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True to its name, The Green House on Lichfield Road offers guests airy, spacious and well-lit interiors with an outside seating area for al fresco dining in the summer. In the heart of the affluent suburb of Sutton Coldfield, the Green House is a short drive from Birmingham city centre, and with easy access to the M6 is just a 20 minute drive from Tamworth and Lichfield.

With an appetizing mix of refreshing Mediterranean dishes and British classics on the menu, the Green House is a country pub with a difference. It has been transformed into a premium dining space with a chic setting; banquettes you can sink into, comfortable bar stools and faux fur covered benches as well as a chandelier or two to add an elegant touch. Friendly efficient service and distinctive touches elevate the experience to another level altogether.
 
The seasonally changing à la carte uses the finest market fresh ingredients and delivers a range of sharing platters and starters such as winter bruschetta of asparagus, gorgonzola, prosciutto, balsamic on stirata Romana bread and red onion and gorgonzola tart with roasted apple and mustard seed dressing to whet the appetite.
 
Diners also have the choice of a lighter option with salad of grilled goat's cheese crostini, roasted sweet potatoes, borlotti beans and blush tomato dressing or a classic seared tuna Niçoise served with green beans, olives and baby potatoes. A stone baked pizza with toppings of crispy duck, spring onions, watercress, hoisin and plum sauce is more international in flavour.
 
While the excellent à la carte can deliver the goods anytime a two-course prix fixe menu is available for a quick lunch with compromising the quality. Look out for Steak and Wine Supper Wednesdays with superb steaks and a whopping 50% discount on a bottle of red wine or the equally tempting Fabulous Fish Fridays which offer a range of superb fish and shellfish specials and a bottle of white wine for half the price.
 
The Rothschild Supper Club menu is perfect for that special occasion with a gourmet two-course menu and a bottle of the prestigious Rothschild champagne, personally selected by a team of wine experts. Starters of pan fried English kidneys on stirata Romana with wholegrain mustard sauce could be followed by a delicious dish of slow roast pork lasagna with roast peppers and roast garlic.
 
To finish on a sweet note, consider orange and almond cake with marmalade and orange blossom mascarpone; bourbon and raisin pudding with vanilla ice cream; banana cheesecake with toffee sauce and chocolate ice cream or limoncello posset with langues de chat biscuits.
 
The drinks list includes classic cocktails such as Cosmopolitan and Pina Colada and other palate pleasers such as Martini Blush with strawberries and apples; and Flirtini with vodka and champagne. Guests can also choose from a range of unique cask ales and bottled beers, non-alcoholic drinks and a carefully selected wine list available by the glass and bottle.

Have you been to The Cock Inn on Bull's Lane? It's a sister pub to The Green House. You could also consider The Crown in Wolverhampton, if you're close by.

More information can be found on their Website.

A watering hole, well known amongst ramblers who often set out to explore the countryside of West Midlands, The Cock Inn at Wishaw, has an interior all set for a fine dining experience. Such features as an open kitchen, stone fired ovens and log burning fires all combine to make this a friendly local that draws people in from a wide area. The landscaped decking outside provides a good spot for dining al fresco, or just enjoying a few pints as the velvet night soothes the mood.

The proximity of the internationally renowned Belfry Golf Course means that the odd celebrity may be spotted, and walkers enjoying the magnificent countryside between the pub and the golf course find welcome refreshment at the pub.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, box baked Camembert with red onion jam and rustic bread and Greek mezze of taramasalata with red pepper hummus, tzatziki, feta and flatbreads.

Amongst the starters, there is freshly made soup, smoked mackerel pâté, seared pigeon breast, or a red onion tart. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer Persian chicken kebabs, fattoush salad, yoghurt and mint dressing, and for the seafood fiends some smoked trout, prawn, pancetta, horseradish dressing, watercress, spinach and baby potatoes.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, another with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños. Pastas include rigatoni, pork, veal and oregano meatballs with arrabiata sauce, and smoked haddock risotto.

For the big event, there is always a fish of the day on request. The spit chicken with roast garlic, lemon, thyme, aioli and frites is worth trying too. The classic burger, which has risen from the confines of fast food chains, carves a niche for itself on the menu and comes with onion, gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese and bacon. For hearty eaters there is a five spice duck confit, or lamb rack with a spiced dukkah crust.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgian frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. Desserts are some of the best you'll encounter with apple and frangipane gallette and Cognac ice cream, and there is also a selection of local cheeses to set the buffs alight.

A sensible wine list that matches the cuisine to perfection trawls the world and comes up with some pretty interesting numbers - almost as interesting as the laconic descriptions, mostly one word but very accurate, even if 'luxurious and rich' does sound rather like a generous heiress of infinite promise. One of the most expensive bottles - and even then it's only £39.95 - earns the appellation 'silky, smooth and intense'.

