As I have family and friends living in Aldridge, I always have a mooching around the village. Yes,…read moreI love how English people refer sometimes to their local commercial area as "the village". At least my auntie Kate does it, and I do like what I find in the village. Simply Delicious is one of the gems of Aldridge. A cosy independent Café and restaurant in the middle of the High Street that is already in the list of favourite places to take a friend ( or family ) for a catching up. The place is always packed and sometimes is difficult to find a table available, but it just an adding to the success of this independent business. Simply Delicious is not just a café but also a delicatessen with a range of products that they are proud of offer in the shop. From typical Made in Britain cheese to fine chocolates and jams, everything is fresh and in a very affordable price. It's always a great idea to check their products before leave the place. It's almost impossible to not take something back home. The menu itself is also quite yummy. I always keep an eye on the deluxe and classic paninis options. Last time I have visited my choice was a chicken breast n mayo that was served with side salad and crisps. It was divine. The food presentation is also taken seriously at Simply Delicious. It's to eat with your eyes indeed! The average price for a sandwich in this place is £ 6.50 and for the size of each portion I could say you pay for what you eat. And after heard so many good things about their Chef specialties menu I am honestly thinking about treating myself with a proper meal next time I visit Simply Delicious.

This turned out to be a impromptu visit after a late night, and when only a full English breakfast…read morewould do. This is a delightful coffee shop and deli rolled into one, which has a lovely local community feel to it. Arriving at 10am the restuarant was already busy, and I managed to bag the last table deliberating what to have for breakfast. They have an extensive breakfast menu which includes items such as eggs benedict, muffin with smoked salmon and scrambled egg, and a full English breakfast. There are a variety of hot and cold beveages to choose from - Milkshakes, Hot Chocolate, and specality teas. They also have a lunchtime menu, and items are available for takeaway. Some of their deli products come direct from Italy and Spain and they have a variety of homemade cakes. My eyes lit up when I saw the carrot cake, but that will have to wait until another time! All of their deli items can be gift wrapped, and included in a hamper - perfect for a pressie. The service was friendly and the food fresh and delicious! I shall be returning to sample the lunchtime menu and their homemade cakes of course!

The best greasy spoon in North Birmingham, The Teapot Cafe has been on The Circle in Kingstanding…read morefor donkeys years. Here you can stop off and grab a quick hot sandwich or a full meal for a very good price, cooked fresh as you order it and absolutely the very best hangover cure ever! I love the bacon and sausage sandwiches (sometimes topped with a nice fried egg), the food is never overly greasy and never swimming in oil like some other cafes in the area. It's usually the same guy serving and he's great, it goes from empty to packed to the rafters and back to empty again almost in an instant so he must never get a rest while the cafe is open! I'm always impressed that he knows exactly what my daughter wants every time she goes in even though it's not very often she visits with me - it's scrambled eggs on toast every time for her here, she loves them because they are so buttery and creamy. I usually visit with my three daughters and we'll all have a sandwich (apart from the baby who has toast) and this costs under £10 including a drink each, which I'm sure you'll agree is a very good price for a lovely filling sarnie in this cold weather. The interior isn't that of a Michelin starred restaurant of course, it's formica and plastic all the way in The Teapot but I don't care about this because at the end of the day it's a cafe for a quick snack and not the sort of place I'd bring the love of my life for a special meal!

It's now called Bennies Diner and had a complete refit and is under new management.Fantastic food…read moreand reasonably priced.

Breakfast Review: An…read moreimmaculately clean cafe, with mod like artwork. The place was staffed by a couple of young ladies that being honest, didn't seem to want to be there, though they were efficient. They do an array of breakfasts, based on English historical figures, (Nelson, Churchill, Henry VIII). Ingredients are cheap, however, prices are equally cheap. I opted to go for the Nelson, a small breakfast, consisting of a sausage, bacon, an egg, mushrooms, a hash brown, toast and a complimentary coffee, all for just £3.60! Its good value breakfast.

I went for Afternoon Tea with my Son and Grand daughter. It was the hottest day of the year so far…read moreand the Schools were off due to local elections so it was very busy, no seating room available outside. The Menu is fantastic I had afternoon Tea with Scone, clotted cream and a little pot of jam for £4.95. It was delicious. My son had a Panini and chips which was huge and my Grand Daughter had a fruit shoot and ice cream. The staff are lovely and I love the little milk bottles they give you. I remember when this was just a shack many years ago but it is well worth a visit for breakfast or brunch. Its a dog friendly place so be prepared for lots of dogs, prams and pushchairs are not allowed in the dining area so you have to leave them outside. they close at 4.30pm https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g190731-d2078219-r370626047-Blackroot_Bistro-Sutton_Coldfield_West_Midlands_England.html#

