Umami is a fantastic Indian restaurant in Harborne - if you're looking for a curry in the area…read moreyou'd be mad not to go here. Just off the high street, this narrow little restaurant shouldn't be underestimated. I've visited a couple of times now and nearly every dish has blown us away. I can particularly recommend the vegetarian sharing platter and the mussels for starters! Their new menu has a great selection for vegetarians, with some really creative and unusual options rather than just 'vegetable' versions of the other curries! As well as an Indian restaurant Umami also have a lovely cocktail bar, and I've never been disappointed by a drink. They also do some fab mocktails if you're driving to Harborne - try the mango mojito! The staff have always been very friendly and the service superb. Unfortunately the decor isn't the classiest but they have put some effort into improving this. I'd really recommend trying Umami if you're in South Birmingham, as it really is a little gem!

Umami is set to be a little superstar on the Harborne scene! You'll find delightfully dynamic menus…read moreboth at the cocktail bar and in the restaurant. Dive in and prepare to be thrilled by the hand crafted cocktails and then seduced by the lovingly curated restaurant menu. The Vespa Martini is not for the faint hearted, smooth and packing a powerful punch. We also sipped on a top notch Espresso Martini and Tanqueray 10 G&Ts. The Umami team are very attentive, the wine list is varied and the ambiance is 'relaxed smart casual'. Our party of three spent £150, but we did have 3 x cocktails, 2 x bottles of wine, 3 x starters, 3 x mains, 4 x sides and 1 pudding. We all felt that the prices were reasonable give the truly great quality of the good. I'll be back to explore the rest of the menu as soon as poss.

Brilliant everything was great from the time we sat down to the ti.e we left was amazing we always…read morehave a takeawY but decided to visited best thing we done will be going back

We recently visited Purnima as a family of 4. I will start with positive points first. Service…read morestaff were really friendly. Manager of the restaurant (could be owner also) was a polite and energetic person who showed utmost care to the customer with a friendly smile all the time. So, all the staff were fantastic. Secondly, the ambience was also very good, it was not outdated but more matched to the type of food served. So, we loved it. All the prices in the menu was striked off and it threw us a bit out of balance as they mentioned that the new prices are getting outdated. This could be because, they may be taking over the restaurant from someone else and probably not ready with new prices for the dishes. But we would prefer to know exactly how much we are spending for a dish that we want to eat transparently. Lets come to the food part. Some of the things that we experienced. When we sat down and starters were about to be served, my daughter was given a plate which was not washed properly and had food stains. When we pointed it out , they took care of it immediately. The waiting time for the starters itself was a bit too high, we felt, as we waited more than 35 minutes for the starters to arrive. Quality of the starters in respect to the taste of the food, was average at best. Portions were not big, but we are ok with that, however the taste was not up to the mark. Main course - Naan bread were fresh as was very well done. Both veg and non veg main courses were bit bland and lacked proper seasoning. Again, we waited a long time between starters and main course. As we are big time foodies, and we like to try out new restaurants and we have reasonably a good pallet and so along with service ambience and everything, taste of food is very very important for us and i think thats where Purnima needs to put a bit more effort and make delicious dishes. Sorry, could not justify myself to go more than 2 stars.

Birmingham is one of the two capitals of Indian food in England (the other one being Bradford). It…read moreis home to Balti dishes, and Balti houses abound all over the city. With so many great-tasting and reasonably-priced Indian food options around, it is quite impressive that a higher end, pricier Indian restaurant like Pushkar has established a loyal clientele. Pushkar sets itself apart from other Indian restaurants in the area due to its upscale setting, the high quality of its food ingredients, and especially its creative dessert offerings. My first dining experience at Pushkar was purely by chance. I was staying near Brindley Place, and happened to be walking past the restaurant, when I decided to stop and check out the menu. The duck masala sounded interesting, so I decided to try it, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. The thick tomato-based curry had a fantastic flavor profile that consisted of garlic, ginger, black pepper and red chilies. It paired well with basmati rice and a side of raita. Since my first visit, I have dined at Pushkar a few more times, and have always enjoyed everything I have tried. The murgh korma stands out as a rich, creamy, nutty curry dish that is perfect for you if you are in the mood for something less spicy. The innovative desserts at Pushkar are a major draw for me. The gajar ka halwa tart with pistachio ice cream is my personal favorite. The garam masala brulee sounded interesting, but didn't taste too different from regular crème brulee; the garam masala in it was really only a hint of cinnamon. It still was pretty tasty. The chocomosa is a filo samosa filled with chocolate and roast almonds, and is served with a scoop of cappuccino ice cream. Why had nobody else ever thought of creating a chocolate samosa, and if they did, why had I never eaten one before? Friends, if you find yourselves in Brummy, you must treat yourselves to a meal at Pushkar. It is truly deserving of all of the awards that have been bestowed upon it, including the 2015 British Curry Award, the 2015 Best of Broad Street Award, and the 2015 English Curry Award.

