Latest Opening: Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
What: A first-floor fine dining restaurant located above a jewellery shop in Lichfield, on the outskirts of Birmingham.
Who: The name rather gives it away. Tom Shepherd is the chef rattling the pans having made the move from being head chef at Adam’s restaurant in Birmingham, where he retained a Michelin Star and three AA rosettes for two years. The Sutton Coldfield born chef has a strong pedigree; having trained at New Hall Hotel in Walmley he has gone on to work under Michael Wignall at The Latymer and as development chef at Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham, both of which hold two Michelin stars.
The food: The restaurant serves a standard and vegetarian tasting menu with five or seven course options (£62 and £77 respectively) as well as a £35 lunch menu and Sunday lunch menu. Shepherd’s time in some of the UK’s best kitchens is evident, with dishes on the tasting menu including Orkney scallop with dashi, celeriac, apple; salt baked beetroot with confit Arlington white, beurre noisette and oak; Norfolk quail with shiitake, hazelnut and sherry; and Herefordshire aged sirloin with onion, parsley and bone marrow. There’s also a ‘transition’ course before dessert which hints to his time at Sat Bains and the restaurant’s similar ‘crossover’ dish. For Sunday lunch Shepherd has gone delightfully old school with roast beef, sole and mushroom wellington for mains and the choice of banana souffle, bread and butter pudding and treacle tart.
The vibe: Shepherd has chosen a brown and grey colour palette for his intimate 24-cover dining room (there’s also a Kitchen Table located directly in the kitchen for up to four guests) that gives it a warm and relaxed feel. He plans to open roof terrace in early 2022, presumably to take advantage of Lichfield’s legendary balmy winters.
And another thing: The jewellery shop that the restaurant sits above is owned by Shepherd’s father, so his working lunch will have improved dramatically.
25 Bore Street, Lichfield City, WS13 6NA
www.upstairs.restaurant
