If you want to fall off the wagon, this is the place to do it. In scarlet surroundings this is a friendly neighbourhood bar-café, good for the kids, buzzy and warm. For breakfast on a Sunday I’ve enjoyed the pancakes with maple syrup and bacon and induced a sugar coma. Want spicy scrambled eggs with chorizo in a burrito for breakfast? No probs. The menu’s as mixed as these two examples; special events like the Japanese Pika Pika nights provide a monthly dose of Wasabi tears and glutinous rice. I like it! The coffee is good, but the wheat beer is better. :) Try some.
Clare C.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Birmingham, United Kingdom
People keep going on about this place… but it is largely uneventful. It’s charm is it’s small size and Eames wallpaper. Not much of a red theme… this would have been a good idea in fact. The furniture is rickerty and uncomfortable… some poncy beers if you like that sort of thing. Tables are never cleared — or very slowly. Food — meh. The singular toilet should feature on ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Outta Here’. Been a few times in the day… watch the whells go round outside… The trendy people are always ‘heading down there’ upon the evening… Emperors New Clothes.
Chandni L.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Birmingham, United Kingdom
My husband and I decided to go for an English breakfast so we thought that we would go to Cherry Red’s on York Road as it is local to us. We have been before and we did have a good experience. On this occasion however our experience wasn’t as before. I ordered the small veggie breakfast. It could have been served at a higher temperature, but nevertheless, it was really nice. I did enjoy it. My husband ordered the normal English breakfast. The food was fine, this wasn’t the issue. Our table was rocking(badly!), so I asked the guy politely to sort it out. He just HANDED me a wad of tissue. I paused in shock and looked at him, to which he replied ‘Oh…you want me to do it!’. I couldn’t believe it. To make the situation worse, the guy decided to unblock the sink in the toilet with the door wide open and unfortunately as he was kneeling on the floor, his behind was very much on show! He then walked through the café with a dripping plunger which had just been down the dirty sink. I was ready to walk out. It was so off putting. We just quickly ate and left. Not going back.
Simon S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom
Breakfast Review: I ate outside in the summer of 2014. That immediately makes you feel better. I had heard lots about Cherry Reds, but never got around to getting all the way over to Kings Heath to try it. I gave it a go. Inside, it was quite dark and a bit ‘wizard and witch — like’, unusual, but its a bar at night, so it sort of makes sense. I ordered the Full English again, so that I could compare it with all the others that I have tried. The single sausage was of a good quality and tasty, the bacon was decent too. What I didn’t like was the cherry tomatoes served mixed with the mushrooms and they committed the worst crime in history — they put the beans in the middle of the plate, contaminating the rest of the food. Everyone knows that beans should be served separately! There was a couple of pieces of toast, a hash brown and black pudding too. It was served hot and freshly cooked. In summary: Its a quirky place, serving good quality, freshly cooked food, at a reasonable price.
Mohamade A.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
First time at this Cherry Reds. Was meeting Vicky O for Coffee/Tea. I’m a fan of the one in town. Very homely and food is really good. From the pictures it looked really small and wasn’t expecting much. How surprised I was when I got there. Still smaller than the John Bright Street, but It’s roomy than I thought. At the back there were group of young people which is good sign that is popular with younger age group. Location is great too. Just off high street but there’s variety of shops nearby. Pet shop, indian restaurant and more. Menu is same. They do American style pancakes which was one of the thing I loved about the Cherry Reds in town. I wasn’t hungry as I did eat not long before arriving. But those cupcakes tempted me and had to get one. Got chai tea and cherry cupcake. It’s now on my breakfast place list. Closer to me and I’m glad Vicky chose to meet here. I never would’ve come to this Cherry Reds. Great to see atmosphere and the look is similar to the other one. I’ll be back for breakfast soon. Loco Lounge and Veg Out will have to wait for now :) This is why I love Unilocal and glad I discovered it. Never would’ve known or even want to try a lovely place like this.
