Indian Cafe Racer in Birmingham

Staying in the Wellington for a few days so this was convenient for dinner each night. Unbelievable food with a great atmosphere. A truly hidden gem with excellent service.

LOVE this place! Came after seeing the Trip advisor reviews as we wanted somewhere close to the O2 Academy. This place was awesome! Super friendly and helpful service and delicious food at reasonable prices. Begged out sever to open one in Northampton! Highly recommend if you want great authentic food in a lovely atmosphere!

A really great Indian restaurant at the back of a pub. Delicious food, knowledgable and friendly staff. I would not hesitate to go back.

Not the first time we have been and will be going again, the food is absolutely stunning, great atmosphere, ask the people what they recommend and you will be in for a food delight.

After a work away day we went to this restaurant with work colleagues. It looked a bit odd being in a pub and we thought we were in the wrong place. However, the restaurant is at the back of the pub. It was a beautiful area, small and intimate with Bollywood music playing in the background. It had a very nice ambiance. The staff were amazing and very helpful in suggesting what to have off the menu. We had a large selection of different types of starters. Followed by the main course and deserts. All the food was amazing. It was fresh, tasty and wonderfully made. I would definitely recommend this place.

Food was delicious and authentic, except for the chicken 65, which was the chef's version rather than what one would expect if they're used to the recipe from Chennai. Portion sizes are small.

Excellent Indian restaurant with the best vegetarian samosas I ever had! The Gobi Manchurian was phenomenal too!

What an amazing find! India Cafe Racer is nestled at the back of the Wellington pub (google maps is accurate) and it’s worth your time. I’ve spent a lot of time in India and my expectations are sometimes unrealistically high when I get back to UK. I had a wonderful meal tonight. The place was buzzing at 8pm and I was lucky to get a seat but the owner very kindly made the effort to find me a table. The waiting staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgable. I had a two tapas recommendations (Manchurian cauliflower - delicious - who needs chicken!) and Dahi Puri (refreshing and quite filling) which I know don’t really go together but hey - you only live once. My go to main is chicken makhani and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve probably tried it in 50 different restaurants across the world and this one was right up there (even as good as mine 😉). Having eaten far too much for one (business trip) I had an authentic chai (just like on the streets of Mumbai) which hit the spot and took me back.. I’ll be back - with a posse!

Group of 21 of us ate at the Indian Cafe Racer. Fabulous food and service. Provided lots of different dishes for us to try which were delicious. Staff could not have been more attentive. Definitely recommend! Thankyou!

Exceptionally delicious food from a really creative yet authentic menu in a lovely setting with very helpful and friendly service. Lots of veggie options. We will definitely go again!

This place is a must. Went two nights on the trot. The lamb chops starter is a must.

The place was a bit tricky to find, but what a hidden gem! The Indian food was absolutely amazing, bursting with authentic flavors. The service was excellent, and the staff were inc kind and friendly. A big thumbs up—highly recommended!

Hidden gem, delicious food and great service

Wow! Really lovely food, great staff, service and fabulous atmosphere. A hidden gem

What a find! Awesome food, and wonderful attentive service.

Lovely staff, polite manners, great taste .Highly recommend!

Nice restaurant in Birmingham. Friendly staff and tasty authentic Indian food

“Indian Café Racer exceeded all my expectations! From the moment I took the first bite of their perfectly spiced lamb chops, I knew I was in for a treat. The golgappa was a delightful burst of flavors, crisp and flavorful. The rest of the dishes, including the richly flavored curries and biryani, were simply divine. The cozy and inviting atmosphere, paired with the warm service, made my visit memorable. If you’re a fan of Indian food or looking to try something new, this place is an absolute must-visit! And of course my nepalese girls❤️❤️

Fabulous and authentic Indian restaurant! Firstly, the staff are very friendly, kind and helpful and their service was amazing despite it being near closing time. All the dishes were amazing but the chicken 65 and rajastani lamb were a stand out - the flavours were absolutely beautiful. And the atmosphere of the restaurant was very pleasant- I especially loved the 1960's classic Indian hits that were playing. Would 100% recommend to anyone- a real hidden gem!

