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…)

And we have to say that it felt pretty good stepping back in. We’d forgotten how buzzy and boujie the bar is and just how much we love a decent cocktail.

Foodwise, the cicchetti style menu has always been right up our strada. DIshes arrive in a procession as and when they’re ready which feels civilised and, crucially, they are hot and fresh from the kitchen. There’s no hanging about.

BIG FLAVOUR

Prawns with leccino olives, tomato and Pernod was a punchy little dish with a big aniseed flavour. We like aniseed. If you don’t, this isn’t the dish for you. A selection of bread was strong served with a tasty tangy tapenade. Sicilian arancini with a beef ragu middle could have been better, though – the ragu was a bit thin on the ground which meant the balls were dry.
Gnocchi gorgonzola on the other hand was cheesy, salty, oozy, rich as you like and we could have devoured a second plate. There were almost fisticuffs over the last mouthful. Mafaldine con ragu di manzo – wavy pasta with a slow cooked beef ragu – was rich, unctuous, packed with flavour and felt like top notch comfort food.

RIGHT GIGGLE

With no room for dessert, we strolled out into the sunshine feeling sated and a bit daft we hadn’t been back for so long. We had a right giggle. It’s a fun, glamorous place full of people having a great time. When visit again though, in Joey Tribbiani-style, we’re not sharing our gnocchi gorgonzola. It’s all ours.

Well, you can’t go much bigger that Brum’s first two-Michelin-star restaurant, so on went the velvet jacket and off we popped to Opheem.

We first visited Aktar Islam’s cracking restaurant not long after it opened in 2018 when we were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And oh my, hasn’t she aged well. By which we mean Opheem! The first thing you clock is just how awesome and welcoming all the staff are – always a good sign. We were shepherded into a very comfortable and swanky bar area for fizz and snacks and kicked off events with a lively apple and cucumber shot followed by a series of amazing little canapes that included an oyster emulsion with red Kashmir chilli broth and an apple macaron with spiced beef tartare and duck liver – all fab but a special note for the mango tuile with lettuce gel and mango chutney that was incredibly pretty and entirely delicious. We had arrived with high expectations, and we were now properly excited.

For the main event, it’s through to a separate dining room that’s tastefully decorated and adorned with spectacular ceiling lights and the now obligatory, open kitchen. We’d already selected a five-course tasting menu but there’s a 10-course option if you want the full experience. There’s an interesting and extensive wine list, but we decided to put ourselves in the hands of affable Georgian sommelier, Stefan, and opted for a wine flight which is thoroughly recommended. Now let the culinary journey begin…

At this point we could chat through every course in great detail, and you could either nod off or assume we’d been treated to a freebie (we hadn’t) but let’s just say everything was in varying degrees of awesome. Highlights included the tandoori sand carrot with lentil pakora, mint and coriander – a glorious dish that actually made us a bit emotional; a delightful, street food-inspired, pink fir potato with tamarind, potato espuma and spiced potato croutons; and a perfectly cooked venison saddle, with a thin, braised neck momo and a gorgeous, deeply delicious croquette with a rich spiced sauce – no words.

All finished with an incredible dessert of granny smith apple with sorrel, cinnamon and brown butter before returning to the lounge for coffee and grappa by the fire with some rather fine petit fours, courtesy of the in-house chocolatier. High expectations entirely exceeded.

There’s no pretending that Opheim’s cheap. At £145 per head for the five-course menu, it’s probably not somewhere you’d pop into for a mid-week treat, but it’s completely excellent and entirely worth the investment. Should you prefer, there’s also a lunchtime a la carte menu from £75 which really does seem like good value. Either way, you should go – you’re worth it – and if it’s not your big birthday, just pretend!

The lads behind the restaurants (there’s a second in Worcester), say that Hong Kong and China inspired the interior while LA and New York inspired the flavour.

Hanbao means burger in Mandarin which gave us some idea of what we were in for. Think fast food/street food vibes with attention to flavour detail on steroids. For instance, buffalo fried chicken bites – tender chunks of chicken with a buffalo sauce would have been fine, but at Hanbao the addition of blue cheese sauce added a winning hit of salty richness elevating it. Same with the BBC fries topped with baconnaise, bacon bits and mature cheddar. It sounded simple, but it was much more considered than chucking a few moreish bits on top of some average fries.

Onto the burgers. We went for the signature Hanbao which got a bit messy – you might need a bib. A nicely charred smashed patty added some smoke while oozing American cheese as well as cheddar brought some goo and richness. Crunch and freshness came from lettuce and fresh onion while a thwack of sticky, sweet, salty goodness was provided by a heady slice of char siu bacon all packed into a soft glazed bun with Hanbao’s special mayo. It was an absolute belter and probably the best burger we’ve eaten. We racked our brains to come up with better and we couldn’t.

We also dabbled with the ODB ‘Dirty’ burger which was almost as brilliant. We felt the char siu bacon swung it for the Hanbao, but if you like your burgers more classic American style, the ODB might be the one for you. In a genius move, the patty’s smashed with American mustard. That’s teamed with American cheese, pickles aplenty, crispy fried onions, more American mustard and burger sauce in a glazed soft bun – just classic flavour combos done beautifully. The cocktail menu was a bit of fun and worth a shout. We sampled some lurid looking drinks that tasted great. The Gin Soda was our winner.

We left the restaurant planning our next visit, listing dishes we wanted to try, and that tells you everything you need to know. If you like a relaxed vibe and delicious indulgent food at a reasonable price point, Hanbao’s the one.

The emphasis on provenance, ethical farming and sustainability is all admirable but not unique. However, the Pasture guys have taken it a step further, owning and running their own farm, growing vegetables, fruit and herbs. They’ve also been awarded the highest rating for sustainability in the hospitality sector across all areas of their business which sets them apart.

Officially Pasture is a chain with three sites, but that feels like a mischaracterisation. Nothing about it says chain and our waitress was an excellent example. She was invested in the Pasture story beyond a mere paycheque. She’d clearly sampled the menu, loved her food, advised us brilliantly and got us excited for our next visit, convincing us there’s so much more to try. We were sold.

COO LIKE A BABY

As you’d expect, the choice of cuts of beef is impressive and we lapped up a delicious, perfectly pink sirloin with a generous helping of beef fat bearnaise. However, it was the bits and bobs around the steak that wowed us. For instance, short rib croquettes from the nibbles menu made us coo like babies. A rich, unctuous, intensely beefy middle encased in a crisp crumb was superb served with a punchy gochujang aioli – an inspired recommendation from our waitress. Again, from the nibbles menu, whipped smoked aubergine with shawarma chickpeas, pomegranate and mint had a heady Middle Eastern vibe all scooped up with thin, crisp sourdough crackers.

WE COULD TELL YOU BUT…

Then came a burger which was no ordinary burger. The patty was crafted from 45-day aged beef served in a soft bun with plenty of pickles, bacon jam, crispy shallots, oozing cheese and a secret sauce that made the whole thing sing. It was messy as hell, but we didn’t care. We swapped the fries for beef fat chips but found them a bit meh. A side of fire roasted carrots on the other hand, was unforgettable and that’s no exaggeration. Cooking with fire is a big thing at Pasture and this mound of charred, intensely flavoured veg was utterly fantastic. The carrots were served with crunchy chickpea dukkah, a bright green herby zhoug and a curry aioli. It was an absolute triumph.

While the emphasis is most definitely on beef, there are plenty of inventive dishes for non-meat eaters. We recommend sitting with your back to the massive fridges packed with great hunks of ageing meat which we found a bit off putting. Aside from that, we’re mightily impressed and already planning another trip. Those carrots…

Despite his youthful looks, restaurant manager Soroush is hugely experienced and loves making a good cocktail. He rustled up some punchy versions to kick off what became a really enjoyable lunch. A selection of bread and quality olives complemented the drinks.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Gamberi piccanti was a highlight of lunch with a buttery sauce packed with garlic and a hint of chilli perfect for mopping up with bread. We could’ve grazed on it all day. A burrata salad had a hefty mound of greenery and avocado, a generous amount of prosciutto and a balsamic glaze. The burrata could have been a bit warmer and therefore gooier, but it was tasty nonetheless.
The pasta dishes were particularly good. Linguine alla Sorrentina was nicely spiced with nduja running through a tomato and white wine sauce along with pieces of mozzarella. Tortellini Alfredo – pasta stuffed with ricotta and spinach served in a creamy sauce with saffron, white wine and roasted vegetables – was superb. We shared a gorgeous tiramisu with a big hit of coffee and wondered if we’d ever sleep again. We did.

The pizza we took home was excellent and after a quick blast in the oven was devoured by a hungry teenager while the desserts were perfect the next day.
If, like us, you haven’t been to Del Villagio for an age, it’s worth revisiting. Italian food, good vibes and brilliant hospitality are a winning combo in our book. Team that with a decent local gin and we’re all in. Soroush introduced us to Dr Eamers Black Country Gin and honestly, I fear if one of us hadn’t been driving, we might still be there propping up the bar. Happy days!

Wollaston has never been on our gastronomic radar, but when the clever sticks behind the Wildmoor Oak in Bromsgrove opened their new gaff, we hotfooted it (drove) straight there.

In turns out, the Plough is the kind of pub that’s likely to push up house prices. Interiors are traditional and comfortable – high ceilings, gorgeous wallpaper, great lighting and wooden floors. It’s cosy and warm. With head chef Peter Jackson at the helm, the food offering is in the pub classic genre but elevated beyond the ordinary. As well as food there are live music nights, a massive garden and well stocked cellar – there’s much to love here.

We visited on a Sunday and while the pub is ideal roast territory, there’s plenty of choice outside the traditional. Like frickles, aka deep-fried pickles. We dived in and popped our frickle cherry and while they’re an acquired taste, two out of three of us loved them and that ain’t bad. They were served with a seriously fiery pot of sauce. A plate of heady houmous served with chunks of sweet beets and warm bread was the dream.

Between that and the frickles, we were sold even before the Aubrey Allen beef made an appearance. Deliciously pink with gravy you’d slurp from the jug if you were alone, the meat was melt-in-the-mouth tender and packed with flavour. All the usual roast accompaniments were done brilliantly, particularly sweet baby carrots, crisp fluffy potatoes and rich cauli cheese with plenty of crunchy edges to nibble on. A chicken and mushroom pie hit the spot nicely too. Crisp pastry with a tasty filling was served with a mound of creamy mash, peas and a jug of moreish gravy. Honestly, what’s not to love?

At a time when many pubs are shutting up shop, this place should be cherished and supported. We might be bitter it’s not on our doorstep, but we’ll be back. There’s a big car park, if like us, you’re bringing the car…

There’s a new menu in town but given we’d only ever consumed cocktails in da club, any food was new to us. It’s a big old menu with an eclectic mix of styles – dishes like a steak sandwich with peppercorn sauce and mozzarella and ricotta arancini sit alongside Asian-inspired curries, Spanish chicken and Iraqi flatbread. The restaurant doesn’t claim to fit neatly into one culinary genre so why not?

The small plate menu was particularly appealing and we ordered three dishes between two of us to start. Pulled beef and smoked bacon croquettes were satisfyingly crunchy on the outside with an unctuous smoky middle enhanced with a scoop of earthy black garlic aioli. (A garnish of crispy leeks added nothing.) Crispy cauliflower tossed in a sweet chilli glaze with satay mayonnaise, sesame and curry leaves was a delight. We could have worked our way through a very large bowl full. Zingy, hot and sweet combined to create something very lovely indeed. A warm Iraqi laffa flatbread coated with a slick of melted butter and sea salt was utterly moreish.

Back to Asia with a sticky chicken salad – sounds dull, but it was anything but. Soy glazed buttermilk fried chicken, punchy kimchi, shredded leaves, tangy pickled mooli, edamame beans and a rice wine dressing came together to create a bowl of bold flavours and textures that worked a treat. Swap the chicken for crispy cauliflower if you’re veggie which would be equally delicious.

A steak sandwich let the side down a bit served in a focaccia so hard the knife struggled, let alone our veneers. We’d expected fluffy warm bread moist with meaty juices and a mustard mayo, so it was a bit of a disappointment. The filling however, was Aubrey Allen’s finest rump steak – tender and packed with flavour with accompaniments of caramelised onion, Dijon mayonnaise and watercress. We switched fries for the sweet potato variety which were perfect.

Pud came in the form of apple crumble with two spoons. A good crumble to fruit ratio and creamy vanilla ice cream felt nostalgic and perfect for a chilly Sunday. We’d healed the rift, had a very enjoyable lunch before heading to IKON to mooch around the marvellous Donald Locke exhibition and a stroll by the canal. Birmingham – you’re magic!

If you’ve visited Indico at the original Mailbox site, you know the drill – a menu as long as your arm packed with street food style dishes, small plates and curries. There’s also a thali option which is brilliant if you want to try numerous dishes rather than committing to one main curry option.

We devoured many papadams with the customary pickle, raita, mango chutney and onion combination. What’s not to love? We then opted for a handful of small plates and a thali to share. First up, our favourite thing – pani puri, puffed up crisp hollow pastry cases with a hole in the top that you fill with a potato mix at the table then pour over a little mint water. They’re delicate and fresh and a lovely start to a meal. Word to the wise, pop the entire thing in your mouth in one go else you’ll be in a hell of a mess.

A crunchy samosa chaat with a soft moreish middle of chickpeas, herbs and spices served with an accompanying onion relish was delicious. Lollipop fried chicken had been marinated in a tangy chilli and soy sauce then deep fried on the bone to maximise the flavour and chicken tikka bites were deep fried then tossed in a warming, rich tikka masala sauce.

The Chef’s Special Thali which would be perfect for one person without all the small plates consisted of more papadams, an excellent daal makhani, makai palak – a flavour packed dish of sweetcorn and spinach, aloo pyaaz ke pakora – a crisp pakora with potatoes and onions, spices, herbs and chilli. Then there was rice, a really great naan, raita and a choice of two curries. We enjoyed lamb rogan josh and butter chicken – both were seriously tasty.

The thali sounds like an enormous amount of food when listed but there’s just a small bowl of each so it’s not overwhelming. If you’re out and about in Solihull, it’s definitely worth a look. We assumed wrongly the restaurant would be open during Touchwood shopping hours only, but it’s actually open from 12pm to 10pm, so something to bear in mind.

The USP at Six By Nico is that themed six-course tasting menu that changes every six weeks, and until 16 November the theme is Space. There were optional extras outside the tasting menu like an aperitif called Launch Sequence (£11) – a zingy elderflower, salted cucumber cordial and prosecco number, plus a couple of nibbles to kick things off, one of which was up there with our favourite dish of the night. Pommes Anna Chips (£9) – think of the 15-hour crisp layered potatoes that went viral during lockdown served with parmesan cream and a hint of truffle. Perfection.

If we talked you through all six courses, you’d be here all day. Trust us there were no bad dishes, just some we preferred more than others. Every course was inventive, exciting and a bit of an experience. For instance, a dish called Black Hole was eaten wearing headphones and an eye mask. Everyone looked crackers but it was great fun. Biopack – smoked ham hock and chicken terrine was delicious in its own right, but the chefs pushed it further with 12 garnishes ranging from a punchy mojo verde to an intense black garlic ketchup and even grapefruit. Still no catch.

We sampled the cocktail pairing (£40) and the wine flight (£30) which was fun to try, and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the wines particularly, but in truth, next time we’d go for the aperitif followed by a nice bottle of wine. On the subject of staff, everyone we met seemed happy to be there from the lovely manager, Dan to the person that took our coats. It was infectious.

The restaurant was packed which on a Wednesday night doesn’t happen much in Birmingham right now. The clientele was varied in terms of age range – a father and young son, date nights, groups of mates, older couples. Since we couldn’t find a catch, we concluded that this price point and level of experience might just be the hospitality sweet spot.

Much larger and more finished than the OG, the restaurant felt designed which isn’t a slur against the Worcester shop, the space is entirely different. Natural materials, exposed brick, cavernous ceilings, statement light fittings, padded seating – it’s stylish, fuss free and comfortable.

The restaurant had just moved to everyday opening when we visited – previously it had closed on Monday and Tuesday. It’s a bold move with lots of restaurants doing the opposite. Every weekday between 12 and 4pm it’s possible to order a smaller portion of any of the large plates for £8.50. A steal.

We kicked off with three small plates. Word to the wise, don’t expect refreshing from the smashed cucumber salad – it was packing some serious heat and spice – ginger, garlic, black vinegar, Sichuan chilli and furikake (Japanese seasoning) while the pork Gyoza was an overall more subtle affair – tasty but less in your face. Karaage chicken was high on the crunch scale thanks to its triple frying while the wild garlic and togarashi (Japanese spice mix) mayo topped it off brilliantly.

There’s no way we’d have managed full-size mains after that, so we opted for small. Roast duck Sichuan was the star of the show. While we can’t begin to describe the intricacies of the flavours going on in the bowl, trust us, it’s well worth trying. The roast duck broth alone was incredible so with all the other bits like crispy duck, soft noodles, pickled radish, greens, ajitama egg, shio tare (Japanese seasoning) and roast duck oil – it was a cracker of a dish. There was not a dribble of broth left.

The Maneki Donburi with Karaage chicken was also a joy – essentially a rice bowl (steamed sushi rice) with charred sweetcorn, sesame bean sprouts, pickled ginger and citrus miso sauce. It was a heady mix of sweet, sour and smoke that was pleasing. We’re salivating as we write which is a first.

Bear in mind we visited on a Tuesday lunch, there was a buzz about the place – a feeling. It’s exciting and different. Of course you can eat Japanese food elsewhere in the city, but this is electric, inventive and ambitious and we’re keen to see where it’s heading next.

It’s a bit of a dichotomy. The décor’s not for everyone. Graffiti is not the friend of the older ladies who lunch set, but neither is Digbeth probably. If you can embrace the leftfield paint job and see beyond the gothic, there’s a foodie experience that’s at least on a par with any restaurant in Birmingham and beyond.

EXPECT GOOSEBUMPS

A welcome note from owner Kray Treadwell read like a love letter to Brum and included references to the music, kindness, warmth of the accent, No 14 bus and the diversity of cultures. A trio of gently spiced beautifully presented nibbles dubbed the Balti Triangle looked like works of art and tasted unbelievable. I don’t know what we expected but it wasn’t this. We won’t list every dish as it’s impossible to do the chef’s skill and inventiveness justice but we’ll say with confidence, expect goosebumps.

GIDDY AND PROUD

If you want to stick a label on it, it’s absolutely in the fine dining camp. It’s Adam’s but more exciting and surprising and we love Adam’s so that’s not a slight. This is fresh and different. What Kray and head chef Sacha can do with a simple hispi cabbage or a humble Jersey Royal is unfathomable. From punchy hoggat to delicately cured cod and an indescribably pleasing chai milk bun, everything we ate made us go quiet. The wine flight made us coo incessantly and the sommelier, Rume was excellent.

As well as the Signature tasting menu which we sampled, there’s a five-course menu available for a steal at £50 – an affordable way to try something incredible. Lots of restaurants in the city are in use it or lose it territory and if this one went, we would be gutted. It made us feel giddy and proud of Birmingham in a way no other restaurant has. Don’t take our word for it. Go.

The two-course 1961 menu consisted of a choice of six starters and six main courses for £20.95. Because the 1961 is listed on the main menu – anything with a gold badge beside it is available – it’s difficult not to be lured by the dishes you can’t have. Human nature’s a funny old thing!

There are some smashing sounding summer dishes like burrata and heritage tomato salad, a sea bass dish and roast rump of lamb that aren’t part of the 1961, but we stuck with it and sampled a beetroot and goat’s cheese salad – wafer thin beetroot slices with earthy goat’s cheese, sweet candied walnuts and merlot vinegar. We’d have liked more goat’s cheese, but it was tasty and summery nonetheless. A mustardy scotch egg did what it said on the tin. The coating lacked a bit of crunch but the meat was packed with flavour and the egg was soft, so happy days.

SPOT-ON

An escalope of chicken al la Milanese served with a mound of rocket and tomato salad hit the spot as did the avocado Caesar salad which we added grilled chicken to. The eggs were a bit hard, but apart from that, what’s not to like? We threw in an Eton Mess to share for good measure which was heavy on the meringue (yes please) and not so heavy on the fruit (not so good).

The restaurant is even better after dark as the rooftops of Birmingham look a tad more attractive by night, with twinkly lights as a distraction, but the number of people enjoying afternoon tea suggested we might be alone in that. Overall, it was a lovely lunch in a nice setting.

The lunch menu is made up of hot sandwiches, light bites and cobs. The main menu, available in the evening, is essentially a collection of refined pub classics. We’re drumming this home because we didn’t check before we went and had our eye on the Bearwood Bangers for lunch which wasn’t an option. We were a bit deflated but soon got a grip when we saw the lunch menu.

DRINK UP

If you know 1000 Trades in the Jewellery Quarter, you know the drill. Locally sourced produce where possible as well as a fine drink selection on rotation to keep things interesting. We chose a blackberry Sandford cider from the taps which was heaven served with a couple of ice cubes. Flat not sparkling, it was perfect. The other half slurped a craft lager. There’s plenty of natural wine served by the glass or carafe too.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

The Katsu from the Posh Sandwich menu was a triumph. Chicken thigh rather than breast ensured maximum juiciness while panko breadcrumbs provided a satisfying crunch. The Katsu curry sauce was heady while pickled onions added a sharpness – the balance was spot on. A side of chips was straight out of the top drawer. The Black Country Ploughmans did what it said on the tin – great ham, cheddar, cornichons, slices of apple, grapes, whipped butter and a good selection of bread.

There was a bit of a wait for food, but we didn’t notice until someone apologised for the wait. It’s such a gorgeous spot to sit and natter in the sunshine. It’s relaxed – you order at the bar and grab your own cutlery and condiments, and the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there. The whole place had a feel-good air about it. The happiest of days.

Just to be clear we haven’t been paid to say nice things, we just love a pie.

Eighteen pubs across the West Midlands will be serving the pie – which they’ve confidently named the Best Ever Pub Pie – until mid-July. It wasn’t exactly pie weather when we visited and in truth, we’d rather have nibbled a salad, however we took one for the team.

First thing to note is the pie wasn’t on the main menu card – there were other pies, but not Tom’s, so ask at the bar. His face adorned flyers on every table, so it wasn’t difficult. At £20 it’s a bit pricier than Marston’s usual offering, but it’s Tom Shepherd, right?

BEST PIE?

Crucially the beef fat shortcrust pastry was nice and crisp; the shredded beef cheek and shin inside was rich and tender while caramelised onions added a bit of sweetness. There was a layer of potato which we didn’t think added much, but overall, the intense flavour was tremendous, and the accompanying pot of silky red wine sauce was delicious. The mashed potato on the side felt unnecessary and the vegetables could have done with a slick of butter to liven them up, but the pie itself was worth the trip although perhaps not in 24-degree heat.

