Al Frash Balti - Birmingham

Known to all as 'The Butterfly', Al Frash has been one of the main players on the Sparkhill and Sparkbrook balti scene since 1991. Owner Mohammed Ahmed is a shrewd operator and publicist, who designed the restaurant's logo and is keen to promote Brum's 'Balti Triangle' as a brand.

Ahmed's son-in-law heads the kitchen and his team deliver the goods. A huge selection of freshly cooked dishes, finished off and brought to the table in huge blackened metal pans, covers just about every permutation of style, flavour and ingredients. Among the list of specials, look for 'afrodesia' (minced chicken and king prawns in a special sauce) and 'white rose' (chicken with green cardamoms, cashews and cream).

Baltis are best eaten with bread rather than rice, and Al Frash produces some of the finest in the business, ranging from glorious parathas glazed with butter and honey to naans the size of doormats that are big enough for three people. Great value, great fun!