http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo <b>San Carlo</b><br />Birmingham, 4 Temple Street, B2 5BN, United Kingdom en http://trustedplaces.com/uploads/placepics/trustedplaces.comaPlacePic['name']}.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/106ef7
Review by fatkaff

Rating: 4.00
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I've always loved this restaurant and it's always a place I go as a treat. It's not too pricey for the quality of the food and for the feeling that you're in a classy place! Being surrounded by D-list celebs adds a certain ambience - Stan Collymore and his family were sat behind us on my last visit!

The last time I went was for a hen party, where everyone on my table ate a different dish and everyone was fully satisfied with their meal. The wine was lovely and there was a great range, though it can be a bit pricey.

Overall, this is a great restaurant, with a wide range of dishes. I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially for a celebration/special meal.]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:18:46 +0000 /review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/106ef71076977636 fatkaff 52.479953489667 -1.8998418431898 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1f0at8
Review by nedbrab

Rating: 1.00
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I don't get this place. Waiters' bums in your face because the tables are too cramped; waiters yelling across the restaurant to each other in Italian. I've given it three chances now: first time, I had pizza. Dry. Second time, pasta. Very bland; each mouthful was the same as the last. And lastly, I tried the chargrilled chicken which tasted awful - as though the grill hadn't been cleaned for a year. I cannot for the life of me think why people rave about this place. I have been to far better italian restaurants, including the one opposite!]]> Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:43:31 +0000 /review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1f0at8860562798 nedbrab 52.479953489667 -1.8998418431898 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1o77x6
Review by Thomasinho

Rating: 5.00
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The times once said this was the best restaurant outside of London, I agree.. I have been here a number of times, and the menu has remained the same, and the quality of the food has remained equally excellent.
I travel to alot of places with my work globally, and this place seriously has the best staff attention to customers, I have ever witnessed.
My recommendations, have a small pasta dish for a starter, the veal is excellent, as is the fish, and meat.
The place is pricey, but excellent quality, you really do get what you pay for.
For desert the Torte flambe, is excellent, lit sambuca, poured over dark chochlate ice cream incradible.
Amazing Amazing Amazing...]]> Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:15:39 +0000 /review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1o77x61898934644 Thomasinho 52.479953489667 -1.8998418431898 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1c5577
Review by arianova

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Coming through the doors of San Carlo, the only thing that reminded me this is a restaurant and not some high street hairdresser, or floorist, was the tens of tomatoes and wine bottles arranged near the entrance ( as opposed to make-up products and wigs)

- But please, don't be put off by the kitch - over the top pretentious decor for San Carlos is not to be judged by its entrance.

The Food
Quickly realising the food is going to be great by looking at what everyone else is eating, I ordered a carbonara as a starter, a Chicken specialite of the chef and petis pois on the side. The Carbonara was exquisite - the kind I wouldn't mind having every day for a month, the chicken was also very good and the petit pois where very nicely made. My friends where having pizza and crab pasta which was both excellent. Unfortunately we didn't try the fish as we where all not in the mood.

The food came in a timely manner and we the atmosphere was very positive (after we recovered from the shock of the hairdresser-like entrance)

Desserts
The tiramissu was great, I've had better twice recently but this was definetly amongst the better ones. The Espresso is a must have as it was truly great.

The wine
The wine list was slightly more demanding for the wallet. At the bottom price we found a beautyful Valpolicela of which we had 2, priced at around £17 each.

The service
Not so long after we sat we where greeted by a very rude and most likely deaf italian, possibly the owner, who gave us a terrible second impression. In fact if wheren't so hungry we would have possibly walked out. The rest of the service was far from great but still ok for the restaurants price-range. We where served by different waitors for the rest of the meal but the rest of the staff was rather cold as well - even though Italian.

We paid £35 each (4 people with 2 bottles of wine)

Overall great restaurant, would have given 5 stars if not for the rude italian and the hairdresser entrance. Oh and if you might bump in to Swen Goransson apparently, as there pictures of him and other celebrities hagning from the walls, as the Italian tradition has it.]]> Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:50:46 +0000 /review/uk/birmingham/restaurant/1701g8t/san-carlo/1c5577686048725 arianova 52.479953489667 -1.8998418431898