Indian Cafe Racer in Birmingham

Such a fab restaurant. Tucked away behind the main bar area but a great find. The food was excellent and the staff really attentive, regularly topping up our glasses, and we were drinking just tap water. Definitely recommend 👌

Don’t let the exterior fool you; this is one of the best Indian restaurants in Birmingham! We've dined at the Indian Cafe Racer several times, and each visit has been excellent. The starters are fantastic, and you simply must try the famous Broccoli GT 65 – it’s a standout dish! The mains are equally impressive. However, what really sets this place apart is the exceptional hospitality. The staff consistently go above and beyond to make you feel welcome, and they are always eager to share their knowledge about the dishes. If you’re contemplating a visit, don’t hesitate! We’re already looking forward to following them to their next site.

Excellent food and lovely service. A gem in Brum

Looks can be deceiving with this establishment, at first I thought, have I got the right place? But then you wonder into the pub and peek through the curtain to uncover this little hidden gem. I went with the recommendations of the waiter with the lamb curry with some chilli garlic naan, the flavour booming of cumin from that curry was insane. Opted for some meat samosas with that coriander sauce which amazing. I’ve never a sweet tooth in an Indian but the waiter convinced me to go authentic Indian dishes with this sweet and light dish smothered in a syrup. Overall a very tasty meal and when I’m back in Birmingham again, I will definitely frequent this place just to work my way down this tapas style menu. I wish I could have eaten more but that stuffed me. Thank you for a lovely meal. The old saying, never judge a book by its cover never rung so true !

Delicious food, friendly & helpful staff, lovely ambience. 5 stars all around. Every single one of their dishes is exceptional

My family group (6 of us)had a wonderful meal last night and absolutely loved it. Staff were very attentive and friendly. The choice of food is very very good. Staff were helpful in explaining about the foods, and whether certain foods were hot or mild etc. When the food arrived it was well presented and good sized portions. The food tasted absolutely amazing. Staff checked regularly and topped up our glasses of water and made sure we had what we needed at all times. We were very impressed. Thoroughly recommend. Loved it.

We visited on 2 consecutive evenings and had a great time experience both times. We had curry dishes on the first night and mixed ‘tapas’ on the second- all of which were great. The owner was very engaging and helped guide us through the menu. Great place to eat!

What a great restaurant. The service was amazing and the food even better. A proper hidden gem

I left the midlands for London nearly 20 years ago and have never found places as good as Birmingham for curry so as I was coming up to a gig at the O2 Academy I had to have a curry. Indian Cafe Racer popped up as it is just across the road from the venue and the reviews were great so I booked a table. Walking up I was a bit disappointed when I realised it was in a slightly rough looking pub, but the pub exterior does not match the interior at all. The pub was small, cosy and friendly and the restaurant is in a curtained off area at the back. The waiting staff were all super friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the food. The food was absolutely delicious, as a pescatarian I went for lots of small plates tapas style, calamari, and veggie dishes, and my friend had the Rajastani lamb. All of it was perfect. Then the bill came and it was £20-30 cheaper than I would have paid if I'd been eating in London. Wonderful place, will hopefully be back soon

Hard to find, in the back of a pub but food was great. Chicken 65 was a bit creamy and not dry. Gobi Manchurian and bhel where both excellent. Chilli garlic naan super! Definitely worth a visit. Great food and service.

Amazing food. Server recommended 2 starts each and a main but one starter one main was more than enough

Excellent authentic food, great service.

The best indian food in Birmingham!? I think so! My wife is indian and we’ve tried many indian restaurants in Birmingham and this place was super impressive. Food was delicious, beautifully presented, innovative and tasty, and great portions. Reasonable prices - we paid £100 for two with starters and main - and definitely felt worth it.

Comically good food. Cauliflower dish in particular was perfect, paneer was excellent.

I was absolutely blown away by the quality of this former pop-up restaurant inside the Wellington Pub. Wonderful attitude and attentiveness of the staff. Whilst always possible to spend less nearby, the quality of the cuisine inthe Indian Cafe Racer was exceptional and worth every penny. Better still, each of the dishes ordered were brought to the table one after each other, rather than all at once. This maxminised the eating experience. OUTSTANDING

We had a fabulous meal, the staff were friendly and welcoming. Excellent recommendations for the best choices off the menu. Truly authentic Indian food in a funky and unique environment.

Quite a different place being tucked at the back of the Wellington pub. Family birthday party but the staff were great. Food was excellent with a varied choice. Great experience and will go back soon 👍

Great for sharing and trying lots of different small dishes.

We were so impressed with the food and service at the Indian Cafe Racer, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Don’t be put off by the exterior - it’s lovely inside, and they play great music too (but not too loud). The food was served very quickly too.

Really delicious, high quality and interesting Indian dishes. Very nice atmosphere and attentive staff. Well worth a visit. Note it's in the back of The Wellington pub, otherwise you might not find it. More expensive than a standard Indian restaurant, but it's another level and you get what you pay for. I highly recommend it.

