Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

Housed in the former Lloyds bank building, The Old Joint Stock Pub and Theatre is located in Birmingham city centre opposite St. Philip's Cathedral. Built in 1864, and designed by the famed architect Julius Alfred Chatwin, the Grade II listed building is regal and imposing from the outside and the interior has been impressively restored to its Victorian era grandeur. The dining space is huge and magnificent, with elaborate furnishings, large picture windows, and a spectacular glass domed ceiling, underneath which is an island bar.

The same attention to detail has been applied to the pub's menu with traditional favourites given an upgrade, the steak and ale pie is cooked with Fuller's award-winning E.S.B. ale, while the fisherman's pie uses sustainably sourced salmon as well as pollack, smoked hake and prawns. The pub's speciality dishes include an impressive range of homemade pies including the luxurious venison, gammon and redcurrant with celeriac, parsnips and rosemary. As well as a wide range of real ales on tap the pub also offers a carefully selected list of old and new world wines to perfectly complement the varied menu.

The Maharaja Restaurant near the Birmingham City Centre is a smart and sophisticated restaurant, which serves a wide range of delicious North Indian food, and has maintained their reputation as one of the best places for curries and tikkas, right from 1973. The décor bears the stamp of a classy and upscale place, with a light and airy feel, while classical Indian prints on the walls enhance the elegant atmosphere creating the unmistakable feeling of dining in a top notch restaurant much as a maharaja would.

Succulent kababs and crunchy pakoras are some of the tasty starters on offer, while chicken, lamb and seafood curries such as bhuna masala, boneless pieces cooked in spices and flavoured with herbs rule the main course list. Decadent and sweet Indian desserts such as gulab jamoon round off the meal pleasantly and the fully licensed bar is well stocked with a range of fine wines, beers and spirits.

Sited in a unique city centre location overlooking St Paul's Church, The Rectory Bar and Restaurant, in the calm oasis of St Paul's Square, is about relaxed, sophisticated dining in stylish, modern surroundings. The serenity of the exterior is complemented by a welcoming interior, creating a relaxed yet vibrant experience. With an elegant, contemporary bar and restaurant, equally suited to formal or casual dining, The Rectory can provide an intimate setting for a special occasion, or accommodate large parties and functions.

With a real emphasis on relaxed, quality dining, and a warm and friendly welcome, a memorable dining experience awaits you. The Rectory has gained an enviable reputation for quality, fresh, home cooked cuisine, sourced from local suppliers, but at sensible prices.

Winner of a Metro Quality Dining Award, The Rectory boasts an interesting menu of international and classic British dishes to cater for all tastes. Choose from a selection of tapas dishes either to share with friends or as a starter, then experience the creativity of their team of chefs with exciting choices from the tempting menu or a constantly changing selection of special dishes, including a range of fresh fish dishes. All this is accompanied by an impressive selection of wines from around the world.

A warm welcome, a contemporary menu, affordable prices and benefiting from ample parking right outside (free every evening), all in all a good combination and welcome addition to the Birmingham eating out scene.

Yorkshire comes to Brum, or to be more precise Brian Turner arrives in the West Midlands via Chelsea and Ready Steady Cook. One is entitled to ask if this is not a major translation of concepts, and experience suggests that you might well be right. Perhaps it might be better if some of the good old favourites that are indigenous to Yorkshire and Chelsea made an unchanged appearance at the Crowne Plaza. However, it's early days.

Latest news is that Brian is spending more time on site and his many friends and fans will hope that it soon begins to show.