Locanta in Birmingham

A great review to start-at-the-end: If you are in this area, free to and wanting to eat-out; be nice to yourself and whoever you are with and visit this restaurant. The chances of you being disappointed are very small. The food is good. The service is friendly, courteous, efficient, knowledgeable. The decor is quirky, engaging and interesting. The ambience is brilliant. Put all of these comments into a mixing bowl trying to get to an overal summing up statement and what comes out is one word: SPECTACULAR. The inside (downstairs is the place to book) is an eclectic mix of what many might call 'too much stuff' but in being exactly that a charming antiquity emerges. Is it an old restaurant bar in France, or Italy that has been open for many years and nothing has been thrown away? Has a person owned it for a hundred years and it's full of history? There are dozens of bottles of wine & champagne on shelving all around. Some are empty, some full, some covered in dust, others only just beginning to acquire that look. Some are for sale and others just for the collection. Locanta is precisely the dining experience that all restaurants should be today; it is more than enough to entice us out of the house, encourage us to spend hard-earned money on food that the majority of us (still) can't reproduce at home. Take your time, ask questions, savour the food, drink classic wines, enjoy a superb Limoncella, relax and go home happy and satisfied. We will most definitely make this our go-to restaurant when visiting the area. I suggest you do too. EDIT ONE MONTH LATER: Just visited again ... even better!!

Me and my friend came in while we were starving and got service so quickly! The pasta bolognese was delicious and came out quickly :) we got ice in our water too which was pretty nice

Adorable little Italian restaurant, live singer, great authentic food, friendly staff and affordable prices, would recommend x

Absolutely disgusting food very bland no flavour or seasoning. They don't know the difference between flat bread and bruchetta. Actually feel quite sick and most of it was sent back.

Excellent food served hot with all the spices and sauces delicious. The ambience is beautifully Italian rustic in nature.

Cozy place, friendly and responsive staff. The food is delicious and the portions are big enough. I would eat there again.

Perfect, that is all you can say

Great food and atmosphere, a very enjoyable place!

Beautiful food. Brilliant service. Reasonably priced. Excellent restaurant

Had a fantastic meal, such attentive staff and a little slice of Italy on your doorstep, would certainly recommend and will be back. Pistachio ice cream was the best.

Lovely staff and delicious food! The duck risotto was top notch. 🦆 Perfect for date night.

Lovely food, so tasty and delicious.we almost licked the plates:)))😄😄 We had starter and main. We had dessert on house. The Turkish owner was very nice,friendly, and helpful. We will definitely come back and recommend this place to everyone. The price was reasonable. Can't say how happy we were with our choice.

The service was amazing! Such kind staff and amazing food. The ingredients are very fresh.

I was very surprised by the very tasty lamb. I recommend it to everyone, the appetizers with snails and lobster ravioli are also very tasty.

We recently had lunch at this restaurant with my husband. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a rather strong smell of bleach, which was quite off-putting. The service was typical of what you might expect at an Italian restaurant. For starters, we had prawns and calamari, both of which were very tasty and fresh. For the main course, I enjoyed a fillet steak in a mushroom sauce, while my husband opted for a peppercorn steak. While I loved my steak, my husband's was unfortunately overcooked and lacked any special flair. Despite the fresh starters, we won't be returning, though it might be worth a visit to try for yourself.

awful and not friendly at all, like they couldn't be bothered , food bland and pizza was under cooked

This is a great Italian, the service was amazing. They customised our meals for us and it was delicious. I would definitely go back.

What a surprise! We have found this diamond just right in time when we have been looking for a something unusual after leaving the closest pub. Delicious food, family atmosphere, life music…what can you expect more… Definitely will come back soon, well done guys!

Found by chance. Had a meal last night great wholesome food. Lovely family real Italian hospitality. Reasonably priced. It should be compulsory that everyone visits this restaurant at least once. We will be back.

Best food ever. Best Italian I've been to. Recommended.. forget high street brands try this place out. Wow Harvey nandra

Amazing food... One of my all time faves ... A must visit 👍🏼

Fantastic birthday celebration for 28 people food was amazing and catered to our every need. Such enthusiastic and hardworking staff Really enjoyed ourselves and will keep going back. Such a lovely authentic atmosphere

Lovely, atmospheric restaurant. The food was superb and service excellent. Would recommend.

The service was good and the food was good .

Unique food. Highly recommended.

We loved Locanta in St Paul's Square. It's a beautiful & traditional restaurant. The food was delicious & the owner was so attentive. We will return.

