The Table, 33 Lower Hall Lane, Walsall.

I’d never been in this building. It evaded me when it was The Vine pub and I certainly didn’t frequent it when it was an alcohol free venue in the mid 90’s. I’ve heard good things about it since it became The Table. I pass it morning and night on my way to and from work but it’s always out of it’s opening hours so one Saturday morning in late February I finally ventured in.

There are two model giraffes to greet you on the way in which is nice, and the place is nicely decked out. It was busy so I found a seat against a ledge and perused the menu. I opted for the classic breakfast (hold the mushrooms) and a latte which came to £13.70.

It came quickly and while the price is dearer than other venues in town you can see that they use quality products. Dunno if my taste buds have changed over the years but I find sausages hit and miss these days, ok more hit than miss I admit. The sausage here though was absolute quality. Long, thick, firm and tasty. Talking Brian Adams Everything I Do kind of hit.

Enjoyable visit this. Decent staff and nice atmosphere. I’ll be back.

Pizza 2000, 95-96 Ablewell Street, Walsall.

I did this review around October time so prices may have changed. It was to be part of another blog but that has now been shelved. This is a long standing pizza place, originally located in the building next door before moving to it’s present site around 2010. I’m not a regular in this place by any means and on my last visit I ordered the kebab pizza and ended up with the meat on chips but I know mistakes happen. And the food certainly didn’t go to waste.

I knew that the collection offers are 5pm until 9pm and I got there at 4.58 so I stopped to take a picture and was then joined by a fellow customer eager for some Walsall FC chat, so it was actually 5.02 when I got in.

I was confused. The sign behind the counter had the collection offer as £8.49 for a medium pizza which was dearer than all of them of that size on the main menu on the side wall. Most of the pizza options had one or two ingredients that I don’t like. The All Day Breakfast pizza listed its ingredients as pepperoni, ham, mushroom and onion. Ok, I get that some people have mushroom on their breakfast even though they are vile but who has onion on it? My granddad was French and even he would be fuming at this.

I went for the meat feast pizza. Chicken tikka,ham, spicy beef and pepperoni. It was £7.99 so cheaper than the collection offer. I could have walked in at 4.58 after all.

The pizza was good and most of it was gone by the time I got home. Let’s all meet up in Pizza 2000.

Burger King, Crown Wharf Retail Park, Walsall.

This new drive thru opened last year in what was Frankie & Benny’s and I never visited it in that guise, and because I’m a poor man Burger King is a very rare treat for me so this was only my second visit to this place.

My first visit had been mildly entertaining. Despite pretty much every table being available, two blokes plonked themselves down on the one next to me. I paid no attention as I was deep in my social media feeds. Even when their voices raised I was still not looking up from my screen. George Orwell would have been very impressed. It was only when one of them stood up dramatically that I tuned into their world. The conversation went. “What are you doing?” “I’m going.” “But I’ve bought you your tea.” “Fuck off.” and he’d walked out. He must have got peckish outside as he returned 5 minutes later and sat down without a word.

Anyway I digress, this was a post work, kill time before cinema visit. I used the self service screen and in eagerness to order the Chicken Royale I missed the option to remove the lettuce. It dawned on me as I proceeded to checkout, I went back in and made the adjustment. Panic over. No milkshakes were available so they were definitely trying to compete with McDonalds. I paid 30p for a spicy mayo pot. To dip fries in, not to replace the milkshake.

No table service is available but you don’t get the scrum at the counter in here like you do in MaccyD’s. I sat down and fair play to them, the food was out while I was still making notes. The food as good as you would expect but one pot of sauce is not enough for the fries. At this point I regretted no longer taking my man bag to work which is about 3 quarters full of McDonald’s sauce sachets.

Only 4 toilet cubicles in here and they are unisex so don’t wait until you are bursting for a poo before going in case there is a queue. Decent visit this.

The Waterfront, 4 Waterfront North, Wolverhampton Road, Walsall.

Hungry Horse chain venue located beneath The Light Cinema. This was another post work pre cinema jolly and because I had plenty of time to kill I went through the menu with a fine tooth comb. I don’t get to use a comb too often nowadays so I loved this. I took advantage of “Save On Grill Monday” as 8oz rump steak was down from its normal price of £10.99 to £8.50. Obviously I couldn’t keep hold of the money I’d saved, that’s just not me so I had a side of scampi for £2.00.

The music was at a comfortable level. I didn’t know any of it but nothing leapt out that I didn’t take to. The place is nicely decked out with Walsall stuff including a sign in the style of a local bus destination blind. Despite having very little room left on my walls for stuff anymore, I’d love that in my house. When I become Mayor of this fine town I may turn up in the DH1 Mayoral car with my ceremonial chains on and ask if I can have the sign for my parlour in the town hall. Then take it home. God, I’ve not even taken office yet and I’m planning my first scandal.

The food arrived arrived quickly, the steak seemed a bit cooked for medium rare but I demolished it anyway. I still had lots of time to kill so I even ate the peas which must have confused the hell out of my digestive system.

Just as I was preparing to leave the television above the table opposite me started showing the weekends goals so I stayed to watch Taylor Allen’s one at Colchester. As I advanced for a better view the lone female beneath the tv looked anxious but I explained what I was doing and she joined me in marvelling at the fine hit. Decent visit this and the scampi was ace.

Danny’s Fried Chicken, 16 Pool Street, Walsall.

The sign on this place has been up for a couple of months but I was starting to think it wasn’t happening. Last Saturday I was having one of my rare “I’m not leaving the house” days then early evening friend of the blog Colin Walker messaged to say it was open and worth a visit. I replied that I’d check it out one of the days. I lasted an hour before getting dressed and scampering down.

Located in what was Pool Street Chippy but it’s unrecognisable from that now. It’s very bright in there and I’m not just on about the dazzling new lights. It’s main colour scheme is yellow and white. My 4th and 1st favourite colours and it’s nice to know that it’s not just my hall and stairs decked out like this.

It was friendly and welcoming on arrival, and so new the lass was being trained on the till. The first thing that jumped off the menu was the garlic bread with cheese and pepperoni. Unfortunately this wasn’t available as they’d run out of garlic butter. Next time then, and given this place’s location between the Walsall Arms and my house I’m sure this won’t be a long wait.

I went for 3 pieces of chicken without chips. The menu said £3.80 but I was charged £4.00. I know it’s only 20p but that’s half the cost of a large pack of Beef Space Raiders.

The food arrived quickly. Seating is now available in there but a glance at the clock revealed that I could be back home in time for the Legal Hour on LBC so I did that. My Saturday nights have certainly calmed down of late.

The chicken was great. Nice and succulent and the coating was crispy and devine. They also do burgers and pizza but with chicken this good that garlic bread I mentioned earlier may stay on the untried list. Cash only here which suits me. Danny it was nice to meet you and I’m sure I’ll be back again soon.