Situated opposite the newly opened swimming baths at the top end of Harborne, Ristorante Vesuvio is…read morea traditional Italian resteraunt with connections to San Carlo in the city centre. Whilst the decor is a little bit dated the food doesn't dissapoint and the fish dishes in particular are recommended. The staff are attentive and the cakes - which can be seen twirling around in their own revolving display cabinet at the front of the resteraunt (I can't tell you how much I love this) are generous in size and tasty. It's pretty big inside so can cater for larger parties and despite the proliferation of Italian eateries in Harborne it is a popular destination so booking, especially at weekends might be advisable.

Unlike other restaurants in this day n' age, Casa Italia pride themselves on using fresh food,…read moreprepared to order in what is a refreshing and reassuring relief. If you're into authentic Italian dining, then Casa Italia could well be the place for you. Located on the Hagley Road, heading into town, the Italian offers a wide range of traditional meals, that you would come to expect from such an establishment. Not only do they serve great food, but the top quality customer service alongside it, is a joy to behold. After passing by Casa Italia on numerous occasions, I must admit, I had my doubts, but I was proven wrong. The Calzone I ordered, for just over £10 was more than I could stomach, but how much I did eat, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I will definitely be back after what I could only describe as a pleasantly surprising dining experience.

Casa italia is a great restaurant which deserves to have high recommendations!…read moreIt is situated on the Hagley Road and the exterior is very deceiving as it is very large inside and has an upstairs aswell. It gets very busy on a weekend and thursday night, and so booking in advance is best. The food is very good, authentic Italian and has a large quality menu. The service is excellent, and they are very friendly and helpful. The price of the food is good, a bit higher than normal, but it reflects the quality of the food.

Ok, f me this place is amazing. Just the service and pizza alone is world class, wine, pasta! Wow…read moreno brainer must visit and enjoy!

Cute family run business right in the heart of Birmingham....visited with a couple of Friends on…read morethe weekend and really enjoyed the welcome and the food. I went for the bruschetta to start which was served with roasted vegetables which was both fresh and a great start to the meal.....I then had the lasagna for my main. I couldn't go for an italian and not try the lasagne its just an absolute staple. This one was light and delicious with loads of cheese......a bit of a naughty but nice vibe.....you could literally taste the calories! My mates went for carbonara type dishes and everything again looked fresh well presented. I also need to mention they have a dough station/chef making fresh pizza bases at the back on the shop.....I bet the pizzas are amazing....will be back. The meal with wine came to around £60 for the three off us which i thought was really reasonable! Dont be put off by the no frills look of the front of this place its got a great vibe and some seriously good food!

Valentinos is located Harborne just a short walk away from some of the best pubs in Birmingham…read more This privately owned restaurant oozes individuality and is a great destination if you're looking to take someone out for pizza or pasta with a difference. When you arrive in the restaurant, you will be pleasantly surprised by the Italian atmosphere which is often lost with Italian chains such as Pizza Hut! The waiters were dressed smartly which contributed to the relaxed yet stylish vibe. We shared the bbq pizza and a roasted vegetable pasta bake. mama mia it was delicious!

Valentino's is one of the older (if not the oldest) Italian eateries in Harborne. It's very much…read morestill a popular choice and in many ways it's easy to see why - staff are attentive and charming without being too clingy. The food - a mixture of Italian classics such as Lasagne and Spaghetti Bolognese as well as more obscure fish and veal dishes are delicious and the wine list is extensive and well chose. There's a nice atmosphere about the pace and on some nights they lay on live entertainment - mostly jazz. It gets busy at lunchtimes - with a few tables outside and whilst it's a little bit more expensive than some of the bigger chains it is worth it. They also have a Christmas menu (and are open on Christmas day) which comes with recommendations.

We really love this place, the food is so much more authentic than some of the chains such as…read morezizzi! Their brushetta is the nicest ive had anywhere-i tend to order this as generally healthiest option and no dairy! Emporio marias are definitely the winners! The pennete al salmone is also really lovely, my failsafe dish. My fiance had spaghetti Bolognese which also looked really good. The roast potatoes are also really delicious!

