I feel that my culinary life in Birmingham is much more complete with the discovery of Forty Twenty…read moreThree (hat tip to Jeanette & Brandon). The seemingly obtuse name references the geographic coordinates where Europe (Greece) meets Asia Minor, the area most known for the Mediterranean cuisine served at 40 23. It's Mediterranean street food at its best. The food finds a balance, not being too heavy or too healthy. The result is ultimate deliciousness.
Forty Twenty Three is on the stretch of Stephenson Street that also hosts a Greek Deli next door. The businesses in this area of the city tend to fall on the small side, and 40 23 is no exception. The interior is tiny and spartan, with seating for about a dozen people. Fortunately, word has not gotten completely out, so unless you are there at noon or at the after work rush hour, you should be able to snag a stool at the counter and watch these pita masters assemble your food. If you don't want to leave the house, 40 23 has partnered with Deliveroo. It's hard to imagine not eating inside the restaurant, as you'll want to chomp on that pita as soon as it comes off the grill.
The menu covers a range of goodies, with the hot items being composed of a small list of ingredients that work wonders in different combinations. At their most base, the dishes have a pita as a wrap or cut up on a platter with a salad. You essentially get to choose the filling, ranging from meats (souvlaki, chicken, meatballs, kebab) to vegetarian items (grilled veggies, halloumi, mushrooms). You'll also find several pastries and pies, like spanakopita, and desserts including a truly excellent baklava.
I've been here many times for lunch and dinner in the past several months, and my go to is one of the vegetarian wraps. I've tried all three, and the halloumi is probably the best, when it's available. The wrap is either very, very popular or 40 23 is facing some serious supply side issues. The grilled mushrooms are my second favourite. The juicy mushrooms mixing with the other vegetables, wrapped in a warm pita is a little slice of heaven. Sides for your mains include rice, pita bread, vegetables, or chips. The hand-cut chips are the stand out item on the sides menu, so much so that you'll want to order your own (no sharing here). A row of spices in glass jars are placed at the counter in the event you wish to kick your food up a notch.
If excellent street food in and of itself was not enough to get you in the door at Forty Twenty Three, then the fire sale prices should be intriguing. A veggie pita wrap without a side, which is more than enough for one average person, can be had for less than a fiver, including a drink. At these prices, you can support a local family run business using fresh ingredients, and still come out ahead of paying for corporate fast food. The sometimes varying hours, supply shortages, and lack of seating at times would normally be enough to warrant four stars, but the food here is so affordable, and so, so good that I hope everyone will run, not walk to city centre and see what the Mediterranean's best has to offer our street food scene.