Caroline C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Quite a small place! Drinking mango beer-yum! Located next to Top Banana on York Road, this café bar is really quite tiny and has a different vibe to its newer and bigger sister in the City Centre. Nevertheless it has a big personality, with quirky seating and décor and a cool young vibe — cool 80s tunes playing when I walked in:) I didn’t know what to drink but the bar staff were happy to chat and discuss their menu:) I ended up with a mango beer which I thought was delicious:) I would definitely pop back if I was in the area but not take too many people with me;)
Vicky O.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
My first foray into Kings Heath always had to start at the big sister of one of my favourite town hotspots. After negotiating the bus(quite easy, actually), we headed straight to York Road to meet Ben C and start our adventure. Cherry Reds is just round the corner from Kings Heath’s most famous offering; The Hare and Hounds. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know where you are heading, but the retro signage and the bright cheery windows soon came into view. First thing of note; if you’re familiar with the offering on John Bright Street then the size of this bar will hit you first. It’s about a 5th of the size of its sister venue, but this is no bad thing. With room for about 20 punters comfortably, the décor, furniture and tiny details really make this venue stand out. The size also has no impact on variety of drinks with the boards advertising a dizzying choice of beverages to please even the most discerning customer. The cute food bar with different tapasy offerings is also a good indication of the food(although we didn’t sample on this visit). I tried the Anchor Steam ale, which had a gorgeous logo(matching the vibe of the venue) and was kept well and tasted perfect. The drinks aren’t cheap(over £4 a pint), but for a first stop on our tour — it was a great choice. I would recommend this venue for meeting up with a friend or maybe a low key date. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to heading back and giving it another go!
Matthew T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cool music and vegan food! Nice beer too! But you leave smelling of the food because there’s no ventilation and the kitchen and dining area are linked.
Mazzy S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cherry Reds is a tiny café bar on the ever popular York Road in Kings Heath. Bar A nice selection of good quality beers, wines, spirits and cocktails — all quite reasonably priced. Food The food is scrummy! Delicious cooked breakfasts, freshly made sandwiches, jacket potatoes, salads and much more. All the ingredients are high quality and wherever possible local produce is used. There are vegetarian and vegan options, and even dairy & gluten free cakes available. Ambience Eating or drinking here is almost like being in your own living room(but better). It’s cosy, comfortable, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff are accommodating. Highly recommend this cool independent café, and with the other nearby surrounding independent shops it’s the perfect place to refuel mid shop.
Ben C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
A small, independent café bar with friendly staff, Cherry Reds is located on York Road, off the bustling Kings Heath High Street. Upon entering this little oasis that’s far from the madding crowd, you are greeted at the door with a smile and a folky-kitsch display of tempting cupcakes. The menu is small and perfectly formed. There are maverick touches to modern, homely food that caters to the tastes of flesh-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike. As far as drinks go, Cherry Reds sell good European and New World wine at a price that’s well below what you might expect, and they have a well-chosen selection of local and continental lagers. Owner Jen is a beer connoisseur, and hosts monthly beer tasting sessions which are informative, informal, and guaranteed to open your eyes and tastes buds to a plethora of tastes beyond pub-standard lagers and ales. Rather than offer classic martinis or Manhattans, Cherry Reds cocktails are fun and alcohol fueled. A recent addition is Jamaica-Me-Crazy: a shot of premium Kraken Rum, a shot of Appleton rum, then topped up with ginger beer and lime. Every day between 4pm-7pm you can enjoy two cocktails for the price of one. The décor is unpretentious and along with the intimate dimensions it invites the informal feeling of being in a house rather than in a public place. It’s a relaxing place to be is Cherry Reds. The unique ambiance is that your friend is having an open house and that you and those in the know are always very welcome.
Nicola T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cherry Reds is a newish café-bar occupying one of the smallest premises on York Road. This place has a very homely feel and at busy times you might even struggle to get a seat. We visited for a quick drink and bite to eat on Sunday afternoon. The bar is well stocked and includes local brewery Freedom’s delicious larger. The food is unfussy and comforting. The brilliant thing about their menu is it is the same all day; so if you fancy a late arvo brekkie or a burger for brunch then this is the place for you. We had a falafel sandwich and a lamb wrap special — both were delicious and only £4 each. The coffees and cakes looked great too. They often have live acoustic music in the week and also do private events. Once a month they host Pika-Pika’s oriental fusion cuisine.
