Tucked away opposite the White Swan is Chad Square in Edgbaston, near the border with Harborne. Home to a few small shops, this is where you'll find Don Diego restaurant.
A family run restaurant serving up Spanish food, run by two Spanish brothers, the restaurant bills itself as serving "well balanced, sunny flavours with a focus on basic quality ingredients and beautifully presented colourful food."
I headed to the restaurant with a Spanish friend to put them to the test.
Ready to welcome me before I'd even headed to the door, I was busy snapping pictures of the exterior when I was greeted by one of the owners.
The restaurant itself is quite small, with mostly small tables for two and four and velvet sofa seating around the outside. The decor features quirky picture printed wallpaper, red velvet seating and ornate mirrors.
We took our seats and ordered drinks. My dining partner opted for a traditional Alhambra Beer, whilst I had a Gin and Tonic. These arrived super quick, and we ordered some Manzilla Olives (£2.50) to nibble on as my dining partner assured me they are known for their quality.
For starters, I picked the Smoked Salmon, Red Onions, Lemon Olive Oil (£6.50) and my companion ordered a rustic dish of Rice Black Pudding, Piquillo Peppers and Brava Sauce (£5.95).
My salmon was a very simple dish of smoked salmon presented well on the plate, with very little else. The flesh however was fresh and sang once covered in lemon juice.
The peppers came in a spicy tomato sauce, with the sweet exterior housing a well cooked soft filling.
Our main courses were both fishy, with my dining companion picking the special Octopus Leg Roasted in Paprika Olive Oil (£17.95) and I had the King Prawns, Chillies, Garlic Lobster Bisque (£17.95).
The octopus is a beautiful dish to behold, presented so strikingly that it's become quite iconic in these parts. It was smoky, soft, tender and not at all rubbery.
My prawns were spicy but extremely juicy, and the sauce was delicious with the sides of Patatas Bravas and Vegetables. The potatoes were clearly boiled and then fried, which gave them both a good flavour and crispy texture.
Wanting to try some authentic Spanish desserts, we also shared the Whiskey Chocolate Semifredo, Berries Dressing (£5.95) and Santiago Almond Tart, Apricot Puree (£5.95). I was suprrised that there was so much choice for a gluten free diner, as so often we're overlooked when it comes to dessert. I was shocked to hear that the Almond Tart doesn't include any flour, and is made from ground almonds, egg white and sugar. This made a delicious sweet treat and I'm so glad we ordered this dessert from the North of Spain. The semifredo was also delicious, sweet, creamy with a little fruit coulis to add to it.
Don Diego is a traditional family run Spanish restaurant, something that can be difficult to find. As a cuisine, it can be hard to find amongst the hoards of Italian's serving pizza and pasta. With rustic charm and a real sense of authenticity, the food quality meant it was a thumbs up from me and my Spanish friend.
*With thanks to Don Diego and East Village PR for the complimentary meal.
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