Palm by H2O

Palm by H2O pitches itself squarely at the special-occasion crowd: gold-leaf accents, neon lighting, banquette seating, and mood lighting that reviewers consistently describe as giving the room a Dubai lounge feel. The space has an upstairs and downstairs, each with a distinct dining or shisha area, making it workable for everything from a birthday group to a date night.

The menu leans into desi-influenced sharing plates to start, malai boti, seekh kebab, dynamite shrimp in their signature sauce, and samosa chaat, before moving into more substantial mains built around steaks, mixed grills, and burgers. The chapli kebab and fillet parmo have both drawn recent praise online, and the mixed grill platter is a solid group order. Sides of palm chips and garlic bread round things out without overcomplicating the spread.

Desserts are a genuine draw: the Dubai kanafa and cookie dough with ice cream are the ones that keep appearing in reviews. The drinks list is alcohol-free throughout, with mocktails and fresh juices carrying the load, the peach berry mulan mojito gets mentioned repeatedly. Shisha is available and a big part of the evening experience here.

Joey’s Smokehouse

Joey’s Smokehouse brings American low-and-slow BBQ to Digbeth with house-smoked brisket, beef ribs, lamb chops and Texas-style sausages, finished with signature rubs and homemade sauces. The menu spans meaty mains (short ribs, pulled beef), burgers piled with smoked brisket, and generous platters like the Pitmaster Feast, plus sides like mac and cheese and burnt ends. It’s a fully halal venue but welcomes bring-your-own drinks. Expect queues at weekends-staff seat walkers quickly, though the place runs hot with demand. Perfect for meat lovers and those after TikTok-famous tenderism.

Pasture – Birmingham

Pasture Birmingham occupies a striking seven-thousand square foot space in the former Barclays Bank building on Colmore Row, in the heart of Birmingham’s business district. The restaurant is a celebration of ‘Fire, Meat, and Music’, featuring theatrical open-fire cooking visible from the dining room, the UK’s largest glass-fronted dry-ageing fridge, and resident DJs playing house every Friday and Saturday from 20:00. They meticulously select and prepare dry-aged steaks in-house from local farms where all cattle are grass-fed, with standout dishes including the tomahawk steak, rib croquettes with mushroom ketchup, and seasonal seafood starters. The 180-seat main dining room is intimate despite its size, with seating for a further 45 at the bar; the lively, music-driven atmosphere suits celebrations and special occasions, though some guests find conversation challenging during DJ nights. Service is consistently praised as attentive and knowledgeable, with staff explaining cuts and preparations expertly.