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Strada restaurant - anyone been?


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Old 11-02-2008, 12:04
Victoria Sponge
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I am going to the Birmingham branch for a family dinner at the weekend. I haven't ever been to a Strada before but I checked the menu and it sounds fantastic!

Have you been to Strada? What did you have? Which dishes do you recommend?

http://www.strada.co.uk/menu.html
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Old 11-02-2008, 12:09
fannyadams
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Haven't ever been to one, but you're right, the menu sounds yummy. I would just go with whatever you fancy, or ask the waiter/waitress for recommendations.

Have fun
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Old 11-02-2008, 12:40
Minky_Bum
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I normally have this as a starter as it's yummy:

POLENTA CON FUNGHI
Roasted Parmesan polenta with sautéed mixed mushrooms in a mascarpone, garlic and marjoram sauce

The pizzas are good too.
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Old 11-02-2008, 12:43
Victoria Sponge
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I noted the polenta con funghi, thought it sounded yummy. I have never tried polenta before though. What's the texture like? Is it stodgy? Is it like mash?
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Old 11-02-2008, 12:57
Minky_Bum
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Polenta is like a a mix between bread and mash. It's lovely and not stodgy if made right. It's filling though.
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Old 11-02-2008, 13:05
Kacey
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I've been to Strada in Birmingham - the one in the Mailbox - was very impressed. Usually restaurant chains leave me cold but Strada's food is very good quality and the staff are always friendly and helpful. Enjoy!
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Old 11-02-2008, 13:11
TommyGavin76
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I have heard very good things about it. Yes its a chain, but by all accounts it is an exception to the normal chain mediocrity.
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Old 11-02-2008, 13:32
RAINBOWGIRL22
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I have heard very good things about it. Yes its a chain, but by all accounts it is an exception to the normal chain mediocrity.
Well don't ever go to one in London

Maybe I was just unlucky but I've been to 2 of them (different locations / years apart) and they were God awful. The second time I went I actually refused point blank to pay as it was that bad!

Hope the OP fares better than I did
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Old 11-02-2008, 13:37
Minky_Bum
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Well don't ever go to one in London

Maybe I was just unlucky but I've been to 2 of them (different locations / years apart) and they were God awful. The second time I went I actually refused point blank to pay as it was that bad!

Hope the OP fares better than I did
There's a good one near Holborn. haven't been there in a while though.
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Old 11-02-2008, 16:45
Melanie858
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Sometimes there food is a bit too salty though, but otherwise it is delicious!
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Old 11-02-2008, 17:35
Ja'mie King
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We went to one near St Pauls Cathedral 2 years ago, it was pretty good. The pizza was delicious and the carbonara was good too.

The restaurant itself had a good atmosphere and nice interior. Service was good aswell.
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Old 11-02-2008, 17:53
Inkblot
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Well don't ever go to one in London
I've been to the one in Chiswick and it was fine. Also been to the one in Cheltenham and that was very nice. Haven't been to any in places that don't begin with "Ch" though.
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Old 11-02-2008, 18:20
TommyGavin76
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There's some reviews of the Birmingham one here, most seem pretty good:-

http://www.birminghamplus.com/items/items.asp?iid=1898
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Old 14-02-2008, 17:13
MaxBeta
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Tried Strada in the Symphony Hall complex, it was very disappointing. Not a patch on Cielo round the corner. Seemed to be chain-type cooking from a centrally decided formula rather than individual cooking flair. Good location and room, just didn't like the food.
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Old 14-02-2008, 17:15
sligorox
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I've been to the one in Guildford, it was quite nice, but it since burnt down.
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Old 14-02-2008, 17:21
MaxBeta
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What do you do to restaurants you don't like?
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Old 14-02-2008, 17:57
TommyGavin76
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Tried Strada in the Symphony Hall complex, it was very disappointing. Not a patch on Cielo round the corner. Seemed to be chain-type cooking from a centrally decided formula rather than individual cooking flair. Good location and room, just didn't like the food.
Funny you should say that as Cielo gets terrible reviews on the same site I've posted above.
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Old 15-02-2008, 08:40
MaxBeta
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11 reviews, average 76.36%. Doesn't seem too bad on the whole. I can only speak as I find, I've been there a few times and always been happy. No doubt they've had disappointed customers like everybody else but so far I'm not one of them.

