Simpsons

Located just outside Birmingham, in a conservation area on the Calthorpe Estate, Andreas and Alison Antona have converted an attractive grade-II-listed house into a sumptuous restaurant with rooms and a gourmet cookery school. The opulent dining room can seat 70, whilst private dining is available for up to 20. French-inspired dishes emerge with remarkable precision, creativity and panache from the Simpsons kitchen, where executive chef Luke Tipping heads a strong team together with head chef Adam Bennett. Luke has worked closely with Andreas for several years, being integral in the opening of Andreas' first restaurant, where Andreas built his reputation and earned a Michelin star. Standards are kept high with the freshest of fish, the best beef from Scotland and fine produce from Paris via the Rungis market. A selection of menus take advantage of quality local and seasonal produce. Set lunch and dinner menus offer a selection of the kitchen's best produce of the day, while the à la carte offers a range of starters, fish and meat dishes to astound even the most exacting gourmand. Start with ravioli of hand-dived scallops with summer truffles and and lettuce velouté, before moving on to a stunning main course of pan-fried Gressingham duck, pastilla of confit leg, roast peach, baby turnips and a five spice jus. The dessert menu provides works of culinary art such as compote of apricots, strawberries and fresh mint with strawberry granite, and almond mousse. Eager to cater for all, Simpsons also provides an exclusive vegetarian menu, supplying all the gourmet flair of its meat and fish counterpart with dishes such as truffle potato gnocchi with baby fennel, gem lettuce, broad beans and fennel salad. Even more surprising is the excellence of the children's menu, which ensures smaller diners are made to feel welcome - something that restaurants of this calibre often overlook. A tasting menu is also available, as is the option to enjoy wines hand-picked to complement each course by the in-house sommelier. As proven at the recent Taste of Birmingham awards - where Simpsons picked up 'Best Restaurant' for the third time, 'Best Seasonal Produce' and a 'Chef's Chef of the Year' award for Luke - everything here is pure class.