It can be risky business trying to balance multiple cuisines on one menu. Our fear is that all the different flavours will clash. One fare will receive greater care and attention than another, with orders arriving as a confused mess. But where so many others have failed, Alam in Small Heath succeeds.
The multi-cuisine halal restaurant’s primary focus is on Indian cuisine and other Asian foods. But you’ll discover plenty of delicious dishes drawn from around the world. From French toast and Pakistanis breakfasts, to beef lasagne and chicken biryani, there’s a tour de force of flavours to consume from all over.
If we could only choose one thing, however, we’d pick lamb karahi every time. It’s lamb on the bone cooked in a curry sauce made from tomatoes, onions, coriander and green chillies (just £9.95 too). But there is a staggering amount of curries available, alongside pastas, pizzas, burgers, steaks and more. Honestly, it’s almost overwhelming.
That’s before we even turn to the pudding. Alam serves a salivating selection of cheese cakes – with Eton mess and Ferrero Rocher our favourites – as well as waffles, donuts, pancakes and cookie dough. There’s all sorts for sweet tooth to tuck into. You want stand a chance of seeing the whole menu in one visit. And when everything tastes this good, you know you’ll have to try it all over repeat visits.
Credit: Alam
Inside the restaurant can seat huge numbers across two floors. Offering an unbeatable experience thanks to its dazzling decor – there’s even a blossom tree on your way in! And whether you’re after a hearty breakfast, a spot of afternoon tea, or a romantic evening meal, Alam has you covered.
But you cannot stop by Alam’s without at least checking out the magical garden, the Courtyard. Strictly for adults, due its dual use as both a shisha lounge and dining experience, it adds a whole other dimension to the maximalist manner of the restaurant. Wooden cabins are weaved with shrubbery, while the skies are covered with floating umbrellas.
Alam has enough magic to satisfy any customer. We know if you try once, you’ll be returning again and again to tackle the menu, and give yourself an excuse to visit the Courtyard again. To book a table and glance over the menu head here.