THERE’S much to like about the Drop Forge, a bar-restaurant that opened last year in Birmingham’s glorious Jewellery Quarter.

It has breathed new life into a lovely old factory, retaining many of its features – including machinery – while at the same time creating a space that’s welcoming and stylish.

The staff are friendly and efficient. The prices are reasonable.

The menu ticks plenty of trendy boxes, mixing the traditional with the slightly exotic.

Thus when I sat down on a Friday night with my wife, a feeling of goodwill welled within us.

Then we ate and muttered a joint: “Oh dear.”

The chicken liver pate with which I began was creamily textured, but woefully under-flavoured.

The same gripe could be aimed at the apple and raisin chutney that came with it.

But the toast was very good.

Nor was Lynn impressed by a crab and leek gratin that came in a paltry portion and was, she said, “a mess”.

I was even less impressed by my main course than I had been by my starter.

I’d ordered my £18 ribeye steak rare, but it had been grilled well beyond that state.

Worse – it had been so over-seasoned that even I, a fan of salt and its flavour-enhancing qualities, felt as though I’d been gargling with sea water.

The Cafe de Paris butter that came with it was a slick of something melted that tasted vaguely of tarragon.

The fat chips that were mentioned on the menu were floppy wedges.

But I enjoyed the rocket salad, cooked tomato and mushrooms that were also served.

My wife’s choice also proved to be under-whelming – pork that had been braised for 12 hours and came with sauteed cabbage and black pudding, celeriac mash and rosemary sauce.

She said it tasted like a ready-meal that had been heated up in a microwave.