These are the Birmingham venues in the running for the titles of best Indian restaurants in the Midlands for 2016, according to British Curry Awards.
A number of restaurants and takeaways in Solihull and Sutton Coldfield also appear in the running for the prestigious titles of best takeaway, best newcomer and best spice restaurants in the Midlands too.
And the West Midlands finalists won’t have too long a wait to find out who are the overall winners, as all will be revealed at an awards ceremony in London on November 28.
The announcement of the shortlist for the British Curry Awards comes just three months after the English Curry Awards revealed its winners back in August and some of its finalists and winners have also made it on this new short-list too.
Here’s the list of all the West Midlands nominees and the culinary accolades that they are up for.
Best Spice Restaurant in the Midlands
Asha’s Indian Bar and Restaurant, Birmingham
This multi-award winning, contemporary Indian eatery is named after famous Hindi actress Asha Bhosle.
It opened in December 2006 and its chefs are apparently “handpicked from renowned 5 star hotels from India” and trained in-house at its pilot restaurant Asha’s Dubai.
It was recommended in the Michelin Guide 2015, and listed as one of the top 130 restaurants in Britain for under £50 by the Sunday Times, and was awarded a certificate of excellence from Tripadvisor.
Address: 12-22 Newhall Street, Birmingham, B3 3LX
Delhi 6 Restaurant, Sutton Coldfield
Delhi 6 Restaurant is no stranger to culinary awards.
It was also the winner of West Midlands Restaurant of the Year in the English Curry Awards 2016, which were revealed in August this year, and also picked up the title of best healthy curry provider.
The multi award winning Indian restaurant has certainly impressed diners and judges with its smart decor, efficient service and well crafted food.
Address: 12A Burnett Road, Little Aston, Sutton Coldfield B74 3EG
The Lloyds Indian Restaurant, Solihull
This contemporary restaurant in Knowle is no stranger to awards either having won the title of Team/Service of the Year for the West Midlands in the English Curry Awards 2016.
Described by visitors as “excellent”, it is housed in a half-timbered building, serving mainly Indian and Bangladeshi classics, and also has a host of awards to its name already.
Address: 7 Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, B93 0HL
Pushkar Restaurant, Birmingham
Puskhar was a finalist in the title of Best of Birmingham in the English Curry Awards 2016. And it also has another nomination in the British Curry Awards 2016 for best newcomer too.
Led by Pushkar’s award winning Head Chef, Bishal Rasaily, it’s eclectic menu is “generously infused” with classic Punjabi and North Indian flavours. It also boasts having a “hip and sassy cocktail bar” too.
Address: 245 Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2HQ
Best Newcomer in the Midlands
Bacaba Cocktail Bar and Dining, Oldbury
Established in August 2015, Bacaba’s menu features an extensive menu, and even a children’s menu. The venue also boasts a “lavish” cocktail bar, which has happy hour offers and DJ nights, and it also stages cocktail making masterclasses.
It as a 6th place ranking on Tripadvisor out of 52 restaurants reviewed in the Oldbury area.
Address: 157A Birmingham New Road, Oldbury, B69 1QP
Tipu Sultan, Moseley
Tipu Sultan has already won the coveted title of Best of Birmingham - fighting off competition from Pushkar in Broad Street and James Dahl Indian in the Arcadian - in the English Curry Awards 2016.
Owner Jahangir Saddiq, who has made a huge success of transforming the Jug of Ale pub into the palatial restaurant, was also named Curry King 2016.
Address: 43 Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8AA
Praza (by Pushkar)
This is the second nomination in the shortlist for Pushkar - it’s also shortlisted in the Best Spice Restaurant in the Midlands too for Pushkar, which was also a finalist in the title of Best of Birmingham in the English Curry Awards 2016.
Praza opened in March 2015 it is housed in a Grade II listed Georgian building. Its award-winning chef, Bishal Rasaily whose culinary creations have won visitor approval at Pushkar, also masterminds Praza’s “innovative menus”.
On the last Sunday of the month the venue also offers visitors the chance to indulge in Indian afternoon tea in its Art Deco restaurant.
Address: 94-96 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, B16 8LU
Best Takeaway in the Midlands
Chutney Express, Castle Bromwich
Chutney Express, which opened back in 2013, scooped the title of West Midlands Takeaway of the Year in the English Curry Awards 2016. It has also picked up other accolades, including being voted the Best Local Curry House in Birmingham, in the Birmingham Mail’s King of Curries Awards.
Diners can also watch their food freshly made to order in its open plan kitchen, which is headed up by an award-winning chef. Its menu includes an “Invented in Birmingham - Balti” section.
Address: 8 Hurst Lane, Castle Bromwich, B34 7HR
Lime Pickle, Castle Bromwich
Lime Pickle boasts an extensive menu, including a host of chef’s specials, and diners can even place their orders online. Its visitors boast that it consistently serves up “amazing food” delivered with “great service”.
It's menu includes The Devil's Dish challenge.
Address: 89 Windleaves Road, Castle Bromwich, B36 0BT
More about the British Curry Awards 2016:
Often referred to as the curry industry’s Oscars, the British Curry Awards 2016 has reported receiving a record number of over 206,000 nominations from the public for the region’s curry restaurants this year.
It led to a total of 2,153 restaurants being nominated.