It’s also worth noting there’s more to the Swan than Tom’s pie. It may have pulled in some new punters like us, but we wager they’ll/we’ll be back. The staff were superb, the place was lively, the bar well stocked and the beer garden was an absolute delight. A hop skip and a jump from Birmingham, it’s a gem.

We still grieve the closure of Tom’s Kitchen on the same site, but we accept it’s time to move on.

Medicine on New Street has become our go-to meeting place with buzzy vibes, loads of natural light and bang in the centre of town. The Mailbox version is a different beast entirely. It’s tucked away, cosy and feels much more restaurant-y. Largely the Medicine guys kept the Tom’s Kitchen interior – big central bar, lively open kitchen and lots of wood. All very lovely.

There’s a definite brunch vibe and we kicked off with a couple of smoothies – a Very Berry (sweet and delicious) and a Green Goddess (more earthy and virtuous tasting but still gorgeous.)

Among the huevos ranchos and eggs benedict, was an unexpectedly brilliant Korean fried chicken sandwich – only unexpected because it felt a little off-piste. Chicken thigh rather than breast was given a crunchy coating, honey and gochugang glaze, punchy sriracha mayonnaise and a crisp Asian slaw served in the softest of brioche buns. It was really great. A hash brown on the side was soggy so fell a bit flat. It was served on a romesco sauce and honestly, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

The Vegan Medicine, which is essentially a vegan version of a full English, hit the spot and boosted the plant intake beautifully. Pumpkin falafel, smashed avocado, kale, mushroom, romesco sauce and a whopping slice of sourdough toast was a joy. We added nicely charred halloumi as an extra. Our only gripe was another soggy hash brown. It’s not the end of the world but if brunch is one of your strengths, you’ve got to be able to serve up a crisp hash brown. Aside from that, the place is independent, reasonably priced and cosy serving cracking food with warm service. It’s a win.

On the way out of the Mailbox, we ran the gauntlet of the Medicine coffee cart but got sucked in big time. We bought our own bodyweight in pastry/cake and took them home to share with the kids. A salted caramel cruffin got the thumbs up, a raspberry pavlova donut was so great it caused a fight, and the carrot and walnut cake was dreamy.

With a version of Medicine Bakery set to open at the Botanical Gardens this month we’re expecting great things.

The menu is much more interesting than we remembered and so much more than merely steak. Yes, you can get your red meat fix in various guises but there are plenty of veggie and fish options too. And plenty of cocktails… hicc.

A dish of crisp salt and pepper calamari was great particularly when dunked into an intensely smoked garlic and lemon aioli, while hot honey chicken wings had my man cooing like Homer Simpson. Roquito hot honey was the right combination of hot and sweet while slaw and watercress injected a bit of freshness and crunch.

A Black Angus sirloin which the menu suggested medium rare was cooked to perfection served with a brilliant bearnaise sauce, crispy fries and a wedge of iceberg with bacon and mustard dressing. We’re eternally confused by a wedge, but it added a nice cool crunch, nonetheless.

Spinach, feta, lemon and garlic filo pie was light and summery with a crispy top – think spanakopita vibes. It was served on a whopping mound of sauteed vegetables and in fairness we looked like we needed some greens. We opted for fries instead of new potatoes which were super.

The portions were fairly hefty but if you like a bit of sweetness at the end of a meal, we recommend a mini dessert served with a cocktail or coffee. Alright cocktail. A salted caramel profiterole and an espresso martini hit the spot nicely. We’ll not leave it so long next time.

The people who introduced Jacuzzi’s flamboyant décor to the capital have given Birmingham the Big Mamma treatment too. On the site of what was the cavernous Vinoteca, La Bellezza fills the space in a way that its predecessor didn’t.

Packed with oversized chandeliers, sumptuous drapes, thousands of backlit colourful bottles and a ladies’ loo that doubles as a shrine to Francesco Totti, it’s quite the spectacle. There’s also a serious pizza oven on display that reaches 400 degrees and cooks a beautifully blistered pizza in 80 seconds.

Cocktails are a big thing and in the case of the Jumbo Mamma, literally so. On our visit there were regular renditions of happy birthday in Italian. A candle stuck in a boozy tiramisu while being serenaded? Lovely. It’s that sort of place. It feels a bit special and perfect for a crowd celebrating something. Anything.

And what of the food? Warm focaccia was perfection – soft with a crisp crust and a hint of oregano. We piled oozing smoky stracciatella on top and hey presto, heaven. Pulled pork croquettes with an anchovy mayo were probably the star of the show. Crunchy on the outside, melt in the mouth tender and packed with flavour on the inside plus the anchovy (don’t let that put you off) mayo was delicious.

We went simple with polpette al sugo. The beef meatballs were succulent and moreish while a San Marzano tomato sauce with a generous handful of basil was superb. We ordered crunchy roast potatoes on the side which were okay but nothing to write home about while a piccola finocchio salad of little gem, roasted fennel and walnuts absolutely wowed.

Ravioli allo Strachitunt consisted of home-made fazzoletti (triangle shaped ravioli) filled with ricotta and parmesan served with a creamy Strachitunt (raw milk blue veined cheese) sauce. Due to the cheeses, the dish was served warm rather than piping hot and tasted brilliant – incredibly cheesy but brilliant.

We couldn’t face the huge lemon meringue pie the restaurant is becoming famous for, so instead shared a profiterole which is also a whopper as it turns out. Crunchy choux cut in half and filled with soft Mr Whippy style ice cream was drenched in a hot chocolate sauce. It tasted as you’d expect, blooming lovely.

Before our visit we worried the restaurant might be a bit style over substance and happily, we were wrong. It’s a massive asset to the city’s food scene and well worth a look.

The interior didn’t exactly envelop us in the cosy way we might have liked. The no-nonsense wooden furniture does the job – no more no less. I suspect the vibe is cosier by night with candles and festoon lighting.

The menu is interesting and almost everything appealed. We launched into bruschetta with roasted peppers, garlic, capers and little mounds of whipped ricotta which tasted much more glorious than our description sounds. It was quite a hefty portion and in truth it would have been a decent lunch on its own. A plate of this with a glass of something chilled would knock spots of most lunches in the city, but in the interest of giving you a more comprehensive view of the place we ordered more. Someone’s got to do it.

Pumpkin arancini with guanciale (dry cured pork cheek) and carbonara sauce had a nice crisp outer with a gooey moreish middle – the comfort food we craved. As was a dish from the specials menu which was a proper winter warmer hailing from the 14th century – Peposo. Essentially a beef stew cooked for hours with red wine, peppercorns and garlic, it was more brilliant than we could ever convey here. Served with crunchy potatoes and sourdough for mopping up the rich sauce, there was so much to love. If it’s still on the menu when you read this we highly recommend.

We also had high hopes for the pasta and ordered ravioli which was wafer thin and stuffed with ricotta and smoked potato served in a parmesan sauce. It wasn’t pretty – all a bit beige – but it was skilfully packed with an intense smoky flavour. However, in our layman’s view, the smokiness of the filling and the saltiness of the parmesan meant we could have done with some zingy dressed greens or a handful of fresh herbs to balance it out a bit.

Dessert would have been a step too far in our quest for comfort, but they all sounded dreamy. We left very happy with our carb fest, promising to be back for dinner very soon.

We couldn’t make the launch party so popped in the next day. If the staff were jaded from a busy launch, they didn’t show it. If anything, the success of the party added to their already considerable excitement. Our waiter, Ryan was brimming with unbridled enthusiasm which was genuinely joyful.

Cow and Sow is focused on meat and that’s reflected in the carnivore-heavy menu. If you’re in a group with a non-meat eater there are vegetarian options too. We went all-in with the Cow and Sow sharer – crunchy salt and pepper pork rinds, baby back pork ribs, potted ox cheek with truffle, pigs in blankets, poached and charred pineapple, olives and pain de champagne with whipped butter.

The standout picks were the intensely sweet and charred pineapple and the sticky, sweet, salty pigs in blankets, a seasonal addition so they’re for the chop this month. We’re wondering whether to start a campaign to keep them on the menu for good as they were superb.

Then a perfectly pink succulent 35-day aged sirloin hit the spot nicely served with a bearnaise. We love a bearnaise sauce, often wallop the lot and have to ask for extra, but it wasn’t the best we’ve tried. The chips on the other hand were excellent. We tried the ‘normal’ chunky chips as well as a beef dripping version for comparison. You won’t be disappointed by either.

Porchetta with mulled cider poached apple, carrot puree, sprouts, chestnuts and a spiced cider jus was absolutely superb. We also sampled something called a crispy onion blossom which is a bit mad but brilliant. It’s essentially a whole onion coated in batter and deep fried so the onion layers fan out like a flower topped with black garlic dip. It’s as big as your head, sweet, crunchy and moreish. It’s too much for two people as a side – the restaurant recommends it for four, but we were intrigued so had a good crack at it.

All-in-all, Cow and Sow is a fab addition to Birmingham in a corner of the city that’s fast becoming a destination for foodies. Restaurant manager, Jordan cut his teeth at Hotel du Vin before moving to Gaucho, so he knows his stuff and the city well. That experience teamed with a lively, efficient team and great food, is the best start. Show them some love this month when there’s usually a lull for hospitality.

If we weren’t constrained by a word count, it would read, ‘Tropea is perfect. Do yourself a favour and go.’ We do have a word count, so prepare for some gushing.

Firstly, the place is effortlessly cool while simultaneously feeling cosy – no mean feat. The focus is on being a great local restaurant. The vibe is chilled, the staff are brilliant and the food is utterly superb. Small plates are where it’s at and the restaurant recommends six to seven between two. We happily did as we were told while tucking into a carafe of Italian white.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Among multiple contenders, the food is the star of the show. Focaccia with sundried tomato and rosemary was perfection – think crunchy salty crust with a light soft middle. Arancino stuffed with butternut squash, sage and oozing provolone cheese was ridiculously good. Burrata served at the ideal temperature achieved peak creaminess and was elevated further with a grilled red pepper sauce, basil oil, hazelnuts and a sprinkling of sea salt. Gnocchi with gorgonzola, confit sweet red onion and walnut silenced us – that’s all you need to know.

MELT-IN-THE-MOUTH

Tagliatelle with shredded duck white wine ragu served with a hefty handful of parmesan prompted child-like cooing and a Tuscan ribollita – cavolo nero and white bean stew with chunky croutons – was dreamy. Melt-in-the-mouth pork cheek braised in sofrito and orange with a potato rosti and savoy cabbage cooked in wine completed the savoury line-up beautifully. Dessert was a toss-up between tiramisu, canoli and pannacotta. Tiramisu with two spoons won – a fittingly delicious end to a top-notch lunch.

Other than a pre-show glass of fizz, we’re newbies to the restaurant. Floor to ceiling windows offer up a gorgeous view of Centenary Square and the décor is devoid of chintz in favour of simplicity and modernity which sums up the place actually. It’s not fancy in the best of ways.

The menu’s succinct and appealing – fuss free food done well we hoped. Brunch is served all day which felt very civilised. We veered from our usual eggs benedict in favour of a punchier chorizo harissa version of the classic. Toasted ciabatta, spinach, mushrooms, chunks of chorizo and two perfectly poached eggs with pimped up hollandaise sauce hit the spot. At £12 it’s reasonable too.

In a city spoilt for choice in the burger genre the Bostin Brum Burger was okay – two smashed patties, sesame seed bun, great burger sauce, pickles, onion and lettuce served with fries for £14.50. It wasn’t bad at all, just don’t expect Meatshackers or OPM. However, the unexpected star of this show were the loaded fries which we ordered as an extra – don’t judge. A generous portion of crunchy fries, covered in the kind of nacho cheese sauce you want to hate, but would bathe in if you could, teamed with a sticky sweet BBQ sauce and crisp Southern fried chicken fillets was superb. At £8.50 it was a steal.

Situated in Symphony Hall, B:Eats isn’t the first spot that springs to mind unless you’re visiting the venue for another reason, but it’s worth popping on your radar particularly as the chaos of the German market gets going. Rather than spending a small fortune on sub-standard street food (bah humbug), you’ll do well to fuel up on a tasty plate of loaded fries before entering the fray. Happy Christmas!

When Jay visited, the dining room wasn’t the finished article, but when we popped in last month, it oozed minimal chic with creamy walls, wishbone chairs and gold details. Some reviewers have claimed the restaurant’s not finished and there’s artwork still to be hung, but we reckon it’s intentional minimalist perfection.

On that theme, they’ve kept things small in the menu department too. The wine list’s short but includes enough to satisfy – a Sicilian Rosato hit the spot – and the menu is succinct. We ate from the lunch listing (£38 for three courses). There’s a tasting option if you really want to sample the Cuubo magic (£75).

We kicked things off with onion soup. It sounds dull but was anything but – creamy, smooth and moreish with genius additions like burnt sourdough crumbs adding an intense toasted flavour as well as pine nuts and a healthy dose of chopped chives which enhanced the onion flavour. It’s wonderful and we don’t say that lightly.

Rich, unctuous pork belly with skin ranking high on the crunch scale served with bacon cream, punchy nduja oil and a zingy fennel salad was a treat. Dan’s spent time at Simpsons so we knew standards would be high, but still, we were blown away at this point.

A beautifully cooked cod fillet was served with borlotti beans, tomato, courgette, a nduja sauce packed with heat and flavour finished with herb oil impressed, as did a brilliant beef dish. Braised slowly, the meat was so tender it was falling apart wrapped in a Romaine lettuce leaf served with a deep, glossy beef sauce, sweet shallots, bacon and creamy potato straight from the top drawer.

Dessert is not my thing but the other half convinced me to order one so he could try two. He didn’t get much of a look in as a dish of chilled lemon custard with salted ricotta rice cream with little gems of pistachio, biscuit and a tang of fennel was unbelievable. The other half polished off a superbly rich chocolate delice with almond, sweet poached pear and a fresh yogurt sorbet.

I’m not sure what we expected but it wasn’t this despite having read Jay’s review. If you live in Harborne, well done you. If you don’t, it’s worth the journey. We’d travel a significant distance for food this great.

There’s no dedicated parking but if you’re driving, the huge train station car park is a short walk.

The food is billed as classic American style BBQ cooked over natural coal and wood. Cooking is low ‘n’ slow resulting in tender, smoky meat. There are a couple of veggie options, but the focus is meat as you’d expect.

We found the starters and accompaniments suited us better than the main courses. For instance, sticky, zingy chicken wings were delicious and devoured by everyone at the table. Cauliflower bites – deep fried florets with a yoghurty ranch dressing were also superb.

The main courses were a bit large for us which we know is a positive for a lot of people. We left so much food that the waitress came over to ask if something was wrong. It wasn’t – all the food was perfectly tasty. The pulled pork and the shredded beef were both tender and smoky while pickles and sauces were top notch. Hot dogs were somewhere between a frankfurter and a ‘normal’ sausage and had a nice bit of heat served with crispy onions and mustard in a brioche bun.

As an American inspired restaurant, it works a treat and does what it says on the tin. It’s not fine dining but it’s a lot of fun. There are plenty of cocktails and mocktails to whet your whistle too. If you love this kind of food, and lots of it, Dick’s will hit the spot. We might go back and work our way through the starters like a US-style tapas. That would be great.

We’ve seen the before shots and what dynamic duo Sarah Robinson and Bex Wilkins achieved in just eight weeks of renovation is staggering. The vibe is classic country pub inside with the prettiest of gardens outside. Business is booming, probably helped along by the garden and sunshine colliding.

We sat inside – it was too hot outside – and as we visited on a Sunday the menu’s a bit different to the usual lunch menu. Devon crabcakes from the specials menu kicked things off in great style – crisp outer and generous on the crab served with a squeeze of lemon and a punchy shellfish mayonnaise. A delicious mackerel pâté included some chunks of mackerel rather than a completely smooth affair which we loved. Served with a contrasting pickled cucumber and crunchy sourdough toast, it’s one to shout about.

A full-on roast beef with all the trimmings on one of the hottest days of the year might have been misguided, but to call this beauty a mistake would be wrong. The Aubrey Allen beef rump was pink and delicious accompanied by a big yorkie, crunchy roast potatoes, a generous slug of rich gravy, some greens and glazed carrots. We ordered a side of cauliflower cheese which we thoroughly recommend.
A more summery, perfectly pan-fried bream with new potatoes, green beans and a zingy chive butter sauce hit the spot too while a shared chocolate delice with honeycomb finished lunch on a sweet high.

In truth, the place is the kind of local you dream about. Customers are greeted like old friends and the place is buzzing with a mixed bag of people – families with babies, groups of mates, couples, the odd local propping up the bar. Everyone’s welcome and the impressive food and drink are the icing on the cake. Bravo!

Far from the American diner blandness is new kid on the block, Qavali which has popped up in its place and whose owners have transformed the restaurant into a dramatic, dark Indo-Persian restaurant with bags of charm.

They’ve kept the curved banquette seating and upholstered them in racing green as well as adding lots of striking art and greenery. Even the ladies loo has had the Qavali treatment with ornate basins and gorgeous taps. While the décor’s worth a look, the food and drink are the main draw.

We visited at lunchtime so stayed off the booze, but there are plenty of non-alcoholic options. We slurped a punchy little – and we mean thimble-sized – mocktail called Akbar and Alphonso. The combo of mango and ginger was a thing of beauty. If we’re being picky we’d increase the size slightly.

The menu is varied – yes, you’ll find your butter chicken and tikka faves but also more inventive dishes. First up the usual drill with papadums served with three chutneys – one heady with coriander, one spicy number and a sticky sweet version.

There’s a tempting Qavali Grand Platter for £94 which would be a great way to sample lots of dishes, but we refrained this time. Instead, we ate a starter of falafel which sounds simple, but not all falafels are equal apparently. We’ve eaten some dry, tasteless versions in the past, but these spheres were packed with flavour, herbs and a bit of heat served drizzled with yogurt with some truly great houmous on the side. We didn’t expect to be wowed by falafel but there you go.

Peshwari Chapli kebab, although nice, didn’t get us excited. The lamb tasted lamby and a zingy salad on the side was fresh and lively. Butter chicken on the other hand did get us excited. The sauce was an absolute triumph that we scooped up hungrily with a warm naan and then smothered on a Multani paneer tikka dish which was seriously good in its own right, but with the added sauce, perfection.

In truth, the place feels more suited to dinner than lunch – having said that the service was speedy so you could easily have a very good lunch in under an hour. It just feels like an after dark place in the best of ways – glamorous décor, great lighting and a well-stocked bar.

We’ll be back, there’s a platter with our name on it.

We hadn’t been to either the Harborne or Mere Green restaurants before, so thought it was time to pop along. We chose Harborne for no other reason than it’s closer, but as a chain the experience is presumably the same.

First up, the intriguing name has nothing to do with the food and is the nickname of one of Andy and Pranee’s children. Now grown-up, they no doubt shun the moniker, Giggling Squid. The décor is girlie and pretty – lots of faux blooms and pastels and a bit different to your average Thai restaurant – something Pranee wanted to achieve.

The menu is hefty and in the interest of trying as many dishes as possible – not because we’re greedy but for your benefit, you understand – we chose a series of small plates. We were in for a quick lunch and the small plates suited that. All the dishes arrived at the same time and fairly promptly.

The two seafood dishes were the stand-outs, with the One Bite Salmon dish in particular being superb. A mouthful of salmon with heady flavours of ginger, lemongrass, lime and chilli drizzled with a salty-sweet dressing wrapped in a betel leaf tasted just great. The other winner was a succulent Samui butterflied prawn dish with a delicious zingy citrus sauce.

Chicken satay was a bit underwhelming while duck spring rolls were tasty and a new caramelised pork belly dish achieved the perfect flavour trio of sweet, sour and heat. Giggling wings did what they said on the tin – sticky, sweet and meaty – while the Golden Money Bags were a hit, filled with Thai spiced chicken and plenty of herbs – particularly good when dunked in a sweet chilli sauce.

We regretted not ordering a zingy papaya salad to balance the richness and sweetness of the other dishes, so our advice would be to lose the satay in favour of something a bit fresher on the palate.

All-in-all, it’s a nice place – the environment is lovely, and the staff were enthusiastic and warm. There’s stiff competition for great Thai food in the city and while we might not travel for Giggling Squid, as a local restaurant it does the job sweetly.

We arrived to a joyful hubbub, lots of chatter and much laughter. Kicking off with the customary glass of prosecco – when in Rome and all that – we nibbled a bowl of plump green olives and a basket of Italian bread with a tangy sundried tomato paste and a rich olive tapenade. A nice start.

There are some dishes new for summer (ha), one of which blew our socks off – carpaccio of tuna. Wafer thin sashimi grade tuna with a zingy sesame and lime dressing, capers and chunks of sweet orange was delightful. Then an old favourite, a comforting spaghetti carbonara. A bowlful of smoky, cheesy, unctuous loveliness. What’s not to love?

A gnocchetti pasta melanzane e salsiccia – Sardinian style pasta (shaped like gnocchi hence the name) with an aubergine and sausage ragu was delicious. The sauce was a rich tomato number with a big hit of fennel coming from the sausage. We loved it but accept it’s an acquired taste. It was a mammoth portion that could have fed the entire table but apart from that, it was a cracking dish.

We were piggy and shared a dessert. A mint tea or a digestiv would have been a better idea given the amount of food we’d eaten, but a millfoglie was winking. The Italian version of millefeuille, crisp puff pastry with a simple vanilla laced Chantilly cream. It was tasty and pleasing to finish with something sweet but not wow inducing.

We hadn’t been to San Carlo for years before this visit – certainly pre-pandemic and we’d forgotten how well they do this restaurant stuff. They would, wouldn’t they? Charming staff, no nonsense tasty food, good vibes and a great wine list – simple.

We popped in for lunch and found much more than pub grub and a pint. With a mixed crowd including solo diners working on laptops, yummy mummies with bairns in buggies and groups of mates tucking in, it was a lively affair despite being an average Wednesday.

ECLECTIC MIX

The menu’s equally mixed. Classic pub dishes like burgers, pizza, sandwiches and fish and chips feature alongside poke bowls, sweet potato quinoa with harissa flatbread and wild mushroom tagliatelle with truffle. It reads like an identity crisis, but we reckon the menu is just reflective of the local crowd. We thought we’d sample the traditional and the more inventive dishes so we ordered a pizza and a poke bowl.

The chicken teriyaki version of the poke bowl was a triumph with sweet chunks of mango, creamy avocado, crunchy radish, sushi rice, succulent teriyaki chicken along with the usual edamame and seaweed. It was a zingy colourful bowl full of goodness packed with flavour and texture.

ALL ABOUT THE BASE

Then for a fiery chilli and nduja pork pizza. Fresh red chilli and punchy nduja pork punctuated the oozing cheese while the charred blistered crust was perfection. We highly recommend dunking the crust into the Japanese mayo that came with the poke bowl.

