CHERRY REDS CAFÉ BAR

By Laura Hadland

Given the steady stream of customers who bobbed in and out of Cherry Reds during my visit, I can’t call this airy café bar a hidden gem. Locals already have it pegged as a firm favourite and it’s not hard to understand why. The cafe is eclectically decorated, inviting and welcoming.

Vocally inclusive, Cherry Reds on John Bright Street is LGBTQ+ friendly and serves up a great selection of home cooked foods to suit any dietary requirements. I picked the beef brisket hash, but there are lots of other mains, breakfast and sandwich choices, alongside a counter full of homemade sweet treats.

My heart was gladdened by the hearty portion of steaming goodness that was set before me. It’s so hard to find a decent café option that is fresh and full of wholesome veggies. Some days you just don’t want chips on the side. This dish really nailed it for me on a cold but bright Spring day.

A mountain of tender beef and smoky, paprika vegetables was topped with an oozy fried egg. It was all resting on crisp fried potatoes - many carefully nestled around the edge of the deep bowl so that the crispy wasn’t disturbed by the rich tomato sauce. Real soul food in my opinion. I was utterly stuffed and totally happy when I ran the final potato around the dish, mopping up the very last morsels.

The venue offers live entertainment, comedy and such, on a regular basis. From the posters and flyers placed around I could see that a number of groups meet there too. Set over two floors, there’s plenty of room to make yourself comfortable, but do expect a bit of a wait at peak times. Now the weather is improving, the sunny terrace is also a viable seating option. Barriered off from the road, it makes a great peoplewatching spot where you can gently mock anyone who chooses to visit the over-hyped craft beer bar across the road to pay twice the price for half the quality.

And speaking of beer, for those in the know, it’s the quality of Cherry Reds’ beer list that really sets it apart. They have a huge selection of cask and keg beers on tap, kept in mint condition. Favouring local breweries, it’s a great place to familiarise yourself with Birmingham’s finest. The draughts are complemented by an enviable range of Belgian beers, lined up like ready soldiers in the fridge.

I paired my lunch with a bottle of Maredsous Blond. The Tripel poured with a rich, tight foam and was full of delicate sweet and smoky ester notes that picked up on the perfume of the sauce enveloping my brisket hash. I think I will be joining the throng of people who make Cherry Reds their regular lunchtime haunt...