Stratford-upon-Avon and the Heart of England Restaurants

Stratford has many reasonably priced bistros and unpretentious eateries offering a broad choice of international fare; Warwick and Kenilworth both have good restaurant options. Birmingham has good international restaurants but is probably most famous for its Indian and Pakistani "curry houses"; you'll find good choices both in the city center and out of town. The city hosts the annual Taste of Birmingham Festival in July. In the rest of the Midlands, casual spots dominate, although Ludlow has some exceptionally good restaurants.

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  • 1. Lambs of Sheep Street

    $$

    Sit downstairs to appreciate the hardwood floors and oak beams of this local epicurean favorite; upstairs, the look is a bit more contemporary. The updates of tried-and-true dishes include herb-crusted rack of English lamb and panfried calf's liver with creamed potato, wilted spinach, pancetta, and crisp shallot. Desserts are fantastic here, and daily specials keep the menu seasonal. The two- and three-course fixed-price menus (not available for Monday lunches) are good deals.

    12 Sheep St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EF, England
    01789-292554

    Known For

    • Good-value set meals
    • One of the oldest buildings in Stratford
    • Modern twists on British classics

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon., Reservations essential
  • 2. Pushkar

    $$ | City Centre

    A vogueish dining room is the perfect setting for the inventive Punjabi cuisine at this popular curry palace and cocktail bar on bustling Broad Street. White linen tablecloths and accents of gold and amber create a plush dining setting, and the food doesn’t disappoint either. Try the spinach and prune cakes to start or the chef’s selection of five appetizers, the Pushkar Panorama, if you want to to try some unexpected flavors. Your server will guide you on the main, depending on how spicy you like things—the house specialty Tariwala Murgh is a good medium-spiced option and the buttered naan is heavenly. For dessert, try the Gajar Ka Halwa Tart, a bed of grated carrots with condensed milk and spices and a side of pistachio ice cream.

    245 Broad St., Birmingham, Birmingham, B1 2HQ, England
    0121-643–7978

    Known For

    • Good cocktail menu
    • Independent curry restaurant in a sea of chains
    • Late-night dinner service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 3. Rose & Crown

    $$

    Plain wood floorboards, comfy sofas, sturdy wooden tables, and solidly good food and drink set the tone at this contemporary gastro-pub with rooms on the town’s main square. It’s popular with locals, and the owners take pride in offering seasonal food with a focus on sustainability that mixes British and international influences with only the best ingredients. It has a good area for outdoor dining too. There are moderately priced bedrooms that provide stylish lodging in the pub and across the lane.

    30 Market Pl., Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 4SH, England
    01926-411117

    Known For

    • Seasonal produce
    • Great pub
    • Warm atmosphere
  • 4. The Kingmaker by Glynn Purnell

    $$

    Open for dinner service six days a week, this restaurant, set up under the watchful eye of Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell (also known as the "Yummy Brummy") is located within the Delta Hotel Warwick. Fine dining dishes are served in the large dining room, with no shortage of surprise twists—think beef rendang with scorched lime.

    Stratford Rd., Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6RE, England
    01926-499555

    Known For

    • Great fine dining experience at affordable prices
    • Excellent service
    • Culinary expertise

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 5. The Townhouse

    $$

    Theatergoers tucking into an early supper to the strains of the piano in the bar, grandmothers enjoying afternoon tea, and couples lingering over candlelit suppers can all happily be found at this restaurant with rooms, which is part of the Brakspear Brewery. Chefs source the best ingredients locally where possible and serve up dishes such as oven-roasted duck breast and whole grilled plaice. There is also a good value pre-theater menu (£15 for two courses and a glass of wine for £3.50), which even includes steak.

    16 Church St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6HB, England
    01789-262222

    Known For

    • Good-value pretheater menus
    • Chic decor
    • Sunday roast with all the trimmings
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. Chez Jules

    $$

    Once a fire station, this bustling bistro is now unashamedly French and rustic, with red-and-white-check tablecloths and a menu chalked up on the blackboard. Start perhaps with some moules marinières (mussels cooked in a white-wine-and-onion sauce) or French onion soup, followed by grilled sea bass or a classic rib-eye steak with Café du Paris butter. The two-course, prix-fixe menu is a great value at £16.95.

    71 Northgate St., Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 2HQ, England
    01244-400014

    Known For

    • Rural French cooking
    • Dishes that change daily
    • Good value set menus
  • 7. Hussain's

    $$

    The luxuriant marigolds in the window might draw you in, but locals will tell you it's the Indian dishes that are the real appeal here. The extensive menu lists plenty of balti and rogan josh choices; for a little less heat, try the tandoori chicken with mild spices, cream, ground almonds, and mixed fruits, or increase the heat a bit with jhinga bhuna (king-size prawns in a spicy tomato sauce with onions, green peppers, and coriander). Wash it all down with Cobra draft beer.