Fabulous food, excellent service. Highly recommend.

Went for lunch on a Friday and experienced such amazing personalised service and the food was outstanding, will definitely be visiting again!

Just walking through to St Paul’s Square looking for a place to eat. This place caught our eye with the specials board outside with various fresh fish. Inside we were welcomed in and it soon became clear we could create whatever dish we wanted from the fresh fish. So a starter of fresh scallops was followed by swordfish steaks (I had mine with pasta my wife had hers with veg). A real find. Definitely going back.

Please never come here it's the best restaurant in Birmingham and I don't want it to be fully booked, ever.

You have to go here! The food is amazing and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. If you're going to treat yourself or someone you love to gorgeous food then this is the place to go. All staff are superb and are excellent hosts. Let's support local businesses who work so hard to provide the best dining experience 🫶🏻

Great food, authentic and fresh. Excellent, friendly service. Worth a visit.

Very friendly and welcoming people. Food was great and prices are reasonable. He even cooked separately pasta for our little one. Without us requesting anything. 100% recommended and whenever we are around again we will be back. Thanks again

1st visit to Locanta & we found it just superb in every respect. The food was tremendous, especially the seafood pasta which was tasty and loaded with quality seafood. The house red and rose were both great. Service was impeccable. All in warm rustic ambiance that only comes from a family run restaurant. Thank you, we'll be back.

This is my favourite restaurant to visit in Birmingham. Amazing and authentic Italian food, cozy ambiance, always welcoming and exceptional service make dining at Locanta an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend for any occasion!

Just Visited, great traditional Italian restaurant in Birmingham. We booked in last minute for 17 people which is a very big ask with not much preperation so well done to all the staff which worked hard to give us a great meal! Everyone was happy with their food and would 100% recommend to anyone looking to visit 👍

The best Italian in Birmingham. Ate here for the first time and had an amazing experience. Olives and Bruschetta to start, followed by the Lasagnia and Lemon Cake for dessert. We also had the Tiramisu which was gorgeous. Every dish was stunning. The staff were so lovely too. Resturant felt homely and inviting. 10/10 and will definitely be returning again.

amazing, comfortable atmosphere, lovely friendly, generous, welcoming staff that could not have done better, and the best meal I've had in months, a beautiful lasagna and angelic tiramisu. coming back with friends next week! thank you to the lovely bcu waiter :)

Oh dear, what has happened!!😳 Locantos was an absolutely fabulous place to go but has seriously done downhill. Food portions have changed, quality of food really poor. Very disappointing when you're so looking forward to going there 😞 Only saving grace is that the serving and waiting staff are really great. We won't be going back in a rush

AVOID if you expect great customer service and warm/hot food. Went there for lunch today. Had the dish from specials menu, salmon, veg with potatoes. Did not realise it was £26.00! When the food came the salmon was hot but the vegetables had cooled down. It was not even busy, just a few other people. So the veg were cold by the time i ate them. These were cauliflower, broccoli and green beans. The broccoli was crunchy so wasnt cooked properly. Cauliflower i dont eat anyway but was cold and looked tasteless, probably not cooked enough. Green beans were cold. Some pieces of potato were ok but some not cooked thoroughly. I ate the salmon cause it was hot. Terrible customer service. The manager said usually you call for help if you need it! He was too busy chatting and laughing with a customer to even bother to check if my friend and i needed anything or were happy with our food. No wonder the restaurant wasnt busy if the food and service isnt good. The toilets were horrible and toilet not clean. I hate to think what the kitchen is like. Would not be going back and will instead stick to the lovely italian restaurant opposite down the road. Please do not waste your money here.

Had a small gathering of, family & friends, at the weekend. Staff and management made everyone feel welcomed . The service was also , Excellent. This place felt like a small family run restaurant, outside of the City. Very good selection of Wines and Beer. Also the MENU had a wide selection to choose from, and a number of meals for Vegetarian's. All meals arrived at the same time , and in good time too. We didn't have dessert , Due to having a Chocolate cake, supplied by the manager, which was excellent too. (Thank you). I would highly recommend this restaurant to any friends and family for future dinners and parties. Plate strong food portions were a descent.

Visited Locanta for some dinner. It was quite early so we were the only customers. We were welcomed by a friendly staff member and got seated. The menu offers a good variety of Italian dishes. The Caprese salad was beautiful with fresh tomatoes and good mozzarella. Tried the paté as well which was lovely. The calamari were tasty as well. For mains went for the beef stroganoff which in my opinion lacked a bit of flavour, needed some salt as well. Other main was sizzling steak with peppercorn sauce, the steak was cooked beautifully. For sides had some garlic bread and another caprese salad. Everything arrived quickly, apart from the garlic bread which might've been forgotten but the staff quickly got it ordered and it arrived a few minutes later. Overall very nice experience with simple comfort food, but very tasty.

