Last time we bagged tickets to see a show, we didn’t have a pre-theatre dinner booked – rookie error.

Not to make the same mistake twice, en route to what turned out to be an excellent production of To Kill A Mockingbird, we found ourselves somewhere that hadn’t previously been on our radar. The Banana Tree in the Bullring looked like a decent option and was pretty close to the Hippodrome, so we thought we’d give it a whirl.

Just by St Martin’s church, the place was basic – not in a bad way, just unfussy – and was busy for a Tuesday evening; people were waiting for tables which is always a good sign. The South Asian menu is hefty and there’s plenty of choice, maybe too much as we needed to be fairly speedy, but ordered three small plates to share and a couple of main courses which was about right for two.

The star of the show, and can’t quite believe we’re saying this, was the broccoli – Bang Bang Broccoli to be precise. Battered and deep fried, the florets were crunchy and served with a very good, sweet chilli sauce. If your kids won’t eat greens, bring them here. Duck spring rolls were more inventive than they sounded. Served with crisp iceberg lettuce and herbs, as directed by a little accompanying instruction card, the rolls were to be wrapped in the lettuce along with fresh coriander then dipped in a sweet plum sauce and enjoyed. And they were indeed enjoyed very much. Soft moreish chicken gyoza were packed with flavour and served with a garlic and herb sauce. All three dishes were super and we’d order again.

Then came a pad Thai with chicken and a bowl of steaming ramen. While they were tasty, they were both less interesting than the small plates, so felt a bit disappointing. The staff were great and if you scurry down the back route to the Hippodrome, you’re literally a five-minute walk away. It’s also a great little place for lunch while out shopping. We’ll definitely be back to work our way through the small plate menu and no doubt consume a clutch of cocktails too. (They’re two for one on a Tuesday if you’re interested. Hic…)