Va Bene! - Total Disappointment

Such a horrific meal, it's a struggle to put into words...

THE LOOK

1. Starter - Polpetti, beef meatballs, olives in a delicious tomato sauce £6.95 - Once again my plate wasn't wiped before it was served, I know it sounds rather stuck up but it really bothers me! My bread was lost under my dish and it looked more like a school dinner than a restaurant meal
2. Main - Tortellini Quattro Formaggi, pasta parcels with ricotta and spinach, mushroom, gorgonzola, parmesan, and mozzerella and cream sauce £10.95  - This is the only dish of the night that I actually thought looked appetising. It was a bit awkward when after only one teaspoon of parmesan the waiter asked if that was enough and I had to tell him a few more!
3. Side - Sauteed Potatoes £2.95 -  Looked as lovely as my main
4. Dessert - Eaton Mess Cheesecake £??? - I was missing my meringue, which in my opinion is the best part?! I have had better looking cheesecakes for Aldi, this was definitely not homemade!

Rating: *"

THE TASTE

1. Garlic, garlic, garlic!! That's literally all I could taste! The meatballs here so dry and bland, they were flying across my dish as i tried to cut them
2. I actually really enjoyed this dish! The pasta was al dente and the sauce was perfection! These really came through in the sauce and didn't even need extra salt!
3. After struggling to finish my main I couldn't manage these so took them home and they were lush cold the next day!
4. This dessert was actually disgusting and wasn't fully defrosted. The parts that were edible were bland and certainly not worth the calories.

Rating: **

THE PLACE

Compared to previous visits this place was dead! The staff were quick to take out order but never cleared away the empty glasses. When we complained about one of our meals the manager agreed that it was over cooked and didn't offer us another main until the others were cleared away but he did take it off the bill.

Rating:*"

The Bell at Belbroughton

THE LOOK

Everything I had to eat this evening was presented with various levels of finesse.

1. Scallops of the Day served with Saffron mashed potatoes and drizzled with a pea and mint pesto dressing - £9.50 - The classic presentation of scallops! The Bell is part of the same chain as The Lyttelton Arms, and The White Swan in Harborne. Across the table though they varied greatly in size so there was a bit of food envy going on!
2. King Prawn, crab and chorizo linguine with white wine, tomatoes, garlic and chilli - £12.95 - I was so disappointed when my food arrived as it looked like it had been sitting there white a while and the excess sauce wasn't wiped from the edge of my place.
3. Baked New York style cheesecake served with strawberry coulis - £5.95 - When it first arrived I had to send it back as the plate was dirty. When my second one arrived it was presented completely differently and apparently they had forgotten the strawberries too.

Rating:***"

THE TASTE

1. I always love the scallops here. This time however, the mashed potatoes weren't very warm but the were perfectly smooth and I really couldn't get enough of the pesto!
2. Despite how it looks the pasta is lush! I will definitely be having it again. The crab meat is white (I don;t like the dark meat) and just like the prawns its cooked well and tastes fresh. I asked for as little chilli as possible (I'm a bit of a wimp) and personally that was the right level of heat 
3. The cheesecake was average. The traditional style we all love, I've had better but I've also had a lot worse

Rating: ***"

THE PLACE

Our waitress, Amy, was incredible this evening. She was very attentive and when there was something wrong with my dessert she came back even though she had already walked away. The beer garden here is soon modern and there are plenty of seats for it's ideal for large parties. If you're wearing heels bake sure you're confident in them as you have to go down a slight slope to get in and always RING THE BELL!!

Rating: ****

Rainbow Palace - £10 3 Course Deal

I've been going to this quaint little restaurant for years and it just keeps getting better and better! I've celebrated so many things here from anniversaries to birthdays, Chinese New Year to a new job, the food is such great quality at such a low price that everyone can afford it.

THE LOOK

All of the food here is usually served on tea light food warmers so it's ideal if you want to get a few plates to share! The starters usually come served on a bed of lettuce with a vegetable flower but that's as fancy as it gets, here it's the taste, not the presentation that keeps you coming back. It's back to basics here.

Rating: ***

THE TASTE

The £10 3 course menu changes weekly. There are always 4 starters on the menu and you choose two and then there's a selection of mains. The tiger prawns here are delicious. They are always perfectly cooked but I always ask for a bit more sauce to dip them in! This visit we were all a bit disappointed in the satay chicken this time as the sauce wasn't as peanutty as usual so was a tad bland. It was the first time I'd had the king prawn in black bean sauce here but I would definitely have it again. 

Rating: ****

THE PLACE

The restaurant itself is only tiny so you really do need to book, try and ask for a table in the main section rather than at the back as it gets too hot there. The staff are so lovely here, Stan, the head waiter will do anything for you and is great with kids. Once they didn't have a drink I wanted so they went out and bought it for me! However, I have noticed that we get a very different kind of service when I go without my Dad, perhaps the owner is just a mans man...

