It was in 2019 that I first wrote about Marmaris in Kings Heath and in 2021 that I declared it as the second best kebab in Birmingham (in hindsight it should have been first; even winners BOP said as much). Which means I’m an OG Marmaris fan, going where few would dare to go, which is the back-end of Kings Heath, to hang out with the taxi drivers of the city on hard plastic chairs all in the name of kebab.
They are in the Jewellery Quarter now, and, in the best possible way, it is nothing like the Kings Heath branch. The monochrome, faux-marble aesthetics, fake plants (why?!) and comfy chairs are built for spending protracted periods of time bathing in the floor-to-ceiling glass walls. When we arrive at noon the place is heaving, astonishing given that it is four days old but probably a sign that the JQ isn’t quite the gourmet haven that some will have you believe just yet. And the area needs it. I’m pleased it’s here. At present the lunch options within five minutes of the office are Subway, Tesco’s, or something called The Goat King, who I believe to be neither a goat, nor a king.
Lunch is a simple offering. A selection of wraps, burgers, and grills, all for under a tenner. We start with hummus which is good, if not spectacular. It has texture, which I love, and crispy chickpeas doused in paprika oil, which I also love, but also so much tahini I find it all tasting a bit peanut buttery. With this is good pide bread. Maybe not the lightest I’ve ever had, but certainly better than most.
The kebab is unsurprisingly very good. Not as smoky as the ones in Kings Heath, which I expect is something to do with newer, less cooked-in, and ultimately cleaner grills. The lamb shines today, the meat is rested, juicy, and bright. The minced chicken kebab is good, just nowhere near as tasty as the lamb, and needs plenty of that slightly gloopy chilli sauce. Some good bulgar wheat, some damp rice and a decent salad. Ten quid each. Or roughly the same price as a bout of food poisoning from the Subway.
Omar paid I’m guessing less than thirty pounds, so here is a link to his wonderful business as a thank you. And that is that. A new, shiny Turkish kebab restaurant that isn’t quite at the standard of cooking as the original yet, but is a far nicer place to sit in. I can see it being a roaring success. I for one will be there roughly once a week.
8/10
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