The Other Birmingham

When my friend suggested a Latin American dinner at Las Iguanas for our last night together in Birmingham, I was a bit skeptical. After all, this was England; shouldn’t we be scarfing bangers ‘n’ mash with brown sauce in a smoky pub somewhere? He finally managed to persuade me, however, with the promise of two-for-one happy hour drinks.

Las Iguanas is located right around the corner from Birmingham’s main shopping corridor, in a courtyard adjacent to more restaurants, movie theaters, and shops. When we stepped inside, I was surprised to find a modern, breezy interior with rich woods, artistic light fixtures, and cozy, plush booths that belied its chain-restaurant façade. In front of the bar, island-inspired wooden chairs flowed out onto a balcony overlooking the courtyard. We snagged a booth directly off the bar area, which gave us a great view of the action on both sides of the spacious dining area.

We wasted no time in choosing our beverages: mine an Ipanema Breeze (vodka and cranberry juice with fresh orange and watermelon), Kieran’s a raspberry martini. Both our two-for-one drinks arrived at the same time, which was convenient, but I would have loved to try something else from the extensive cocktail menu. Regardless, both were refreshing and flavorful—the raspberry martini was the winner, with pureed fresh raspberries and precisely the right measure of vodka "bite."

My regret over not ordering one was quickly forgotten, however, when our appetizer arrived: a combination platter including freshly fried calamares with spicy chili aioli, Brazilian-style peri-peri chicken, mushroom-and-brie quesadillas, chile con carne with chips, and perfectly tender, subtly spiced mussels. Absolutely everything was fantastic. Even the chile con carne had the perfect texture and amount of heat—and being from Texas, I’m a hard sell on that. A drink and this platter, shared between two people, would make a perfect light meal and allow room for dessert.

My main course was excellent as well. The traditional Brazilian moqueca, a bouillabaisse-style dish, was filled with a variety of fresh seafood, vegetables, and saffron rice, all smothered in a lip-smacking coconut curry sauce. My only complaint was that the shrimp were served whole; considering I’m not known for being coordinated with my food, it wasn’t surprising that I left Las Iguanas covered in coconut curry splatter. Kieran chose an 8oz. Argentinean sirloin with cassava fries and a spicy sauce—also a delicious and unique combination. After that, not even our uncomfortable fullness could stop us from sharing dessert—a silky chocolate Banoffi pie with a crumbly crust.

I had arrived a skeptic, but I have to admit, Las Iguanas served up some of the best Latin American food I’ve ever tasted in a hip, yet relaxed, environment. Our bill came to £55, or $120—not cheap, but well worth it. The trick to enjoying Las Iguanas on a budget? Come before 6:30pm to enjoy three courses from a select menu for £7.

We decided to begin this evening in a civilized manner, and The Bank was just the ticket. We had been there together 3 years prior—the last time I visited—and had a grand old time downing cosmopolitans and other ridiculous, colorful drinks. Considering the balmy weather this time around, it seemed like the perfect chance to grab an outside table and order up a few rounds of martini-style drinks to make ourselves feel better about all the watery G&Ts we'd been drinking out of plastic cups.

The Bank is situated in the beautifully groomed Brindleyplace plaza, complete with a lovely fountain, twinkling lights, and well-manicured foliage. Brindleyplace is near Birmingham's city center and neighbored by the Symphony Hall, International Convention Centre, and many of Birmingham's top hotels. As such, The Bank is a sleek, modern bar/restaurant with lots of stainless steel, deep red tones, and an oddly waffled ceiling that gives the interior interest from every angle. The clientele love their business suits, and this time, it seemed that the young designer-jeans crowd had caught on as well. It's a lovely place, but the atmosphere seemed to have taken a turn toward the corporate and "trendy" crowd, with dapper working men sitting alongside large groups of drunken twenty-somethings swilling top-shelf liquor before dashing off to the nightclubs. Or maybe I'm just getting older.

That said, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. As soon as we arrived, my friend got a table while I went inside to order drinks—he had never had a martini, so I insisted we order one. I was a little perplexed by the dark grey, cloudy drink the bartender produced, flecked with bits of red (but no olives?). The vanilla mojito, cosmopolitan, and Polish Breezer (a combination of vodka, fresh apple, and grape juice) still looked delicious, however, so I decided to keep an open mind. After writing a generous tip into my credit card receipt (an amiable bartender goes a long way with me), the bartender returned it, having only charged me half. "You gave too much," he said. I was shocked—that's certainly never happened to me before—but I wasn't about to argue.

Had I tasted the martini first, I may have been more inclined to agree with him. It was just...salty. No bright vodka flavor or olive twang. Just salty. And I never did quite figure out what the red flecks were. The rest of the drinks, however, were delicious, even through the following two rounds. At around £6 to £8 apiece, they weren't cheap, but they were certainly satisfying. Just skip that martini.

In all, The Bank is a nice way to begin an evening out with friends over drinks that actually taste good (most of the time). And if you're after some party-all-night companions or a slick businessman who will cover your tab, you've hit the jackpot.