Such fantastic food and amazing service. 100% a hidden gem! Azad was outstanding and recommended delicious dishes, would for sure go back

Super tasty Indian small dishes - quick service, tapas style. Loved it. One of the tastiest meals I've ever had let alone one of the best Indian meals - it is really quite incredible how tasty every dish is. The restaurant is at the back of hotel so you have to walk through a sort of sports bar to get to it but when you're there you are immediately taken to a different world. Atmosphere is buzzing, music loud and good, and the service is super rapid. And so are the dishes. Poppadoms amazing, pani puri balls incredible, the cauliflower dish super tasty and super spicy, the chicken 65 sensational (really spicy hot but still a fresh herb and yoghurt taste to it), the lamp chops the best ive ever had, then for mains we had a chicken dish and a lamb fish but the names have escaped me, and a variety of naans and rice. And it comes rapid. Like tapas as a bar in Seville. Dish after dish is brought out before you've recovered from the last. Portions are small and it's not a cheap meal. Ours was over £150 for 2 adults + 2 children(11+13). But when a dull chain like Wagamamas now sets us back over £100 for a family of 4 it's worth the extra for a special treat. I live a long way away from here (3 hour drive) and we just happened to be staying right near this restaurant but I would seriously consider coming back just to eat here. It is THAT good.

Food was prefect. Butter chicken and Rajasthani lamb were superb. !!

It is very rare to see a 4.9 on a google review and even more rare is for the restaurant to be actually that good. This is one of those rare cases. The Indian Cafe Racer is a hidden gem just outside of birmingham city center and it offers one of the best Indian culinary experiences I've ever experienced. The quality of the food is amazing and the service is top notch with the waiters always at the ready for every need. The location is very peculiar being located inside of an old pub but very characteristic.

Do not be fooled by the exterior! Inside it's really lovely. I love that it's a place to be discovered. It adds to the experience. The welcome was great. Relaxed, informative and attentive. The food is of the highest quality and worthy of the reviews it has received. My only regret is that I left it so long before coming here! A great dining experience.

The service by Prakhar Dubey & his colleagues was STELLAR. 👌Just too good. He & his colleagues knew the menu well, service was Super prompt & attentive, more like a 5Star Hotel. Great service, food was as promised by Prakhar.

Wow, from start to finish. Best indian food I've ever tasted 😋. Staff explained everything and were very attentive. We'll be back

Fabulous food. Attentive staff. Opening Another next month I heard and well deserved

Food was amazing. Very friendly atmosphere. Cool vibes

Dined in last night, excellent food and excellent service. Friendly and attentive staff. Reasonable prices. Definitely going back soon. Well worth a visit.

Fantastic food and super attentive service, as others have said a hidden Jem

This is a fantastic Indian eatery, at the back of an unassuming pub a short walk from New Street, next to the Gay Quarter and China Town. We went for lunch and enjoyed a few small plates as starter, and a main each. It was all beautiful. Standout dishes for us today: Gobi Manchurian starter, Chicken Chetinad and Lamb Rajastani. The menu is distinctive with lots of interesting-sounding dishes inviting a return visit. And we will definitely return - wonderful food. The service was perfect - friendly, helpful and the right level of attentive. Our water was being replaced continuously without having to ask. This is a fabulous little place. Highly recommended.

Great food and incredible spices ! The service was good but a little bit too invasive for us ! Great time with the boys ! We’ll see you again !

Great food, amazing seasoning, probably one of the best Indian food I’ve had, and sympathic staff. However the staff was too overwhelming. Couldn’t drink a sip of water without getting my glass filled out by a staff member, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Would recommend tho.

Local pub for those in the Ibis over the road. No real ales but good lager and pale ales on tap. Food is far better than you would expect for the location.

Everything was spot on - this place is popular you will need to book but it's worth the wait!!! Best Indian food I've ever had!!!

This restaurant is a rare find. Wonderful indian cuisine elevated by a combination of expert spicing and top quality ingredients. Unusual in that it is situated in a section of a pub, but this only adds to a lovely informal ambience. Servers talk you through the menu and offer excellent recommendations, with obvious passion for the food. Service is attentive and unobtrusive at the same time. Highly recommend the gobi Manchurian and the spiced lamb chops for starters. All the mains were top notch. You won’t be disappointed.

A hidden gem in the heart of Birmingham. We went for the mother in law’s 60th and we all wished we knew about this restaurant before. Service was above and beyond with the waiting staff explaining everything, crossing al the dots and I’s. Having a few fussy eaters in the family, the staff accommodated their every need. Let me distinguish at this point that this is not your typical British Indian restaurant with Baltis and Kormas. This is authentic Indian food with a slight fusion of Indo-Chinese cuisine and South Indian one. Best of both worlds in my opinion. Most of the dishes we ordered were chicken based with 2 or 3 veggie options. The spice was just right on all dishes and the presentation was good. The staff did advise that it’s better to go for more starters and share them out , and then cut down on the number of mains, which I found is the way to go with large groups so you can have an authentic experience. I may be biased though as being from Greece, sharing mezes is my default option so to speak. Staff were very attentive, refilling our water glasses, cleaning crumbs off the table so we were well looked after. Some may see a downside that the restaurant is literally inside the Wellington pub (and you could miss it walking outside) but for me is adding to its uniqueness!