Rating:****

Hickory Smokehouse - A bit of Everything

After booking a few months in advance (we called up ages ago and asked for the first available Saturday at 7pm) the day finally arrived!

THE LOOK

No matter what you order you will always make an oooo or wow when it arrives at your table! My meal was Popcorn Shrimp, Macaroni Cheese with Salad and Garlic Bread, and to finish Campfire Marshmallows but I took pictures of more as they looked sooo good. 

1. Table-Toasted Campfire Marshmallows With chocolate dipping sauce - £7.95. This is one of the most impressive desserts I've ever had, it took me right back to my days as a Girl Guide! You get 18 pink and white marshmallows on skewers and your own mini campfire to toast them on, INCREDIBLE!!
2. Mac ‘n’ Cheese Garlic Texas toast & house salad - £9.95. This all comes served on a wooden block with the salad in a colander and the mac n cheese served in a hot skillet. For me this portion is way to big but it was so good I was happy to have lots of it! The garlic bread looks just like white toast (typical toast you get from your nan's house; drenched in butter)!
3. Blueberry Lemonade - £2.50. The colour of this was just stunning!
4. Popcorn Shrimp with creole mayonnaise - £5.95. I was a bit surprised by how small the prawns were as I've seen pictures on their Instagram and they look a bit bigger and also a much bigger portion. 
   
5. Georgia Iced Tea - £2.75. This drink looks lime summer in a glass. I love the fact that all of the lemonades and teas are served in jars as it really adds to the rustic effect of the place!
6. Smoked Baby Hot Links Sausages with mustard & sweet bourbon dips - £5.95. (Apologies for the hands in the background but it's the only way my dad would let me take a photo) The sausages look bigger here than in real life but it really was the perfect size for a starter. They were (apparently) a bit difficult to eat as the "hanger" was still in the way.
7. Kansas City Style BBQ Glazed Spare Ribs Glazed with homemade barbecue sauce with fries and American slaw. Half slab - £14.95. This really was a mammoth portion! There really isn't much as I can say, just look at this giant chunk of meat in awe!
8. Raspberry and Mint Lemonade - £2.75. I wasn't going to order this drink as I'm not a huge fan of mint but I saw a waiter taking this to another table and just had to have it! It looked just like a cocktail! I'm really impressed with how fancy their soft drinks look as it means those who are driving can get in on the fun too

Rating:*****

THE TASTE

1. In all honesty I didn't order this dessert for the taste but more for the novelty of it! I couldn't finish it as it was far too sickly, definitely one to share!
2. This is some of the best garlic bread I've ever had! I like my garlic bread to be really soft and buttery and that's exactly what this was. The mac n cheese was lovely, nothing special but still the traditional comfort food dish, just needed at little extra salt
3. This drink was incredible! I was actually sad when I'd finished it! It was the perfect combination of blueberries and lemon but tasted like there were so many more flavors! I was more like a mocktail than a simple homemade lemonade, I really would happily drink this and be the designated driver!
4. These tiny little prawns were lovely but the creolo mayo was a tad too spicy for myself so I used the BBQ sauce you get on your table. Another dish I'd have again 
   
5. This was my least favourite out of the three drinks, it wasn't bad but it isn't one I would have again. It was simple and peachy but nothing more the the bottles of Lipton's Peach Iced Tea.
6. This wasn't my starter but I pinched a little sausage to have a taste and they are gorgeous even without the sauces the really pack a flavour punch, I will definitely be having these next time!
7. Again this wasn't my meal but my dad had them and completely cleared his plate. They were so meaty and moreish
8. Ah this drink is incredible! Just like the blueberry lemonade it tasted more like a cocktail than lemonade. It was so sweet and refreshing that I couldn't help but drink it really quickly!

Rating:*****

THE PLACE

If you've ever been to Bubba Gump Shrimp in America you will love this place! We were really lucky with our table and got given a booth with a TV (unfortunately the Euros was on so people kept stopping at the end of our table to check the score) but it was so comfy and we had so much room. Our waiter was very polite and well informed on the dishes available and made great recommendations. This will sound like a strange point to mention but the toilets were also lovely and they was a basket in there with complimentary deodorant, tampons, and hairspray for you to use.

Rating:*****

Be At One - Cocktails

OMG this is my new favourite bar in Birmingham!!

THE LOOK

It's fair to say that we tried a variety of cocktails while we were here but unfortunately I wasn't able to get pics of them all!