I also liked La Vita opposite the Copthorne, where La Galleria used to be, but it seems to have closed and I can't seem to find out anything about it.
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Old 15-02-2008, 17:37
TommyGavin76
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11 reviews, average 76.36%. Doesn't seem too bad on the whole. I can only speak as I find, I've been there a few times and always been happy. No doubt they've had disappointed customers like everybody else but so far I'm not one of them.

I also liked La Vita opposite the Copthorne, where La Galleria used to be, but it seems to have closed and I can't seem to find out anything about it.
At least one of those reviews (the 99% one) is planted by the owners.
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Old 17-02-2008, 14:59
Pretinama
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I am going to the Birmingham branch for a family dinner at the weekend. I haven't ever been to a Strada before but I checked the menu and it sounds fantastic!

Have you been to Strada? What did you have? Which dishes do you recommend?

http://www.strada.co.uk/menu.html
Yeah there's one near Waterloo. It's a nice chain in my view. I like that you get complimentary water on being seated and I don't recall ever feeling rushed there either.
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Old 17-02-2008, 15:52
bluespeed
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Did you go then, VS? Was it good? I'd like to experiment with more restaurants as my culinary palette continues to grow, so hearing feedback is always nice
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Old 18-02-2008, 10:09
Victoria Sponge
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Yeah, I just got back from Birmingham last night, and the meal on Saturday night was FANTASTIC!

A big thank you to Minky who recommended the polenta con funghi (polenta in cream and mushroom sauce) - it was absolutely divine!

I had the following:

Polenta con Funghi, described as above
Antipasto - Nice selection of ham/salami, and the mozzarella was the best I have ever tasted
Pollo con Funghi - chargrilled chicken breast in cream and mushroom sauce, with roast potatoes and rocket - delicious
half a Bufala pizza - pizza with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. So simple but sooooo tasty!
Crostata di fragole - a small vanilla mascapone tart topped with fresh strawberries and coulis - When it came out, it looked pretty but small. Desserts are normally disappointing so I wasn't expecting much, but this tasted absolutely scrumptious!

As you can see, I was rather greedy and ate a lot. I couldn't move easily afterwards. But every single dish I had was perfect. Everyone else's (we were a party of about 12) looked very nice too.

The service was excellent. It was a Saturday night in Birmingham, so the restaurant was at full capacity. Considering this, all of our orders were correct and came out at the right times, etc. The waiting staff are very friendly and attentive. Decor was simple, yet chic.

With all things considered, this was the best dining experience I can remember.

I score it 10/10.
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Old 18-02-2008, 11:29
bluespeed
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Sounds gorgeous! The Waterloo branch is probably nearest to me, so I'll have to go there when I'm feeling richer
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Old 19-02-2008, 18:23
Minky_Bum
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Yeah, I just got back from Birmingham last night, and the meal on Saturday night was FANTASTIC!

A big thank you to Minky who recommended the polenta con funghi (polenta in cream and mushroom sauce) - it was absolutely divine!

I had the following:

Polenta con Funghi, described as above
Antipasto - Nice selection of ham/salami, and the mozzarella was the best I have ever tasted
Pollo con Funghi - chargrilled chicken breast in cream and mushroom sauce, with roast potatoes and rocket - delicious
half a Bufala pizza - pizza with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella. So simple but sooooo tasty!
Crostata di fragole - a small vanilla mascapone tart topped with fresh strawberries and coulis - When it came out, it looked pretty but small. Desserts are normally disappointing so I wasn't expecting much, but this tasted absolutely scrumptious!

As you can see, I was rather greedy and ate a lot. I couldn't move easily afterwards. But every single dish I had was perfect. Everyone else's (we were a party of about 12) looked very nice too.

The service was excellent. It was a Saturday night in Birmingham, so the restaurant was at full capacity. Considering this, all of our orders were correct and came out at the right times, etc. The waiting staff are very friendly and attentive. Decor was simple, yet chic.

With all things considered, this was the best dining experience I can remember.

I score it 10/10.
You certainly sound like you had a great night
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