There are two-for-one deals on certain dishes on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which put the price of lunch on a par with a substandard coffee shop chain and we know where we’d rather be. Support local and all that jazz not out of charity but because it’s blooming good.

From the outside the restaurant looks a bit soulless – kerb appeal is not its strong point – but on the inside it’s a winner and that’s what counts, right? Bright, characterful, warm and welcoming, it’s a delight.

The menu’s large featuring Malaysian dishes alongside Chinese options. We opted for a mixture. A platter of starters to share included crunchy vegetable fritters delicious dunked in a hot chilli dip, chicken satay skewers with a top-notch peanut sauce, punchy rendang beef spring rolls and pandan fried chicken. Wrapped tightly and cooked in banana leaf, the chicken was incredibly succulent. £9.90 per person.

NOSTALGIA TRIP

Nasi Lemak with chicken took us back to a trip to Langkawi where we ate something similar most days. Served on the bone, the chicken was superb with a generous helping of moreish perfectly spiced sauce, coconut rice, a fried egg, sambal chilli, peanuts, anchovies and pickled vegetables. The combination of heat with sweet coconut and sharp pickled veg was seriously good. The rice was marbled with something blue which was a bit off putting, but it tasted great. Sweet and sour chicken didn’t break the mould, but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. It was really good and free from the cloying sauce that seems commonplace, it tasted fresh and delicately flavoured.

BAO BUN BOOM

A bao bun with shredded duck and hoisin sauce was a surprise. We ordered it merely to sample rather than because we thought it’d blow our socks off, but it was brilliant. The soft pillowy bun was filled with gorgeous flavours and textures we didn’t expect. We’re planning another trip dedicated to working our way through the entire selection.

We were warned the food might take 15 to 20 minutes if we ordered from the ‘signature dishes’ part of the menu which felt like a good sign – everything we ate felt freshly and thoughtfully prepared. Obviously, that should be a given but it’s not always the case. We’d highly recommend.

Seared’s tagline is ‘Pub with Global Grub’ which we had reservations about. Rather than a single-minded specialist food offering, Seared’s menu is globetrotting from the Caribbean to India and there’s jeopardy in that. The danger is a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ outcome, but having met the people at Greene King, we trust it’s not their first rodeo.

Interiors are fresh and zingy. There’s a cracking bar area and an upgraded drinks menu with increased new world beers, wine and cocktails and decent alcohol-free options too. The bar still has the pool table and cosy nooks that the locals enjoy just with added va va voom.

The dining area feels more modern bistro than country pub and the menu, as expected, is big and wide ranging. A section of small plates quickly became our favourite thing – specifically a punchy sticky Korean fried chicken (£4.95) and a delicious lamb kofta (£5.25).

HEFTY HELPING

There were a few sharing options like a plate of loaded nachos (£7.95) that would have fed four people – ideal for tucking into with a bunch of mates and a few drinks. Then there were sharing platters from around the world, including A Taste of the Middle East, India, Caribbean, South America and the Mediterranean. We didn’t sample these, but plenty of them were winging their way from the kitchen looking mighty fine. At £24.95 they looked like great value.

Slow cooked Korean beef rib coated in a BBQ glaze was falling off the bone tender served with sharp kimchi and a crunchy slaw (£15.95). It was also served with a hefty helping of fries which felt out of place. A South American rump steak skewer served with Texan BBQ sauce (£13.95) was punctuated with charred padron peppers served on grilled veg and with a side of fries. Cooked pink, the steak was succulent and tasty and the crisp skin on fries hit the spot.

We visited on a Monday a couple of weeks after opening and the place was encouragingly busy. There were still a few finishing touches happening, but other than that, it felt pretty polished. A few dishes on the menu were sold out, but I guess it takes time to get to grips with ordering patterns and volumes. Our lunch was fairly meaty, but there were plenty of plant-based dishes too and a dedicated gluten-free menu. The danger of being a Jack of all trades we initially feared doesn’t actually matter. Seared isn’t promising fine dining, it’s a lively pub serving great value, tasty food with a fab drinks offering.

While there’s access from The Grand, there’s a separate entrance on Barwick Street and under the expert guidance of executive chef, Adam Bateman, Isasc’s stacks up as a restaurant in its own right.

The restaurant’s mantra, ‘inspired by New York, 100 per cent Brum’ is reflected in a menu packed with burgers, wings, hot dogs, mac and cheese and the like. However, a new menu that launched just before our visit revealed a lighter side too. We dabbled with both.

First up, a bowl of olives with zingy pickled fennel and a Cosmopolitan – a really nice start. Next, chicken wings with a blue cheese dip. For context, since Bonehead flung open its doors across town and started bossing wings, nothing compares. While the Isaac’s version was tasty and perfectly succulent with a nice hit of spice, they were playing second fiddle. A wingless wing i.e. cauliflower is available too.

Smashed avocado and salmon tostada was fresh and light benefitting from zesty lime juice, chilli and popping jewels of pomegranate, while a 10oz ribeye was perfectly pink on the inside, charred on the outside and seriously tasty. Truffle fries provided a moreish earthy crunch.

Then came a dish of fried chicken served atop a giant potato waffle with a fried duck egg and a delicious BBQ sauce. The fried chicken was top drawer with a crunchy flavour-packed coating encasing soft, moist meat ­– it played second fiddle to no one. The oozing duck egg added another dimension while the waffle which was a bit tough felt surplus to requirements. Aside from that, it was great dish.

If, like us, Isaac’s hasn’t been on your radar, it’s well worth a trip and might just become one of your new faves.

Ten years on, the place still had the warm local restaurant vibe we enjoyed first time around and crucially, the food we sampled was universally delicious.

Let’s face it, Harbonites are not short of places to eat with oodles of restaurants on their doorstep, but Henry Wong is one of the OGs – an institution that locals of multiple generations think of fondly. We were invited to sample the menu so obviously we obliged – rat up a drainpipe springs to mind.

The joy of Chinese food is over ordering as is our wont and sharing lots of different dishes. We went classic with a stonking pork Yuk Sung. There’s something special about the cool crunch of lettuce teamed with warm, soft pork that works and this was an excellent version.

Then duck pancakes – we’re nothing if not predictable. We’ve eaten a lot of average duck pancakes in our time and this wasn’t one of them. Attention to detail even down to the slick presentation with edible flowers and carefully shredded moreish duck was spot on. The hoisin sauce was just sweet enough and didn’t tip over into sickly territory which is rarer than it should be.

Sweet and sour chicken was fresh and tangy with plenty of vegetables. Crispy shredded beef was sticky, sweet and spicy – a heady trio, while our favourite dish (i.e. the one we fought over) was king prawn with garlic and chilli. The prawns were tender and seriously tasty with a hefty punch of the hot stuff. Finally, the crisp pork belly was unctuous and melt in the mouth tender – everything it should be.

We were a party of four and this amount of food plus steamed rice, noodles and prawn crackers felt about right – although bear in mind we’re a hungry bunch. The restaurant has changed hands, but we found it just as great in terms of atmosphere, service and food as it was 10 years ago. We probably won’t leave it so long ’til next time.

When we say single-minded, we mean it. It’s fried chicken and a handful of incredible sides and that’s it. Simple? Well, sort of except it must take a truckload of vision, precision and skill to make something seemingly simple so memorably marvellous.

This marvellousness, packaged up in a small, dark dining room accented with neon was filled with the sounds of Depeche Mode and Joy Division. We might have been the oldest people in the place and certainly the least pierced, but what of it? It was a joyful experience despite the literal darkness.

The friend and I bit into a Buffalo wing at the same time and both our eyebrows shot skyward. Don’t expect the sort of sweet skinny wings you might be used to as these bore no resemblance. They were deeply delicious and meaty with a pleasing sharpness. We ordered six of the little fellas between two of us – you should go for nine.

Onto the burgers and the friend went with a no-nonsense Bonehead original which came with garlic mayo, lettuce and gherkins served in a soft toasted bun. All the burgers are made using thigh, not breast, meat resulting in peak juiciness encased in the crunchiest coating we’ve ever eaten. I went with one of the specials, the Bavarian – Bonehead fried chicken with sauerkraut, mustard mayo, curry ketchup and smoked cheese. The subtle curry flavour, tart sauerkraut and smokiness of the cheese combined to make the already tasty chicken sing.

Wash your top-notch chicken down with a jar or two from the impressive craft beer menu packed with both boozy and non-alcoholic variations. We slurped a zero per cent alcohol Speigl recommended by our waiter which was bang on the money.

If you’re not a meat eater, check out the cauli wings and/or cauli burger plus all of the sides are veggie – we recommend the waffle fries, all crisp and fluffy dusted with punchy Bonehead seasoning dunked in garlic mayo.

The restaurant is walk-in only – we had no problem getting a table as a duo, but a large group might be a different story. Perhaps check with the restaurant for quieter times if you’re a group, but honestly, if you must wait a while, do it. It is totally worth it!

The Black Swan, once a cosy pub with a massive car park, has been given an extensive makeover. The result is a large rear extension housing a beautiful dining room, plus a garden area carved out of what was once parking. There’s still parking out back but on a less invasive scale. The cosy pub out front remains and was packed with character and punters when we visited. The dining room’s easy, relaxed and cool with a French bistro vibe overlooking a patio with colourful parasols.

Our waiter was utterly charming, smiley and knowledgeable. We didn’t need much persuading to dive into a carafe of rose – the perfect amount for two at lunch or as our waiter suggested, perfect if your preferences differ enabling you to indulge in one of each flavour. We didn’t but it’s a good point.

We expected the menu to be comforting pub classics and there’s certainly an element of that, but it’s much more inventive than pub grub. For instance, a starter of perfectly oozing burrata with sweet tomatoes and a punchy lovage and basil pesto was served with a shot of essence of tomato to be sipped alongside the food – it was intense and enhanced the dish. Simple but effective.
Then there was beetroot done three ways – candied, roasted and worked into a sweet gel served alongside cubes of deep fried goat’s cheese in breadcrumbs, guacamole and balsamic cream. It sounds a bit confused when written down like that, but tasted brilliant and looked pretty.

Our main courses were a bit more ‘pubby’ in terms of size as well theme, but still delicious such as tender, rich short rib of beef with dauphinoise potatoes, greens and a tasty gravy and a flavour packed fishcake topped with a soft poached egg and a lovely buttery sauce with welcome tartness from capers. Desserts are not our thing, but a pistachio souffle winked vigorously. The waiter gave us a tip and suggested switching the accompanying chocolate ice cream with the honeycomb variety and it was superb.

So enjoyable was lunch, we left Henley feeling envious of the locals. For context, we have a tired pub at the end of our road which is nothing like the Black Swan so we’ve caught ourselves day-dreaming of a similar overhaul. There’s no sign of it so far, but we live in hope.

The interior’s fresh with an attractive tiled floor, foliage and lemons hanging from the ceiling and a huge show-stopping pizza oven in an open kitchen. Staff were friendly and enthusiastic – the place had been open for six weeks when we visited so early days, but there are more sites across Birmingham so it’s not completely new.

It would have felt wrong not to sample the pizza given the impressive oven, so we ordered two. The base was brilliant – soft, charred and blistered – just how we like it. The best-selling Paradiso pizza was heavy on the toppings ranging from sweet beetroot cream and fresh chilli to wafer thin chicken and 24 carat gold leaf – yes that’s right. All in all, it tasted great. The sweet beetroot cream which sounded odd, worked a treat with the heat of the chilli. There was a tonne of mozzarella so if you like an especially cheesy pizza, this is for you. The gold leaf is a bit gimmicky but perhaps that’s the point – it’s a bit of fun and probably very Instagrammable.

Then there was the Capricciosa with fresh artichoke hearts, punchy olives and salty ham. Again, it was seriously cheesy. There were three dips for scooping up the moreish crust – garlic, tomato and chilli. Beware, the chilli version might just blow your head off! The waitress recommended chips loaded with grated truffle and parmesan. We wouldn’t normally order chips with pizza, but we were convinced and they were great, especially with a dollop of the garlic dip.

As well as pizza, there’s pasta and a brunch menu served until 3pm full of appealing dishes like burrata with hot spicy honey, a super green omelette with feta, spinach and chilli flakes and croissants loaded with smoked salmon, poached egg and mascarpone.

It’s worth mentioning there’s no alcohol at Paradiso and there’s no bring-your-own option which is not an issue but it’s good to know in advance. We sampled a Sober Gin and tonic which was good plus there’s non-alcoholic wine and beer, too.

In the context of the incredible pizza available in the city, the offering at Paradiso isn’t top drawer. Having said that, the dough is definitely up there. It’s early days – there’s time to polish the experience and we’ll certainly be back to sample brunch.

It turns out our worries were needless because aside from the logo on the signage and menus, you wouldn’t know the difference. The place hasn’t lost any of its charm – if you picked up the restaurant and popped it back down in Barcelona’s Gothic quarter, it would slot right in and no doubt it would be packed every night.

MOUTH-WATERING

It’s small, so expect a bit of a squeeze but the kind you’d relish if you were on a city break somewhere more exotic than Brum. Despite two lively chefs working from an open kitchen the size of a small car, the food is brilliant. It’s not fancy but it is delicious. Simple sounding dishes like bread with olive oil and tomato are elevated to mouth-watering and that’s some skill.
We cooed over plate after plate of food such as oozing, crisp cheese croquetas, perfectly charred padron peppers, juicy garlicky prawns, punchy patatas bravas and a rich flavour packed cassoulet of chickpeas. Dishes range from £2 for smoked anchovies to £9 for a more substantial plate and we recommend three to four dishes per person. In truth we could have grazed the afternoon away working our way through the entire menu, but work got in the way…
Perhaps the drinks menu could do with a bit of attention – in fact the place has a ‘bring your own’ vibe that we can’t really explain as it’s not, so please don’t rock up with a couple of bottles under your arm! It’s the kind of place we’d lap up if we were on holiday and it’s on our bloomin’ doorstep. Whether you pop in and grab a stool by the floor to ceiling windows or hunker down in a cosy corner, you’re in for a treat. Use it or lose it Brummies – this little foodie addition should be a keeper.

Part of the San Carlo group of restaurants, Fumo isn’t new on the scene, but it’s been a while since we visited. Also, our options were limited as finding a restaurant open on a Monday in Brum is like trying to bag tickets for the Eras tour. If you’re celebrating any occasion on a Monday, godspeed. A sign of the tough times hospitality and indeed diners find themselves in.
Cicchetti – Italian medium plates rather than small – is the name of the game at Fumo and the menu is massive. We quaffed Champagne while we got to grips with it which helped immeasurably. One thing to note is the dishes aren’t much smaller than your average main course. The restaurant suggests five or six dishes between two people which turned out to be a lot of food.

SLOW COOKED

Also worth noting, we chose a handful of the heavier dishes on the menu such as magnificent gnocchi with gorgonzola, rich tasty lasagne and a melt in mouth slow cooked short rib of beef. They were great, but there are plenty of lighter plates too. The beetroot carpaccio was superb, served with goat’s cheese and topped with herby crunchy breadcrumbs. Nicely cooked halibut with samphire, tomato and chilli was knock out and the pollo Milanese was perfect with a squeeze of lemon.
The staff were fantastic and without prompting, clocked it was a celebration and brought out a plate of desserts with a candle and a birthday message penned in white chocolate. A nice touch. Having ended up at Fumo partly by default, it turned into one of those memorable lunches that drifts into late afternoon limoncello territory leaving us with happy hearts and full stomachs. What else do you need?

Well, the restaurant is a stunner. Someone has worked hard on the interiors, no doubt thrown a lot of money at it, and it shows. There’s a fabulous bar area with stylish scalloped edge seating and striking floor to ceiling windows.

However, while we love this city almost as much as our own children, it’s not pretty by day from this vantage point – just lots of grey rooftops. But as the sun goes down and the golden hour kicks in, it absolutely makes sense and after dark , with Brum twinkling below, it’s even better.

The food on the other hand is a winner any time of the day or night. From a menu full of French classics and some dishes with a modern take, we ate like royalty. The absolute star of the show was a starter that sounded simple, looked a million dollars and tasted incredible – dressed Brixham crab with avocado, apple, sourdough and sunflower seeds. The crab was rich and salty, the apple sweet and zingy and the whole thing together was the best start to dinner we could have hoped for.

Chicken ballotine with leeks, pomme purée, mushroom and truffle jus was knockout delicious. Succulent chicken, a great sauce, earthy flavours and perfect pomme purée – what’s not to love? It was a hefty serving, but we managed. A dessert of chocolate madeleine, hazelnut, whipped pannacotta and salted caramel ice cream hit the spot too – think intense praline flavour with a hint of salt. It also looked pretty as a picture. The cheese was a bit of a drab end to dinner. It felt like it had been chucked on to a plate fresh from the fridge so rather than oozing, the soft cheeses were hard. The tawny port was welcome though.

Our visit was for a special occasion and despite our moaning about the grey rooftops, we’d do it all again. It’s pretty expensive – on a par with Brum’s top restaurants – but it’s a bit different and the food and service are excellent. Our advice if you want to make the most of being up high is to go for dinner just as the sun sets.

The restaurant’s Argentinian twist on a roast would be the saviour of Sunday, meaning we wouldn’t be hankering after our own roast at home. We’re nothing if not modest.

For those not in the know, the Fiesta is an Asado restaurant based on the Hagley Road. With it’s Argentine-heritage, this means we were looking forward to some unctuous, slow-cooked meat. And given it’s owned by the same top-quality team behind the famous Lasan restaurant, expectations were inevitably high. The restaurant’s welcoming and lively with an open kitchen from which wafted some saliva inducing aromas. A great start.

Now let’s be clear – the meat was very, very good. But if you order one thing from the menu, order the croquette selection. Actually, order more than one plate because they are moreish as hell and they come in threes so you’re likely to fall out with your loved ones if you stick with an odd number. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, there’s a rich black squid ink version, a tasty truffle filled morsel and salty Iberian ham to whet your appetite and honestly, we could have ordered a truck load and still wanted more. Perfect with a glass or two of Chardonnay. When in Buenos Aires and all that, we opted for a very reasonably priced and utterly delicious bottle from Ulenta Estate and have vowed to leave the car at home next time.

Next up, confit short rib of beef with a Malbec sauce. The beef was ridiculously tender falling off the bone and packed with flavour while the sauce was the perfect foil. Roast chicken rolled with sage and onion stuffing tasted top drawer, however the velouté wasn’t what we recognise as a velouté. It tasted really good but was the texture of mayonnaise which felt a bit odd. Potatoes were crunchy and fluffy and actually, all the veggies shone particularly the roasted sweet carrots and gooey cauliflower cheese made with Provolone cheese.

Pudding is obviously a must to complete any Sunday lunch. The youngsters plumped for some traditional churros tossed in cinnamon sugar which were very tasty but would have benefited from a thicker, warm chocolate sauce. Rather more successfully, the more aged members of the party shared a classic oozing chocolate fondant which topped off a very fine afternoon. We’ll be back to sample the famous steaks pronto.

Tucked around the corner from the RBSA gallery, Lasan is as gorgeous as we remember. Big mirrors, banquet seating and dreamy lighting make for a chic comfortable brasserie vibe.

The food is the main event and right up our street. We shared a platter to start which we highly recommend. It included morsels of deliciousness like clay oven chicken – succulent and nicely spiced along with perfectly cooked cubes of mahi salmon; meaty, charred sarson prawn and tender chunks of Bihari beef kebab that melted in the mouth. An accompanying zingy salad with punchy pickled cucumber worked a treat as did the duo of chutney – mint and red pepper. There’s a veggie version too which looks awesome.

At our indecisive best, everything about the menu appealed so we were happy to be led by our waiter. He made some great choices. Sikandari lamb shank was marinated in Kashmiri spices then slow roasted and shredded. Tender and smoky, the lamb was served with a brilliant dhal makhani and fresh raita. It was a hefty dish given we’d just devoured a platter and we probably could have shared, but it was seriously good. Methi chicken was pan fried served on a moreish bhuna with spinach and fenugreek – a complex warming sauce that we found best mopped up with a perfect naan.

Not something we’d normally order, we then threw in a curve ball with Gobi Angari – tandoor roasted cauliflower sauteed with nigella scented onion masala and can confirm never has a vegetable tasted so brilliant.

The food isn’t too hot – it’s more complex than that in a wonderfully warming way. We won’t be ditching Dishoom as we’re suckers for the black daal, but we will be eating at Lasan a heck of a lot more. There’s room in our life for both. Go.

However, the addition of super chef Leo Kattou to the kitchen and a more cohesive menu running from day to night tempted us back.

The place is still shrouded in scaffolding which isn’t a restaurateurs dream, but once inside it’s a little haven of loveliness – the lighting is winning, everyone/thing looks gorgeous, the staff are charming and while the restaurant’s small, the team has made it work beautifully.

It’s our first visit since Leo joined on the back of a long and successful stint at Simpsons, and while he isn’t trying to turn Laghi’s into the Michelin-starred Birmingham icon, the food is brilliant. For instance, oozing creamy burrata with caramelised fennel, toasted pine nuts and a drizzle of olive oil. Shredded pork in a crisp coating topped with sweet matchsticks of pear, bitter chicory and a punchy mustardy sauce.

Or, how about rich carbonara with plenty of salty nuggets of bacon running through topped with oodles of grated cheese. Perfect cod with a crunchy hazelnut and truffle pesto crust served with earthy roasted Jerusalem artichokes and finally, a pork chop – unfathomably succulent, packed with flavour and served with a cep sauce so great we’d buy it by the bottle and slurp it through a straw on the daily. I couldn’t tell you about puds because we’d really had our fill by then, but I can recommend a fiery little digestiv called Willy Chilly which will send you off into the night with a warm fuzzy glow.

If it’s a neighbourhood restaurant that owner, Luca and the team were after, they’ve nailed it. It’s the sort of place you really want on your patch, preferably within walking distance from home. We’ve heard some criticism of it being pricey but, honestly, I think for the quality, the service and the experience, it’s reasonable. We went the whole hog and scrimped on nothing, but it’s the kind of place you can pop in and enjoy a delicious plate of food and a bottle of wine and leave just as happy.

Our knee jerk reaction on social media as we left the restaurant was ‘a proper neighbourhood restaurant with a big heart’ and we stand by that in the sober light of day. It’s superb.

Over Christmas, the chefs couldn’t make enough dough to feed demand and they completely sold out numerous times. They’ve just had their busiest week to date in January when hospitality is usually in tumbleweed territory.

So, what’s all the fuss about? Well, it’s not rocket science, more like hard graft, vision, attention to detail and no doubt deep pockets. Opening a restaurant right now is not for the faint-hearted. The place is small but mighty focusing on excellent, reasonably priced pizza and sharing boards plus a cracking drinks menu with some quality cocktails. We recommend getting your lips around a rhubarb and ginger bramble on a Friday lunch-time.

