Daniel's reviews
Review of La Plancha
27 Nov 07, 15:27
It's Tapas not Tapa's 
La Plancha is a decent spanish restaurant in the heart of Moseley. While the menu contains all the usual tapas culprits, they're all done pretty well and served by really friendly staff.
Downstairs there is a nice bar area, which if you are a looking to avoid the busy pubs at the weekend is usually a good alternative.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Goose At The Fighting Cocks
27 Nov 07, 15:20
Introducing Moseley's newest trendy pub 
When I was 16 the Goose was a great choice of pub. It was cheap, and the staff seemed less interested in your age and more interested in getting rid of the local drunks who seem to wander from one pub to the next.
Times have changed, I've got a little older, the drunks now occupy the Wetherspoons across the road, and the Goose is under new management.
Upgrading this once frankly depressing pub has been a three step process.
1. Get rid of all the old man furniture and replace with kooky chairs, beads, bean bags and brightly coloured benches for the beer garden.
2. Up the price of the beer by a £1 on everything and start selling Franziskaner and Fruli.
3. Hire newer, better looking staff who have done the rounds at Moseley's numerous drinking establishments.
Do I sound like I am being an arse? Maybe I am, but the results are great. A much younger crowd, buzzy atmosphere and loads of space to chill outside in the summer. Definitely Moseley's new best pub.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of K2 Kashmiri
27 Nov 07, 15:08
The best balti in the land 
The balti was invented in Birmingham, it is a well know fact. Well it is if you have ever met me before.
K2 makes the best Balti in Birmingham, Birmingham makes the best baltis therefore K2 makes the best balti in the land QED.
While being a little on the small side, and not really having the most up to date decor, this place makes up for it in food, atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommended to all.
If my memory serves me right, Wednesday is life Jazz night and usually showcases some local talent.
0 out of 0 people found this review helpful.
Review of Hawksmoor
27 Nov 07, 14:48
Steak, Chips, Red Wine
I had high hopes for this place. My friend who works in the city has a taste for the finer things in life, and being a red blooded banker as he is, there is no exception to the rule when it comes to steak.
Time Out voted this place the best steaks in London, and the Metro says it has the "best steaks this side of the bond." This place had a lot to live up to and boy did it.
First thing to mention is that they will get you any cut within 48 hours. If you have a particular desire for a blade steak then just ask, it will be worth it.
I went for their Sirloin, still on the bone, cooked medium rare and weighing 600g. It was heaven. Cooked perfectly, served with a "triple cooked chips" which, if a little on the small size, were otherwise a perfect companion. All washed down with a bottle of Rioja.
If you're going to take me for a meal -take me here.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of 54 Restaurant
17 Oct 07, 10:58
Malaysian \\ British Fusion
54 Restaurant hasn't been open long, only a month or two, but it already seems to have built up a bit of a reputation.
The food is a Malaysian \\ British mix, think traditional cuts of meat like Pork Belly and Lamb Shanks with hot and fruity Malaysian spicing.
To begin I had a Pumpkin soups served with Foccacia and a selection chilli oils. The warm bread and oils were delicious, however the pumpkin soup left me a bit disappointed. It was too sweet, and to thin, I prefer a thick rich pumpkin soup, this felt more like a desert.
The main however was fantastic. A lamb shank that had been cooked in a traditional red curry. The meat was perfect and tore straight off the bone, while the sauce itself was delicious.
The decor was pleasant, however, I did get a bit frustrated with the music that was slightly too loud. That said, we were the only people in the restaurant so this may have been why.
Overall: good.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Belle Epoque
15 Oct 07, 14:41
If heaven were a shop..
...it would sell all the wonderful things you can get a Belle Epoque. Great coffee, a wonderful selections of breads and pastry, cheese, quiche, I could go on for ages.
It's perfect for a Saturday or Sunday when you feel like something good to eat, or just want to sit near the Green and watch the world (and it's buses) go by.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of Myddeltons Delicatessen
15 Oct 07, 10:41
Nice Deli that's Good for Lunch
A really nice deli that is located in the heart of uber local Amwell Street. It sells a range for breads, preserves, cheese and pastry, as well a freshly prepared sandwiches that are btoh surprisingly good value, and really tasty. The ham and cheese focaccia comes highly recommended.
The shop accepts Wedge Card, however, the deal isn't particularly good, spend over £10 and get a Myddeltons bag for life worth £4.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Review of Tinder Box
12 Oct 07, 10:41
Nice Place - bad WiFi
As a coffee shop Tinderbox is actually really good. The coffee is excellent, if slightly on the pricey side, and, if you decide to go large, comes in what can only be described as a bowl. The place always feels quite buzzy so if you ever have half and hour or so to kill in Angel on your own I'd recommend dropping by and lounging in one of their huge airline seats. You can also get Internet access, either from one of their computers, or using their 3 pound an hour WiFi. Avoid the later, it tends to be painfully slow, and most pages end up timing out. To their credit though, they were more than happy to give me a refund.
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful.
Review of La Petite Auberge
10 Oct 07, 09:55
It's Chain with another Name
Ok it's not strictly a chain but it's basically the same restaurant as Le Sacre Coeur which is next door to the Parv.
The menu is nice, it's nothing to shout about but does some of the classics particularly well. The French onion soup for example is delicious. On my most recent visit I had cod in a sun dried tomato sauce. The fish itself was perfectly cooked, however I found the sauce ever so slightly overbearing.
Deserts are a treat as the do a range of Crepes, including one filled with bananas, brandy, almonds and ice cream.
If your going for the first time try a Sunday, they do a great roast for only £6.50!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Review of Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes
08 Oct 07, 14:57
Great Saturday Night Out
I've been to just bowl at Bloomsbury a few times now, it's a great way to spend an afternoon but I must admit I was skeptical that you could spend an whole Saturday night there. Luckily I was wrong.
We arrived at around 8ish which is just when they start charging. £6 for normals and £4 for students, but if you email ahead (see the website above) you can get on a "guest list" which gets you in at a reduced rate.
The queue to bowl was massive so we headed straight to the diner and gorged on suitably themed American food. The burgers are actually really good, none of usual fast food crap, they actually look hand made. If you're sitting in the diner they'll also bring drinks to your seat.
From then on it's nothing but dancing, and relatively cheap drinks. Tip: try the bowling desk at around 10ish, if they have lanes left it's the best time to try and book. We managed to get one at 1.30 (last lane a 2 for a 3am close) and all we had to do then was drink.
Suffice to say bowling drunk is hard, but bloody good fun. A cracking night out, ignore the naysayers.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.