Review: Home Is Where..., Birmingham

When we challenged Brummie blogger Tasha Mughal on Twitter to find the best cafe in her home city, we were pretty sure nothing would beat London's charms. Here, she talks about one of her new favourite places. And take it from us readers, we're jealous we don't live next to this little place!

Cafés are ten a penny in any city, with a vast amount of chains taking over the high street. So sometimes it’s nice to discover a little independent gem that delivers, it's like finding your own buried treasure.

Located on the outskirts of Birmingham City Centre, near Pigeon Park and Birmingham Snow Hill; is this lovely quaint deli/café, Home Is Where. It is located amongst a coffee shop, a high end menswear shop, Hotel Du Vin and Birmingham's business district. It stands out and for all the right reasons.

The place itself has a high ceiling which makes it look vast but still keeps to a cosy vibe. There is a random pig on the table and a lamb on the countertop which could be seen as insensitive if you’re vegetarian but it seems to fit the rustic farm-like theme of the furnishings.

The place is so inviting and chilled that it is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of Birmingham City Centre. It is understandable why it is called Home Is Where because it feels like home. So if this was their aim then they succeed very well. The most interesting aspect is how there is no matching chairs, every single one is odd. Some might see this as weird but it adds to the character of the place and makes it a little bit more quirky and hipster.

Because of its location, it has whole host of differing customers, from men in suits having a meeting or busily using their laptops to students having a bite to mothers nattering and enjoying a good ol' chinwag. There is no real demographic for this place, it seems to suit anyone and cater to all tastes and needs.

They serve breakfast all day; have a vast array of teas and cold drinks, an organic sandwich range and a tapas selection for the indecisive customer. I chose to have the Blueberry Pancake stack with Maple Syrup, which was served with raspberries, strawberries and blueberries, which are my favourites. It was really delicious and I was kind of tempted to lick the plate but refrained, thankfully.

My companion, aka my mother, decided to go for the Falafel, Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables, Tomato and Chilli Hummus in a wrap. It looked so delicious and was served with a chunky salad, with a tomato the size of my head. The falafel tasted homemade and you could see lentil pieces within it and there was the perfect amount of vegetable and hummus to compliment it. She thoroughly enjoyed it and wants to go back, which says it all really.

They also cater for events and parties, which is brilliant for someone who's bored of celebrating in the same old chains, or blogger meets looking for something fun and quirky. The staff are also nice; customer service is something that is temperamental in Birmingham and is the one thing that makes me want to go back to a place or to never return. The staff here seem to understand this and treat everyone well. I had a look on their site and under their Recruitment tab; they say they are looking for “enthusiastic, bubbly and smiley people who are passionate about food”, which is exactly who they've hired so far.

It cost £12 altogether for the whole meal, and this includes drinks. I thought this was very reasonable for the portion size and quality of the food. And as my mother said, I'm sure we'll be back soon.

Have you visited Home Is Where..., or do you know a better place in Birmingham? Let us know!

Home Is Where... | 26 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2NP | 0121 2362339