La Plancha

A cosy, buzzy place, La Plancha’s generous portions have earned it a faithful following among the Bohemian hordes of Moseley, Birmingham’s Guardian quarter. As well as the rustic little bar downstairs, there are more mix-&-match, wobbly tables upstairs, with feel-good Latino music floating throughout. It’s advisable to loosen your belt while tucking into tasty potato tortilla (you’ll get a whole one, about four inches across), a great plateful of artichokes with delicious caramelised onions, or a mound of button mushrooms in powerfully garlicky dressing. While there are a few grumbles – service can be slow, for instance, & the ‘authentic’ tapas on the photocopied menu don’t all hit the spot (avoid the Greek & be aware that prawns may arrive overcooked) – stay with the simple stuff & it makes for a pleasant refuelling stop.