This is a lovely English brasserie and champagne bar located on the top floor of Selfridges. As the…read morename implies, it is a balcony that overlooks the Bullring shopping centre. Lovely and clean environment, comfy chairs and brilliant service. The menu is not too fussy, with a lot of popular favourites on offer. I went with the 'Lake District cheese & bacon burger with fries' (£14) and my friend 'halloumi, red pepper, avocado, sweet chilli burger with polenta chips' (£12.50). Both were very enjoyable, well presented, and well seasoned. I then tried their americano coffee, a lovely bean, a good job with the extraction, and they even included warm milk to not ruin the delicate tastes. Price isn't too bad, three courses you can have for £30-40 per head excluding drinks.

I have had this place bookmarked on Yelp since moving here. I was so thrilled when my boyfriend…read morereserved us a table for a Sunday picnic afternoon tea. It is located on the 4th floor of Selfridges with only a few tables overlooking the Bull Ring. We were sat immediately in a crowded section of tiny tables. I assumed since we booked the afternoon tea we would be sat at a one of the many empty nice large tables along the balcony. Maybe you need to request it? So we wedged into our tiny table and waited... It was about ten minutes until we were waited on. There definitely was not a heavy focus on customer service here. After our order was placed, the table next to us had to call over our server just to take their order. I wouldn't expect that from an upscale brasserie like the Balcony. The cocktails here were so tasty. I cannot remember my drink name (Mexican bird maybe) but it had tequila and elderflower. It was served in an unusual glass that reminded me of a reed diffuser jar. I really liked it. The afternoon tea was so cute. It literally was served on a mini picnic table. It was the main reason I wanted to come...that is how cute the picnic table is. The sandwich selection consisted of tuna, cheese and tomato, and coronation chicken. Each was served on a little bun. Desserts were two macarons and a red velvet cupcake. And lastly, two scones with cream and jam finished off the selection. I absolutely loved it! We were each served a surprisingly large pot of loose leaf tea. I think we each made 4 cups out of it! Just be careful not to burn yourself as the teapots are metal and lids don't latch on. I really did enjoy the afternoon tea at the Balcony. Both the food and drinks were fantastic. I do think the service we experienced was sub par for this type of establishment, which is why I'm giving it a 3. I expected a lot more from Selfridges. But I think I would give it another shot. The fish and chips sure looked great.

I'm a bit of a sucker for a voucher. I don't buy loads of them, but occasionally something pops…read moreinto my inbox and either reminds me of somewhere I want to revisit or try... A voucher for this place reminded me that I hadn't been for around 4 years (I know, terrible right?) and I thought it was high time I should go back and give it another go. I actually really love the decor of this place. It's a basement restaurant and bar (hence the name), with the entrance being located on Newhall Hill. Once you enter and head down the stone steps you are presented with two doors; the entrance to the restaurant and the entrance to the bar. We proceeded to follow the labyrinth to the eatery and found the check in desk with relative ease. The staff were ON IT from the moment we walked in. Reservation confirmed, seated and presented with some water within a couple of minutes. We went on a fairly busy Saturday night, but everyone seemed to be looked after during our visit. There was no snobbishness that we had used a voucher and we were presented with the wine and food menu (which wasn't so large that it was a nightmare to decide, but there was plenty of choice) and left to ponder for a couple of minutes. We opted for a bottle of house white wine (on top of the glass that was included with the deal), which wasn't too overpriced at £16.95 and had a good think about what we were going to have. Our waiter had recommended the pigeon (something that I love, but don't have as often as I would like), so I went for this to start and the venison for main. The first course was bought out piping hot (obviously freshly cooked) and within about 10 minutes of our order. Although the portion wasn't massive, it was very tasty and all of the flavours in the dish complimented the complex flavours in the meat. The venison was the star of the show. This was tender and delicious. Now, not having a huge sweet tooth, I opted for a cheese board for dessert. This looked great (being presented on a slate) and offered 4 kinds of cheese, a range of crackers and a honey jelly (as well as the obligatory celery). We left £20 (with tip and the cost of the wine) and the voucher had cost £29 making the meal just under £50. The cost of a 3 course meal was £25, and 2 course was £22.50 when we visited - so I would say it's pretty reasonable. For a sumptuous dining experience in an underground basement, I would recommend a trip to the Vaults.

The owner of the Vaults, Julian, first opened the bar and restaurant a few years back. Back in…read moreVictorian times, I've heard that the venue was used as a mailing house that had been forgotten as time went by. Luckily for us, Julian found this little jem - which is quite fitting as it's situated in the Jewellery Quarter - and restored it to its full glory keeping the original characteristics including the popular 'vaults' which have been turned into private booth areas. The venue itself is probably one of my favourites not only because of its detailed and stylish décor, but also the quality drinks and delicious food. Daryl the bar manager will ensure your cocktails are mixed to perfection and if you don't see any that you fancy, ask him as he's always busy making his own concoctions. Food wise, I highly recommend pretty much everything on the menu it's that good but my personal favourite has to be the salmon. They often have food deals such as 2 courses for £15 so it's worth checking their website before you book a table.

If you're looking for either a glam night out with the girls, or a night out with the guys checking…read moreout the glam girls then Mechu is the place to go. A firm favourite with the cities footballers and high earning business professionals, you can expect to see bottles of champagne all over the place. I'm 26 and the last time I went I felt quite overwhelmed with how many older men were in there. If you're looking for a wild drunken night with a younger crowd then this probably won't be for you unless you go on the student night which takes place on a Thursday. However if you prefer the idea of drinking with a more mature crowd in quality surroundings then it's definitely worth checking out on a Saturday night. Some of the cities best DJ's can be found playing so you'll be provided with the perfect soundtrack all night long.

