Situated opposite the Brook pub this new restaurant is in the heart of Selly Oak where students are plenty, we expected
the restaurant to be busy, instead it was peaceful with only a few diners and pipe background music. Parking can be a
pain, the roads are usually busy so it makes parking difficult. You could try the pub car park opposite but that can
also be very busy. The best place to park is in the supermarket (Aldi) car park and walk the short distance to the
restaurant. The restaurant isn't licensed and there are several off licenses close by if you want to take your own drinks.
This is a restaurant with a difference. During the day it serves fast food, anything from
Tandoori chicken to Donner Kebabs &
Southern fried chicken . Open from 12pm it stops serving fast food at 5:45 pm
and the restaurant opens its doors at 6pm.
As a promotional offer at the time of our visit we received a starter with every main course ordered. The starter was
a compulsory Onion Bhaji served with fresh salad and mint sauce. This was delicious, just the right size to leave enough
room for the main course and good enough to leave you wanting more.
We ordered Chicken Balti and Chicken Balti Dupiaza for our main
courses. Another excellent offer is any balti dish with
Rice or Nan bread for only £4.95. We ordered 2 plain nan's along with some chips.
The food took some time before being served but did eventually arrive followed by the nan bread and chips. One thing
we both liked about the food here was the way in which the chicken was cooked and served. Not the usual square chunks of
chicken but several chunky strips of chicken breast. The flavour of the balti's seemed rather mild, a very bland taste
that lacked in the usual spicey balti tradition we've all come to expect. All in all a very average balti.
Quite a different price from our last restaurant, although the food was average the price tag was certainly attractive.
We gave the Spice Express a 4 star rating.
The price included, Starters, Main courses, 2 Nan bread and chips. It cost just £10.50 for 2 people.
Directions - From Birmingham Follow the A38 Bristol road
(heading towards Selly Oak/Northfield) continue south through Edgbaston. Follow the signs for
Selly Oak. Shortly after the dual carriageway you are in Selly Oak, The restaurant is situated on
the right hand side just before the pedestrian crossing. For Parking - at the first set of traffic lights
turn right then left into Aldi car park.
