The Ruin — Restaurant in Birmingham

Small, traditional corner pub in a location that looks, frankly, ruinous. New owner has gone not for doing it up, but 'distressing' the interior to emulate the ruin bars of Budapest, providing Hungarian items on menu to suit.

I went at midday on a quiet early weekday during the heatwave, with a Hungarian long-term Brum resident, and we both ordered Gulyasz.

Stern test for the cook, who has no personal experience of Hungary whatsoever, but he and his Gulyasz passed with flying colours.

The only fault that my companion could find was one that she knows well, that English parsnips are sweeter than Hungarian parsnips, but there is nothing that one can do about that. Anyway, I could not tell the difference and I doubt that many Brits would notice either.

Barman and cook were most accommodating, and we felt that they cared. Good food and warm welcome. That is pretty Hungarian too.

All in all, excellent and well priced lunch, texture and taste authentic and delicious. Ruinised decor not to my taste but the little yard that we ate in offered a pleasant-enough setting, and the surprisingly roomy interior will serve well once weather turns English again.

Highly...

my first time going out by myself as a woman (22y) in Birmingham and it's really a great place, I'm really happy with my choice of going here as my first place alone. it's safe, comfortable, fun, amazing kind staff, bartender was lovely. I suffer from social anxiety so it's hard for me to go out and enjoy my time somewhere out and The Ruin was perfect. I was up in the smoking area and it's really chill, good atmosphere and great! I'm not used to going out to drink but I had a Moscow Mule for 8 quid and for the amount of the drink and everything included I say it's a fair price but I'm not familiar with drink prices so I can't say confidently it's the best price out there but definitely worth it 👌👌 Thank you for a good first...

I can only give this venue 4 stars as I didn't eat here. It gets worse; I didn't even have an alcoholic drink here! I came on recommendation from a friend and called in on a warm Saturday afternoon in early May. A visual delight; quirky and off the wall with a fantastic vibe and really friendly staff. A smashing 'find' for me anyway. Edit; I called in again today, 27th August and I like it even more! Had a good prowl around as it wasn't too busy. The young barperson who spoke to me pointed me in the right direction(s) for taking photos of the street art for which this part of the city is renowned. I really...