I had a takeaway for chicken and paneer. Food was delicious, well packed. Chilli chicken, chicken 65 and prawn chilli all were beautifully cooked and served with tatka. I enjoyed the dishes. Even though during the delivery they forgot to pack paneer, but later Aktar not only packed paneer but also gave more dishes on the house. Those dishes were delicious too. Definitely recommended.

Fantastic service, would highly recommend! At first we were a little confused where to go but soon realised the resturant was inside the pub, which is ideal as it has a lot of drink selection compared to other Indian restaurants. It has a really cosy, relaxed atmosphere. I am a fussy eater and was worried at first what to eat but found the food delicious and authentic. The staff are so friendly and helpful. I would definitely go back to this restaurant again! Thank you 😊 The food was that good we all tooked straight away in and forgot to take photos of it lol.

Decided to eat here on the spur of it as we were having a drink in the Wellington. Staff were fabulously attentive and courteous and the atmosphere in the restaurant was lovely and chilled. The food was absolutely amazing, we had loads of little plates of food as recommended by the waiter and every dish that came to our table was delicious. Highly recommend this little restaurant for authentic Indian food and we will be back.

Banging, well worth hunting out as it out of the way and at the back of the Wellington Arms hotel and bar. Food is out of this world, try as much as you can as the flavous are Rich and give your taste buds a treat. 10 out of 10 will defo be back soon. Oh and by the way full to the brim, and Im a big eater. Best rest restaurant in birmingham

This is the first time we been to this place. Food is very authentic and delicious. For starters we tried paprika chat, lamb chops, chicken 65 for starters and main course, chicken chettinad, Rajasthani lamb, pilav rice, garlic nan and deserts, Gulab Jamun, Rasmalai and Mango kulfi. We would definitely recommend this place. We will definitely go back.

Wonderful experience - mouth is still tingling Azad and the team have created a culinary masterpiece Feb 19

A 5 minute walk from the Alexandra theatre we had a fab pre show meal. Nestled in the Wellington Pub behind a curtain we were 1st to arrive a 5pm , by 5.15 it was full The food was amazing, we had small plates to start; Broccolight 65, lemon crab cakes, Gobi Manchurian and spiced lamb chops which were all amazing full of flavour. For mains we had Rajasthani Lamb and Chicken Makani, rice and Naan washed down with cobra and white wine. Excellent meal compliments to the chef. It is advisable to book at weekends.

Great hidden gem. Trust their recommendations!

Don't be surprised when you enter the bar, just go through it, the Indian cafe is there too. Simply follow the recommendations from the waiters, I'm pretty sure you will not regret it. I personally enjoyed some slow cooked lamb and had the best Indian tea I had in the last few years. They have good food made of high quality ingredients and a very friendly staff.

Absolutely brilliant, trust there suggestions. Thank you all

Quite possibly the best Indian meal I have had! Wow what an explosion of flavour & spices. The lamb & Vegetarian dishes were superb, accompanied by gorgeous cheesy naan and to start, Broccoli, Veggie samosas & paneer; all cooked to perfection! Cannot fault anything about our experience and the price, couldn't believe how little we paid for such an absolutely stunning meal!

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!

Came here for a pregig meal. They manager to squeeze us in and serve our meal super quick. Food was well tasty. Will defo be coming back with more time to savour the moment

Excellent food and staff, very close to the O2. The lamb chops were possibly the best we have ever had. We will return.

This restaurant is within a pub. Good atmosphere and decor. Food portion size is very small.

What a gem! Staying across at the Ibis budget, we venture to the Wellington pub and after having a look at the India racer cafe menu we decided to book a table for the following night. Being a Monday night I thought we would be the only 2 person in the restaurant but boy the place was packed! And for a very good reason. The service was phenomenal and so was the food! It isn't your usual Indian menu or food, it is something else! It is going to be hard to find another Indian restaurant with the same level of excitement, impeccable service and amazing food from now. Shame we are not locals as I wanted to try pretty much everything on the menu.

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.

One of the best Indian meals I've had.

A little diamond. Great food, friendly service. Will be going again. Thank you.

Beautiful place and food!!! The Brocolli 65 is blissful and so are the curries. Service is top notch. This place is way better (food wise and service) than dishoom. Gobi manchurian could be improved as they tasted like bbq wings instead of the typical garlicy and spicy. They were very salty too. We're from Sheffield and our favs in bham are indico, indian racer and lastly indian streatery. Here they go the extra mile and catered to our special needs as my hubby couldn't eat salt, they specifically made his dishes without salt♡♡♡

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.

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

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

“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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Alina is a great waitress, she is smiling when serving

What an absolute gem. Lovely staff and amazing food.

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!