Excellent meal with friends. Service was very good. Quality of the ribs and wing starters were 10/10. Roti was very good. Main meals very tasty esp the prawn dish. I think I have to come back as might have to give it 5 Stars !!!!

A bit off the beaten track but well worth it. Great staff, great service and fantastic food. All round , five stars are thoroughly deserved. We just had a stack of tapas style starters - a lot of them, and they were all delicious.

We wanted to visit this place for ages and thankfully 3 weeks ago we did. We were not disappointed. The food was absolutely incredible, the service impeccable and the venue and atmosphere was perfect. To top it all off they played wonderful music. Would highly recommend. We will be returning soon.

Exceptional service going well above and beyond! All the food was cooked superbly and tasted delicious! Highly recommend.

Very good food, fantastic service

Was visiting brum for the weekend with friends. Originally were planning on having a take-away but having read the reviews and managed to book a table for Friday evening. Greeted on arrival and sat at the bar just while our table was set. Service was bang on and the entire team were friendly and efficient. The price of the meal was also very affordable - as a couple we each had two large beers, starter and main with a couple of sides and came to £80 including service. The food was amazing! I would go as far as to say the very best Indian meal I have ever eaten!! We were recommended to try the Gobi Manchurian and it was amazing. I elected for the South Indian Prawn curry for my main and it was superb. If you visit Birmingham, this place is an absolute must!

Really lovely meal and the staff are so attentive and friendly. The lamb Rajasthan was incredible. 5 stars

Oh My God. Had no idea I’ve been staying next to this amazing hideout since years and unaware about it. Lambs chops and Rajasthani Lamb is the go to. Prakhar ensured that we had an amazing experience. Surely coming back again.

Amazing Food. I am coming back next week for sure. The Spice Lamb Chops and Rajasthani lamb is a must try. The Manager, Prakhar has been really helpful in guiding us to the right items to choose.

We visited the Indian Racer Cafe after stumbling across it on TripAdvisor. From the moment we walked in we were welcomed, and the owner and staff were attentive and first class. The food is amazing - utterly delicious, the place was full on Friday at 6pm and we could not fault it. We even had an anniversary dessert on the house. If you haven’t been, go, before it’s too popular to get a table.

Both the food and the service were simply incredible! Excellent food, perfect service and very friendly. Well done to the whole team!

Been meaning to try here for ages but so glad we finally came. The restaurant is hidden at the back of the pub / hotel. We had a little wait at the bar for our reserved table but after that service was exceptional. Staff incredibly friendly and attentive. They spent time engaging with us and explaining the menu, recommendations. They also kept refilling our tap water so we never ran out. Food great, lots of different flavours and well cooked. Some a little spicy but not too spicy.

Stumbled across this restaurant while looking for a place before a gig at the O2 academy. Made a booking (recommended as it filled up!) Staff were very attentive and helpful – felt well looked after. The menu was explained well and we were guided to try a variety of 'tapas' and shared main. Everything we tried was full of flavour, fresh and delicious! Would definitely come back.

What an absolute gem. Lovely staff and amazing food.

Alina is a great waitress, she is smiling when serving

The best Indian restaurant I've ever been to 10 out of 10 would highly recommend from Jamie and Megan lovely staff also!

We have dined here multiple times since this hidden gem first opened. Azad and his team are passionate about providing an authentic & unique experience where the food taste/quality is the primary factor! They constantly ask for feedback on both established dishes plus new dishes they are looking to introduce… the chefs are super skilled and adaptable to any requirement plus pride themselves on delivering for each diners needs. This unique local/personal & passionate delivery on quality is what sets Cafe Racer apart…

Lovely little Indian restaurant hidden within an off putting pub. Don’t be put off this place is excellent.

