Kinaara | Upscale Indian in Greenwich
Kinaara is a fine-dining Indian restaurant on the second floor of the Intercontinental Hotel in Greenwich, a stone’s throw away from the O2.
Honestly, you could throw a stone from here, at the O2, and make it.
It was formerly Peninsula, a fancy European restaurant – and while the cuisine has changed, those floor-to-ceiling windows giving you an awe-inspiring view over the Thames and onto Canary Wharf, thankfully, remain. The space it occupies falls face first into the fine-dining tier with brass and leather banquettes, a silky carpet floor, white table clothes and comfy royal purple chairs.
Imammudin Khan – a chef who’s honed his craft at various Indian restaurants around the globe, from New Delhi to here in London, as well as co-penning a best-selling cookbook on curry – is now calling the shots in the kitchen. His spiel, Indian fine-dining, is more associated with areas like Chelsea (Kutir) and Mayfair (Gymkhana), so this is new and welcome territory for anyone east of say, London Fields.
Kinaara’s menu changes every season. In Spring, you might start with poppadoms (backed by a trio of chutneys), tandoori paneer or crispy Keralan duck with a cashew crumble, and then move onto main courses in the shape of lamb barrah (a rack of chargrilled lamb with peppercorn & mint yoghurt); Salan, a tangy curry from Hyderabad that Khan makes with baby aubergines and sesame tamarind sauce, and chicken methi malai marinated in royal cumin & cardamom. Dessert is worth investing in too (especially with options like kulfi and a chai crème brûlée served with a toasted fennel biscuit), and the whole thing can be ordered either a la carte or within specially designed tasting menus.
Kinaara’s close proximity to the O2 also makes it a pretty convenient and obvious destination if you’re after a splurgey pre show meal. Emphasis on the splurge though, as it’s not one for the frugal; drinks err on the expensive side with cocktails from £20 and the cheapest glass of wine from £12. But then with sparkling views, beautifully presented food, and a high-end atmosphere…
…Kinaara is truly a showy dinner.
NOTE: Kinaara is open from Tues-Sat 5-10pm. You can find out more and make a reservation on the hotel’s website, here.
Kinaara | 1 Waterview Dr, London SE10 0TW
What else is good in this part of town? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Greenwich…