Restaurant in Birmingham

[matrignano]

Catching up with a few uni mates, will be staying at Hotel La Tour, looking for a decent place to eat nearby-ish, with a good atmosphere, not too pretentious, and close to bars?

[Tuvra]

I go to Birmingham regular, I have tried a few places and nothing has blown me away.

I will be going up before Christmas and when I do, I will be using fellow PH's recommendations and trying this place:

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

Also see this thread for other options: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[blueg33]

In Birmingham centre I tend to eat at Hotel du Vin or Metro or The Bank although The Bank is a bit of a walk from Hotel La Tour. My preference is to get in the car and drive to The Malt Shovel at Barston.

You could go to the Chinese quarter if you like Chinese food

[Podie]

Purnell's bistro / bar (Ginger's Bar?) is pretty good and sensibly priced.

[matrignano]

Tried Purnell's bistro in the end, unfortunately Anderson's was fully booked.
Had a pleasant experience, the little food I had (due to an untimely snack at BK while waiting for my train ) was actually very good, fresh ingredients, a nice combination of flavours all nicely presented and size was decent too. Not too expensive as suggested.
Didn't realise it would be so loud though, as when we arrived at 9pm the bar was already packed full of people ! We didn't really mind and soon joined in in the raucousness, but this place is not ideal for a quiet dinner date.
Seemed to be in a nice area as well.
Unfortunately due to pure ignorance of the town, we ended up to Broad St later and must say the atmosphere wasn't quite as pleasant!
Anyway, thanks for suggesting Purnell's, good shout.

On saturday we ended up in a Mexican restaurant in the centre, called Bodega - avoid like the plague! Nothing that I tried was remotely done in the way it should. Nachos weren't made from corn flour and just tasted like heavy egg pastry? Same for the burrito, it wasn't a proper tortilla and it appeared to have been popped in the oven as it was all flaky and crispy. Albondigas were terribly bland and dry, soft shell crab was a soggy mess.
Oh and the burglar alarm went off twice, and the lights went as well!
Wahaca is a million times better and not much more expensive either.

[Podie]

Purnell's is quieter for lunch, glad it was good.

[maximus123]

matrignano said:

On saturday we ended up in a Mexican restaurant in the centre, called Bodega - avoid like the plague! Nothing that I tried was remotely done in the way it should. Nachos weren't made from corn flour and just tasted like heavy egg pastry? Same for the burrito, it wasn't a proper tortilla and it appeared to have been popped in the oven as it was all flaky and crispy. Albondigas were terribly bland and dry, soft shell crab was a soggy mess.
Oh and the burglar alarm went off twice, and the lights went as well!
Wahaca is a million times better and not much more expensive either.

I walked passed this place the other day and was planning on trying it. I think I'll give it a miss now.