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Ali Baba's, Stoney Lane. Rather less hectic than other Balti restaurants in the area, Ali Baba's offers a quieter main dining room with another overspill/party room above. The menu is fairly typical but service above average. Complimentary poppadums as well as the usual onions, and food is well prepared and presented - of the highest quality. Meat dishes are excellent with high quality ingredients. I recommend the meat and spinach balti, chicken tikka massala and any of the kebab starters. The tandoori fish was fabulous - very spicy without losing the flavour of the fish. Try the Ali Baba "special" balti - a mixture of chicken and lamb tikka meat. Last visited Feb 2000, a party of 8 was accommodated at one hour's notice and service was exceptionally good. Two huge "family nans" were light and tasty and ample for the party - the best naan bread I have had. Tina wrote that the starters were disappointing (I have never had a complaint) but "baltis - chicken, potato and spinach and chicken and mushroom were superb as was the nan. Nice decor - air-conditioned and parking was for a change easy.
Geoff. Wrote "We were not to be disappointed. Ali Babas' is warm, clean with great (blues, pop, rock) background music and a very friendly environment frequented at our time of 7:30 in the evening by a mix of couples and young families.
Our starters of Sheek- kebab and Chicken Tikka were excellent as was the main course of Lamb Tikka Jalfreze and Chicken Rogan Josh. We were not disappointed in the quality or quantity of the food.
Finally, our (family size) garlic Nan bread was beautiful, delicate, spicy and big enough for David Beckham to wear as a Sari!
My intention was that with the help of these pages, to eat at a number of restaurants in this area. The trouble is if you find one that is so nice and satisfying, why move on elsewhere?"
Tina wrote to say "Re-visited on Fri 13th)!) with friends from Herts - tried different starters (last time were shish kebab and shammi kebab). I had chana chat and tried husbands pakora - wonderful, as were the baltis and family nan - unusually crisp but far less filling than the sometimes stodgy thicker nan. Also all were far less greasy than some places, fingers weren't stained with spices and more 'naturally' cooked and no 'after effects'!!"
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Lahore Karahi, Dave reckons this is the best of the bunch at the moment as far as Balti Buffets' go. Although some dishes were uninspiring, others are excellent. Pity they stopped doing the fish balti, but these didn't keep too well on the heaters. If they offer chicken-on-the-bone, it is worth trying for the flavours alone! Kebabs are usually on offer too. ______Back to top
Grand Tandoori - Stratford Road, B'ham - Mike Conlon has been going here for years and finds food always to be of the highest quality. Ask 'H' alias Saleem, what meat has been cooked up fresh tonight or what veg, lentils or anything like that and they'll throw it together. Sheek kebabs are cooked fresh on the grill, some places they are nuked and taste awful and are a terrible red colour, but these are suberb. Tandoori fish is very very good as well. They went off doing the buffets and went back to the proper food. Mike would recommend a meat,lentil and egg balti, if they've got the egg!
And ask for a cheese Nan! courtesy of Mike! It's not too expensive either. ______Back to top
Al Fraish, 186 Ladypool Rd, Sparkbrook, B'ham. James writes.. "My first experience of the "balti triangle", so don't know what the normal standard is like round these parts, but food, service, quality and ambience all above average. Prices very reasonable - decent meal for 2 of us came to £15. Good starters - sharmi and shish kebab. Main course dishes good, shared a "medium" keema nan, which we were unable to finish.Visited on Saturday evening, 7th July. Fairly busy, but no difficulty finding a place. Bring your own booze. My rating 7/10. . ______Back to top
Adil, Stoney Lane, Sparkbrook, B'ham. Typical and rather more of the old-style Balti house, but award win in 1998 confirmed long-held views that food quality was high. However - David writes (Oct 2000) that the chicken and meat was tasteless and that the sauces would taste the same whatever they were poured over! "A shadow of it's former self" "Living on it's reputation" - More reviews please - for or against! ______Back to top
Balti No. 1, Ladypool Rd, B'ham, Lauren writes: "Balti No1 - what can I say? The best I have ever been to - fabulous and beyond any expectations. The interior is fabulous and the staff particularly Imran were fantastic. The food is great and they are prepared to make anything that's not on the menu. The Tamarind King Prawn is just brilliant. The Murghi Keema Massala!! - well, you have to taste it to believe it. The peshwari nan was good and to top it all off there was a complimentary bottle of wine. So thanks to the staff(especially Imran) for tickling my taste buds." ______Back to top
Balti Cottage, Pershore Road, Stirchley . It's a family business with the best food I have tasted - you can have exactly what you want, pick 'n' mix from the menu and Abdul (the chef/owner) has his own secret recipe sauces as specialities. Absolutely bang on! Thanks to Clive Davies (no relation) Mark D says he been going to this restaurant practically since the day it opened. "What initially attracted us to go back was the freshness of all the ingredients. Abdul (friendly, smiley chef/boss) showed us that he grinds all his spice on the premises, and buys all the food himself from the markets."
