Harden's survey result
Summary
“Totally worth the trip… and also great value for money” – this “magnificent” Edwardian villa of over a quarter century’s standing is one of Birmingham’s most firmly rooted culinary attractions. One or two sceptics feel that “it is still recovering from its decision to adopt a more casual-dining look” (“I would have expected proper table linen for the very high prices”), but there’s been no change in the scale of ambition of the cuisine – be it from the three-course menu for £75, or eight-course taster menu for £95 – and overall it maintains its ratings as one of the city’s top dining destinations.
Summary
“Totally worth the trip… and also great value for money” – this “magnificent” Edwardian villa of over a quarter century’s standing is one of Birmingham’s most firmly rooted culinary attractions. One or two sceptics feel that “it is still recovering from its decision to adopt a more casual-dining look” (“I would have expected proper table linen for the very high prices”), but there’s been no change in the scale of ambition of the cuisine – be it from the three-course menu for £75, or eight-course taster menu for £95 – and overall it maintains its ratings as one of the city’s top dining destinations.
Summary
A Midlands institution which has spent 25 years at the top of the gastronomic tree – this Edwardian villa is still the place to go for “a real treat” with “first class food” and “outstanding service” from “wonderful staff”. A number of long-time customers rather regret the change to a simpler format: “the relaxed formal restaurant has been replaced by an OK Brasserie” – “…come on Simpsons, put back the white tablecloths!”
Summary
This Edwardian villa in Edgbaston continues to split views ever since its major makeover in mid-2015, which gave it more of a brasserie feel, and the changes can still come as “a bit of a shock: everything but the exterior was different, with an interior high on echo and to be honest not particularly comfortable”. When it comes to the overall verdict doubters feel the transformation represents “a bizarre dumbing down”, but – notwithstanding the change of approach – most reporters feel that the “high quality of its ingredients”, “skillful cooking” and “innovative” style leads to a “beautiful” all-round gastronomic experience.
For 30 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Simpsons?
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £45.00 | £65.00 |  |
|
 |
| Dinner | £75.00 | |
|
|
| Cost | Availability | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menu1 | 75.00 | Lunch only | 6 |
| Menu2 | 95.00 | Dinner only | 6 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £22.50 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 10.00% |
20 Highfield Road, Birmingham, B15 3DU
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 7 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm |
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