It's been a while since I've dined under a cypress tree fresco, I think it was 1997 in fact when…read morethe world was going Changing Rooms mad, but we did so at Emporio Maria Italian Restaurant on Harborne High Street just a week or so ago. The décor is rather odd with cow hide chairs in the window, frescoes of Italian landscapes on the walls, a chinese paper screen, a Moorish lamp, and some draped fake ivy, but all in it has quite a charming effect. I was half expecting the fake ivy to be caked in dust as fake flowers are usually the go-to product for those who can't be bothered with real ones, but the whole place was scrupulously clean - not a speck of dust in sight, it all feels very well cared for. That feeling extends to the service; polite and chatty waitresses are happy to explain the dishes or to recommend a wine to go with something. For starters we had the Calamari Fritti (£6.55), deep fried squid, dusted with egg and semolina flour, served with tartar sauce. It was a very large portion, the batter was crisp, and the squid soft and not at all chewy, and the dish was served with some lovely olives and some dressed leaves. Great dish all in I thought. We also had the Polpeta di Melanzane (£5.95), aubergine balls with chillies, breadcrumbs, sundried tomatoes, and basil, served with spiced tomato dip. In contrast to the calamari I thought this dish was a little undersized and that the aubergine balls were bland, though the spicy tomato sauce was nice. It was also served with undressed leaves, which is a pet hate of mine. For mains I had Vitello Saltibocca (£15.50), veal escalopes served in a marsala wine, and sage sauce topped with Parma ham. I loved this dish, it took me back to being in a Tuscan farm house. Sage isn't en vogue at the moment but it's one of my favourite herbs, and it suited the veal perfectly. The veal wasn't quite trimmed enough for me and the fat on it was not edible, much too chewy. We also had the Petto di Pollo al Miele (£11.95), breast of chicken, in a honey mustard cream sauce. The chicken was moist, the sauce rich, and the chips crispy, pretty much as I would have expected. We were a bit surprised that the chicken was served on the side of the sauce, the dish wasn't a looker. For dessert we had the tiramisu, obviously, which we really liked. While overall the dishes were enjoyable, they suffered from rather mediocre presentation. I can't help but think that if I'd have had a £15 main from The Pickled Piglet or other venues that it would've been presented better. It was reasonably busy on a Friday evening when we went but I do wonder whether an update to something a bit more modern would make it busier - both in terms of the interior and the food presentation. We will go back because we enjoyed the evening, but it feels like one of those places not quite living up to its potential.

I've been to Buonissimo! twice and will be going back again…read more The whole dining experience is a mix of comfortable and classy-- it manages to feel upscale without being pretentious. It's a bit more pricey than some of the other restaurants in Harborne but not outrageous, and the service and food are absolutely incredible. The staff are very welcoming and attentive but not overbearing. Both times walking in someone immediately offered to take my coat, and even though we had bookings (once with a group of 4 and once as a couple) we were given a choice of seating. The menu is seasonal and changes, but the deep fried goat's cheese as a starter was fantastic, as was the mozzarella filled gnocchi in a pomodoro sauce. My husband ordered an asparagus-stuffed chicken breast that he said was cooked perfectly, served with a generous side of really delicious sautéed potatoes (which I deviously stole from his plate throughout the evening). It's just really elegant, delicious, Italian food that seems much more 'authentic' than any other Italian place I've tried in Birmingham. The only thing I've been disappointed with is the antipasto. It was basically a large plate of lettuce with an unexpectedly small amount of cured meats and an olive or two- I've had much better antipasto platters elsewhere. I'd go for one of the other starters, for sure (like the goat's cheese! They also do a great bruschetta).

Ever time I walk past this place it seems to be full, so when we needed a place to eat for a…read morecelebratory meal I jumped at the opportunity to suggest Buonissimo! Monday evening at 7pm and the ground floor was full, but our party of 7 was seated comfortably upstairs - in fact we almost had it to ourselves. I liked the intimate feel but this means that booking is a must! The two members of staff that served us were really attentive and polite. They made a big fuss of the hero of the group who had just recieved his Doctorate which was a really nice personal touch. A service charge of 10% is added to groups of six or more which is a practice I normally dislike although in this instance it was deserved. Food wise everyone left with full bellies and a satisfied appetite. For myself as a vegatarian there is always a limited choice, although they offer to exchange the meat in some of the pasta dishes for veggie options so I was more than content. Our mixed bruschetta starter was a safe option but tasty and introduced me to baked garlic, I ate the whole bulb! I had a delicous pasta dish for my main with peas, pistachio nuts and pecorino, there should of been cured pork too but I had asapargus. Best pasta I've eaten since Italy. Can't wait to go back and will be taking advantage of their early dining menu (18:00 - 19:30) where you can have three courses for £15.50.