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Balti Corner, Pershore Rd, Stirchley. Food very good, would recommend them, kitchens are very clean I have seen them for myself. Service slightly pushed at times but worth the wait when busy, as the food is very good. Chef has won awards and has had local press cover. Simon Rogers______Back to top
Sher Khan, Stratford Road, B'ham . Recommended by "Muller" - more pricey but great food and licenced! "Bostin!"
Yassers, Stirchley. In my view, more of a local student haunt than a restaurant sought for its food alone but when visited, the menu and service did not disappoint. Bustling atmosphere - lots of fun! Hugh wrote to say "Have tried a number along the Pershore Road including some of those you have reviewed but we decided to try Yassers after seeing it on your page. We were both impressed with the quality of the food. One Chicken Tikka &Spinach Massala and one Chicken and Chana Balti were extremely fresh and tasty and didnt have the bland taste of some along that road. In addition the Nans were hot and fresh. The service was good although a touch slow given that others have spoken of the speed. However we will return to Yassers.
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Imrans, Ladypool Rd Really nice atmosphere, service was a little erratic but it WAS a busy night! Chrome woks, Nan breads rather variable but what makes it for me - the BBQ Grill - Try the lamb chops starter - worth going for this alone! Enlarged dining room yet is still usually very busy. ______Back to top
Kings Paradise, Stratford Road, B'ham. Really good service and has been recommended to this page by quite a few Balti enthusiasts. Thanks to Amanda who tells us that she has visited on numerous occasions and that the staff are always willing to please. She recommends the stuffed peppers (starters) and rates all the main courses. She had free coffee and chocolates with the bill! Definitely one to watch.
Tina wrote about the "midweek Special" for £6.95 - Mon-Thur. Mentioned I hadn't seen this before and was told they have been doing it since 'day one'. I thought that therefore they had changed hands but apparently not but we have never seen this offer in all the years we've been going there. I know they do a lunchtime one incl. weekends for £4.95.(wonderful!) The one tonight was £6.95 -4 course - a starter, main, rice, naan or roti and then icecream or coffee. Excellent value, masses of choices and no skimping on portions either as so often happens on special. Good service as usual, easy parking and nice decor. ______Back to top
Nirala, 530 Moseley Rd, B'ham Nik writes:A warm welcome guaranteed every time at the Nirala. No problem catering for an unexpected 15 people (as we have often done) as the owner will rearrange the whole restaurant to accommodate. Very extensive and varied menu available at a very reasonable price. You can watch as your Kebab or Tikka starters are cooked on an open flame behind the counter. I can recommend the Mixed Grill starter and my personal favourite main dish "Tropical Balti" not forgetting to ask for extra fresh green chillies to give the dish that extra bite. Add a good quality table naan and this makes the Nirala a great place to go. Not licenced so BYO. 10/10 every time.
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Khanum, 405 Witton Rd Aston Bham. Basic Balti but a "true" Balti restaurant! Meat and Veggie options of a high standard. Tender meat - recommended to keep to a "simple" choice to get the benefit. Very friendly staff who remember you the next time you visit! - now why aren't they ALL like that? Colin writes : I must put in my penny's worth here. The restaurant is one of the few remaining "true balti houses" left. Superb chk balti, rich brown sauce & always good qual chicken. very traditional and free from what I call "funny flavours" ( such as cheezy nans, burnt flavoured balti, or homepride curry sauce out of a jar flavour)
Lets put it this way, balti shouldn't be a £10 experience. This place costs exactly £5 for balti chk & nan. beat that!
Plus lovely white & red chutney, big fluffy nans & a pub across the road if are having a takeaway
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Royal Naim, 417 Stratford Road, B'ham. Mark has been visiting this award winning Balti house for 8 years now and the standard is consistently high. Catering for both meat eaters and vegetarians portions are large and prices reasonable. All your usual starters are here and he can particularly recommend the tikka starters whether it be Chicken or the more highly spiced Lamb. Meat Balti's are made using mutton which gives a much richer flavour and is always cooked to a melt in the mouth consistency. His main course choice on his last visit was Balti Meat Bhindi which came with a dark flavoursome sauce and whole Okra. His wife's choice was a Chicken and Spinach Balti which was tasty and with a great garlic and coriander flavour.The accompanying nan breads were as good as they get - fluffy,doughy and piping hot. The chef makes all his own desserts and the meal was rounded off with an extremely fresh Chocolate Barfi and an equally delightful Ras Malai,just right for cooling down the mouth. I challenge anyone not to enjoy a meal here but be warned get there early at weekends - it's very popular
Andy writes: I have been using the Naim for several years now. Not only is the food good, but the service is really excellent! I'm vegetarian & I always go for the dall, chana, vegeatable & spinach balti. The quality is always good and the portion reasonably generous. The spinach, for me, adds to the texture and I would recommend it to all. The naans are good and the chapatis sizeable and made from wholemeal flour. I should mention the starters. They used to be a weakness several years ago & were reheated, but now are freshly cooked and crispy. The samosas are fiery and my meat-eating friends say the sheekh kebabs are sometimes eye-poppingly hot. The one reservation I have is that the food may be too hot for the novice balti eater. I love the spiciness of the food, but newcomers might be advised to ask for a milder dish. All-in-all this place cannot be recommended too highly!______Back to top
Royal Watan, Pershore Rd, Selly Park. MANY nominations received from visitors here. Most visitors have said how good the food is and the service is excellent! Samaam Hussian found the service to be very good. The welcome was very warm and it was very authentic. The waiters were very polite.
