Savanna Restaurant & Cocktail Bar serves Ethiopian and Eritrean food at 32 Bristol Street in Birmingham. Its approach combines traditionally homemade dishes with modern presentation, creating a dining room for exploring East African flavours over lunch, dinner or drinks.
Main courses can be served with injera or rice, with slow cooked lamb stews, pan fried meat, chicken, fish and plant based dishes spanning mild and more richly spiced options. Berbere, ginger, garlic, onion and traditional seasoned butter appear across many of the recipes.
Beyaynetu platters arrange several meat or vegetable dishes on a large circle of injera for the table to share, using pieces of the soft flatbread in place of cutlery. Small plates such as lentil sambusa, crisp kategna rolls and awaze chicken wings make it easy to begin with several different textures.
The cocktail bar uses traditional liqueurs alongside contemporary drinks, and guests can also experience Ethiopian coffee service. Vegan and vegetarian sections are a substantial part of the menu, while anyone with an allergy should discuss ingredients and shared preparation with the restaurant.
Address: 32 Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7AA, England
Savanna Restaurant Southside Menu
Small Plates
ME’AR ALMONDS
ROASTED ALMONDS | ETHIOPIAN HONEY | MITMITA
AWAZE CHICKEN WINGS
CHICKEN WINGS TOSSED IN HOMEMADE BARBEQUE SAUCE | BERBERE | SOY | FIVE SPICE | CRISPY SHALLOTS | GARNISHED WITH TOASTED SESAME SEEDS
SCALLOPS
PAN-FRIED IN LEMON BUTTER | GARLIC | LEMON JUICE | PARSLEY
KATEGNA ROLLS
THIN LAYER OF BEREBERE TESMI SPREAD ONTO INJERA | PAN FRIED TO CRISP
KITFO TARTARE
GROUND BEEF | TESMI | EGG YOLK | MITMITA | INJERA CRISP | TRADITIONALLY SERVED RARE (Optional choice of medium or well-done)
OLIVES
SALT & PEPPER SQUID
CRISPY SQUID | GINGER | MITMITA | CHILLI PLUM DIP
AVOCADO & INJERA CRISPS
GARLIC | RED PEPPER | OLIVE OIL | TESMI
GAMBERONI CIABATTA
JUMBO PRAWNS | CRISP CIABATTA | GARLIC | MITMITA BUTTER | PARSLEY
LENTIL SAMBUSA
GOLDEN PASTRY | LENTILS | BERBERE | CORIANDER | CHILLI MANGO PURÉE
VEG SPRING ROLLS
FILO PASTRY | CABBAGE | SHREDDED CARROTS | MITMITA AIOLI
Lamb
Served with a choice of injera or rice.
ZIGNI BE’GIE
Slow-cooked lamb stew | rich blend of spices | tesmi | berbere | served in a tsahli. Mild.
ALICHA BEG’GIE
Mild lamb stew infused with the sweetness of caramelised onions | garlic | ginger | tesmi | served in a tsahli.
AWAZE QULWA
Lamb cubes pan-fried and seasoned with tomato sauce | tesmi | onion | garlic | ginger | green chilli | berbere | traditional spice blend. Mild.
QULWA
Lamb cubes pan-fried in tesmi | onion | garlic | ginger | traditional spice blend.
BEGIE TIBSE MS HAMLI
Traditional spiced lamb cubes | pan fried and cooked in mild traditional butter | spring greens | garlic | red onion | topped with finely sliced jalapenos.
SAVANNA SPECIAL SHIRO
Finely ground chickpeas | simmered into a smooth sauce | classic spice blend | onion | garlic | hue of chilli | lamb cubes | served on a tshali.
ZIGNI BE’GIE FITFIT
Lamb stew | berbere | onions | traditional spices | tossed in diced injera. Mild.
QUANTA FIT-FIT
Smoked lamb cubes | tomato sauce | traditional spices | tesmi | thinly sliced jalapenos | tossed with diced injera.