I know many people don't like chain restaurants. Yes Ask is a chain. A delicious, fresh,…read moreaffordable, fast service chain. I've seen quite a few of these places around Birmingham. My partner in crime had a few reward vouchers to redeem that were good for quite a few chains around Brum. But I nominated Ask. We visited a large and easily accessible location on Hagley Road. It had a nice (and free) car park. As we walked toward the entrance I noticed a few picnic benches out front that would be lovely to sit out on a warm summers eve. Too bad summer is already over. The dining area was a good size. We had no trouble getting seated. A server quickly greeted us and took our drink order. I always appreciate prompt service like that. The menu had a good variety of pizzas, pasta, and seafood. We decided to go for the antipasto board to share, a lobster prawn pasta dish for myself, and a fancy chicken pizza for my companion. The cocktail menu was on the smaller size, but that didn't stop me from trying it! I had the delicious Italian Twinkle which was a refreshing mix of Prosecco, elderflower, vodka and lemon. And since I'm a glutton for these fruity drinks I had another round. This time Moscato D'Asti with raspberries. Both were wonderful, sweet, and fruity. The antipasto starter was alright. It was a mixture of a few things. Not my ideal choice, but nice to try. The rosemary and sea salt bread that came with it was lovely. My main was excellent. There were large chunks of seafood in it. The pasta tasted very fresh. The croutons were a bit odd because they seemed a bit soggy. Overall a really great choice. I would definitely choose it again! I actually liked it so much I wanted seconds!! Since there's no unlimited pasta at Ask, I had to get a dessert to fill me ;) I chose the grande gelato. It wasn't that pretty to look at, but what it lacked in looks it made up for in taste. It was a couple scoops of creamy vanilla gelato mixed with fresh berries, cream, and pieces of meringue. It reminded me of an of Eaton Mess, a better version though. I had a great experience at Ask. Nothing but great food and friendly service. It wouldn't take much to persuade me to return again.

I was a bit dubious about visiting this restaurant, but as it was a hen do I didn't have a lot of…read morechoice in the matter so I smiled sweetly and got on with it. And - shockingly - I had a great time! I opted for their Risotto Verde - and they happily made it without cheese for me, and it was delicious. Perfect to go with a crisp white wine - though I have no idea what wine we had as someone else ordered it, and my memory for names is shocking. We had a really long table that easily accomodated all 20 of us, and even though it meant I could only speak to those who were right next to me, it was still absolutely fine as we then went out drinking afterwards. Well done Ask for offering an affordable and non-hideous option for a hen-do meal!

Piccolino is one of the most authentic Italian restaurants I have been to in Birmingham. Slightly…read morehidden around one of the quieter squares in Brindley place a few people I have spoken to about it don't know this place exists....they really need to! Upon arrival at the restaurant for a friends birthday we were quickly welcomed by two very happy waiters who quickly took our coats and asked us if we would like to get a drink in the bar area while we wait for our other guests. Within seconds our drink orders had been taken and we were taken to a booth to sit down and relax. As soon as our other guests arrived we were taken around to our table which had been beautifully laid out with everything you could need and more, our drinks were brought over for us and we were offered a look at the menu. The menu is pretty much what you would expect from an Italian restaurant with a whole host of pastas, salads and pizzas all with mouth watering descriptions which instantly mades you want to eat everything! I went for the spinach and ricotta tortellini which was fantastic! It was beautifully crafted and presented with rich and tasty dressing over the pasta shells. After such a good main meal we decided to go all out and order a desert......I went for the tiramisu. This was also very well prepared and again I could not fault it. This is somewhere I would really only go for a treat as it is slightly more expensive than some of the other restaurants in the area but what a treat it is. The staff are some of the best and most helpful I have ever come across and the food is spot on.

Piccolino, has to be a role model for that great dining out experience…read more Meeting a friend here for a quick brunch last week, the place doesn't disappoint, and you'll want to come again. We sat outside in the gorgeous sunshine, although the seating inside is elegant with bright red sofas, you feel you want to dress for the occasion and make a full day of it, it's so nice. Quieter in the day than the evenings, the Italian food is delightful. We tried the grilled asparagus with poached eggs, and shared a Margherita pizza for our mains. The ingredients they use in their meals are fine, and the options form part of their spring menu. A nice light lunch, washed down with Rose, at a decent price too. They ideal place to go for top quality exquisite food within an elegant and well designed restaurant. The waiters make you feel very relaxed and advise you on what's best to try if you've not visited before. They also have a Royal Ascot ladies lunch, available from the 21st June 2012, if your after something special.