Check regularly on their Website for menu changes and arrangements for special occasions like Christmas and Valentine's Day. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

Offering a sumptuous and diverse spread of Italian, Indian, Thai and Chinese dishes, Jimmy Spice's on The Parade has something for everyone. The spacious, open plan restaurant is perfect for the groundbreaking multi-national buffet style service on offer. Located in the heart of the town, the restaurant is a 2-minute drive from Sutton Coldfield Rail Station.

The eclectic menu is filled with a variety of delicious items, made with the highest quality ingredients, to deliver the best of the range of cuisines on offer. Guests have the option of selecting their vegetables and meat along with a sauce of their choice and have it cooked on the spot.

A sample Italian menu offers freshly made pizza, a fine combination of pomodiro pillete and home-made pizza base with toppings of pineapple, ham, sweet corn, mushrooms, mixed peppers, pepperoni, chicken, jalapeno, olives and green chillies. The pasta menu offers a choice of penne or spaghetti served with Bolognese or al formaggi sauce along with basil pesto, chilli flakes, bacon, capers, olives, sun-dried tomatoes. Other main course dishes include baked fish, chicken in mustard sauce, vegetable lasagne and herb roasted potatoes.

The tempting Indian selection features starters of mint chicken pakora, vegetable samosa, aloo chaat and onion bhaji as well as mains of lamb rogan josh, saag paneer, tarka daal and vegetable jalfrezi along with seekh kebab, chicken malai tikka, garlic naan, tandoori roti and onion kulcha from the tandoor.

Chinese cuisine choices include spicy chicken wings, prawn crackers, pork spare ribs, egg fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, beef in black bean sauce, chicken with cashewnuts and water chestnuts and shrimp in garlic sauce along. Jimmy Spice's stir fry options include lamb, chicken, prawns, egg noodles, mushrooms, pok choy, bean sprouts and mixed peppers served with a sauce of your choice.

The Thai menu offers fish cake, vegetable spring roll, prawn toast, beef red curry, chicken green curry, prawn Penang curry, gaeng phed  and nuer pad namman hoy.

From the salad station diners can help themselves to freshly prepared Moroccan carrot salad with green olives and mint, chicken and mango salad, strawberry and feta cheese salad, tuna salad, Thai sorn tarn and potato au gratin. 

If you fancy a quick lunch choose from a selection of sandwiches, pizzas, starters with choice of sauces, salads with choice of dressings, Chinese stir fry dishes and Indian main courses with rice and naan bread.

The restaurant also provides a tempting, and equally eclectic array of desserts for diners with a sweet tooth. Choices include familiar dishes such as strawberry cheesecake, chocolate brownies, pineapple cake, and fresh cut fruit to more exotic options including, gulab jamun, moong daal halwa, and banana fritters. Alternatively you could opt for ginger pudding, crème caramel, chocolate fudge cake, apple crumble, coconut and raisin cake and kiwi pannacotta all of which bring any meal to a fitting end.

At the bar enjoy a range of red, white and rose wines as well as champagne, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails and shooters, soft drinks and juices, aperitifs and liqueurs in addition to a variety of spirits including single malt whiskies and cognac.

An early bird deal is value for money at £9.99 per person from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Check out their Website for the latest offers.

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. A comfortable, cosy, mainly booth layout offers guests their own space with no feeling of being hurried at any point. Staff are friendly and helpful if need be - what a difference that can make to a good evening out.

Be it the wide open spaces of Argentina, the intimate setting of a French restaurant, or a busy grill in London's West End, there's no denying the popularity of chargrill. As the production of quality beef, chicken, fish and lamb has grown, prices have come down by comparison, and the simple and traditional art of minimally cooking dishes by chargrill, sealing in the flavours and tastes by intense heat has caught the public imagination.

All the steaks at Beefeater Grill are matured for a minimum of 28 days before being seasoned. Whether it be juicy rib eye, the classic sirloin, that emblem of the Sunday lunch, a tender fillet, or a delicious 7oz rump, all grilled to your own specification, you're never far away from perfection. Even beefburgers have shaken off their dubious image and the highly popular Beefeater burgers are made from 100% beef.

The popular sirloin with giant prawns offers a treat to those for whom an alliance between sea and pasture is a natural attraction, whilst a 16oz steak platter links rump, fillet, sirloin and rib eye into one mouth-watering dish served with chips, battered onion rings, grilled tomato, a flat mushroom and peppercorn and brandy sauce.

