The best restaurants serving Italian food in West Midlands

We have visited twice this year with the aim of making our lives easier ahead of seeing a show, travelling from out of town. Both times Benugo's dreadful service has made things more difficult. We wrote the first experience off as a bad day. The second was just as bad so we won't be bothering again. Both times we got there for 5pm to beat the pre show rush. The first time there were three of us. They brought out two people's mains. Never returned to the table. I had to physically get up and approach one of the oblivious staff, aimlessly wandering in between the tables. We were basically told it was our fault, until a manager finally intervened at which point the meal was prepared and not charged. The second time, with the restaurant close to empty, we were left standing waiting to be seated inexplicably for 10 minutes while the zombie staff marched up and down between tables serving no-one and doing nothing. I took a few steps towards seating myself at one of their many empty tables and one of them sprang into life. The rest of the meal was promisingly uneventful barring a few very minor gripes. The food was just slightly better than okay (although when you're charging £18 for sausage and mash I think it ought to be incredible). The our plates were cleared. We were not offered the dessert menu, as they were cleared. We did - at this point - want the dessert menu. We expected the server would return shortly. They did not. We were never offered the menu or the bill despite sitting there over 30 minutes after our plates had been taken. Once again I had to take matters into my own hands and stand at the bar amongst the gaggle of employed but jobless staff members. I gruffly explained, when one of thel noticed me, the reasons for my dissatisfaction - and that we had planned on dessert but would not now give them our custom. They suggested taking the service charge off the bill, which I accepted. On the two visits: Food - Acceptable Pricing - Unacceptable Service - The Pits This is not the place for a quick pre-show bite - even at two hours out, you risk them making you late for the performance. Given that its housed inside the arts centre, you have to wonder why they're there.

1st time ordering. Food was excellent, service was really good, and quick delivery, highly recommend

Amazing, friendly service! Lovely meal and great value! ☺️

Visited here prior to the theatre after booking in advance. It was busy but no one said there was any delays. Waited 40 minutes for our starters, but assumed that our mains wouldn’t take as long! Then another 40 minutes later our main courses had still not turned up! My daughter asked the manager nearby how long our food would be as we needed to leave and the waitress next to her rolled her eyes! Then the table who had arrived about half an hour after us, behind complained about delays and they were given free drinks and their food arrived! We cancelled our food and walked out! This completely ruined our evening! Their attitude was appalling. Nobody apologised or seemed to even care! I will never visit Ask Italian Birmingham again!

Attitude stinks here. I asked the server if the desserts were suitable for vegetarian or non alcoholic. She advised me that the tiramisu was alcoholic as expected but didn’t hurt to ask. And then I asked her if any of the deserts were suitable for vegetarian to which she did not even understand the question. Some desserts contain animal gelatine which is not suitable for a halal diet. You see that was not the problem nor was the server. She gladly went back and forth to find out if specific details for me. However, I had a problem when I was given a stare down by the manager as if I was the problem? Surely your servers should know if a specific item is suitable for vegetarian diet or not. It’s all a facade from the outside. You’re promised a nice meal with ambient lighting but instead you’re left with stinky attitude and subpar food.

Never had a bad meal. Great service and the food is amazing with a great amount to chose from.

Excellent place to dine. Quick service. the food was spot on. staff very friendly. very clean. we had a special lunch time , 2 coures £13.95 , from 12 noon until 5pm.

It's always a good sign when there's not a high turnover of staff. At Malvern Ask Italian, it's been Alicija and the guy with 4 daughters ! for years and they both do a great job. The place is always busy, friendly and efficient. Food always good and the atmosphere always lively and warm. 5 stars.

Food was great, and the service was exceptional. Highly recommend

Booked a table, sat down to enjoy a very nice meal.food is excellent.never been given a time limit, after 40mins we were asked did we want anything else,because they wanted the table, we asked for two coffees, which was the worst coffee we have ever had.before we had drunk the coffee the bill Was put on the table, told so not to waste any time, I paid the bill and the receipt was literally thrown onto the table. Management is disgraceful.we will never return, and that’s a shame the food was lovely.

Awful service. Food - no fresh chillies, they cook with chillies from a jar. Overpowering tastes of tomato paste. Gnocchi mushy. Bread like crackers. Service was so poor, and the lack of customer care and pride in the place was astounding. Never again.

Return visit on 05/10. I absolutely love this restaurant. Firstly, the food here is as authentic as you could possibly get, the smoked mackerel croquettes are absolutely sublime, not too strong, with a great flavour and just holding together perfectly, these were so good in fact, I ordered another lot after the main course. The diablo pizza is also amazing, with the spicy sausage and hot honey, all backed up with seriously authentic pizza base, just wow. Main was the chicken milanese for me, and yet another fantastic offering, beautifully crispy outer, cooked perfectly chicken with a lovely cheese centre, just awesome. To finish, the Bonet is lovely, rich, and has a decadent feel to it, simply stunning. Secondly, seriously good cocktails, they've got some great mixologists here! And finally but the by far the best reason, the staff, there is such a personal service from all involved to ensure you enjoy your food, drink and the atmosphere, it's great, massive thanks out to Eli, Jojo, Alice, Lonin (magnificent beard 😉) and Hannah, there is another mixologist I can't recall as the cocktails got the better of me, sorry. Simply the most authentic Italian good, with absolutely first class service, I will be back, promise, not a threat 😆

This was a lovely meal and a good Primitivo wine by the glass. But it's changing name and nature on 1 January

had couple of bad experiences but usually the food here is quality

Been going here since I was 8 years old the food is always outstanding the owners are very kind and helpful, would rate it as the best takeaway in the whole of hall green/acocks green