Following a series of successful pop-ups in the UK and abroad, co-founders Ash and Erin have opened a permanent site for Riverine Rabbit on the outskirts of Birmingham in Stirchley. Erin leads the front of house team, while Ash heads up the kitchen, and together they run this creative endeavour serving a daily changing menu of South African-inspired small plates.
Rabbit is a very small, intimate restaurant with bar seating only. This casual set up lends itself best to smaller groups, with diners seated along one long counter where they can watch the chefs in action.
Diners can order as many plates as they please, although three to four dishes per person are recommended. You’ll find a small selection of snacks to start, followed by a collection of smaller and larger dishes. Bite-sized snacks might include cajun spiced devilled eggs, or fried chicken with caviar. Further down the menu, examples of dishes include BBQ hispi cabbage with Tom Yum Cream, salmon crudo with green apple and jalapeno, and whole lemon sole with Thai black pepper sauce and samphire. Influences are diverse and wide-ranging, while the ingredients used to create their menu are sourced from sustainable farmers and local producers.
The wine list is comprised predominantly of South African bottles, while beers are supplied from local brewery Glasshouse. You can also find a wide selection of non-alcoholic options on the list, if you’re off the booze.
Ash hails from South Africa originally, and boasts an impressive CV that includes The Ledbury, Dinner by Heston, and Carters of Moseley, which is just up the road from Rabbit. Erin, meanwhile, is a Materials Scientist by day, and a Front of House Manager by night, straddling the two throughout the week when the restaurant is open (it only operates in the evening, from Monday to Friday).