The Mayan — Restaurant in Birmingham

As a specialist vegetarian Chef and restaurant owner myself, I am rarely impressed with the vegetarian offerings at many high-end restaurants in Birmingham. Too often, I’ve found a lack of creativity in vegetarian menus, leaving me to settle for dining out more for the ambiance and company rather than the food itself. However, this restaurant has completely redefined my expectations, leaving me with newfound hope that we now have amongst us some truly fine-quality chefs and restaurant owners and managers who take immense pride in their menus and genuinely respect the real essence of hospitality.

From the moment we walked in, we were transported to an enchanting rustic Mayan era. The décor is absolutely stunning, blending finesse, class, and gold accents in a way that felt both luxurious and welcoming. Every detail of the ambiance has been crafted with such care that it’s impossible not to be captivated.

The cuisine was simply outstanding—authentic Mexican at its very best. When I say authentic, I mean true, bold flavors, beautifully presented dishes, and, most importantly, a taste that lingers with you long after the meal is over. As vegetarians, it is a challenge to find dishes that feel exciting and innovative, but this restaurant delivered beyond our wildest expectations.

Special praise goes to Head Chef Dilanka, who went above and beyond by creating not one but two incredible vegetarian main courses just for us. His creativity and passion for his craft shone through each dish with a celebration of flavors, thoughtfully prepared and executed with excellence.

The hospitality we received was unparalleled. GM Adonis, Chef Dilanka, and Head Waiter Erika treated us with such genuine warmth and care that we felt like honored guests throughout the evening. The birthday girl in our group was especially delighted, and we all left feeling deeply grateful for such an extraordinary experience.

This is more than just a restaurant—it’s a celebration of exceptional food, stunning ambiance, and heartfelt hospitality. For anyone seeking a truly memorable dining experience, this is a must-visit. I am already looking forward to returning and am filled with hope for a brighter, more inclusive culinary future in our...

For over £100, I would not recommend! Disappointing to say the least. Had a late dinner (Sunday 9:30pm) which was supposed to begin at 9pm but due to poor weather conditions, we did not arrive on time, which was communicated with the restaurant before and upon arrival, when I apologised profusely. We did, however, order as soon as possible (by 9:45pm) and all food and drink arrived in under 10mins which I did find a bit curious since I ordered grilled lamb chops and, rightly so. All dishes, except the fries, were cold! I would have requested that the food be remade/ reheated but the kitchen was closed by the time I started eating (10pm). The pork tacos were difficult to chew and dry, as though they had been sat under a heat lamp for a while and not freshly made; the chicken wings were dried out and overly salted, the fried prawns lacked any seasoning and just tasted of plain batter and, the lamb chops were cold and uninspired. The sauce that accompanied the chops did not add much to the dish either, it was the same flavour as the lamb and did not complement it. I also had to request a steak knife for the lamb as the cutlery that was readily available was not suitable to slice through medium-rare meat but the knife I was provided with was even duller than the previous one. It resulted in me having to eat the chops with my hands! Considering the price of the food and the extravagant decor throughout the restaurant, the least they could do is invest in some serrated edge steak knives or ones at least sharp enough to slice. The cocktails were okay but did not match the pictures showed online which was a bit of a let down as I am a visual person when it comes to food and drink. The only dish I could enjoy was the side of Garlic fries as they were warm, crispy and well seasoned. Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant as it, along with many new restaurants, are following the trend I have noticed where decor aesthetics takes precedent over service and food quality. This restaurant, like too many others, are tailored to suit Instagram models and other social media influencers for pictures and promotional content instead of letting the food speak for itself. I would not...

Okay so first of all we arrived late which is crappy for us and we apologise so we missed our Bottomless Brunch slot. It was absolutely freezing in there, wasn’t good that we were sat right under the AC which we asked to be turned off. The menus were somewhat hard to understand and comprehend and there wasn’t a variety on the menu in OUR opinion. We ordered chicken tacos, cod tacos, fries, truffle fries and honey glazed carrots because nothing really was catching our eyes. Carrots and fries were fantastic and would defo recommend but everything else was not giving what it was supposed to give especially after seeing the lovely reviews. Our expectations were high. The cocktail menu was like a mini catalogue which is really overwhelming and you don’t know where to start from. My friends got the El Tempo cocktail after being recommended that by our lovely waiter. We can’t explain the taste but it wouldn’t be our go to be bought again. They didn’t have ketchup, mayonnaise/regular sauce and when we asked, we were told it’s because they’re trying to keep with the authenticity of Mexico which is fair I guess. One of our taco meals was taken off our bill after the Manager came to check in on us whilst we were eating and we told him how we felt. Overall food experience was 4/10, customer service 8/10, aura 5/10, it was quiet for a Sunday. They Played Premier Gaou (Nitefreak Remix) by Francis Mercier & Magic System which is brownie points. All in all it was good. They even brought out a fancy something for my friends birthday. I would come again and possibly try one of...