KINZ, Notting Hill review

Upon entering Kinz, you instantly feel you are entering somewhere special and unique - a Notting Hill restaurant that lives up to its name which means “Treasure” in Arabic.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Helen Cathcart. Image courtesy of KINZ.

There are two Notting Hills. One exists in the minds of tourists, all pastel-painted houses, leisurely strolls down Portobello Road Market clutching an overpriced coffee, and pilgrimages to the blue door and the famous travel bookshop immortalised by the film. The other is Notting Hill Gate, a busy crossroads of practical rather than picturesque shops, supermarkets, coffee stops and a constant stream of commuters spilling out of the Tube station. The area’s most handsome building is undoubtedly The Coronet theatre.

Step inside, however, and the outside world disappears.  It is on this stretch that KINZ has decided to plant its flag. KINZ isn’t necessarily on the prettiest stretch of Notting Hill, but its arrival is giving this corner of the neighbourhood a serious glow-up.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Helen Cathcart. Image courtesy of KINZ.

The former 1930s Lloyds Bank building has all the sort of architectural bones that estate agents become embarrassingly excited about: soaring ceilings, exposed brickwork and, naturally, an actual bank vault now moonlighting as the wine cellar. There are even traces of old painted signage left exposed, the sort of details that stop a new restaurant feeling like it’s been assembled from an interiors catalogue and instead gives it soul and a sense that something interesting happened here long before anyone thought to serve excellent hummus. 

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Helen Cathcart. Image courtesy of KINZ.

KINZ is the vision of siblings Jad and Karim Lahoud, together with hospitality entrepreneur Rasha Khouri Bruzzo, whose shared Lebanese heritage is woven into every aspect of the restaurant. The interiors, designed by FARE INC, are exceptionally beautiful without trying too hard. Earthy colours, dramatic arches, warm lighting and an enormous wine-red lantern give it the sort of effortless confidence that many expensive London restaurants spend millions unsuccessfully chasing. The restaurant seats 112 diners yet still feels remarkably intimate thanks to its split-level design, spread across two floors (three if you count the private dining room). The carefully curated photography adds another layer of personality, bringing character and energy without ever feeling contrived.

The drinks programme deserves special mention. The cocktail list is exceptionally well conceived, taking familiar classics and giving them distinctly Lebanese accents. It would be worth coming here solely for the cocktails at the ground floorbar area.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Helen Cathcart. Image courtesy of KINZ.

The Margarita Harra was a standout with a rim of coriander-infused salt adding a wonderfully fresh twist. As a fan of a good negroni I really enjoyed the Babunaj Negroni - softer and more nuanced than a traditional Negroni, using chamomile, Hayman’s Gin, Lillet Blanc and Suze making it almost alarmingly easy to drink. Meanwhile, the Doudoutiniis created from a drink served in Lebanon called the Doudou shot (half lemon juice, half vodka, Tabasco and olive) this version is elevated to a full martini style cocktail which pairs easily with the food. A playful and utterly addictive cocktail.

The wine list is equally thoughtful, with a strong focus on Lebanese producers and independent wineries. It has clearly been curated with genuine passion and offers a wonderful opportunity to explore wines many diners may not otherwise discover.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Natascha Milsom

But KINZ is far more than a beautiful space. The menu is rooted in the comfort and generosity of Lebanese home cooking. We began with the hummus -silky, rich and satisfying. The moutabal brought a wonderful smoky depth from chargrilled aubergine, while the fattoush was exactly the sort of refreshing salad I’ll be craving when London’s next heatwave inevitably catches us all by surprise. Crisp vegetables, fragrant mint and perfectly toasted pitta made every bite feel gloriously summery.

Among the starters, the meat kibbeh stood out for its crisp shell giving way to warmly spiced filling, while the cheese rikakat was encased in a delicate, flaky pastry wrapped around creamy feta and herbs while the lamb sfeeha were dainty open-top square pastries with minced lamb, pine nuts, tomato and onion, deliciously packing impressive flavour with each bite.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Natascha Milsom

The larger dishes continued the theme of refined comfort food. The shish barak of delicate lamb dumplings in a warm garlic yoghurt and coriander stew was light and tangy -  a perfect summer menu inclusion My only quibble is that the dumplings could be a fraction more generous. They’re delicious, but they looked small and a little lost in the stew.

The standout, though, is the slow-cooked spiced chicken with rice. Tender slow-cooked spiced chicken sat atop deeply fragrant rice infused with rich cooking juices, and the addition of roasted nuts and fresh herbs brings together a beautifully balanced dish packed with flavour - pure comfort food.

Absolutely save room for dessert. Elene’s Chocolate immediately brought to mind River Café’s legendary Chocolate Nemesis – and whisper it quietly, I may even have preferred this version. Decadent, intensely chocolatey and utterly irresistible. The Osmalieyeh layered crisp kataifi pastry around luscious ashta cream for a beautifully balanced Lebanese finale. Finish with a Lebanese coffee served alongside a little dish of halva and you have a perfect ending to the evening. Fair warning though: if you’re particularly sensitive to caffeine, don’t expect an early night afterwards.

KINZ, Notting Hill. Image credit Natascha Milsom

Lastly, a special mention for the service here which felt an integral part of the experience. Welcoming you into their home rather than a restaurant and serving the food in way that felt like they were presenting you proudly with their mother’s cooking and hoping you’d enjoy it as much as they do. It’s difficult to fake that sort of warmth.

KINZ, open a mere four weeks was already buzzing with satisfied diners on our visit. With an interesting wine list, thoughtful cocktails, beautiful interiors and an overall feeling of warmth in the food and the people working there it feels ambitious without being pretentious, polished without losing warmth making KINZ exactly the kind of restaurant London wants more of.

And one final public service announcement. If London insists on pretending it’s the Mediterranean for another week, KINZ may be one of the coolest places to spend an evening. The air conditioning is set perfectly and will leave you feeling as cool as a cucumber.

Location: 50 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3KD. Opening hours: Sunday - Thursday 12:00-23:00, Friday & Saturday 12:00- 00:00 Website: kinzrestaurant.com Instagram: @kinzrestaurant

 Review by Natascha Milsom