Birmingham certainly has its fair share of Michelin star restaurants — an award that foodies value above all others. Altogether, there are five Michelin star restaurants here, and they’re all relatively affordable considering the high standard of cooking on offer. They all have one Michelin star and, to win one of these, they have to offer food that is well worth a visit. This year all five of Birmingham’s Michelin Star restaurants have managed to hold on to their stars, and each restaurant has one star.
1. Carters of Moseley⭐
📍 2C Wake Green Road, Moseley, B13 9EZ
At Carters of Moseley, each dish is comprised of a handful of key elements. This allows for the flavour of each ingredient to speak for itself and enhance the flavour of the other ingredients, without one overwhelming the other. Chef and proprietor Brad Carter is a self-taught, Birmingham native and his aim is to take the customer on a ‘culinary adventure’, having eaten something that they couldn’t have made at home. This year they’re retained their Michelin star, which is an incredible feat!
2. Simpsons ⭐
📍Simpsons, 20 Highfield Road, Edgbaston, B15 3DU
In the leafy suburbs of Edgbaston sits a Georgian mansion that houses Simpson’s restaurant. We’ve all seen plenty of exposed brick walls in restaurants this past decade, but this exposed brick wall is made from stones that are synonymous with the countryside. Huge glass windows line the walls so that you can enjoy your meal looking out onto the beautiful garden. There are a grand total of six menus available at Simpson’s, one of which is a children’s menu, so plenty to choose from, and this year they’ve retained their Michelin star.
3. Adam’s⭐
📍Adam’s, New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, B2 5UG
The restaurant is sleek, sophisticated and comfortable and has this year retained its Michelin star. It’s named after the chef, Adam Stokes, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Natasha. They clearly have some skill with seafood as The Oyster Club in Birmingham is another of their endeavours. The Oyster Club, although so far lacking a Michelin star, is another amazing restaurant worth trying — it has already won itself a spot on the Michelin restaurant guide.
4. Opheem⭐
📍Opheem, 48-65 Summer Row, B3 1JJ
Opheem is the only Indian restaurant in Birmingham with a Michelin star, which it retained this year, and it’s well deserved. It is owned by chef Aktar Islam who is an Aston native. The restaurant uses exciting methods to create its dishes, grinding down fresh spices and some of the recipes are modelled on the chef’s mother’s recipes. If you’re a Great British Menu fan, you may recognise the ‘Kekda Kerala’ dish as the 2011 (series six) fish course winner — and if you’ve ever eaten at Pulperia in Birmingham, you may even be familiar with Aktar Islam’s cooking.
5. Purnell’s ⭐
📍55 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DH
Chef Glynn Purnell is famous amongst foodies as having won Great British Menu twice and also for having mentored in the show. Anybody who watches Saturday Kitchen will recognise him instantly as the Brummie with the beard who cooks some delicious-looking food. Although there are other influences on his cooking, the restaurant focuses mostly on British fare.