REVIEW: Rofuto brings a whole new flavour to Birmingham
Looking down on busy roads, watching offices turn their lights off for the night and seeing smart shirts and high heeled shoes making their way into bars; you could be fooled into thinking that this was a New York hotspot. However, this gem is sat on the 16th floor of the Park Regis in the heart of Birmingham; Pan-Asian restaurant Rofuto.
Even on a rainy Tuesday evening, Rofuto was busy, yet very private, and the restaurant really does have a VIP vibe. With dimly lit tables, contemporary design and soft, gentle music, the place screams romance and pure class. The restaurant attracted families, groups of friends catching up over cocktails and couple’s date night’s over the course of the evening and thanks to the bar being away from the tables, it is also a great location to head to for a few drinks.
My evening began with a Pink Sombrero cocktail, which was a perfect blend of San Cosme Mezcal, pink grapefruit, lime juice, maraschino and agave syrup. My guest had a pint of Japanese beer Kirin Ichiban.
We soon chose our starters, which was by far the hardest decision of the night. There are a whole host of Sushi and Dim Sum dishes to get your Rofuto experience going, but I went for four pieces of California Roll sushi, which is Tempura Prawn, Avocado and Orange Tobico. They were delicious, yet very light and just enough. My guest went for the Prawn Spring Rolls, which came with a beautiful sweet and sour sauce.
For mains, I chose the Grilled Chinese Duck, which came with sesame broccoli, leeks and a tasty hoisin sauce. I also chose the Duck Egg Fried Rice for a side dish. It was, by far, the best meal I have had in Birmingham in a very long time. Although it was packed full of flavour, it wasn’t too much and didn’t leave me feeling stuffed, which was brilliant. My guest went for the Pork Belly dish, which came with a Sweet Potato Puree, Pak Choi and Vinaigrette, with a portion of Sweet Potato Fries on the side.
My guest and myself chose to treat ourselves and we chose a dessert. There isn’t a huge selection on the dessert menu, but what is there is a perfect mixture of Rofuto’s take on traditional desserts. I went for the Sakura Dark Chocolate Fondant, which came accompanied with a sweet and tangy Cherry Sorbet, and my guest went for the Hibiscus and Mandarin Panna Cotta. They were both gorgeous dishes, and filled us up just right.
I was incredibly impressed with Rofuto’s menu and the variety was brilliant, although the restaurant is probably a bit better suited to special occasions rather than just a quick meal. The staff are highly knowledgeable about the dishes and the culture of the restaurant and I also appreciated the privacy of the restaurant. As everyone was quite spread out, it meant that I didn’t have to spend all night listening to other people’s conversation.
Rofuto is a real gem in the city and is well worth the trip down Broad Street. As well as the impressive menu and beautiful décor, it is the perfect place to watch the sun go down over the city.
Rating: 10/10
