With a large Asian community, Birmingham is famous the world over for its curries. You basically can't let yourself leave without tucking into a spicy feast.
City Centre
In the heart of the city you'll find some of the more luxurious restaurants in Birmingham. Spearheaded by celebrity chef Glynn Purnell, and bagging a Michelin star in 2009, Purnell's serves creative, precise British dishes finished to a world-class standard. Its tasting menu is adorned with bite-size indulgences, such as barn-reared duck and marsh samphire, more than living up to foodie expectations. Just down the road is Opus, a sleek, wooden-floored bistro serving gorgeously presented seasonal fare.
• Purnell's, 55 Cornwall Street, Birmingham B3 2DH; • Opus, 54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham B3 2DE;
Harborne
South west of Birmingham City Centre, Harborne is a prosperous district resplendent with red-brick Victorian buildings. The Michelin-starred Turners of Harborne is one of the main attractions on the eating circuit, and has a menu crammed with head chef Richard Turner’s inventive ways with skate, celeriac, and pigeon. For something more exotic, Sabai Sabai is just along the High Street, serving traditional pad thai and yellow curries in a vibrant, contemporary-styled dining room.
• Turners of Harborne, 69 High Street, Birmingham B19 9NS; • Sabai Sabai, 268 High Street, Birmingham B17 9P;
Ladywood
Bisected by the Birmingham Canal, Ladywood is situated west of the city centre. Owned and run by a husband and wife team, Loves specialises in locally produced food cooked with French panache, from braised pig cheeks to chocolate risotto. For Italian indulgence, try Cielo which serves sumptuous pasta dishes along with tantalising meat and fish like sea bass in lobster bisque, and veal escalope with sage and Parma ham.
• Loves Restaurant, The Glasshouse, Browning Street, Birmingham B16 8FL; • Cielo, Brindley Place, Birmingham B1 2JB;
Balti Triangle
The Balti Triangle is a curry haven, a literal hotspot where some of the best Indian restaurants in the UK are found. The air itself is perfumed by an intoxicating aroma of spices and cooking smells that make you salivate before you even enter one of the restaurants. Competition is fierce, but notable restaurants include Saleem’s which has been on Ladypool Road for decades, while just down the road is Shababs Balti Restaurant, a modern and cosy dining spot serving sizzling grilled meats, a range of Balti dishes, and a host of hot and spicy signature dishes.
• Saleem’s, 256 – 258 Ladypool Road, Birmingham B12 2JT; • Shababs Balti Restaurant, 163 – 165 Ladypool Road, Birmingham B12 8LQ; Tel: +44 (0) 121 440 2893
