As a long-time vegetarian, I'm always on the hunt for London's best meat-free eats, and an entirely plant-based restaurant is just the icing on the (vegan) cake. KIN Cafe in Fitzrovia have been a big name on the veggie scene for years, founded in 2014 by cousins Reza and Mohammed Malekzadeh, so I was eager to try their recently opened KIN Restaurant next door. This new venture maintains their philosophy of embracing the power of plants, using locally-sourced ingredients rather than relying on meat substitutes.
This cosy venue is perfect for date night.
DesignMyNight Reviews KIN Restaurant London
As we were visiting on the first Saturday of January I expected it to be a little empty, but the restaurant was absolutely packed throughout our time there. The intimate space was made up of two green velvet booths running down either wall, with a line of tables along each, as well as a few smaller tables dotted around the middle and a bar area at the back. We were led to a cosy seat in the corner, where we could fully admire the natural-looking decor.
I started with one of their waste-free cocktails: a bellini (£7.50), my favourite of the prosecco-based concoctions. The peach flavour was sweet but not sickly, perfectly balanced with the more dry taste of fizz. In the spirit of dry January, my partner chose a Karma cola (£3), part of the profits of which are donated to cola nut growers and their communities in Sierra Leone.
Small plates, big flavours.
While KIN Cafe features eggs and dairy in some of its dishes, the KIN Restaurant menu is entirely vegan. Created by Executive Chef Shayan Shams, there are a wide variety of appetisers and small bites to choose from, as well as a large plate section, and we were encouraged to choose three options per person.
We began with a selection of small plates to share, the first being a creamy corn and pepper soup (£10.50) that was poured at the table. This had a vibrant yellow colour and a delicious, earthy taste to it, which nicely complemented the sauteed mushrooms on sourdough (£9) - a generous portion of mixed mushrooms, seasoned with various herbs and sat on a thick, crunchy slice of sourdough bread.
Next was the house-style aubergine (£8), fried to a beautifully soft texture with a crispy outside and topped with a zesty signature house sauce that had a spicy kick to it. Our favourite dish of the night was the carrot hummus (£11), a mouthwatering blend of carrots and chickpeas with a hit of garlic, finished with a drizzle of truffle oil. The texture was very smooth, perfect for scooping up with the freshly baked pita that it was served with.
The KIN menu is reimagining the vegetables we know and love.
We also ordered a main course each, mine being the tomato trio (£18.50). This medley of bites used tomatoes in unique and inventive ways: large circles of tender gnocchi coated in a rich, tangy tomato relish, paired with panko-fried slices of green tomato and a foamy basil and tomato espuma on the side. I was surprised by the breaded tomatoes as it wasn't something I'd seen before, but the flavours worked well together overall. My boyfriend opted for the courgette and pistachio spaghetti (£18), made with fresh pasta, which had a creamy, blended sauce and was topped with roasted heirloom tomatoes and a burrata you'd never know was vegan.
We were pretty full towards the end of the meal, but the desserts were calling to us. Sensibly deciding to split one between us, we ordered the rich, indulgent chocolate fondant (£7.75), served with a scoop of tart raspberry ice cream that had a few slices of chilli resting on it for a kick of heat.
Overall: KIN Restaurant Fitzrovia
KIN has replicated the success of its cafe with its shiny new restaurant, and I can see why. The intimate space is perfect for date nights or catching up with close friends, and its small plate-heavy menu lends itself to sharing. The standout dish for us was the carrot hummus, though I couldn't fault any of them, and its great to know that eating here does some good for the planet too. Though I'm not a vegan myself, if all plant-based food was this good, I could easily be converted.
Enjoyed this KIN Restaurant
Fitzrovia review? Check out our guide to the best small plates in the city.