Great pub, has a very traditional, cozy and casual feel to it, as if I could get a warm beverage…read moreand sit next to a fireplace...no idea if they have one or not but this is the feel I get from Boat Inn! Place is great for families as well as probably dates too and serves pretty good food, typical British pub food plus more. I enjoyed a vegetarian ravioli (delicious) but hesitated between a few other options, including the bass with risotto (colleague ordered) and the veggie burger (other colleague ordered)--both of which they said were quite good as well. Appetizers and desserts both looked great too, but none of us were interested in having more than the main course. Service was a bit all over the place (gave one of us the wrong drink, took a while to get the correct one and the waitress also forgot what one of our orders was but hey, didn't matter too much as it wasn't what I'd consider to be bad either) Hope to go back again at some point to try the other meals they have!

This is a nice cosy pub in Solihull. They have some good dark ales, no blondes ales :-(…read more. Good selection of lagers and other drinks. All the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. Good is great, make sure you check out the mushroom with pepper and Stilton sauce starter!

I've been coming to this Harvester for many many years…read more Unfortunately I have to say that it has dramatically gone down hill over the last few years. You will actually see a review below from my friend (ravenous banana) which was written back in 2012 - I thought it was time to write a review myself. The service here is very poor, the staff always act as if you don't exist. Weather your waiting for a table at the door, waiting for the table to be cleared or even waiting to pay them, you just don't get acknowledged. The majority of the staff are grumpy and half of them have no idea about what's going on. There have been times where I've said I'll just walk away without paying as nobody has any interest in getting the bill or taking a payment. I've had the pleasure of waiting up to 40 - 45 mins just for the bill. The food is average, the portion sizes have decreased recently so your actually getting less for your money. The free salad bar is good however someone needs to re-think where it's placed, there's not a lot of room around it at all. They could also do with adding some new types of salad as it's always the same things (quite boring!). The restaurant itself isn't the cleanest, tables and chairs are clean but the floor usually has half a tonne of food sitting on it. The toilets are ok but there never seems to be any soap in the Men's (I've been told its the same in the Women's). To be perfectly honest I have no idea how the place is open. It's that poor I don't know why people still go there and how they've not gone bust because of the poor management. Many people must walk out of there without paying - It's not even worth paying for! I'd rather drive the extra mile or so and go to the Harvester in Monkspath, it's so much better that this place. It's a shame how something that was once so good has turned into a place like this. I hope the management see this and take some action - It's needed!!

After a day trip into Knowle, we were heading back to Birmingham for the evening. We decided to…read morestop at the Sheldon Harvester on the way home. The carpark was full and it looked like they had a nice offer on where you could grab a main course, dessert and bottomless soft drink for a tenner- promising start! We were seated and orders were taken fairly quickly. We decided to splurge a little and went for the 'Plantation Platter for two' instead of going for the meal deal. Priced at £20 with spit roast chicken, wings, ribs, corn and spicy prawns we decided to only have a little of the unlimited salad while waiting as not to spoil our impending feast! When our drinks arrived (just two bottomless pepsis) they came without ice or any fruit/ straws etc. As someone who has worked in bars/ restaurants I was pretty confused as to why any soft drink would be served without ice unless requested. After a surprisingly long wait (a table that had walked in around 10mins after us had their food served and were paying the bill by the time we received ours) I asked if the sauce on the plate was correct. He said that the recipe had changed so it looked different, pointing and touching the wings with his bare hands! After this shock we dug into the food, quite hungry by now. The sauce on the ribs was way too sweet and the same stuff had been smothered all over the wings. My partner's portion of spitroast chicken was cooked to perfection, but unfortunately mine was really dry and stringy. We were taken aback a little at the portion sizes- 4 tiny prawns (which were actually delicious and the best part of the whole meal) and 2 vastly different sized 1/3 corn on the cobs completed the meal that consisted of 4 wings, half a baby spitroast chicken and a 5bone rib between us with 4 pineapple rings and our sides- rice and chips. (Don't have the new recipe periperi sauce, it tastes like cheap spicy ketchup.) From the menu description of a 'platter' it looks like individual platters would have been better value. We were going to order desert but after about 15 mins of waiting for our plates to be cleared we decided to just grab the bill. By this time the restaurant wasn't so busy and servers were gathered at the bar talking. One lady who appeared to be management seemed to be doing all of the work, going between relaying tables, clearing them etc. We asked her for the bill and waited for about 10mins before noticing that she appeared to be just looking around for other things to do, completely ignoring our request for the bill. We waited for a further 5mins before I went to the bar and asked another server for the bill, after having to but into the social conversation between servers after standing right next to them and being ignored! When we eventually received the bill it was placed on the table without a word and nobody came round to collect it/ check if we were paying by card etc. So I took it to the bar where a girl was folding napkins (goodness knows why there was a massive pile of them already done and there were lots of dirty plates left on tables). I explained that this was the bill for the table over there blahblah etc, and held the bill out for her to take. She looked blankly then looked down to her napkins and didn't take the bill! I put it down next to her in disbelief and left wondering why we'd gone to so much trouble to try and pay for a substandard meal when clearly nobody was interested in taking our money! Will not be visiting again!

