Rugby Grille

Rugby Grille provided an exceptional dining experience that made our anniversary celebration truly unforgettable. The lamb chops were absolutely exquisite, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Pairing them with the lobster risotto was an excellent choice, as it complemented the dish beautifully.To make the evening even more special, the chef surprised us with a complimentary appetizer--a thoughtful gesture that added a personal touch to our celebration.Our server was absolutely lovely, providing attentive and warm service throughout the evening. The Townsend Hotel's signature chocolate chip cookies are a must-try. Ending the meal with them was pure bliss--they're to die for!

Arrived early with only a couple of other diners in the whole restaurant. Iconic but very dated decor. Server was very sweet and efficient. Salads were simple and lacked flavor. No bread was served with our salads. Pricey for portion size.

I've been here twice for high tea - the first experience was in September 2023. We had a pleasant experience and I got a cupcake for my birthday which was a surprise. I came back with a friend in June 2024 and the menu was slightly different (it changes seasonally and cannot be modified even if you make reservations). Overall it was an ok experience, but not worth the money in my opinion.

The Rugby Grille is located in the Townsend Hotel in downtown Birmingham. The restaurant is very small and created a warm and intimate environment. Service was extremely attentive and professional. Overall a very classy place! I decided to order the salmon and white fish entrees. I thought both had great portion sizes and a great flavor. I would have given 4 stars, however I found both entrees to be overcooked, especially for ordering medium on the salmon. The outer crust was absolutely delicious though! We also went with a mushroom flatbread that was on their specials menu. This was very tasty! Overall enjoyed my experience here.

This is not the first time this Yelper has reviewed the Rugby Grille, but as it has been at least 5 years since the last one, time for an update. We come here for breakfast on a semi-regular basis, with the same couple each time, most recently today. As is customary, the service was impeccable. The menu offers a wide array of options, and the establishment happily makes adjustments to suit diners' needs. For example, one person in our party always orders hot milk to go with his coffee, and his request is honored without hesitation. I got the breakfast with 2 eggs (I requested poached), meat (mine was chicken sausage), "rugby potatoes (oven browned)," and toast. Fresh fruit could be ordered in place of the potatoes - a co-diner selected this option, and the portion looked very nice. 2 co-diners ordered eggs over easy, and the result was expertly prepared. The fourth co-diner got French toast, and said he was "very satisfied" with it. The only negative - not from this visit - was that when our friends have ordered omelettes on prior occasions, they were not fully satisfied with the dish. Not so this time, with the different egg dish, so that problem was solved. Prices? Not a bargain, but we did not expect this at Birmingham's finest hotel. In any case, we always feel we are getting good value for our dining dollar. We will remain breakfast (semi) regulars, and happy to be so.

The rugby grill is located inside the Townsend hotel. It is a small but charming restaurant that fills up quickly. You'll want to make reservations for sure. We arrived fairly late in the evening and we were lucky to get a table. The staff was friendly and quick to assist us with our choices. I was starving and had been dieting for months and wanted some real food! We both eyes the bread basket and decided that we should splurge and have some carbs. Well... This bread was amazing and the butter was good enough to eat in the spoonfuls. We contained ourselves (sort of) . The pork loin caught my eye and it was absolutely splendid. Cooked perfectly. Mouth watering and delicious. So absolutely tender. It was a hefty serving too which we enjoyed later as left overs. He chose to stick with a lighter fare and did the soup and salad (while I scarfed down my food lol). The French onion looked delicious but no croutons? They had a small variety of hand crafted cocktails. The bill was on the pricey side but you expect that being in Birmingham and being in the Townsend. They also offer room service until midnight which we took advantage of! We will most definitely be back.

Absolutely excellent choice for the best tasting food in downtown Birmingham Mi. Look no further, everything tops here. Impressed from start to finish. Beautiful interior even though part of a hotel. Lots of street views. All food is PHENOMENAL!!! My group had pear salad, Reuben, and the turkey club... a must!! Wow I had the turkey club. Let's get another thing straight.... HUGE portions too in addition to the deliciousness! The turkey club was club sandwich perfection. Great choice for lunch on the downtown with all their sandwich options! Highly recommended!

It's expensive, but it's a quiet and very classy place to have a delicious and peaceful dinner and conversation. I knocked one star off because my chicken dish was WAY too salty.

On Set. 19, I brought my 96-yr-old mom here for a drink and hors d'oeuvres. I had sent a note on the online reservation form that we would appreciate a quiet table. The receptionist had knowledge of the request without my saying anything, and immediately showed me three locations she thought would suit. I wish I had gotten her name, for management to commend her. (We arrived at 5:15, which should help you know to whom I refer.) We sat in a booth, and our server, Usama, made our nearly 3-hr (!) visit truly joyful and perfect! Again, management - please take note. We agreed that he was the best waiter either of us have ever had - attentive, fun and funny, and going the extra mile in tailoring our drinks to our (sweet-tooth!) tastes, and making us feel welcome and special. This was likely my mom's final "fancy" outing, and I am so grateful to Usama for making it perfect. Kudos also to the chefs. Our 3 dishes were superb.

Afternoon tea at the Townsend hotel in birmingham was a great disappointment. The scones were already on the table as we arrived and they were hard and cold. Out of the 6 tea sandwiches that were served, only 4 of them were edible. The turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce was way too sweet, and the roast beef sandwich has very little beef and just a lot of bread. The desserts were very mediocre. We all very disappointed. Will not recommend tea to anyone who is a true afternoon tea lover.