Birmingham a where to go eat thread?

[Pixel-Snapper]

Off for a Christmas shopping expedition with the misses on the first week of November, which is to include an over night in a hotel and a meal out.

So having never been to Birmingham I'm looking for some first hand experience of where to go eat in the evening. Not adverse to Indian cuisine being in Brum but I no the misses would prefer something a little more British EG a good steakhouse. Has to be city centre as where going on the train.

Budget up to £100 for two.

Saturday lunchtimes sorted though as I really want to go and try this place out.

http://www.edseasydiner.com/our-food/index.php

Thanks to the masses.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Also not a chain place. I hate chain places.

[AlfaPapa]

Top end:
Simpsons
http://www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk/about.html

or Purnell's
http://www.purnellsrestaurant.com/

Mid range: but a bit different is La Fibule, a Moroccan restaurant in Moseley:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g18...

Cheap as chips:
Or, if you're in Moseley and want to visit the same balti house as our Prime Minister did for his birthday last Tuesday, then head for the Diwan Balti.

[Dunclane]

I recently went to this place with the better half and although the décor is a little on the fromage side the food was excellent!

http://www.branded-bull.co.uk/

[Fittster]

Turners is up there with Simpsons and Purnells.

Don't touch the MPW steak place in the cube with a barge poll. Your paying for the view (of Birmingham!) and the cost of sticking his name over the door.

[Dunclane]

Fittster said:

Turners is up there with Simpsons and Purnells.

Don't touch the MPW steak place in the cube with a barge poll. Your paying for the view (of Birmingham!) and the cost of sticking his name over the door.

interesting you say that, my mate and his family went there and they enjoyed it, what makes you say that?

[Fittster]

Dunclane said:

interesting you say that, my mate and his family went there and they enjoyed it, what makes you say that?

Disorganised when I went, poor service, lots of people with clipboards, trying to look important but actually getting you to your table and then sorting out order/drinks required lots of chasing of staff. Steaks were OK but you can easily get the same quality elsewhere in Birmingham.

Stupidly long wait at the bar if you want a drink before your meal.

Edited by Fittster on Monday 15th October 16:15

[Pixel-Snapper]

Dunclane said:

I recently went to this place with the better half and although the décor is a little on the fromage side the food was excellent!

http://www.branded-bull.co.uk/

Like the look of that 72oz challenge.

on the list.

[Fittster]

Pixel-Snapper said:

So having never been to Birmingham I'm looking for some first hand experience of where to go eat in the evening. Not adverse to Indian cuisine being in Brum but I no the misses would prefer something a little more British EG a good steakhouse.

On the Indian side the place with the reputation near the center is Lassan, it did well in one of those TV competitions and I've enjoyed the food there. People I work with who probably know more about curries than I don't seem that fond and tend to seek out more 'authentic' places in less salubrious suburbs. Alum Rock seems to be the place to go, sparkbrook is old hat, apparently.

Edited by Fittster on Monday 15th October 16:24

[Pixel-Snapper]

Hate Marco PW with a passion. He aint getting no money from me.

Been reading some reviews of this place?

http://www.andersonsbarandgrill.co.uk/

[Pixel-Snapper]

Yeah remember Lassan being on one of Ramsey's programmes I think it was.

[warp9]

Fittster said:

On the Indian side the place with the reputation near the center in Lassan, it does well in one of those TV competitions and I've enjoyed the food. People I work with who probably know more about curries than I don't seem that fond and tend to seek out more 'authentic' places in less salubrious suburbs. Alum Rock seems to be the place to go, sparkbrook is old hat, apparently.

Lassan has lost it in my opinion. I would guess he's trying to get a Michelin star by being all poncey and frilly - it was almost fine French cuisine with curry touches that I didn't enjoy. For a really good authentic city centre curry try http://www.itihaas.co.uk/

Not sure I'd want to go aimlessly wondering around Alum Rock with the mrs in the dark loaded with bags full of Christmas goodies!!

[Pickled Piper]

warp9 said:

Not sure I'd want to go aimlessly wondering around Alum Rock with the mrs in the dark loaded with bags full of Christmas goodies!!

