The Cambridge — Restaurant in Birmingham

As our most local and most loved restaurant, we couldn’t wait to come back after they had been closed for a refurbishment. However, I’ve been left with mixed feelings.

The decor is very lovely - spacious and clean. It was very much needed as the place was starting to look tired and dirty. They’ve done a really good job! The ladies toilets still need a little more TLC though.

The staff are still just as wonderful as always!

The menu is still fab - plenty to choose from and the prices are very competitive indeed. We both had burgers. There was quite a wait for food, but it was busy in there so we expected it and didn’t mind at all. When the food came, it was hot and delicious. Couldn’t fault a thing!

However….

Please turn the music down! When eating a meal with family, it’s usual to have a nice chat. However, the music was so loud we were having to shout across the table to hear each other. I think it was because we were sat upstairs near to the speakers, but please could that be turned down? It made relaxing very difficult.

I’m also really not impressed with the self serve hot drinks at all! The self serve cutlery and sauces I can live with, but hot drinks, I’m sorry, just no. My husband ordered a hot chocolate for £2.49. A waiter brought him an empty mug and a sachet of Cadbury’s hot chocolate powder and told him he had to make it up himself! £2.49 for that! They’re 30p in Asda! Please bring back the proper hot drinks machines! A sachet hot chocolate is not tasty or appealing at all. I had a cold drink with my meal, but used to love having a latte with my lunches when I go. I’m now nervous that when I order a latte, am I going to be served with a powder sachet to make up myself? I really hope not as I hate those! So that’s my biggest gripe, please bring back the proper barista style hot drinks machines that you used to have and have the staff bring them to the tables. Otherwise, you should only be charging the price of the sachets - 30p!!!

All in all, it was a good evening, but sadly, I’m mixed about how I feel about...

Shockingly poor!

Had a table of 6, I had the steak and ordered the add on peppercorn sauce! With no word of exaggeration one of the worst gristly steaks I've ever had and the actual worse peppercorn sauce ever! Lumpy and Luke warm (enjoy the picture), after nobody came to check if our food was ok after serving I had to go find someone with mine and the wife's sauce pots to explain that it was not hot enough and that it was lumpy and tasted disgusting... To which the server apologized and said she would get 2 new ones! 15 minutes later the same 2 pots came back ever so slightly warmer (probably been nuked for 20 secs) and still as lumpy and vile tasting as before. At which point after waiting so long we had practically finished our meals apart from a little piece of steak of saved for the sauce return! Honestly I know I could have asked for a refund for the cost of the sauce and even probably the cost of the meal but it was not about the cost it's about the bitter 😞 of being a food lover and being served absolutely rubbish food. Obviously they don't care as they're happy to send this not once but twice. I don't know what they do to this food but suspect the sauce is cheap rubbish thats frozen and poorly reheated.

Have some standards!

As a massive fan of my local greene king I know what to expect and am massively disappointed on the chains behalf to be serving this standard of food as I know this is not a Michelin star restaurant but standards should be high even at this...

I have been to The Cambridge about 5 times and every time has been an absolute delight! I've tried multiple items off their menu and the food was really good. I didn't expect much because of how affordable the price is, but the food is to die for.

From the meat and fish dishes to the veggie and vegan dishes, I couldn't fault a single thing. Absolutely delicious. 10/10

The drinks are great also. A really good place for a pint too!

Super clean too. I'm a bit of a germaphobe and don't like places that are too grimey. It's spotless! I always see staff clearing tables for new customers and wiping the tables down clean ready for when they come in. I'm quite picky about cutlery as well, but I don't have to worry about that here as it always feels clean and not greasy in the slightest.

As for the customer service, I have to say that I haven't felt more welcome anywhere else. The staff are very friendly and helpful whenever I've asked about ingredients and allergies. I don't have any allergies myself, but I came in with one of my friends who is coeliac and the staff made the proper precautions to ensure that my friend felt safe and relaxed.

The staff that were in on the days that I've visited and that day in particular were all amazing and made it for us. I asked their names for this review. Eliza, Chloe, Levi, and Ellie. Bloody brilliant place. If I could give more than 5...