La Bastille

Here's a wonderful little place in Birmingham that does some fantastic French cooking, and promises to be as close to the real thing as possible. La Bastille brings the authentic tastes of provincial France and serves it up in a chic and elegant atmosphere. Combined with recent refurbishments, this makes it just the place if you're looking for European inspired food in the heart of the UK. Excellent value business lunches mean that you can often spot executives enjoying their meal with a glass of wine come afternoon, while the inexpensive à la carte ensures that you can step inside for a meal without feeling the pinch in your pockets.

Amongst starters, the sauté of scallops with crushed green peas, bacon and rosemary balsamic dressing stands out for its simplicity of tastes, while main course of steamed bream on olive and basil noodles with roast cherry tomatoes is satisfying on every count. For dessert, there's the Grand Marnier and vanilla crème brûlée and the wine list brings choices predominantly from the Old World.