Lunch in Birmingham tomorrow?

[ODFOx]

We're taking youngest DD to uni in Birmingham tomorrow and are looking for recommendations for lunch.
We'll be dropping her in the area just north of Aston Uni where there are a lot of halls, travelling in via M6 and A38, so we can't avoid the congestion/clean air/whatever charge.
Please can anyone recommend somewhere within a 15 minute walk or drive from Aston campus (as long as it has its own car park). It doesn't have to be fancy: a chain place will do, but we barely know Birmingham so could do with some guidance please.
Thank you

What would you like to eat?

I'd head to near the cathedral, there's lots of restaurants and bars in the streets around there to choose from 😊

You could go to the Ivy or Cosy Club around Colmore Row or by the Bull Ring for Wagamama, Nando's etc.

You’re basically in the City Centre anyway so I would either walk towards Colmore Row or drive to Snow Hill Station and park in the car park. Once you’re around the Colmore Row area, take your pick of nice bars and restaurants.

I can't help with restaurants near Aston Uni, however, regarding the charges for the clean air zone, it's quite likely that your car may be exempt if it's newish and not too powerful . On the CAZ website there will be the option to put your number plate in and it will let you know if you need to pay or not.

Easy to walk into the city centre from
Aston Uni, it's right in it. There's plenty of places like Dishoom, Mowgli, The Ivy, The Botsnist, Cosy Club, Lost and Found, The Alchemist etc if you're happy with a chain.

I’m going to Dishoom tomorrow, if you haven’t booked there will be a queue though. It’s awesome.

Bundobust is my current relaxed budget favourite

The Birmingham branch has now closed ...

The Woods in the Mailbox is a gorgeous place for lunch. V instagrammable decor if she’s into that and lovely food too.

Park at Snow Hill car park and walk to the cathedral. For a relaxed lunch Damascena is great. Fumo is good for small plates. The Ivy for something more substantial. Then you have a wide range of choices on Temple Street and Bennett's Hill

Damascena is my first choice in Bham. There's one in the centre, but there are others so there may be one closer to the Uni.

I went to the Indian Brewery on Livery Street yesterday and it was lovely. Just outside the city centre but will only be a 10 minute walk from Aston Uni.

Moseley - easier to get to from UoB Halls of residence . Lots of quirky independent restaurants ( Stirchley even better for amazing food but it’s an up and coming area)

very easy to drive and park by sea life - all of the chains at Brindleyplace. We liked rudy’s pizza and parked at utilita north, only 5 mins from Aston uni.

we were also exempt from the clean air, it’s only older diesel cars I think, you can check online

As you need to park head to Brindleyplace or The Mailbox for ease. Alternatively the NCP off St Paul's square in the Jewellery Quarter and go to Pasta Di Piazza a really nice Italian and in a great setting.

On Bennet's Hill they even have a Wetherspoons.

That's good to know! Always wondered what it was like. DS is going to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire next week so it could be good for us.

Different university.