The Bloke and I were invited to the newly revamped Marmalade restaurant at The Rep in Birmingham last week.

The Marmalade team have been working closely with local businesses and artisan suppliers to provide customers with an all new dining experience that is inherently Brummie and combined with a new outdoor terrace that is capable of seating up to 200 people overlooking the recently developed Centenary Square, it is perfectly situated for both lazy summer lunches and date nights.

I liked the fact that the menus are environmentally conscious, utilising local suppliers with a focus on low environmental impact, including the use of heat exchange technology to reduce energy consumption and natural wetland systems.

As guests we were spoilt for choice with menu options to try. For starters we were treated to Chicken Liver Pate with onion jam and toasted bread, Braised Artichokes with lemongrass dressing and Fava Bean Patties with a tomatillo chutney and dukka spices. The pate in particular was really moreish, complimented perfectly with the jam and a small sprinkling of salt.

Main courses were just as tasty, with Chicken, glazed baby carrots and gooseberry jam, Sweet Potato Thai Curry with mange tout, bok choi, shitake mushrooms, coconut crisp and fragrant rice, and Battered Catch of the Day. All three were delicious – the chicken was beautifully moist (and my favourite dish of all of them), the fish was flaky and covered in a light batter and the curry authentically flavoured.

For dessert we tried the Apple and Rhubarb Crumble and the Lemon Tart, and we tried various items from the beautiful Afternoon Tea options. I particularly liked the crumble, with the perfect balance between the tartness of the fruit and the crumble which wasn’t too sweet. I loved the options on the afternoon tea, especially the moist carrot cake and sweet macarons. It was all beautifully presented.

New partnerships with local eco coffee provider, Iron & Fire, and global brand Martini bring some unique additions to the drinks menu. There’s also a new relationship with the local award-winning Purity Brewery, who have created a one-off cask ale for the bar that has been flavoured with a jar of home-made marmalade.

What I particularly like about Marmalade is that, while it’s a nice place to indulge in pre-show dinner and drinks, it serves as a stand alone restaurant. With the upgrades to the decor, it’s a nice place to enjoy a meal with friends of family in a relaxed environment with high quality service for reasonable prices.

Definitely somewhere with visiting on your next trip to the city…

Opening Times

Monday-Saturday

• Bar: 12 noon-11pm
• Kitchen: 12 noon-8pm

Lunchtime menu
Monday to Saturday 12pm-5pm

Pre-theatre dining
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 5pm – 8pm
Thursday & Saturday 12pm-8pm

(Two or three courses selected from Small Plates, Main Plates and Dessert menus)

2 courses for £19.50
3 courses for £24.50

All images courtesy of Duncan Walker

Disclaimer: The Bloke and I were invited to the launch night of Marmalade. Food and drinks were complimentary, but we were under no obligation to provide a positive review…