Aluna, Birmingham: cocktail bar and restaurant review

From the lava lamp, which suspends bubbling pieces of caviar, to the sharing cauldrons that use dry ice to give the illusion of a simmering concoction, Aluna’s cocktails offer an experimental element that you can’t help but get excited by. And at £7-£9 per cocktail, they're pretty reasonable, too.

As for food, choose from house burgers, classic dishes with a twist such as the wild boar sausages and mash, and a whole ‘from the grill’ section including steaks, ribs and lamb rump. The fillet steak was juicy and tender, and was accompanied by crunchy asparagus and a tangy mustard mash that was packed with flavour.

In terms of portion size, you get a whole load of bang for your buck – you'll struggle to fit in a starter, main and dessert, so choose wisely. I'd suggest skipping dessert and trying an 'Aluna secret concoction' cocktail instead, which uses a top secret ingredient (a childhood favourite sweet, we think) to give it its unique, sweet taste.

Although it is the theatrical cocktails that are sure to build the buzz around Aluna, the simple (if a little unexciting) menu is executed really well, with prompt and helpful service to compliment it. For an after work treat, or a weekend haunt, it's bound to be successful.

Bullseye: Lava Lamp Cocktail and Mustard Mash

Misfire: Some of the cocktails were that little bit too strong to drink leisurely

Price: Approximately £50 for 1 starter, 2 main meals (1 being a steak) and 2 cocktails

Written by Charlotte Philpotts, amuchprettierpuzzle.com

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