Michelin chef reveals his favourite Birmingham restaurants
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Award-winning Birmingham chef Aktar Islam runs two restaurants in Birmingham.
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Hide AdThere’s his Michelin-starred Indian fine dining venue Opheem on Summer Row and Pulperia, which offers an authentic Argentinian menu, in Brindleyplace.
But when he’s not in the kitchen Aktar likes to explore the city’s exciting restaurant scene.
He recently highlighted his top five favourite dining spots to The Telegraph.
Here they are:
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Hide AdTiger Bites Pig
“This is a restaurant I treat myself and my team to once a week. It’s a little hole-in-the-wall, and their baos are incredible. They’re made in-house, and all the fillings are really well balanced. My favourite is made with chicken breast, with some texture from crispy bits of chicken, a lovely dressing and spring onions. Their slow-cooked aubergine in chilli and garlic is beautiful, too,” he told The Telegraph.
34 Stephenson St, Birmingham B2 4BH; tigerbitespig.co.uk
Loki Wine Merchant & Tasting House
“Try a rare fine wine by the glass at Loki Wine Merchant & Tasting House
This was one of the first places in the city where you could go and have rare fine wines by the glass. They have a great selection, and the staff, mostly ex-sommeliers, are really knowledgeable. If you want to go out for a drink and try something new, this is definitely the place to go to,” he said.
36 Great Western Arcade, Birmingham B2 5HU; lokiwine.co.uk
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Hide AdThe Cod’s Scallops
“This recently opened fish and chip shop is really traditional, with a great menu. There’s a lot more on offer than just cod and haddock: they do things like bass, mackerel, monkfish and potted shrimps, too. Their pies are also really good. It’s all done well, like in the good old days,” Aktar told the Telegraph.
85 High St, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9ND; codsscallops.com
Soho Road
“I love Soho Road. It’s full of shops selling mithai Indian sweets, and places where you can pick up chaats and pakoras – all that sort of stuff. There’s a really good range, and you can still find lovely vegetable samosas with tamarind dip for 45p. It has a real old-school vibe,” he said.
Carters of Moseley
“I’ve always admired the Michelin-starred Carters of Moseley. I love what owners Brad and Holly are doing. They really celebrate Birmingham and its food history. One dish they do is Birmingham soup, which is based on a beef and vegetable soup that the industrialist Matthew Boulton served to his workers in the 18th century,” he told the Telegraph.
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Hide Ad2c St Mary’s Row, Wake Green Rd, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9EZ; cartersofmoseley.co.uk
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