ikwai in Bromsgrove

Very intimate restaurant in Bromsgrove.we enjoyed the 10 course Izakaya Otsumami menu expertly prepared by Mike and served by Antonia. Whole range of flavours and textures that we enjoyed. Highly recommend but known as Canary and Kitchen.

So gutted this place has closed down it was such an amazing place to go meet and make friends 😢 💔

The nicest most genuine chap I have met.

As a truck driver, I use cafes all around the UK and beyond. I have to say that Big Daves is definitely my favourite! The first thing you notice walking in is how spotlessly clean it is. Floor, walls, counter, everything is sparkling. Dave and his wife are a lovely couple who always make you feel welcome. It's always busy with local people eating in or grabbing a takeout, which is always a sign of a good cafe. That said, you never have to wait too long for your food. There is a wider menu, but I've only ever been for the full English breakfast, which is fantastic! Really good quality food. I recommend this cafe highly.

Firstly an apology to Waz, I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to write a review for your bistro, and more over I'm sorry the adventure has ended; albeit a new one is now in motion. I came here at the request of a good friend of mine, and fellow food blogger back in December 2022. I was told that the chef knew his stuff, and that the food was very reminiscent of the street food cafes we had visited during our time in Morocco, and Southern France; my friend wasn't wrong. I ordered a starter of Calamari Fritters, served with a Garlic & Saffron Mayo, for the main a Roasted Quail accompanied by dauphinoise potatoes and a fig sauce, and for dessert my go to Christmas Pudding. My first impression of Waz's Bistro is that its a tidy affair, on par with some of the smaller bistros you would normally encounter in the city. The staff although young, were attentive, and if they were unsure would ask the kitchen. The wine list was hit and miss; so I stuck to dealers choice and ordered a cocktail. The starter arrived around the fifteen minute mark from order, not withstanding the location; wasn't to bad of a ticket time. The Calamari Fritters were crispy on the outside, and the Calamari succulent when chewed. The mayo added a nice bite as the garlic added a subtle dimension, the saffron was perfectly measured, and like the garlic added an extra dimension to the dish. The main course was roughly ten minutes from when the young chap took my entre plate away, again ticket times are clearly a priority to the chef. The Quail was unfortunately a bit drier than what I would have normally liked, but still ticked all the boxes regarding taste and presentation. The potatoes were just that, nothing abusive to the taste buds, nor offensive to the eye. The Fig Sauce though was something to behold, perfectly balanced, and complimented the quail beautifully; bravo Chef, Bravo! Now to the disappointment. After my plate was taken away, I was left for roughly twenty minutes before what in my eyes was a travesty. The Christmas Pudding was undercooked, and even though it was perfectly fruited, it was a trudge to eat it. The bill was thirty-five pounds excluding the cocktail, and to be honest that's cheap considering other Bistros. It was overall a great night out So how do I rate Waz? More so now that he's closed his doors. I believe a nod of respect to his talent, and acknowledgment of all he did for the industry in Bromsgrove is a good place to start Bon Chance Waz.