Filini Restaurant

One of the worst dining experiences we have had for many a year; lazy incompetent cooking (Saturday 7th August 2010). Shame because we had been looking forward to going to this highly rated new Italian in Birmingham. Starters were fine, the service was excellent and that's were my praise ends. For my wife to have to send her dry tasteless monkfish (£17.50) back is bad enough ; for me (who is generally uncomplaining and can eat virtually anything) to have to return my fat laded fritto misto suggest that something is seriously amiss in the kitchin. Worse still was that the chef admitted it shouldn't have been sent out - so why was it? No control in the kitchin clearly. Two limp side salads, unimaginative and tasteless (expensive also) completed our order. What to have in the fritto's place? Ended up with one of the worst pizzas imaginable - if an Italian restaurant can't produce a decent pizza for God's sake what hope is there!? Eat two mouthfuls, got the bill (nothing knocked off) and left vowing never to return. To be fair to them they did offer us another meal on a different date but would you want to repeat the experience - life is short! Oh, I forgot to mention the wine; they didn't have the £20 bottle of Pinot Grigio we ordered but gave us a £25 bottle of Minini for the same price - nice gesture. I would have expected to pay no more than £3.99 for this is Tesco. There you have it my friends - beware!
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john - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Sunday, August 08, 2010

Absolutely fantastic!!! I booked filinis for my boyfriends birthday. The service was absolutely second to none, the food was divine and the setting was very private because it wasn't too busy and we felt like we were VIPs! I would definitely without a shadow of doubt recommend this to anyone and everyone. They beautifully decorated his desert plate and did above and beyond what was expected!
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Sarah
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, June 05, 2010

I tried the Filini on a whim; it looked good and I was celebrating.

The decor and general ambience was excellent - really different to any restaurant in Birmingham that I have been to. It reminded me of the stylish 60s tv drama - Madmen, with retro furniture, subtle mood lighting and elegant sculpture.

The food started surprisingly well with a huge bowl of complementary italian breads for dipping. The dipping oil and balsamic were excellent quality - small details but a great start! Our starters varied in size, my beef carpaccio was tasty any small - how I like a starter, while my partner's vegetable anti pasti selection was huge (and also very tasty)

For main I had the monkfish with walnut pesto with a side of roasted rosemary potatoes. The artistically piled dish was impressive but the dribble of pesto dissapointed me until I tasted it and realised how little you required due to it's powerful and delicious taste. Overall excellent main for me. My wine was also excellent and suited this dish, i think it was Masi Venezie Modello.

My partner is vegetarian with a dairy intolerance - and the chef came to our table to discuss what she could have, in the end choosing a tasty if a little basic tomato and roast vegetable risotto.

Our waiter was friendly and helpful if a little disorganised. I told him I was celebrating getting a new job and soon after he brought complementary champagne to our table. The fruit sorbets were also excellent, tasting strikingly similar to blackcurrant and mango, rather than being over sweet.

The price wasnt cheap, but not much more than strada or pasta di piazza, whereas the food and experience was easily better.

Overall this was an excellent evening - I've no idea why this place isn't more popular. I'll be using the offer on this website soon.
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Tom Ives
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, May 12, 2010

What a treat. Found Filini on this site yesterday and read a very favourable review. A couple of our friends had also enjoyed the food early one evening with their 11 year old son.

We set out excited as we don't get out much with the promise of food to the standard of Opus, but with better atmosphere.

The greating was warm and the waiter extremely helpful. The menu is interesting- the starters (anti pasti) are the star turn. And before we tucked into our orders the olives- large and succulent some of the best and the homemade breads were a welcome to the feast for two hungry diners. We opted for the coopted house red - Masi Modello Delle Venezie- which was easy drinking and smooth- not too heavy just as my wife likes it. I was impressed and have sourced some tonight on the internet £7:49 per bottle from advintage.

The decor works as the front of the Radisson overlooks a busy roundabout so the blue curtains over a full glass frontage give the impression of space without the reality of the traffic. Unlike the previous reviewer the restraunt was full. The food was not rushed and we enjoyed the antipasta which was to a high standard going for the 'shareable' with a variety of cold meats and the buffallo mozzeralla.

My wife usually, slow to decide on her choices plumbed straight for the 'well kept' veal and was not disappointed she found it to be excellent. I deliberated and rembering a memorable steak at Opus went for the ribeye. Sadly, I was left wishing I'd gone for the lamb or plaice- well next time perhaps. The rib eye was a little cold and rather chewy- a curates egg- good in parts. The bed of 'greens' it came on seemed slightly over done and looked like my lawn (mown today!). The veggies were great, clean green beans, brocolli and spincach and rosemary roasties are to be recommended.

We settled to good conversation even though the ambient noise was a little high to hear each other easily. We ordered pud to share at 9:50 but sadly I can't tell you about it as by 10:20 it had not arrived and we had to leave to collect our daughter - so we cancelled it. Perhaps the number of diners was more than usual and the choc pud slipped the net. Shame. Our waiter could not have been more apologetic

The decor is great- love the wine rack feature and the pizza oven and the boys loo is worth a visit for the rackishly angled strip lights over the urinals! The seats are stylish and not 'back friendly' so I was glad to take the pleasant walk to the gents.

Overall it was a grand night out.
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Phil
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Sunday, April 26, 2009

This was our first visit to Filini... and wasn't disapointed! We arrived about 30mins before or Table was Booked, just so We could Relax and have a quiet drink at the Filini Bar... We were welcomed by a very Friendly member of staff, who took us to the Bar seating area, took Our Drinks order and left Us to look through the Menu...

The Restaurant was very quite, even though it was a Saturday Night, with only about 20 people Dinning! The Soft Lighting and Quite Music really made it feel very cozy and romantic... The Service was Fantastic and the Food was wonderful...

It isn't the Cheapest of Places to Eat, but I can't fault the place, it was a lovely evening and You can't put a price on that.

The Filini and the Opus must be 2 of Birminghams best Restaurants, for those special nights out.
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G Davies
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Had a fantastic meal in lovely surroundings with very helpful and friendly staff. Im quite a demanding customer asking for my order to be very specific, it was no problem and it was simply the best meal I've had in B'ham. A little pricy but you certainly get what you pay for. Only gripe to be had is that the air con made it a little chilly, however it was turned off on request! Superb!
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AO & JG
Thursday, May 08, 2008

We booked at Filini using the Special Offer '2 for 1 on main meals' which we thought was very good value. The Restaurant itself is very swish, modern and elegant but the staff made us feel very relaxed. The service was very friendly and efficient. The food was delicious, we had pasta for our mains (crab linguine and prawn parpadelle). We felt we got stung on the bill slightly - my 'small glass of merlot' was £7.25! and they had charged us for both main courses, which we had to ask to be taken off using the special offer. And the 10% service charge was slapped on, which I hate - I know it's commonplace now and I can understand if it's for a large table, but when there is just two of you, I think it is nicer to leave it to the diner's discretion. Who know's they make even get more than 10%, but it just takes the pleasure out of leaving a tip for good service.
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Monday, February 18, 2008

I found Filini an enchanting restaurant, the service was fantastic and the food was extremely high quality, I would definitely recommend it.
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Friday, February 08, 2008

quality of food was outstanding - excellent sea bass and veal. Good mood with the lighting and friendly staff.
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Rachel Williams
Tuesday, December 11, 2007