Liam Dillon from The Boat was named among the country’s elite chefs
Liam Dillon’s restaurant The Boat won a Michelin Star
A Lichfield restaurant that ‘once resembled a roadside pub’ has won a prestigious Michelin Star, the second for the city.
The Boat, Liam Dillon’s micro-farm and casual fine-dining canalside spot, was awarded its first Star at the prestigious Michelin Guide ceremony on Monday, February 9.
The chef picked up the gong four years after Tom Shepherd’s Lichfield restaurant Upstairs picked up the prize.
Read more: Birmingham restaurant wins a prestigious Michelin Star 10 years after opening
Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Alex Claridge’s Jewellery Quarter restaurant The Wilderness won its first star ten years after opening.
The double win for boldens the West Midlands’ claim to be among the best foodie regions in Britain.
Earlier today, Liam posted to Instagram saying that the restaurant’s ninth birthday would be celebrated in Dublin, teasing ‘it’s a big day for us’.
He wrote: “Very nervous to be sitting in a room with chefs I’ve admired since the day I started cooking.
“Here’s hoping our hard work and growth at The Boat has paid off! No matter what happens, the team are all stars to me.
“Wish us luck!”
Liam worked at top kitchens in London before moving to spots in Sydney, Copenhagen and New York to hone his craft.
Lichfield now benefits from his skills with Michelin calling it a ‘proper dining destination’.
His cooking is described as ‘skilled and detailed’ with dishes like the Staffordshire venison and Amalfi lemon parfait made with the farm’s own honey celebrated by Michelin.
It added: “In the beginning, the walls and decor may have resembled a roadside pub, but endless renovations and tireless efforts from the whole family have reinvented our restaurant into a place for Liam to share his knowledge and passion for refined, British cooking with a lightness of touch.”
The Boat can be found on Walsall Road, Summerhill, Muckley Corner, Lichfield, WS14 0BU.
The Wilderness is at 27 Warstone Lane, Jewellery Quarter, B18 6JQ.