I discovered incredible Indian street food at a new Birmingham restaurant full of vintage vibes and charm
A cult favourite Indian restaurant in Birmingham has moved into a new, bigger venue so I went along to check it out
Who doesn’t love a bit of Indian Street food. The spices, the comforting layers of rice and bread slathered in a host of sauces and all manner of meats and veg - it’s a gorgeous treat to keep you warm as the seasons change.
Now one of Birmingham’s hidden gem restaurants, which has become a cult favourite since it opened at the back of a landmark city centre pub during the pandemic, has branched out - and moved into a bigger venue.
Indian Cafe Racer has been punching well above its weight since it popped up in The Wellington on Bristol Street - attracting a legion of food fans, and even a host of celebrities including Steven Graham and Corrie star Mikey North (Gary Windass).
And with its deliciously original interpretation of Indian street food, alongside the cool vintage vibes inspired by 1960s cafe racers, it’s no wonder.
The new, larger venue is just around the corner from The Wellington at 88-90 Bristol Street. It’s bigger than the original space - where people were still dining when we popped in on Wednesday evening - with 65 covers and an eye-catching bar.
The venue had a bit of Peaky Blinders feel to it with period features and charm. Cushion-like lighting added a touch glamour to the bar area where you could also get a glimpse of the kitchen action.
The staff were so welcoming and eager to tell us about the new stage of the Indian Cafe story - and all the inspiration behind their amazing food.
We soon sat down and pursued the new menu featuring an array of dishes - some we recognised and some we didn’t.
Our waitress recommended we share three starters and to order a main curry dish each. She didn’t have to ask twice.
Although it did take us a little longer to decide what to order with such an exciting menu to choose from.
We finally settled on the House Kebab from the new menu and two favourites that are still being served up - Gobi Manchurian and Chicken 65.
The lamb leg kebab was divine. The meat had been hammered and marinated and charred in tandoor and coated in butter and house masala - a welcome cube of comfort after a busy day.
Our feast continued with the tastiest slices of cauliflower smothered in a fabulous crispy, savoury sauce inspired by Indian Chinese cuisine. The deep fried Chicken 65 was outstanding too. Moist and tender, a real tribute to the culinary wonders of Chennai city.
For our mains we actually ended up trying three! My favourite was the Original Lamb Biryani. It may sound like a cliche - but the meat really did melt in my mouth. The layers of rice, onions, juicy meat were so special.
A close second was the Mango Fish Curry. The salmon sang with flavour, elevated by the warm fresh fruity sauce so full of goodness.
The Delhi Ki Daal Makhani was a new experience for me - and a great one at that. A perfect tonic for the winter months, this creamy black daal which had been cooked overnight with butter, cream and julienne of ginger added to the pot before it was time to serve up was fabulous.
If you love Indian food, then you must visit Indian Cafe Racer for the new experience of the sensational cuisine which will take you straight to the streets of Bombay, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata.