The pizza features gloriously puffed-up blistered crusts for dunking into a choice of dips – we went for a punchy aioli packed with garlic. There’s also chimichurri and salsa verde. Toppings are plentiful – the Napoletana was loaded with creamy Fior di Latte mozzarella, anchovies, olives, capers and fresh basil. Not everyone’s cup of tea but right up our strada while the best seller, Salami Napoli with fresh chilli and mozzarella sang.

Sandwiched between the delicious toppings and brilliant base was a substantial flavour-packed tomato sauce – no insipid watery nonsense here. There’s also a choice of bianca pizzas without tomato if that’s your bag. Meanwhile, my mate said the rocket salad was the best he’d ever eaten – a surprising sentence for him to utter, but still, I knew what he meant. Rocket’s rocket, but the sweet balsamic dressing and cheeky parmesan shavings gave it a significant bit of oomph. Attention to detail again.

The location’s interesting too. A couple of doors down from Loki and opposite Chapter, Smoke + Ash is nestled in what is becoming a foodie hotspot. There’s a collective feel about the street, a support network and pleasing chatter of full pedestrianisation that will only add to the good vibes of the area and provide a further boost to business.

If you love pizza, go. If you don’t love pizza, we can’t be friends.

The interiors are simple. Dark wood, colourful prints, maps of the island and a bar that screams beach vibes. There are nine restaurants in the TCT stable and while we can’t speak for the other eight, we didn’t want to leave the Birmingham eatery. We can’t think of anything directly comparable in the city focusing on Sri Lankan food of this quality and inventiveness. It’s also reasonably priced – for instance, cocktails start at £6 – plus it’s fast enough to squeeze into your lunch hour.

Since one of us would eat meat at every meal of every day, we were both surprised by the universal appeal of an unassuming pumpkin curry called the Fat Sister. It was superb – the coconut sauce, gentle spice and soft sweet pumpkin blew us away. If you have one dish, make it this. Having said that, it’s not a one dish sort of place. Part of the joy is sampling lots of little plates. Like the black Pork – melt in the mouth pork belly slow cooked in a heady mix of spices for which we’ve got someone called ‘Granny Gertie’ to thank.

Chicken curry on the bone was a bit tricky to eat with my clumsy companion showering me in sauce. It’s probably the hottest dish of the bunch in a good way and absolutely worth the struggle. Then there was Cheesy Colombo – generous cubes of fried cheese in a sticky sweet and hot sauce. It’s fried cheese – what’s not to love? Kale and radish sambol added a zingy freshness with radish, grated coconut tomatoes and lime while beef brisket kotthu was rich and unctuous.

Two to three dishes per person is recommend – we went for three plus a parotta roti which was probably one dish too many, although eliminating one would have been like Sophie’s Choice. We didn’t book but we arrived early so managed to bag a table. The restaurant did fill up swiftly around us so perhaps best to book.

There are challenges to creating an identity at Emporio Artari, more so than Lucarelli given it’s essentially in a shopping centre. However, they’ve made the best of it with privacy screens and a well-positioned bar, so it feels like you’re entering a restaurant rather than the atrium of a mall, and the buzz of Touchwood actually added to the lively vibe. The bar’s a thing of beauty and the crockery and accessories add personality.

The restaurant serves cicchetti (small plates), sharing platters, panini, pasta and on weekdays, an Italian afternoon tea which we sampled. Cocktails are a big thing, so we went for the bellini version rather than mere tea. Sandwiches aren’t the neatly sliced cucumber fingers you might expect from an average afternoon tea, but more inventive open sandwiches with punchy flavours such as mozzarella, tomato tapenade and olive – we could have snaffled a whole plate of these.

Parmesan mousse, ham and honey mustard are salty in the very the best of ways and moreish. Butternut squash pate and truffle pecorino cheese are smooth, balanced, sweet and earthy all at the same time. While smoked salmon, stracchino cheese and rocket were very good too, roasted mushroom, Asiago cheese and smoked ham was less so with one left on the plate – there’s always one.

Sweet treats were plentiful and pretty as a picture. There was a lemon mousse cake, strawberry and pistachio parfait, Amaretto and white chocolate soft sponge and a torta cappuccino. They all tasted great, but among the soft moussey textures we craved a bit of crunch. That came in the form of an absolutely knock out Aragostina, a crisp pastry shell with Amarena cherry and Chantilly cream – the top pick of the sweets. There was also a traditional scone with jam and cream that felt a bit surplus to requirements.

Afternoon tea is £25 per person which feels like a steal, the bellini version is £34.50 and Champagne afternoon tea is £35. As a convenient and indulgent pit-stop to break up a shopping trip, we reckon you can’t beat it.

Having said that, if you’re going to go out for Sunday lunch we recommend making it as different from home as you can and the historic Nailcote Hall is that – think low beams, big open fireplaces, cosy features and dark wood plus some seriously friendly staff. To give it some context, the last time we ate at Nailcote Hall was pre-Covid, yet Glynn, the restaurant manager remembered us – I don’t know if that’s because Glynn is incredibly good at his job or we behaved so badly we left our mark. We’re going with the former.

The dining room is slightly old-fashioned in a charming way that suits Sunday lunch. There’s a trolley with a silver cloche hiding perfectly cooked beef and turkey that’s wheeled around the dining room and carved at the table. There’s a rack of pork carved in the kitchen as the rack makes it slightly tricky to do on the trolley and if you ask nicely, you can have more than one type of meat. The gravy and roasties are spot on and there are enough side dishes to feed an army, including Yorkies as big as your face, cauliflower cheese, red cabbage, mashed sweet potato, carrots, green beans, savoy cabbage, broccoli and more.

We’d already snaffled starters of smoked salmon and pate before the main event, so we were in button-popping territory, however we still managed a pud. Apple crumble and custard was just like Nan used to make, while white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry sorbet was delicious.

It’s not fine dining – it’s traditional and homely in the way Sunday lunch should be. Team that with tables full of families, some of three or four generations hunkered down catching up over lunch and you’ve a winning feel-good Sunday in our book. I might just be converted! Two courses costs £36 and £40 for three.

Interiors are basic but stylish – young, fresh, nothing fancy. The food is king and there are zero gimmicks – a handful of dishes with top notch ingredients with suppliers listed and a succinct drinks list with plenty to wet your whistle.

There are small plates and pasta dishes. We went for a couple of small plates and two pasta dishes between two which was perfect. Stacciatella aka the gooey middle bit of mozzarella served with herby oil and quartered figs was sensational. Zingy, fresh, tart, sweet – so much to love. We recommend scooping it up with warm focaccia. We also polished off a generous selection of punchy, peppery charcuterie.

Shredded pork shoulder ragu with pappardelle was rich and brimming with flavour. Then for Trentina’s social media hit, spinach, ricotta and duck egg raviolo. It was like nothing we’ve eaten before. It’s essentially one big pasta parcel filled to the brim with creamy oozing deliciousness. If you think texturally it sounds like it would be a bit soft, it is, but it doesn’t matter, it’s heavenly. Regardless of the fact it’s utterly gorgeous, there’s some chatter about it not being on the menu beyond the end of October. We assume it’s a PR stunt. If not, we’re taking to the streets.

In summary, Trentina’s everything you want from a local restaurant including being flippin’ good value – for instance the spinach, ricotta, duck egg pasta is £8.50, the pork ragu £9.50. If we lived in the Jewellery Quarter we’d be tempted to pop in for a bowl of pasta and a Monte and tonic multiple times a week…

The decor is stunning and like nothing else in Brum. Big, bold, stylish it’s like a ski chalet on steroids with pale wood, open fires, glamorous lighting and a show-stopping, well-stocked central bar. The place suits a crowd – there are lots of big tables and banquettes as well as cosy corners for pairs like us. The large menu skips around a bit from Bavaria to the Middle East via Puglia to North West England. As you’d expect there’s alpine-inspired fodder like fondue as well as schnitzel, bratwurst and pickles, but also kebabs, pasta, hummus, burrata and a Sunday lunch menu featuring Cheshire chicken and Lancashire beef.

We hunkered down with a gin cocktail and a beer flight along with a plate of moreish sticky honey and mustard glazed bratz with pickled chilli along with three haus breads. The trio included a sourdough, a pistachio and cranberry version and an utterly delicious Pilsner, stilton and caramelised onion bread that we could have grazed on all day.

The mains were a bit hit and miss. A Black Forest chicken burger felt like it had been hanging around for a while. The bun was good, but inside the buttermilk chicken was a bit dry and a slice of gouda, lettuce leaves and celeriac slaw had seen better days. By contrast a lamb Kofta was excellent – vibrant and punchy with bags of herbs, zingy freshness with nicely cooked spiced lamb served on a flatbread. It seemed a bit random given the ski chalet vibe but it was absolutely knockout. Crunchy fries were great, too.

The desserts look fantastic particularly a baked Alaska. We’ll save it for next time. Don’t expect fine dining but do expect an experience, an excellent drinks menu and mostly hearty tasty food. (We were gifted a voucher that part paid for our lunch.)

The interiors are right up our street with high ceilings, bistro type furniture, great lighting and cool colour combos. Outside, planters are colourful despite the drought and when we arrived, a local florist was dropping off fresh flowers for the tables. Attention to detail. Everyone we met seemed to love their job brimming with enthusiasm, knowledge and joy.

The wine list is extensive featuring 200+. In the interest of sampling a few without getting giddy, we opted for a Pink Punk Wine Paddle showcasing three roses including a slightly sparkling wine made in East London with a Croatina grape from Lombardy, the Romanian ‘Har’ and an Australian Riverland Nero D’avola. The white version also known as the Acid Hound Wine Paddle featured an Aussie Clare Valley Reisling (our favourite), a Loire sauvignon called The Holy Snail and a Pilota from the Basque Country. Each paddle includes 50 ml of each, so it’s a great way to sample a few wines before you invest in a bottle.

Wine is clearly big, yet food is not an afterthought. There are small plates and bar snacks, sharing plates and more substantial mains. We chose three small plates between two plus a couple of mains. First up, Neal’s Yard cheese croquettes arrived looking a bit meh, but, and it’s a big but (there’s a song in there somewhere), the little balls of rich, comforting, deliciousness were worth fighting the other half for. Possibly the cheesiest thing we’ve ever eaten. A salad of fennel, cantaloupe, radish and cucumber with a lime and soy dressing was a refreshing, zingy contrast to the croquettes and worked a treat. Creamy smoked burrata served with a sharp tomato and caper salad was a joy although beware the croutons if you value your teeth. Juicy cod with a crisp skin was served with a generous mound of sweet peperonata and a punchy anchovy dressing while pork tenderloin with chickpea puree, salsa verde and blackened hispi cabbage hit the spot too.

Although Vinoteca is a chain – there are six sites in London – it doesn’t have a chain feel. Pizza Express this is not. Apparently, owners Charlie and Brett know every employee’s name and the evident joy, enthusiasm and attention to detail filters down from the pair. Honestly, we could have stayed all day. For clarity, our trip was gifted without any pressure to gush.

If you don’t like fancy, it’s probably not for you. If you do like fancy, stick around. From start to finish – and we finished so late we probably outstayed our welcome – we were charmed. Credit to the staff who were still happy (on the outside at least) as we quaffed another Calvados. On the inside they were no doubt planning dinner service and hoping this was the last.

We hate the term fine dining – it sounds pompous, and Adam’s is not pompous. It’s classy, inventive, warm, special. Once inside and beyond the bar area, it doesn’t feel like Brum. You could be anywhere. To be clear, we obviously love Birmingham but there’s something a bit magical about Adam’s décor that’s transformative. That sounds knobby, but we’re not sorry.

We’ve sampled enough tasting menus to know that we prefer ordering our own food, so one of us ate from the set lunch menu and one from a la carte. We criticised one of the nibbles last time we visited, but not this time. The preamble to lunch was a hit. The signature beetroot and goat’s cheese macarons are a regular for a reason. They hit you with flavour then dissolve on your tongue like magic. There was a wondrous ox tongue nibble that was too good to start analysing plus a mussel with a punchy pickled cucumber sauce that was truly delicious.

From here on in with a slug of Burgundy in our brains, we probably should have been making notes, but we were having too much fun, so we’re picking our stand-out dishes among a collection of gorgeousness. Number one and it doesn’t sound stand out, but trust us, was lightly salted cod with mushroom, artichoke ad dashi broth. This was packed with flavour and we could have slurped the dashi broth on its own – sharp, salty, sweet all at the same time, I guess that’s balance, something you can’t put your finger on. Just sheer enjoyment.

Next was goosnargh duck breast and liver with granola, beetroot and blackberry. Again, this was about balance, rich tender meat, sweet granola, sharp blackberries. Really clever. There was an incredible chicken dish plus a leek parcel with black truffle, hazelnut and custard that blew our socks off. The cheese board was immense and pudd was a triumph. Our only gripe and we’ve said it before, we urge restaurants to pick a new name for whipped pork fat. Can’t touch the stuff. It’s like calling butter churned bovine breast milk or similar.

The wine list is quite punchy price-wise, but we found a very good Rully premier cru at the more sensible end of the list and we can wholeheartedly recommend the Calvados. Go.

Essentially, we want good food and drink, stylish comfortable buildings and outdoor spaces and reasonable prices. Peach ticks all the boxes. Reasonable prices is a tough one to achieve and getting harder in the current climate, but The Highfield is as close as it gets at gastro pub level.

We went to check out the new menu. First up, tempura prawns from the specials board. Crisp batter, juicy substantial prawns and a punchy dip, they were a great start. Jimmy Butler’s honey mustard chipolatas were sticky, sweet and tasty served with crunchy shallots and spring onions.

One of us will always go for a breaded chicken after first toying with everything else on the menu before accepting the pull of the chicken schnitzel is too strong. This one was a belter. Succulent, crisp with a generous mound of garlicky butter and, to top it off, a crisp shard of chicken skin. Rocket, parmesan and fries played second fiddle, but were perfectly lovely. A winner.

Next up, 14-hour braised beef and ale pie. Jam packed with juicy, tender, flavour packed beef encased in thin, crisp pastry this was superb and our stand-out dish. A rich gravy, smooth creamy mash and fresh greens topped it off beautifully.

We’d munched our through some hearty dishes and probably didn’t need three courses. While we swerved pud, we shared a superb selection of five cheeses. Our only gripe was that the soft cheeses were a bit cold and not as oozing as we’d have liked, but we’re nit-picking – it was a heck of a lunch.

Sitting at the bar for a couple of cheeky cocktails and snacks is one thing but we urge you to go for lunch or dinner. You’ll not regret it. Firstly, a nod to the staff – joint owner Irene has that natural chatty, ‘I just love people’ sort of vibe that makes her hospitality gold while our happy efficient waitress had a blinder of a first day and chef Nathan’s modesty masked his wizardry in the kitchen.

Secondly, it’s a family affair. For instance, mocktails are named after the staff’s children, so drinks like the Roaring Rory and Lottie’s Garden feature. We may have been hormonal/tired, but it’s such a nice touch it made our eyes leak a bit.

Thirdly, the food is damn fine. Memorable dishes like a succulent quail breast with a leg ‘lollipop’ made from melt in the mouth shredded meat served with barley, wild garlic and a rich meaty sauce were honestly blooming lovely. Then John Dory fillets cooked beautifully served with gnocchi, a punchy green wild garlic velouté and generous mounds of salty caviar looked dreamy and tasted top notch. We’d been recommended the rhubarb and ginger mille-feuille by a trusted source and it was even better than expected. The zing of rhubarb, heat of ginger, richness of sweet custard nestled in between a crisp trio of pastry discs was food heaven. There wasn’t even a dedicated pastry chef when we visited so Lord knows the talent going on in that kitchen.

It’s not cheap but like most people we’re picky about where we spend our hard-earned cash and we’d happily spend it here.

A new concept simply named Rouge offers Parisian brasserie vibes and a more sophisticated menu than its café cousin. There are some old favourites like beef bourguignon and moules marinière, but also some newbies like cauliflower steak with harissa houmous and pomegranate and a clutch of Champagne cocktails to wet your whistle.

Owners Big Table Group have created two Rouge restaurants so far – one here in the Bullring and one in Haywards Heath, Sussex. The interior feels more grown up and there’s a pleasing noisy hubbub. Word to the wise, if we hadn’t booked we’d have had a bit of a wait for a table – it was the middle of the Easter holidays so that might have had an impact on numbers. A good sign for the new concept regardless.

French onion soup with Emmental-laden croutons was packed with flavour – the kids slurped the lot. Meaty king prawns were messy but delicious served with baguette to mop up the garlicky white wine sauce. Beef bourguignon was the highlight – tender beef and a rich red wine sauce served with herby mash hit the spot nicely while poulet a la Normande – chicken with leeks, cepes and thyme in a decent cider sauce served with winning fondant potatoes was great.

The main courses were large and a bit overwhelming leaning heavily towards pomme de terre. Sea bass fillet served on a sizeable mound of crushed new potatoes was more tattie than fish. Some people love large portions citing value for money so appreciate that might be a positive.

The teens found room for pud – one enjoyed a refreshing mango sorbet while the other ordered a crepe with chocolate sauce and ice cream and got three! As a group we managed to snaffle the lot but would seriously recommend sharing if you’re having three courses. There’s a cheeky trio of mini desserts including a lemon meringue pie, chocolate tart and crème brulee which we also sampled that would be ideal if you’re hankering after a little something sweet.

The outdoor terrace is about to come into its own over the summer, a good spot for people watching over a glass of something chilled and plate of tasty French-inspired food. In the interest of transparency, our Rouge bill was reduced as a PR gift, but we felt under no obligation to gush.

Two-for-one cocktails and a plate of excellent nachos loaded with cheesy gooey loveliness, soured cream, avo and punchy pulled beef kicked off lunch in the best possible way. An Elderflower and Mint Cooler was packed with zingy grapefruit along with gin and prosecco adding a bit of mid-week warmth and fuzziness. It was delish and we happily slurped a couple.

The Rhubarb Fizz – vodka, prosecco, rhubarb, cocchi Americano topped with a hibiscus foam made in house – was also on the money. It’s quite sweet, so if that’s not your thing go for something else. There’s plenty of choice. It was our mate’s thing, so happy days. Drinks are a big deal here. As well as cocktails, a procession of prosecco bottles flying out from the bar was non-stop. The cocktail trees look like a lot of fun if you’re a crowd – six cocktails for £55.

The food menu is New York-inspired. Brunch lasts all day until 4pm and is packed with things such as chicken and bacon stack or a sweet Reese’s stack with peanut butter and chocolatey goodness. There are burgers, hot dogs, a classic New York Reuben bagel, bao buns that feel a bit random, but sound excellent and lots of other treats.

I went for All American Hotdog – nine inches of dog in a brioche bun loaded with cheese, pickles, jalapeños, ketchup and mustard. It was a whopper and probably the first time I’ve eaten a hotdog with cutlery. I loved all the extras as I’m a sucker for pickles and a bit of heat. I switched the skin on fries for sweet potatoes which was a very good call. They’re sensational.

The mate went all in for something called an Empire Chicken Stack which consisted of crisp chicken, a waffle, pancetta, cheese, coleslaw, maple syrup, skin-on fries and sweet potato fries piled high. There was a lot to grapple with here. The sweet potato fries were top notch, coleslaw was delicious and the waffle maple syrup combo was a winner. The pancetta wasn’t crisp and the chicken was a bit bland, however, and it’s a big however, it’s not fine dining and doesn’t bill itself as that. It’s reasonably priced, fun and a brilliant place to hang out or party with your pals.

The décor is fabulous creating a space you want to spend time in and service is super-friendly. A shout out to the lovely Dee who went above and beyond chasing me down Temple Street at full pelt with the phone I’d left behind. It saved me a lot of bother, so thank you Dee!

Small plates (petiscos) are where it’s at with three per person recommended. Sticking to three was a challenge which we failed joyfully. Nuno, our waiter, was fantastic steering us in some directions we might not have headed, not least the cured beef croquette. If we worked here we’d be snaffling a dozen a day no question. Crisp on the outside, silky and smoky inside served with a lightly spiced aioli. Brilliant.

A prawn rissol was a bit like an empanada filled with delicately spiced prawns served with a Sumaar sauce which is like a souped-up aioli as well as a zingy herby dip. It was a cracker. Iberico vindaloo pork ribs were falling off the bone, melt in the mouth tender with, as you can imagine, a hotly spiced coating. Really super.

Keralan squid was perfection served with a curry leaf and mustard seed masala to dip the crunchy little morsels into. Chicken mappas was the only curry we sampled. On the bone, so still moist, the chicken was perfect with a complex spiced coconut milk green chilli sauce that screamed ‘drink me’. We didn’t order rice, opting for a tomato naan instead so mopped up the remains of the sauce with that. The naan wasn’t the big blistered beast you might get in a curry house – more a refined flatbread.

Word to the wise – we ordered a crunchy slaw (cabbage koshimbir) as one of our petiscos, however since all the small plates were served with a mound of the good stuff, we really didn’t need to order it separately.

A nod to the mixologist who’s got exciting plans for the drinks menu and who served up a couple of cracking mocktails – a zingy fresh Limao Spritz and a creamy coconutty Tropic Like It’s Hot.

There’s nothing else quite like it in the city.  Don’t expect a curry house nor is it Dishoom. The food is more interesting somehow and with a £15-for-three-petiscos deal for weekday lunch, it is a steal. We were kindly sent a gift card by the restaurant, but had we been paying, our bill would have been £68 which included two mocktails, seven small plates, two desserts and two pots of peppermint tea. That felt seriously reasonable given the level of the food and service.

The new menu, available from 6.30pm Sunday to Thursday, is short with three options for each course, but oh so sweet. Wild mushroom with a crisp potato rosti, a perfectly runny quail’s egg generously showered in grated truffle all brought together in a rich creamy sauce was absolutely gorgeous – just a winning, classic combination. Wafer thin delicate smoked salmon was super, but on balance we’d have preferred something other than rye bread. I’m sure if we’d asked for different bread, the staff would have been obliging – they were faultless as always, but it really wasn’t a biggie.

Blackened cod is a constant at The Ivy. It’s so popular that with every menu change, it apparently stays. A chunky piece of cod was cooked beautifully with a salty soy flavour served with a punchy chilli and yuzu mayonnaise, zingy citrus pickled fennel and grilled broccoli. The combination of strong flavours had the potential to be a mess, but it was actually brilliant.

A side of baked sweet potato with harissa coconut yoghurt, mint and coriander didn’t sound like a dish that would blow our socks off – we ordered more out of intrigue than desire, but it was utterly brilliant. We’d have been delighted with a plateful. A sirloin steak was perfectly cooked served with crunchy thick cut chips and a flavour packed bearnaise. A classic done well.

