Turners Restaurant

2 Reviews on “Turners Restaurant”

• Edward Edwards

  A bit of a disaster. We arrived at our time of booking. Luckily we got a table but others were arriving and being sent away. We were near the door so every time it opened we felt a cold draft of air .Felt sorry for the front of house staff as clearly the relaying service was in meltdown. At times we seemed to be forgotten and the food came out so slowly. Some dishes were worth waiting for others not so. We didn`t get out of there until gone 11.30 so that was 4 hours. Other diners were more upset. Instead of enjoying the evening most felt they were in a comedy.

  May 18, 2017, 4:39 pm

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• Dine Birmingham

  In Turners Restaurant, chef Richard Turner has created a small pocket of Michelin-star dining in Birmingham, sitting unconspicuously on Harborne High Street. Its discreet size and location mean that you may even walk past it the first time you visit. But as we know, size isnt everything.AtmosphereWe visited on a Sunday, to sample the new Sunday lunch menu, and found a very mellow ambiance. The dim lighting, dark decor and gentle mood music all combined to create an atmosphere of absolute calm. As we were the first to arrive for that service, it was almost a relief when other guests began to come in later on, adding a much-needed layer of chatter and activity.Starters The lunch menu is a three-course affair, with three options available per course. To start, we had the Pork (slow-cooked jowl, salsify, Tonka bean and langoustine) and Smoked eel (with foie gras, apple ketchup and pickles). Both of these dishes were impeccable presented, with the eel platter (pictured below left) looking particularly elaborate and even dessert-like with its bright colours, scoops and droplets. The foie gras was wonderfully textured, working perfectly with the tart apple ketchup and the smoky fish.For me, it was a bit of a novelty to see pork presented with seafood in this way (pictured above right), but those langoustines were, for lack of a better word, divine. The flesh was succulent and perfectly seasoned. The slow-cooked jowl itself was another delight: salty, lightly crisp on the outside and so tender it almost dissolved on the tongue – thanks no doubt to the slow-cooking.I should mention that before our starters arrived, there was a sort of amuse-bouche consisting of seaweed and parmesan crackers and pork scratchings (pictured in the title image). Then as we were awaiting the main course, the waiter brought out a bowl of cauliflower espuma, a fantastically light and creamy foam garnished with green leaves.Mains Vegetarians will be disappointed to hear that there were no meat- or fish-free options on the menu. Instead, the choices for mains was between bass, beef and pheasant. We opted for Beef (aged, with artichoke, bone marrow and Yorkshire pudding) and Pheasant (with salt-baked celeriac, quince and watercress). I have to say I found the roast pleasant but a bit uninspiring as a menu option, although of course on a Sunday it was to be expected. The beef itself was gorgeously pink and juicy. Despite looking like a small portion by normal dining standards, it was a filling dish. I was much more excited by the pheasant (pictured above), which was heartbreakingly crispy and golden on top, with the softer layers of flesh below resting in a pool of rich gravy. The celeriac and quince were great accompaniments, while the carb element of the dish was provided by an ornate twist of fried potato. The watercress garnish added colour to the dish, but I would have preferred a leaf vegetable with more kick to add yet more flavour as well.DessertThe pre-dessert was a little serving of coconut panna with passionfruit sorbet. Although not usually a fan of coconut, I found this dish very refreshing. While the Cheese and Chocolate Ganache were tempting, we both opted for the Apple Tarte Tatin, an irresistibly warm and sticky concoction with rich apple and butterscotch, topped off with a thick caramel sauce, and accompanied by a mint-green sorrel sorbet. Service If you prefer to be left alone when dining out, then be warned: the service at Turners is very attentive. In the traditional formal style, multiple waiters occupy themselves with talking you through the menu, filling and refilling your drinks, serving and clearing your plates and even sweeping any offending crumbs from the tablecloth. Prepare to be pampered. Pricing The 3-course lunch menu comes in at 39.95 per head. Wine is 9-10 by the glass, and from 30-100+ by the bottle. Turners also puts on a Tasting Menu, which costs 85 with wine, and 60 without. Overall Turners Restaurant is incredibly fine dining, and a bit of a hidden gem in Harborne. Expect a formal dining experience in an intimate setting, and delicious, well-constructed dishes. dinebirmingham.co.uk

  September 4, 2014, 4:06 pm

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