
It seems Birmingham really is the place to be to discover new and exciting cuisines, and this arrival to the city brings a fine dining experience, designed to entice all of your senses. Inspired by the heart of soulful Qawwali culture, Qavali is an Indo-Persian restaurant with a difference by creating an exclusive concept that features exciting dishes inspired by a diverse region, which remains relatively unexplored in terms of cuisine.
The name Qavali, comes from the style of Sufi devotional singing which originates from the Arabic word meaning ‘to speak’ and has inspired the aesthetic behind this Birmingham restaurant. In one way or another, every dish served here has been on a journey as it has travelled the same path as Qavali music, meaning it has travelled over the mountains of Turkey and Iran, the plains of Afghanistan and the dewy fields of India and Pakistan.

Qavali has created a truly unique venue, promising a fine dining concept which takes epicureans on a culinary adventure. Exploring the Ottoman Empire, the menu features culinary specialities from across Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Persia, and India, with many halal options.
General Manager Riccado Orefice said, “The concept of Qavali was born from the fact that although there are Irani and Middle Eastern restaurants in the city and across the UK, none of them we believe offers a truly high-end dining and drinking guest experience. This concept is the first of its kind.”

Large but intimate, the dramatic interior at Qavali includes dark green furniture, a grand oval shaped bar, handmade sculptures, knotted Persian rugs, velvet curtains, and gorgeous stained-glass lighting. Plus, as you enter you are greeted by greens and gold, foliage hung across the ceiling, as well as plants and flowers throughout the venue, evoking an evening alfresco dining feel. The entrance also has a group selfie seat to get those on-point and super Instagrammable snaps.
The exquisite menu offers the most delicious dishes from all over the Middle East such as the Hyderabadi Biryani, which is delicately layered in saffron rice, then topped with a thin and crispy pastry lid. The biryani is slow cooked for a rich and aromatic flavour and you can choose from prawn, lamb, chicken or paneer.

For those feeling really decadent, try the ‘Qavali caviar’, 30g of Osetra caviar and firm roe served with fresh bread and chutneys. Plus, you’ll also find a range of Indo-Persian stews and curries as well as deliciously tender meats cooked on the charcoal grill like Punjabi chicken tikka, Lahori lamb chops, and smoky yet spicy lamb adana kebab.
And of course, the culinary experience at Qavali is not complete without dessert. There’s the restaurant’s signature dessert Mango Ferni, which is a sweet, silky, smooth pudding prepared with rice flour, sugar, milk then infused with mango and saffron, as well as chocolate baklava and artisan ice cream in intriguing flavours like fig and cinnamon; Turkish delight; or jalebi, a popular, regional sweet fritter.

At Qavali there is plenty to tantalise your taste buds including their extensive cocktail menu which is bursting with exciting concoctions. Some of the show-stopping drinks on the menu include ‘Flowers of Hafez’ made with red rose, poppies, pomegranate flowers and jasmine gin and Coffee House – Qavali’s take on the Espresso Martini made with cold brew coffee, cardamom, and cascara coffee bean vodka.
Plus the mocktail menu is not to be sniffed as it features Hipster Central- a mix of sweet chai, cold brew coffee, cardamom and allspice. There is also a wine list with Turkish and Lebanese wines such as Ephesus and Kavaklidere.
Qavali, 9 Brindley Place, 60 Broad Street, B1 2HJ