We visit one of the most beautiful restaurants in Birmingham for an incredible blossom feast

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Buzzing with atmosphere and utterly stylish this really is a unique destination in Birmingham

Behind the hustle and bustle on Colmore Row, just behind The Grand Hotel lies Barwick Street.

Lined by tall Victorian buildings, it’s a charmingly, characterful street in the upmarket business district which is home to a handful of luxury drinking and dining options, including one of Birmingham’s most beautiful restaurants.

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With an enormous cherry blossom centrepiece fashioned from salvaged trees brought back to life by hand, Tattu is a unique Birmingham destination which offers a deliciously modern take on Chinese food.

It combines Yin and Yang throughout the destination, which was once the basement of The Grand Hotel

You can see the distinctive cherry blossom bloom decoration, representing the dark feminine Yin, from the street - you’ll often see people peeking in with wonder as they walk past. 

Once inside the Tattu, you are received with the warmest of welcomes at reception with the gleaming white bar bedecked with cave-like rugged white granite tiles and pillars, oozing with atmosphere and history. This is the more masculine Yang bit, by the way

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It’s a super stylish place to hang out for drinks before dinner and a nice place to pop in for a tipple whether or not you're dining.

Barwick Street is also home to the popular city office workers spot Primivito along with Isaacs restaurant which is part of The Grand Hotel.

Tattu BirmingahmTattu Birmingahm
Tattu Birmingahm | Tattu

We visited on a Tuesday evening and were impressed to see how busy the restaurant was. The atmosphere was buzzing as people drank at the bar and dined amid the blooms downstairs.

We were invited to sit in the private dining room which has optimum views of the pink floral centrepiece - offering the ultimate instagrammable experience.

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Tattu has recently launched its Blossom Season menu with a range of sharing dishes to celebrate ancient eastern culture which is a key inspiration for the independent brand which was set up by two brothers almost a decade ago (in 2015).

Our feast was served in three waves with a total of eight amazing dishes, with each served as a portion recommended to share between two.

Cocktails at Tattu

Of course, we couldn’t begin eating without trying out the much lauded cocktails served at Tattu restaurant.

These drinks are smoking - literally - as dry ice is a popular ingredient at this cavernous and creative bar.

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One of the signature cocktails is skull candy and it’s a simply stunning drink served in a skull-shaped glass with smoke oozing from the bright red coloured vodka drink combined with homebase bubble-gum syrup. You’ll need a sweet tooth for this one as the sugary flavours powered through the ice cold liquid, calmed by an alcoholic kick.

Skull Candy cocktail at TattuSkull Candy cocktail at Tattu
Skull Candy cocktail at Tattu | Tattu

We also tried Koko Tattu - which was recommended to us as a pina colada, but without the cream. I must admit, I was pretty sceptical about how this could possibly work successfully, but was pleasantly surprised. Who needs cream? This drink was smooth, without being too heavy or sweet with Bacardi coconut bringing a deliciously smooth sensation - a real tropical treat. 

Another amazing cocktail on offer was the Oolong Margarita. Classically decadent with and shimmering with golden highlights, it was an original alternative to an espresso martini at the end of our feast.

A Blossom Season feast at Tattu

As I mentioned earlier our feast of modern Chinese dishes was served in three waves - in sharing dishes for two.

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If you’re planning on dining at Tattu, my top tip is to ensure you go hungry - the portions were generous and the quality of ingredients exquisite, so you’ll want to eat as much as possible.

Wave one featured two dishes - Crispy Katafi King Prawns with mango and sweet chilli and Peking Duck Pancakes with Szechuan cucumber and spring onion. The coating on the prawns was a perfect crunch, be careful not to drop the delicate, sliced crisps onto yourself though they weren’t the easiest to handle.

Crispy Kataifi King PrawnsCrispy Kataifi King Prawns
Crispy Kataifi King Prawns | Tattu

Wave Two was even better - with five dishes of amazing Chinese classics given the modern twist - and including my favourite, Caramel soy aged beef fillet. If you like steak, then this is a must try!

Premium aged beef served with shiitake, ginger and asparagus. The cooking of the meat was outstanding, perfectly juicy with the most magnificent meaty texture - kind of a level up from melt in your mouth, with enough depth to get your teeth into - with the subtle ginger giving it a warmly wholesome finish. It was a shame this one was to share, although it was a plentiful portion.

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Cherry Blossom Dessert at TattuCherry Blossom Dessert at Tattu
Cherry Blossom Dessert at Tattu | Tattu

Other dishes were the Sea Bass Chinese Curry, Wok Fried Angry Bird, Pak Choi & Ginger and Shredded Duck Fried Rice. Forget any comparisons to your Friday night takeaway. This was Chinese food on another level. The Pak Choi was a little watery for me. But this is a miniscule gripe. 

Our final wave was the sensationally sweet Cherry Blossom dish of cherry, chocolate and candy floss, giving a welcome sugar rush to complete our banquet.

Tattu restaurant on Barwick Street in BirminghamTattu restaurant on Barwick Street in Birmingham
Tattu restaurant on Barwick Street in Birmingham | Fionnuala Bourke

A special occasion to enjoy

Tattu is definitely one of the best places to enjoy a special occasion. But, unsurprisingly, this level of decadent dining doesn’t come cheap. It’s certainly not as expensive as the Michelin options in town - with our three wave Blossom Season banquet priced at £89 per person. There is a cheaper option at £69 per person and a more expensive Emperor’s Choice at £119 per person.

It was a wonderful way to enjoy a real modern take on Chinese food along with fantastic cocktails which is well worth checking out.

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