The Bitter-Sweet Truth About Birmingham Medicine Bakery

The Bitter-Sweet Truth About Birmingham Medicine Bakery - Mailbox

We all love a gorgeous, aesthetic brunch spot.

So, naturally, I rolled up to Medicine Bakery at the Mailbox in Birmingham, expecting a serene morning of great vibes and even better food. The decor? Absolutely great. It’s the kind of relaxing, breezy space that practically begs you to sit down, sip a matcha, and catch up with friends.

Unfortunately, the universe—and the kitchen—had other plans.

To say they were understaffed is an understatement; there was exactly one brave soul tackling the entire front of house. Combine that with a sudden kitchen breakdown, and we were left playing the waiting game for nearly thirty minutes. When the food finally graced our table, it looked beautiful. Instagram ready? Absolutely. Taste-wise? It was... fine. Decent, but nothing that made my soul sing. It’s a perfectly okay brunch spot that probably shines much brighter on a quiet Tuesday when the kitchen equipment isn't staging a rebellion.

To their credit, the staff tried to patch things over by offering everyone a free slice of cake as a goodwill gesture. Classy move, right? Sadly, it wasn't the sweet ending I hoped for. The cake was so aggressively sweetened it felt like a direct assault on my teeth. Love the effort, guys, but my dentist would disagree.

Verdict: A gorgeous space plagued by bad timing and slow service. Go for the vibes on a quiet weekday, not the weekend rush.

Rating
Food: 3.5/5 - Beautiful presentation, but the actual flavours were just average and the cake was way too sweet.
Service: 2/5 - Severely understaffed and plagued by kitchen delays, though the lone server tried their best.
Decor: 4.5/5 - A absolutely beautiful, relaxing space that is perfect for a casual catch-up.
Value: 3/5 - Standard Birmingham brunch pricing,
Overall: 3.5/5 - Great aesthetics can't completely hide the chaotic service and mediocre food, but it has potential on a better day.

Estimated Cost Per Person: £15 – £20

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