Elevated Indian food. Loved the tandoori tofu! The vegetable korma, saag paneer and lamb shank…read morewere all excellent and the mushroom rice was a perfect accompaniment. Rocky was our server and was excellent. I was a bit miffed that they didn't have any Rieslings or wines that pair well with Indian Food. We have Rose Champagne - good but surprised at the lack of wines that are notorious for working well with Indian food.

This is a good little Indian takeaway! I have been here a few times and I have always found the…read morefood really good. It is a standard size inside and the staff that work there always seem to be quite happy and friendly. The menu is quite big and I always spend a while studying it before I decide on what I want. I always like to try new dishes and as the food is good here I am not shy at trying new dishes. Sometimes the staff recommend dishes to me if I am spoilt for choice and annoying my other half whilst attempting to make some sort of decision. I can really recommend the Kadai Paneer and the Lamb Coconut Fry. All are very delicious and flavoursome. The prices are quite cheap too, which is even more of a bonus. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in the Harborne area.

I loved this place - now admittedly when I went I was both a tad 'jaded' (for that read hungover)…read moreand a tad hungry (for that read on a diet) so perhaps a Pot Noodle and a bag of Quavers would've impressed but I do think generally the food here is something a bit special. I had tandoori fish to start - bit expensive, but gorgeous fish cooked in a tangy sauce (actually drooling a bit as I type this) so worth it. Then for mains I had a Dosa filled with chicken - which came on a tray with sauces - a bit like those trays you used to get at school but with much nicer food and best of all I had Masalla chips to accompany it. These were amazing and an ideal hangover cure! The staff are nice and you can take your own drinks in so it works out quite cheap. Decor isn't anything amazing but it's clean and serviceable. It's a slight walk out of Harborne - near the now closed Scarlet Pimpernel and on first glance you might think it was a takeaway. Don't be put off, this really is a lovely place.

This has got to be be best Indian takeaway in the south of Birmingham! The food arrives on time and…read moreis always piping hot! No matter what you order it tastes amazing, they will cater to specific needs and add/remove items as requested. Give it a try!

I visited Mela just before Christmas for a Christmas curry with three friends…read more Although I've lived in Harborne for three years now, this was my first visit to Mela *hangs head in shame*. In fact it was my first time out for a sit down curry in as many years. It's something that I used to do a lot as a couple, but being single one heads more to pubs and bars than restaurants. I don't know why, it just works out like that. Mela sits above Haart (I think they're related to the Quagaars), in the centre of Harborne High Street. That's not centre as in the middle of the road, otherwise one would get run over by a bus whist stuffing down a balti. Ok, it's half way along the high street (How's that?). The décor is classic for it's genre; high back leather chairs, strange abstract art on the walls, low lighting and fine white linen on the tables. Mela is a Bangladeshi balti house. I believe it's named after the Boishakhi Mêla), which is East London's celebration of the Bengali New Year and is the largest Bengali celebration outside of Bangladesh. I generally find the level of service is much higher in South Asian restaurants, than in those that're British ran around the same price range, and Mela was no exception. The waiters are attentive, but not pushy. As one would expect at such venues the beer is the (modern) traditional Cobra, priced at £3.95 for a 660ml bottle, which is cheaper than a pint in most of Harborne's pubs. I opted for the 'Chicken Shashlick Bhuna Balti', (which is described as "diced chicken cooked with oil, garlic, ginger and homemade shashlick sauce with diced bell peppers and onions in a medium sauce served in a traditional balti dish"), with a Keema Naan. It was so delicious, I just wanted to put it in my face for ever! Two of associates ordered the Tawa, which arrived at the table sizzling on a traditional tawa dish, adding a touch of theatre to the experience. Needless to say, we were all very pleased with our choices. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos, as I was too busy enjoying myself. None of us had any rice, just a main + naan each, but we were all completely and contentedly stuffed! We paid £75 between the four of us, which included a £10+ tip, so I guess It came to just over £15 each - not bad for a delicious meal & large beer. I'm certainly going to return, and may have to drag some more people along next time!

Popped in here rather later in the evening than I like to eat, but it had been a very long day and…read moreI was in need of sustenance. There's not much else around in this area, and this place was a) open, and b) errr... open. It wasn't exactly busy, but the staff were very welcoming and made us feel at home without being overly-fussy. We were instantly offered popadums and a drinks order was soon placed for some Cobra beer. Very soon the combination of beer and popadums started to relax the tensions of the day. I wasn't starving hungry and didn't want to eat a large meal this late, so I settled for the fish bhuna and a plain nan. The food was absolutely delicious I have to say - very tasty without being too spicy. Just what was needed for a late evening meal. A surprising little gem of a curry house in this deserted stretch of Hagley Road. Well worth visiting if you're passing - they deserve the custom.