Desserts were seriously showy. We’ve had some terrible melting chocolate bombes over the years made with what tastes like cheap chocolate, but The Ivy version was a long way from that. The chocolate tasted quality, honeycomb added a sweet crunch and a light, milk foam topped off a cracking pud. An apple tarte fine was theatre – thin crisp pastry topped with finely sliced apple and vanilla ice cream was flambéd at the table with calvados. What’s not to love?

The only thing about the menu that didn’t wow were the CBD infused drinks. They weren’t bad at all, just not as appealing as the food. We’d recommend going off the regular menu for liquid refreshment. The set menu (two courses £28.95, three courses £34.95) is available until 10 February.

From the outside it’s understated, but inside the cavernous interior packs a punch. Formally the Tramshed, the Rolling Mill is two 19th century industrial barns joined together, totalling nearly 8,000 sq ft and is all exposed beams and original brickwork, big rustic wooden tables and cosy curved booths. There’s a cool sociable hawker centre vibe with a pizza oven and open kitchen.

We found loads on the menu that winked at us and after much agonising plumped for pork belly bites from the small plate menu to start as well as halloumi with gremolata. The pork belly was everything we wanted. It was crisp and flavoursome with hot sriracha mayo served in a skillet with seared spring onions and peppers. The halloumi was perfect, gremolata was punchy and salad leaves pimped up with a zingy citrus dressing.

Chicken pie is my speciality (an adapted Delia turkey en croute recipe if you’re interested) so I felt compelled to give TRM version a whirl. Served in an individual pie dish it remained hotter than the sun for some time, but once cool enough to tuck into it was great. Crispy puff pastry, creamy sauce with mushrooms, plenty of chicken and handful of herbs, it was very good. The star of the plate however was a pile of crunchy triple cooked chips. The pie was served with a cute jug of gravy. If we’re being hyper critical, the gravy could have been a bit thicker for our taste.

A burger for the other half was succulent, smothered in cheese with a delicious punchy sauce served with a crunchy slaw, a monster pickle which came my way and a hefty portion of herby fries. While the fries were fine, they weren’t a patch on the triple cooked chips. We’d recommend swapping. Pud was a shared hazelnut and dark chocolate tart with rum and raisin ice cream. Greg Wallace would have had a field day with this beauty. Lip-smackingly good and definitely enough for two.

Sunday lunch also looks cracking as does breakfast. You can walk-in or book, just go. You’ll thank us.

As you’d expect from the lovely people behind Aluna and Siamais, cocktails are a very good idea at Lulu Wild with or without booze. The Hainan Cooler (without) is one of the most refreshing things we’ve ever tasted, full of mint, watermelon and zingy lime, while the China Rose (prosecco, gin and citrus) hit the spot very nicely.

The menu is a cracker. There are small plates, brunch, Christmas set feasts as well as the lunch/dinner menus. We consulted our fantastic waiter, Uri for his recommendations. Rather than the couple of dim sum dishes to start that we’d planned, he recommended the Wild Platter of dumplings for maximum sampling. He was right.

The platter included four steamed and four fried dim sum with accompanying black vinegar and soy sauce and was ideal for two people. The meat (pork, chicken) and seafood (prawn, scallop) versions were flavour-packed and moreish, while the mushroom ones were a bit more timid on the taste front. The steamed dim sum were incredibly pretty, a couple with pastel pink and green skins, however, the colourful skins were a bit thicker than the non-coloured dumplings making them a bit heavy.

A sweet and sour pork dish with tart pomegranate and sweet pineapple was excellent and accompanied by lots of ‘oohing’ as was a punchy Sanpei chicken with sweet basil, spring onion, a warm hit of chilli and Shaoxing wine. We scooped up every last dribble of sauce from both dishes with jasmine rice. Really delicious.

Despite the pastry chef not being in the kitchen on the day we visited, the chef rustled up a gorgeous mango mousse-like dessert with grapefruit and an intense mango sorbet on the side. It was the perfect zingy palate cleanser.

We left feeling like Lulu Wild definitely lives up to its bouji vibe – an all-rounder with substance as well as style and a fantastic addition to Brum.

Mexican street food has seen a resurgence in in popularity over the last few years which has seen a number of pretty ordinary eateries popping up trying to cash in on the fad. So how do you sort out the wheat from the chaff? Well social media has gone mad for one compact Jewellery Quarter restaurant, so we thought we’d better pop along and see what the fuss was all about.

Tierra Tacos has been masterminded by the people behind Tiger Bites Pig so expectations were high.  Firstly, it’s probably worth noting that it was so compact, we managed to walk past the restaurant twice, such is its modesty. But my goodness we’re glad we persevered. Once inside, the modesty continued. Pale green tiles, the odd plant, simple furniture and paper menus are the order of the day.

The menu is mouth-watering. We could have grazed our way through most of it given an afternoon off, but deadlines schmeadlines… you know how it is! We ordered a couple of small plates and two versions of tacos. Scorched Padron peppers with chipotle sea salt were a great start and things got even better from there. I’ve never rated black beans, but it turns out I’ve just not done them right. Tierra’s frijoles were smoky, rich, slow cooked and topped with crumbled Lancashire cheese and bags of coriander served with a bowl of totopos (tortilla chips) to scoop up the black stuff. Superb.

Onto the tacos all of them hand pressed corn tortillas with various inventive toppings. The pork carnitas hit the spot – succulent slow roast pork served with red cabbage, pickled onions, caramelised mezcal pineapple, pumpkin seeds and coriander. That sounds like a lot of ingredients that might be fighting with one another, but the flavours were balanced brilliantly. Beef barbacoa – oak smoked brisket with diced onion, pickled white cabbage and coriander again tasted superb. A word to the wise – if you don’t like coriander, it’s probably worth mentioning. We love it, so it wasn’t an issue, but there was a fair bit.

We were bowled over by the food, but the price delighted too. One portion of tacos – you get two per portion – costs £7. Our entire lunch bill for two including a couple of beers was just over £30. You’d be hard pushed to enjoy even an average meal for that, let alone one as brilliant and accomplished as this. It might look casual, but someone has thought through every tiny detail. Go.

Firstly, the historic building the restaurant is housed in is as cute as a button – all wonky angles, beams and low ceilings. Secondly, the owners have been hit with a double whammy of setbacks – the opening date was set to be in the heart of lockdown number… ah forget it, who’s counting at this point? Then when the restaurant did finally open it flooded while full of diners and the chef had to carry customers out into the soggy street. Cue a lengthy and expensive clean-up. It’s been a rough trot, but happily they’re open and busy. It took three attempts to book a table. Don’t they know who we are?

The vibe is rustic and cosy and the staff are all smiley and welcoming with, my mother-in-law noted, ‘amazing teeth, American teeth’ whatever that means. Some of the staff are new and there were a few nerves, but thoroughly charming. From an extensive wine list we chose to slurp a delicious mid-priced Gavi. We feasted on punchy bruschetta – one with tomatoes, black olives and bags of basil and the other, rich with a mixture of mushroom and ricotta baked in the oven. We followed that with melt-in-the-mouth slow cooked duck ragu tagliatelle and a winning carbonara that tasted fresh and authentic with a generous amount of smoky pancetta and a good thwack of black pepper. Dessert consisted of more alcohol.

With hospitality still striving to get back to some form of pre-pandemic normality, this homely family-run place gave us hope and warmed the cockles. Of course, that could have been the grappa…

We give you LA-Pop. Alright, we’re late to the party, but ‘better late than never’ has never been more apt. Essentially LA-Pop involves assembling your dream bespoke gelato-based lolly. It’s a thrilling process and not one to be rushed. The first step is choosing the base gelato lolly from flavours ranging from Just Milk and Chocolate to more inventive tastes like Amarena Cherry and Strawberry Mojito Sorbet.

Then you choose your dip which is pimped-up liquid chocolate Willy Wonka would be proud of – the Strawberry Chocolate was a particular highlight. Then you add up to three toppings which is harder than it sounds. Narrowing 15 down to three is nigh on impossible – crushed Lotus Biscoff, honeycomb, caramel crunch, fudge… decisions, decisions. Then the final flourish is a drizzle of more of the liquid chocolate.

It was absolutely superb and a lot of fun. The people behind LA-Pop really care about what they’re doing from sourcing the best machinery to top notch milk for the gelato, resulting in a product of the highest quality and more importantly, it tastes delicious and feels like a real treat.

If gelato’s not your thing, there are chocolate-dipped strawberries, cheesecake dipped in chocolate (Cheesecake Pops), milkshakes and an impressive menu of coffee and loose-leaf tea. Our only mild criticism was the wait – the queue was about 20 deep when we visited, however, it was one of the hottest days of the year and well worth the wait, so don’t be put off if there’s a gaggle of gelato fans spilling onto the pavement. There’s a reason people wait. It’s a ‘if you know, you know’ scenario.

Grunting has now resumed…

The mezze menu was the place we felt most at home with lots of small plates to share. If you’re vegetarian this is your best bet too. There’s one veggie dish on the Greek grill menu in among the meat-led list, but there’s more than enough mezze to keep you happy.

The menu recommends three mezze dishes for two people but we went for eight between four because we’re indecisive and we were a bit hangry. We opted for Spanokopita – feta, spinach, filo pastry. We’ve only had this in big pie form previously, but these were small cigar-shaped mouthfuls that were delicious. As were the Kolokythokeftedes – courgette fritters with a feta centre, slightly greasy, but the flavour was tip-top.

Soutzoukakia – fragrant meatballs with a rich tomato sauce weren’t our jam. There was nothing wrong with them, just packed with cinnamon or similar which didn’t do it for us. Hummus was a winner and a very generous portion as was the tzatziki. We hung onto both to dunk our mains into they were so good. Falafel was a crowd-pleaser served with a gorgeous smoky dip and crisp calamari with a sort of tartare sauce was probably the stand-out dish.

We went full-on meat for the main, but ordered two between four of us as they sounded pretty hefty. We were right. The Mixed Grill consisted of beautifully charred chicken and pork souvlaki, flavour-packed loukaniko sausage and halloumi all grilled over charcoal with a side salad and oregano fries. The fries were crunchy fat chips minus the oregano as far as we could tell, but regardless they were absolutely super.

The Sheftalia was Cypriot minced pork and lamb sausage served with pitta and oregano fries. The sausage was moist, herby and seriously tasty. There was no pitta with it, but we didn’t grumble as we really couldn’t eat another morsel. We also ordered a Greek salad which never arrived, but again, we didn’t need it. I’m sure a gentle nudge and the waiter would have brought it no bother.

Mythos is ideal for an early pre-theatre supper spot or for a long, lazy candlelight dinner. Lunch was great, but we reckon the vibe in the evening would be even better. Don’t expect slick, but do expect big rustic flavours with character.

When we visited, Covid restrictions meant takeaway was the only option which killed the vibe a bit. We wanted a table laden with delicious meze but settled for balancing boxes of the good stuff on our knees parked up by Digbeth Funfair. Classy. Despite the dashboard picnic, the food tasted great. There are plenty of meze dishes to play with featuring all the usual suspects including a winning tzatziki. Then there are three options: The Box, The Wrap and The Salad Box.

We ordered The Box (£9). You get a sizeable box filled with Greek salad plus an absolute gem of a minted slaw, skin on fries, superb freshly cooked flat bread and a choice of protein including souvlaki, kalamari, beef kofta, a spiced sausage with leeks and veggie options halloumi, falafel or courgette and feta balls. We tried the pork souvlaki which was pretty good and added a portion of courgette and feta balls on the side which proved absolutely the star of the show. Crispy crumbed balls filled with gooey, salty creamy feta. We argued over the last one and normally we’re reasonably polite.

We also tried The Wrap filled with moreish rich lamb kleftiko and the same trimmings as The Box. In truth we can’t see much difference between The Box and The Salad Box, so didn’t duplicate. The wrap was awesome but like The Box it came with an unnecessary handful of fries. Having said that, the halloumi fries were delicious served with a mayo dip that had a subtle hint of curry flavour running through it. Really good.

By the time you read this, restrictions should have been lifted and you’ll be able to eat inside which will make a big difference here. It’s the kind of hearty flavoursome food ideal for sharing that’s best enjoyed round a table with a crowd. Our advice would be to ditch the fries and order extra courgette and feta balls – lots of them!

We tried a curry box for four people and while we’ve hearty appetites at Brum Living Towers we reckon it would’ve fed eight of us comfortably. In the interests of this review, we cooked everything in one go, but realistically you could hold back a few dishes for another day. Cooking is essentially a heat-up and assembly job although we recommend holding off the gin until you’ve nailed the timings. We may have cremated the mini poppadoms.

Butter chicken is our go-to curry and the Simla version was beautifully rich and deep. Mopping up the moreish sauce with warm Malabari paratha was heaven. Tandoori Palak Chicken was a fresh vivid green packed with spinach with a fistful of coriander. Lamb Bhuna hit the spot – a squeeze of lemon to cut through the richness worked a treat, while Paneer Jalfrezi was the punchiest dish of the bunch. There was a flavour-packed Dal finished with chilli oil and a fish curry – Machar-Jhol that was delicious and a bit different. Fish fillets were cooked quickly in a hot oven and served with a traditional Bengali curry sauce. Really good.

We could have fed the whole street with the amount of rice provided. Then there were wholewheat chapatis and paratha, achari aloo gobi, raita and chutney which would have been great with the poppadoms. It was a real feast.

While the instructions were a doddle, we managed to use at least one pan per dish, so there was a bit more clearing up to do than with other boxes we’ve tried. The at-home menu changes every couple of weeks and prices start at £35 for two people.

Festen bill themselves as ‘no fuss’ despite having honed their craft at the likes of Simpsons and the Ritz, and we agree. This was the easiest, least messy – we didn’t use a single pan – and most reasonably priced food we’ve enjoyed in lockdown and more importantly, it was blooming delicious.

We’ve had some at-home boxes that have been unnecessarily plastic heavy, but the Festen packaging was minimal. Paper bag, foil trays with cardboard tops and a modest compostable plastic tub for the pud. Two courses costs £9 and no, that’s not a typo. Due to our moronic view that you always get what you pay for, expectations were of decent home cooked grub that, with prices like this, we might as well try.

Everything went in the oven at the same temperature at varying times with all but one dish cooked in their foil containers. Rolled pork with a tonne of herbs, capers and lemon made the kitchen smell incredible. It was rich, tender, melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous. We ordered sides of roast potatoes and spring veg to go with the pork. These cost extra, but still a snip. The roast potatoes were so perfect that we toyed with the idea of ordering a big batch for Easter Sunday before accepting it was probably a bit lazy. We’re still regretting it.

Chicken a la Festen looked simple and tasted anything but. Essentially a chicken breast with bacon, a crunchy breadcrumb topping and spring veg (sweet peas, baby onions and asparagus) the flavours were seriously pleasing. It was smoky, sweet, herby and perfectly cooked. We’re rubbish at cooking chicken breasts but can confirm if you follow the instructions this turns out superbly.

Cheesecake wasn’t your average cheesecake either. We couldn’t get it out of its container neatly, so ate it straight from the pot. The crunch came from a crisp kadair pastry and almonds on top of the moreish creamy mixture rather than a biscuit base. Flavours of almond, citrus and mint were just fresh and dreamy.

You can order wine with your meal – we didn’t as we seem to have stockpiled, but the selection is well worth a look. In terms of keeping up to speed with Festen menus, your best bet is to sign up to the mailing list then you’ll receive a menu each Saturday for delivery the following Friday. Delivery is free to a handful of Birmingham postcodes. Check the website for details.

We’d happily do this one again and again. Sorry – we blame lockdown fatigue.

With restaurants in Leamington Spa and Rugby, Libertine is the brainchild of Charles Harris, the man behind some of the region’s best gastropubs like the Stag at Offchurch and Moorings at Myton among others. We’ve never eaten a burger in any of them, but the Libertine website had us salivating, so we went all in.

We ordered #004 for four people which is signature beef patty made with a combo of Aubrey Allen flank, chuck and brisket, sesame seed brioche buns, crispy bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard and pickles. It all came cool packed with detailed instructions and very cute branded squeezy bottles American diner style for the ketchup and mustard.

We ordered sides of Tater Tots – little new potatoes roasted until golden and topped with an incredible cheesy sauce and bacon bits. We also tried a punchy chilli version which came with a top-notch chimichurri. While they were seriously delicious, the burger was the main event.

Little details like lightly toasting the bun, the precise cooking instructions (four minutes either side) which left the patty pink in the middle, the way you put the lid of the bun on top of the patty, cheese and bacon in the pan, so it becomes part of the burger rather than perching on top makes all the difference. There was a lot of slurping and ‘ooh that’s really good’ on repeat from all corners of the table. While it’s not dignified or probably that good for you snaffled too often, crumbs it’s a bloomin’ delight.

We over ordered as is our wont and probably one portion of sides would have been enough for four, but that’s it, the only criticism we have. We spent less than we would have at Five Guys and it was in another league, no galaxy, neigh universe.

(Oh, and if there’s an At Home review in the next issue we’ll run naked down Digbeth High Street…)

We’ve tried to support as many as we can since spring and this month it’s former head chef of Adam’s, Tom Shepherd.

Although Tom’s planning to open his own restaurant it’s been delayed due to Covid-19, so in the meantime he’s producing At Home boxes partnered with Sauce Supper Club which has been so successful it will continue into the new year.

One thing we’ve noticed with all the boxes we’ve tried is that concise instructions matter and these were the clearest we’ve had. The starter – confit turkey terrine pressed with pistachios and sage stuffing – literally involved taking it out of the fridge 45 minutes before serving and plating up with all the accompaniments.

Rich, tender and packed with Christmas flavours, the terrine was excellent, cranberry ketchup was punchy and a salad of green beans and crunchy sprouts with a truffle vinaigrette provided a bit of bite and added freshness. Mini loaves warmed through in the oven were the perfect wing man to the terrine, although we’ll admit we swapped the whipped Marmite butter provided for good old Lurpak. Heathens.

Up next was slow cooked rib of beef, smoked potato puree, swede fondant, hispi cabbage with chestnut butter and honey glazed carrot. There was a bit more faffing with this, but not much at all. A quick searing for the beef and root veggies in a pan plus a 10-minute blast in the oven with the cabbage. Sauce on the hob and potato puree in the microwave and voila.

The beef was tender and falling apart, the veggies were tip-top and the sauce was superb. If we’re being picky, the smoked potato puree was so intensely smoky it was a bit much for our taste, but that’s personal. Sticky toffee pudding was an absolute dream. Served with rum soaked raisins, butterscotch sauce and clotted cream ice cream it was seriously melt in the mouth moreish.

No one’s pretending it’s the same as going out, but it is the very next best thing. Apart from the food being superb, it encourages you to wheel out the best china, splash out on a beautiful bottle of wine (or two) and make an effort.

The savoury nibbles were plentiful. There was a punchy Bombay mix, delicious herby miniature Yorkshire puddings, a turkey samosa that was seriously tasty, crisp all-the-trimmings pakoras, moreish meaty three bird kebab and winning mini masala roast potatoes all with a yogurt mint dip, stuffing mix, cranberry chutney and a spicy gravy. There were no instructions in the package, but as we didn’t eat it straight away we warmed everything in the oven to crisp up except the accompanying sauces and Bombay mix.

Sweet treats included mini mince pies, festive pistachio and cranberry cookies, Baileys barfi which was a bit like a smooth truffle and our favourite, Terry’s chocolate orange cheesecake. Mulled wine tea tasted like Christmas in a cup as well as masala chai and masala coffee chai which didn’t go down quite so well.

The whole thing felt like a real stress-free tasty treat which the little people and big loved equally. There was more than enough for four people and we would definitely recommend if you’re looking for something a bit different in the run up to Christmas or beyond – online orders run up until New Year’s Eve. Yes, there’s turkey involved, but not in its usual festive form, so there’s no danger of turkey overload. Veggie and vegan versions are available too.

We’ve tried going out, but we’re almost always disappointed because we are such creatures of habit. Cue cries of ‘it’s just not the same’ which is both flattering and slightly annoying because let’s face it, the mighty roast is a bit of a faff.

We all have a different idea of what makes the perfect roast and generally, it seems largely based on nostalgia rather than brilliant cooking. Each family has its own take on the classic meal whether that’s thick gravy you can stand your spoon up in versus more of a jus or cauliflower cheese versus leeks. It’s personal, but in the middle of the second lockdown we branched out and ordered one of Aktar Islam’s roasts.

Pick up day was a Thursday (nationwide delivery is available too), so the main challenge was waiting until Sunday while a beautiful looking piece of beef (Argentinian sirloin) and all the trimmings lay temptingly in the fridge. There was a loaf in the package, which felt a bit random. We warmed it through in the oven and snaffled it immediately with hefty slabs of butter and cheese. Delicious.

We’ve prepared a few at home meals in 2020 and this was one of the easiest. There were a couple of typos, such as stages repeated in the instructions, but with half a brain, you’ll work it out. Everything was vac packed and all accompaniments literally needed decanting and heating up. The beef needed minimal faffing – searing in a very hot skillet pan and transferring to the oven for 10 minutes gave us rare tender meat. Roasties had been pre-cooked, so they just needed a blast in the oven which resulted in crisp, fluffy, damn near perfect tatties.

The highlight was probably the truffled cauliflower cheese which came with a garlic-packed crunchy crumb to sprinkle on top which took it to the next level. The carrots were buttery and flavour-packed and probably some of the best we’ve eaten. The creamed cabbage didn’t go down too well. The mustardy flavour was nice, but it was just a bit crunchy and slaw-like which was too much of a leap for us. Yorkies were as big as saucers and perfect vehicles for the rich moreish bone marrow and Malbec gravy. Portions were really generous. One kilo of beef meant we had plenty left over for sandwiches the next day.

Would we do it again? Yes probably. At £60 with more than enough food for four it was pretty reasonable. If you bought a top notch cut of beef plus all the ingredients to cook at home from scratch, you’d be hard pushed to do it for less and more than that, the effort required and mess generated was practically none.

We’d been wowed by the Sunday lunch at Bistrot Pierre previously, so expected good things from dinner. First things first, Covid shenanigans were top notch with hand gel, masked staff, easy online inputting of tracing details, well-spaced tables and Perspex screens. Depressing, but reassuring.

The oh-so-trendy small plate scenario was out in force and at £11 for three plates we went in hard. Chunky homemade humous was so damn fine we resorted to using a finger to polish off the lot while a Croque Monsieur croquette was comfort food at its best – gooey cheese, ham, mustard, breadcrumbs – the stuff of dreams. Punchy mini chorizo all sticky with sweet honey hit the spot beautifully and in truth, we should have ordered more.

From here on in we went for classic French bistro fodder with steak frites doing the job brilliantly. Seared bavette cooked pink, served with crunchy salty chips – there is nothing not to love about that.