Amazing food and service, small portions, expensive for what it is. Would I go again yes

It's one half of a pub which confused us initially. It probably needs bigger signage but we did find it in the end. The hosts are great, friendly and welcoming. It's a bit dark so take a torch. They only have one light between everyone. Food was great and portions just right. I'd say slightly towards expensive but so is everywhere else these days.

Do not be put off by the facade of the pub, the food is really great and the service is even better.

A lovely surprise really worh travelling for the food and service was just perfect. Thank you 😊

A hidden jem.my first curry in Birmingham I will be back !!

Exceptional food and service. Really enjoyed our meal here 👌🏼

A seriously special Indian with amazing food and service! I would genuinely go out of my way to eat here again it was that incredible! Please please heed my advice and check this place out. The Manchurian gobi, I think it was called was to awesome. Listen to your server on their advise for food as we were well looked after!!! My 5 colleagues all agreed!

First of all, the staff here are absolutely exceptional and gave us the best recommendations and advice for what to order, while telling us some of the history and reasons behind the dishes. We shared 5 starters, 3 mains and sides and desserts and we found them all to be incredible. The rajastani lamb is a must try and absolutely don't miss out on pudding too! Saying that, even the seeming innocuous elements like the rice and garlic naan were the best we'd tried. We'll definitely be back, despite sharing our plates there's more we would love to try

This is my new favourite place in Birmingham. I had the dahi puri, followed by the grilled paneer and then the chicken makhani with a naan. All absolutely delicious, with a particular focus on texture. The host and the waiting staff were so lovely and attentive & I really felt very well taken care of. Can't speak highly enough of the entire experience. See you again soon.

Food was simply fantastic. We all had different starters and mains and every dish was scrumptious. The restaurant came highly recommended and we were not disappointed.

👌 good flavours and spice. Very attentive service. Highly recommend

Had a wonderful meal this evening, stopped in by chance with some friends as I was working round the corner. Atmosphere was very well taken care of considering the fact it’s in the back of a pub. The food was fantastic, special mention goes to the lamb chops which were outstanding. Wish I could have stayed for longer.

This place is hidden at the back of a pub/hotel and is a wonderful find. The server was very friendly and made excellent recommendations. The food itself was fresh and delicious. Drinks are from the pub bar so the variety is huge. The setting, decor, music and smell (incense) make a great atmosphere and the size is intimate. We will be returning as soon as we can!

What a find…….superb service and the food is really high-end and crafted. A lovely afternoon 👍👍👍

One of the best Indian meals I've ever had. What a gem of a place with a fantastic very engaging owner. Everything was delicious.

Being a Brummie, but not having been back for 15 years, it's blown me away how the curry scene has evolved. I wasn't sure what to expect from Cafe Racer, not being an independent restaurant its own right, there can sometimes be a little scepticism about how good the food will actually be. Butter Chicken/Chicken Makhani is the Indian Singaporean national dish and there's a lot of pride in it. The one I had at Cafe Racer is up there with the best I've had anywhere in Singapore or anywhere else for that matter. These guys know what they're doing.

Very tentative staff. Great presentation

Indian Cafe Racer is well-known and appreciated by many. Our owners are very helpful to our customers, and our strong team has made our restaurant well-recognized in the UK. Our unique menu is enjoyed immensely by our patrons. We hope you won't regret visiting us, so don't miss the chance to stop by. Everyone is welcome at Indian Cafe Racer to enjoy lunch or dinner with friends and family and have a great time. #Indain_Cafe_Racer

Tasty and great interior. Liked it all

It just wasn't to my taste. I only had the wings and kept it simple, but they felt like they needed some salt, or maybe a bit more added before cooking. I returned most of the order uneaten and wasn’t charged. The chili sauce had an almond addition in it, which didn’t work for me, as I’m not a fan of almonds. Would I go back? Yes, but I’d try something different.

