• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Blackburn
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Blackburn BB7 9PQ
01254 826888

nedbrab said
Best pub I've ever been to!
Modern interior, light and bright. Food is excellent, first class - I can't think of enough superlatives! No booking system in place but a "blackboard" for those who can't find a table and you'll be called when a table's free. The food is modern English - I say English, not British, because Nigel Haworth (who I think it executive chef or owner or something like that!) keeps to local produce, in season. Sample menu items are hot pea pods with mint and celery salt as a nibble, warm flockborough shrimps, blade mace butter on a toasted muffin to start, local lamb hotpot (from the Trough of Bowland, just up the road!)served with pickled red cabbage for main and old English sherry trifle served in an individual glass for dessert. Or maybe you'd rather go for the Taste of Lancashire cheeseboard with 10 local cheeses!! They also do home made organic ice-cream and milk shakes with flavours such as strawberry marmalade and garden mint. I tried both of those - I can vouch for them! We live in Birmingham but we regularly drive over 100 miles to have lunch here. I can't praise it enough. In fact, I shouldn't even be telling you about because if you go, I might not be able to get a table there!!

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Restaurants

Birmingham B3 1SA
0121 236 5858

nedbrab said
Stumbled upon by accident
We found this place by accident one Sunday ages ago whilst looking for another restaurant. Surprised at how busy it was. Especially since the restaurant we actually went to was empty til we got there! So at a later date, we returned to this place to try it. The service is great, the food is good and it was buzzing on a weekday lunchtime - but late lunch (about 2-3pm) not just busy from office workers. It's a step up from a normal pizza/pasta place. Great value for money.

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Restaurants

Birmingham B2 5ST

nedbrab said
Not bad
I went there early on a Saturday evening. No buffet then (thank goodness!) and the normal a la carte menu is fine. Evening ruined slightly by me forgetting important medication and having to dash home and back in a cab which meant my food was waiting on the table for me when I got back - but that's not their fault! I don't normally like Thai food, too much coconut for my taste, but I enjoyed my meal here. And the sweet trolley has to be seen to be believed!

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Restaurants

Birmingham B2 5BN
0121 633 0251

nedbrab said
Overrated, overpriced
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!

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Birmingham B16 8SH

nedbrab said
Shame
Gone, but not forgotten..

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Restaurants

Birmingham B19 3LG
0121 2369444

nedbrab said
Good food, shame about the dancing
The food was great at this place. Apart from my partner's vegetable side dish which consisted of previously frozen veg. That aside, we enjoyed it. It's not licensed although the waiter did give my partner a freebie glass of wine when we said we hadn't realised it wasn't licensed, which was nice! Then the belly dancing started. It was noisy and intrusive. We couldn't leave because the dancer was blocking our exit! We had to wait til she'd dragged people on the floor to join her before we could make good our escape...

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Birmingham
• Category: Bars and Pubs

Birmingham B1 2DS

nedbrab said
Low brow
Fine, if you like over-cooked, over-salty food. The starters are far and away the best stuff here. The rest is very bog standard but what can you expect from an "all you can eat" buffet? You get what you pay for - only here, you get marginally less than you pay for because it's quite expensive for what you get! It's ok for a night out with friends when good food isn't top of your list of priorities, but you wouldn't seriously eat out here!

• Added: 8th of August 2008
• Area: Oldbury
• Category: Restaurants

Oldbury B68 0NR

nedbrab said
Yummy
I love this place. I've eaten in more Indian Restaurants than you can shake a stick at and this is one of the best. The food is yummy. Slightly sweet but spicy. So many Indian restaurants go for "dry" spices that catch in the back of your throat if you have anything spicier than a masala, but this place had heat tempered by sweetness to make it mouthwatering. It's a step up from a regular "balti" joint, but it's not "posh" in the way that Lasan or Blue Mango are. The staff are friendly and helpful if you want to ask about the dishes or change the ingredients. Top marks!