Baloci — Restaurant in Birmingham

I visited Baloci for afternoon tea to celebrate a 50th birthday, and the staff made it feel special with a signed card and a plate that said "Happy Birthday" in chocolate, along with a piece of baklava.

Atmosphere: The setting was charming, with cozy decor and a warm ambiance. The staff were attentive and accommodating, going out of their way to check for any dietary needs or allergens. Theme vs. Reality: Baloci promotes itself as a Silk Road-inspired experience, and while the ambiance was elegant, the theme didn’t carry through in the flavors or presentation. It would have been great to see the staff introduce each dish and explain its connection to the Silk Road, adding to the experience they advertise. Halal Options: The menu is marked as halal on the website, which the staff also confirmed. Pricing: Afternoon tea is priced at £45 per person. For the quality, however, I feel it’s a bit high. A price around £25 would be more fitting.

Hot Drinks: Unlimited refills served in large teapots, which was nice. Jasmine Green Tea & Black Tea: Both were pleasant, though fairly standard. Masala Chai: Good but quite heavy on cloves. Persian Tea: Nice, though it could use a bit more depth of flavor. Coffee: Tasted like a basic Nespresso, not particularly "specialty."

Sandwiches: The sandwiches didn’t quite meet afternoon tea expectations and lacked flavour. The bread seemed store-bought, and some had crusts left on. They were too large and weren't finger sized as afternoon tea would be. Although the fillings were generous, the flavours were simple, missing the unique touch we anticipated.

Desserts: The desserts were enjoyable, though none stood out in particular. Pistachio Profiterole: Claimed to be freshly made, but the pistachio flavor was almost non-existent, it was just a sprinkle of pistachio on top. Baklava: Nice and chewy with a nutty flavor. Gulab Jamun Cheesecake & Barfi: Pleasant, though nothing especially memorable. Scones: Highly enjoyed - fresh and delightful with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Cranberries: An interesting addition, as they don’t fit the Silk Road theme, nor match with the food palette and felt out of place.

Overall Recommendation: I personally wouldn't recommend it as it's overpriced and simply isn't that good regardless of the...

Came here for Drinks only as had booked a table elsewhere and wanted somewhere nice to for a drink beforehand. When I called I spoke to someone called Rich or was very professional and informative over the phone and said he would book us in the red room howver we could choose whichever when we came dependant on how busy it was. If it was very busy then we would have to sit in the blue room. Once we arrived we went into the red room howver actually preferred the blue room. Once seated we were told that someone would be with us shortly to take our order. We waited approximately 15 minutes and no one had come therefore, I had to go into the red room where the waiters were talking, I mentioned no one had come and we were restricted on time due to dinner elsewhere. Five minutes later a member of staff came I do not wish to name him as he said he was new and was polite but just was not very attentive as we were in a room where no one else was sat. He did drop a few things on the table but mistakes can happen which is fine. The room itself was very nice, as you can see from the pictures it looks very top end. We asked for soft back music to be played but after several attempts he said there was an issue. We only had time for 1 drink as there was a delay in bringing them out. We were there for 1 hour and 15 minutes and our drinks came out in the last 15/20 minutes. The drinks were nice. When I came to pay I was served by another gentleman called Andrei who was very good. He sorted the music out as we were leaving and then asked for feedback. Once I gave my honest feedback he knocked some money off the bill and gave a gold coin that you can see in the pictures, this he said was a token for one free drink of anything on the menu no limit on price. This was a nice touch. I would visit again to try the food or afternoon tea however I hope next time the service will be a lot better. I have put 2 star for service due to Rich and Andrei being so good however had to knock it down due to the other staff member...

My husband had booked the Alexander Room as it had the best features, i.e the steam room in the showers, for a special occasion in April. Prior to our stay, Alex, the manager, contacted my husband regularly to ensure everything was ready for our stay. Upon arrival, we were greeted with excellent service and were shown to the room. It was so pretty and very grand, I loved it. However, the steam room feature, which is why my husband booked that specific room, did not work. We told Alex that we were disappointed with this and he apologised instantly. Most places just apologise and just move on from it, however, Alex went that extra mile and gave us a free night of stay, which is not cheap! My husband and I were so happy with the way it was handled. And that wasn't all, they gave us free desserts after our dinner, which was so nice. Floh was our waiter for the evening and gave the best service, very chatty and friendly and made sure we were happy.

Following our next stay, upon arrival to the room, we were greeted with free chocolates from their new patisserie next door, Cake and Culture. These chocolates were divine and I went to their patisserie the next morning because I loved them that much. Alex, gave us the chocolates for free, again, showing us how apologetic they were. Honestly, we were treated so well and Alex encouraged us to try Cake and Culture's breakfast next time, so I definitely will be. The coffee is sourced by Java, who are the best independent coffee company, so I knew that their cortado would not disappoint. All in all, for all my future special occasions, Baloci is definitely at the...