Akbar's Restaurant — Restaurant in Birmingham

First time at Akbar’s Birmingham although we have visited several others in other locations in the north of the UK.

Accessing the venue was easy. We arrived by bus from Oldbury but had also passed Akbar’s earlier in the day on our way into Birmingham and again returning to Oldbury. The 126 bus from Birmingham literally stops right at the door! There appeared to be good parking facilities to the rear of the building.

On entering the building we were greeted and taken to our seats. Initial impressions were that the interior was very spacious, light and airy. Our seats looked over to a food prep area with a bbq and other cooking methods.

Compared to some other Akbar restaurants we have visited this appeared much lighter and much more spacious. As the restaurant filled up there was a large percentage of families with children from the very young to those approaching mid to late teens. This was a VERY family friendly environment and extra care appeared to be being taken by the staff to ensure all children’s needs were being met.

Our Waiter (Zia) introduced himself and took our drinks order. The drinks were promptly delivered and our food order was taken.

Whilst we ordered popadoms with sauces, stater, mains and a dessert, all were delivered in a relaxed and timely manor with no rushing of courses etc.

During each course Zia always popped back to check everything was as ordered/expected and it appeared that if there were any issues (we had none) they would be resolved immediately and without fuss - as seen on another table.

We were also visited by a couple of the management team, again to check everything was in order. Unfortunately I didn’t get their names but again the service was exemplary. The management team were visible at all times and throughout the restaurant playing an active role in ensuring everything was to the best possible standard.

Attention to detail by ALL staff was amazing.

We are huge Akbar fans but both of us commented that this was taking Akbar’s to a whole new level. The environment was great, the staff were amazing and every bit of food was outstanding.

In summing up:- We enjoyed every aspect of our visit to Akbar’s Birmingham. Did we have any concerns about anything - NO Would we change anything - NO Would we come again - Without a doubt (250 Mile round trip for an evening meal might be a bit much but we will be back and hopefully soon)

We both felt that this was so much more than a meal, for us it was an experience. Akbar’s Birmingham should be held as an example of the standards others should aim to achieve.

Well done and thank...

Akbar’s Brum

We phoned up to see if we’d need to make a booking but were told we could just turn up. It’s easily located but just beware the car park is a one way system so don’t go down the wrong way like we did! There’s ample parking, or at least there was the time we visited.

We visited around 7pm and it was quite busy so we had a short wait until taken to our table. The waiting area is quite vast and comfortable. The whole ambience in the restaurant is appropriate. There were 6 in our party and there were two tables put together with 6 chairs although where it was positioned meant it was a tight squeeze for us. The location, the entrance and waiting area and kitchen serving area have an upmarket feel whereas the seating and the menu itself (a laminated sheet) don’t follow through with this theme so don’t worry about how you’re dressed!

As mentioned, the place was busy and the waiter for our area was sufficiently attentive. The timings and wait for food was perfectly acceptable and all food was served hot. For starters we had poppadoms, masala fish at £4.95 (highly recommended!), keema/cheese samosas at £3.50 (2 in a portion- tasted okay but not worth the £3.50) & chicken wings at £4.25 (5 small middle portions- again, tasted okay, but not worth the £4.25). The sauces came just as we were finishing our starters which was a bit disappointing.

For mains, we had the biryani (meat) with the keema sauce at £8.95 (the option was that or raita), a chicken tikka makhani at £9.95, a karahi gosht £9.95, a chicken jalfrezi £8.95, a family plain naan £4.50 and a family garlic naan (ordered after the first was finished) at £4.95. Everything was of a good size portion wise. The meat biryani was confusing by definition on the menu and what we got was a a meat biryani (pulao style) with an accompanying watered down keema (mince) curry with some big pieces of potato served in a small round plastic container served alongside some salad. The meat biryani was flavoursome but not spicy and my 4 year old was devouring it! All of the mains were flavoursome and the right level of heat (we asked for medium) although we all seemed to prefer the karahi ghosht over the chicken jalfrezi. We ate to the point we couldn’t eat anymore and there was plenty to take home. They served us containers and a bag so we could pack our own food. They were a bit slow to serve the bill but this came with lollies - only 5 for a party of 6 though! Overall it was a pleasant experience and I would definitely recommend it and we will...

Akbars Birmingham: A Culinary Disappointment

My recent dining experience at Akbars Birmingham left me feeling thoroughly disappointed. The restaurant, renowned for its delectable Pakistani cuisine, failed to deliver on its promise of flavorful and authentic dishes.

I had high hopes for my meal, particularly for the lamb shank, a signature dish that had garnered rave reviews. However, upon its arrival, I was immediately struck by its lackluster appearance. The meat, which should have been fall-off-the-bone tender, was surprisingly tough and bland, devoid of the rich, aromatic spices that are the hallmark of Pakistani cuisine.

As I delved into the dish, my initial misgivings were confirmed. The gravy, while generously portioned, was woefully underseasoned, offering little in the way of flavor enhancement. The accompanying vegetables, while cooked to a perfect al dente texture, were similarly devoid of seasoning, adding further to the dish's overall blandness.

The disappointing lamb shank was not the only element of my meal that fell short of expectations. The naan bread, typically a fluffy, flavorful accompaniment to any Pakistani meal, was dry and chewy, offering little in the way of textural contrast or flavor. The rice, too, was unremarkable, cooked to a mushy consistency and lacking any discernible seasoning.

In addition to the culinary shortcomings, the service at Akbars Birmingham was equally underwhelming. Our waiter, while polite, seemed inattentive and rushed, often disappearing for extended periods without providing updates on our order or offering drink refills.

Overall, my dining experience at Akbars Birmingham was far from what I had anticipated. The bland food, coupled with the lackluster service, left me feeling disappointed and unsatisfied. With so many other excellent Pakistani restaurants in Birmingham, I would be hard-pressed to recommend Akbars to anyone seeking a truly authentic and flavorful Pakistani...