The Italian restaurant in Birmingham topping the tables in the Good Food Guide 2023

An Italian neighbourhood restaurant Birmingham, has been named the regional winner and best local restaurant in Central and East of England by The Good Food Guide.

The Good Food Guide announced Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants and its eight regional winners with over 37,000 public nominations, on Friday (July 7). All of the restaurants in the list have been inspected by Good Food Guide inspectors, travelling the length and breadth of England, Scotland and Wales, to compile the final list.

And topping the tables locally is Tropea in Harborne. The restaurant is the creation of Ben Robinson Young and Kasia Piatkowska, who met whilst studying Culinary Arts at the University College Birmingham in 2010. Inspired by a picturesque town on the Calabrian coast, Tropea (pronounced Tro-Pey-Ah) sits on Lordwood Road in the leafy suburb.

It was just one of two Birmingham restaurants included in the latest Good Food Listing with the second one being Chapter, just up the road in Edgbaston, which came third. This neighbourhood restaurant prides itself in being nature-led with menus rooted in seasonality and committed to quality British produce.

Tropea’s menu is heavily influenced by food sold on the streets of Italy. Made up of small plates, designed to share, it includes snacks, fresh pastas, seafood and regional specialities reflecting fresh produce, from day-boat fish to venison. You can read our BirminghamWorld review about Tropea in Harborne here.

The complete list of nominated local restaurants include city centre locations, as well as suburban and rural  offerings. Typically, Best Local Restaurants have been geographically located in classic ‘neighbourhood’ locations, but The Good Food Guide’s team of inspectors found that connection to the community is far more important than the restaurant’s address.

Ben and Kasia, said, “We’re really touched and didn’t expect this at all. Thinking about it, Tropea is a restaurant that has been shaped by the neighbourhood and people of Harborne and Birmingham and we really feel Tropea is part of the community.

“What matters to us most is that every single customer that leaves Tropea has had a great experience and wants to come back. For us this award is recognition of the love and care the whole team put in: from the food to the service, to make that a reality.” The team at Chapter posted on social media to say they were “delighted” and also congratulated Tropea on topping the table.

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality said of the awards; “Local restaurants are so often the heartbeat of communities; providing jobs, generating economic growth and, most importantly, providing fantastic food. It’s brilliant to see such huge support from the public for their local restaurants and is deserved recognition of their hard work. This sort of support is invaluable as venues face ever-rising costs and is essential in keeping valued businesses viable.”

Thom Hetherington, Co-founder of the Northern Bar and Restaurant Show said; “The Good Food Guide was a revelation to me as a fledgling foodie 25 years ago, and its authority and independence is as crucial to today’s diners as ever - not just highlighting big names, but shining a light on the sometimes hidden restaurant gems that locals love and others need to know about.”