This was my fifth visit to one of my favourite restaurants. I deliberately travel out of my way to…read moreeat here. The restaurant has a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere and serves up an American-style BBQ menu. Portion sizes are big and the quality of the meat is never in doubt. On this visit I discovered their chicken wings, which have to be the best chicken wings I've had in the UK, and I'm struggling to remember any wings sampled in the U.S. that would beat them! The secret is definitely in the coating - I'm just gutted I didn't discover them sooner! Their southern fried chicken burger is my favourite burger from here, however unfortunately on this occasion they served it with blue cheese on top rather than the regular cheese I asked for. No problem though, they were more than happy to make a fresh burger which was just as delicious as always. The Surf, Bird & Turf Combo and BBQ Ribs are also great choices. My biggest plus about this place though is their fries; the best fries I've ever eaten. Consistently awesome on every visit, beautifully crispy and well-seasoned. Big 5 stars from me as I've had 5 fantastic meals here, and they have Brahma on tap which is a bonus.

As an American traveling in the UK for work, I was happy to find this American inspired bar and…read moregrill. The food is very good, the restraunt is clean, and plays a variety of music. They even have Bud on tap. Worth a stop if you miss some Americanized food.

After a rather long drive from Penzance, we arrived in Cheltenham around 9pm. We learned early on…read morein our trip that English shops don't stay open past 5-6pm, save for some market chains and pubs so we were a tad concerned that we wouldn't be eating dinner that night. Fortunately, there were restaurants open on the Promenade, Cheltenham's picturesque shopping area, which did look a tad seedy at night.. but we decided Bill's would do and were seated right away. Our waitress brought out menus and took drink orders. I ordered a mac and cheese and hubby had Mojo chicken skewers with couscous salad. The food is a lot like our New American with a bit of fusions going in. The dishes were appetizing, well seasoned and comforting, something I had been missing while running around and eating pasties throughout the day. Our server was a sweetheart and even gave us a little parting gift: a jar of Bill's Strawberry Jam, which we found a lovely gesture.

Great casual breakfast/brunch spot. The ambiance is welcoming, with worn wood tables, hard wood…read morefloors and old time posters. Service is excellent. We had the granola Sunday which was fresh and satisfying, the bills breakfast and kids pancakes. Great spot for families. A little on the pricey side.

I always like going to New Orleans type places to eat. Whenever I am in a not to familiar city, I…read morewill chose this type of place to eat. The New Orleans Restaurant and Bar in Birmingham was a good place to relax with good food. There people who run this restaurant must have studied the New Orleans palette because it sure did taste like the real stuff.

Looking for some American diner style breakfast/brunch spot, Seth S. and I decided to check out…read moreCelebz since another brunch place was closed. The Celebz concept is based on a kitschy stereotype of Americana with quintessential foods like burgers, waffles, fries and milkshakes. I love a good bit of kitsch but Celebz seemed to hit all the wrong notes. The blaring music, loud colors, and cold interior left me feeling like I was on Sunset Strip after a late-night bender in search of greasy garbage to cure my hangover. The vibe, encouraged by Rhianna screaming "bitch better have my money," was starkly contrasted by a grouping of families with small children. Womp womp. When placing our order we learned that the milkshake deal (+£2) advertised with the burgers only applies to the burger meal, requiring you to spend £9 for a sandwich and milkshake, with or without fries. Seth S. got the burger but skipped the milkshake and I decided to get some pancakes and twisty fries instead. Seth's burger and my fries were delivered to the table fairly quickly, but we were almost finished eating before my pancakes arrived. I was disappointed that the pancakes were crepes not American style pancakes in an American themed restaurant, but that's neither here nor there. The twisty fries were perfect - just like some of my favorite from a greasy spoon in NC. The crepe presentation was nice but the flavor underwhelming. Too much egg was used in the batter, and the egg flavor overshadowed the Belgian chocolate drizzle and strawberry filling. If you're in search of an authentic Vegas hangover cure, this is the place for you!

I am big fan of reviewing places on what they are and as an independent American diner I have to…read moregive this place five stars. Located over by Aston uni campus this place is a bit out of the way but when looking for a late night sweet myself and a friend took a wonder over here to see what it was all about. Now I know this place will not be for everyone, it's loud and in your face in terms of design with pictures of the USA and celebrities on the walls. The menu is made up of a range of popular American classics like burgers, milkshakes, pancakes, cookie dough and ice cream. We decided to go for nachos and a cookie dough dessert to share which were both surprisingly good. The nachos had the guacamole and salsa on the side instead of being all over top which is great for a condiment lover like me! The thing that I love about this place is you can easily sit a chill for a few hours eating and drinking on a quiet weekend night off the booze (dry Jan seemed like a good idea at the time) if you are looking for a place to get something sweet with a good range of options this is a great option in the city centre.

For an expat craving a taste of the south, this place is a godsend. Your cardiologist won't approve…read morealthough there are plenty of vegan options. The food won't extend your life but it definitely makes it worth living.

