SHA Small Heath Alliance

The Flying Elephant in Solihull as well. Used to be the old Red House pub on Hermitage Road

NOGS74

Nikola Zigic

Go

Initial shortlist:

Hen and Chickens
Merrymaid
Soho Tavern
Keg and Grill (this was superb Friday)
Covered Wagon
The JQ
The Sportsman


This post was requested and paid for on behalf of Andy and www.smallheathalliance.com

Are these places you have frequented yourself or just a cut and paste?

I live near the Covered Wagon so interested in a genuine review not some paid review where someone ate for free and gave them 5 out of 5.

Covered Wagon is decent, not top tier, however a really good place to have nearby if your local.

Bordesley not Small Heath

Heard good reports about the Summer House ( formerly the Shaftsmoor Pub, Shaftsmoor Lane)
Will be trying myself soon, normally go Covered Wagon

It's utter shit. Don't waste your time

blues

Bordesley not Small Heath

Heard good reports about the Summer House ( formerly the Shaftsmoor Pub, Shaftsmoor Lane)
Will be trying myself soon, normally go Covered Wagon

It's utter shit. Don't waste your time

Correct

generalBlue

The Vine
West Bromwich

Bit of a jaunt but we’ll worth it 👍

The one, the only, Merrymaid

I've not been to any of those named but every one I have been too has been totally uninspiring. I'm unlikely to go out of my way to try any of these that have been recommended...unless someone can add a little detail?

All the reviews just say they're great, like? Why so are these aforementioned places so good?

A shit load of Indian spicy meat with a naan and a pot of curry basically. What's not to like.

It's got me sold.

What menu items did you order at Keg and Grill that were superb?

I know these menus are all much of a muchness, but anything really stand out?

You could do a similar BBQ at home with a little bit of effort. Just make sure it's a bit spicy and there are massive portions, but no real describable taste other than "Indian".

It's fast food you can have sitting at a canteen table.

Ivy Bush B66
Garden Gate Hamstead Hill
Sportsman West Bromwich
Soho Tavern Handsworth
Red Lion West Bromwich

You could also knock up a sous vide partridge breast with kohlrabi puree and morel mushroom jus at home but that’s not the point.

I’d still sooner have a curry in them rather than just gorging on a load of meat

Rab C Nesbitt

I’d still sooner have a curry in them rather than just gorging on a load of meat

It's the novelty for me Rab, there's a ridiculous amount of curry houses per capita round by me, I can get a curry any time and a decent one too- though not your old school Balti type.

For ages the only way I could get a Desi grill was to go to Birmingham (or West Brom etc), so would always go for the meat.

Since we had the Arms open in Tamworth I've had the curries a bit more often but when I go to a new one I've not tried before I always have a grill just to see how it is.

To answer about the Keg and grill, nothing in particular (though the Fish Pakora was the best I've had actually), but all of it was just very nice. The curry sauce (Balti) was bang on too.

Fair