Excellent food and super friendly / helpful staff. It’s a bit like Indian tapas. The manager brought us lots of different starters to try, so we didn’t have to choose anything, and everything was delicious. The music they had playing was very quirky and fun too!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Indian Cafe Racer in Birmingham with a group of eight friends, and I must say, this place is a hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, the team made us feel incredibly welcome with their exceptional service and warm hospitality. The ambiance of the restaurant is unique and inviting, perfectly blending the vibrant energy of Indian street food with a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. The menu offers a fantastic variety of dishes, each bursting with authentic flavors and beautifully presented. One of the highlights of our evening was the attentive and knowledgeable staff who went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable experience. Azad, in particular, was outstanding, providing excellent recommendations and making sure we were well taken care of throughout our meal. The food was so delicious that I didn't even get a chance to take any photos – we were too busy enjoying every bite! From the succulent lamb chops to the flavorful chicken dishes, everything was cooked to perfection and left us wanting more. If you're looking for an extraordinary dining experience in Birmingham, I highly recommend visiting the Indian Cafe Racer. It's a true hidden gem that offers not only amazing food but also top-notch service that will make your visit truly special.

We went to cafe racer for lunch the front of house guy was amazing with his knowledge of what regions of India the food came from he went all though the menu with us and advised us what would suit us to eat we went for the small tapas style plates and I have to say the food was amazing the textures and flavours were unreal probably the best Indian I've ever had and very cheap will return the next time I'm in Birmingham

Fantastic customer service. Staff were highly knowledgeable of the menu & gave excellent recommendations. Food really good & value for money. Already planning on what to order next time we go.

Excellent and really attentive service from staff who made the time to offer suggestions. Excellent food - full of flavour and a great portion size for us - 2 starters, 2 mains, 2 rice (e could definitely have shared one). Music and ambience were great as well.

Such a fab place, amazing food, attentive staff, happy to recommend based on your tastes. Clean, bright, welcoming and tasteful decor, traditional music. Try the broccoli and lamb chops! Attentive service. Would def recommend!

The place was a bit tricky to find as you had to walk past the bar from the entrance as it is at the back of the bar. Staff were very friendly and suggested the dishes we should try. I still wanted to try something different to what they were suggesting. The food was full of flavour and the Cauliflower Manchurian was AMAZING. Be careful of the Broccoli 65, they are very spicy with green chilly. That is why the gulab jamun. Will visit again.

ICR is a superb restaurant which never fails to impress! Impeccable service and THE most amazing food. The lamb rajastani is a particular favourite, but every dish we’ve had is amazing! Azad really is a masterclass in service- just go!

Great food and service. Azard and Simon were amazing. Highly recommend ❤️

Genuinely one of my favourite restaurants across the entirety of Birmingham. Food is outstanding and definitely listen to the recommendations of the waiters.

Alina who served us was absolutely fabulous! I would really wish her all the luck! Now to the review, I went there for a quick bite and I was pleasantly surprised with the good food. We only reached by 9.30 so we were at the bar for 15 mins before we got a table. This cafe shares it's entrance with the Wellington hotel/ pub. So once you get in , just get to the left and wait to be seated. The staff is very polite and I couldn't help but notice the nice setting! They also played old Bollywood songs on the night I was visited. It was pretty nice to just sit and relax . I ordered for Gobi Manchurian and kofta wrap. I loved the gobi Manchurian but the kofta wrap wasn't as great. The Kofta was yummy but the wrap wasn't quite what I expected. My partner went for prawns and chicken Biryani and he was pretty Happy with the food. I would definitely recommend this place. I would love to sit down and eat at leisure but the place promises tasty food! I wish I tasted some papdi chat! I usually judge a place by its chaat but I didn't order any to review. I would definitely visit this again , if I go to Birmingham! Pricing isn't super over the top.

Absolutely fantastic food, service and so friendly…

I love this place. Amazing food, incredibly attentive staff, great atmosphere, and convenient location. It is Birmingham's best kept secret... but it won't be for long!!

