Pleasant meal in very relaxed surroundings

Jan 31 2008 By Graham Young

The Windsor, 33 Cannon Street, Birmingham

THE presence of bouncers has previously put me off visiting this city centre watering hole with my family.

So I took a contact along one lunchtime instead when there were no door staff - and, guess what, we had a pleasant meal in very relaxed surroundings.

Meals are ordered at the three-till bar.

When it turned out the man in front of me at the first till was a drinker simply hogging the wood, I moved along to a second serving point.

Two women were already being served there and, just as they were turning to leave, an old goat thrust a tenner in to the narrow space between us.

Happily, my server ignored him and turned to me.

I had the new and very tasty vegetable lasagne, served with three slices of char-grilled garlic bread and a disappointingly-small side salad with vinaigrette.

My friend Michael doesn't eat vegetables (don't ask!) so he opted for a medium rump steak.

He found it a bit chewy - and it would have been £1.06 cheaper on a Wednesday - but the chips I pinched off his plate, with permission, were excellent.

A bottle of fruit drink and a decent pint of Worthington's rounded off our modest bill.

For the record, children are welcome here up to 6pm and I'd now consider taking mine along for a morning breakfast in future.

The Bill

1 roast vegetable lasagne ...£5.25 1 rump steak...£5.95 1 J20...£1.39 1 pt of bitter ... £1.69 Total ...£14.28

Verdict

PLUS: A barmaid with her eye on the ball. Worth every penny! MINUS: Our departure was hastened by quiet music suddenly becoming too loud for comfort.