Looking for stunning pasta in Britain’s second city? We’ve scoured every corner of bustling Birmingham to showcase some of our favourite Italian eateries. From authentic fresh pasta spots to inviting neighbourhood institutions, here’s where you can find the best pasta in Birmingham.
The 6 best Italian restaurants in Birmingham
Cucina Rustica
Image credit: Cucina Rustica
Located in the heart of the city’s swanky Jewellery Quarter, Cucina Rustica takes pride in its delicious and authentic Italian fare, presented in an elegant and modern setting. Their menu is governed by season and availability, with local produce at the forefront of each dish. The quality of ingredients is especially evident in standout options like the tagliatelle with duck ragú, with sumptuous duck meat, porcini mushroom, truffle oil and cream – an unapologetically decadent taste of Italy. Elsewhere, delicate crab ravioli provide a lighter option for seafood lovers, while a dish of fresh gnocchi with walnuts and gorgonzola sauce ensures vegetarians are very well catered for too.
Laghi’s Deli
Image credit: Laghi's Deli
Not far from famed Bournville, Laghi’s Deli has garnered an impressive following among Birmingham natives, bringing a taste of Bologna to Birmingham. The award-winning restaurant and deli prides itself on its authentic, handmade pasta, borne from high-quality, fresh ingredients. Standout dishes include their carbonara – a deliciously faithful rendition of the Roman classic – as well as their slow-cooked lamb ragú, which sits atop a pile of fresh pappardelle. We’d highly recommend that you round things off with their homemade tiramisú for an indulgent end to your meal.
Fumo
Image credit: Fumo
The respected San Carlo group now has two separate Fumo outposts in Birmingham, the first located in the city’s banking district, and the second hidden away in Birmingham’s Selfridges department store. Both deliver elaborate Italian cocktails and stylish interior, as well as boasting some serious pasta offerings. We especially enjoyed the deeply savoury truffle ravioli, while the tagliolini with lobster was pure Italian indulgence. There’s plenty of well-executed classics too, particularly the tagliatelle Bolognese, which is slow-cooked for over 6 hours, resulting in a seriously sumptuous ragù.
Buonissimo
Image credit: Buonissimo
Dine al fresco on Buonissimo’s chic terrace, with some solid and authentic pasta offerings, including their linguine ai frutti di mare, a deliciously light blend of fresh mussels, squid and king prawns, with bright cherry tomatoes, all lathered in a chilli and garlic oil. Filled pasta fans should make a beeline for the pasta in brodo, which sees braised beef-filled agnolotti pasta in a light broth. Vegetarians aren’t left hungry either – Buonissimo does a knockout pasta alla Norma, with their version of this Sicilian classic featuring slow-cooked aubergines and basil in a roasted tomato sauce.
Tropea
Image credit: Tropea
Named after a town on Italy’s Calabrian coast, Tropea brings a slice of southern Italy to Birmingham’s charming Harborne suburb. Start your meal with a taste of Tropea’s fresh focaccia, washed down with an Italian aperitivo from their cocktail list – which includes an authentic Negroni and the ever-popular Aperol spritz. Next, move on to their delightful fresh pasta options, which include pappardelle with a sumptuous rabbit ragú or some perfectly-formed ravioli filled with ricotta and pistachio. Away from the pasta, Tropea serves up a host of southern Italian classics, from a bubbling aubergine parmigiana to Neapolitan sausage with fresh polenta.
Pasta Evangelists Birmingham
We’d be doing our talented pastai (pasta makers) a major disservice if we didn’t give them a shout out here. We might not have a full-blown restaurant in Birmingham quite yet, but Brummies can still get a taste of our restaurant-quality pasta – and all without even leaving the house. We deliver our homemade pasta dishes to postcodes across Birmingham – arriving hot and ready to eat, they’re the perfect option for those that want fresh pasta in a flash.
Alternatively, if you’re happy to do some (very minimal) cooking yourself, we deliver our pasta recipe kits to Birmingham and all around the UK. Each kit comes with everything you need to prepare an authentic pasta dish in under 5 minutes – simply cook the fresh pasta, heat up the carefully-crafted sauce and top with the included garnish. With options like slow-cooked beef shin ragú, decadent lobster tortelloni and wild mushroom pappardelle, the only hard part is picking a dish.