Turned up solo, fancied the Scallops from the Starters specials board, but as a main course. They obliged and then some, came up with a Linguini Scallops & Prawn special with mustard, just for me, loved it. Did not spot a cheeseboard on the menu but asked if they could do me one to accompany the house Red, hey presto a generous bevvy of delicious cheeses arrived with suitable crackers, lettuce and marmalade accompaniments. As Arnie says "I'll be back", hopefully with the family next time.

Always very good food with lots of flavour. Very quaint authentic Italian feel to the place... fourth time there and will be back again. Still shocked every time we drop in and there is tables... this place should be full each weekend

Great authentic Italian within a few minutes walk of our favourite bars . Great atmosphere, food was fantastic and fabulous service.

Now then; what a find! This restaurant is a model for success. You feel the warm, friendly ambience on entry being welcomed by the enthusiastic proprietor endorsed by the locals with all covers taken quickly. The menu is not cheap albeit the costs are matched well to the restaurant's location and it bears some mouthwatering, tantalising dishes. I had an awesome steak & lobster dish slightly off piste! It's worth noting they offer themselves on the 1st Table app for a substantial saving. Quite simply, this is now my favourite Italian Restaurant in Brum & I'm looking forward to my next trip there already!

Me and My Boyfriend booked for 8pm Sunday 31st December as it was a special day for us when we got there we was welcomed with the bright warming colours of the friendly restaurant and greeted by a nice young lad he showed us to our tables the service was good the restaurant was immaculate! My partner and I decided to order some dishes that we never tried before snails and frogs legs and yet when we tried them they were bursting with flavour later we ordered steak and chicken dish and they were so delicious my eyes were bigger than my stomach so i had to have the rest boxed up to take home. The owner helped served and greeted us with nothing but warm friendky smile. This is a FAMILY BUSINESS and we were treated kindly and with respect we would love nothing more than to go back to this restaurant hungry for more!

very poor website details my daughter booked up for Christmas day with her children they confirmed the booking on email when she arrived everywhere was closed up??? cost her £7 for taxi not very lmpressed

Very authentic Italian restaurant with the very best service The place was so busy but we enjoyed excellent service Massive menu Lasagna was great Would definitely recommend

Service was friendly and fast. Pasta and tiramisu was great. Only complaint is the drinks being quite watered down from a lot of crushed ice.

After around 4 years, I came back here for some authentic Itallian food. It was just as great as it was 4 years back, I will certainly be coming back again soon as there are a few more dishes I want to try. We had a veg sharing platter, 2 side plates (2 starter type dishes), and 2 mains each. Of course, we faltered once we'd got through all of that and half of our mains, and we ended up taking our remaining meal home with us. The ambience was nice and relaxed, and the food was well presented and very tasty. My personal favourite was the baked funghi and chilli side dish I had. That was sublime, I could eat that as a main with some sourdough bread to dip in its sauce. Overall, it's definitely worth a try. It's nice for friends meeting up, work dinners or couples just wanting a nice meal. Thanks Locanta and see you again soon.

Service was 10/10 even though they had a large group arrive at the same time as us and we were a two, both the people who served us were amazing The atmosphere was great, cosy and homely Food was really tasty - we took the left overs home and my boyfriend enjoyed it again a few hours later! We will definitely come again and I am thinking of bringing the family when they visit brum. Overall had an amazing time Ps the creamy garlic spinach was delicious

Visited with friends for Xmas meal. Friendly and helpful staff. Having a good range of Mediterranean foods in the menu. It was busiest time of year that's why mind waiting for your meal.

This is the Italian to visit good food good atmosphere staff are brilliant the only Italian to visit in Birmingham trust me .

They were happy to take a last minute booking despite having several large groups to cater for. The management & waiting staff couldn't have been more attentive and looked after us well. The five of us all thought he food was excellent and there was a good atmosphere. A most enjoyable evening - pity we don't live close enough to become regulars!

Visited for a wedding reception Amazing hospitality Amazing food Amazing atmosphere It was our first time here BUT we will be back! Thank you x

One of the best Italian/Mediterranean restaurants in Birmingham. If you haven't been yet, make a bee line next time you are hungry in Birmingham. They also have a very good selection of wines.

