katygriff has been thanked 4 times for this contribution
"I am always trying new places and my work being nicely located right by the Mailbox in the middle of Birmingham means I get a lot of chances to sample the delights of all the restaurants there. The one I am telling you about today is Bar Estilo which is a very funky little place which serves great food and drink in a fantastic atmosphere and as a result is so busy most of the time.
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What is Bar Estilo?
Bar Estilo is a Mediterranean restaurant which offers a lot of delights which you will not really find in many other places. It is very modern with bright decorations and a fun atmosphere. It specialises in serving tapas so perfect for those who like to sample things like me and get scared by huge plates of food.
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Where?
I am reviewing the one in Birmingham and its address is as follows;
110-114 Wharfside Street
The Mailbox
B1 1RF
It is easy to find as the Mailbox is a pretty big place and Bar Estilo is in a prime spot with tables facing onto the beautiful canal.
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Location:
Location wise this place is perfect as the Mailbox attracts a lot of visitors as it is ap lace to shop, eat and drink and Bar Estilo is right by the BBC and with views of the canal. As it is right on the corner and is a big place you cannot really miss it. I like the location for me because iti s close to all types of public transport so easy to get there and get home and also being a two minute walk from the city centre so the Bullring and other shops it is perfect to have lunch while shopping or indeed an evening meal after shopping.
Location in the Mailbox as said above is great and it offers a very cosy and beautiful feel to the restaurant being in such a clean and nice place.
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Parking:
I will be honest with you now that parking is not actually that great. You can park in the Mailbox multi-storey but it can work out very expensive if you stay a while. Being a few minutes from the city centre though is not bad as there is lots of parking there and also the public transport links so you should have no problems.
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Outside Appearance:
From the outside Bar Estilo looks very funky and modern with a nice huge mosaic sign in bright and bold colours. The place is very clean and I think the surroundings of the mailbox which are very clean, light, airy and modern add to the appeal. You can see in the restaurant from outside which is good and you will see that it is stunning and very well kept.
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Inside Appearance:
Inside and the place is funky. The tables and chairs are all wooden and there are decorations all around which remind me of being somewhere really tropical as there are big plants and it is just lovely. I think most people will be impressed with the bar area as it looks amazing. It is round and quite big and there are bottles of stuff and glasses everywhere and then seats all around. Everything just looks so inviting and cosy and stylish about the place that you cannot help but want to stay there and be impressed.
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Drinks:
The drinks selection they have there is very good and I have never been and they have not had what I wanted even when it came to ordering cocktails. They make it their job to get you exactly what you want and everything is so nicely presented. Cocktails are around £6 each and a soft drink about £1.75. I would say the drinks are quite expensive compared to other places but when you are having this much of a good time then I don't care.
You can drink at the bar on the stools there or they will bring them to your table.
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Food:
The food selection here is great and there is something for everybody and the good thing is that it changes from lunch to the evening. For lunch the specials are that you can get a selection of tapas for £3.95 or £5.95 per person and honestly this is the best way to sample a lot of things and is extremely good value for money. There are meat, vegetarian and fish choices and a lot of each. My favourite is the Spanish tortilla with potato and caramelised onions which are gorgeous. For meat eaters you can get something like spicy chicken wings.
Then for the evening you can get a very good selection of things. For starters choose from duck tortillas or halloumi fritters for around £5 each. The starters are all of quite ample size so I usually choose to share one with somebody. They have a fantastic selection and the best I have ever seen in any restaurant.
Then for the main courses which are £7 – 11 each you can choose from meats, rice / pasta and then vegetarian and salads. They also have an impressive load of side orders at around £2 each including their paprika fries which are divine. The Estilo beef burger is yummy and filling but also the vegetarian paella is yummy. If you like fish I can also recommend the tuna steak which smells lovely.
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Verdict:
What I like about Bar Estilo is it has created something different in a place where I believe most restaurants seem to be alike. The food is delicious and offers a big change in what you are used to. I think with the atmosphere being amazing and you are sitting in a nice modern place you should really have a good lunch or evening here. I also like that there is a good choice of vegetarian food available which is always useful for me.
I will give Bar Estilo the top marks for being amazing so if you are in Birmingham please give it a go.
;)