Up in Birmingham for work, staying in an awful Ibis hotel and looking for somewhere to eat I stumbled across this place across the road from our hotel that seemed to have amazing reviews. I managed to persuade the colleague I was with to try it out and boy were we glad we did!!!! The food is amazing, the staff are great and the restaurant itself has a great atmosphere and feel. Every dish was awesome, we got some great tips from the waiting staff and the cauliflower and the broccoli dishes were unbelievable out of an awesome selection. If you’re in the area for work or a gig at the O2 Academy nearby (or live in Birmingham, or any reason really), you have to try this place out!!! It really does live up to the google reviews for once, to be honest it exceeds them!!! 🙏

This place is genuinely amazing. The food is brilliant and so much nicer than any other Indian you might visit. There’s some real quality cooking at work here, with flavours and spices that are delicate and delicious - I could go on and on about the different dishes but they are all amazing. It might not look like much but that’s not the point, the food is incredible. Go as soon as you can, you won’t regret it.

Lovely service and food in a warm buzzing atmosphere. A real little gem!

Really excellent Indian. Not sure London has anything to match.

I was visitor in the city and quickly searched for a good place to have food, this came up. I must say the food was delicious and I received good service. Will recommend and return here.

Just the best dining experience I've had in a long time. Service and food were exceptional. Do yourself a favour and go and tell all your friends to go too. Can't recommend enough.

Absolutely amazing food, small venue, at back of pub, classically decorated, service from all staff was exceptional. Cannot recommend enough, you must try it.

Absolutely delicious food! I asked for a dish to have green chilli put in as I like it hot and the boss suggested it as a madras, it was incredible. Our table of 4 were all extremely satisfied and enjoyed every dish we ordered. Very good, friendly and attentive staff too, all superb and we've become regulars. Thoroughly recommend.

Great food and great service. The concept of the small starters is great to try different things. The owner is a very nice guy and it was great to chat with him.

We had a lovely meal in this strange combination of a traditional pub with a cozy Indian restaurant. The friendly staff guided us through the menu with good recommendations. Our kids enjoyed the home cooked dishes (struggling a bit with the spice) and we ended with a nice chat with the owner. Thank you!

What a great find! A true hidden gem. Don’t be put off by the slightly empty pub-the restaurant was busy. The food was top notch and the staff were all excellent. Nothing was too much trouble and they took their time to explain all the dishes. Tamarind red mullet and chilli chicken were both absolutely delicious. I’m definitely coming back next time I’m in Birmingham 😁

Such amazing service here would highly recommend if you’re in Birmingham the waitresses were so nice and welcoming and the food was amazing. 10/10 one of the nice restaurants I’ve visited in Birmingham

The food was amazing loved every dish Rhe staff were very attentive and couldn't do enough for us . Definitely go back .

Fabulous food and really attentive and knowledgeable service. First time my parents have found rasmalai since they were students in Birmingham in the 70s and they were delicious!

Not your typical curry house. Hidden away at the rear of a pub you’ll be glad if you seek this gem out. Great service and advice on the menu. Food is Indian street food and absolutely delicious. For two tourists over from Ireland this was a treat for us and a type of cuisine we wouldn’t be used to. There wasn’t a morsel of food left over. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back there.

Everything about this place is good, including the location which adds a quirky atmosphere. The service is excellent. The host is great, very friendly and gives great recommendations and prevented us from ordering too much. The service ethos permeates downwards and the other server was an example to all waiters. She was attentive to customers and also cleanliness. But the food - Indian family style- is the star. We throughly enjoyed the 5 small plates he recommended, and then she cleared the table and reset it for the 2 mains he recommended for us, 3 non meat eaters. Fish curry, and Bindi. I would never have ordered okra, believing it to be slimy. This dish of okra and potato was a revelation. Delicious. As was all the food. A most enjoyable meal. Will definitely return next time I’m in Birmingham.

