Inside the super stylish meat-free restaurant with a wine wall in Digbeth, Birmingham

Meat free dining is becoming more popular in Birmingham - like other cities in the UK.

And Brummies are blessed with a selection of quality vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Although it has said farewell to a couple of hotspots recently with Jungle Bird and the Warehouse Cafe closing. But all is not lost as a pioneering sustainability team have created a meat free gem at the Custard Factory in Digbeth.

The Kilo Zero Cafe and Refill Taproom actually started out as Birmingham’s first ever plastic-free supermarket. However, with the unprecedented trading issues in the pandemic and the ongoing development works in Digbeth, it became impractical for many people to do grocery shopping at the venue, so The Clean Kilo became Kilo Ziro - the UK’s first zero waste cafe bar and taproom. (You can still go plastic-free shopping at The Clean Kilo though - as it’s moved to Mary Vale Road in Bournville).

Anyway, back to Kilo Ziro - it’s a stunning venue featuring elegant art deco inspired interiors with sustainability messaging subtly and stylishly showcased amid the forest green colour scheme complemented with golden highlights. There’s a wall featuring spirits crafted in the UK and a separate display of independent Birmingham and West Midlands producers.

The mid-sized venue also boasts a selection of local craft beers and ciders at the bar, including options to try a trio of tastes all in one go. Cocktails are also available with sustainable ingredients being a key consideration using the aged, the discarded and the unloved.

And there’s a fabulous wine wall - like the ones you may have seen at Loki Wine in Great Western Arcade and Edgbaston Village or Vagabond on Colmore Row - where you get to try a selection and pay on a card. We can especially recommend the Vinho Verde Chardonnay full bodied with a refreshing zest.

Sustainability concerns are carried through the entire restaurant with all suppliers especially selected for their eco-credentials, with the wine bottles rinsed and ready to be refilled time and time again. A trio of wines is also available to order, to complement dining options.

During our visit we were invited to sample a selection of small plates which are ideal for sharing over a catch up with friends if you don’t want a full dining experience. We began with delicious hummus, lightly sprinkled with paprika and served with crispy flat bread. It was wholesome and fresh and a generous portion to enjoy.

Next up were cheesy potato croquettes served with a deliciously tangy vegan mayonnaise. There are plenty of vegan choices too, we were advised. Our second small plate was a fabulous frittata packed full of flavour with egg, cheese and spinach, and so moist and tasty. Our third plate was arancini, a comforting dish with a tangy tomato edge.

Our dining discovery didn’t end there as we also sampled KiloZiro’s popular cheese board with some seriously impressive choices - paired perfectly with a trio of wines. We must mention the goats cheese first - it really was nothing like any I had tasted before, so mellow and flavoursome and complemented with the Chardonnay.

A Warwickshire truckle took us to firmer ground with a more grounded flavour and paired with a beautiful French rose with creamy strawberry and raspberry notes. It was a strong and rich finale with a smoked gouda paired with a bordeaux. KiloZiro offers a chilled vibe and a fabulously creative approach to sustainable dining, it’s well worth checking out if you haven’t managed to pay them a visit yet.