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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Tamlyn Jones & James Cartledge

Birmingham's restaurant scene back to five Michelin stars

A Birmingham restaurant which opened last year has become the fifth in the city to be awarded a prestigious Michelin star.

Opheem, in Summer Row, has joined the familiar quartet of city centre venues Purnell's and Adams, Simpsons in Edgbaston and Carters of Moseley in the 2020 guide.

Michelin hailed the "progressive Indian cooking" of chef director Aktar Islam and said his food blended "traditional techniques with a modern outlook".

"There's no denying this large, modern Indian restaurant makes quite a statement - and not just in its bold decorative style," it added.

"Aktar uses recipes from across India as well as his own family's favourites to produce visually arresting dishes with distinct, defined flavours."

Mr Islam also runs the neighbouring Italian restaurant Legna and is also planning to open a new boutique hotel and a third dining out venue, also in Summer Row.

And in September, he announced he was taking over the former Cau unit in Three Brindleyplace to open an Argentine-themed steakhouse called Pulperia.

The accolade for Opheem sees a return to form for Birmingham which dipped to four Michelin stars after Harborne venue Turners at 69 lost its star two years ago after owner Richard Turner changed the menu, only for it to close a few months later.

It means the city has the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants outside the capital.

Other West Midlands venues to feature in the 2020 guide are new entrant Pensons in Tenbury Wells while Peel's in Hampton-in-Arden, The Cross in Kenilworth and Salt in Stratford-upon-Avon have all retained their places.

The latter was launched in 2017 after raising £100,000 via crowdfunding website Kickstarter and its owner Paul Foster's own savings.

The 2020 guide features 1,464 restaurants including 131 of them new entries.

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