Café Opus opens at Ikon Gallery
The restaurateurs behind fine dining favourite Opus have welcomed a new addition to the family with the arrival of their ‘little sister’ venue Café Opus at Ikon Gallery in Brindleyplace.Café by name and café by nature, it serves an all-day menu (from Tuesday to Saturday), that evokes the high quality and individuality of its older sister.
The Ikon Gallery has a great looking exterior. The concept for this ‘little sister’ venue is that it will have the same focus on quality British produce and good value as they do at Opus, but in a less formal setting. The look is casual and minimalist and retains much of the look of the original Ikon Café. Whilst little sisters do try to emulate their bigger siblings, this little sister’s menu has character in its own right.
Café Opus at Ikon promises unfussy British classics such as boiled egg and soldiers (£2.50) or creamy forest mushrooms and tarragon on toast (£3.50), served at any time of day or evening. More substantial meals include slow-cooked ox cheeks with creamy polenta (£7.50) or a salad of black beluga lentils with Rosary goats cheese, pine nuts and lemon oil (£5.50).
We took a brisk walk to Brindleyplace to visit this new arrival. My Supper club buddies had arrived first and were glowering at my lateness, (a working mum’s job’s never done!). The venue is not as fresh and welcoming as I would have liked, there is a certain coldness about the place, but that might have something to do with my tuttingcompanions. There was only one thing for it – a warm glass of Argentinian Malbec. A firm favourite of mine and it was a perfect companion on this cold night (unlike me).
Our party of five were looking forward to the Café experience. Two of us had the braised breast of lamb, with a bulgar wheat salad of apricots and almonds (£7.50). Even though salads are meant to be cold, I think the dish would have benefited from a warm accompaniment.
The food connoisseur amongst us ordered from the specials board, faggots, mushy peas and mashed potatoes, a dish I’d certainly not have chosen but which was polished off with glee.
My guest had the fish of the day with cauliflower and pearl barley risotto (£7.50); which was a light and well seasoned, a tasty bit of comfort food.
Our desserts of crème brulee (£4.00) and sticky toffee pudding (£4.00) were sweet and light, indulgent, but not so much it made you feel too guilty.
The service is warm, understated and attentive. Overall it’s very good value, smart dishes at great prices. And, as cafés go, I do think it’s great added value for visitors of the gallery.
Cafe Opus, Ikon Gallery, Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HS