Although it seems a bit perfunctory to diss Mechu for its VIP-style snobbery and expensive bar…read moreprices (after all, that's the point!), it has to be said that this is not for the likes of people like me who spent most of their formative clubbing days spilling snakebite over their converse in various dark and dingy indie discos. However, having attended the upmarket Mechu on a couple of occasions for work parties, I'm happy to report it's not without its pleasures. It's a swanky bar and relatively spacious, the music from the decent DJs supplying both a mix of dance and urban cuts. The booths are good if you're in a group, but make sure you have a stacked wallet. The thing that generally puts me off - and why I'm probably not the intended audience in the first place - is the 'footballers wives' vibe it gives off. I'm not into my footie, so I wouldn't recognise the much purported cameos from Villa FC players - however, there are lots of glam, slightly orange women 'coyly' approaching the blokes in smart threads at the bar and suddenly I'm humming the tune to that Amy Winehouse tune 'F### Me Pumps' as it could have been written about this place. If you've got the cash and you want to avoid the lower-rent version that is Rococo on Broad Street, then by all means splash that cash here. I'd rather lounge about in Island Bar, thanks.

The food, service, and ambiance are 10/10. Best food we've ever had, so incredible vibey and…read moreamazing. Stop reading this review and go!!

The food is literally the best food any of us had EVER had!!! The service was INCREDIBLE!! They…read morewere so sweet and so kind. It's so cozy and eclectic and ACCESIBLE for wheelchairs!! STUNNINNNGGG!!!! Obsessed and will be back!

We went for bottonless brunch and it felt rushed. Staff were nice but it put me off coming back…read morethere - the food took a while and then we were asked the would pack the desserts. The overall experience was ruined!

Cocktails are big business in Brum and the mention of a new venue fills me with simultaneous hope…read moreand dread... Will THIS be the place that gets it right or will it be off the mark? I had almost missed the news about this new place opening (which has replaced the Oriental in the Mailbox), but a lovely little bird had informed me of the opening and I managed to bag a last minute place on the guest list to pop along for it's press launch last night. First things first, it looks the BUSINESS. Extravagant, but not tacky; it's a welcome addition to the new class of the Mailbox venues. Me, Dan and Laura C. walked in and immediately noticed the wall of mirrors adorned with quotes (including not one, but two Harry Potter quotes - winner). There is a good mix of table, booth and outdoor seating (giving you the option to sit by the canal or snuggle down in it's plush interior). We bagged a table with the bloggers and settled in to be wowed for the evening. We only tried a few bites (some chorizo and jerk chicken wraps and some tempura prawns), but these were nice enough. The menu the venue now offers seems to be pretty simple (burgers and standard gastro fare), but it's not overly expensive and good stomach lining food to accompany the extensive drinks list. The drinks list is good and surprisingly not pitched at "break the bank" prices. The majority of the cocktails seem to be priced at around £7 - £8 and all have a bit of a ritual around them to prepare. Dry ice, smoke, ridiculous adornments - I think the Mailbox has been waiting for a venue with this kind of artistic flair for some time. Again, I only ventured in on the opening night so am aware that the real offering might end up being amazing for the average punter or there might be problems in the implementation. My main concern was the amount of time that it took to make one cocktail (upwards of 10 minutes) with all the ritual involved... If this place gets as busy as it might end up - it could be a long wait for a drink. That being said, it definitely warrants a revisit to give it another go. I am intrigued to see whether this place will become a Birmingham legend or will end up as a novelty, but initial indications are pretty good. Only time (and several more cocktails) will tell...

If you've just got off the train and want to sit, drink some fizz and do some people watching then…read morethis is the ideal place for you. Located up on the balcony in Grand Central you'll be able to have a nice sit down and enjoy your on tap fizz (it's just a sparkling white but it's pleasant enough), it's open but there's a certain European charm to being just outside of the hustle and bustle. If you are in a group then you'll probably find that you are best asking for a carafe to make the most of you cash (actually I should say card, they often don't accept cash)

I really liked the idea of a wine bar in Grand Central. I wasn't expecting it to be so busy and I…read moredon't think they were either. Every time I go there it is full of groups of people and there aren't that many seats. I've been once and had a glass of prosecco for £5.95. I got served fairly quickly despite the crowds. I'm hoping it will settle down as people get used to Grand Central.

The food here is excellent! We had the prawn balti and the chicken tikka bhuna with garlic naan and…read moreit was absolutely delicious! We did take two pompodoms (sp?) which they charge for, but they brought out a "pickle" tray that had some sauces on it to go with them...when the bill arrived there was an extra 2+ pound charge that they claimed was for that "pickle" tray of dips! So be aware of the sneaky charges they may try to slip past you. This is why I am giving 4 stars instead of 5...you shouldn't try to trick your customers into more charges on their bill. Otherwise it was great.

Really really nice food, prepared well with great service…read more The setting is warm & welcoming & has some of the nicest Indian food I have ever tasted. It takes ages to find a good Indian & have to say that I have not found another one better in a very long time. Some of the dishes could do with being a little hotter but they will make it hotter if you ask :) Well worth the visit or even a fantastic take away!