Southcrest Manor Hotel, BW Signature Collection

A bijou neighbourhood restaurant with stools set at tall tables and a black and green colour scheme. The short, sensibly priced tasting menu moves with the seasons, using prime ingredients to deliver layers of texture and flavour in imaginative dishes. All guests are served at the same time and most go for the wine pairings. Add in the cheese course for a satisfying meal.

The Italian ethos of uncluttered, straightforwardly delicious cooking is alive and well at this bright neighbourhood restaurant. Let the staff guide you when it comes to ordering the sharing plates, but you're sure to be satisfied by any of the terrific homemade pastas plus the beautifully balanced cannoli to finish. The Italian wine list is as fabulously well-priced as the food, and the buzzing atmosphere and friendly service add to the appeal. It's easy to see why the place is so popular.

An array of both classic and contemporary Japanese dishes are available at this on-trend restaurant, whose bustling atmosphere suggests it’s a hit with the local diners. The wide-ranging à la carte covers all your Japanese favourites, from sushi and sashimi to super-fine tempura and a choice of cuts from the robata grill. If you want a taste of it all, the well-priced tasting menu is the best option. To finish, ‘Mount Fuji’ is their take on a Mont Blanc, set alight at the table for added volcanic flair.

What was once a high street bank is now the ideal destination for a fun night out with friends. Chakana has all the ingredients you need for a great time: a lively laid-back vibe, punchy Peruvian food and one of the largest ranges of pisco in the UK. The cooking itself is colourful and packed with bold flavours, across a range of recognisable Peruvian dishes including ceviches and tiraditos. There's a streak of originality running through the menu too, as evidenced by the hot crab causa.

Behind the half-timbered walls of this stylish building lies a spacious restaurant that pays tribute to British culture, be it the Union Jacks on the curtains or the model Spitfire hanging from the ceiling. Across a range of menus, including fixed-price and tasting options, Chef Matt Cheal uses prime British produce from Cornish lobster to Aberdeen Angus beef in dishes that showcase his adept modern technique. Start your evening in style in the smart Warren’s Bar or, for a lighter meal, stay there all night to enjoy the small plates menu.

Adding to the growing food scene in the Birmingham suburb of Harborne is this Kickstarter-funded spot from a local chef. The space is small and stylish, with the feel of a contemporary bistro, while the contented diners and lively soundtrack combine to bring a pleasant buzz to the atmosphere. The menu is proudly British and fiercely seasonal, coming across in well-crafted dishes like a wonderful frozen rhubarb dessert with peanut brittle and vanilla ice cream. The cooking is all the better for its absence of unnecessary frippery.

An elegant Georgian townhouse has been given a bold and blingy makeover for this opulent restaurant, where the décor blends rich, plush furnishings with flashes of shiny gilt. The cooking is self-described as ‘Indo-Persian’ and indeed the menu is an enticing melting pot of influences, including those from Afghanistan, Turkey and Balochistan. The tasting menu will allow you to try a broader range of cuisines, but if you’re going à la carte then keep an eye out for the Sultani lamb chops, which melt in the mouth and are enhanced by their subtle spicing.