John N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
There’s something slightly pretentious about the phrase«café bar». In my mind, it evokes images of somewhere wafty hipster types who don’t want to risk credibility points by saying they’re going to the pub. However, a «café bar» is definitely what Cherry Reds is, as it is a place where people come to eat and/or drink in an informal atmosphere and alcohol is served. And yet there’s nothing pretentious about this café bar. I think it’s mostly down to the staff and the way the place is run. They keep a down to earth feel where the same concept could become unbearable in the wrong hands. They can use exotic ingredients like tofu. halloumi and homemade falafel alongside traditional favourites like burgers and chilli, and yet the whole thing fits together seemlessly. It’s not cheap but it’s certainly not unreasonably priced either, and you can get a decent sized snack and an alcoholic drink for about 7 – 8 pounds. The alcohol menu is perfectly chosen by someone who obviously was going for taste rather than profitability. And if all that wasn’t enough, they even offer a gut load of vegan options. Go Cherry Reds!
Marieanne D.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cherry Red’s is a Café bar situated on York Road; moments away from King’s Heath’s busy High Street. The family owned business is neighbor to a number of curiously wonderful small independent shops, and Cherry Red’s itself merely adds to the charm of this popular road. When first stepping into Cherry Red’s Café you would be forgiven for thinking that you may feel claustrophobic, as this is one of the smallest shops on York Road, but this is a distant memory when you begin to take in the comforting, homely and friendly atmosphere Cherry Red’s has to offer. The small but perfectly formed sized menu includes a range of filling and fresh home made foods, with a number of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, which are reasonably priced between £4 — £7. There are also a number of beautifully decorated and delicious cakes scattered around the bar and food display areas. The staff are very helpful and friendly, and are happy to discuss menu options or answer any questions you may have. Drinks are fairly priced, with there being a range of alternative beers from around the world to choose from, in addition to a cocktail menu with a number of tasty concoctions, that are two for one between 4pm and 7pm everyday! The décor has a vintage feel which complements the Café’s cozy atmosphere. You could honestly stay at Cherry Reds for hours thinking it was your own home and forget that the outside world exists. In addition to the overall charming nature of the Café Bar, Cherry Red’s also hosts a number of interesting and alternative events in the evening, these include a monthly Pikka Pikka Japanese night, Acoustic nights, Beer tasting events and Film nights. You can also hire the venue for your own private party, where you will be safe in the knowledge that your guests will leave merry, relaxed, content and reveling in the experience that this truly, lovely venue provides. Opening Times: 9.00am — 11.00pm Monday to Thursday 9.00am — 2.00am Fridays and Saturdays 10.00am — 11.00pm Sundays
Heather C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cherrys Reds is one of the latest additions to York Road in Kings Heath. Situated just off the main high street York Road is fast becoming a thriving hub as independent record store Polar Bear Records and vintage clothes emporium Top Banana are both located there. Although it is one of the smallest premises on York Road, rather than feeling cramped Cherry Reds has a wonderfully intimate feel to it. Word is spreading fast about this café as I’ve visited at various times and days in the week and the place is always busy. I’ve visited on a night for a friends private 30th birthday bash and on a Saturday afternoon for tea and the most delicious chai cupcake I’ve ever tasted. The food is freshly prepared and the staff are always very welcoming. They host several regular events such as a beer tasting evening, Pause Button Evenings who present vintage tapes of John Peel shows transcribed and Pika Pika a Japanese food night. They have also been known to host acoustic nights and film evenings, the most recent of which was a double bill of those Kevin Smith classics Mallrats and Clerks. There is a wide variety of food available at various points during the day from the aforementioned cupcakes to Tofu with avacado and sweet chilli, Roast Ham, cheddar and caramelised onion ploughmans, homemade beer battered fish and chips and sweet chilli chicken rice noodles. Well worth a visit if you are in the B14 vicinty!