Smethwick, South African Restaurant Guide

“Probably the most important culinary event in Birmingham this year” according to one fan – this pop-up gone permanent (aka ‘The Riverine Rabbit’) “was opened early in 2024 by two partners, South African-born Ash and Erin Valenzuela-Heeger. It’s located in the well-off but very hipster Stirchley district of Birmingham and serves only 12 diners seated along a counter in a space that’s intimate and very friendly (as well as being dog-friendly!)”. Chef Ash has worked in a number of high-end kitchens, including The Ledbury, Dinner by Heston and Carters of Moseley; and she “prepares the food in front of the diners and serves” a selection of “exciting” South African-inspired small plates at accessible prices (with a £30 per person, four-course prix fixe on Mondays). “Extremely good value” – “it’s perfectly suited to the residents, but excellent enough to make a journey very worthwhile”.