New Happy Gathering review

43-45 Station Street(behind New Street Station), B1 , tel: 0121 643 5247

This place is hidden down behind New Street Station - come out of the main concourse towards the car park and turn right. Go down the disgusting stairs and you'll see it. It's just up from the Electric Cinema (more on this another time).

We got in and were shamefully directed immediately towards the buffet. Ignore that and ask for the Hot Pot special instead - or the Actual Chinese Menu that Chinese people are given - it's got pictures so you can see what you're going to get. We went for the Hot Pot - which at 9.95 each is not only great value - but fantastic fun too. They didn't seem to keen to give it to us at first stating that is might be too spicy - I find this confusing considering Birmingham has such an appetite for spicy food. When it arrived it was a boiling pot,with two areas - spicy and not so spicy, of delicious broth. You then take all the bits that they give you with this and cook them yourself. It came with delicious fresh wheat noodles, glass noodles, asian greens, king prawns, fish balls, beef balls, tofu and two massive stacks of thinly sliced beef and lamb. On the side came a lovely sauce to dip into - not sure what this was. It took a bit of skill to get the right cooking times but the taste was sensational and it filled us right up!

I highly recommend this place - just please avoid the Buffet in favour of something more interesting!