 The backdrop to La Reserve 
'Reserve' Youself A Table!
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Recommendation added: 24/06/2006 21:09
By: dewberry (YSUK rating +704)dewberry has been thanked 26 times for this contribution
"After a long walk around Sutton Park with three boisterous children on a hot sunny day, a nice cold lager is definitely called for. So thank god for La Reserve, an upmarket pub/restaurant located inside the park itself.
From the outside it looks gorgeous, particularly when visiting at night as the low level lighting is very pretty and calming. La Reserve has a wonderful backdrop, being situated in front of the largest pool in the park and flanked by woodland on all sides. Gorgeous.
The small patio area at the front of La Reserve is fantastic for when you're simply stopping off for a quick drink, it's well shaded thanks to some strategically placed exotic looking trees and Thai style parasols on each of the wooden tables. It's so relaxing to sit here; during the day you can watch the cows (yes, cows) as they wander around the park and in the evening just looking at the dark expanse of trees is soothing.
If you're visiting for a meal, it's the inside of La Reserve you'll be most interested in. It's very tastefully decorated with a good selection of seating arrangements, ranging in size from cosy tables for two all the way up to massive tables which will seat your entire family. There's plenty of space between the tables and a wide open space in the bar area where you can stand (if you like) without making the place look untidy!
The menu is extensive and interesting, because this is a Beefeater restaurant the onus tends to be on 'meaty' dishes although chicken, fish and vegetarian options are also available. Yesterday I ate Steak & Ale Pie which was served with a mountain of chips and peas. The pie was deliciously light and crispy, obviously freshly cooked and consisted of good quality lean steak with rich meaty gravy. The ale used isn't really noticeable in the flavour of the pie but it lends a natural 'hoppy' taste to the gravy. Chips at La Reserve aren't your usual grease soaked pub chips; they're fresh tasting and leave no trace of oil on the plate.
My partner had his usual Steak & Chips and commented on how tasty the steak was, it was extremely lean with no visible fat and cooked to perfection. The mouthful I sampled (well, stole while he went to the bar) was moist and tender with not too much chewing involved to get it down! The kids chose Sausage & Chips from La Reserves special kids menu and they all wolfed this down, thanks to the hours of exercise they'd had in the park. Portion sizes are generous here, even the kids' meals would be enough for the average adult and I left quite a few chips on my plate because I was literally bursting out of my trousers!
On this occasion, I simply didn't have room for one of their fabulous desserts but I can tell you from past experience that you will not be disappointed. There's a good selection of fruit based desserts, Pavlova and Fruit Salad being the best in my opinion, and also plenty of chocolate cakes and gateaux to tempt those of you lucky enough not to be dieting.
When you order a kids' meal the children will be given a free activity pack, which consists of a colouring and puzzle book and a pack of crayons. This is a nice touch as children get bored while waiting for their food to come, but when they can occupy themselves colouring it seems to take the edge off the wait for them. Sometimes La Reserve will host colouring competitions, at these times the competition picture is given with the activity pack to be handed in at the end of your meal – the prizes are really good, the most recent being a family meal on Mothers Day.
La Reserve stocks a wide variety of drinks including draught and bottled lagers, beers, branded spirits, alcopops and wine. We drank Carling Extra Cold during our visit, along with a couple of glasses of brandy with our meal. Drinks prices tend to be slightly on the high side compared with my usual pub, but don't forget this pub is located in an affluent area of Birmingham and the prices unfortunately reflect this.
Yesterday I spent £55 at La Reserve; this included two adult meals and three from the children's menu along with alcoholic and soft drinks. This is a pretty average spend at this pub, with standard meals costing around the £10 mark and children's meals being £5 each. The dessert menu ranges from £1.99 for ice cream up to around £4 for their more luxurious creamy dishes.
La Reserve is fully accessible to disabled visitors with wide aisles and plenty of room to manoeuvre around the pub. The large car park at the front of La Reserve has designated disabled parking directly in front of the entrance, making life easier for visitors who have mobility problems. The pub is completely on the level, with no steps to navigate either inside or at the entrance.
It's probably best if you visit by car, Sutton Park is easy to get to from Junction T3 on the M6 toll. Simply take the A38 as you leave the toll which is signposted Sutton Coldfield, drive straight until you get to Bassetts Pole Island and take the 1st exit into the A453. Follow this road until you come to the A5127 Lichfield Road, which will bring you to the Boldmere Gate of Sutton Park, drive 100 yards into the park and you'll see the La Reserve on your left hand side.
Alternatively, catch the 107 bus from Birmingham City Centre. You'll need to get off at Sutton Coldfield Town Centre and take a short ten minute walk to the pub along a well signed route. Likewise, you'll need to do this walk if visiting by train as Sutton Coldfield station is situated just outside Sutton Town Centre. It's not a bad walk, taking you through some of the prettiest parts of Sutton Coldfield, but do you really want to face a miles walk after stuffing yourself stupid in the restaurant?
La Reserve
Stonehouse Road
Boldmere Gate
Sutton Park
B73 6LH
Tel: 0121 3556919"
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