Riverine Rabbit
An intimate counter-dining restaurant in Stirchley serving creative South African-inspired dishes with seasonal British produce, renowned for its exce...
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Riverine Rabbit
Highlights
Must-see attractions
An intimate counter-dining restaurant in Stirchley serving creative South African-inspired dishes with seasonal British produce, renowned for its exceptional food and service.
Book Months in Advance
Reservations are highly sought after; tables are released three months in advance at midnight. Be persistent!
Be Prepared for Bar Stools
Seating is at a counter with bar stools. Some find them uncomfortable for longer meals.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Modern British
Price
$$$
Address
1464 Pershore Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2NT, United Kingdom
Website
riverinerabbit.co.uk/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Creative South African-Inspired Flavors
Experience unique dishes blending South African flair with seasonal British produce. Chef Ash crafts creative, flavorful plates.
Intimate Counter Dining Experience
Watch Chef Ash prepare your meal at the counter. Personalized service from Erin creates a cozy, interactive, and social atmosphere.
Chef Ash's Culinary Artistry
Dishes are lovingly crafted with exceptional attention to detail and flavor, rivaling Michelin-starred restaurants.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Months in Advance
Reservations are highly sought after; tables are released three months in advance at midnight. Be persistent!
Be Prepared for Bar Stools
Seating is at a counter with bar stools. Some find them uncomfortable for longer meals.
Daily Changing Menu
The menu changes daily, so expect diverse flavors and new creations each visit. Embrace the spontaneity!
Engage with the Chef
Ask Chef Ash about ingredients and preparation; her passion and pride in her cooking are evident and enhance the experience.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Months in Advance
Reservations are highly sought after; tables are released three months in advance at midnight. Be persistent!
Be Prepared for Bar Stools
Seating is at a counter with bar stools. Some find them uncomfortable for longer meals.
Daily Changing Menu
The menu changes daily, so expect diverse flavors and new creations each visit. Embrace the spontaneity!
Engage with the Chef
Ask Chef Ash about ingredients and preparation; her passion and pride in her cooking are evident and enhance the experience.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Riverine Rabbit is a highly acclaimed restaurant offering a truly exceptional and intimate dining experience. Guests rave about Chef Ash's creative, flavorful dishes and the personalized service from Erin. The counter seating provides a unique, engaging atmosphere, though some find the stools uncomfortable. The biggest challenge is securing a reservation, but the wait is consistently described as worthwhile for the outstanding food and overall experience.
"A true hidden gem.
My partner and I visited Rabbit and can say confidently that our experience was outstanding.
Erin swiftly showed us to our seats and gave us a complimentary herbal tea which was full of flavour and depth. From our initial brief interaction, I knew we were safe hands. Throughout the evening she chatted and exchanges jokes with all the guests, which made the occasion extra special, and feeling that you have made a friend by the end of your night.
Ourselves and the other guests for the evening were sat across the counter where all plates are prepared in front of you by Chef Ash, extraordinaire. Each plate was clearly lovingly crafted, with plenty of attention to detail. Chef Ash explained in great depth the ingredients used, the processes taken, and the desired vision for each dish we ordered. Her pride and confidence in her cooking is very evident, and thoroughly deserved. This is best evidenced when she offered us a complementary dish simply because she saw our reaction to similar items that we’d ordered. My opinion is that the quality of flavours are remarkably close to those I’ve had at Michelin star restaurants, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rabbit join that exclusive list.
As others have mentioned, the most difficult part is getting a reservation as the list is quite long, but truly, truly is worth the wait. I will certainly be visiting again!
(The only point of feedback I have is the stools can become slightly uncomfortable over time, but this is a minor point)."
Usman Alvi
"This was not just a meal but an experience in what good, creative food should be. Erin and Ash have created a masterpiece in Stirchley! I really enjoyed hearing Ash talk about where the ingredients were sourced, it added to the experience. The jungle curry was mind blowing and hope to see it on the menu again, we’ve already booked to come back. Worthy of the Bib Gourmand by Michelin!"
hasheth lanika
"Tucked away unassumingly on Stirchley high street is one of, if not the, most talked about restaurants in Brum currently. From being mentioned in the Michelin Guide of Best Restaurants in Birmingham, to a buzz across social media; there’s a deserved hype.