AWAZE QULWA FIT FIT
Lamb cubes pan-fried and seasoned with tomato sauce | tesmi | onion | garlic | ginger | green chilli | berbere | traditional spice blend | tossed with diced injera. Mild.
Beef
Served with a choice of injera or rice.
SAVANNA SPECIAL ZILZIL
Smoked & sautéed shredded beef | fried caramelised onion | garlic | pepper | green chilli | served on sizzling charcoal clay pan.
MINCHET ABISH
Slow-cooked minced beef casserole | onion | celery | traditional herbs & spices | served in a tshali. Mild.
BAMYA MS SIGHA
Lady finger (okra) | beef cubes slow-cooked stew | traditional herbs & spices | berbere | served on a tshali.
KITFO
Finely hand minced beef tartare | lightly seasoned with tesmi | traditional spices | paprika | traditionally served rare (optional choice of medium | well-done).
SPECIAL KITFO
Finely hand minced beef tartare | lightly seasoned with tesmi | traditional spices | paprika | ayib | hamli | traditionally served rare (optional choice of medium | well-done).
DEREK TIBSE
Smoked lamb cubes | fried onions | rosemary | peppers | green chilli | traditional spices | served on a tsahli.
Vegetarian | Vegan
Served with a choice of injera or rice.
BAMYA
Slow-cooked okra tomato based stew | berbere & traditional spice blend. Vegetarian. Mild.
SILSI
Blend of onions | tomato | peppers | bay leaf | berbere sautéed in a combination of traditional herbs | spices | served in a tsahli. Vegan.
FUUL MEDAMES
Fava beans | cooked into a stew with garlic | onions | lemon juice | olive oil (optional: diced boiled egg). Vegan.
ATTER
Yellow split chickpeas | caramelised onions | korerima | garlic | black pepper. Vegan.
HAMLI TSEBHI
Sautéed spinach | diced red onion | garlic | pepper | green chilli. Vegan.
SHIRO
Finely ground chickpeas | onion | garlic | black pepper | served on a tsahli. Vegan.
AJIBO HAMLI
Sautéed spinach | diced red onion | garlic | pepper | green chilli | ayib | tesmi. Vegetarian.
BIRSIN
Brown lentils cooked in a mild stew | ginger | garlic | shallots | korerima. Vegan.
VEGETABLE ALITCHA
Shallow fried potato | green bean | carrot | rosemary infused | stewed into a lightly sauced dish. Vegan.
TIMTIMO
Red lentils simmered in a flavourful & spicy stew | berbere hue | cardamom | ginger | served in a tshali. Vegan.
MUSHROOM TIBSE
Chestnut | enoki | white & brown beech mushrooms stew | garlic | berbere | cloves | served in a tshali. Vegan.
CABLO
Cabbage | carrots | onion | pepper | garlic | turmeric | subtly seasoned dish sautéed to make minimal to no sauce. Vegan.
Chicken
Served with a choice of injera or rice.
ZIGNI DORHO
Chicken drumstick braised in hot stew | caramelised onions | garlic | berbere | nutmeg | tesmi | hard boiled egg | served in a tsahli. Mild.
DORHO TIBSE
Marinated chicken cubes | turmeric | berbere | peppers | onions | green chilli | rosemary | served in a tsahli.
DORHO STEW
Rich chicken casserole | mild curry | tomato | traditional spices | coconut | herbs.
Fish
Served with a choice of injera or rice.
GHEMBRI TIBSE
Marinated tiger prawns | butter pan fried | garlic | berbere | paprika | parsley.
GARLIC | HONEY GLAZED SALMON TIBSE
Sautéed salmon cubes | berbere | soy | garlic | onion | green chilli | tomato | pepper.
ASA QULWA
Cod fillet cubes | creamy garlic & tomato sauce | berbere hue | tesmi.
Main Courses
BERBERE KOMIDERE SPAGHETTI
Tomato | celery | garlic | basil. Vegan.
BERBERE BEGIE SPAGHETTI
Ground beef | tomato | shallots | garlic.
