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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.
Within one of Chester’s most resplendent hotels, this sophisticated restaurant with its curved booths and tables draped in white linens is a real splurge but completely worth it. Seasonal tasting menus (no à la carte optons) featuring delicious British ingredients such as native lobster with Isle of Wight tomatoes or Scottish mussels will delight and surprise.
There’s a bit of buzz about the food scene in Hereford at the moment, with lots of restaurants using some of the region's bountiful produce to turn out delicious dishes. This spot in the regenerated Old Market area is leading the march, in part thanks to one of Herefordshire's most prized assets, which makes frequent appearances on the menu: Hereford beef. The burgers are big and messy but very tasty. The cool diner vibe, with leather booths and low-slung lighting, along with a menu of boozy milkshakes and a cracking playlist, make this a place people want to be. There is also a location in Shrewsbury.
This family-run (by four brothers) riverside café-restaurant, a short walk away from the castle and other attractions, feels like a secret dining spot, but it's quite popular. The location, by the weir of the River Teme, creates a soothing setting for what is very much feel-good food: the wholesome, original dishes use seasonal local produce and are infused with global flavors. Vegetarian and vegan options are excellent, and drinks pairings are suggested. There is a great wine list and local beer, as well as home-pressed kombucha from Shrewsbury (the family has a restaurant there too) and other tasty booze-free drinks. Even if you're not hungry, this is a great spot for coffee and a paddle.
Visitors and locals alike head for the half-timber Hobsons Patisseries to indulge in the famous savory pies or scrumptious afternoon teas. Just a couple of minutes walk from Shakespeare’s Birthplace, it’s an almost obligatory lunch stop.
Sit downstairs to appreciate the hardwood floors and oak beams of this local epicurean favorite in one of the town’s oldest buildings; upstairs, the look is a bit more contemporary. The updates of tried-and-true dishes include herb-crusted rack of English lamb and pan-fried calf's liver with creamed potato and crisp shallots. Desserts are fantastic, and daily specials keep the menu seasonal. The two- and three-course fixed-price menus (not available for Monday lunches) are good deals.
One of Malvern’s best restaurants specializes in creative French cuisine with a contemporary English edge and top-notch English produce. Start with the Severn and Wye Valley smoked salmon before sampling the Herefordshire fillet of beef or the twice-baked mature Godminster Cheddar soufflé. It also does a very good afternoon tea. The restaurant is part of the Cotford Hotel, which has pleasantly traditional rooms.
Business moguls and sophisticated foodies alike can be found sampling an aperitif in a comfy armchair before moving to the sleek contemporary, slate-floor dining room at this Michelin-starred establishment. Located in a Victorian terra-cotta and redbrick building, this is where chef Glyn Purnell creates his adventurous Modern British fare. In addition to a reasonable set menu, theràe is a bigger and more adventurous tasting menu that might haddock and eggs served with cornflakes, alongside monkfish masala. Chef Purnell is also turning his hand to vegan cooking. Price quoted is for three courses.
The dark-wood paneling, antique furniture, thick curtains, and intimate lighting of this 16th-century hall make this a distinctive dining spot for Modern British cuisine. Chef Adrian Badland and his partner Miriam Lawley (the keen eye behind the exquisite and tasteful makeover) offer a cracking roast dinner and other hearty but elevated dishes featuring local Shropshire produce. It has some charming, luxe guest rooms, too, that are very well priced.
Bright and modern, this restaurant with rooms housed in a gleaming Georgian villa is known for its French-influenced cuisine with resolutely British ingredients. The assured and welcoming service makes it easy to savor specialties such as Aberdeenshire beef bavette and cheek or quail with elderberries and parsley, which have helped secure it a Michelin star since 1999. A mile south of the city center, it's an excellent dining choice that has also won accolates for its plant-based approach to cooking.
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. Chefs source the best ingredients locally where possible, including meat from Stratford's own Barry the Butcher, and serve up hearty dishes such as pork loin, rib-eye steak, or a signature fish stew.
