We went to ‘La Toque D’or’ almost a year ago and the memory still haunts me. In fact it was my wife who suggested that I write a review about our experience there as she is also still flabbergasted by our evening there.
Situated in Birmingham’s quaint Jewelry Quarter ... Read review
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We went to ‘La Toque D’or’ almost a year ago and the memory still haunts me. In fact it was my wife who suggested that I write a review about our experience there as she is also still flabbergasted by our evening there.
Situated in Birmingham’s quaint Jewelry Quarter the restaurant is found down a winding alleyway and at first you may be forgiven for thinking you’ve lost your way by the end of the evening ... ...is quite small but very atmospheric with low lighting and mock eighteenth century charm. We were shown to the waiting area next to the tiny bar that looked like it wouldn’t be out of place in the set of ‘Abigail’s Party’ and joined our friends who were already waiting for us. Now despite the fact that the small restaurant was barely a quarter full we waited a good half an hour to be seated? Ok so the food is all prepared from ... more
We went to ‘La Toque D’or’ almost a year ago and the memory still haunts me. In fact it was my wife who suggested that I write a review about our experience there as she is also still flabbergasted by our evening there.
Situated in Birmingham’s quaint Jewelry Quarter the restaurant is found down a winding alleyway and at first you may be forgiven for thinking you’ve lost your way by the end of the evening you may be wishing that you had. The place itself is quite small but very atmospheric with low lighting and mock eighteenth century charm. We were shown to the waiting area next to the tiny bar that looked like it wouldn’t be out of place in the set of ‘Abigail’s Party’ and joined our friends who were already waiting for us. Now despite the fact that the small restaurant was barely a quarter full we waited a good half an hour to be seated? Ok so the food is all prepared from scratch but why couldn’t we wait at our table? We had some drinks and were given some itsy bitsy nibbles to really torture our empty stomachs. Eventually we were taken to our table and after a good twenty minutes our starters finally arrived. Now before I go any further I must say that the service was absolutely brilliant for the entire evening and they really can’t be faulted on it. However that was the only plus of the evening.
Memories of my starter have been wiped from my memory but I think my wife’s description of hers is really wonderful and very evocative:
“It was meant to be some kind of Parmesan Tart but what I received was a blob of mouse about the size of a ten pence, topped with a Parmesan biscuit in a puddle of spit.”
How could anyone not be tempted by that?
The rest of the food was of a similar standard i.e. trying to match the tiny, fluorescent food to what we had actually ordered. Now you may be thinking ‘god this guy is some fast food freak, he’s never been to a decent restaurant,’ this is not the case. We enjoy eating out as often as we can, which is not nearly often enough. I love going to ‘Le Petit Blanc’ and for a more down to earth meal ‘Bistro Lyonaise’ two places that also have brilliant service, great atmosphere but more importantly decent sized portions of easily recognisable food. I’ll cut to the chase and just let you have what really pee’d me off, the price. I don’t mind forking out for a good meal as quality is worth paying for but this was astronomical. Now I’m not exaggerating but a meal for four with starters, main course and a pudding including a couple of bottles of wine and four whiskeys worked out about £70 a head. £70 quid each! I thought they’d been giving their calculator too much Sherry. The food was average and miniscule and did warrant such a high price no way, never. At ‘Le Petit Blanc’ you are looking at about £35 a head and you are in for a real treat. This place left me feeling cheated and worst of all hungry. The only people who actually enjoy eating here are food snobs and idiots because the only people having a good time are the staff and owners laughing at idiots like me who blow a fortune on food that would struggle to keep a Hamster satisfied.
This servery for rabbits has its own website that boasts various prestidgious awards; I just wanted to recount my experience there so that others aren’t fooled by a good write up and a poncy name.
If you are still tempted to eat there then each to their own. For a main course you're looking at £20-£30 quid that's without any veg, starters are around £10-£20 and barely constitute at mouthful, a pudding is around £10-£20. Any booze you buy will be seriously overpriced so just be careful. The clientele are mainly retired couples and business types which gave a very quiet almost lifeless atmosphere and the Chef prepares his food at a snails pace.
