Brindley Place is full of familiar names, so familiar you could be anywhere as the restaurant chains which are as common as angel delight in the 1970s dominate the canal side.

Last year another clutch of restaurants and bars opened as the Barclaycard Arena decided to become a destination even when there is not an event on.

Fast Eddie's and Costa are there as well as restaurant Dubella.

You will not find a Dubella in a Luton trading estate or Bolton shopping mall as there is only one other - in Boldmere.

After successfully serving locally sourced ingredients in a variety of classic dishes the owners decided to try their luck in town's tourist trap.

The decor is a mix of upscale American diner and a pop star's private library.

We took advantage of the cocktail offers with my friend having two Manhattans as I enjoyed an Aspall cider.

The menu was reassuringly uncomplicated as it is never a good sign when a restaurant claims to be able to cook a multitude of dishes covering several pages in a menu.

We went for the sharing nachos with chilli to start with, we were tempted with the new sharing platters of either seafood, American or Mediterranean but are still battling the bulge from the festive season.

My friend and I have spent many an afternoon polishing off nachos, nuts and anything else we could get our hands on in America over the years but none were as good as the nachos we were snatching off each other.

 

Main courses on offer included Beer Batterer Fish and Chips, Pulled Pork Burgers and Teriyaki Salmon.

However, the 8oz Rump Steak, with peppercorn sauce, fries and house salad looked too good to pass by. I was happy that for the first time in a long time in Brum a steak ordered medium rare actually arrived medium rare without waiting an age.

If you only ever ate out you would think food served on plates was a quaint bygone custom and Dubella is no different with the steak coming out on wood. But, the most important thing was how it tasted - blooming lovely.

 

Halesowen News:

I once boycotted an American restaurant in Brum for serving smart price coleslaw but I can confirm Dubella's coleslaw was the perfect accompaniment. It wasn't as good as the slaw you get across the pond, but then again nowhere in England can replicate that, even if hipsters opened a coleslaw pop up bar in Soho they still wouldn't match up to a third rate dive bar in New Orleans, it is one of culinary's great mysteries.

My friend ordered the Cajun Chicken which he polished off whilst reminding me of when he got chatted up by Christian Bale's diabetic dachshund's dogwalker in Miami.

There were plenty of choices for dessert but we were both too full to contemplate them.

Dubella's nod to the states had brought back many memories and we had great meal for under £40 between us.

 

- Dubella is offering a 3 course special Valentines Menu for two for £45 - visit www.dubellalounge.com.