I have such a great time visiting here that I can’t wait to book my next visit.
True that it’s easier to herd cats than to book a table here, but it’s worth being patient. Tables are released on a rolling three month basis each day, at midnight.
With a cosy kitchen vibe, you sit at the counter and watch each dish unfold as it’s carefully crafted and presented in front of you, while the chef, Ash, talks you through how and why it’s on the menu. This close up and personal insight combined with watching the other guests enjoy their dishes is hard to match.
You can easily get talking to the people either side of you, with them often remarking how they can’t wait to book their next visit.
The menu pretty much changes daily so I won’t describe what I had, I’ll let my photos do that; but I can confidently say I struggled to make my choices because it all sounded so good."
James Weston
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are extremely hard to get. Tables are released on a rolling three-month basis, typically at midnight. Many guests find persistence and checking frequently is key.
The restaurant features counter seating where you can watch the chefs prepare your meal. Some guests have noted that the bar stools can become uncomfortable over longer periods.
Yes, the menu changes daily to showcase seasonal ingredients and Chef Ash's creativity. This means every visit can offer a new culinary adventure.
The staff, particularly Erin, are noted for going above and beyond to accommodate dietary preferences, including creating special vegan menus.
The atmosphere is cozy, intimate, and interactive, with guests seated around the kitchen counter. It often feels like dining at a friend's home.
The menu changes daily, but highlights mentioned include jungle curry, venison, and creative takes on tartare. Guests are encouraged to try various dishes.
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Featured in these publications
The Best Restaurants in Birmingham
City-dwellers could be persuaded to make another trip out to the suburbs for a visit to this intimate restaurant that’s small in size but big on flavour. Guests sit around a 12-seater counter where Chef-Owner Ash cooks and explains her dishes with great pride. The rest of the service is handled by her wife Erin, for whom nothing is too much trouble.
Best Restaurants in Birmingham 2025
Launched in the suburb of Stirchley early in 2024, Ash and Erin Valenzuela-Heeger’s counter-dining small plates venue quickly won plaudits from Michelin, clued-up Brummie foodies and the National Restaurant Awards – Ash was tipped on its annual 'Chefs to Watch' list. This South African-born rising star has cooked in some seriously high-level kitchens (Cape Town’s Test Kitchen, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal), and that calibre is reflected in her assured, creative use of sustainably farmed, seasonal ingredients. To give you a flavour of the excitement on offer, standout dishes so far have included bone-in turbot collar and black pepper sauce; charred leeks with lemon oil, brown butter hollandaise, fried shallots and breadcrumbs; and Ash’s take on tartare: beef marinated in rapeseed oil, shio koji and tosazu dressing vinegar, topped with crispy seaweed.
The Best New Restaurants in Birmingham in 2024 — Lovelife Birmingham News
This brand new Stirchley eatery was created by sisters Ash and Many while in Cape Town, South Africa. It’s all about combining classic South African flavours with seasonal British produce, a fusion yet to grace Birmingham’s food scene. Plates on the menu here include hay-smoked salmon, grilled mussels, crab muffins, halibut collar, pork belly, and more.
Best restaurants in Birmingham
Riverine Rabbit is the latest in a string of outstanding restaurants launching Stirchley to serious foodie prominence. Chef and co-founder Ash Valenzuela-Heeger injects unique South African flair and flavours alongside wife and co-founder Erin who runs front-of-house at this utterly unique south Birmingham spot.
Birmingham's Best Restaurants nominated in the 2024 British restaurant Awards
Stirchley’s recently opened Riverine Rabbit was also named in the overall Best New Restaurant category. The venue merges the team’s South African roots with seasonal British produce, and was named in the Michelin Guide within its first four months.
City restaurant named Best in Birmingham at British Restaurant Awards 2024
Elsewhere in the city, Strichley’s Riverine Rabbit had been shortlisted for the Best New Restaurant. The intimate spot, which only has space for a dozen diners, recently made the Michelin Guide.
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