Fluid Eating's Review of Cinnamon Kitchen
Bishopsgate is kind of dirty in a strange way, bustly and hustly especially on weekdays and even more so on hot, sticky evenings. Scratch the surface of this Liverpool Street locality, however, and navigate through the pebbled back streets to uncover a slightly more glamorous location: The Cinnamon Kitchen, in Devonshire Square.
Affectionately known as 'CK', this is one restaurant where the credit crunch is refused entry. Business is still going strong even on a Monday night. A good sign, eh? David Cameron can carry on with his budget cuts because the well-heeled crowds represent-ing the City of London aren’t involving themselves. They'd rather involve themselves with tucking into what the Cinnamon Kitchen does best: modern Indian grub delicately crafted together with North and South African influences. I don't blame them a jot for this!
I share their preference, as do the devotees of ultra trendy sister venue The Cinnamon Club who have been in attendance, in no small numbers, to indulge in both the culinary options and the drinkies served up in Anise, CK's dedicated cocktail bar.
Cinnamon Kitchen’s restaurant-cum-bar is set in an atrium amongst warehouse style buildings, and has impressive views of the Gherkin to offset the al fresco dining. The in-terior is equally entertaining to the eye: metallic furnishings, marble floors, warm Indian lamps and comfy leather chairs. The wooden terrace outside boasts more of the same, and as I sink into a chair, sampling yogurt cakes, lamb stuffed chillis and a green apple sorbet, the thought comes to mind that this is a good start to dinner.
Quite a few alternative, and almost strange sounding, dishes are up in the mix here. Examples being: Rajasthani roast red deer and guinea fowl with roasted garlic and chilli. I dare you to try them. This is what actually sets CK apart and, in a way, completes the experience (although I'll admit that personally I didn't like the idea of eating deer, I kept thinking about Bambi and wasn't quite able to hack it).
The wild african prawns, the French black leg chicken with morel korma sauce and the typical Indian favourite of Biyrani with chicken or lamb are are tasty options and are good for those with a less adventerous tongue. Is there even room for dessert I hear you shout? Well...yes I say, pointing in the direction of the Indian banana tarte tatin served with thandai ice cream. It's quite rich on the pallet but goes down nicely with a spicy Pinot Noir. On that note, the wine list is reasonably generous with imports also from Spain, France, Sicily and New Zealand.
A visit to the Cinnamon Kitchen goes well with a shopping trip to Brick Lane because the area is great for knick knacks, and completely immersed in the Asian culture which dominates this part of London. To top it all off, executive chef Vivek Singh is even on hand with master classes, kindly helping guests to bring their experiences home.
The service is also second to none. Friendly, bubbly staff both wait and entertain, creating a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for all concerned. What really sets the icing on the cake is that this restaurant is refreshingly free of sambucca shots, 80s hit parades, and boozed up lads and ladettes in suits (often prevalent in this area).
Cinnamon Kitchen is sophisticated, in an unpretentious way. Perfect for East End arty types, well behaved bankers, a catch-up with an old friend or even a intimate romantic liaison. It could almost be likened to a pearl in an oyster shell, tucked away behind the numerous frontline drinking holes. Until you turn the corner and enter, you don't actually know what you're getting, but it's definitely worth the investigation.
Reviewed by Danielle Aumord
DESCRIPTION: For too long, the innovation of Vivek Singh’s Indian cuisine has been the preserve of Westminster, but with the launch of Cinnamon Kitchen in late 2008, this new concept introduces his talent to the City.
Rather fittingly located in the historic East India Company spice warehouses, transformed into the stunning Devonshire Square development, Cinnamon Kitchen is just a short walk from Liverpool Street station. With the celebrated executive chef Vivek Singh and managing director Rohit Chugh at the helm, the restaurant serves modern Indian cuisine inspired by the same ethos of the highly acclaimed Cinnamon Club, but in a more relaxed and informal setting.
A genuinely unique all day dining destination, simply pop into the Cinnamon Kitchen for a spicy breakfast or much needed brunch, take a seat at the capital’s first Indian grill and tandoor bar or enjoy a lunch to share, savour an evening snack on the way home or take the time for a decadent dinner.
Entered via an imposing covered courtyard created by the warehouses, the Cinnamon Kitchen benefits from an all-weather alfresco terrace, where the buzz of diners welcomes you to the restaurant.
With an interior by B3 Designers the fusion of industrialism with intricate Indian design is apparent from the offset. Set against the grey coarse walls, a mosaic of over 5,000 mother of pearl tiles spreads in geometric configurations across the reception.
Colour cast hexagonal floor tiles lead diners to the capacious dining room, where the building’s simple lines are softened by hanging globe lights of silver-plated brass, intricately hand-perforated to cast dappled patterns and create texture. A muted wall palette highlights the naked dark sheesham wood tables, whilst carefully considered mirrors and candles in glass storm covers create intimacy. One of the main focal points of the dining room comes in the form of the pewter and black granite tandoor bar and grill.
Providing the best seats in the house, a backdrop of corrugated glass offers an alluring hint of the working kitchen behind. Other elements incorporated into the design include screened wine walls that can be hidden by large sliding doors in homage to the room’s past incarnations. (Updated 01/07/2011)
- Average price per head: £
- Additional Info: No additional info for this venue.
Cinnamon Kitchen Food & Drink Menus
Listed below are few sample food and drinks items available at
Cinnamon Kitchen. These lists are not enhaustive, but are instead designed to give you an overview of the venue's
offerings and assciated prices.
Cinnamon Kitchen Food menu
Recognised as one of the leading practitioners of modern Indian food, Vivek Singh continues to push culinary boundaries with his imaginative approach. Less structured than his Cinnamon Club menus, the Cinnamon Kitchen provides diners with the opportunity to further explore Vivek’s brilliance. Continuously exploring and challenging culinary traditions, Vivek goes beyond authenticity to discover new flavours and draw on the diversity of the subcontinent.
Cinnamon Kitchen Drink menu
Cinnamon Kitchen Special Offers
Title: 5 courses & a Cinnamon berry bellini £45 per person
Description: Available lunch Mon-Fri and dinner Mon-Sat until the 31st May, subject to availability. Dishes from a set menu and subject to change. Includes VAT, excludes service.
Classification: Lunch, Dinner, Over £30
Date: 13 Apr, 2012 - 31 May, 2012
Days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Time: n/a
This is an online special offer only - Click here to book
Customer Reviews for Cinnamon Kitchen
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