Ranked as one of the best places in Birmingham for lovers of the sea, diners of The Oyster Club can experience impeccable service, an array of gorgeous seafood dishes and epic Sunday roasts.
First and foremost I’d like to state the owner, Adam Stokes of The Oyster Club and Birmingham Michelin Star, Adam’s is not my brother. I do have a brother named Adam Stokes though so the confusion is understandable. Truth is, it’s taken me forever to dine at The Oyster Club on Temple Street. After seeing a horde of local food writers and bloggers raving about the place for so long, it’s no doubt been on my priority list for some time. Luck should have it, a recent toddler-free date meant we could get to spending our £100 Christmas vouchers. I can wholeheartedly say now that it was worth the damn wait.
It’s worth mentioning The Oyster Club welcome families, toddlers and babies all day long. There’s no discrimination here against parent’s wanting to dine out with kids, although understandably it’s some people’s worst nightmare. Providing highchairs, changing facilities and a children’s menu, they don’t discriminate against us pesky parents but on this occasion I personally wanted to dine without chasing a toddler around. Makes sense, really. Booking on the weekend before Valentine’s Day was always going to be risky business but I managed to secure a lunchtime slot at 12:15 noon. We arrived just in the nick of time and were quickly seated at our table downstairs in the restaurant. The staff here are excellent. Above being extremely welcoming and incredibly helpful when discussing the menu, I’d expect nothing less from the team. It’s a fantastic experience in the heart of the city centre and being brutally honest, worth every penny.
Upon entering The Oyster Club, diners and bar drinkers will notice soft furnishings, beautiful minimalistic artwork (cue me saying I want several bits off the wall for my office) and neutral shades in a minimalistic, intimate setting. The downstairs restaurant has a calming presence, ideal for any special occasion or big groups. If you’d rather a more casual dining experience or thinking of visiting for a quick bite to eat, the upstairs bar tables would be perfect for this too.
Oysters & Starters at The Oyster Club
Six of the fresh Falmouth Native Oysters, Cornwall will cost 22 of your golden coins. We chose Cornwall as the mid-priced option but there’s no question the options: Jersey, Essex and French are equally delicious. Any two oyster options from the list can be mixed and matched.
On the menu you’ll find a varied looking snack list, ranging from bread to olives, prawns, squid and other small plates. The Smoked Haddock Scotch Egg (£7.50) is by far one of the best fish starters, perfectly paired with capers and a parsley mayonnaise. It’s truly gorgeous. I liked it so much that I told a woman sitting next to me how good it is when hers arrived just as we got up to leave. Josh always jokingly rolls his eyes when I tell strangers how nice the food is. I personally think it’s a good deed done. A range of reasonably-priced small plates / fish plates are also available on the main menu to consume pre-main, including the Chilled Shellfish Platter for Two for £35pp. Consisting of crab, crevettes, lobster, oysters, mussels & cockles with avocado purée and marie rose sauce, I’d love to go back and try this with my mom.
Large Plates at The Oyster Club
I knew before stepping inside The Oyster Club that I’d eat the Tempura Fish & Chips (£23.50) with velvety-smooth crushed minted peas and a tantalising tartare sauce. I’ve seen the dish splattered all over Instagram and boy was it incredible. The fish was lightly battered and iconically paired with the Brum-famous ‘Perfect 12’ chips. We also opted for the Roasted Halibut (£27.50) with smoked bone marrow, artichoke, roscoff onion and hazelnut with some of the side dishes, the seasonal greens are a good choice.
Dessert at The Oyster Club
There’s a small choice of desserts available including the Caramelised Lemon Tart (£10.50) with
rhubarb sorbet and poached rhubarb and the sensational Dark Chocolate Mousse (£11) with orange caramel, malt barley ice cream and a hazelnut crumb. They both had the perfect hit of sugar after consuming such hearty meals and could think of no better way to end such a fab afternoon. Albeit on the pricier side, just remember that The Oyster Club is a superb experience with quality of food that matches the cost. Our £100 voucher was used and we paid an additional £70 for the rest of the meal. Browse the menu.
The impressive wine list spans the globe, available by the glass or varying size of bottle. Plenty of refreshing bubbles, whites, roses and some fulsome reds can be consumed.
The Oyster Club opens every Wednesday – Sunday for diners to enjoy one of the best fish restaurants in Birmingham. From March 2022, they will open on Tuesdays also for lunch, pre-theatre and dinner. It’s best to book your table in advance but walk-ins also welcome depending on capacity.
The Oyster Club, 43 Temple Street, Birmingham, B2 5DP
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