SEAFOOD SPAGGHETTI AIGLIO E OLIO
Garlic | olive oil | parsley | chilli | mussels | prawns.
CHICKEN ALFREDO PENNE
Grilled chicken | creamy sauce | peppers | garlic | thyme | kororima.
SPICED LAMB CHOP
Shallots | berbere | cumin | coriander | gravy jus | cheddar pomme puree.
TEL ALICHA BEGIE STEW
Goat | onion | ginger | tumeric | potato | served with rice.
ROSEMARY SEA BASS
Garlic | spinach | runner beans | lemon | berebere | pomme puree.
CRISPY ASA
Crispy injera tortilla | cod | jalapeños | mitmita aioli served with fries.
BEEF SPICED RICE
Smoked beef | basmati | tomato | peppers | ginger | bay leaf | berbere | scotch bonnet.
CHICKEN SPICED RICE
Basmati | tomato | peppers | ginger | bay leaf | berbere | scotch bonnet | chicken thigh.
Sides
SHIRO FRIES
Topped with ground chickpea dressing | jalapeños | paprika | crispy shallot. Vegan.
DEREK FRIES
Topped with dry teriyaki beef | jalapeño | crispy shallot | mixed sesame.
SKINNY FRIES
Vegan.
SWEET POTATO FRIES
Vegan.
GOE’SNGH
Green chilli stuffed with tomato | minced onion | olive oil | lemon. Vegan.
HOUMOUS
Smashed chickpeas | tahini | olive oil | lemon juice. Vegan.
BERBERE MAC & CHEESE
Three cheese | berbere | paprika | parsley. Vegetarian.
INJERA
Delicate fermented spongy flatbread | 100% teff | super grain indigenous to east. Gluten free. Organic. Vegan.
PLAIN RICE
Vegan.
SPICED RICE
Tomato | peppers | garlic | ginger | bay leaf. Vegan.
Salads
AVOCADO SALSA
Avocado | red onion | tomato | garlic | green chilli | lemon | parsley | olive oil. Vegan.
TOMATO SALAD
Mixed leaves | cucumber | tomato | house dressing. Vegan.
BEETROOT SALAD
Poached beet | runner beans | mixed leaves | mint | spring onion | pepper | cucumber | aiyb. Vegetarian. Vegan.
DUBA SALAD
Butternut | kale | pearl couscous | toasted pumpkin seeds. Vegan.
EGG SALAD
Mixed leaves | boiled egg | cucumber | baby potatoes | tomato | spring onion | red onion | mitmita aioli. Vegetarian.
Platters
Beb’aynetu | Beyaynetu is served on a large circular plate with injera. The food is shared, and utensils are typically not used. Instead, injera is used to pick up and eat the hiwswas of meats and vegetables. This dish combines a variety of refined dishes, presented as small portions, offering a taste of Asmara and Addis Ababa. Each selection showcases popular dishes from these cities, creating a single mesob with a spectacular spread of authentic flavors and elements.
Vegan Platter
Timtimo | Cablo | Hamli Tsehbi | Shiro served with mixed salad
Meat Platter
QUANTA FIT FIT | KITFO | ZIGNI BEGIE | TIBSE served with mixed salad (MINIMUM 2 PEOPLE)
Meat Platter
ZIGNI BEGIE | ALICHA BEGIE | TIBSE | ZIGNI DORHO served with mixed salad
Mixed Platter
ALICHA BEGIE | TIMTIMO | ZIGNI DORHO | HAMLI | MIXED SALAD EXTRA PERSON CAN BE ADDED TO PLATTER FOR ADDITIONAL £12 PP
MIXED PLATTER
QUANTA FIT-FIT | TIMTIMO | ZIGNI BEGIE | VEGETABLE ALICHA | ALICHA BEGIE | MIXED SALAD – MINIMUM 2 PEOPLE. EXTRA PERSON CAN BE ADDED TO PLATTER FOR ADDITIONAL £14PP