A seemingly permanent fixture amidst the ever-changing shopfronts of Kings Heath High Street, Byzantium Tapas Restaurant has defied convention in more ways than one since its establishment on York Road almost twenty years ago. Known for its joyful fusion of people, countries and cultures from across the Mediterranean, Byzantium’s success lies in the simplicity of its purpose: tasty, home-cooked food.
It was in November 2012 that Efua Wilson-Tague and her husband, Antonello, were handed the keys to this charming local eatery. Having recently moved to Birmingham from Rome, the couple were keen to put down roots in their new, suburban neighbourhood and Byzantium seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. No stranger to the kitchen, Antonello spent his childhood surrounded by the expansive olive groves of Puglia, a region famed throughout the world for its rich, culinary heritage. He later went on to devote several years to his role as owner and founder of the Pugliese wine production company, Cantine de Lamis. Efua’s background, on the other hand, is in academia, culminating in her current position as a lecturer at the University of Birmingham, where she teaches Business. However, it was the time that Efua spent cooking with her grandmother, who worked as a caterer, that led her to remark: ‘food is simply in our DNA’.
At its core, Byzantium is, and always has been, a family-owned restaurant, offering an informal dining experience that reflects the area it serves. Indeed, over the course of its history, the restaurant has cultivated a loyal customer base here in Kings Heath, making it the chosen venue for countless birthdays, and even several marriage proposals! Faced with the harsh realities of a post-Covid economy, which have come frighteningly close to driving them out of business, Efua attributes Byzantium’s longevity to the consistently high calibre of its food. Although the menu has undergone regular adjustments since its conception by their first chef, Wesley, the fundamentals remain the same: freshly sourced ingredients and flavours worth talking about.
Perhaps most important, though, is the unique sense of community that Byzantium has both found and helped to foster in Kings Heath. Bringing people together over good food and conversation, this neighbourhood restaurant has successfully worked its way into the hearts of local residents, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
Favourite business(es) in Kings Heath?
Eternally grateful for the support that she has found in the Kings Heath business community, Efua finds it difficult to name just one, but she admits that she can never pass by either Booktower or Levain & Cherry without stopping for a treat! Efua also couldn’t go without mentioning High Street legends, Hare & Hounds, where she and Antonello have enjoyed many an evening together over the years.
You can find Byzantium at 11 York Road, B14 7SA. They are open to customers Monday – Saturday; book your next visit here.
