Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“Bucket Dining” in the Balti Triangle
Birmingham's best-known culinary expe-
rience was actually created by Pakistani
Kashmiri chefs in the Sparkhill area of the
city in the late 1970s.
Balti
literally means
bucket, but it refers to a Kashmiri style of
cooking meat and vegetables very fast
over a hot flame. A good balti-style curry
should be flavorful but not necessarily
spicy, and is traditionally served with
naan bread, not rice. With the city's large
Pakistani Kashmiri population, there are
now over 50
balti houses
in Birmingham's
Balti Triangle (roughly within Ladypool
Road, Stoney Lane, and Stratford Road,
south of the city center), most of which
are bare-bones, BYOB affairs. One of the
better ones is
Adil,
353-355 Ladypool
Rd. (
&
0121/449-0335;
www.adilbalti.
co.uk), which claims to be the original
Birmingham balti house, open Sunday to
Thursday noon to midnight, Friday 4pm
to midnight, and Saturday noon to 1am.
12
Bank
BRASSERIE The Birmingham outpost of this chic brasserie consistently
delivers, with chefs working feverishly in the open-plan kitchen. For a main dish, you
can sample superb choices such as roast chicken, potato gnocchi, mushrooms, and
garlic butter, or the smoked haddock and leek risotto with poached egg. Desserts
include a classic English chocolate fudge pudding with vanilla ice cream.
4 Brindleyplace.
&
0121/633-4466.
www.bankrestaurants.com. Reservations recommended. Main
courses £15-£23. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri noon-11pm; Sat 11:30am-11:30pm; Sun 11:30am-10pm.
INEXPENSIVE
Canalside Café
CAFE/COFFEEHOUSE This old waterside lock-keeper's cot-
tage is a laid-back cafe during the day and a decent pub by night, with a range of real
ales on tap. The food is solid, home-cooked stuff: Vegetable soups, sandwiches, and
a selection of organic and vegan choices. Sit outside in sunny weather and watch the
barges glide past, or enjoy the cluttered, antique-strewn interior.
Canalside Cottage, 35 Worcester Bar, Gas St.
&
0121/248-7979.
Main courses from £3.95. MC, V. Daily
11am-11pm.
Great British Eatery
FISH & CHIPS This is a super-modern fish-and-chips
shop, serving traditional fried treats with a focus on British produce and simple but
clean presentation. Everything is cooked to order here, in beef dripping at very high
temperatures; as a result, the fish itself is not fried as you might expect, but beauti-
fully steamed within its crispy batter casing. The thick-cut chips (fries) are given the
same treatment, and they also serve savory pies. Take out or eat in, and enjoy a local
beer from Holden's or Warwickshire brewery Purity.
13 Broadway Plaza, Francis Rd.
&
0121/456-5955.
www.greatbritisheatery.co.uk. Main courses £3-6.
MC, V. Mon-Tues noon-9pm; Wed-Sat noon-10pm.
The Warehouse Café
VEGAN CAFE Located in the Birmingham headquar-
ters of Friends of the Earth, this hippie, chic cafe offers fresh, organic vegetarian and
vegan dishes at budget prices. It even uses solar power. Feast on pearl barley risotto
of wild mushrooms and leeks served with cauliflower cheese beignets; sage and wal-
nut cream with rocket and Parmesan salad; or a more exotic Malaysian laksa (coconut
noodle broth).
54-57 Allison St.
&
0121/633-0261.
www.thewarehousecafe.com. Main courses £8.25-£9.45. Mon-Sat
11am-10pm; Sun 11am-6pm.