A quick little tale: Sometime in 2006, my girlfriend of the time and I were walking through Sutton…read morePark and we came across this abandoned little building. "That'd be a goldmine if you turned it into a restaurant" we agreed (one of the few things we did agree on). Rather than taking advantage of our entreprenurial insight, we watched instead as some clever people did indeed turn it into a restaurant and are probably making a fortune from it. And deservedly so. Set in beautiful scenery (car park notwithstanding), it's a little pricey, but then it is near the gate which leads onto Four Oaks Estate which a few years ago boasted the most expensive road to live on in the country. My current girlfriend and I swung by there for a cuppa not so long ago and we agreed it was very nice (one of the many things we do agree on). The place was practically empty but then the weather was bad. If you've got the money and the feet, it's definitely worth the stroll.

There is nothing wrong with a venue offering table seating but requiring counter-service - it…read moredoesn't automatically put a venue as charmingly-set as this into the bracket of a fast food place fronted by that red-haired clown. You just may, however, regret placing your breakfast or lunch order over a counter showcasing cakes that are to pudding what Scooby Doo's sandwiches are to the savoury option. And if you do decide to take out - after a full English - a banoffee pie that, frozen, would work as a doorstop, you may not want to look behind you at the chiller full of ice cream. Its setting within the Mitchells arts and craft centre - quiet and, perhaps even a touch exclusive - is only half the story. What really sets the venue apart is the view of the sweeping fields beyond its far wall. If you manage to bag a corner with comfy armchairs, you could even engage in playing a spot of house, albeit with a tinge of if-I-won-the-lottery fantasy. Fields and a fry-up... this is England

My husband and myself came here on the 10th July, for a full english breakfast. It was lovely I…read morewould really recommend this place.

Breakfast Review:…read more Today was a treat. I was recommended this place by a business colleague and thought it was worth trying out. I didn't realise it was a Greek restaurant and a cafe, but it appears that it is. The interior is clean and spaced out well, with a counter at the front and a spotlessly clean open kitchen at the rear. First off was ordering drinks, Orange juice 'carton or fresh squeezed sir?' The perfect question. I went for fresh squeezed, a rare treat. Coffee was excellent too. Then came the breakfast: as near to perfection as you could get. One juicy plump sausage, 2 griddled pieces of bacon, mushrooms, perfectly cooked tomato, black pudding to die for, beans were served in a ramekin, (its a personal thing, I HATE beans on my breakfast plate), 2 eggs that personified the perfect egg. Proper toast made it even better. The service was superb too, from the lovely lady taking the orders, through to the chefs cooking and the serving staff too. Freshly squeezed orange juice, large coffee and Full English for just £10.40. Superb. I think I have a new favourite :0) 9/10 (another round of toast would have made it perfect!)

I really loved Raphaels when I visited it recently. I had been the victim of some road rage in the…read morecar park down the road but entering here was instantly relaxing and I loved the chilled out feeling. Often when cafés call themselves a 'lounge' you don't feel comfortable enough to lounge, however here was the opposite. The atmosphere is laid back and the staff are friendly and efficient. The menu is really well thought out and I love that they have classics alongside slightly jazzed up versions of things. Certain things with a twist caught my eye like the mezze lunch (but I'll eat anything with halloumi in), the spiced hot chocolate and the salsa chicken hot wrap. They all sound delicious and not the same old thing you'd usually find in a café. My toasted tea cake and cuppa really did the trick and it was inexpensive.

I was browsing Great Barr area when I have found Cagney's. It's a quite nice cafe to pop up if you…read morefancy a cup of tea or coffee after your shopping has done. Or even if you work around it's a good option for a breakfast. As it's a quite new business in the area as well. So expects a quite fresh and enthusiast staff. It's a quite simple place so don't expect a modern and funky furniture inside.It's a plain and quite straight forward decor. The menu is quite varied. Sandwiches, Panini, classic and special big breakfast, omelettes, salads, jack potatoes and special meal for kids. With a vast clientele in the area They delivery is for free if the order is a walking distance one and there is Wi-Fi in the locale.

We walk past The Deli around once a week when grocery shopping and finally decided to pop in for a…read moreglass of wine over the weekend. Based on the atmosphere and quality of wine, I love this little spot. It is so cosy. We were the only customers in the store and received superb service. The owner runs this location and a few other shops, plus hosts food tents at festivals during Christmas. She came over to our table and made some wine recommendations and gave us a bowl of crisps on the house. My partner, Seth S., and I both ordered the Pinot Noir from Romania. It was delightfully full-bodied and smooth. The lighting is dimmed just enough to encourage good conversation and a comfortable atmosphere. There are two main rooms for seating, each with groupings of chairs or booths around bistro style tables. The art and decor feel like a brasserie. I would highly recommend The Deli for a delicious glass of wine (or 3) and great conversation with friends.