Sean admits to being biased towards this place " I've NEVER had a bad experience in the 5Yrs I've been attending. The Tandoori Fish is excellent, the very generous portions are always consistently good, hot, and the accompanying breads whether naan or roti's are usually good. I recommend the Chicken Mushroom & Spinach. The decor is posh (For A Balti House!!) and it's not a bad idea to pop in for a quickie into the Selly Park Tavern before you start...enjoy. ______Back to top
Balti Society, Coventry Rd, Birmingham. Good selection of starters and main meals - friendly staff! Main course, starter and coffee approx £10. BYO but sells soft drinks & mineral water. ICE provided! ______Back to top
Sharma's, Moseley Rd. B'ham , Jim lives in Cambridge and comes "home" for a Chana Balti which he raves about. The staff are really very friendly and the place has benefited from a recent redecoration. He mentions also the Black-eyed bean and Mushroom Balti - vegetarians seem well catered-for here. With hospitality like this, and excellent food, he never goes anywhere else! ____Back to top
Saleem's, Ladypool Rd, B'ham . Steve reckons that for a small restaurant with a limited menu, this place serves high quality meals. He recommends the Katlama starter and the Balti Chicken & Spinach. Main courses are £4.00 - £4.50 and good value. No Peshwari naan bread though - sorry! Others in Steve's party were there for a repeat visit - on Lady[pool Road, there is so much choice that this, alone, is worth a mention. ____Back to top
Indiana's - Kings Norton Green, Birmingham. Reviewers (several) say that the food is of a consistently high standard and that there are some interesting alternatives to the usual fayre on offer. A great place to eat away from the city centre - in fact in a "historical" setting! Kashmiri chef is "a bit of a character" ____Back to top
Punjab Paradise, Ladypool Rd, B'ham . Small inside but service and food excellent. BYO drinks. Julian says it's always busy and people wait for your table! Try the sizzling mixed starter! Martin H says "the best balti house in the known universe. My wife and stepson are now both baltiholics and refuse to eat baltis anywhere but in this wonderful advertisement for God's own city! The staff are ever courteous and the food never less than superb."
I thought I would try it myself and took a New Years Eve party of 8. We enjoyed a mixed grill starter (for SIX!) and a variety of main course Balti's. The "Tropical" was a hit with three of us - Meat, Chicken and Prawn in a rich sauce. Being New Year, we had 2 "table naan's" between us and were able to choose a plain as well as a coriander-flavoured naan of which we managed to eat about half! There were plenty of choices plus a full vegetarian section - one of the party tried the meat, mushroom and black-eyed bean Balti which was a hit. Try their flavoured lassi drink - mango was great. The food was superb - high quality meat and ingredients - and the service very friendly and attentive. Even a free tea or coffee with choccy' mints to follow!
This restaurant is truly traditional with glass-topped tables in rows. Not the décor and ambience of the usual Indian Restaurant but the absolute essence of the Balti experience!
Heike from Germany says " I spent a year in Birmingham. I was able to get to know baltis and I really love them. Unfortunately, we don't have them like the way theiy are in B'ham. My favorite place was the Punjab Paradise as it has the best food, the nicest waiters and the most fantastic atmosphere... Whenever I come to Birmingham (and that is very often) my first thing to do is having a balti at the Punjab Paradise..."
This place is really one of the best I have tried - If you are after a simple setting and real Balti food, give it a try! ____Back to top
Royal Alfaisal, Stoney lane - MIXED RATINGS! Some "rumours" surrounding this place at present. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! Car Park opposite and a good venue, it is now become a "balti buffet" - eat what you like for a fixed price, currently £5.95. Naan bread is ordered from passing waiters but everything else is from a buffet. Usually busy, the atmosphere is friendly and bustling - not for those who enjoy a quiet ambience! Poppadums, dips and salad compliment the three starters - onion baaji, sheek kebabs and chicken tikka during my visit. A lamb and spinach, chicken tikka massala choice together with potatoes (aloo), matir paneer (cheese) and mixed vegetables, ably supported plain lamb and chicken baltis. Three sweets (if you have room!) of banana custard, fruit salad and rice pudding topped the whole meal off. My initial worries over quality were soon dispelled despite it being buffet service. Vegetarians should be well catered for. BUT - you use a plate and lose some of the fun/"sport" aspects of a Balti experience. Not a reason NOT to try it though! ______Back to top |
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