Many of us love rib meat, and the rack of ribs at a Beefeater Grill has a meaty rack smoky flavour; maple ribs of pork with a choice of three sauces, mojito, smoked caramel and apple glaze, or Bourbon and black BBQ. And if all else fails and you are totally baffled by the wealth of choices, ask to have a word with the Steakmaster who will help find what is right for you, together with the best cooking method. These guys leave nothing to chance.

On a menu that is a delight to read, let alone choose a meal from, expect to find smaller dishes such as traditional prawn cocktail, whitebait, chicken liver pâté and baked Camembert, or juicy lamb koftas served with yoghurt and mint dip. There's something about a good steak meal that always leaves a gap for a little temptation to sweeten up the scene and from amongst twelve options look for Belgian chocolate cheesecake, treacle sponge pudding or a caramel apple crumble pie.

Throughout the day a wide range of more general dishes are yours for the ordering, sandwiches, jackets, classic favourites like fish and chips, pasta, salads, and sharing dishes of nachos, potato shells and a Beefeater Grill combo. Next door to many of the restaurants are Premier Inns, so staying the night whatever the circumstances need not be a problem.

And what about wine? Endorsed by Matthew Jukes, wine writer in the Daily Mail and bon viveur in his own right, a wine list that marches with the menu completes an impressive and compelling invitation to enjoy whatever takes your fancy at the nearest Beefeater Grill.

Click on their Website for menu updates and special offers.

Should you feel an American moment coming on, get straight into the mood at a TGI Friday's. First thought of in New York in 1965, introduced to Birmingham, UK in 1986, they now, like so many other American concepts, are to be found on a global basis and have 48 outlets in the UK alone. According to Newsweek and The Saturday Evening Post, the opening of the first Friday's restaurant heralded the dawn of the singles age.

In many ways, TGIs are more representative of the American approach to eating out than some of their imitators. Their food is fresh, the portions generous and the cocktail list exhaustive. They also tend to represent the all-American classlessness that can produce a meal at any time, for any social group, for any reason, under the same roof, without a problem.

So what's on offer? The quick answer is, it depends rather on where you are, as menus do vary from one restaurant to another, but the essential message stays the same - American grub, fella! Appetizers - no starters please - could include Jack Daniel's wings, chicken wings coated in Jack Daniel's sweet 'n' smoky glaze, or spinach and artichoke hearts coated in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, served with crisp corn tortillas.

For a group assault try the Times Square big share, more of Jack Daniel's wings, cheese and bacon skins to the very brim, with crispy breaded mozzarella dippers and served with a battery of accoutrements.

The steaks are awesome, topping out with a 12oz rib eye. A range of burgers, ribs, chicken, fish, sandwiches, fajitas, salads and pasta embraces virtually every known twist in the repertoire of American cuisine. Chocolate fudge fixation perhaps sums up best, but by no means exclusively, the TGI approach to desserts.

From a list of over 500 cocktails, all mixed with exuberant charm, let's take just one. You thought Long Island Iced Tea was something polite Americans sipped after some gentle sailing? Think again. Vodka, gin, rum and orange liqueur, topped up with Coke, spin and pour. The popular drink was in fact, invented by TGIF. As with all cocktails you can choose between regular or ultimate, no questions asked. Beer, wine and soft drinks cover enormous range and they also offer good coffee.

It is not important which outlet of TGIF you visit, for if you enjoy the American style of eating, just look out for red and white stripes and you are likely to be happy.

To locate a Friday's nearest to you and get the world famous Friday feeling on any day of the week click on their Website.

Of the various places at which to eat in this well-known golfing hotel, the French Restaurant, overlooking the famous Brabazon golf course, is the top bidder, though the twist is more modern European with French trimmings than the name might suggest.

It is not uncommon to find good hotels with a major commitment to a supporting activity that tend to neglect the food, but that is certainly not the case here. Classic dishes are blended with old favorites and thoroughly contemporary ones to produce menus that are a credit to the head chef and his team.

Try the seared scallops, fennel purée, and toasted almond salad and crispy duck spring rolls, coriander salad, honey and soy dressing, before moving on to monkfish wrapped in Parma ham, feve bean risotto, chorizo sauce and pan seared salmon, olive crushed potatoes, wilted spinach, olive tapenade dressing. End the meal with a dark chocolate tart, cherry purée and dark chocolate sorbet.

Deep in the Warwickshire countryside, this 17th-century farmhouse in Sutton Coldfield, once the ancestral home of Sir Robert Peel, has been converted into the attractive Marston Farm Hotel. The popular Courtyard restaurant nestles amongst open fires and oak-beamed ceilings, serving a contemporary menu of traditional British favourites, with an excellent selection of accompanying wines. The restaurant is also a popular setting for weddings with its clear span marquee.