    6A Chapel St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EP, England
    01789-267506

    Known For

    • Range of tandoori specialties
    • Local curry-house atmosphere
    • Prompt, friendly service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch Mon.–Wed.
  • 8. Itihaas

    $$ | City Centre

    Birmingham has some of the country’s finest Indian restaurants, and this is one of the best in the city. The cooking concentrates on north Indian dishes like koyla murgh (chicken marinated in yogurt and seared over charcoal) and hara bhara gosht (a casserole of lamb cooked with garlic, chili, and spinach). The decor is traditional and colonial; potted palms and portraits rub shoulders with Raj-style antiques. The restaurant also has a second outlet in the food court at Selfridge’s.

    18 Fleet St., Birmingham, Birmingham, B3 1JL, England
    0121-212–3383

    Known For

    • Delicious Indian food
    • Colonial-style decor
    • Tasty tandoori starters

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch
  • 9. Le Bistrot Pierre

    $$

    There's always a satisfied hum in the air at this large, modern, and bustling bistro, part of a small chain, that’s close to the river. It’s French and the menu makes that known; olives from Provence, sausage from the Beaujolais region, pâtés, mussels in a Roquefort sauce, beef bourguignon, and rustic French cheeses all appear. Croque monsieur (toasted ham and cheese sandwich) is a popular lunchtime dish. Vegetarians and kids are well catered for, and the service is amicable and attentive.

    Swan's Nest La., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7LT, England
    01789-264804

    Known For

    • Regional French cuisine
    • Riverside dining
    • Good menu for kids
  • 10. Restaurant Severn

    $$

    At this discreet restaurant set back from the main road in the center of Ironbridge, the concept is simple: locally sourced produce and modern techniques are combined to serve up a twist of British classics and European favorites. Start with the chicken liver parfait with gingerbread and cherry compote, before moving on to the wild mushroom risotto. Round off your meal with a selection of local cheeses, washed down with the wonderful wine on offer. The set menu (£32 for two courses, £39 for 3 courses) is reasonably priced.

    33 High St., Ironbridge, Telford and Wrekin, TF8 7AG, England
    01952-432233

    Known For

    • British classics with a modern slant
    • Personal service
    • Fabulous wines

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
  • 11. Sorrento

    $$

    Family run, this Italian restaurant takes a respectable, old-fashioned approach to service. The menu of traditional favorites is cooked from family recipes and includes main dishes such as veal sirloin grilled with rosemary and garlic butter and black linguine with crab-claw meat and scallops. There’s also a hearty risotto of the day. Upon arrival, sip an aperitif in the lounge before being escorted to your table for a silver-service, white-tablecloth meal. Pre-theater dinners are good value.

    8 Ely St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6LW, England
    01789-297999

    Known For

    • Alfresco dining in summer
    • Family restaurant for over 30 years
    • Old-fashioned table service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 12. The Bookshop

    $$

    One of the most exciting restaurants in Hereford (but not an actual bookstore), you can browse the nice selection of books while you kick back for a leisurely brunch or enjoy a long afternoon with great food and drinks in a hip atmosphere. Serving modern British food, the Sunday roasts have become a must for locals. The laid-back yard, shared with the burger joint and pizza place next door, is one of the city's coolest hangouts.

    33 Aubrey St., Hereford, Herefordshire, HR4 0BU, England
    01432-343443

    Known For

    • One of the best brunches in the region
    • Fun literary ambience
    • Very cool backyard
  • 13. The Cliffe at Dinham

    $$

    Although there are lovely rooms in this 1850s redbrick inn near Ludlow Castle, the main draw is the food. The dining room serves good quality local dishes, but what really makes the modern British menu stand-out are its special evenings, such as Fish Night, in which fresh oysters and langoustines are cooked to perfection.

    Dinham, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2JE, England
    01584-872063

    Known For

    • Classic British cuisine
    • Nice cocktail menu and wine list
    • Castle views
  • 14. The Opposition

    $$

    Hearty, warming meals are offered at this informal, family-style restaurant in a 16th-century building on the main dining street near the theaters. The English and international dishes win praise from the locals. There’s a good range of light options and fixed-price menus as well. Make reservations a month ahead in summer.

    13 Sheep St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EF, England
    01789-269980

    Known For

    • Historical setting
    • Plenty of vegetarian and healthy options
    • Summertime crowds

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 15. The Vintner

    $$

    The imaginative, bistro-inspired menu varies each day at this café and wine bar set in a 15th-century building. Tempting British and European-style dishes include confit leg of duck bigarade with dauphinoise potatoes and seared beef fillet Stroganoff. To dine before curtain time, arrive early or make a reservation. The building, largely unaltered since the late 1400s, has lovely flagstone floors and oak beams.

    4 and 5 Sheep St., Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6EF, England
    01789-297259

    Known For

    • Inventive pretheater menu
    • Historic setting
    • Excellent wine list

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