My spouse and I are staying in Birmingham next weekend (as a base to go and see a matinee in Stratford on Saturday afternoon). We're staying in the Crowne Plaza.

I just wondered if anyone had any restaurant recommendations? Quiet, Western (the other half doesn't do spice ), money not no object but not too budgety. And not designer/elaborate...

All ideas gratefully received. Many thanks,

Not spicy isn't helpful in Birmingham, five years ago, I would have gone "Ummm" to your request.

However, things have changed somewhat over the last few years.

The best place in Birmingham is Simpsons, but it is at the pricy end of the market - http://www.simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk/

For what I regard as reasonable, City Centre and good food, I like the bistro at the Hotel du Vin http://www.hotelduvin.com/HotelPage....avigationId=12

Similarly the food at the Brasserie Blanc isn't too bad http://www.brasserieblanc.com/index.html just next to BrindleyPlace.

If you'd like Italian, lots of my fellow Brummies swear by San Carlo http://www.sancarlo.co.uk/, personally I prefer my neighbourhood "Italian" and I've never liked the service at San Carlo, but it's well loved by many.

If you want Cantonese, best to poke around the Chinese quarter down by the Arcadian. Chung Ying Gardens is the biggest of them all and I go reasonably regularly, but it isn't by far the best http://www.chungying.co.uk/

There's a pretty good guide at http://www.birminghamplus.com/ that shows the choice available in the Second City and if you want any questions answered, I'm happy to try and answer them if I can.

Yikes. I've eaten at the Leicester San Carlo. One of the worst Italian experiences I've ever had, and definitely the worst Italian for VFM. The service was quite decent, but all food was bland beyond blandness!

Hmm.. Off the top of my head (thinking where things are in Brum)

Brindly Place http://www.brindleyplace.com/whats-here/restaurants
- The Bank - Very nice. A bit pricey, but good
- Le Pettie Blanc - French. Quite nice.

Mailbox http://www.mailboxlife.com/restaurants-cafe-bars/
There's a Tapas place in the Mailbox that wasn't much cop to be honest (Bar Estrello I think it is, but don't quote me). Red Peppers is pretty nice.

Personally, I love the Handmade Burger place in Brindly Place, but I know that may not be everyone's cupatea

It's Bar Estilo and no, I don't rate it either, but lots of people do. Some people think that the best tapas in Brum is out in Moseley, but as a Moseley denizen I think it's actually at the caf� in the Ikon gallery (and it's still not that good).

I must try the handmade burger place sometime

Thank you very much for the suggestions everyone. It's this weekend so I'll report back on what we chose...

Thanks again.