The finest of fine dining with a wonderfully casual attitude…read more After a tour around Birmingham the Nomad team have settled down in BOM, it's a lovely little space and a comfortable place to relax and enjoy some of the best food Birmingham has to offer. Multi course taster menus are the order of the day here. We had 10 courses and, despite the prolific number, we left feeling satisfied but still fully able to walk. This is largely down to the attitude of the restaurant, as far as possible everything is local or at least British, plenty of foraging going on, and meat isn't the focus of every course. Yes this is a fine dining place that is perfectly happy to send out mostly vegetarian courses (and will be very happy to send out completely vegetarian courses for you), glory in the common carrot and takes a serious approach to food sustainability, you won't see more than a handful of meat. This fearless approach means that you will try things you haven't had before and there is a good chance you're going to be challenged so bring an open mind with you. Happily the kitchen doesn't lack for skills and any experimentation is only there with a purpose, using a flower to flavour cream rather than vanilla because it can be sourced locally for example. Service here is equally refreshing, the staff have a really great, relaxed and casual attitude, the kind that other fine dining restaurants try so hard to get but, of course, fail through trying. On top of that it's a bargain for the type of food on offer, £50 for 10 courses at the time of writing (£75 if you want matching drinks). Booking is essential so do yourself a favour and get onto the website.

I went to Nomad at Kitchen Garden Cafe, Man and the Myth at Urban Coffee Company and now they have…read moretheir own space at BOM Lab. It's near the John Lewis entrance to Grand Central. We found it by walking down Theatre Approach and then turning right but I'm sure there's easier ways. The space itself is a little ramshackle with a wooden partition separating us from the rest of the building. Saying that, the walls are painted a lovely deep grey, the chairs were comfortable and it felt warm and intimate. The menu is ten courses for £50 at the moment, which is a lot cheaper than similar places. We also had the matched drinks for an extra £25. Not just wine, this included a Japanese beer, English sparkling wine and a splendid dessert wine which tasted of raisins. Our ten courses were of the wonderful standard we've come to expect from Nomad. They included several starters, a fish course, duck and three puddings. As usual, the emphasis is not on meat and cream and I left feeling comfortably full. Highlights included a little mallard 'lollipop' with pickled vegetables, perfectly cooked red mullet with ramson and the most delicious potatoes, poached pear with almond sponge and pretty much the whole thing. Nomad have an emphasis on using UK ingredients, meaning they used something called melliot instead of vanilla. I love how Nomad challenge your expectations and give you something you've not tried before. Service was lovely, relaxed and friendly but also efficient and knowledgeable. I really hope Nomad continue to push things forward and are rewarded for it.

What a great spot for lunch after a business meeting at the Jaguar-Land Rover vehicle Assembly…read morePlant in Solihull, England. The Olton Tavern is a cross between a restaurant and British pub and has great food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere. This was my one chance while in the U.K. to grab some real British Fish & Chips and the Olton serves "Line-Caught" Cod for their plate's centerpiece. It is served with lightly seasoned 'chips', really good mushy peas and a sea herb tartare sauce. Paired with a pint of Ember Pale Ale on draft, this dish was as near to perfect as one can get anywhere in the British Isles. I'm stingy with my '5-stars' ratings but the Olton Tavern honestly earned one today.

I used to go here quite often as it had a Wackey Warehouse around the back and was a great place to…read moretake the kids for a play for 2 hours then go and enjoy a family meal. I believe it changed hands a few years ago and closed the WW down. Since then I have only gone to the pub once for a carvery quite recently and it was a reasonable price £8 for adults and I think it was half price for kids (this was a Sunday). Food was a good quality and we were all pleased with our meals, however because of the closure of the indoor play centre it is not somewhere I would choose to go ahead of others nearby. Nonetheless it is a nice place for a family Sunday lunch and will probably go there again around Christmas.

