If the Birmingham food scene had a throne, Opheem would be sitting on it. As the only restaurant in the West Midlands to boast two Michelin stars, it’s the crown jewel of city dining. The man behind the magic is Aktar Islam, a local legend who started working in his father’s restaurant at age 13 and famously won Gordon Ramsay’s The F Word. Beautifully baked bread Aktar’s journey hasn’t been without a few "closed doors," though. While Opheem (opened in 2018) has been a runaway success, his other ventures like the Italian spot Legna and the Argentine steakhouse Pulperia both shuttered between 2020 and 2022 due to development issues and the post-pandemic climate. It seems his focus is now purely on making Opheem a world-class destination—and it shows. Great lamb cutlet The experience starts in the sleek lounge with a parade of Indian-inspired snacks. They are undeniably pretty and punchy, but I have to agree with the "deja vu" feeling—after the third or fourth one, th...
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