The food is incredible but the wine it's even better 🍷 Definitely going there again. Highly recommend

Great Italian/Mediterranean restaurant. We have been dining here for many years as we live locally and are never disappointed. The menu is varied and extensive, with specials regularly offered. Eric and his son are excellent hosts and nothing is ever too much trouble. In fact all the staff are lovely. Generous portions of well cooked fresh food in a buzzy and cosy atmosphere. I visited today with family for my birthday and everyone was very happy with the whole experience and we were even served complimentary sharing platter starters from Eric as it was my birthday. Thank you Eric! The Calamari was cooked perfectly and the Don Paco Linguine was amazing - thoroughly recommend. Good choice of wines and homemade desserts. Cannot fault the place. Booking is essential at the weekend.

Good food and service at reasonable prices.

Family with a group of friends joined for a good food and a few drinks. Service was immaculate, food was tasty and excellent. The service and attention could not be faulted. Really enjoyed the night and the food. Bonus: good decor.

Came here on a Tuesday lunch. Service was very friendly. Portion sizes were very good. Would go here again for Italian food

Lovely atmosphere of a family run restaurant. Hospitable staff, pleasant music, good food, amazing tiramisu. Will definitely return

Amazing place, would highly recommend. The restaurant is so nice and brings a vibe of Italian culture. The food is to die for, truly amazing flavours and authentic taste. I had been served by the most welcoming and lovely staff Panos and Jenk, they were both very accommodating and I had the most loveliest evening with good company and food, thank you for your hospitality, will definitely be revisiting!

Risotto marinara was amazing. Best Italian food I've ever had. Lovely little place, very friendly!

Panos is a saint, amazing place

Excellent authentic Italian experience in quirky surroundings, the waiting staff were attentive and prompt and the menu choice was very good. Excellent quality food better than a lot of the chain type restaurants we have visited previously, will definitely be back

Would recommend to all, very friendly staff

Little Italian restaurant with a great location next to St Paul Square at just a few mins away from the busy City Centre. As an Italian I can say the food tastes authentic, furthermore the portions are good sizes and well presented. The menu also presents plenty of Gluten Free and Vegan options and as stated by the owner, the recipes are completely customizable to meet dietary requirements and taste preferences. The atmosphere is lovely with the soft light, making it a perfect romantic dinner experience if you would. The price is fair considering all the above. 100% recommended, I have been there three times and I definitely will come back!

Beautiful, the warmest, cosiest loveliest vibe, felt like you were abroad! Lovely and romantic for couples. The staff were so attentive and made us feel so welcome and the food was absolutely wonderful. Tiramisu was a real treat! And we really enjoyed the wine recommendations from the owner. If you want an authentic experience, not a run of the mill chain, then this is the place. Thank you Locanta for blessing Birmingham with your restaurant!

Great service and excellent food. Highly recommend it

great atmosphere, amazing food, and lovely host! really enjoyed our meal, will definitely return.

Amazing experience. Great to find a Mom and Pop (privately owned) restaurant across from our AirBnB, on our way to NEC tomorrow. Our waitor, friend of the owner, wonderful Greek fella, was such a charming host, funny, helpful, efficient. He made the experience memorable. The food was also excellent, fresh fish off the blackboard and a vegan Paella. All freshly prepared, not had such great mussels since Scotland 6 years ago. Basic decor, but abundant in atmosphere, and just a wonderful experience. If we're ever back in Birmingham, we shall be heading to Locanta.

We visited this restaurant I had not been there since 2008. I only wanted a light dinner so I opted for a very light starter .My husband ordered a lovely spaghetti chicken dish .My husband had the house white wine and said it was excellent. I had a glass if merlot which was very good .We shared a lemon cake with ice cream as a desert .The service was excellent as was the ambience and value for money

Great pizza. Sensational lobster ravioli.

By a mile the best Italian in jewellery quarter, and arguably in the city centre. Great service, all staff are very friendly but the Manager goes above and beyond. The food is brilliant, very authentic and flavorful, loads of great choices too, same with the drinks menu. Hidden gem

Incredible service. Nothing was too much trouble. Friendly attention in a great atmosphere. Family of 11 and the food and drinks were delivered all at the same time, every time. Loved it here. Would love to come back for date night. I feel like they don’t know how good they are. Just one pointer, make sure the outside menu board is totally readable to all. I had everything vegetarian and tried other bits of peoples meals and they were amazing. Portions for every course were incredible. Thank you for a lovely lunch for my Granny’s birthday!