It's part of the Balti experience in Alum Rock or Sparkhill. Don't drive there in a nice car. Park as close to the restaurant entrance as you can. Duck in descretely as you can or take a taxi. Do not stroll around to take in the evening air.



pp

[Juicetin1]

I'll throw Opus in to the mix, www.opusrestaurant.co.uk, very good place, central and great food.

[Pixel-Snapper]

Pickled Piper said:

warp9 said:

Not sure I'd want to go aimlessly wondering around Alum Rock with the mrs in the dark loaded with bags full of Christmas goodies!!

It's part of the Balti experience in Alum Rock or Sparkhill. Don't drive there in a nice car. Park as close to the restaurant entrance as you can. Duck in descretely as you can or take a taxi. Do not stroll around to take in the evening air.



pp

Best to leave the Lambo at home then.

[Tuvra]

Pixel-Snapper said:

Dunclane said:

I recently went to this place with the better half and although the décor is a little on the fromage side the food was excellent!

http://www.branded-bull.co.uk/

Like the look of that 72oz challenge.

on the list.

I was there a week last Saturday and left feeling a bit disappointed.

I expected the decor to be a bit naff, however, it was far worse than I imagined it to be. I felt a bit of a cheap skate walking in there with SWMBO considering the pair of us had made a bit of an effort (we had traveled up from S.Wales so only had the website to go on).

I had Hot Chicken Wings to start, they were very large and very tasty. I then had the Rib Eye with their special chips (which were lovely) as a main, I asked for the steak medium/well/no blood, it came pink right through but without blood, it was cooked perfect.

Now your wondering why I was disappointed? Well basically I thought the cut of meat was very poor, there was a lot of large chewy fat running through the steak and the amount of "perfectly cooked" steak was certainly nowhere near the weight stated on the menu, even with the fat it probably wasnt its stated 10oz. I felt the quality of the steak was certainly not worth the money I had paid (cant polish/cook a terd ). It was the same story with the other half's Sirloin.

The price is the next thing, we have a small steakhouse down our way which is small and cooks top quality steaks, it is naff inside but the food more than makes up for it, the difference is the price, I couldn't help think I was over charged for everything at this place, I am not tight, its just the environment (the toilet) and the service didn't seem up to the prices they were charging:

Our meal broke down as:

• 8 Chicken Wings: £7.50
• Crab Cakes: £5.95
• 10oz Rump Steak: £15.95
• 8oz Sirloin: £14.95
• Cheap Wine: £20 (probably £5 max from a supermarket)
• 5% Service charge: £3.22

This makes it £70 for a two course meal and a bottle of wine, considering the sub par steak in a nice environment, with attentive staff £70 may seem decent value, here? No, its overpriced IMO.

[majordad]

Did you have rib eye or rump and a sirloin, you say each ?nIf rump, it would be a much poorer piece.

[Tuvra]

Sorry, I was referring to a rib eye above, I was mixing up rump with my other post in the biltong thread

[maximus123]

Pixel-Snapper said:

Hate Marco PW with a passion. He aint getting no money from me.

Been reading some reviews of this place?

http://www.andersonsbarandgrill.co.uk/

Can't recommend this place highly enough. I don't eat steak anywhere else. It's a basement restaurant in the Jewelerry Quarter and the food is very good. I've had the ribeye and sirloin and they have both been amazing. I also recenty tried the BBQ beef ribs, which were amazing.

You could also try Browns in the bullring. It's quite liveley on the weekend and the food is good, if a little pricey.

[Pixel-Snapper]

maximus123 said:

Can't recommend this place highly enough. I don't eat steak anywhere else. It's a basement restaurant in the Jewelerry Quarter and the food is very good. I've had the ribeye and sirloin and they have both been amazing. I also recenty tried the BBQ beef ribs, which were amazing.

You could also try Browns in the bullring. It's quite liveley on the weekend and the food is good, if a little pricey.

Yes the more I read about this place the greater it sounds and its just round the corner from the hotel we plan to stay at.

Pictures will follow in a few weeks.