An ode to Queen Teuta

Teuta, a new Birmingham breakfast and lunch spot, has officially opened its doors on W. Maple Road. Stepping inside, guests will immediately notice a large mural that honors Queen Teuta, who ruled ancient Illyria in 230 BC. The restaurant is owned by the Skelaj family, originally from Albania (once part of Illyria), and interestingly, Teuta is also the name of the family matriarch. The cozy interior is a collaborative design between Teuta and her daughter, Jaclyn. The mother-daughter duo selected rich, earthy tones of moss green and tobacco, complemented by pendant lighting featuring macramé shades and wood slat wall paneling accents. The menu is dedicated to crafting comforting, made-from-scratch dishes. Freshly baked scones, breads, and pastries are prepared daily. The breakfast menu includes a variety of omelets, wraps, and Greek yogurt parfaits. The indulgent breakfast dishes such as crepes, pancakes, waffles, and French toast are topped with decadent choices like blueberry compote with lemon curd, candied bananas with hazelnut ganache, and baked peaches and cream. At lunch, customers can enjoy a variety of salads, sandwiches, roll-ups, burgers, and hearth-baked pizzas. As a tribute to the family’s Albanian heritage, the restaurant proudly serves “Speca Me Maze,” a traditional dish prepared with peppers in a rich crème sauce, accompanied by a cucumber salad. 168 W. Maple Road, Birmingham teutabirmingham.com