It was so good that I'm tempted to say it wasn't and demand that I go again, for a second opinion!…read more The ambiance of Aalto restaurant is relaxing whilst still buzzing with life and energy. The live music added to the ambiance, providing a soothing and pleasurable background to the meal. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated, modern, tasteful and welcoming. I loved that we were sat on a large round table - I'm rather a fan of round tables as I feel it creates a better social vibe, and always supports odd numbers without so poor soul sitting opposite Hollow Man (which, lets face it, would put you off your food!) As for the feast itself. Well, let's start with the menu. It was the perfect size, with six options in each category, so plenty of choice without it been too baffling. All the same, I did find it hard to choose, as so many of the options were deeply appealing. For starters, I settled on the Beetroot & Goats Cheese Tart, which was served on a bed of rocket, with walnuts and balsamic vinegar. It was a feast for the taste-buds, and light enough not to make my main course option of Roast Lamb appear too daunting. The lamb, as with the starter, was beautifully presented, and there was a lovely selection of vegetables served with it and they were cooked too perfection. The main was delicious, and plentiful. You will not go hungry after a meal at Hotel La Tour, tough you may need a little lie down! So as not to cheat ourselves from the full experience, we all had dessert too. Again, I was a little torn between a couple of the options, and decided in the end that Spiced Crème Brûlée with Shortbread Biscuits just sounded too good a treat to miss. I was right! With food that tantalizes the eye, stimulates the taste buds and is delivered with a wonderful side portion of fabulous service, Hotel La Tour provides a fabulous menu at reasonable prices, and is well worth a visit. I shall be going again.

Where do I start? This was my very first visit to Aalto and…read moreI have been waiting a very long time to mark a special occasion there. The decor is superb, the embience is just right, the pianist play as you sit enjoying your drink in the lounge is relaxing and shere class.. The food - 5* I will be back!!!

Yes in the heart of Birmingham city Center a good restaurant to eat at. Friendly stuff but the…read moremaintenance. Of the toilets not good

Above average food in nice surroundings but £30 including tips for one person to have a decent…read morebreakfast/brunch.

Bistro 1847 opening in Birmingham was very warmly welcomed to the (very slowly growing)…read moreVegetarian/Vegan scene. After already having two successful restaurants in Manchester, I was very excited about visiting Bistro 1847 after hearing only good things about it. Set in the beautiful Great Western Arcade, I thought it was strange to open a restaurant here. Especially after 6pm it is the only place open usually! But the atmosphere of the restaurant complements the peacefulness of the arcade. The interior of the Bistro is minimalistic and modern. Being someone who is allergic to Dairy and Wheat intolerant (I know!), Bistro 1847 is one of few places I don't feel weird at. The whole menu is Vegetarian, with dishes that can be adjusted to vegan or gluten free or both in my view. My and my friend were feeling fat so we both went for three courses. I had the curried Swede Cauliflower, Cashew nut butter and cinnamon cornflakes. So many flavours going on in a small parcel was a great choice. For the main I had "Oh I do like to be beside the seaside" (all dishes have these quirky little names!) which is a modern Veggie twist on fish and chips in case you hadn't guessed! I had the vegan version which had two huge pieces of smoked tofu which I really struggled to finish along with the chunky chips! I wasn't defeated and enjoyed all parts of the meal. For desert I had the "Good ol fashioned lover boy" I enjoyed it although I thought maybe the chocolate was a bit over powering as was so much going on. But the jelly was a nice compliment to the richness. The menu contains a large selection of cocktails and deserts for sharing if you and your friends are in search of lots of sweetness. This was my third visit on a Sunday since opening and has been progressively busier each time which is great to see. Bistro 1847 is a very relaxing experience and ideal place for a date or a catch up with a friend. And of course the food is amazing!

Oo-ee this is indeed a very classy vegetarian restaurant…read more The decor is modern, simple and stylish - shades of white and grey, nice white table linen, with a few tables downstairs, and more upstairs on the mezzanine level. There's a large window looking on to the arcade, which is great for watching people come and go. The food was fantastic. It's a fixed price menu, at £19 for two courses, and £25 for three. There's also a pricier tasting menu - the couple sitting next to me had chosen that option, and were really enjoying it. To start, I had the puy lentils, with roasted carrot, spring onions and garlic tofu. The tofu was done as a silky sauce - I'd never had tofu prepared in that way, and I thought it was really delicious. For main course, I chose the bell pepper ragu, with polenta. Again this was superb, with the polenta served as crisp little triangles on top. Both my courses were gluten free, as well as vegan, and their menu is very clear to understand. It feels like the sort of place you can completely trust to get things right. Service was quick and friendly, and there was a nice atmosphere, with other diners just quietly enjoying their meals just as much as I was. I'll definitely be back here next time in Birmingham, and I'll look out for their restaurants in other cities too.

