Birmingham
Hen and Chickens

Hen and Chickens

27, Constitution Hil, Hockley, Birmingham, B193LE, B19 3LE, United Kingdom

Pubs • Sushi • Indian • Asiatic


"The real ale pub x Indian grub combo is a tried and tested one, and Birmingham is has got a great selection of pubs that bring the two under one roof. It isn't located in the greatest part of town, being primarily industrial buildings and take-away's, but parking after 6 is free which is a bonus. The pub itself looks like a classic tiled boozer from the outside, and saying its a little run down on the inside is being kind. That said, give me a characterful old building over an overly polished one any day! The only real complaint was the temperature, it was pretty chilly inside, I wasn't the only person in there keeping my winter coat on! Now we didn't exactly work our way through the menu, choosing instead to order a single large mixed grill between the two of us. I'd read a lot about the mixed grill and its gargantuan size, and I wasn't disappointed! A cast iron sizzling platter piled high with, chicken wings, chicken tikka, kebab and fish served with a couple of dipping sauces on the side. The meat was all well cooked and served hot by the friendly staff, who go out of their way to accommodate you, without it ever seeming like a chore. It would have been nice to be served a bit of salad with what was a gargantuan platter of meat, I feel this would have added to the experience at very little cost to the pub. As I wasn't drinking at the time, I can't comment on how the beer is kept, but they have a good selection of lagers and a couple of hand pumps on the bar (that were in use importantly! so there is an excellent choice too. The bill came to £19 for the two of us, including 2 large soft drinks, brilliant value given the amount of food! I would recommend Hen and Chickens to anyone looking for a big tasty meal and a couple of pints, as long as you don't mind the rough and ready decor!"

Lasan

Lasan

3-4 Dakota Buildings James Street, St Paul's Square Birmingham, West Midlands B3 1SD, United Kingdom

Beer • Wine • Indian • Chicken


"Now this was one fabulous experience from the word Go. I chanced upon Lasan rather randomly, when I was in a last minute fix to reserve a table for a birthday and everything else in Birmingham seemed full or unaccommodating. Although the name seemed questionable (garlic? , I did not have many alternatives and made a quick reservation for Lasan online. I was called back within minutes to confirm and inform me that kitchens would close 30 minutes after my reservation so I should feel free to arrive early. This was a pleasant change after a slew of rude restaurateurs earlier that day. When I arrived, I was taken in by the sheer elegance of the decor. Understated and minimalistic, yet classy, the ambience is very very inviting. An offer to put my coat in a 'cloakroom ' bowled me over and evidenced what I was to expect during the next hour. This is no ordinary Indian quick bite restaurant. It is a sit-down at ease, several course fine dining experience. We were served pre-starters in the form of papad and pani puri, both delicious to begin with. Our starters arrived shortly after, and I was immediately sold on the marvellous presentation of dishes. The dahi kebab I had were delicious and yet not too filling to leave me unexcited about the mains. For mains, the Nilgiri Paneer was a seemingly small portion, but rich and filling. It was a wonderful culmination of spinach gravy and tandoori paneer, nothing like I have ever eaten before. The Pahadi Dal was a great combination of 3 lentils, again quite filling. We chose the bread basket, with assorted rotis and also a garlic and coriander naan, which was the best I have ever tasted. Soft and full of flavour, it complemented my meal beautifully. To add more value to this meal, the service here is outstanding. No complaints whatsoever on this count. Whilst I was leaving, I was asked if I wanted to call for a taxi. While these may seem like insignificant details, I have grown accustomed to the lack of adherence to the spirit of hospitality in the UK dining industry and things like these really make up for an overall incompetence. I wouldn 't call the meal cheap but with the entire experience, I was expecting a larger dent in my wallet. All in all, I am more than pleased that I stumbled upon Lasan and I am only too convinced that Gordon Ramsay did well by recommending it."