Restaurant chain Wildwood has opened in a prime spot in Birmingham city centre.
This stylish new Brum eatery is housed where the former Yorkshire Building Society used to be on New Street - and was once a Pizza Hut in the 1980s.
It’s worlds away from a Pizza Hut now. The decor is chic and much classier than you’d expect from a casual dining restaurant chain.
Wildwood has 52 restaurants around the country with the aim of serving “great food delivered by friendly staff in a relaxed, homely environment”
General manager Fernando Freitas who previously helped launched Zizzi at The Mailbox as well as nearby ASK Italian on New Street said: “ We're very happy to be finally opening in such a great location in the city centre, the company had been looking for the right sites for five years!
"Wildwood is very much a casual dining experience and pride ourselves on using the most freshest quality produce. We believe we offer a much more superior dining experience than places like Pizza Express."
The extensive menu has an Italian and Mediterranean focus. There are a selection of stone baked pizzas and pasta dishes as well as burgers, steak and risotto dishes. Starters include deep fried goats' cheese and prawns in spicy tomato sauce and focaccia. On the mains menu chose from peri peri marinated boneless chicken with fries, Philly steak and cheese sandwich, courgette and spinach rigatoni and various pizzas.
On our preview visit we were certainly impressed with their wild boar and chorizo burger - a bestseller on the menu. Other dishes include hoisin duck pizza.
There’s the usual selection of wines and beer plus cocktails including a £7.50 Wildwood Mojito and £5.60 Skinny Sea Breeze. And there is a surprisingly exciting range of soft drinks available such as the delicious fresh mint lemonade - fresh mint, lime and lemon blended together.
The 120 seat venue also has downstairs area for 30 covers. Other Wildwood locations are mainly in the south of England but also in Liverpool and Edinburgh. Midland sites include Stratford-upon-Avon, Telford, Worcester and Ludlow.
Wildwood is open 12-11pm Monday to Friday and 12 - 10.30pm on Sunday.