When you think of The Alchemist, the first thing that comes to mind will most likely be their visually appealing cocktails. However, I have heard mixed reviews about their food and was intrigued to try it out, especially to see what their vegan options would be like. Will it be a case of falafel and hummus or something innovative? Read on to find out.
The dining area of The Alchemist Birmingham is located on the right-hand side of the branch. It's nicely decorated and quite comfortable, especially in comparison to the bar section. Now onto the food and first up, bread! They had a lovely Warm Ciabatta (£3.75) that was served with balsamic vinegar and oil. The bread was a little floury but crispy and tasty. I can't say I had much of it because it was quite heavy but it was really good, especially with green Olives (£3.50) on the side.
To drink, I had the Kaleing me Softly (£4.50). A mocktail that contains apple, kale, elderflower, cucumber and mint. You guys know that I like green things, especially when they are as fresh as this drink. I really liked how fresh this was, the flavours went well together and it worked well with the meal.
If you don't have a picture of you drinking or eating something, did it really even happen?
For the starters there are two vegan options on the menu, Houmous (£5.50) and Vegetable Gyozas. I went for the Vegetable Gyozas (£5.50) because I wanted to try something a little different. The gyozas were presently beautifully and were served with a sweet chilli soy sauce, which was lovely with them.
I liked how they were green, a good size and cooked pretty damn well. Plus I want that plate they came on.
There were a number of vegan options of mains at The Alchemist, such as the Keralan Curry (£10.50), Shawarma Cauliflower Steak (£11.50), Mixed Grain and Artichoke Salad (£8.50) or the Moroccan Spiced Vegetable Wrap (£8.75). I went for the Shawarma Cauliflower Steak and loved it!
It wasn't really a cauliflower steak but the shawarma spices worked well with the cauliflower, mixed grain salad and harissa yoghurt. It was filling, meaty in texture and so tasty. Highly recommend this!
I also had Sweet Potato Fries (£4.00) on the side, which were warm, crispy and so good. I love balanced meals like this.
Instead of opting for a dessert, I went for a dessert inspired mocktail. This was the Strawberry Colada (£4.50). It was vegan, creamy, sweet and like having a vanilla milkshake with strawberry syrup ripples. Really loved this too! For dessert, there is only the option of lemon and mango gelato.
Overall, the experience at The Alchemist was great. They had an allergen menu that listed everything on the menu, so it would have been easy to alter anything that wasn't vegan on the menu. The service was quick, friendly and attentive. I would go back, for a mocktail or two or a little snack.
**The views in this blog are my own and the meal was complimentary**
Would I go back? Yes
How did they cope with the vegan dietary requirement? Really well and with some great innovative options
What are the prices like? Really reasonable for portion size, options and ingredients. Altogether this would've been around £40.
What is eatery best for? A catch-up with a friend or before a night out
Have you been? What did you think?
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