Bistrot Pierre has been serving boeuf bourguignon for 25 years, so it would have been rude not to. Warming, tender, rich it was seriously good. The mash was of the smooth cheffy sort that’s impossible to recreate properly at home – and yes we have a ricer – while sweet roasted carrots were the cherry on the cake. We didn’t sample dessert this time but highly recommend the crepes based on our last trip.

We reckon French classics are the way to go here. It’s not fine dining – the clue’s in the name – but it’s a good place to be. Tried and tested tasty dishes are done really well and the vibe is relaxed and happy even with the Covid measures.

We have the Dishoom ‘cookbook’ at home – we say cookbook, but it’s more than that. It’s a brilliantly evocative guide to Bombay and generally the best vehicle for pushing tourism to India we’ve seen. The photography is incredible and makes us want to hop on a plane immediately. Oh wait! Damn pandemic…

Anyway, with hospitality opening up, we did the next best thing and popped off to check out the restaurant. Firstly, we loved the interior. Despite being housed in the squeaky clean, brand new One Chamberlain Square, the clever sticks at Dishoom have created a restaurant that feels aged and character-packed paying homage to Bombay’s Swadeshi market. It’s a vast space – good for social distancing – and most tables were filled which warmed the cockles. We really wanted this to be a success and first impressions were massively pleasing. Obviously, there were hand sanitiser shenanigans, but we’re used to that now.

The menu is storming. We had a wonderfully enthusiastic waitress who talked us through it. Drinks are inventive – alcoholic and non. There’s good old Kingfisher if that’s your thing, but it’s well worth sampling the Virtuous Tulsi Sour – like a non-alcoholic whiskey sour with ginger, lemon and secret botanicals (we’d tell you if we knew) or the East India Gimlet for gin lovers. Glassware is gorgeous and the metal water jugs are dreamy. It’s all in the details.

The smells from the kitchen seriously got us salivating. We haven’t space to talk you through everything we ate, so we’ve picked our top three. If you only eat one thing go for the Keema Pau which didn’t look much, but tasted incredible. Warming spiced lamb mince with chilli, ginger, coriander, mint, bay, garlic, onion and more served with the softest rolls either for mopping or piling the meat in and eating like a sandwich. Honestly, beautiful.

If you eat two things, we’d add in the chicken Ruby – one of the best curries we have ever eaten. I guess most similar to butter chicken, but with a makhani sauce. Rich, perfectly spiced, loads of sauce, tender charred meat… it was the dream. If you eat three things try the House Black Daal. So moreish, we loved the depth of the sauce and could eat this on the daily. We’ve looked at recreating it at home but realised we’d have to give up a significant chunk of the weekend, so we’ll happily be leaving it to the experts.

We reckon Dishoom will quickly become one of our regulars and while Birmingham isn’t short of Indian restaurants, this is different and inventive and only enhances the food scene.

If you’ve ever watched Bake Off The Professionals, opening the unassuming white box to reveal the stunning morsels inside was a bit like that, minus the high drama and expletives. We might have eaten them as though we were judging BOTP style mind you. Picture Benoit Blin only from Smethwick.

We’re not pastry chefs, but even we could appreciate the talent and effort that had gone into each intricate dessert. They were genuinely like a work of art and so colourful. The vivid green of the pistachio éclair was something else and tasted absolutely dreamy. The smoothest creme pat through the centre, beautiful crisp choux and a sweet hit of icing was just stunning.

A mango and roasted hazelnut gateaux stood proudly displaying a canary yellow coating sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts. Slicing into it was guilt inducing, but worth it. The layers inside looked technically impossible yet there they were winking at us. The textures were bang on with the smoothness tempered with crunchy nuts and fruity mango cutting through the sweetness.

Up next, triple chocolate petit gateaux. A classy chocolate fest that wowed the crowd. Then came a peanut butter and blackcurrant slice. Admittedly this doesn’t sound great on paper, particularly if you think peanut butter is the work of Satan, however it tasted brilliant. It was like a touch of old school Black Forest gateaux finessed wonderfully.

Chef Bharat Chandegra took part in Bake Off The Professionals in 2018, so he really knows his stuff. Out of a box of four, there were only winners. All of them were super special and felt like a real treat. The selection varies from week to week.

Gaucho is probably our fourth or fifth meal out since restrictions lifted, so we were pretty relaxed about being out and about. The restaurant was on the ball with contact forms and hand sanitising on arrival, but once that was done we could almost forget about it. Although tables were appropriately spaced, it didn’t kill the vibe. Almost every table was full and according to our waitress, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme had made a real difference to the early part of the week. The staff seemed as happy as we were to be back.

The last time I ate at Gaucho, it was as a pescatarian and it was brilliant even without sampling the restaurant’s famed steak. This time was all about the meat via some moreish warm cheesy rolls, corn bread and a beautifully balanced dish of perfectly cooked scallops with a silky cauliflower puree and delicious, tangy pickled cauliflower and some tasty lamb empanadas.

Then the beef. Our waitress talked us through the different cuts of which there are eight plus a chateaubriand for sharing, all from Black Angus cattle raised chomping their way through umpteen types of grass on the Pampas. We plumped for sirloin with bearnaise sauce and a ribeye with chimichurri.

The ribeye was one of the best steaks we’ve ever eaten. Ever. Marbled with fat, it was packed with flavour and tasted like beef straight from the top Argentinian drawer. The punchy herb-filled chimichurri enhanced it brilliantly. The sirloin was wonderfully charred on the outside and pink inside and was all kinds of lip-smackingly good with a dreamy bearnaise sauce. We recommend not sharing a pot of chips. They are so damn good, you’ll definitely want your own.

A word to the wise – even the restaurant’s small steaks (300g) are really generous and we honestly couldn’t have managed any more. A Journey’s End Chardonnay slipped down nicely from a wine list that’s well put together, featuring some fine Argentinian varieties as you’d expect. The restaurant isn’t cheap even with the PM’s scheme, but sometimes/often you get what you pay for and Gaucho feels just that.

Finally… while we’re sure our readers are far too classy to pull a no-show, here’s a friendly reminder that if you’re making a booking anywhere in the city please either honour it and enjoy or phone ahead and cancel. Don’t be that person!

For the record, we miss Simpsons a lot. Any occasion, any excuse and you’ll find us enthusiastically tearing into a warm tapenade roll. We missed out on the sell out first week of their At Home service, but got in quick for week two choosing the classic menu. There’s a lighter summer menu and a veggie option too.

The menu was three-courses plus the beloved tapenade rolls which we promised our children they could have – a decision we regretted it immediately. Word to the wise – you can order extra.

First up was halloumi, heritage tomatoes and green salad with a tomato dressing. All the prep had been done by the chefs in the kitchen i.e. Heritage tomatoes had been freed from their skin and the tomato dressing was a punchy, tangy little number that we wouldn’t have known how to create at home. Aside from grilling the halloumi, it was an assembly job and totally delicious. The ingredients were ones we use at home all the time, never achieving these results and I guess that’s the point.

Next up to the pass (our battered worktop) was lamb shank, cracked wheat with pine nuts, mint and pomegranate seeds, sauce and broccoli. The lamb shank came pre-cooked and was a doddle to reheat in the oven. Cracked wheat, broccoli and sauce all needed a gentle reheat. The lamb was so tender it fell off the bone, the cracked wheat which never normally gets us salivating was actually full of flavour with zingy mint and bursts of sweet pomegranate. Broccoli was broccoli. We eat it everyday and can’t get too excited about it. The rich lamb sauce with chucks of apricot on the other hand was incredible. We also followed the chef’s tip on the instruction card which was to brush the lamb with honey. Lovely.

Luckily, dessert was a simple assembly job again as we’d had a couple of drinks! Meringue, vanilla cream and strawberries in a light fruity elderflower and strawberry coulis. What’s not to love?

Would we do it again? Absolutely. Apart from anything else it felt like an occasion. We wheeled out the best china, lit some candles and got into a going out mind set. We felt a bit of pressure – not because it’s difficult, it’s not – but because we didn’t want to mess it up. We advise watching head chef, Leo’s how to video. It’s not like being in a restaurant – there’s washing up for a start – but it was obviously miles better than anything we could rustle up at home and made for a really fun special evening. In lockdown, that’s winning.

Cost: Three courses from £39 pp.

When: Order on Monday morning for delivery the following Fri/Sat.

It’s been so successful that owner James says they are contemplating making the service a permanent fixture. There’s also a feel-good element to it as for every POW box delivered, the restaurant sends a meal to someone in need.

All of the elements of the meal arrived in a box cooled by the same system as Simpsons, WoolCool who are presumably doing all right out of lockdown. The pots of ingredients were colour-coded so separating them into courses was simple and the instruction card was comprehensive. There’s a cook-a-long video available too. You can order wine as an extra, but since, thanks to lockdown, we’re on first name terms with our wine merchant there was no need, but there’s a good selection if you fancy.

A little loaf of Polish bread warmed through in the oven was fantastic and there was even a pot of cultured butter which was a nice touch. The starter was entirely free from any cooking – the hard work had definitely happened in the restaurant, so it just required plating up. Cured salmon topped with a crunchy crumb served with smoky charred cucumber and a dressing of spring onion oil and buttermilk looked restaurant pretty if we do say so ourselves and tasted fantastic. Smoky, rich flavours and the richness of the salmon contrasted with the freshness of the dressing.

The main course was easy-peasy too and just needed a bit of reheating and assembly – lamb with confit tomatoes, a tangy tomato compote, punchy sauce and couscous with a tomato and basil oil. The lamb was melt-in-the-mouth superb with a sauce so packed with flavour it was like kitchen wizardry and the confit and the compote of tomatoes were packed with a terrific tang. Overall, it was a cracker of a dish served in or out of a restaurant.

Dessert was dreamy – chocolate, cream, caramel, biscuit. Ta da. Our lack of chef skills meant we couldn’t make it look pretty, but it tasted brilliant. The caramel sauce gave it a burnt edge in a good way that balanced out the sweet richness.

For a meal prepared at home it felt really fancy. There’s no escaping the fact that clearing up crushes the restaurant vibe a bit, but there’s no way around that. We’d happily do it again – in which case the restaurant will reuse your box and packaging so don’t throw it away. Keep your eye out for each week’s menu being released and get in there quick. It’s a ‘fastest finger first’ scenario or even better, register on the website for prompt notifications. They sell out quickly, so that’s your best bet.

Cost: Three courses from £36 pp. Minimum order £50

When: Order by Monday for the following Fri/Sat delivery

A glass of Ruinart in the conservatory perked us up even if the room temperature was hotter than the sun. Menopausal? Never. Nibbles of cream cheese grugere and miniature salmon and dill tarts were just what the doctor ordered.

The dining room was more temperate than the conservatory and while the menu was small and succinct it was pleasing – unless you’re vegetarian. Then you’d be forgiven for being a bit underwhelmed. Surprising given the trend for a meat-free or at least a flexitarian lifestyle. ‘Could do better’ would be on the report card.

An amuse bouche of leek and potato velouté with little puffed up potato bits was really delicious followed by rich dressed crab with tangy apple, chive and celeriac which was a perfectly balanced triumph. Slow braised blade of beef was melt-in-the-mouth tender with a rich jus that made our day. The smoothest mash and Roscoff onions (are there any other sort these days?) finished off the dish so beautifully we almost forgot about the big Five-O.

Dark chocolate delice which we’ve eaten approximately eight times before never ever disappoints. Rich, unctuous, not too sweet and indulgently chocolatey. What is not to love? A pot of peppermint tea and petit fours set us on our merry way home. Fifty might not be so bad after all…

The clever sticks running the relaunch welcomed us with a build-your-own gin and tonic station which was fun. Hicc! This was the media launch, so while it’s not a regular feature, the bar’s well stocked and wine list superb.

The menu was a bit of mash up of genres – quite a few Asian-inspired dishes alongside pub classics and Mediterranean vibes which bamboozled us slightly. We plumped for some Asian flavours to kick off. We liked the miso aubergine bao buns a lot which came with a hefty hit of red chilli and a mango and spring onion salsa on the side. Massaman chicken skewers were tasty and all the familiar spice and nutty notes were there, but we didn’t much care for the tzatziki on the side.

A sea bass fillet was delicious served with a tangy tomato and lemon aioli, new potatoes, samphire and spinach. The charred octopus tentacle balancing on top didn’t add much apart from a bit of smoke. Sticky glazed pork belly was probably our favourite dish – soft, unctuous, sweet meat with satisfyingly crisp crackling served with roasted butternut squash, cavolo nero, creamed corn, mash potatoes and a red wine jus.

A lemon meringue flamed Alaska was super sweet in a good way, but the portion was huge. There are mini versions of desserts served with coffee which a bit more modest. The mini crème brulee was perfect.

There was probably something on every dish we sampled that you could have removed which would have either improved the plate or we wouldn’t have noticed. Less is more sometimes. Having said that, the food was on the whole great, the service was excellent despite being very new and we loved the vibe of the place.

For a start, the interior is a joy with colourful prints, patterned crockery and a lively vibe. There’s a confidence in Indico’s rustic menu featuring snippets of information about the food’s origins in the Punjab region. The emphasis on street food means there’s a relaxed bustling atmosphere, an open kitchen, speedy efficient service and minimum fuss – you’ll find knives and forks in colourful teapots on tables.

We sampled Punjabi samosa chaat with a spicy veggie filling served on top of moreish chickpeas and a sweet chutney followed by chilli chicken – moist pieces of breast in a fiery sticky sauce with salad – one of the stand-out dishes.

There were many parts of the menu that appealed including a tandoor section, Tawa rolls which are essentially wraps made with traditional paratha, burgers – the Dirty Malai sounds like a winner – as well as curries, obviously. In the interest of trying lots of things we opted for a Thali – a meze of sorts with lots of small dishes to sample.

Without the starters, the Thalis would be ideal for one person. We shared the chef’s special Thali between two given we’d already been tucking in. The thali consisted of poppadoms with all the trimmings, delicious pakora, rich daal makhani (lentils), makai palak (spinach), rice, a top-notch naan and a choice of two curries – we went for butter chicken and lamb rogan josh. It sounds like a lot of food, but with a small bowl of each it was perfect.

The lamb and chicken curries were seriously tasty while the daal makhani could have had a bit more spice for us, the makai palak which we’d never tried before complemented all the other dishes and all the accompaniments were just fantastic.

Don’t go expecting fine dining, it’s reasonably priced – very reasonable actually – and packed to its attractive rafters with flavour.

After much deliberation we plonked our tired behinds down in Piccolino for a bowl of pasta. ‘That’ll do,’ we thought. Nothing like carbs and a glass of vino (me not the kids) to improve the outlook. It turns out we frequent Piccolino so infrequently we’d forgotten how much we actually rate it. For a start, the lighting is ever-so flattering. Regardless of how harangued and haggard you might feel everyone looks attractive. I feel a filter called Piccolino Brindleyplace coming on.

Round tables with banquette seating run the length of the room is conducive to having a good time as was the plentiful selection of bread that included a punchy basil pesto for dipping flatbread, grissini, garlic and rosemary focaccia and ciabatta. A crowd-pleaser of considerable proportions. Giant green olives disappeared pronto in a blur of little hands stabbing at them with gay abandon. One of their five a day at least.

The kids went for more dough in the form of margherita pizzas. We snaffled a slice and can confirm it was properly delicious. A bit big for people who’d already devoured a fair amount of pane, but really great. Ravioli di zucca was another level of satisfying. The thinnest of pasta pillows with perfect bed-mates; butternut squash, sage butter, pecorino and walnuts. Some might say it was a bit heavy on the oil/butter, but not me. It was superb. You know when food tastes like people care about ingredients? That.

The mother-in-law wasn’t so blown away by risotto al funghi, but the main complaint was the size of the mushrooms – too big apparently – rather than the flavour. That was all there. Trofiette con pollo – pasta with chicken, pecorino cream and pine nuts – pleased the other half a lot and prompted him to declare ‘we’ll be coming here more often’. What began as an entirely necessary pitstop turned into an unexpected pleasure. The waiter was slightly grumpy mind you, but we put this down to a post-Xmas slump that, let’s face it, we all felt.

Firstly, in true Malmaison style, the menu design is a winner and had us at first peek. Minimalist, chic and with great food photography, everything appealed. It wasn’t style over substance either. Full of inventive dishes as well as the classics, we were won over big time.

The only problem with top notch food photography is the pressure to make the dish in real life live up to that. We ordered a chicken satay and roasted squash noodle soup to start whose lip-smacking image featured on the menu and website. In reality, it looked like a different dish, however, it tasted unbelievable. Shredded chicken, toasted peanuts, coriander and spring onion served in a tasty broth was warming and moreish. A pot of red chilli paste/sauce served separately was seriously fiery, so we’d advise caution. Less is more. A small amount was enough for us adding a perfect amount of heat. Such a good dish.

A salt beef and confit pork terrine, with mushrooms a la grecque and burnt onion purée looked a treat. The accompaniments were better than the main event which, without the punchy purée would have been a bit bland, but maybe that’s the balance. Miso glazed short rib of beef fell off the bone and just melted served with a zingy carrot and orange purée and radish salad. We ordered triple-cooked fat chips as a side which were superb. The highlight was a crab & scallop risotto. With fresh white crab meat, crab bisque, samphire and pan seared scallops, this was a perfect risotto in our book. Far too big for one, but perfect.

Dessert was winking. A pineapple upside down cake with rum, caramel and coconut sorbet hit the spot nicely, while a sticky poached pear, raspberry and frangipane tart inspired much cooing. As well as the food, the cracking wine list deserves a nod as does the service which was attentive and knowledgeable. It’s also far enough from that market to pretend it’s not happening. We won’t leave it so long next time.

It was rammed and we hadn’t booked, but the staff couldn’t have been more charming. A table was rustled up and we ordered a round of lemonade for the kids and a carafe of excellent pinot grigio for the grown-ups. While the restaurant is large set out over numerous floors, the place is packed with enough character to feel cosy and warm. Views over the canal were pretty special too.

The menu is seriously good value at £15.95 for two courses. All the Sunday favourites featured along with some more off-piste dishes. The children are in that stage of being slightly too big for children’s menus but not quite managing grown up portions, however they devoured man-sized roast pork with all trimmings hungrily. It was utterly delicious with top-notch gravy.

There was a terrific pink 21-day aged rump steak with awesome crunchy fries, but the stand-out dish wasn’t your average Sunday lunch fodder – sea bass with creamy saffron curried mussels and samphire. Cooked to perfection and full of flavour, it was just beautiful.

Puds were all appealing but we went in hard with a gooey chocolate brownie with a warm chocolate sauce and salted caramel ice cream, a perfectly balanced tarte au citron and classic crème brûlée done blooming well.

It goes without saying that we were thoroughly impressed. We were probably lucky to bag a table, so would recommend booking rather than risk winging it like us.

A testament to its wide appeal, when we popped in there were groups of friends celebrating birthdays, a newborn baby sleeping in a buggy while its frazzled parents snatched some grown-up chat, ladies who lunch and suits taking a break from the office.

The menu was a big one that required a glass of pinot grigio to navigate. One of us plumped for the set menu (£22.95 for three courses), the other had the a la carte. There was lots that appealed on both.

Soup of the day – broccoli and asparagus – was a bit forgettable, while mushrooms with gorgonzola, herby breadcrumbs and truffle was anything but. Meaty, earthy and rich it was seriously delicious.

A lamb crown wasn’t quite what we expected. It was more like a Barnsley chop. Having said that the meat was very good and perfectly pink, but while the sauce looked like it was going to knock our socks off, it didn’t somehow.

Sea bass fillets were cooked beautifully served with a juicy prawn and a moreish crab ravioloni. The accompanying shellfish sauce had a gloopy texture that was a bit off-putting. It didn’t take away from the loveliness of the rest of the dish, it was just a bit odd.

An oozing scrumptious milk chocolate fondant was just perfect and everything we want from a pud and as you’d expect, the tiramisu was brilliant. Our lovely waitress declared that you can never leave an Italian restaurant without trying the tiramisu and she was right. Dreamy.

The positives outweighed the minor sauce-related blips and as well as being the kind of place we’d happily while away a few hours, it’s pretty good value, too.

Firstly, the salad bar – clear your mind of any negative connotations those two words might conjure up because we guarantee it’s nothing like that – was heaving with an inspiring collection of carefully curated dishes. Highlights were minted tabbouleh, Lancashire cheese with Brazilian spicing, fiery miniature red peppers, stunning cured meat, too many inventive salads to mention, punchy anchovies, we could go on.

We treated the salad bar like a starter, but realised that actually for the carnivore it should have been more of an accompaniment to the main event, indeed on the website it states, ‘sides bar’. It didn’t matter for us, but if you’re planning a trip it’s worth bearing in mind. The waiters brought out a staggered procession of skewered meat carved at the table including fillet mignon, minted lamb chump, chicken hearts and the highlight, honey and cinnamon pork collar which came highly recommended and lived up to the hype brilliantly plus lots more.

Diners control the pace at which the meat is served with a simple red and green card system. Green card means ‘yes please’, red means ‘I’m having a rest’. Simple, but effective. It’s a great way to try lots of different cuts that you might not necessarily order. There were too many for us to try comfortably, but what we sampled was all beautifully cooked. Red meat is served medium-medium rare as standard. If you want it differently, a nod to the staff would do the trick.

For the non-meat eater there was a corker of an a la carte menu including two vegan dishes which never felt like an afterthought. It was tricky to get the timing right to coincide the carnivore’s feast, but it worked. A 15-minute turn around for the kitchen was about right. For the purposes of the review we sampled two of the a la carte dishes, but one would definitely be enough.

A deliciously earthy black truffle and wild mushroom risotto impressed hugely. Very generous on the truffle and autumn vibes a plenty. Then a typical Brazilian moqueca. Essentially, it was a vegetable stew with coconut, but it was so rich and packed with flavour that it was elevated way beyond a humble peasant dish. The accompaniments were knock-out including more of the fiery mini peppers we’d enjoyed earlier, fried plantain, rice and a sort of grain/crumb that added texture and warmth to the dish. It was utterly delicious. Both were vegan.

There’s nothing not to like here in our book. The atmosphere was lively and relaxed, the food was ace and the service was pretty much perfect. A win whatever your culinary leanings.

Let’s be clear, I wouldn’t advise taking your toddlers. It’s not a colouring and crayons sort of gaff. It’s a Michelin-starred, classy – not stuffy – wonderful place to eat. A jewel in Brum’s culinary crown, no question. We thought the kids were big enough (11 and 12) and appreciative enough (fingers crossed) to enjoy it.

Even in classy restaurants the children’s menu can lack invention and attention, but here the kids were treated like customers not an afterthought. When the amuse-bouche arrived the kids were included which was a nice touch I hadn’t expected. Leek oil with lamb stock slurped from little cups and a crisp salty ham hock bon-bon with a sweet pea puree were both stunning and a great start.