We came here as it was near our hotel. We were extremely surprised by the quality of the food! It…read morehas so much variety, and everything we got was delicious. The price point was super reasonable. The staff were very pleasant and down to earth. The decor was that of a typical British county pub with a roaring fire to boot on super cold January day!

Nice little pub whereby there is a restaurant area and another area for the pub goers. I would like…read moreto see more comfy seating in the bar area, but this isn't possible due to its small size. There is a real log fire in the bar area, which provides a cosy and homely feel. On the weekends there is often a live band. The owners of the pub are friendly and are able to recommend wines. I am becoming a regular of this place, and will update my review when I try the food. There is also ample free car parking to the side of the pub.

I have to admit, this is not my usual pub of choice. When you walk in it has that typical old…read moreworking mens club vibe... and smell! That aside the pub has been kept in great condition with pretty much all of the original features remaining which gives it that priceless 'back in time' feel when you walk in. However, if you're looking for a cheap pub that plays all the sports on TV then this is for you. I went with a friend to watch the football and have a couple of beers. Overall it had a nice chilled out vibe, unlike some of the city centre sport bars which can get a bit overwhelming at times. On a Sunday they have a free music event upstairs which plays everything from Jazz and soul to rock and country music. Personally I wish it was on every night as it really does provide the perfect soundtrack to such a characteristic classic venue.

This is the best pub in Birmingham by a country mile. I've been using The Old Mo (as its known) for…read morewell over a decade and it's a home-from-home. If the TV show Cheers had been made in Birmingham then it would have been set here - literally, everybody knows your name. Even though I don't get down there as much as I used to (when I lived a few hundred years away!) I'm always greeted by name by both the bar staff and some of the locals. It's a genuinely friendly place with great beer that is a PROPER PUB. Some might call it an 'Old Man's Pub', which is completely fair, but that's what is so great about it. It's a particularly great place to watch sport, and football and cricket in particular. The locals are a knowledgeable crowd when it comes to both games and there is always a lively and friendly discussion to be had. They have recently started doing a different range of foods. You can get a pretty decent roast on a Sunday for around £4 and there is often a curry night that is well worth a visit. The curry is cooked by the landlord's wife and is excellent home cooked Indian food. The only word of caution I would offer about this place is to be careful when leaving late at night. It's not in the best or safest part of town and there have been a few nasty incidents in the park behind the place. These are pretty rare, in fairness, but I would recommend taking a cab home, or else going in sufficient numbers and with your wits about you, if travelling on foot.

So, Friday was a manic day. Between meetings and finishing off tasks on the to do list, I was…read moredashing from one side of town to the others. Due to this madness, I had totally forgotten I had scheduled in a call for that afternoon! My phone alarm went off and gave me a 10 minute countdown to find somewhere I could settle down and set up my laptop to be ready. A quick search on Yelp revealed "The Old Fox". Upon entry, the place was almost empty. Perfect. I nabbed a table, turned the laptop on, connected to the WiFi (as with most places in Birmingham, the Cloud Wifi is strong in this venue) and grabbed myself a drink from the bar. As it was a Friday afternoon, I thought a nice glass of white wine would be in order. I was very pleased to note that a glass of house wine (which was perfectly tolerable) was a bargainous £2.75! With drink in hand and equipment ready to go, I settled in to my chat. The Old Fox is a theatre bar which is situated over the road from the Hippodrome, round the corner from Glee Club and just on the gateway to the Gay Quarter. It's lovely from the outside! A cheery old man boozer which looks really well kept and cared for. The inside is worn, but comfortable. It's not a place to go for a posh night out, but I would definitely recommend it if a group of you are looking for somewhere to chat and relax for a few hours. Throughout the course of my swift visit (I was in there for about an hour) more people came in, but it didn't get busy. They also had some music on in the background, but this wasn't offensive or intrusive. The staff were perfectly friendly and helpful and the venue has the usual sort of "pub" paraphernalia inside. I spotted a dart board, a gambling machine and a basic menu of food. I didn't get to investigate the place in too much detail, but it's somewhere I would revisit if I was in this neck of the woods and wanted to grab a decent pint (and avoid the nearby Wetherspoons).

Okay, this pub pretty much feels like your typical old man's pub, except that it happens to be…read morelocated in the middle of one of the progressive areas, so I'm not really sure if you can consider that it is actually an old man's pub. Okay, look, it really wasn't all that bad. Personally, I didn't mind it, but it was still a good pub nonetheless.