A Birmingham restaurant discovered it had been added to the prestigious Michelin Guide just 44 days after opening. Satori opened in Moseley last October – in the spot previously run by Michelin-starred Carters of Moseley.
At the time of opening, owner Sharath Sundar said Satori’s concept would be very different to the previous tenant’s. Birmingham’s first Japanese fine dining restaurant had plans to enlighten diners with a ‘once in a lifetime fine dining experience’, following Japanese principles and traditional cooking styles, with head chef Jacky (full name Kin Ho Fung) at the helm in the kitchen.
One of the duo’s main goals was to offer something unique to locals in Birmingham’s most Bohemian neighbourhood – and its popularity with Moseley residents was picked up on by Michelin inspectors. The guide described Satori as an ‘on-trend restaurant whose bustling atmosphere suggests it’s a hit with the local diners’.
Read more: Birmingham restaurant competes with The Ritz to be named best in Britain
The coveted culinary guide also recommended the ‘well-priced tasting menu’ and gave special mention to Satori’s take on a Mont Blanc dessert, ‘Mount Fuji’, which is set alight at the table ‘for added volcanic flair’.
Reacting to the accolade, Sharath told BirminghamLive: “We are chuffed. We actually found out in December, just 44 days after opening, but we had to stay cool and calm and carry on until the guide was published.
“It’s been an amazing journey so far and we are ecstatic. I’m so happy for the team who have all worked very hard to get to this point. We’re very grateful to the local community and to all of our customers who continue to support us.
“It’s a very proud moment for Moseley. There are 2,200 restaurants in Birmingham and just 25 are recommended in the Michelin Guide, so we’re in the one per cent. There was a gap in the market for a Japanese fine dining restaurant in Birmingham and we have filled it.”
Sharath also made a promise to diners on the back of the team’s achievement, saying: “We know January is a very challenging time – people are spending less and restaurants are quieter, but I think this news will create a real buzz for more people coming to visit us. We nearly had a full house last night after we announced the news.
“We’ve had people in from Scotland, London, all over the country and people are willing to pay for quality, as long as you are still giving them value for money, excellent food and excellent service, which I believe we are – and the comments in the Michelin Guide speak volumes.
“One of our diners asked us if we planned to increase our prices because of this and we do not intend to. We plan to carry on doing what we do best. This doesn’t stop us from continuously improving and trying to exceed expectations.”
Moseley now has two Michelin-recommended restaurants, including Peruvian spot Chakana. Satori offers an a la carte made up of small plates, sushi, platters and mains incorporating ‘robata’ fireside cooking, alongside a £75 tasting menu. Its most popular dishes include a honey and soy duck, black cod and wagyu steaks.
Edgbaston hotel Baloci was also added to the Michelin Guide
(Image: Baloci)
Satori comes under the umbrella of FB Holdings, which runs several popular restaurants in Birmingham including The Mayan in The Mailbox and Qavali in Brindleyplace. Edgbaston hotel Baloci, another of the group’s companies which opened in January 2024, is Birmingham’s second new addition to the Michelin Guide for 2025.
Inspectors described Baloci’s Indo-Persian menu as ‘an enticing melting pot of influences’, which include Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey cuisines. The hotel restaurant, set in an elegant Georgian townhouse, serves a tasting menu alongside a la carte.
Have you tried Satori or Baloci? Let us know what you think in the comments below.