The 30 Best Italian restaurant in Birmingham

“Cody is a legend. He made me a focaccia sandwich. I asked him to surprise me with the contents and he did not disappoint! With spicy salami, dried tomatoes, mayo and cheese, it was delicious. I didn't take a picture because I ate it before I could look for my phone and I'm not sorry, it was so worth it.”

“Absolutely loved the Tandoori Pizza. The crust was perfectly crispy, the chicken was full of flavor, and the smoky taste from the wood fire made it extra special. A perfect mix of spices and cheesy goodness. Highly recommend!”

“The food came really fast like in 5 7 mins it was ready already. The guy who brought me the food was sooo sweetttt, one of the best customer experiences ”

“Really happy with our evening meal. Great atmosphere and lovely staff”

“A proper lovely Italian and the food is superb. Great atmosphere and lovely ambience.”

“I recently had the pleasure of trying the waffle at Kravings, and it was an absolute delight! The waffle itself was cooked to perfection - golden brown and crispy on the outside, while remaining light and airy inside. It was generously topped with a mix of fresh strawberries and blueberries, adding a burst of sweetness and freshness. The drizzle of chocolate sauce was the perfect finishing touch, adding a touch of richness and decadence. I highly recommend this waffle to anyone with a sweet tooth Novena was incredibly welcoming and made the whole experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend this waffle to anyone with a sweet tooth!”

“Went for a birthday meal on Tuesday 25th June. We were seated upstairs. The staff were very friendly, warm and welcoming. The tapas dishes we had were all delicious especially the pork belly each dish were flavoursome had 6 dishes in total between the 2 of us. We also ordered pratas bravas, chorizo, harissa chicken, casa med salad and bread with balsamic and oil. It was very filling so had no room for desert. With the 15% it was well worth it. I was pleasantly surprised how much it was so I recommend going on a Tuesday. This is the place to go for a special occasion.”

“Excellent food and service, Had an amazing family birthday dinner and we were satisfied with the meal and everything overall!! (best pizza in the area no doubts) Will definitely be back.”

“Absolutely brilliant food and atmosphere!! Really enjoy!! If we ever come from London well definitely come back:)”

“I doubted family run Traditional Italian Restaurants after experiencing so so quality food and samey options delivered by overly passionate staff. Portobello Restaurant has put my faith back in the Italian culinary experience. On entering I was met by grounded, accommodating staff that ensured I was happy with the choice of table. Staff were smiley, chatty and assisted joyfully with the menu options. I opted for some nibbles and their excellently priced 2 courses for £19.95. The atmosphere in Portobello Restaurant is relaxed, sociable and family oriented. The minimalist artistic interior beams with natural light. Dishes were superbly presented, quality was evidently high. The jelly babies and hand written “thank you” on the bill echoed the care they provide to their customers. A wonderful experience.”

“Our first visit to the Olive Garden. We visited on the recommendation of a relative and it was fairly good. We ordered the grill platter and Iskender Falafel. The grill was more than enough for two and had a good amount of variety. Did find it somewhat bland, but that's because we normally prefer spices. However, the Olive Garden does offer a good alternative to the standard Indian grills. So it's probably a great option if you prefer less spicy foods. We were served by Hannah and the level of service was excellent. Most likely will visit again to try other menu entries. The restaurant is very clean and is furnished to a good standard. The only small issue was the latch on the male washroom: it doesn't lock.”

“It's a lovely resturants with a great atmosphere. The food was absolutely beautiful. We asked for a quiet corner table,as it was our wedding anniversary, which they catered for. They even surprised us with an anniversary dessert. Our server, Armahdo, was diligent, pleasant and catered for our needs. I would 100% recommend this resturant.”

“Very intimate venue with a classic decor. Generous portion sizes and great flavours, absolutely wholesome food. Starters - goat cheese parcel and king scallops were fantastic. The thermidor sauce on the scallops was a highlight. Mains - steak dolceletta and lamb ragu raviolini. Both fantastic and loved the homemade pasta. Steak had some very complimentary blue cheese. Desserts - were both not really dessert people due to poor quality in restaurants but these were lovely, I had the pavlova and it was massive but still light. If we had to critique, the service felt a little rushed and the ambience was affected by the music that was dicey/dated Would go again 4 alcoholic drinks 2 starters 2 mains 2 desserts 1 side £115”

“Had the Bottomless Brunch here as a birthday treat, and we received great service from start to finish. It was my first time here so wasn’t sure what to expect but we really enjoyed it. A few more dishes could be added to the menu but what we had was delicious. We also had 2 cocktails each and a bottle of Prosecco on the table. I’m sure they would have bought us another bottle if we could have finished it but we were taking it slow due to a heavy one the night before! Definitely recommend and would come again!”

“Food alone doesn't make a restaurant; the welcome and service goes a long way too. Hilal and the team at the Ameena were charming. Advising us on veggie options and taking seriously our nut allergy dining options. The paneer was sublime in our balti and the stuffed pepper and onion bhaji starters were delicious. Our new local - where we were welcomed like old friends.”

