I love Tapas, so when I was invited to try out the menu at Byzantium Mediterranean Restaurant in Kings Heath, I was very much looking forward to it! I have visited the restaurant before, having been invited to the launch of the new Upper Room, but I thought it would be interesting to take in the atmosphere of the restaurant on a busy evening.

The Bloke and I were given an option of tables to be seated at, so we chose one in a quiet little room at the side of the main eating area. From the second we sat down, the staff were superb, particularly when recommending different dishes to have in order to achieve a more authentic experience.

We started with flatbread and dips – my expectations being that pitta-sized bread would be served. However, the bread that arrived was the size of an average pizza, and we got stuck into the selection of dips the came with it – Tsatsiki, Hummus and Zaalouk – all of which were beautiful.

For our main selection of dishes we chose five that were all different. Arrancini (my favourite from my last visit), Halloumi Souvlaki, Pinchos Morunos (lamb skewers), Langostinos Flambeados al Cognac (king prawns) and Patatas Bravas, a potato dish that I order at every tapas restaurant I ever go to.

We weren’t disappointed. The service was extremely quick, which I was surprised at considering how busy the restaurant was, and all dishes were served piping hot. I loved every single mouthful – the Patatas Bravas were crispy and came with a delicious tomato sauce, the Halloumi Souvlaki were beautifully salty, being perfectly complimented by the fried onions, the Pinchos Morunos was moist and the Arrancini were just as gorgeous as I remember. The Langostinos were in their shells and needed to be peeled, which I am never a fan of but what should be expected for a more authentic experience, and after I had finished truly attacking the things, I thoroughly enjoyed what remained (especially in the garlic oil it was served in) despite the fact that the shape had been changed to more of a flattened mush than that of a prawn. (Any hints and tips would be greatly appreciated here!).

Flatbread

Arrancini

Langostinos

Halloumi Souvlaki

Lamb

Yummy!

Pistachio Ice-Cream

Cream Catalana

‘Would you like dessert?’ is something that I will never get tired of being asked, and I had a particular smile on my face when I was recommended the Crema Catalana – a creme brûlée with a hint of cardamom – and The Bloke had a pistachio ice-cream. The ice-cream was gorgeous (I think I got my spoon in there to try it even before he had chance to pick his own up), but the Creme Catalana was to die for – if I hadn’t already been full I would have been very tempted to order another, and it will certainly be the dessert I have again next time I go!

I’ve said this before, and I will say it again – Byzantium is a hidden gem within Birmingham, and certainly one of the best tapas restaurants I’ve been to in the city. It has a wonderful range of dishes to suit every taste, is extremely reasonably priced (check out the menu here), and I would highly recommend a visit.

Want to find out more or make a booking?

Email: info@byzantiumtapas.co.uk

Telephone Number: 0121 4445444

Website: http://www.byzantiumtapas.co.uk

Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of Byzantium to try their menu. All food and drink was complimentary (I know, it’s a tough life but someone has to do it) but this didn’t mean that I was under any obligation to provide any sort of promotion or review. This review is honest and my own.

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