We discovered seriously good Saturday night spritzes and seriously good super green salads at a pub restaurant in Sutton Coldfield
In hindsight, picking a Saturday night for my autumn/winter menu review was a real test for The Greenhouse, Sutton Coldfield, the place was heaving. But from the moment we walked in, things got off to a strong start. We were greeted straight away (a big tick from me - there’s nothing worse than being left hovering awkwardly while staff glide past pretending not to see you).
First stop: the bar. I was delighted to spot a Hugo Spritz on the menu. As someone who’s not an Aperol girl, discovering this cocktail over summer has been a revelation, finally, a way to join the spritz bandwagon! It’s light, Italian, and sparkling — prosecco, soda, and elderflower liqueur in perfect harmony. The only disappointment? We’re not in Spain, so no supersized measures. A girl can dream.
When it came to food, I’m trying to be in that pre-Christmas “come on, drop a few pounds” mindset - so quality over quantity, and this menu had plenty to tempt me. I started with the Chicken Yakiniku Skewers, juicy and lightly charred, served with a gorgeous satay sauce that was rich without being heavy. My date chose the Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper Squid, which I immediately stole a bite of (purely for research purposes). It was crisp, light, and perfectly seasoned.
For mains, I went for one of the specials-Oven-Baked Cod with Crushed New Potatoes. The fish was tender, flaky, and paired nicely with green beans cooked just to al dente. The portion was massive, I couldn’t finish it, so my date helped me out (teamwork at its best). His Super Green Salad with added chicken though was a real showstopper, he always chooses a healthy option, but this does mean I can’t steal chips from someone who never orders them......
Chef Gabi popped over to chat and explained how much thought actually goes into creating a proper winter salad as it needs to be substantial and hearty- mission accomplished. It was colourful and full of texture: red chicory, avocado, roasted beetroot, butternut squash, apple, grains, samphire, spring onion, and a tangy balsamic dressing tying it all together beautifully. The portion of chicken as the protein add-on was the the biggest I’ve ever seen!
The new autumn/winter menu also caters well for meat-lovers, with ribeye and fillet steaks on offer, plus a mighty 12oz Pork Tomahawk for those who like their dinner with a bit of presence.
Service was excellent throughout. Shawn, our server, was friendly, knowledgeable, and kept everything running smoothly. Tables around us were cleared and cleaned quickly and efficiently-impressive considering how busy it was.
We were both pretty full, but in the name of research, we decided to share a Toffee Crème Brûlée with raspberries, strawberries, toffee sauce, and homemade sable biscuits, a lovely twist on a classic. Coffee followed, hot, strong, and (best of all) served with a delicious coconut macaroon on the side. More places should do that. I still haven’t forgiven M&S for ditching the little oat biscuit they used to give to accompany their cafe coffees— a bare saucer is always a no-no in my eyes!
All in all, The Greenhouse passed the Saturday-night stress test with flying colours, a well run pub serving thoughtful food with personality. I’ll definitely be back - Hugo Spritz in hand of course.
The Greenhouse, Sutton Coldfield is part of the Premium Country Pub Collection with a choice of venues across the Midlands.
