The Cinnamon Kitchen, Again and Again
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- Ms R Gets into the Kitchen (27/05/2009)
Now I am certain. The Cinnamon Kitchen is one of my favourite restaurants in London.
I've been six times, and every time I go I mean to write this review. But I never do, and then my memory gets a little hazy, so I have to go again. There may be a reason behind my laziness after all.
Now when I go, I know exactly what to order, and only hope that my dining companion will go along with my master plan. Which is:
To start
The mixed platter from the "grills" menu. It's not on the menu, and may be offered as a starter for two, but don't take it that way. With two entrees, it's way too much food. Everything on it is delicious, especially the fat chilli with lamb mince, the wild African prawn, and the clove smoked salmon. Well, and the duck with sesame and tamarind glaze and the chargrilled fruits with yogurt. Which is everything on it.
For the main course
The pork chop with masala mash and vindaloo sauce. It's spicy and perfectly flavoured, and substantial enough for two. A side of stir-fried greens with cumin and garlic, which are crunchy and delicious. And a selection of three breads to clean up any remaining sauce.
I have also had the seared scallops with kadhai mushrooms and the chargrilled nile perch with lime leaf and chilli to start, and the tandori king prawns with Bengali kedigree and the seared haddock with devon crab and kokum crust for mains. They've also been very good, although the kedigree that comes with the king prawns is my least favourite thing on the menu.
Of course, we will be sitting outside the restaurant on the indoor/outdoor terrace the restaurant shares with Devonshire Terrace, and we'll be drinking something cool and white. And maybe sparkling. On my first visit, we drank Cinnamon Bellinis, which I proceeded to come home and make (and write about - along with the first promise of a review that never came).
On my last visit, the terrace was closed for a private party, and we had to sit inside. It wasn't so bad at all. I was pleased to see that the restaurant was 75% full, and the buzzy space was simultaneously elegant and relaxed.
So now what? Do I have to conjure up new (fake) reasons to go? No. I think I'll just own up to the fact I love it and send this article to my prospective dining companions. They may as well know what they're having for dinner.
Now when I go, I know exactly what to order, and only hope that my dining companion will go along with my master plan. Which is:
To start
The mixed platter from the "grills" menu. It's not on the menu, and may be offered as a starter for two, but don't take it that way. With two entrees, it's way too much food. Everything on it is delicious, especially the fat chilli with lamb mince, the wild African prawn, and the clove smoked salmon. Well, and the duck with sesame and tamarind glaze and the chargrilled fruits with yogurt. Which is everything on it.
For the main course
The pork chop with masala mash and vindaloo sauce. It's spicy and perfectly flavoured, and substantial enough for two. A side of stir-fried greens with cumin and garlic, which are crunchy and delicious. And a selection of three breads to clean up any remaining sauce.
I have also had the seared scallops with kadhai mushrooms and the chargrilled nile perch with lime leaf and chilli to start, and the tandori king prawns with Bengali kedigree and the seared haddock with devon crab and kokum crust for mains. They've also been very good, although the kedigree that comes with the king prawns is my least favourite thing on the menu.
Of course, we will be sitting outside the restaurant on the indoor/outdoor terrace the restaurant shares with Devonshire Terrace, and we'll be drinking something cool and white. And maybe sparkling. On my first visit, we drank Cinnamon Bellinis, which I proceeded to come home and make (and write about - along with the first promise of a review that never came).
On my last visit, the terrace was closed for a private party, and we had to sit inside. It wasn't so bad at all. I was pleased to see that the restaurant was 75% full, and the buzzy space was simultaneously elegant and relaxed.
So now what? Do I have to conjure up new (fake) reasons to go? No. I think I'll just own up to the fact I love it and send this article to my prospective dining companions. They may as well know what they're having for dinner.
Here Is The Writer : Sarah Western Balzer
Sarah Western Balzer is the managing director of HITC Life and is always on the lookout for reader-writers, so if you'd like to be one, make yourself known (sarah.western@hereisthecity.com). Sarah moved to London six years ago from New York but is originally from Florida, and still suntans like it's 1989. She is so grateful to the banker who introduced her to Here Is The City that she married him, and they live in Wapping with their son.
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