Few other cities can boast a restaurant scene like Birmingham’s. From the Balti Triangle to the highest number of Michelin stars in the UK outside of London, there are so many reasons to feel proud of the second city’s food culture. It’s not all curry houses and tasting menus either. The culinary wonders of the city are far reaching. But somehow it still feels like the city doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves when it comes to dining out.
Birmingham Restaurant Festival is bound to change some minds, however, when it launches in August. Over 40 restaurants have signed up for the first edition of the festival. Each one has created an exclusive set menu for the event to give diners plenty of unique options across a two-week celebration.
A diverse range of cuisines will be available. Whether you’re after seafood, Tex-Mex, a traditional British meal or a proper Brummie curry, the festival will display the range and breadth of Birmingham’s culinary talents. Just a selection of restaurants involved include: A La Mexicana, The Blue Piano, The Coconut Tree, Crazy Pedros, Gaucho, Itaewon, Le Petit Bois, The Oyster Club, Qavali, Rosa’s Thai, Sabai Sabai and Vinoteca, among many others.
“Over the years, Birmingham has been named as one of the top food destinations in the UK, and with good reason, the city boasts a diverse and vibrant dining scene,” said Alex Nicholson-Evans, founder of Birmingham Restaurant Festival. She hopes the festival will inspire people to “visit as many restaurants as possible, to spend time sharing a meal with friends or family, and perhaps to try something or somewhere new too.”
The festival has been organised by Living For The Weekend, who are also responsible for putting on events such as Birmingham Cocktail Weekend and Birmingham Wine Weekend. Birmingham Restaurant Festival will run from August 22 to September 4, giving diners a fortnight to sample as many dishes as they can. Bonus points for anyone who can make it down to every restaurant!
There are no tickets needed to participate, but it is advised you book in advance to guarantee getting your hands on a festival menu. To check out all the listed restaurants and their exclusive menus, as well as to reserve a table, click here.