Birmingham Restaurants

  1. Al Frash

    If you only get to try one balti joint, make it this one. Al Frash consistently wins awards for its baltis and scores points for having more tasteful decor than the average bj; it's a boon for veggos too.

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  2. Arcadian Palace

    Run by a super-nice family, this simple, dinky, cafélike Chinese restaurant heaps the portions high and keeps the prices reasonably low. We liked the sizzling satay beef with crispy noodles (around £7 ).

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  3. Bank

    Huge glass front panels make this swanky restaurant a bit of a culinary goldfish bowl, but most diners don't complain - the sophisticated modern-Brit dishes are quite special.

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  4. Bar Estilo

    A rustic chic interior - all terracotta, dimmed lighting and plush sofas - makes this bar-restaurant the venue of choice for the Mailbox smart set. The Mediterranean-influenced menu - the same as in the restaurant's London-based siblings - is reasonable, especially at lunchtime.

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  5. Chez Jules

    This is a find - it may be French, but it's refreshingly unpretentious. The decor is a bit faux-rustic, with long communal tables, but it serves up decent bistro standards like steamed mussels. Good prices on house wine seal the deal.

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  6. Chung Ying Garden

    Get beyond the occasionally surly service and you'll be hard-pressed to fault the fine Cantonese dishes at this cavernous Chinatown favourite. With 70 varieties of dim sum, the biggest challenge is selecting from the menu!

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  7. Le Petit Blanc

    Seriously stylish brasserie with contemporary French cuisine, this place exhibits all the hallmarks of its owner, Française superchef Raymond Blanc. Reservations are recommended.

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  8. San Carlo

    With Italian food far better than most mammas ever manage, this slick central restaurant is a magnet for local celebrities - although the service can be on the haughty side.

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