Birmingham’s pub grills could do well to roll out their canny concept nationwide. After all, ‘curry’ is the cry that goes up from many a crowd post-pint, so why not have it on-location and make the food part of the session rather than an afterthought?
The Farcroft Hotel is a little more elegant than many of its rough ’n’ ready counterparts, with a formal evening restaurant that would please fans of finer dining. On the odd occasion that the British weather is as sizzling as the mixed grill, seats in the beer garden become prime real estate.
The menu is extensive, incorporating rice dishes and hearty homestyle stews, but most just order barbecue – enough of those grills to feed their party – and dig in to the various charred chops, chunks and kebabs between bites of bread, salad, and spoonfuls of raita. Most also take home a doggy bag containing however much of the generous serving they couldn’t consume, and receive a food bill that barely makes it into double figures.
Unusually for an Indian venue, pork steaks are both available and well-treated. Don’t be surprised by Chinese items such as spring rolls, egg fried rice and chilli chicken on The Farcroft’s menu either – Indo-Chinese fusion food is justly popular across the Subcontinent, its spicing quite unlike either cuisine yet incorporating elements of both.