This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour was invited by Kanteen to experience Rico Libre at Kanteen and did not pay for food or drink. We did leave a tip.
By Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Rico Libre at Kanteen
It has been ages since I went to Rico Libre, an independent Spanish influenced Tapas restaurant in Digbeth just south of Birmingham City Centre, in the summer it moved from its own building slightly away from anything into Custard Factory and to its new home at Kanteen.
Thursday 5.45pm
Myself and my plus one for the evening Phill have arrived 15 minutes ahead of our booking, our server whilst pleased to see us worries we haven’t booked. I assure him of our booking and he gives us a free rein to sit anywhere.
It’s raining heavily tonight and Custard Factory looks like a real-life Instagram photo. Neon, graffiti and reflections in the water feature (Is it a pond?) outside.
We get some table (Tap) water (Birmingham’s finest Elan Valley from the Welsh Hills!) There are starters sized and style dishes which come under “Bread, Olives, Ham and Cheese”, these range from £3.50-£7.50 in price. Then there’s “Veggie Tapas”, “Fish Tapas” and “Meat Tapas” which range from £4-£8 and specials.
Patatas Bravas 
Pork Belly
We order six dishes between us, plus a Pan De Ajo which is Toasted Flatbread with Garlic.
The dishes appear in fairly quick succession, Baked Camembert, Patatas Bravas (Potato with tomato sauce), Patatas Alioli (with Garlic Mayo), Grilled Halloumi, Albóndigas a la Jardinera (Smokey Meatballs) and Pork Belly.
Grilled Halloumi 
Patatas Alioli
I’ve been eating tapas for over 20 years and it all feels very comforting and familiar, in this venue it feels quite fresh and new, I’d like to see more variation on the menu in the future, but what do you cut in favour of new dishes. I love Patatas Bravas and the Meatballs and the Camembert was delicious as was the Halloumi.
We are invited to finish with a Crema Catalana which smooth and creamy with melted caramel (?) on the top. It almost looks like Crème brûlée (but don’t say that out loud.
Location wise this is ideal for dinner before doing something else in the ever-busy area of Digbeth, we were in and out within 90 minutes. The service isn’t rushed or anything and if you do have somewhere else to be then it is worth making sure they know.
Rico Libre at Kanteen is open Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm-10pm and Friday and Saturday from 5.30pm-10pm. Find out more and book a table here: ricolibre.co.uk
Rico Libre is 15 minutes walk from Birmingham New Street Station and over 10 minutes walk from Birmingham Moor Street Station, there are regular buses along Digbeth but its probably quicker to walk.
This isn’t a sponsored post.
