In the two or so weeks since I ate at The Horseshoe I’ve sent three people to eat their mixed grill. It’s a recommendation that’s gone down well; one now skips the gym nearby to get his fix. I’m so proud. This verbal pyramid scheme is great in principal but not so good for my blog stats. I should probably share it with everyone, even if it means having to wait a little bit longer for my dinner.

The Horseshoe Bar and Restaurant in Hall Green, Birmingham is something of a culinary chimaera, made up of contrasting components just like the mythical creature. As manager Tanveer Handa explained to us, the goal is to provide high quality Indian cuisine alongside traditional gastropub fare.

Atmosphere

The venue’s interior reflects this dual ethos. Previously a traditional local pub, the Horseshoe has been transformed into a warm and inviting space, where wood and brown leather create the atmospher of a cosy yet upmarket gastropub. Sadly the Eastern decor is more sparse, but a few graceful statuettes indicate that Chilli & Spice, the restaurant’s Indian avatar, is also present.

food

Naturally, the menu offers a variety of options for the palate. However, don’t expect fusion dishes. The philosophy is very much to keep the Indian food separate from the other cuisine, as reflected by the two separate menus.

Despite its name, the ‘English menu’ in fact carries options as diverse as tiger prawns, crispy duck and various pasta dishes, alongside the normal pub grub choices like fish and chips and lamb shank. The amount of choice is perhaps a bit overwhelming, despite the valiant attempt to cover all bases.

The Chilli & Spice menu however, is intensely focused on fine Indian fare. Starters kasondhi ka jingha (jumbo prawns marinated and flavoured with honey and mustard) together with barrah kebab (lamb chops marinated in yoghurt, garlic and ginger) set the bar incredibly high for the rest of the meal.

Thankfully, murg methi (chicken cooked with fenugreek leaves in creamy gravy) lived up to expectations, providing a deliciously flavoursome experience without resorting to the overuse of pepper and spice many curries are guilty of.

For dessert (if you can manage to find room) we recommend gajar ka halwa. This is a classic Indian dessert combining grated carrots and milk reduction in a sweet partnership that tops off your meal perfectly.

drink

While the Horsehoe Bar and Restaurant wine menu is good, the cocktails made more of an impression. In particular, moreish house specials lychee martini and spiced mojito represent the restaurant’s most successful attempts at uniting East and West.

I like this pub, it's a proper old-school boozer without airs or graces. In this age of themed pubs and corporate branding it's really good to walk into somewhere that really probably hasn't changed in decades. I wouldn't say this is the place to go for a meal, but there's crisps, nuts and sandwiches. As I say, old school. If you're walking along the canal through King's Heath pop in for a beer and a bag of peanuts!