Malt Shovel at Barston, The

You'd think it's difficult to strike a balance between sophisticated and welcoming, but The Malt and Shovel Restaurant at Solihull shows you how. On entering, the atmosphere is every bit as charming as a country pub and restaurant, with a welcoming bar, log fires in winter that make the ambience cosy and perfect for long Sunday lunches, and a beautiful garden in summer ideal for al fresco lunches. Just when you're about to conclude your mental review of the place as charming, warm, delightful and the like, you're shown in to the AA Rosette award winning restaurant - a stylishly converted barn that oozes sophistication and specializes in fresh local produce with daily seafood specials.

The wild crayfish and cream cheese pancakes and pan fried sea bass with Mediterranean vegetables are recommended among other inventive preparations like the Cornish cannon of lamb with honey roast root vegetables and hazelnut pesto, baby pork ribs, homemade marinade and sweet corn relish and battered fish with fat chips and minted pea pure. A well thought out wine list provides well for all needs. The verdict - refreshing and original.