Breakfast Review:…read more One of the best Full English breakfasts in the Midlands! Its a wonderful deli, on the High Street in Boldmere, with outdoor seating - which is superb when the sun comes out! The breakfasts are awesome. Superb sausages, great bacon, exceptional bread, (the deli sells some of the best bread in Birmingham). 2 succulent sausage, 2 bacon, fried egg, 2 half tomatoes, mushrooms. toast, quality butter. Its one of the best in Birmingham, (I rate it joint 2nd). The staff are great, headed by Pip the owner and her team of assistants, (including sons). The only real problem with this place is that I always spend a fortune on their amazing cheeses, breads, cakes and pate's. Try it. You will thank me!

This unusual and wonderfully exclusive Italian-themed café offers reasonably priced food and drink…read moreand an elegant, very pleasant atmosphere. Inside, almost every table benefits from large, comfortable leather armchairs and the walls are laden with canvas prints and photographs depicting famous scenes from the Godfather movies. The café is sizeable and airy, the tables are well spaced apart and wooden flooring and mid-room pillars enhance the luxurious ambience. The Italian theme continues even more once you pick up a menu, as most sandwiches and dishes are named after the gangster franchise's most popular characters. There are also large flat-screen televisions on the walls and enticing homemade cakes on display at the counter. Perhaps the best thing about the place, however, is that the swanky set-up and plush interior are in a way, misleading. That's right. Café Vito's prices are surprisingly cheap. I paid £4.45 for a cheese, tomato and pesto Panini (Or a 'Michael Corleone' in Café Vito terms), which came with chips and coleslaw; proving this coffee shop-come-Italian eatery to be much more reasonable than The Deli just over the road, which prices its sandwiches and baguettes at £9 plus! I also ordered a latte, which was smooth and creamy, yet just strong enough for my liking. Café Vito's seems to tick all the right boxes and I can safely say that I'll definitely be stopping by again in the near future!

Here's a test, perhaps even an offer you can't refuse: While waiting for your sandwich or cake -…read moreand very nice they are - see whether you can avoid whistling The Godfather theme. I've tried and I cannot. And, with Pacino eyeballing you from every corner, it's not just the decor with the feel of the Corleone clan... every sandwich on the menu is named after a character in Coppola's masterpiece (well, masterpieces; and I think we can agree to ignore Part III). If you've always wanted to sink your teeth into a Luca Brasi or Consigliere Tom Hagen, this is the place. Everyone is accounted for, apart from the horse's head, of course. The venue, unlike Connie's wedding, is compromised for space, but it would just about be okay but for, regrettably, some less-than-perfect service. On three separate occasions, at least one order among my party has been incorrect - and not always rectified when brought back. It put silly into Sicilian. I don't take offence - it wasn't my daughter's wedding day after all - and, unlike Fredo, it didn't break my heart. You just wonder what Don Corleone would make of it all: "my sandwich, my beautiful sandwich." A cafe based on a masterpiece deserves better.

After work food and cocktails. Definitely a bit of a funny one for covid restrictions, but because…read moreit still feels very big, you do feel nicely spaced out from people. I got their later than everyone else, so I missed out on the food, but everyone else was full and impressed. The cocktails were good- I would probably rank them as "definitely better than Wetherspoons, but not as good as a proper cocktail place" App for ordering worked well, and staff were nice enough.

One of only two salads in the world that I CRAVE - it's that good…read more I've been to Quinto Lounge twice now and both times chose the Big Lounge Salad as my entree. Both visits were on a Sunday during lunch and the food preparation was perfect. The Big Lounge salad boasts a delightful variety of flavors and textures. I really like the tarragon mustard seed vinaigrette as it brings a level of brightness to the vegetables and blends well with the creamy ripe avocado chunks. This past Sunday, I ordered the Sherbet Lemonade. At 2 quid something a glass, this beverage is spectacular and definitely worth the price tag. Think of it as dessert or nice virgin cocktail. The playful presentation and summery sweetness make it hard not to gulp the whole glass before the meal arrives. I really dig the decor in this place. It feels somewhat like a vintage 70s art lounge, with groovy wallpaper and large framed paintings covering the full length of the main wall. There is ample seating and comfortable chairs. Seating arrangements are nicely spaced to create privacy and patrons are welcomed to stay for an afternoon with board games and a mini-library. The lighting features are custom crafted from salvaged naval lanterns and the wall of windows facing the road provide a not-too-bright sunlit glow. This is a new go-to place for us!