“Simple decor might put some people off but don't be fooled, the food more than makes up for it. From the prompt, friendly welcome upon arrival to the quick turnaround on our order (despite being a busy weekend lunchtime) I genuinely couldn't find anything to fault with this place. And kudos to Hamza for the excellent table service. Highly recommended and would happily visit again.”

“Came here in April as a celebration meal and Paparazzi delivered. Their atmosphere, service and food was amazing. Really enjoyed my meal and the service from the staff was professional and friendly.”

“I honestly can’t understand the negative reviews for this restaurant — they must be thinking of somewhere else! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with friendly smiles and a cosy, welcoming atmosphere that instantly makes you feel at home. The staff are always lovely and attentive, often recommending fresh specials or dishes that aren’t even on the menu. The food isn’t complicated — it’s simply prepared with care and skill, which makes all the difference. And the chicken… oh, the chicken! It’s cooked to perfection, tender and full of flavour, the kind that makes your mouth water the moment it arrives at the table. I’ve been eating here for as long as I can remember, and I have never had a bad meal. Consistently excellent food, warm service, and a homely atmosphere — it’s one of those rare places that you want to return to regularly, even after 20 years”

“First time I came here to celebrate my friend’s 60th birthday. Very easy to find, right opposite pigeon park, where St Philip’s Cathedral is. Name of restaurant is big and clear, and can’t be missed. I arrived early and was greeted by Astrida, who was lovely! I was holding a big bunch of flowers, which she kindly put away for me and she instantly made me feel very welcome. Tamarah was also very friendly. As I sat and waited for my friends to arrive, I was approached by every member of staff, who asked me if I wanted a drink whilst I was waiting. The customer service was just brilliant! The interior of the restaurant is very stylish and the toilets are posh! The only negative comment I have is that I ordered a main meal (I can’t remember what it was called, but it was newly added to the menu - pasta, white sauce). The proportion of this meal was not enough for it to be served as a main meal. It was something you would expect if you ordered a starter. Proportions of other meals might be ok, but not for this meal. I will still give this restaurant 5 stars as we had a great time, but please take my comments on board, as customers want good value for money.”

“Today I have ordered the frutti de mare pizza, the carbonara, and the pollo crema. The vegetables for the pollo crema had been smoked a little and then added salt, which makes it crunchy. As well as that, the sauce was very creamy and rich, adding good flavour for the dish. The frutti de mare pizza had fresh seafood (such as: prawns, mussels, and squid) and the flavour was medium, which is very good. The crust was crunchy and it was made fresh, not from the stores. The spaghetti was very creamy and the staff offered extra Parmesan. The bacon in it was very delicious, because of the sauce that was added to the dish. To summarise, I would recommend this restaurant to you.”

“I come to the Restaurant Hub in Selly Oak all the time as a student, both to eat and to get some work done, and it’s consistently one of my favourite spots in the area. The food is great, the prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is relaxed enough to study in while still feeling lively. The staff are amazing and always make the place feel welcoming. A special shoutout to Pedro who is always incredibly friendly, warm, and helpful every time I visit. His energy genuinely makes the experience even better. Highly recommended for good food, good vibes, and a great place to work or hang out.”

“Me and my wife Went there and honestly, I was really impressed. The food was delicious and came out right on time. What stood out the most was the staff member, Sara—she was working completely on her own, but you’d never guess it. She handled everything so smoothly, from taking orders to serving and checking in on everyone. Despite being by herself, she was super friendly, quick, and made sure everything was perfect. Really appreciated her effort—she made the whole experience great. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this place. And if you get Sara as your server, you’re in for a treat!”

“Gorgeous restaurant, underground with a beautiful romantic atmosphere. Service was quick and friendly, and all food was generous portion sizes and tasted amazing fully recommend.”

“I bought four pizzas today from Pizza Factory and I’m really happy with my purchase! The pizzas were delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. The service was quick and friendly, and everything was perfectly prepared. I’ll definitely come back again — highly recommended!”

“Charming little pub, very handy for the station. Nice staff, cosy atmosphere. Perfect for a quick pint if your train is delayed, or just a stop in for some food and chilling.”

“Beautiful food. Great service. Would definitely recommend!”

“Great restaurant - 3 kids all happy. Worth a 10 minute taxi from NEC for family run Italian.”

“We had dinner at this lovely restaurant tonight. The most amazing seafood risotto and seafood linguine. Best Italian food we have ever tasted, delicious! Wonderful service. Highly recommend this restaurant! Wish we lived nearby to go again. Heather and Jim Waterston Visiting from Australia”

“Having just come back from Italy, I was quite skeptical of having Italian for dinner here. Gusto proved me quite wrong however, as this was most likely some of the best Italian food I have had in a while. The lasagna was very fresh and portions were very generous. Flavours were very nice and if there was something to complain about I would say the meatballs were a bit dry for my taste. Though they used lean meats, which might have been nice if you prefer less fat in your diet. The service was exemplary, highly recommended if you’re looking for some nice affordable Italian foods in Birmingham.”

“Excellent takeaway pizza! The sourdough base is genuinely fantastic—light, airy, and full of flavour. Everything tasted fresh and authentic. Held up perfectly for collection. Highly recommend for a proper pizza fix in Birmingham!”