfect spot for a relaxed lunch, dinner or maybe the weekend brunch (I am so tempted by this menu with breakfast favourites like Eggs Benedict and a Seasonal Berry Pancake).

But a restaurant is all about the food and Tom’s Kitchen doesn’t disappoint there.  We tried quite a range of dishes served as canapés, which was ideal as we got to sample quite a few dishes like the Poached Monkfish and the Steak Tartare. I particularly enjoyed the sweetness of the Chicken Liver & Foie Gras Parfait with its topping of chutney which set the dish off nicely. The Seven Hour Confit Herdwick Lamb with Mashed Potato melted in the mouth.  I think my favourite of the desserts was the Blackberry Cheesecake: very moreish.