So, having had luck with recommendations from Ben C before, I thought it best I check this place…read moreout on a day in Kings Heath. Now, I was meeting Ben for lunch at Veg Out (see http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/veg-out-cafe-birmingham?hrid=GgI2cmA6RaEsO8pLKdk1Aw), I didn't actually eat here - I just grabbed a coffee to visit and soak up the ambiance (being your intrepid Yelp Community Manager). Al's Diner is just off the main stretch of Kings Heath and opposite York Road. It's easy to spot, with it's American vibe and bright red exterior. As you might guess from the name, it's got a bit of a "happy days" vibe to it. From the red and white patterned work surfaces to old school Americana prints and design touches, it's all very sweet. As I say, I just popped in for a hot drink - but I will definitely pop back in for a burger at some point! The burgers looked huge and were priced around £2.50 (without fries) making it a bargain! They also had a great selection of sweet treats on the menu at similarly reasonable prices. My coffee wasn't the best (it was served with UHT milk), but that's not why you would visit normally. I grabbed a coffee and a can of cola and I believe it came to around £2.20 - which is a bit of a steal really. I was served with a smile and felt welcome throughout my whole visit (despite taking up a whole booth just to drink my coffee and do some work). I probably wouldn't travel all the way to Kings Heath to visit, but I urge you to pop in if you are based around here. If I was down here for the day, I would 100% make a date with one of their calorific treats for lunch or dinner.

At one time I counted 12 places that you could get chicken and chips from between The Sun at The…read moreStation and The Pear Tree. It doesn't take much imagination to offer something original in the ways of fast food. Al's Diner have spotted a niche in the market and jumped right in. They serve burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and deserts in such authentic US surroundings, (NYC print wall paper, state-side memorabilia authentic shake-bar stools) that you half expect Arthur Fonzarelli to enter stage right with a 'Hey!' and start asking 'bout Richey. This place is very popular with tweens, who have claimed it as their own space to meet, hang out and gaze out of the window while supping a shake. Others like to drop in for a pre-pub snack before hitting the High Street. Families are catered for too, and on a Friday evening they take time out from busy schedules for some quality informal dining time together. Those who believe that 'It's Dork To Eat Pork' can join in as the hot-dogs here are made with beef. In fact, the whole menu is Halal. Service with a smile comes as standard, and they'll tweak meals to suit you. There's a level of community and philanthropy going on here which is hard to beat. If you haven't got an Uncle Sam then you can find a surrogate family member in Al.

If you like your food Italian then you would enjoy a night in Frankie and Benny's. Be sure to pre…read morebook as they get very busy most night. The fact that it is busy is one of the only downfalls to the restraunt as you can have a wait of twenty minutes sometimes before you get a table. It is in a nice setting with the canal right behind. There is always a lot of old swing music in the background, but at the right volums so you can hear yourself talking. It is recommended to try and book upstairs if possible as it is a lot quiter up there.

We recently took 12, hyper, 9 year olds for our daughters birthday party. Nothing was too much…read moretrouble for the staff, and my daughters meal was free. It is a nice layout - very open plan with some large circular tables available. And as another reviewer has noted, the canal runs directly behind the building making for a very pleasant setting on a summers evening. I have been to fair few other F + B's, but the Kidderminster one remains my favourite. Food is fairly standard for a chain restaurant, but there is a good choice and it is reasonably priced. That said, I love their calzone!

10 of us made a much overdue first visit to Urban Standard last week and absolutely loved it…read more It's very understated from the outside. A big black sign sits above the big open widows, but with barely any writing or branding. You'd really have to look for it if you didn't know it was there. Inside the decor is dark with some weird and wonderful stuff on the wall. They had loud house/electronic music on which I loved. The atmosphere was really casual but really buzzy! I've never ordered ribs at a restaurant before. I generally don't think you get enough meat and I'm not a big fan of BBQ sauce. But something felt different in the Urban Standard and I felt compelled to order the half rack. So order I did! And it was one of the most enjoyable meals I've had in ages! The ribs are ridiculously meaty, lots of meat on top as well as in between each rib. The sauce was nice and spicy and not too thick that there was more on your fingers than on the meat! I really liked the fact they gave you a side pot of the same sauce for the chips! The chips were also really good and for a around £9 it was a really decent feed! I had a couple of gin and tonics which was Bombay Safire and tonic. Nothing out if the ordinary. They do have a little micro brewery and if really like to try the ales, I just wasn't in the mood. Next time! This is definitely one of the hottest new places in Gloucester Road. It's a bit different to anywhere else and I applaud them for that! If they keep the same music at the same volume, I'll definitely be a regular!

