Coventry is awash with fine restaurants, even if they’re not always officially recognized by some of the more prestigious culinary guides. TV chef Atul Kochhar recently told CoventryLive how it was practically criminal the city’s best eateries had not been featured in the revered good food publications produced by Michelin and the AA.
But that’s the grim reality. And so any Cov-based foodies keen to sample a Michelin-starred menu must drive out of the city to do so. But they won’t have to drive for too long before reaching an establishment with the ringing endorsement of the famous tire maker.
The Cross in Kenilworth is literally just down the road and remains the closest restaurant to be bestowed with at least one star in the latest Michelin Guide. And there’s seven others with that same status within a 30-minute drive from Coventry (or perhaps 40 minutes where Whatcote is concerned!).
READMORE:Countdown to Coventry’s best summer yet with festivals, carnivals and parades
Here we’ve listed each of the eight restaurants with a short snapshot of what the Michelin guide had to say about them.
Warwickshire
The Cross, Kenilworth- Hearty dishes have a pubby element to them too but are re-mastered, refined and raised to a level that will really impress. For example, your fish and chips could include king prawns and squid, while your pork could come with salted gooseberry purée instead of a more familiar apple sauce.
Salt, Stratford- The clean, unfussy style contradicts the work involved in the preparation but tucks in and you’ll discover a hidden depth of flavor and complexity which shows the true skills of the chef and his team.
The Royal Oak, Whatcote – Chef-owner Richard Craven has a passion for British produce and his cooking follows a strong farm-to-fork ethos, with produce coming from small producers in and around the nearby hills and estates; he favors organic and wild ingredients and game is often shot to order.
birmingham
opheem- The ‘progressive Indian cooking’ involves the kitchen grinding its own spices and using techniques like pickling and fermenting to produce visually arresting dishes with distinct, defined flavours.
Purnell’s- The sophisticated cooking ranges from British to Scandic in style and uses a mix of classic and modern techniques. Flavors and textures marry perfectly and he (Glynn Purnell) shows his personality through some of his more playful dishes.
Adam’s- When it comes to the food, the assured, classically based cooking has modern overtones and a subtle simplicity, and luxurious ingredients are the order of the day.
Carters of Moseley- Brad (Carter) is fastidious about using produce from the British Isles and their own allotment supplies the restaurant with some of the herbs and vegetables. The set tasting menu lists ambitious and creative modern dishes.
simpsons- Dishes are balanced and pure, with subtle modern touches and a pleasing clarity of flavour; be sure to try the signature tapenade bread rolls and delicious soufflés.
.