Bacchus Bar — Restaurant in Birmingham

Ten years since I last ventured into the city centre, but my God daughter fancied lunch there, so after checking she'd be welcome (15), off we toddled. Just a manageable walk from Navigation St parking, it was refreshing to find a couple of lifts in the foyer, and another inside the entrance, always a bonus when you're on crutches! It was 4pm, and just starting to look busy, but the place is huge, it was still the Midland Hotel last time I went! We found ourselves a secluded table, and perused the menu, I'm a fussy ol'bugger, and she likes to be less predictable than others of her generation. We settled on our choices, and as I stood to head and order at the bar, a man mountain of a guy (Mitch) seeing me on sticks, approached to take our order. He sensibly questioned for dietary limits, and quickly advised that my batter covered fish dishes, might not be in best keeping with my Diabetes, and so having discussed some more options, I decided on a slow cooked brisket pie, it was up to me if I ate the pastry(?), and my wee guest opted for Haddock. He brought drinks over too while we waited for our fayre, and the table was soon dressed with cutlery and condiments, by Mitchs alter- ego, Will, a tiny wee fella, full of charm and banter. My pie was proper mansize, piping hot, and the fish lived up to its billing, she wolfed it down. The two fellas, without hovering, or bothering, stayed within earshot of our table, just so that nothing would be an effort for us, and we took advantage of a couple of classic desserts to round off our meal. Both of the lads checked that we were satisfied, took time to chat to us both, and finally, escorted us through the magnificently decorated vaults, and back to the door. The look on my god daughters face as we exited, said it all, we'll be going back again, not always the case. All too many restaurants focus solely on the paying adults, fawning, and hovering, to the point of annoyance, but these lads were completely inclusive of both of us, she loved being expected to interact, and not ignored. Bacchus, you did us proud, and...

What do a pair of Aussie tourists fresh off the plane get for dinner on their first night in Birmingham? Easy answer, a pie, of course! But not just any old pie, no no my friend. You ain’t had a pie until you have ventured into the subterranean bar/ restaurant that is Bacchus.

Located in the Burlington Arcade in the heart of Birmingham you descend down a fight of stairs into the most over themed, ostentatiously decorated pub you have, and will, ever experience. Is this a negative? No way! The venue is cozy and inviting and has lots of little nooks and crannies where you can secrete yourself for an intimate dinner or relaxed drinks with mates.

The choices at the bar are extensive and the food coming out of the kitchen is top notch. Their pies are what they are famous for and for good reason. Packed with quality filling and doubling down on flavour the range of pies is impressive and great value of money.

I’ve left the best for last. The service is impeccable. The staff are amazing here. Super friendly and attentive and most importantly can have a joke about how rubbish English beer and cricket is compared to Australia.

We were served by the guy who I assume is running the show down there. Will, what can I say… the guy is an absolute star. Smart, witty and handsome; I was about to marry my mum off to him if I thought I could get away with my dad not finding out…

We had a great time. ...

Bacchus Bar has an undeniably unique aesthetic, but it feels more like a collection of different themes thrown together rather than a cohesive concept. Ancient Greek statues, Renaissance paintings, a crypt-like setting with vaulted ceilings, and an ancient Egyptian corner—each section is interesting on its own, but together, it’s a confusing mix. Picking a single theme and committing to it would make for a much more immersive experience.

Service left a lot to be desired. The bartender ignored the queue system, serving people who pushed in before us, despite us clearly waiting longer. Then, after pouring only two-thirds of my drink, he moved on to another customer, claiming he was "letting the beer rest." I’m not sure why the beer needed a break, or why it couldn’t have rested in my hand or on my table, but apparently, that wasn’t an option.

The space itself is also quite cramped, to the point where I was involuntarily eavesdropping on conversations I had no interest in. Both the staff and clientele came across as socially awkward, and not in a charming way.

Overall, Bacchus Bar has potential, but the inconsistent theme, poor service, and claustrophobic atmosphere made for a disappointing experience.

EDIT: To the owners, not everyone is going to like your bar....