All of the grown-up food was superb as always, so we’re focusing on the kids and this was the best children’s menu of any we’ve tried. A starter of crispy squid was crunchy, flavour-packed and beautifully served in a scallop shell. Number one absolutely loved it. Number two plumped for a little pot of unctuous, moreish macaroni cheese which was apparently even better than dad’s. High praise.

Both girls went for the same main course – not a fish finger in sight. Chicken breast with pomme puree, broccoli and chicken jus. Not just plonked on a plate, the pomme puree was piped and the perfect chicken breast was served with a little jug of delicious gravy which they both enjoyed enormously.

Dessert was a gorgeous Eton mess for one and a top-notch chocolate brownie for number two. Seriously what’s not to love? It was a massive success all round and the kids keep asking when we’ll be going to Simpsons again.

And in case you’re wondering… the restaurant didn’t know we were coming and we paid for our meal, so there was no special treatment ¬– except special at Simpsons seems pretty much standard whatever your age judging by this experience.

Firstly, the decor is one of the most Instagrammable in the city, up there with the Ivy and Tattu, and the staff are just perfect. Warm, helpful, happy and just the right amount of attentive.

We slurped iced fresh rose mint tea which was very sweet but delicious while we got to grips with the menu. Speaking of which, it’s extensive and there’s definitely something for everyone even for meat-free moi.

A mixed mezze platter seemed a good starting point although we realised we’d over-ordered pretty quickly as this was a meal in itself. A plate heaving with houmous, baba ghanuj, quinoa tabbouleh, falafel, lebna, cheese samboussek (think mini cheesy pasties), flatbread and pickles (cucumbers, fuchsia pink turnips marinated in beetroot juice and mild green chillies) appeared. It was brilliant. Granted I was more of a fan of the tabbouleh than the small people, but what do they know? It was packed with flavour, fresh herbs and a ton of your five a day. Loved it. Houmous and flatbread, falafel, baba ghanuj and lebna went down a treat with big and small people. The only weak link was the samboussek which had little or no filling. The kids improvised and used them as a vehicle to scoop up lebna into their hungry mouths.

If you’re a carnivore, I suspect the mixed grill and lamb dishes are tremendous and looking round the buzzing restaurant on a Monday lunchtime – yes buzzing on a Monday – it all looked cracking. I went for a spinach fatayer which was an enormous round pie essentially filled with spinach, feta, molasses, pine nuts and middle eastern spicing. I loved it although after the mezze feast it was a bit much. The accompanying fattoush salad was zingy, fresh and everything you want from a side dish. One of the rugrats ordered a harissa spiced chicken taouk burger which she enjoyed hugely. It was probably more spiced than she’s used to, but she devoured it. The Lebanese potatoes it came with were properly good – think roasties, but gently spiced. Number two ordered something pretty similar, chicken taouk wrap with marinated grilled chicken breast, garlic sauce, pickled cucumber and tomato which was really tasty. The flavours in every dish were big and the over-riding impression of the place, including the décor, was bold in the best possible way.

Dessert really wasn’t an option as we’d eaten our own body weight in tahini, however we took a box of baklava home for later which we thoroughly recommend. The fact the place was packed on a Monday lunchtime speaks volumes. We’ll be back.

New head chef, Harvey Perttola has come up with an a la carte menu that’s more affordable than the tasting menu and should work for time-conscious luncher or pre-theatre diner alike. Don’t worry, there’s still a tasting menu if that’s your jam.

Firstly, the nibbles were some of the best we’ve eaten anywhere in the city. What was billed as essentially a cheese and onion cracker was actually a bit mind-blowing while a zingy wagyu beef tartare enticed a pescatarian to eat red meat. A great start was cemented by warm malt and beer loaf which was super moreish with a rich hoppy flavour.

A starter of creamy burrata and flavour-packed heritage tomatoes would have been perfect if it wasn’t for the addition of strawberry and an elderflower gel. It felt a bit unnecessary. If it ain’t broke and all that.

Then came perfectly cooked monkfish served with smokey charred broccoli, fennel seeds and brown shrimp which was a delicate, pretty and seriously tasty plate of food. Lamb with sheep’s curd, pea puree and lamb bacon was all beautifully done. It would have been great if the lamb jus was richer and packed more of a punch, but it’s a minor gripe.

Chocolate and mint is clearly a winning combo, so we dived headlong into the Manjari chocolate and mint dessert. Textures of the sweet stuff including a mousse light as a feather, a fantastic mint ice cream and pieces of gooey brownie that had our name written all over them were properly dreamy.

We chatted to head chef Harvey who’s just 25 and found his enthusiasm infectious. He’s a proper Brummie, full of energy and ambition doing great things in the kitchen. Go and see.

The original part of the hotel is a stunner of a building surrounded by gorgeous gardens and woodland and while there are parts of the hotel that are still ripe for renovation, there’s much to admire already. Laura Ashley thought so too. The brand and the hotel have joined forces to create the shiny new, Laura Ashley the Tea Room which as you’d expect is decked out in full-on country house loveliness. There’s a fab new bar leading to the conservatory where we nestled in to give the afternoon tea the once over.

We love afternoon tea. Who doesn’t? And its surge in popularity shows no sign of waning. The Southcrest Manor version is a traditional afternoon tea. Don’t go expecting Nocturnal Animals-style wit and wackiness. While there was no liquid nitrogen or inventive drinking vessels, there were warm scones from the top drawer – both plain and raisin, a pistachio and raspberry gateaux that sang (not literally), perfect mini Victoria sponges, a delicate berry cheesecake and a moreish chocolate pot.

The sweet stuff was superior to the savoury in our view. The sandwiches were plentiful and tasty, but not wow-inducing and the smoked salmon to cream cheese ratio was a bit off – a bit mean with the salmon we thought. Presentation was gorgeous and the selection of tea was impressive. There’s a vegan version available too which is apparently even better than the non-vegan.

We’ve had afternoon tea that has been wildly over-priced in the past, but at £20 per head (£26.50 for fizz rather than tea) this was an absolute steal.

It is very ‘grammable’. But what of the food? We’d heard whispers that the modern Chinese fare was possibly more style than substance, so expectations weren’t sky high. The Summer ’19 menu explained by our lovely waiter Oli sounded superb.

There was an a la carte and dedicated lunch menu as well as five set menus ranging from £35 per person for the vegetarian version to £98 per person for what’s called the Emperor’s Choice. When we say set menu, wipe all thoughts of your average Chinese set menu out of your mind. This was nothing like any of those. Menu Two did it for us (£52 per person.)

Cocktails are big on the agenda. A Sweet Skulduggery, which is the non-alcoholic version of the restaurant’s popular smoking Skull Candy minus the vodka, tasted like a mocktail and not in a good way. Perfectly nice and we appreciated the theatre, but it was a bit too sweet.

The first wave (official Tattu term) of food came out from the kitchen looking intriguing. Lotus crisps coated in a sweet and sour mix of wondrous flavours were a bit of a revelation. Then came the charred Shishito peppers in a beautifully balanced ginger and soy dressing. Honestly, we’d have nibbled these beauties all day long.

Tender roast loin ribs falling off the bone were served in a sticky, flavour-packed sauce with yellow bean, kumquats and star anise. We fought over the last one which tells you all you need to know. Black cod wrapped in spinach leaves was delicate and fresh with sweet candied orange atop and orange ponzu for another bit of zing. Very nice.

Lotus leaf miso chicken appealed the least, however it turned out to be a winner. The chicken was unbelievably tender perhaps due to being wrapped in lotus leaf, served with a miso sauce and a fiery powder on the side to add some heat. Wagyu dumplings were dyed bright red from beetroot added to the pastry which we found a bit off-putting. They tasted great though.

Meaty chunks of monkfish in a light tempura batter with crispy shallots and lime was another triumph. Our least favourite fish before we tried this dish, we were converts. The lime on the side looked a bit sad mind you, like it might have been cut the day before. A minor blip.

While we’re not sure anyone ever described rice as the star of the show, the duck egg and sausage fried rice was pretty close. We swallowed our pride and asked for a fork such was our need to devour the entire bowl greedily.

Desserts were the least inventive part of the menu. Wontons filled with molten rich chocolate, with Szechuan strawberry and banana caramel dips were lovely and a white chocolate and citrus cheesecake with lime, matcha and strawberry divided opinion. I thought it was too heavy, the friend thought it was spot on.

In summary, we’ve found ourselves recommending it to anyone who’ll listen and have booked to go back next month. There’s no denying it’s pricey. We were treated, but we reckon we’d have been £120 all in. Bear in mind we had a mocktail each and no booze. Having said that, the food and service were right out of the top drawer and sometimes you get what you pay for.

Looking at our camera roll after lunch we found we’d snapped as many photos of the interior of the place as the food. Tastefully decked out with pieces sympathetic to the building’s original period, the designers have achieved a comfortable and highly Instagrammable grown-up grandeur. The bar area is fantastic as, we imagine, the terrace would be on a hot day should we ever be lucky enough to enjoy one.

There were two menu options for lunch; the Market Menu which was a reasonable two courses for £17.95 and three for £21.95 and All Day Dining which had a bit more choice and on balance was slightly more expensive. I went All Day while the friend went for Market.

Smoked duck breast with a leg bon bon, celeriac puree and duck fat confit radish was a great start. The smoked duck breast was so tender it was firmly in melt in the mouth territory while the crisp, rich bon bon with shredded leg was seriously good. The silky celeriac puree was great while the confit radish didn’t really add much other than one of our five a day. Not to be sniffed at. The friend’s spiced fishcakes, while they were perfectly tasty, weren’t really spicy, so not really a grumble about the food as much as trade description. The avocado mayo worked really well.

A piece of Skrei cod tasted great and had a good thwack of mustard across the top. We loved it, but if you’re not a fan of the hot stuff, maybe ask the kitchen to tone it down. The chorizo choucroute (bit like a cassoulet) that the fish was nestled on was absolutely delicious; salty, almost creamy gorgeousness with crisp chorizo. We didn’t really understand the dumpling though – the inside was zingy and fresh with lemon and crème fraiche, but the outer was a bit hard. It seemed like a bit of an unnecessary addition to a dish that felt complete without it.

Mustard seed confit pork belly with mash and red cabbage was devoured enthusiastically. The pork belly was that perfect blend of crisp skin and soft, almost buttery meat with a jug of rich jus to add to the unctuousness. Mash and red cabbage played second fiddle, but my gosh they played it well.

Dessert, as always was utterly unnecessary, but when in Rome. We shared a chocolate delice, rich with cream and cherries as well as dark chocolately good stuff. Dreamy.

We sent almost entirely clean plates back to the kitchen which we very rarely do. If you haven’t been already, you really should go.

The Chequers at Crowle is all of that and a bit more. It would probably be insulting to call it a country pub as it’s pretty swish and the food is definitely above grub level, but it’s got the warm cosy vibe we were after.

A well-stocked bar was a given – these guys know what they’re doing. A super wine list, lots of gin and some cracking beer made it a bit of a crowd-pleaser. The menu had seen some changes since the last time we fancied a dose of country air, but the old favourites were still winking away – like smoked haddock fishcakes and top notch bangers and mash.

A starter of crab and lime tagliatelle from the specials menu could have done with being halved, however it hit the spot with its zingy freshness and perfect pasta. The friend went classic and ploughed into a really delicious chicken liver parfait served with a brilliant chutney, sharp cornichons and fantastic bread. No complaints.

The friend stuck with the classics and tucked into an Aubrey Allen rump steak, cooked perfectly, served with a generous helping of moreish garlic and crayfish butter. (There’s a choice of flavoured butter and sauces if crayfish isn’t your thing.) Chips were old school fat fellas with plenty of crunch on the outside and a fluffy middle. A classic’s a classic for a reason.

A flavour-packed herby ballotine of guinea fowl came served with a buttery fondant potato, spinach and a sweet piperade which we enjoyed hugely. Then came another classic in the form of an apple tarte tatin with vanilla ice cream. Crisp pastry, sticky sweet soft apples and perfect vanilla ice cream. Beautiful. The only thing missing was a bed. If they had rooms we’d have stayed all night.

The premise of @Pizza is speedy, tasty food – it takes just 90 seconds in the 600 degree oven to cook to perfection. You can either create your own concoction, which I did, or order from the menu which PG did. Designing my own felt surprisingly exhilarating and a bit nervy. You choose your base (sourdough or gluten free), sauce, toppings and finishes which are added once the pizza is baked and include rocket, chilli flakes, garlic oil, chilli oil, kalamata olives, and BBQ sauce among other lip-smackingly good stuff.

I went for sourdough base, classic tomato sauce, baby spinach, mozzarella and an egg. The process felt a bit like a pizza version of Subway just in a nicer environment with more passionate staff, a much better selection of drinks and more love and care about proceedings. My beloved creation went into the oven and came out in less than two minutes looking mighty fine.

I added finishes of rocket and garlic oil. Firstly, the egg was an oozing dome of perfection although I’d have preferred it in the middle of the pizza rather than on the edge – minor point – secondly, the base was thin, crisp and a perfect vehicle for my toppings which were a triumph. The garlic oil was really punchy and well worth adding.

A nod to the soda menu is deserved. @pizza make their own syrups which are free from unrefined sugar in flavours such as Sicilian lemonade and apple and bramble. The ginger, lime and mint was really great. There’s a good selection of booze too. PG’s Peaky Blinders pale ale went down a treat.

Speaking of which, he plumped for the Eat Meat Repeat pizza which as you’d expect was pretty…er…meaty; sourdough base, classic tomato sauce, mozzarella, cheddar, pepperoni, Italian sausage, Wiltshire ham, spicy meatballs, Grand Movaria cheese and oregano. PG added a finish of smokey BBQ sauce which worked brilliantly prompting a double thumbs up. High praise indeed.

Puds are in the form of sundaes or sweet pizzas and the Trunchbull which was packed with chocolatey, nutty, creamy goodness winked at us vigorously. The guys at the restaurant brought both the pizza and the sundae versions. Gulp. We boxed up the pizza version and took it back to the office where it was devoured enthusiastically. In a city spoilt for choice in the pizza arena this is definitely worth a look.

Stylish, lively and a bit classy, we were impressed with the restaurant not least for its great lighting and Instagrammable full-length mirror in the ladies loo. A Friday night G&T was always on the cards and as a lover of Tanqueray I was intrigued by Tanqueray 10 on the drinks list which was a bit more pricey than the usual version – notes of camomile being the main difference. I have to say I preferred the original, but it was perfectly quaffable nonetheless.

Everything about the menu appealed resulting in much indecision. Duo of salmon (poached and hot smoked) bound in crème fraiche with pea, mint and shallot salad provided the ideal opener. With classic flavour combos it was fresh, light, delicate and looked every inch a knockout.

For the other half who is normally almost entirely carnivorous, goat’s cheese two ways (one creamy and rich and one coated in breadcrumbs and fried like little croquettes) with heritage tomato, beetroot and toasted pine kernels. The cheese was beautiful, the salad was refreshing and the whole plate was extremely pretty.

BUZZING

Slow cooked ox cheek, creamy mash, pickled celeriac and a red wine reduction was straight out of the top drawer. The meat was melt in the mouth tender, the mash was everything mashed potato should be and the sauce was brilliant, plus there was lots of it with an extra little jug of the silky jus on the side. Confit belly of pork with sweet potato mash, buttered greens and crispy bacon tasted just as delicious as its description. Again super tender, flavour packed meat with top-notch veggies and another cracking sauce. The place was buzzing by this point. It definitely felt like ‘out out’ territory in the best possible way.

Pastry chef Darryl treated us to three of the restaurant’s favourite puds, including The Apple. More of that later. Passion fruit cheesecake with Jamaican ginger cake crumb and mango sorbet was no ordinary cheesecake. Vibrant yellow, tart, sweet, spiced with ginger, it was really interesting and moreishly good. Salted caramel millionaire’s shortbread with butterscotch crémeux and malted milk ice cream was rich and indulgent – probably a bit big for us given the richness, but definitely a chocolate lover’s dream. Speaking of dreams, The Apple. So, it tasted like the best apple crumble we’ve ever tasted in a more complex form. The crumble bit provided a stand for the apple and was gorgeous in its own right, but when teamed with apple compote, white chocolate and brown sugar apple puree, it was just downright magic. It did not disappoint and that’s saying something given the hype.

The dedicated lunch menu felt a bit limited but at £8.95 for one course and a soft drink it was pretty reasonable. There were two pizzas on offer as part of the lunch deal – pepperoni and margerita – however, there was a guy tucking into a lip-smacking pizza at the next table who looked like the happiest man alive. We wanted what he was having, so went off-piste and onto the dedicated pizza menu which was a superb offering that included all the classics plus some more inventive options such as truffle and mushroom.

We settled on Italian Flag consisting of buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, parmesan and pesto (£11.95). The base was gnarly and blackened in the way you just can’t achieve at home whatever searing temperature you crank up the Rangemaster to and the topping was generous and moreish. A pizza from the top drawer for sure. It’s possible to pimp-up your pizza by stuffing the crust with ricotta and black pepper for an extra £2. We didn’t, but could be interesting.

Meatballs in tomato sauce were fine, but not wow inducing. We’d imagined a flavoursome bowl of spaghetti with juicy meatballs and rich tomato sauce. In fairness, the menu didn’t promise pasta with the meatballs, we just assumed. Never assume. We actually got a bowl of good meatballs in a decent tomato sauce with a couple of slices of average bread on the side. Not bad, just not what we expected.

Our lovely waitress was quick to recommend dinner next time and having looked at the menu she was right. It’s really interesting with daily fish specials that ensure maximum freshness, delicious sounding pasta dishes and inventive ways with meat including a particularly intriguing lamb chop dish with spinach pie that we need in our lives. Owner Luca is hugely passionate about this place and there’s a lot to be celebrated. We’d head back at lunchtime for the pizza alone, but cannot wait to sample the dinner menu.

The Pan-Asian inspired menu had just launched before our visit and was apparently going down well. It’s split into small tapas-sized plates and medium plates which were the size of an individual main course we’d say. To give you some idea of volume, we ordered four small plates and two medium plates between two which was ideal. The food was served as it was cooked rather than coming at the same time, so it felt fresh with no sitting around under hot plates or going cold at the table.

The small plates were the stand out dishes for us. Tiger prawn cookies – juicy prawns encased in crisp breadcrumbs with coriander, garlic and lime – were so moreish served with a plum dipping sauce. Chicken and snow pea gyoza were mighty fine. Fried off in a pan so they had a bit of colour and texture they were delicious filled with minced chicken, coriander, water chestnut and spring onion. There’s a vegetarian version too.

Wasabi lamb chops came highly recommended by our waiter. They were all kinds of lovely served pink with a gentle heat and a herby hit. Pickled cucumber on the side worked brilliantly. The dipping sauce that came with the lamb wasn’t a triumph though and looked like it had split, so we parked that.

The medium plates were a little bit hit and miss. Spicy chicken wings did what they said on the tin. One of us was fine with the heat, the other (me!) was mighty pleased to have a cooling Ginger Lemontini (think gin, limoncello and ginger) by my side to quell the fire. I’d ask for the heat turned down a notch next time because actually they were everything you want from a chicken wing – sticky and moist with a bit of sweetness as well as spice.

A rich duck curry with plenty of aubergine and wild ginger divided opinion. The friend felt it was a bit heavy on tamarind which I actually liked. He loved the actual duck, but I felt it was a bit dry. It’s not one size fits all is it? Horses for courses and all that.

What we did agree on was it was a cracker of a menu that we wanted to try more of. A cocktail or three, of which the choice is extensive and inventive, teamed with a handful of small dishes would be an ideal way to give it a whirl.

Firstly, you could pick Baked in Brick up, pop it back down in London’s Shoreditch and it would fit right in. With the industrial skeleton of the ceiling on show, a roaring pizza oven, an actual Mini crashing in through a back wall decorated with graffiti style art, it made for a great first impression. Eating out is an expensive business – even at an average chain you’re talking £50-plus for a fairly bland experience. At Baked in Brick, not so. There’s nothing vanilla or over-priced about it.

The menu is a corker with pizza all blackened and blistered from the oven, laden with inventive toppings like pork and fennel meatballs and yellow pepper ketchup which we couldn’t ignore. The meatballs were superb and could have been a dish in their own right. Teamed with the sweetness from the yellow pepper ketchup it was properly memorable which is rare and a massive compliment.

A special spicy lamb kofta was served with a refreshing mint yoghurt that cooled things down, a punchy slaw with sweet pomegranate running through it and a mountain of rice that would have served three hungry people – they don’t do small! A side of corn on the cob with wasabi, sesame and comte was revelatory and if you’ve never grated comte on your corn, we urge you to do so.

We went off-piste with dessert sampling a cheesecake chef had been working on that wasn’t on the menu. If you like Oreos and you like baked cheesecake, it’s a no-brainer.

From a beer list that rocked our world, we thoroughly recommend Dancing Bear or, and we never thought we’d say this, the non-alcoholic German blonde Maisel’s Weisse. We headed back to the office eventually feeling like we’d started the weekend early. Don’t expect pretty, but do expect big, punchy flavour-packed nosh in a lively room full of feel good vibes.

Friday night has had a bit of a makeover in the entertainment stakes with themed live music in the form of a series of Level 25 presents (not every Friday, so check the website for dates and deets). We got wind of Eighties-inspired music in September and promptly booked a babysitter faster than you can say Wham!

ALL THE FAVES

First thing’s first, don’t expect cheesey tunes that will interrupt dinner and we wouldn’t advise rocking up in fancy dress, although what do we know? Do what you like. This was a sophisticated affair with great music – all the faves – from the super talented Elegant Entertainment which enhanced dinner rather than dominating the evening.

A succinct menu – not themed to fit the music in case you were wondering – did what it said on the tin. Pea and ham soup was superb, bresaola with mozzarella and a punchy dressing was delicious and as you’d expect, the sirloin was top notch and cooked to perfection. Crunchy, fluffy chips were excellent and those of us that hadn’t ordered them were as green as the pea soup.

A tasty chicken a la forestiere had a cheeky little Madeira sauce that brought all the elements together served with pomme fondant which was nicely done. We shunned dessert in favour of a night cap. Hicc. The service was a little slow, but that really didn’t matter. We were having a great time. MPW, forgive us, we won’t take you for granted anymore.

From the outside the restaurant looks gargantuan, but split into two distinct sections – cosy bar area with squishy sofas and a more formal dining room – the clever design works. It’s been all-hands-on-deck to get here, in fact the ‘maitre d’ has lost a stone merely working with Aktar.

A freshly-launched summer lunch menu caught our eye and as Brum feels hotter than the Balearics it seemed apt. For those of you who avoid Indian food at lunchtime, a) what’s wrong with you? and b) this isn’t your average Indian nosh. If you’re imagining a huge raging bowl of Balti with a naan the size of a steering wheel this isn’t for you. This is refined, precise and delicate with realistic starry Michelin ambitions.