The Banu is modern restaurant situated on the busy Hagley Road, close to the areas of Edgbaston,…read moreHarborne and Bearwood. The restaurant has been here since the 1970s and has changed management many times. I happily chatted to the current manager whilst I was eating at my table. He was a friendly chap and told me that he was in partnership in the 1980s and now fully owns the restaurant. The décor inside the restaurant is pristine and inviting. It has a contemporary approach that reflects the modern style cuisine that they serve. Their mission is clearly stated on the menu and that is to serve the best in authentic food of the Indian Subcontinent, specialising in the Indian and Bangladeshi Cuisine. The specialty dishes include Madras, Bhuna, Kurma, Balti Pathia, Rogan Josh and Karai The Chefs specials Chicken Salami Singri Saag Chicken chilli & Garlic Massalla Chicken & King Prawn Anarkali I had a very hot Madras and a Mango Lassi to help reduce the heat levels. I enjoyed the succulent chicken and the rich sauce that it was served in. The service was quite good and the staff were very friendly. I will be sure to come here again.

I had a last minute call from my Brother last night saying that he was going to Akbars and did I…read morewant to go.....obviously with the temptation of a restaurant I haven't tried before I couldn't resist.....30 minutes later was being picked up to go and see what it was all about. The restaurant itself is on the Hagley Road just a little bit up from Five Ways in a large white building. You walk in and are instantly hit by the grandeur of the place with marble, statues and artwork all over the restaurant and reception areas. We needed to wait for a table so were given a buzzer and were invited to take a seat at the bar. We were quickly seated and shown the food menus after about 10 minutes.....when you don't ave a reservation I think thats pretty good! The food is very much what you would expect from a curry house with a huge list of classic curry dishes and starters. We went for popadoms and dips to start....I then went for chicken pakora and shish kebabs as my main.....I had already eaten before I left the house so was just being greedy at this point....this was my attempt at having something healthier haha. Everything was perfectly cooked and delicious and the prices were really reasonable! Both starters were only around £3.50 a plate and were a good size portion! I was going to be super harsh and give this place four stars due to a slightly dirty menu and the fact the tables are pretty close together but can you really mark somewhere down for being busy and popular? The staff here cannot do enough for you and I think its a great touch that the chefs bring out the food! If you want a curry....at a reasonable price.....in an interesting setting...why not give this place a go.

Great restaurant. They helped arranged a wedding reception dinner. The food was amazing and staff…read morewere probably the most friendly, charming and easy to work with. We're very patient and tolerant with my relatives. I couldn't have asked for a better place. The decor and overall setting is very pleasant and gives a more relaxed intimate feel perfect for small parties.

I went here for a work do with colleagues. Upon arrival we were greeted by very friendly staff who…read moredirected us to a bar/waiting area which had lovely comfy seating and decor that added to the calm, pleasant ambiance. We ordered drinks and sometime later they took our orders, starters and mains. A little later we were directed to our table and staters served. I had the Chicken Tikka starter which was delicious, I ended up practically inhaling it. A jug of water was on the table throughout and we could order more drinks at anytime, staff will periodically walk past and observe your table to see if anything is needed to be taken away or to give you to opprtunity to ask for something. This is done discreetly, they don't interrupt you. We were largely served by what appeared to be either the manager or head waiter, based on how he directed other staff, makes sense, our group was the largest there, 11 people. He announced an 7-8 minute break before mains would be served, this helped as it gave us a chance to nip for a loo break or for some of our table to go for some "fresh air" outside. Mains were served, I had the Chicken Jalfrazi (sp?!) which was also gorgeous. It and the rice are served seperately and you arrange food onto your plate yourself. Any naans are served on little boxes which house candles for lightining on the table, we had just ordered a few of each type for the table alongside some veggie sides for the table as well, we all took what we wanted. Once mains were done, we were asked if we wanted desert, a popular desert was strongly pushed by the staff serving us, but I opted for vanilla ice cream, which was served with a light topping of chocolate sauce, it was also gorgeous. Overall a fantastic night, good food which came to aboutb £50 per head all in all.

If you get the most delectable Indian food at home, you have extremely high standards when you eat…read moreout at an Indian Restaurant. However, there is only one eatery that I recommend for the best Indian food in Birmingham, and that's Rajdoot Restaurant. It's testament to fine dining in elegant surroundings without pretentious prices or service. The staff is always welcoming and professional. If you're planning on visiting over a weekend then I recommend you book a table because this restaurant is a popular place. My absolute favourite is the creamy makhan chicken with chilli and coriander naan....I'm salivating at the thought of it! Street parking is available, which is free in the evenings. There is also a function room for private events where the restaurant offers set menus priced per person.