One of the best butter chicken dishes i've ever had. The staff were absolutely amazing. Best service i've received at a restaurant. Will definitely go back. Thank you to the staff :)

A hidden gem. Seek it out. Was in Birmingham with my wife, on a visit from Ireland. This place is at the back of a pub, easy to miss. Don’t let that happen. Find it. Great food, so different to your average Indian Curry house. Great service and a great experience.

This Indian restaurant is located at the back of a pub. The staff provides excellent advice. It deliberately asks about allergies and the desire for spiciness. Children are also treated warmly and in a child-friendly manner here. The price-performance ratio is right. There is one star less for the ambience because it was unfortunately very loud in the restaurant. This results from the open transition to the pub. If you come to Birmingham and want Indian food, this is the right place. Recommended!

The food, especially the small plates/starters, were excellent. The broccoli and cauliflower, for instance, were full of flavour with a good hit of spice and heat. The gol goppa was superb - it’s surprisingly hard to find these done well in Brum, but this place delivered. The mains (dhal & bhindi) were less exciting/flavoursome by comparison, but good nonetheless. And, while I was sceptical about the unusual bhindi and potato combination, it worked really well. The staff were brilliant - really friendly, helpful, and attentive. Would definitely recommend!

Excellent service, food and value. Don’t be distracted by the entrance, go through the pub, the restaurant is at the back! Really great quality food, passionate staff and good value….all the food is great as far as we could see…but we had and loved various tapas and fish/chicken curries…. Also loved that my minor peanut allergy was managed carefully but without the fuss that usually accompanies mentioning allergies nowadays !! REALLY, GO - need to keep independents like this going, I love a chain restaurant and they have their place but we must keep the independents and diversity of food/culture alive - really special place Good luck Indian cafe racer 👍

10/10, would recommend. The greatest surprise Birmingham has to offer! After finding this place on Google and choosing it from the Trip Advisor reviews its easy to say we were very much looking forward to eating here. We thought we'd gotten a little navigationlly embarrassed when we walked into the Duke of Wellington Bar, only to find the greatest Indian restaurant my wife and I have ever been to stashed away in the back. The food was incredible! Every dish was fantastic and surpassed all expectations! The Rajastani Lamb was an absolute treat! The flavours were spectacular, and only surpassed by the Chicken Chetinad. Topping off the whole dining experience was the whoesone and welcoming manner of the staff, and spot on service. Definitely will be heading back to Birmingham, just to eat here again.

An absolute gem of a restaurant tucked in the back of the Wellington pub. Service is warm and friendly, and the servers are knowledgeable about the Indian street food menu. The food was delicious and easily the best I have tasted in this price range within Birmingham city centre. Would highly recommend, although it is important to book as it is often busy even on weekdays.

The restaurant is located inside a pub in a separate area. The menu is Indian and Indo-chinese street food. Quality is excellent and the service very good.

Attentive staff, smooth service and delicious food, what else could one ask for ? We had a very pleasant experience here, would definitely recommend dining here if you enjoy Indian and Indochinese cuisine.

Spur of the moment booking last night, but we have been several times. Food is out of this world, the benchmark I use to rate all my Indian food. My son had two starters and obviously we all tried a little bit of each other's plates (sharing's caring!) Every dish was fabulous especially the chicken chetinad... and the lamb chops and the red mullet.. you get my drift! Looking forward to the cookery school...

Such an authentic restaurant with extremely friendly service. The food was amazing with lots of vegan options. It is within a dog friendly pub so you can enjoy an Indian with your best friend by your side. What more could you ask for?

The best Indian food I’ve eaten in years. Great recommendations from staff, great options for vegans, fresh, tasty & unique dishes.

What a gem. Lamenting the recent loss of Bundobust but this is a great discovery. The Gobi Manchurian is to die for. Not many settings so don't expect to able to rock up. Well worth booking.

An incredible culinary experience, a real joy to eat here, the food and service exceeded all my expectations. From the starter, to the mains including the rice and naan, everything was a treat for the senses. These guys are very serious about the quality of food they serve and their standards. Impeccable and highly recommended! I had absolutely nothing to complain about.