Sunday 6 September 2015

Food Review: Sunny's Soul Shack at The Sunflower Lounge

Sunny's Soul Shack has been serving up Southern American food at The Sunflower Lounge since opening in July. The latest takeover at The Sunflower Lounge kitchen, Richard and Matt have been perfecting their dishes and have put together a menu of classics.


I went along to try out the new menu along with my fellow Birmingham bloggers.


A friendly bunch, we decided to try out some sharers first, and with four starters on the menu we were able to try them all. Blackened Catfish, Homemade Nachos, Sunny's Hash and Sticky Bourbon Chicken Wings were all put to the taste test.



I was able to try the Hash, Chicken Wings and a breadcrumb free version of the catfish very kindly created in the kitchen to cater to my gluten free diet.


The hash came served as a large round patty the size of a serving plate with Alabama barbecue sauce on the side and wait for it, an egg on top, sunny side up (of course). Made with their special 13 hour roasted beef brisket which is dry rubbed, baked and steamed, this was a meaty man patty of goodness that tastes fantastic with the homemade sauce.



The chicken wings were soft enough to fall off the bone and tasted sweet but not overpoweringly so, whilst my special catfish was my favourite of the starters. Seasoned with a special cajun mix of spices, I'd recommend trying this version even if you're not gluten free. For a starter, the portion was especially generous and came with crisp kale and a sweetcorn and green bean salad as well as a wedge of lime and sauce.


For mains, we had a dish each and it was a choice between the burger or chicken. I went for the Buttermilk Chicken minus the breadcrumbs again as it comes highly recommended. Again, a hearty portion, I was even able to try the sweet potato fries (result!) which came on the side as standard (there is also the choice of rough cut fries) along with corn on the cob. Again, the cajun flavourings are what made this dish so tasty, and without the breadcrumbs the chicken is a good option for anyone looking for a slimline option.



There's also Mac and Cheese, the Dog House Hotdog and Reuben Toasted Sandwich to choose from for a main and I liked the sound of the latter which is toasted rye bread, peppered brisket, sauerkraut, gerkins, swiss cheese and mayo; wow.

For sides you can also try the slaw, onion rings (these looked super thin and crispy!), BBQ beans and bacon, potato salad, mac and cheese or deep fried dill pickle, a Sunny special.

What's the verdict? Very generous portions of hearty classic soul food with a few twists. Expertly blended cajun spices make dishes such as the buttermilk chicken and catfish standout. Great value, starters cost around £5, mains start at £7.50 and sides are all between £2.50 and £3.

*I was invited to dine as a guest of Sunny's Soul Shack

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