• Cocktail 1: Popster. This is one of my favourite cocktails ever! I love how simple it is but the popcorn on top really makes all the difference. 
• Cocktail 2: Blueberry Muffin. I personally think that this cocktail looks so vibrant yet classy, the slice of orange peel floating on top really contrasts to the deep blueberry purple of the drink. 
• Cocktail 3: Rum Runner. This cocktail doesn't look the fanciest but it tastes amazing. Because it's a frozen cocktail it does start to melt at the bottom but that just means you need to drink up! P.S when they make the drink cheer when they do the five finger pour as hey are very proud of themselves!! 
• Cocktail 4: Candy Pants. Personally I was quite disappointed in the appearance of this one as there was just too much ice!! First the glass was filled with ice and then my lovely pink drink but then even more ice on top?! 
• Cocktail 5: Pear Sherbet. I was really shocked that this cocktail was clear! It was simple yet elegant, served in a martini glass and decorated with a simple slice of dried lemon. 
• Cocktail 6: Frozen Mango Bellini. The colour of this cocktail is absolutely stunning. You really do get that vibrant yellowy orange of a fresh mango but in the form of an alcoholic slushy served in a wine glass. 
• Cocktail 7: Rhys' Pieces (the final one I promise). This really reminds me of an alcoholic milkshake in both look and taste but a tad different as it's served in a wine glass. You get a Peanut Butter Cup on top but try and eat it right away as it tends to sink and then you get messy (I found out the hard way)!

Rating***'

THE TASTE

1. (Butterscotch schnapps · sweet and salty popcorn · vanilla ice cream) This cocktail is now in my top 10!! Each one has half a pack of sweet and salted Proper Corn popcorn in it but it's so smooth and you can really taste each individual ingredient
2. (Absolut Vanilla · gingerbread syrup · cranberry juice · lemon juice · blueberry jam) I really don't understand why this is called Blueberry Muffin, it tastes absolutely nothing like one?! For the first few sips all I could taste was ginger as it was so overpowering but eventually the other flavours started to come through. Not one I would rush to have again but I would definitely give it another try!
3. (Bacardi Carta Negra rum · banana liqueur · blackberry liqueur · grenadine · lime juice · Appleton Estate Signature Blend) I loved this cocktail but I was really surprised just when I looked up what was in it and saw that it has banana liqueur in it as there isn't even a hint of banana?! I'd definitely have it again as it's basically an alcoholic slushy but it is rather strong!
4. (Absolut Kurant vodka · Chambord · strawberry purée · fresh lemon juice · cranberry juice) Again I don't understand the name of this cocktail! It doesn't taste like candy?? To be fair it didn't really taste of much at all as the ice watered it down quite a bit
5. (Absolut vodka (Pears)· citric syrup) This cocktail was shockingly sharp!! I actually didn't finish it as it was simply too sour! Perhaps I chose the wrong vodka but this was actually vile
6. (Absolut vodka (Mango) · fruit liqueur · fruit purée · sugar · Prosecco Santome) This drink was lush! I've never tried a frozen bellini before but I definitely will again! I was pretty much like drinking an ice lolly, so refreshing but with a slight zing to break up the sweet sicklyness of the others!
7. (Peanut butter cups · bourbon · sugar · vanilla ice cream) OMG this cocktail was sent down from heaven! Perfect for any lover of the moreish Reese's Peanut Butter as this basically tastes like a bunch of them blended with ice. Perfection

Rating: ****

THE PLACE

I love this basement bar! It's so stylish and chic but you can get away with wearing whatever you like, some people were wearing dresses and heels, others were in jeans and a T-shirt, it's just that sort of place! The bar staff and doorman were also wonderfully friendly and would just come over to join in our conversations but actually gave their opinions instead of just agreeing.

Rating: *****

Chiquitos - Churros and Cocktails

Just popped into my local restaurant at Castle Gate in Dudley for a cheeky little pot of churros and a cocktail during happy hour!

THE LOOK

As you can see both my churros and my cocktail were perfectly presented! I just managed to order in the last few seconds of Happy Hour and get my Strawberry Margarita for just £5!! Who can complain about that?! I loved the colour of this cocktail, a bit lighter than what I've had before but I love the delicateness of it and also the simple addition of half a strawberry (which I cleaned up the last little bit of chocolate from my churros with)!! The presentation of my churros was also simple yet effective. I think I had around 8 maybe more in total served with 3 strawberries and a rich chocolate sauce!

Rating: ****

THE TASTE

My cocktail was delicious! You could really taste the Tequila (which I was quite surprised about considering how cheap it was) but it wasn't overpowering and the strawberry flavour also came through well, one I will definitely be having again soon. My churros were freshly fried and were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy in the middle. The cinnamon coating was ideally balanced and went so well with the dipping sauce! However, there were simply too many for me to finish them all, no matter how hard I tried to munch my way through these delicious doughy treats!

Rating: ****

THE PLACE 

In all fairness it was just your standard Chiquito's restaurant, nothing special but a bit better than your local pub! Unfortunately the service here was below par and they forgot my friend's order of churros so we all had to wait for hers to arrive but to be fair we were all offered fresh ones and we were given a portion of churros and a cocktail for free!

Rating: ***