From the perfectly crisp cone filled with cured trout topped with pea puree of the amuse bouche to a stunning vanilla dessert that tasted every bit as beautiful as it looked, we were impressed.

The lunch menu’s succinct with three starter options, three main and two desserts. There’s an extra palate cleanser between starter and mains which was dreamy – tamarind sorbet, thinly sliced pickled cucumber and a spicy crumb.

Mutton patties (Shaami) served with a green chutney and tomato had the perfect amount of spice and heat. Croquette shaped spinach-y morsels of loveliness (Palak Tikki) with refreshing grated carrot and onion and a punchy sauce/puree was just gorgeous. Thangri masala which is basically tandoori chicken but not as you know it was superb. Using thighs rather than breast meat meant that while the chicken had an intense smoky charred flavour, the inside stayed beautifully moist.

We had a slight hiccup with Meen which was described on the menu as plaice, greens and coconut milk. Plaice was replaced by trout without explanation. The sauce was brilliant and the trout was good, but it seemed a bit odd not to address the fact it was different and I suspect white fish would have worked better.

Indian desserts get a bad rep and we’ve been let down in the past. Not this time. Both desserts were absolutely stunning. Amda was an intense rhubarb sorbet with a fragrant spiced custard that so light it was practically a foam. Lovely. Kaddu looked like a work of art and tasted every bit as good. Not entirely sure what all the flavours were other than vanilla and pumpkin seed, so you’ll have to trust us, it was a winner.

There’s no denying at £19.95 for two courses and £22.95 for three, the lunch menu is unbelievable value for such accomplished cooking. It’s whet our appetite for sure and we’ll be heading back for dinner, which looks equally intriguing, pronto.

Firstly, tasting menus tend to be expensive. Not so here. The £45 for six courses seemed like a steal. Chuck in a wine flight and obviously the cost rockets, however it’s still competitive.

Secondly, with a tasting menu there’s a lot of interaction with waiting staff which doesn’t always lend itself to a relaxed dinner. It can feel a bit disjointed. In this instance the waiting staff, i.e. Carlos, enhanced the experience. We could have been served cold porridge and we’d have loved it.

STAND OUT

Rather than go through all six courses and matching wine, which would be slightly dull for you, the reader, here are the stand out dishes.

A pretty dish of scallops with a subtle curry flavour and cauliflower cooked various ways – pureed, deep fried and pickled – was gorgeous. For the record, pickled cauliflower is utterly delicious and worked with the creamy puree, sweet scallops and rich flavours adding a freshness and vibrancy. If anything, we’d have liked more of the pickled veg. A New Zealand sauvignon worked beautifully.

Perfectly cooked pigeon breast was sensational served with a rich sticky jus and the classic combo of peas and bacon. The plate was taken up a notch with the addition of a foie gras ‘sausage’ wrapped in lettuce which although sounds like a heart attack on a plate was just superb. A light rioja worked brilliantly with the pigeon.

Not one for a pud, but a fan of a macaron, a giant pistachio and white chocolate version served with cherries was pretty special. Chewy, sweet and nutty with a bit of tartness from the cherries and served with a glass of 30-year-old port, it was moreish – even after five courses.

There were no poor dishes on the card at all – these three just stood out – and we reckon once word is out about the tasting menu which tends to be on a Wednesday or a Thursday, you’ll be lucky to bag a table. Checkout the website for future dates and get one locked in else you’ll miss out. What is it the youngsters say? FOMO. Go.

From an interiors point of view don’t expect a watered-down version of the London restaurant. Renowned designer and Caprice Holdings regular Martin Brudnizki, who was responsible for the London and LA restaurants, has given Brum its own identity which suits the building and its location perfectly. With serious investment throughout, expect bespoke wallpaper and artwork, a stunning onyx bar, brass handrails and amazing loos with an attractive mosaic floor. The private dining room ensconced on the second floor is a great space, too.

The menu is strong on seafood and there are also some British favourites, such as the shepherd’s pie, you might recognise from the original restaurant. We sampled a classic dish of scallops with pea puree, broad beans and crispy shallots which was fresh and zingy with a nice hit of citrus. Soft goat’s cheese came recommended and worked a treat with a fresh inventive salad.

We detoured off-piste for a dish from the specials menu which delivered perfectly pink lamb, a creamy flavour-packed mushroom sauce and great mashed potato. A side of tenderstem broccoli which restaurants seem to treat as an afterthought a lot of the time, had been given the attention it deserved and was cooked perfectly with a drizzle of lemon oil and a good pinch of sea salt. Sides of sweet potato and creamed spinach didn’t feel like the poor cousin either.

We’d have liked the apple tart fine for pud, however it would have taken 25 minutes which was pushing it a bit, so tried the sorbet – perfectly nice – and the cute mini chocolate truffles.

As an experience The Ivy ticks all the boxes – stunning interior, a warm welcome, attentive staff, great food – and is a fantastic addition to the city’s food scene. We’ve been back twice since we reviewed and have a table booked next month. Says it all really.

Having been to the launch party and numerous events, we’d never actually dined in the restaurant. I don’t know what we’ve been doing with our lives either!

Firstly, Champagne and nibbles in the bar. We’ve sampled many a Michelin-starred nibble and can only assume that when the inspector visited he wasn’t served chewy crisps served with a chef-y drizzle of sticky balsamic glaze. Not the start we’d anticipated and the sort of thing that made us feel we were missing something. Maybe we were.

The restaurant was buzzing and we had a great table on the edge of the action. As wine lists go, this one’s a corker. We’ve become enamoured with American chardonnay recently and plumped for a 2014 La Crema from the Sonoma Valley (£52) which hit the spot nicely.

Having gone off tasting menus in favour of choosing our own nosh, we ordered from the three-course menu (£65) of which every single dish sounded like a winner. The ‘nibbles’ at the table – a perfect pink macaron of beetroot with horseradish and a superb unctuous meaty bon bon – reignited our excitement about what was to come and almost obliterated crispgate.

Mackerel with crab, avocado and wasabi was a delicate, beautiful plate that packed a flavour punch too. Monkfish with wild mussels, Champagne and samphire was incredible with a lemony gel atop of the fish that worked brilliantly.

Guinea fowl with shiitake mushrooms, smoked potato and braised leek was a stunner with the smokey potato balancing a tartness in the sauce that would have taken over otherwise. Really clever. Herdwick hogget with pea, mint and courgette was just delicious and our fellow diner’s stand out dish.

My stand out dish – and this has never happened – was dessert. Not one of those sweet-toothed types, I tolerate pud when required, but could happily eat Adam’s passe crassane pear with toasted hay, caramelia and praline at every meal forever. I can’t describe what was happening on the plate, but trust me, it was joyous. Simple, light perfection. I didn’t sample the friend’s chocolatey, salted pecan affair as he polished off the lot looking very pleased with himself.

There’s no doubt this is one classy establishment that Birmingham should be super proud and supportive of. We left feeling utterly spoilt by both the brilliant staff and the incredible food.

We enjoy supporting independents as much as the next man – they’re exciting, unique, local and feel-good, but what’s wrong with the odd chain? Cue Piccolino which we hadn’t frequented in a long time.

Oozells Square in springtime has to be one of the most photographed spots in Brum after the Selfridges building. We’ve all done it and watched the ‘likes’ flood in. Delicate pink blossom and wonderful architecture – provided you’re facing the playfulness of the Ikon Gallery – it’s super pretty. Piccolino flanks one side of the blossom and with its heated terrace takes full advantage. Chuck a cosy blanket over your shoulders and you’re good to go.

The menu is a biggie and one that has mass appeal. With a focus on provenance it also lists the restaurant’s suppliers which is a nice touch although some of the ingredients seem to be doing a heck of a lot of food miles.

A glass of champagne slipped down nicely while we made some decisions. Predictably, the other half couldn’t see beyond prawn cocktail and steak while I went for calamari followed by mushroom risotto. Prawn cocktail was pleasing. Juicy prawns, tangy marie rose sauce and fresh crunchy lettuce. Nothing to write home about, but perfectly good. Calamari was tender with a punchy crust and a delicious roast garlic mayonnaise. So far, so good.

The menu talked up the steak big time. From the Usda Creekstone Farm it was, ‘finished for 150 days on a corn diet, raised in Kansas, hand selected, prime 100 per cent black Aberdeen Angus beef sirloin’. Phew. At £30.50 for 300g we reckoned on it being mighty fine. Served medium as requested it was utterly brilliant, beautifully cooked with bags of flavour. I did wonder why the air miles from Kansas rather than home grown in Hereford, but it was superb. Crunchy hand cut chips were a joyous accompaniment as was garlic and parsley butter.

The risotto funghi was a bit ‘meh’ by comparison. Yes it was earthy and creamy, but not a knock-out. A big handful of parmesan perked it up a bit and a side of buttery spinach provided one of our five a day.

A panna cotta with rhubarb sated the other half’s sweet tooth and he devoured the lot. I find panna cotta’s blancmange-like texture off-putting so refrained, but if you like that sort of thing this one was a winner apparently.

As well as enjoying a lovely meal we had a great time. The place was bustling and lively and the service was charming and efficient. Although the steak was pricey, it was totally worth it and the bill in its entirety was pretty reasonable. We might not leave it so long next time.

We’ve walked passed the pretty restaurant and been wowed by its kerb appeal a thousand of times, always vowing to try it. Better late than never.

It’s a big old beast of a dining room packed with rustic charm and busy for the dreaded graveyard shift – Monday lunch. People were settled into cosy corners nattering as though they were regulars and the vibe was happy and lively. We were promised ‘authentic Italian food in relaxed surroundings’. Happy days.

The menu was so massive we needed a glass of fizz to digest it. It’s worth noting the choice of Champagne by the glass was zero so we had to settle for a bottle. First world problems and all that.

BAKING HOT

A prawn and avocado starter (£8.50) with a punchy Marie Rose did what it said on the tin. It was light, fresh and perfectly good with a pleasing amount of prawns. Baked goat’s cheese with grilled courgette and peppers (£6.95) was served in the dish it was baked in and remained hotter than the sun well after friends had polished off their food. Staff were attentive and friendly tackling some odd requests from our table – not by me by the way.

One of our favourites, calves liver (£18.50) was perfectly pink and delicious, however it was atop a mound of mashed potato the size of the Big Peg which was a bit unappealing. A fillet steak (£23.50) requested medium rare was grey throughout, but the flavour was good and the sauce tasty. Ravioli filled generously with crab in a rich lobster bisque (£14) was excellent, but again we felt the presentation could have been a bit more exciting and creative.

Certainly the place is full of rustic charm which we loved – we actually had loads of fun – and the food on the whole tasted great. It isn’t cheap, though, and we’d much rather pay a bit less for neater portions and considered presentation. There’s rustic and then there’s careless and we felt it was teetering on the cusp of the latter.

Until then, their Harborne eatery had been our go-to for a frequent fix of Thai food. The city centre restaurant is even more convenient which is both brilliant and bad. We’re thinking waistline people.

While Harborne is sprawling and open, Waterloo Street is more intimate with cosy corners to get settled in. There’s a cracking bar area too, which despite it being early days is already buzzing on a weekend.

The lunch menu which has been cleverly created is a tapas or Thai-pas (sorry!) inspired affair with five menu options each priced at £13.95 – the idea being you can try multiple dishes all served at the same time fitting neatly into your lunch hour. It works too. We were easily in and out in under 60 minutes feeling like we’d enjoyed a proper break from the office.

The Chiang Mai menu consisted of punchy, peppery chicken wings, a refreshing crispy duck salad and a lip-smackingly fiery green chicken curry. A Fever Tree elderflower tonic was an ideal match. A dedicated gin menu appealed, but midday was too early even for us.

The Krabi menu included our beloved favourite beef massaman which didn’t disappoint along with sweet sticky spare ribs and crisp, flavour-packed vegetable spring rolls. An Eastern Breeze mocktail with basil looked a treat and tasted great.

It sounds like a lot of food, but we found the portions just right and for two people who are always banging on about a loathing of oversized platefuls that’s saying something. The vegetarian menu, Lopburi looked great too although we didn’t sample it.

By 12.30pm the restaurant was pretty busy with corporate types shunning a soggy sandwich in favour of delicious, quick, warming food. The manager from Harborne has moved to Waterloo Street so he’s on board with the Sabai Sabai ethos and the whole team was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. We wanted to love it and we did.

Well, at first glance we wanted to move in. Velvet sofas, paint fresh from the Farrow & Ball school of period charm, fabulous lighting and show-stopping mirrors (even in the ladies loo) and a roaring fire made us a bit giddy.

Before we arrived I’d expected pub grub in nice surroundings. Not so. Yes, there are the old guards like fish and chips and shepherd’s pie, but not pub grub by anyone’s standards. The shepherd’s pie from the specials menu was elevated to another level. Shoulder of lamb cooked for hours, shredded then added to the chef’s rich deep sauce made 24 hours in advance to maximise the flavour was certainly not run of the mill. At £17 it was a bit steep, but lip-smacking nonetheless.

Two words, chicken karaaga. Crunchy chicken coated in some kind of deliciousness that defied words was served on ribbons of cucumber with mooli, grains and a mouth-wateringly brilliant katsu sauce. If I had to eat this everyday for the rest of my life I would happily take that. Duck liver parfait with melba toast and chutney was perfectly nice, but the karaaga was leading lady of diva proportions here.

Crab and lobster fishcake served on a pea puree with asparagus was fantastic while a side of green veg screamed: “I’m playing second fiddle to no one.” The kale was indeed superb. A sentence we never thought we’d pen.

One of those chocolate bomb affairs which melts under the heat of salted caramel sauce drizzled on top was a bit of a let-down. While we enjoyed the theatre, the chocolate tasted like those sad little nuggets from an advent calendar. You know the ones.

Moving on from the bomb, we reckon the old stomping ground might have just become the new stomping ground. The two-course fixed price menu for £12.95 unless you deviate to the specials, is a cracking deal plus there’s also a package that includes unlimited prosecco on a Saturday afternoon. See you there. Check out the website for details and always drink responsibly obvs. Hic.

If it’s because you live in Kings Heath, or let’s say Moseley or even Harborne and you can’t face the short trip you lazy blighters, you needn’t bother. Because Bahar – the man behind Mahfil – has opened a second place right on your very doorstep and it’s just as good, if not better than the original.

We visited Mezbaan just a few weeks after it flung open its doors and the place was buzzing. It was a random Tuesday in the height of holiday season and its liveliness took us by surprise. Take-aways were flying out of the door too. Early signs that Kings Heath was ready.

The place had a weekend vibe about it with low ceilings, great lighting (I know we’re obsessed) and some glamorous touches thrown in for good measure. We found it very easy to forget it was a school night. Cue a cheeky mojito with a tonne of mint which we loved.

We went with some recommendations from the waiter who was utterly lovely. First up Chicken 65 – we don’t know why it’s called Chicken 65, we were enjoying ourselves so much we forgot to ask. Tender chicken breast encased in a delicate batter spiced beautifully and served with a punchy sauce. It was the perfect start.

Bangali Jinga was equally gorgeous. Juicy prawns, cooked in the tandoor giving them a dry, smoky flavour were seriously good with green chilli adding just the right amount of heat. We could have grazed on these all evening.

Chicken Hariali was rich with coconut milk and lightly spiced while the Lasani Ghust packed a punch with tender lamb and bags of heat running through the tomato based sauce. There were a couple of pickled onions on the side which I didn’t quite understand, but that’s the only nit-picking negative. Naan bread was as good as any we’ve had.

The waiter tried to tempt us with more cocktails before we left – one of which apparently tastes like Jammy Dodgers. We pulled ourselves back from the brink remembering it was a school night, but vowed to return for the biscuit-inspired drink and to work our way through the rest of the moreish menu. You can just pop in for drinks and there’s definitely a cocktail lounge vibe, but having tried the food it would be impossible. Go.

Turns out Saturday afternoon’s a pretty lively affair at the Colmore Row Italian and we were lucky to bag a table for five. The décor’s great with super lighting and we found ourselves a cracking corner table surrounded by ladies with piles of shopping bags – a testament to the city’s burgeoning retail scene if ever there was one.

Lunch started well with a glass of Champagne for the grown-ups and Tutti Frutti mocktails for the little people. A meat board to share included delicious prosciutto ham, salami, soppressa and coppa with a pot of houmous, olives and warm comforting focaccia. Bruschetta was a dream with bags of basil and tangy toms.

The kids were given a sad-looking bowl of carrots to chomp on and a menu to colour in. I feel they may have outgrown this sort of thing. The dough ‘petals’ (aka dough balls) “weren’t as good as Pizza Express” apparently, though the garlic butter was super. Butter, garlic – what’s not to love?

Next, pork belly with a top notch mash and rich sauce was a winner and easily the stand-out dish. The lasagne didn’t go down too well and a word to the wise, where there’s a small option go for it. Even those are pretty large. A smoked haddock risotto with peas and a poached egg was okay although it didn’t have any peas at all which meant it was all a bit beige. The poached egg was perfect mind you. Again it was way too big though.

The kids had smaller versions of the main menu. The meatballs were excellent with a really tasty tomato sauce and the margherita pizza got a double thumbs up. High praise indeed! A side of truffle fries for the table were crisp, moreish and er… truffley.

All-in-all we had a really enjoyable lunch that was more about the atmosphere and company rather than the food. It’s somewhere we’d go again without a doubt, but we reckon the simpler the dish the better.

Firstly let’s talk carpet. The squishy luxurious underfoot experience as we strolled down the walkway was reassuring. We were in for a good time. The Dyson was out twice while we were there keeping the entrance area plumped to the max. The interior of the restaurant didn’t disappoint oozing as much glamour as the bouncy carpet suggested.

The fuss clearly hadn’t subsided and the restaurant was busy. Media types floated about with the odd HSBC banker thrown in for good measure. A meat board with four different cuts was presented to us – sirloin, rump, ribeye and open ribeye. Aberdeen Angus all properly aged, we were pretty excited. Warm bread with a punchy chimichurri was delicious.

Then my starter happened. It sounded good on paper (damn you Love Island) – salmon carpaccio with egg dressing, capers, tomato and coriander. In reality egg dressing was big chunks of boiled egg on top of average salmon. It didn’t work for me. I’d remove it from the menu and move on. I moved on pronto with a top drawer glass of Malbec.

The other half’s starter appeared to come from an entirely different kitchen. A plate of mini tacos filled with sticky, spicy, deep flavoured beef ribs with chilli orange glaze was seriously good.

Then perfectly cooked sirloin with perfect chips and perfect béarnaise sauce was pretty perfect. No other words required. Pork matambre was just superb. Succulent, packed with flavour and served with a tasty cauliflower couscous – much nicer than it sounds honestly – it was really moreish.

While there wasn’t much of our five a day going on – although Malbec counts right? – we didn’t care. It was truly delicious. There’s an array of sides that’ll boost your vitamin intake if you fancy though.

A chocolate brownie with two spoons sealed the deal and sent us happily on our way up the freshly vacuumed walkway. Much hoo-ha was well deserved.

The restaurant, created by Andreas Antona, earned its Michelin star in Kenilworth in the 90s, then moved to Birmingham a few years later. Simpson’s has brought rural Warwickshire with it, retaining its country manor feel. When you sit in its strong leather chairs in the snug, or by the window overlooking the garden, the centre of town feels like it’s 50 miles away, rather than five minutes. When Lady C and I visited it was a cold and wet November afternoon, and Birmingham in the rain is no-one’s idea of a nice time. On days like that you want to escape or retreat. You want to feel warm and cared for, to find a place to relax, sip on red wine by the fire and forget about the world. Simpson’s is just the place to do this. It’s pure escapism in culinary form. You might be in the heart of Brum, but you’re really in a Warwickshire cottage surrounded by mist, eating game bought from the local poacher. It feels welcoming here, you sense it from the moment you walk through the door. Within minutes you’re in the snug, eating olives and drinking champagne in a happy place.

RUNNY EGGS

 We ordered from the snug and were taken through to our table by our hostess. Some warm bread and wine promptly followed and we were ready for the plates. One of the things I like most about eating at top restaurants is all the little extras. Our amuse bouche was a pumpkin soup, topped with a cheese foam and served in Lilliput pint glasses. The foam was superlight with a good depth of flavour, while the soup had a little spice to it to keep winter at bay. For starters, I picked a crispy duck egg which came with smoked salmon, hispi cabbage and a potato espuma. The egg was runny and its yolk spilled happily all over the potato and fish. There was a childlike joy to its construction, contrasting with the rather adult choice of ingredients. Lady C chose sesame crusted scallops, which were cooked just right, leaving them moist and flavoursome. Her dish was served with chicory, lentils, lemon and an oriental sauce. Another extra followed which was a fine mackerel salad served with a variety of beetroot. Beets are such lovely, flavoursome vegetables, it’s a shame we mostly pickle them when there are so many other uses for these purple princes of the patch. Good chefs are regularly making foams out of them, which are often good. But roasted beets are well worth trying, too.

FORMIDABLE

 The main dishes on the Simpson’s menu made for a formidable bunch. It was packed with red meats and salt-water fish, with garnishes made from winter vegetables such as pumpkin, parsnip, beetroot, Jerusalem artichoke and squash. I had the Finnebrogue venison, served with autumn vegetables, a pumpkin purée, warmed blackberries and juniper. This was sweet and salty, rich and fine – a sheer delight of a dinner, which you wish you could replicate at home. Lady C opted for a fillet of Aberdeenshire beef, potato pancetta terrine, foie gras, red wine onions and green salad. She loved it all, particularly the terrine. Chef had recommended both our meats to be medium rare and we took his advice. The executive chef at Simpson’s is Luke Tipping, who has been with Andreas for years. He’s one of the city’s best, so don’t argue with him over the cooking of meat unless you’re fussy.

DESSERT BATTLE

 Our pre-dessert arrived, which was a reconstructed Tarte Tatin, served in a glass. If I had known this was coming, I might not have chosen my actual desert which was an apple parfait, blackberries, crumble and custard, as it was rather upstaged by the Tarte. The parfait, which was served as an apple was decorative and pretty, but just not as flavoursome as the Tarte. I was also jealous of Lady C’s choice of a toffee soufflé. This was spooned open by the waiter, who then added a dollop of banana and lime ice cream into the centre before resealing the package. She loved this, especially the gooey toffee at the bottom. I grabbed a spoonful and it was clear she’d won the dessert battle, although I still hold the main. Simpson’s was a pleasure to visit and doubtless we will be back again in the future. Its staff are all clearly well-trained, knowledgeable and helpful. There’s a tremendous sense of family to the place and an atmosphere of calm. As we sat at our table in the conservatory we could watch the goings on in the kitchen. It appears to be a busy but pleasurable place to work, not an aggressive, Ramsay TV show-style ordeal. This joy and calm translates into its great food and faultless service.