Superb food, great value. Fantastic service. We were a party of eleven. Had a lovely lunch. Service could not have been better. The staff are really friendly and polite and the food was delicious.

Went for a birthday. Very friendly atmosphere and superb food. Timing just right between courses. Have been several times before and always a lovely experience.

Best hospitality in Birmingham. Great place to spend an evening with friends. The food is excellent and the staff are amazing. Great selection on the menu and make sure you look at the specials board. Always great fresh seafood available. Eric the owner is the best host ever. True professional and nothing is too much trouble. Give it a try

5 stars. A more rustic Italian experience but great food and a nice wine selection. I will be back

Went here for Sunday lunch with friends and was treated so well by friendly staff and the food was excellent. Will be a regular customer from now on.

This is a lovely looking little family run restaurant, right by St Paul’s Square. It's nicely decorated, with an interesting menu and wine list and a charismatic manager. We really wanted to like it, despite a mix up with our booking. On the night we went though, I have to say the food was very disappointing. The Squid Rings starter was very generic and the Swordfish Steak special in its thin, bland tomatoey concoction was pretty poor and definitely over priced at £27. Complimentary liqueurs were a nice touch, maybe we were just unlucky on the night.

Service very slow, waited over 2hrs for main meal although they had groups choice weeks in advance. Won't be visiting again. Entertainment was good.

Great place amazing service and excellent quality

Shocking food at Locanta. Nduja sausage & bean starter was just beans in spicy sauce with no signs of sausage. Lamb cutlets were quite raw and tasted very intensely and not at all tasty. Beef stroganoff was average but nothing special. Tiramisu - what a disaster: homemade with lots of cream and quite blend and not nice at all What a waste of an evening. I am surprised that this restaurant still exists with such underwhelming food on offer.

Great restaurant, food taste delicious and rich in flavour. Service is superb always willing to go an extra mile. Although there are other Italian restaurants close by, that one is definitely the best by far. Tutti Bene!

Shocking food at Locanta. Nduja sausage & bean starter was just beans in spicy sauce with no signs of sausage. Lamb cutlets were quite raw and tasted very intensely and not at all tasty. Beef stroganoff was average but nothing special. Tiramisu - what a disaster: homemade with lots of cream and quite blend and not nice at all What a waste of an evening. I am surprised that this restaurant still exists with such underwhelming food on offer. Don’t go there. I am surprised that there are so many really good reviews! How? Fake reviews?!

Must visit if you’re in Birmingham. This was a cute Italian place which is a little walk from city centre (approx 8mins), but definitely worth visiting. Had a nice atmosphere, staff were friendly and attentive. The food portions were very generous. Great place if you’re looking for a good Italian.

Wonderful food not a bad word said. Bill confusing main meal at bottom of bill not at the top. 🙈🙈🙈

First time visiting for a special dinner with hubby. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was first class and you could tell they take pride in serving you well. We were even given a complimentary dessert. Felt really special, thank you. Chicken was halal so it was lovely to experience authentic Italian for us.

Unico posto dove sono riuscita a mangiare ,quando torno a Birmingham verrò sempre qui.Complimenti! Proprietario simpatico e disponibile un vero piacere essere stati qui.

Fantastic steak and linguini, we love coming here. Top notch, guys and great service too. 👌🏼

My wife and I discovered this lovely restaurant about three years ago and have introduced a number of our friends to the venue who all have highly rated it. It is situated by St Paul’s Square just around the corner from The Jam House and has a nice feel to it with bottles of wine stacked in every available place. Eric, the owner always has a good selection of wines and is happy to advise on his latest purchases. The quality of the food is excellent with special fish selections several days a week. My wife is gluten and dairy intolerant but that is never a problem here. They will modify a dish to suit which always has been great. They do offer special deals for early diners which is exceptional value. I would suggest booking to avoid disappointment.

Consistently amazing. We've been 3 times, and each time we are blown away with the dishes that come from the kitchen.

Food was nice on the whole, but the duck risotto had lots of overcooked pieces in it. Prices were reasonable, service was excellent

One of the best pizzas we've ever eaten. Homemade desserts suculous. Very friendly service by Matt. We recommand without hésitation...

An absolute gem of a place. Amazing food & service in an intimate setting. So glad we found this place, it’s a traditional restaurant with home cooking. Would recommend 100%

Beautiful food, service was 15 out of 10, good wine knowledge and suggestion. Love music being played throughout which made the evening. Felt like we were abroad the entire night. Panos and another waiter were our main servers and couldn’t fault anything. Will return with pleasure!

1st visit here and the food was delicious,we had the 3 courses special menu