BALOCI

The story

BALOCI: Silk Route Flavours Meet Italian Craft in Birmingham – Michelin Recommended

The Story Behind the Menu

BALOCI takes its inspiration from the Merchants of Venice and the voyages of Marco Polo, whose journeys along the Silk Route brought spices and ideas that shaped Italy’s culinary identity. Here, that spirit of exchange lives on: refined Italian craftsmanship meets the bold, aromatic flavours of old Persia and South Asia. The result is a menu that feels both elegant and soulful, rooted in a sense of discovery.

A Menu of Discovery

The a la carte menu leads with starters like Burrata di San Marco, creamy burrata with blood orange, Persian fig, and basil pesto, or Scallops di Rialto, seared scallops with beluga lentils and Eastern spice dust. Mains include the slow-braised Lamb Shank Marco Polo with truffle mash and Persian spiced lamb jus, and the Silk Road Ragu – rigatoni with slow-cooked beef brisket, warm spices, and fresh truffle shavings. For those wanting a full journey, the Merchant’s Tasting Journey offers five courses with a welcome canapé, scallops and caviar, chicken, and a semifreddo finish. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available.

Drinks and Atmosphere

The Zoroaster Bar menu, created in partnership with Birmingham’s Spirits of Anarchy, offers cocktails that draw on the same Silk Route narrative – think Genesis with climate-positive gin, fino sherry, frankincense, and myrrh, or a non-alcoholic Persepolis with mango and ginger. The space itself is immersive, with six uniquely designed rooms named after Silk Route legends, each featuring a freestanding bathtub. BALOCI is as much a place to stay and unwind as it is to dine – a destination where eating, drinking, and lingering become part of the experience. This Asian Fusion approach, with its Central Asian influences, has earned the restaurant a place in the Michelin Guide Recommended for 2026.