New Entry: Lalehzar

Yesterday, I published a review of Lalehzar, Persian restaurant in Hockley, Birmingham.

http://wonderbirmingham.co.uk/birmingham/lalehzar_en.html

As I have already announced in the previous entry, this is a BAD review. So, read it. Bad reviews are always more entertaining than good ones! Well, at least I enjoy more when I read bad ones.

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By the way, today I went to Jojolapa in city centre for lunch. I won't be able to write the review until the weekend at the earliest, so a sneak preview.

Two course meal for £9 or £10 (I am not sure here), and you get a generous quantity of delicious food. If you make it for weekday lunch, it is a good deal. I do recommend

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It is really cold tonight, but the heater seems to be broken. Have to call the landlord tomorrow, again. Grrrrrr.

Bad Meal

Yesterday, I went to a Persian restaurant in Hockley called Lalehzar.



It was a memorably bad meal. Maybe it was the worst, or the second worst I have had during five years in Birmingham.

I have read many good reviews on this place: great food, great service, and great price. In my experience, only the last was true. But, when the food isn't good, I cannot say it was cheap. It would have been cheaper eating at home, or at a fast food joint just around the corner.

In recent months, I have had nothing but good meal. I immensely liked Turners, Ananda Bhavan, and Red 'N Hot. I had a bad meal in Portugal in October, but all the rest was from good to superb, as far as I can recall. If you are a regular reader of my restaurant reviews, you should be wondering if I can score less than 7/10, like Mr. Paul Fulford of Birmingham Mail who seems to have good experience in every restaurant in Birmingham (which, actually, isn't so strange when virtually all the restaurateurs in town know he is a restaurant critique).

Actually I can. I am terribly critical when I have to. Just, honestly, I have not had bad meals, partly because I have been lucky, partly because of a matter of course. Different from professional food critiques who are sent to certain restaurants for specific reasons, I just go to the restaurants I want to go after having carefully studied reviews and menus. As I have to pay from my wallet, I do all I can to avoid the places where I might have bad meal.

I hate to write a bad review of a privately run restaurant. But I will. There are too many good reviews on this place and I need to redress the balance.

Beirut Has Gone

Yesterday, passing Bristol Street in the bus, I saw Beirut Lebanese restaurant closed with a piece of paper attached on the door. So, today, I went there to check what is written.

This is the announcement.



Probably it is difficult to read, so I summerise. It says the management has decided to replace the Lebanese restaurant by a fast food shop. The closure is dated the 3 August, so our last visit was just about 10 days before the closure. It explains the stale(-ish) food we were served.

So if you fancy Lebanese food in Birmingham, you need to go all the way to Syriana in Snowhill, which is not situated as convenient as Beirut for most of us.

And, by chance, we saw also this fast food shop was closed. This is just about 10 metres away from Beirut.



In this case, the closure was not peaceful and the announcement on the door says the place was reoccupied by the landload. Evidently it happened in April, but I have not noticed until now.

And yet another closure. The Duet Polish restaurant on Hurst Street is not there any more. I think it happened some time ago, and now there is an announcement of imminent opening of Torino cafeteria.



It will sell italian style sandwiches and pastas. I would guess it is an Italian style fast food shop.

Wokmania is still closed and there is no sign of refurbishment and convertion to a new venue. So, in general, there is no good news in this area for now.

New entry from the 18th July to 2nd August

It has been a long time since last time I uploaded an new item. This time I have an excuse! (but excuses are never something to proud of! ha ha). I have been moving to a new flat and I did not have time and, for some time, internet connection from home.

But last week, finally I managed to upload a page, which I am afraid isn't a good news.

Birmingham Restaurant Guide

Beirut




Unfortunately this time, it was not as good as the last time. The price increased and the quantity diminuished. Difficult age, I suppose.

Have a good week, everyone!

New entries from the 23rd to 29th June 2008

I am a bit behind, but managed to upload a couple of entries this week.

Birmingham restaurant guide

Salama Somali Restaurant in Small Heath



This place is brilliant. Do go if you are an adventurous eater.

Shiraz Persian restaurant



Slightly disappointed comparing to the meal I had here a couple of years ago, but not bad.

Update to New Sum Ye restaurant and take-away



The price is slightly increased.


Have a nice week from tomorrow!

Phoenix Cafe is now Donya

I have not been to Bristol Road for several weeks, and when I went there last week, I noticed that the Persian restaurant Phoenix Café (aka House of Phoenix) changed the name.



Now it is called Donya.

I am not sure (althoght it looks probable) if it changed hands, as they are using still the menu of Phoenix Café.

I went to House of Phoenix once. It was some time ago, but then it was serving decent food for reasonable price. I heard good things about it from several people, so it is a pity that their business did not go well (otherwise, why change the name?)

I hope Donya serves equally good food and have a better luck.

Mashwii Arabian Restaurant in Small Heath

Yesterday, we went to Mashwii Arabian Restaurant in Small Heath for lunch. We did go there, but we didn't eat, as it was closed. At least, however, I took some photos.



Their website tells us that they are open from the noon, but to tell you the truth, I have heard that it is not open at noon. It seems to open some time after the noon, but I don't know when. Pity.

Outside, I saw this banner publicising buffet dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 to 11 PM, for £8.95. I am not a buffet person, but it might be a good occasion to try out as many dishes as possible.



N.B. This photo is taken on 28 April 2008; I cannot guarantee if this offer is still valid at the moment you read this post. Please call to make sure. Phone number is 0121 766 5300.

You can find the address on the page below.

http://www.wonderbirmingham.co.uk/birmingham/birminghamrestaurants2_en.html#south

Instead, we went to a Somalian restaurant, and had a great meal only for £5. I am not sure, however, if I write a review, if it is not a place for anybody.