Isaacs: bringing the buzz of the Big Apple to Barwick Street
The reopening of the 142-year-old Grand Hotel in Birmingham last year was met with great fanfare and excitement.
185 luxurious rooms and the Grosvenor ballroom were reimagined following a £50m restoration of the Grade II listed landmark building.
A standout addition to the business district following the development was Isaacs – a stunning New York-style brasserie, promising to bring the buzz of the Big Apple to Barwick Street. Adorned with greens, golds and graffiti, Isaacs takes you to a world away from Colmore Row.
Before the launch of Isaacs new menu, TheBusinessDesk.com was luckily invited along to have a taste!
Starting with cocktails, the cherry bakewell sour felt as if you were drinking the cake! An absolute must if you are visiting. Another favourite was the peartini – a luxurious and warming tipple.
The fantastic Isaacs team said they would choose a selection of dishes to be sampled and they did not disappoint!
From the raw menu, the oysters served with a lemon & shallot dressing were juicy and served beautifully alongside scallops on a shell.
We were treated to a real eclectic mix throughout, moving from the oysters to mushroom calamari. A real standout with light and crispy batter paired with aioli.
Another small plate sampled was the charred pork belly bites with pickled Japanese slaw – a sweet and sticky tender meat that leaves you wanting more!
Adhering to the New York style theme, the loaded fries were the perfect comfort food topped with chilli, cheese and jalapeños.
To finish, we were treated to two desserts – a zesty key lime pie with a crunchy but buttery base topped with a ginger biscuit and vanilla Chantilly and the Morello cherry and honeycomb sundae – the tartness of the cherry completed the sweet honeycomb but we were unable to finish as it seemed never 
ending!
Isaacs menu really does cover a range of delicacies and occasions – from sophisticated palettes for special occasions, to those looking for the comfort food of New York. An eclectic mix for sure!
It’s open Tuesday to Thursday, 12 noon to 2.30pm; 5pm to 11pm (last food orders 9.30pm) and Friday & Saturday, 12 noon to 11pm (last food orders 9.30pm).
