Birmingham restaurants

[halloweenn]

I’m visiting Birmingham soon and wondering if there’s any restaurants in the city centre that you’d recommend? Any hidden gems?

I visited Manchester this week and ended up at chains with mediocre food so would like to avoid that!

What kind of thing? Special occasion or everyday? Type of food...?

There's the balti triangle for great curry (not city centre, admittedly), the jewellery quarter has some great independent places (again, not the centre, but an easy walk).

Land is supposed to be very food for veggie food.

Damascena is good for middle eastern.

Glynn Purnell has a tapas place (Plates, I think it's called).

Purecraft is great for craft beer and nice food.

There are quite a lot of streetfood-inspired places. They tend to be a bit further out (where rents are cheaper, I guess), but worth checking out.

I guess you may have Dishoom where you live, but I do love it so it has to be on the list!

If you're coming soon, the German Market will be on, so there will be hot dogs a-plenty...

Definitely Damascena...

I went to Dishoom recently. I thought it wasn’t anything great. Very expensive, very noisy and food unremarkable.

That's a shame you didn't have a great time at Dishoom. I've only ever had great experiences there. Last time we went, we massively overordered, but they gave us takeaway boxes with what we didn't eat and it was a real treat to have it the next day!

Another vote for Damascena.

Lasan
Pasta di Piazza
The Woods
Bodega

Good mix of budgets and food types for you there OP.

Otto, in the Jewellery Quarter, is an excellent pizza restaurant.

670 Grams in the Custard Factory is definitely worth a visit. The chef owner won Michelin’s Young Chef Of The Year a year or two ago but it’s not overly expensive.

I don't love Dishoom either.

If you like Indian food, try the Keg and Grill or Indico. I liked the Indian Streatery as well but I haven't been for a couple of years so things may have changed. I've been to the Keg and Indico in the last week though 😂

Cucina Rustica is nice for Italian. Agree with the recs for Damascena.

Following with interest. I'm taking 3 people in their 80s to the theatre in Birmingham and need to find somewhere for us to eat. Unfortunately they are not in to spicy food, garlic, rice or pasta. Also can't walk too far from the Hippodrome. Basically I need English food to be available but don't want to get stuck at a Wetherspoons.

There’s a nice Indian Indian street food restaurant in grand central.

https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/

@SMabbutt The only place I can think of right now in that sort of area is The Old Crown, probably not walkable for that age group though but only a few minutes by taxi. The menu is pretty traditional.

There are also The Old Joint Stock and The Old Contemptibles although they’re on the other side of the city centre, but still not far by taxi from the Hippodrome.

@SMabbutt

The Hippodrome is in a very awkward area for people who can't walk far or don't like garlic/spice

My only suggestion would be the Greek place - Mythos. I've eaten there a couple of times and really liked it but it might be too much for your guests?

Thank you for all the recommendations...I was also visiting Birmingham and went to Damascena and Bodega. Would highly highly recommend both. Really delicious and very reasonable prices. Will start getting my food recommendations from mumsnet I think. Thank you to @halloweenn who started this.

I loved Damascena. Fab setting but most importantly food is delicious.

Cafe Soya

The Indian Streatery

I love Cafe Soya in Chinatown Arcadian

https://www.cafesoya.co.uk/

@SMabbutt the restaurant in the Hippodrome is pretty decent, and no walking involved!

They do get booked pretty quickly, I would book as soon as possible. Lovely food though.

Damascena is absolutely lovely