Medicine New Street, Birmingham

Oh my gosh. What a find. It’s not cheap, but that’s reflected in the location, venue, presentation of food and taste. And goodness, everything was delicious! We were a party of 6; our order consisted of the Medicine and various French toasts. The only gripe is the fried chicken from one plate to another varied quite a bit in size. We don’t know whether one was more generous, or we were short changed on the other? A bit of consistency here wouldn’t go amiss. Other than that, a perfect way to start a Sunday morning. They also allowed dogs too! Service was timely, the venue was beautiful with lots of plants, and everyone of us enjoyed our meal. Can’t wait to come back. Well done!

TLDR: I’d only recommend this place if you’re getting a pastry from the front. Long wait times (45+ mins) + no cooling system = not a great place to dine in. Came here twice and had very different experiences. When a friend and I grabbed a pastry from the front, we were served and seated right away, even moving to a booth when requested. The atmosphere was great and the interior is very aesthetic and appealing for social media. No complaints here. When I came alone a few months later to order brunch, I had a 2/5 experience. First, it took around 5-10 minutes to be seated with no acknowledgment of the long wait time, even with several moments of eye contact with staff who didn’t seem very rushed, though this can be overlooked. Second, I waited over 45 minutes for my food (not a guess or overestimate) without acknowledgment of any sort. There was a period of around 15 minutes where nothing came out of the kitchen (I had a direct view of where the food exited). During this wait time, it was increasingly apparent how uncomfortable the space was. There was no AC and the building has no windows to open. The only cooling system was a single fan, and with the many skylights, the restaurant felt like a greenhouse. Literally outside the restaurant was cooler than inside and that’s not an exaggeration. The food itself was alright. I ordered the harissa benedict and the only qualm I have with it was that the eggs were almost hard boiled and not runny at all. There was a lot of chorizo on it and the mushrooms were great, however I don’t think I’d pay £14 for it again.

The Medicine Bakery is a staple for those who brunch in Brum. The food is excellent. Well priced. Generous portions and overall delicious. From street level up the stairs you are greeted with a take away counter for loads of baked treat and bread which look and smell amazing. You then have a small hallway with bench seating where the coffee are made which did get a little congested as it’s so popular. We did book which I thoroughly recommend to not have to wait for a table. The dining room is large. Bright and airy with high ceilings, loads of green succulents and gallery walls. Current exhibition is a photography collection of black culture in the UK. Lots of bench style seating down the middle which means you may share the bench with others (something which never bothers me) The service speed is what lets the venue down. The coffee is excellent but always takes a long time to come. This has been a consistent issue with all my visits. The food is delicious. Beautifully cooked and seasoned. Though offering black pepper from a mill and not powered would be expected in a place like this. Overall it’s great with slightly nonchalant service. Book ahead and make sure you have a hearty appetite.