Orelle restaurant is 24 floors up on the top floor of 103 Colmore Rd. As part of the IgersbirminghamUK team, we were invited to take photographs in 2022 just before the restaurant was open to the public. The views from the restaurant were outstanding. At the time, I remember saying one day “I will be back for a meal”. Fast forward to our 40th wedding anniversary and our three daughters gave us money as a gift to use for a meal out. Reading the reviews, I noted that Orelle was voted the best restaurant in Birmingham in 2024. Furthermore, the reviews for the Sunday lunch menu have been consistently rated as good. Therefore, we booked and looked forward to our day at Orelle.
Leaving the lift on the 24th floor, the view of Birmingham takes your breath away. The view of the city is spectacular and I immediately spotted the Rotunda and Moor Street. The restaurant has a convivial ambiance and the staff are polite and courteous. We were shown to our table by the north window which gave us an uninterrupted view over St Phillip’s Cathedral and Snow Hill . Our waiter was very attentive to our needs, and we ordered our drinks and then reviewed the menu. Sandy is allergic to shellfish and the waiter explained that he would alert the kitchen and as a check we would notice a pink sticker on our order. This indicated that the kitchen were aware of the allergy and ensured that no utensils or plates were mixed.
Sandy chose the warmed sourdough bread with salted French butter. The bread roll was generous and there was plenty for both of us. This was useful as I selected the Ham hock terrine with pickled vegetables, pineapple and toasted sourdough. I used the remaining bread with my starter. The food was well presented and the terrine had a pleasing flavour.
For our Sunday lunch main course, we both selected the Surlonge rôtie which was 35 day aged Cumbrian sirloin. There was a generous sized Yorkshire pudding and the vegetables came in small pans placed in the centre of the table. If I had one criticism then it must be the gravy. There could have been a more generous serving. Luckily the amount of gravy was just sufficient for both us and we did not have to ask for more. The meat was cooked to our preference of medium with little fat and we tucked into a good lunch.
For drinks, I chose a beer and selected the excellent 21 Pale Ale Citra made by Brew by numbers. I saw that there was an excellent range of wines. Sandy chose a non-alcoholic cocktail which was not to her taste. She persevered with it but then reverted to water. We should have exchanged the cocktail for a more pleasing one.
Following on from the main course there was space for dessert. Sandy and I parted ways. Sandy chose the Chocolat et Yuzu which was a milk chocolate mousse, walnut brownie, yuzu caramel and vanilla ice cream. I went for the Crème brûlée consisting of spiced orange, macerated berries and vanilla sable. Both were nicely presented and were lovely end to the lunch.
Throughout the meal, we admired the view and watched the clouds move through the landscape. We saw the trams and trains pass through Snow Hill. When we started, the restaurant was relatively quiet but when we finished by late afternoon, the place was full and there were one or two parties waiting to sit down. Not once did we feel rushed or interrupted by the activities of a busy restaurant.
Overall impressions
Sunday lunch at Orelle is all about the experience. The view from the top floor is unparalleled and provides a super backdrop whilst you are enjoying your food. The meal was very good. Service was of a high standard and we both enjoyed our Sunday lunch menu. One may say that the place is expensive but this was a special occasion. The expense was worth it as we had a marvellous time. We reflected over coffee that whilst we would not be making Sunday lunch a regular pursuit at Orelle, we would come back again. I would recommend a visit and you will understand why the restaurant is voted as the best in Birmingham.
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