Teething problems led to tasty pizza and pud

Jan 17 2008 By Jane Tyler

WHAT a difference a member of staff can make.

My visit to the Kings Head could so easily have been a disaster. But thanks to the restaurant manager it turned out to be a pleasant evening.

The Kings Head on the junction of the Hagley Road and Lordswood Road on the Bearwood/Harborne border is a local landmark.

Over the years it has had many guises but last November it reopened after a major revamp to become a very smart gastro pub with slate floors, comfy sofas and stripped pine.

We turned up on a wet and windy night looking forward to tucking into the bar menu.

So we ordered, sat down and waited for our food. But then the restaurant manager came over and informed us the bar menu was not available on a Sunday. She apologised.

The alternative was either to order from the restaurant's more expensive Sunday menu - or there were pizzas.

At which point (mainly out of hunger) I threw a mini-strop.

But the manager's reaction was spot on. She apologised profusely, explaining the barman should not have given me that menu and that because they had only been open a few weeks there were teething problems.

Placated, I calmed down and ordered the Texan pizza, while my friend opted for the fungi pizza.

They both came very swiftly and, at just over a fiver each, were exceptional good value and delicious.

For pudding I had fresh fruit pavlova while my friend went for a sticky toffee pudding, both of which were delicious.

The bar menu - Monday to Saturday! - has such starters as tomato, mozzarella rocket and red chard salad with basil dressing for £3, main courses range in price from £7.95 for burger and chips, £9.95 for mushroom and chive risotto to £11.95 for steak and chips.

Side dishes include a bowl of 'brick' chips at £1.50 and thyme roasted new potatoes at £2.

On Friday and Saturday nights the upstairs function room turns into a live music venue/disco.

The new-look Kings Head is just what Bearwood needs and I will definitely go back.

The Bill

2 x pizzas................ £11.45 2 x puddings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £5.90 4 x glasses of wine . . . . . . . . £11.40 Total.................... £28.75

Verdict

Plus: Lovely comfortable decor, friendly staff, good value food. Minus: No bar menu on a Sunday!