Last week, we were lucky enough to visit Paradiso, an authentic Italian Pizzeria and Pasta Trattoria which has opened its doors in the Jewellery Quarter this month.
The popular restaurant has three existing branches in the West Midlands (located in Oldbury, Bromsgrove and Hall Green), and we’re delighted to see that Paradiso has found a home in central Birmingham.
Though the Birmingham weather has been rather rainy over the last few weeks, the fresh Amalfi-coast inspired decor at Paradiso was a fun twist, reminiscent of warmer weather. With floor-to-ceiling tiling, and a ceiling covered in lemon trees, the restaurant is visually striking, and the blue and yellow colour theme is warm and inviting.
We visited for brunch on Thursday 27th July, which was the restaurant’s opening day. We sampled the Smashed Avocado on Sourdough, which comes with poached egg, pomegranate, beetroot purée, edible flowers and pea shoots. The food was visually stunning, with an impressive attention to detail in its presentation, and it tasted wonderful!
We also tried the Super Green Omelette, comprised of spinach, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, chives, chilli flakes and sunflower seeds, which also came served with edible flowers and sourdough toast. The omelette was delicious – it is always refreshing to see a variety of unusual and interesting vegetarian options on a menu, and we were really pleased with the range of Paradiso. Again, the omelette’s presentation was immaculate. The toast could perhaps have done with some kind of spread to go with it, but it was a side dish to the main event, so this wasn’t a problem!
The brunch was wonderful, and the menu was so extensive, we had plenty to choose from! Paradiso’s meals are comprised solely of Halal meat, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, so they cater to a wide range of dietary requirements. A Halal Italian restaurant is quite a niche endeavour, and so we’re glad to see them doing so well!
The drinks menu is entirely non-alcoholic, with an array of alcohol-free wines and beverages, and the usual selection of soft drinks and fruit juices. The restaurant explains this approach on their menu:
‘Here at Paradiso, we complement our gorgeous food with a range of delicious drinks that will make sure you can remember your visit with pleasure, as all our drinks are alcohol-free. We’re a refreshing haven of calm where you can savour the flavours of Italy. We have complied a selection of non-alcoholic as well as organic beverages from Wines, Beers to Spirits to tantalise your tastebuds which all come without…. the dreaded hangover.’
Brunch is served until 3pm every day, and the restaurant is open from 9am – 10pm, seven days a week. Antipasti, Pizza and Pasta menus are available for out-of-brunch hours, and we’re looking forward to returning to sample them all! The dessert menu also looked very appealing and will definitely be something to try on our next visit.
The staff were all exceptionally friendly and attentive, and service was very quick throughout our dining experience.
We’ll absolutely be returning to Paradiso soon to sample their Homemade Tiramisu, and we hope to see you there. The restaurant opened its doors last Thursday, and we wish them good luck for their future in Birmingham.
To book your table, or for more information, click here to visit their website.
