review of Byzantium, Kings Heath

Kings Heath has fast become one of Birmingham's cultural hot spots and it is now at least twice a week that im sprawling its streets for new cafes to spend my lunch money in. Byzantium is a small tapas restraunt located on the York Road. It's relatively small, ultimately cute and decorated in an attractive euro-style. Though It took me nearly 8 months to grace its doors I am super happy that I did, it was totally yummy and I will be going again very soon.

It wouldn't really be proper if we hadn't started with an order of flat-bread with a selection of dips though when doing so i'm always wrapped with apprehension. Many is the time that I have been faced with a slightly stale, overly doughy looking thing of a food which instead of melting in your mouth full of flavour, has seemed to grow and expand under every chew. Though all this worrying was unnecessary as the flat-bread at Byzantium was fresh, thin, coated in oil all over and topped with a chilli. Quickly the table ripped and stretched the 3 discs of bread and it disappeared down to nothing; with the dip still hanging from my grin I quickly ordered another for the mains.

The mains were humble, at worst you could say a little conservative in flavour but they remained well seasoned, balanced dishes. The simple cooking is transformed into something wholly delicate and intelligent by Byzantium's attempt at delivering diverse, multi-layered food. The stuffed mushrooms sat handsomely in their dish surrounded by a rich mixture of peppers, tomato and a delicious creamy sauce. The squid was curling over itself and when you ate it, it was perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. What I thought to be a bowl of ordinary potatoes quickly found themselves mixed with the sauce of the prawns to create a wonderful garlic infused, crunchy delight. As I spooned each dish into my mouth my face would lift into life with the surprise of the gorgeous flavours hitting my tongue. Disbelief was still twitching on my lips as a I greedily forked through yet another dish.

Everything looked fresh, tasty and simple and though that perfectly sums up my overal experience of Byzantium I wouldnt want to end there. The cooking was marvellous and no dish went down with disappointment. I can certainly recommend this restraunt to anyone who fancies a small bite, larger meal or tapas experience in Birmingham.