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Bluu opened in March 2008, to rapturous sounds from both its public to be and the more discerning critics. On the edge of the city's famed Jewellery Quarter, Bluu has the advantage of experience gained from its close relatives in four of England's major cities.

On the ground floor a bar/brasserie does well what brasseries are supposed to do, namely provide a setting for day to day informal eating, drinking and socialising. Cleverly designed the bar links to the brasserie in a seamless style, where customers dine from the seasonally changing modern British menu.

Over looking the canal, just a stone throw from Brindley Place, the NIA and the ICC. The bright and airy brasserie is the perfect place to enjoy great value British dishes, superb selection of wines and sumptuous cocktails in between shopping, working, attending conferences and concerts or just enjoying the special atmosphere that is the centre of Birmingham.

Later, in the evening venture down to the super sexy basement bar, with its retro, kitsch design and imagery, black and red leather booths and dance floor. This becomes an epicentre of pleasure, with music led nights through the later part of the week well on into the early hours. The area can also be hired for private parties and booths can be reserved for smaller groups.

At Bluu there is a wide range of sandwiches and brunch for the fleeting snacker, and as a prelude to something more substantial appetisers and shared plates including Bluu's assiette of starters which changes daily. Starters proper to follow, perhaps a chicken liver parfait, crusty bread and red onion marmalade, or pan fried scallops, garlic and lime puree, apple and sorrel.

For main courses they really go into brasserie gear, and expect to find choices with dishes such as mini lamb hotpot, sausage and chop with minted Chantenay carrots and peas well to the fore. Seafood enthusiasts will most likely rejoice in Bluu with, the day's fresh fish or the pan fried sea bass fillet with white bean cassoulet, pea broth. Amongst the Classics that celebrate those favourites everyone knows and loves, look for the hand battered haddock, fat chips, mushy peas, chunky Bluu tartare sauce, the home made pie and mash of the day, or the speciality sausage for the day with obligatory mash, onions and red wine gravy.

Simple grilled market fresh fish or a Home made 8oz rump steak burger, tomato salsa and fat chips, before settling down to making your choice of dessert. Will it be the caramelised nectarine upside-down cake with vanilla pod custard, or the chocolate buttermilk pancakes with chocolate sauce and triple chocolate ice cream or a selection of homemade ice creams?

Bluu has launched a highly enterprising British tapas menu, which will do the job nicely for those who want to graze as they enjoy each others company. From a selection of not less than 16 tapas, think mini prawn cocktails on baby gem, scampi and chips, Welsh rarebits, fish fingers and ketchup, crispy whitebait, Yorkshire puddings with gravy or mini Scotch eggs.

Sundays are a tricky day for restaurateurs, but at Bluu it is treated as Recovery Day. From 12 noon onwards until they run out of roast, but possibly not before you've downed a couple of the obligatory and reviving Bloody Marys, it's laid back time for as long as it takes. Make contact with Bluu's Website for further information. Their menus are seasonal, the one used here is for the Spring.

Tamil Nadu is popular for its hospitality and a deep belief that serving food to others is a service to humanity, Madras is the capital city of that state and was established in the seventeenth century by the British. Madras Currys is a recent and innovative addition to the Indian eating out scene in Birmingham offering guests the unusual aromas and flavours of the Tamil cuisine.

Podi uthappam - pancake topped with spicy special powder - and idiyappam, steamed rice noodles served with vegetable kurma or sambar, are a couple of interesting ideas for a different breakfast. For a lighter bite you could try masala vadai, spicy lentil patties flavoured with green chilli, curry leaves and ginger, or fresh squid deep fried with different spices. Specialities include dishes such as began bhartha - grilled aubergine made with coconut gravy - special boneless chicken in pepper sauce or fish in South Indian village style with a touch of tamarind and lemon rice.

Chez Jules brings back the best loved feature of French cuisine, its simplicity, right into the heart of Birmingham, in a vibrant and buzzing bistro. The atmosphere exudes warmth and cheer, probably due to the generous use of red in the walls, the softly glowing lamps, the burnished wooden floors or the cosy furniture. Its central location makes it a popular choice for those looking for lunch with friends or colleagues and since it's reasonably large, seating 150 people comfortably, it's also perfect for festive occasions such as birthday celebrations or office parties.

The menu features old favourites alongside new counterparts with equanimity, so think of starters such as smoked salmon and trout roulade with celeriac salad or pan fried king prawns on a bed of saffron pasta and seafood bisque. For the main course, there might be roast rump of lamb served with Madeira and shallot jus finishing with mousse au chocolat for dessert.