Everyone knows that Birmingham is famous for its balti restaurants but the Boldmere Road in Sutton Coldfield is for the most part, still a bit of a local's secret. I live just off the Boldmere Road in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands and as you walk out of my house in the early evening, the most amazing fusion of oriental aromas will waft towards you. It's a spicy mix of Chinese, Indian and Asian cooking; fantastic smells that starts your tummy rumbling.

Boldmere is an area of the incredibly vibrant Sutton Coldfield. It's a busy place during the day but at night it becomes a positively exciting area for people seeking a pub and some Asian food. Here there are several pubs and a handful of restaurants all offering outstanding cuisine. The good news is most of these restaurants are BYO which helps keep the prices down. All have polite and attentive waiting staff and all make a great venue whether you need a quiet meal for 2 or arranging a party for a group of 22.

The ?Boldmere Balti Belt?, as locals have nick-named the area is a real treat that will not disappoint. With the restaurants being in such close proximity to each other, this helps keep standards high and keeps prices realistic. This means you cannot fail to make a bad choice. Whether you reserve in advance or just turn up on spec (note all of Sutton Coldfield is busy on Thursdays or Fridays so just turning up is not recommended), your taste buds are guaranteed to soon be tingling.

As you walk down the Boldmere Road, the first restaurant you will encounter is Regards. This is the new kid on the block that has fused Chinese and Indian flavours to provide a truly unique experience in Sutton Coldfield. Regards, despite only recently starting trading it has rapidly established itself as a real player on the scene.

Further down on the left is Mother India. This lady has been trading now for nearly 10 years and provides one of the best balti menus in the Sutton Coldfield area. The curry is to die for and the fresh naan bread made in the back is without doubt, the best in the area. It's a real pleasure.

Crossing over Redacre Road you will see Caf? Garden. This is a great place to take lunch and probably the only Indian restaurant in Sutton Coldfield offering lunchtime specials that consists of a starter, main course and coffee all for under ?5. The lunchtime portions are not huge but are just the right size for a midday meal.

100 metres further on the left again is Simla's. Probably the trendiest Indian restaurant in Sutton Coldfield, this modern restaurant has taken Indian cuisine to the next level in terms of aesthetics. Do not think for a minute that this dish is all show; far from it. You may at first not want to disturb the piece of art that is served before you, but you will not be able to resist and it won't remain on the plate for long!

The longest standing of all the restaurants is a further 100 metres on the right and over the Jockey Road lights. The Kababish is well established as one of the premier Indian restaurant in the Sutton Coldfield area. Its reputation is well known far and wide and is no stranger to the occasional celebrity customer; one such Robbie Williams pays a visit to the Kababish whenever he is in the Sutton Coldfield area. Not a bad recommendation!