We stumbled across this little place whilst thinking of a venue to have birthday meal. Formally an…read moreamusement arcade this little place has undergone extensive refurbishment. You are now greeted with a very hip establishment with bench seats and local arty farty works adorning the walls. They have a very interesting but expensive drinks selection. Including some very fine Orchard Pig cider £4.20 a bottle.But tonight for me was about the grub. I opted for a burger with cheese. And it wern't all that bad. But it wern't as good as Start The Bus ! I like my burgers with plenty on juice and for me this was just a tiny bit dry. Others opted for the Pulled Pork Mac and cheese which was pretty good, and decent sized portions. Overall it was a nice plesent dining experience. But then again i've had these in the cafe at tesco, so I wont personally be hurrying back.

When coming back to Birmingham, a friend and I, always have lunch and a few beers. The location…read morechanges, but the story stays the same. This has been one of our locations three times now, and I'm beginning to wonder why it's not been more. Service during the day is casual, sit where you like, here's a menu, back in 5. The food selection is BBQ tastic, and is served very similarly to the big states places, on a little red tray. Nice but small craft beer selection, nice range of cocktails and spirits. There's even PBR if you're looking for the complete USA experience. My friend always goes for the Buffalo Black burger, which I have to say is phenomenal. I've varied and gone for the brisket one, and the pulled pork meal. Sides include "loaded" chilli cheese fries - which deserve a mention on their own. Burnt ends (side of more meat please!) and 'slaw. It's all been good, I've not experienced a bad bit of food there. Price isn't bad, for two of us last time it was £45. That was for the two burgers, burnt ends, mac n cheese, chilli cheese fries, and four beers. I'd like to see something like a Nashville hot chicken plate on the menu with the BBQ stuff, but other than that, this place is wonderful. It sells all of the things I like. Bravo. I didn't even notice it was a Bitters' and Twisted place until I read it here..

Another completely unique venue for Bitters and Twisted. Buffalo & Rye is new to the Bennetts Hill…read morescene, and a few doors down from sister venue Bodega. This place generated a ton of buzz before the doors were opened mid November, so naturally I wanted to try it! After stalking their Facebook, it seemed the best time to grab a table and avoid long waits was right at opening. My dining partner and I turned up shortly after noon on a Saturday and were seated immediately. The first thing i noticed is how intimate the venue is. There really is only a handful of tables. We opted for our own high top table as stools aren't the most comfortable seating. The menu is simple and specific. I'd check it out ahead of time so you know what you're in for. I thought the servers were great. Timing of food, not as great. They were rammed but we were the first people sat for the afternoon so I'd expect less of a wait than 25 minutes for starters. We shared some wings and beef chili cheese fries. Now, I am from Buffalo, NY. The chicken wing capitol of the world. We invented and perfected chicken wings. Its hard to compete with our wings in this country. Back to the review, here the wings were left still attached which I kinda liked. Usually you find the drums and flats separated so this was actually a nice change up. I do think they needed more sauce. Ours were nice and crispy but dry. Overall they were a nice choice for a starter. Ooh and the cheese fries are lovely and served in a little baking tin. As for my main, I had a buttermilk chicken sandwich which was juicy and crispy goodness. The roll was a bit too hard for my liking. I left most of it on my plate. But the chicken was amazing. Random fact about me: I love pickles or gherkins as you Brits call them. It's always a nice surprise to see a place over here serving pickles. I asked for some on my sandwich and only got one tiny piece. Step up your pickle game Buffalo & Rye! I almost forgot to mention the cocktails!! Such wild and crazy concoctions here. I tried a grape fizz and red kool aid inspired drink. Grape fizz blew me away. Kool aid was a bit uninspiring. Not as sweet or flavorful as I imagined. There's also milkshakes that looked wonderful. Sadly I was too full for one. I really liked this place. Although I can't see myself visiting it as often as the other BnTs, it's still worth a pop in. Plan accordingly. It's busy!

The decor is super fun, it looks like each restaurant might have its own theme in addition to just…read more'USA' and in this case it's superheroes in general and Spider-Man in particular. Interestingly they haven't bothered to theme the music accordingly, which is common in American diners that are going for that retro vibe. Other pluses; bottomless coffee, alcohol and cocktails available, a massive menu that ranges from normal (cheeseburger) to ridiculous (peanut butter cheeseburger), and huge portions. The burgers all come with steak fries and a side, which can be coleslaw, salad, or corn on the cob. We had the onion rings as an appetizer, which were just okay. The desserts look a bit pricey but again the portions are huge so you can easily share. I got the waffle burger, which was one of the gimmicky daily specials so it may be that the normal selections are better, but it was a bit tasteless. The bacon (British, not American, but still tasty) was fine but probably needed to be crisped a little to add texture, and the waffles soaked up the syrup so the overall effect ended up a bit dry and the burger patty itself was a little bland. Prices are a bit high (most of the burgers come in around £9.50) but the portions are certainly generous, so if the food quality was a little higher I think I'd add a star. Service was mixed, starting with a strangely negative interaction with one server but followed by our server being very sweet and friendly. However he was also clearly overworked and rushing around like mad.

Overpriced and poor quality of food!!read more