Who needs a bank when you can be banking on a soul-filling Lebanese spread instead? Lloyds Bank’s old branch on Notting Hill Gate shut its doors, and KINZ slid straight into the vacancy – a rather brilliant swap, all things considered. Opened earlier in June, KINZ takes you on a full pilgrimage through some of the most prized Lebanese foods – from hummus through to tabbouleh, kibbeh and mashawi.

Founded by Rasha Khouri Bruzzo alongside brothers Jad and Karim Lahoud, KINZ is rooted in the food they grew up with. Named after the Arabic word for “treasure”, it’s a celebration of the recipes, traditions and generous hospitality passed down through generations, served in a space that feels warm, welcoming and refreshingly unpretentious (especially considering its postcode).

We visited the restaurant recently – here’s everything you need to know.

What’s the vibe like?

Short story short, the building is unlike anything you’ve seen before in London – we can guarantee it. From the outside, it’s very unassuming, but step inside and you’ll be met with a beautifully restored, high-ceilinged building that’s a breath of fresh air.

For starters, the foyer is actually a deli that’ll be stocked with house-made preserves, spice blends and olive oil (not ready yet when we visited). It’s likely you’ll come for lunch and bring home a jar of something as a memento of your visit.

Walk through it and you’re met with a triple-height dining space that is breathtaking and yet comfortingly homey. It looks like a stylish Lebanese Airbnb and will make you forget you’ll need to take the Central line home.

The mezzanine above holds large-format photography of Lebanon, and the old bank vault is now a snug wine room built for lingering over a bottle.

There’s a private dining room on the third floor too, beautifully adorned with pomegranate tapestries across the ceiling, and ideal for bigger groups and celebrations.

What’s on the menu?

All the dishes you’d hope to find at a Lebanese restaurant – and then some. Gluttony got the better of us on our visit, and we somehow talked ourselves into one starter too many. In our defence, it’s hard to show restraint when the menu is packed with vibrant mezze, silky spreads and irresistible small plates.

The hummus is a must. While the bread wasn’t particularly memorable, it’s merely a means to scoop up one of the silkiest hummus dishes we’ve had. Rich with nutty and earthy notes, it reminds you why simple is often best. We also tried:

• Spinach fatayer (£8) – thin triangle pastries filled with spinach, onion and lemon. This is the one we would skip in favour of one of the mains. It tasted lovely, but felt more like a seat filler compared to the flavourful and cheese rikakat and kibbeh, which both packed a punch.

• Pumpkin kibbeh (£9)- pumpkin and bulgur shells stuffed with spinach, onions and walnuts. These were some gorgeous bites. A dense, rich filling – astonishingly moreish.
• Cheese rikakat (£8) – these crisp filo parcels were brimming with goey feta (because apparently, that’s possible!), strikingly crunchy with a fabulously creamy middle. The cheese was still hot, which made it even the better. A must order.

There’s a long list of mains too, but the starters had already seen us off, so fattoush it was – the beloved Lebanese staple, with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mint and radish, hit with sumac, onion and shattered pitta crisps. Don’t let the word “salad” fool you. This bears no resemblance to the sad bowl of lettuce and stale bread you’ve been cobbling together at home. It’s so sharp and beautifully herby – it will wake your tastebuds up.

We paired it with the halloumi skewers, though you can also opt for chicken, lamb, kafta or mixed. The halloumi was deliciously rubbery – exactly as it’s meant to be – and the portion was substantial. Dominating as it looks, it was the dips that stole the show. There are three available, for £2.5 each:

• Toum, a fluffy whipped garlic sauce
• Chilli (self-explanatory!)
• Salsa Khadra, a blend of fresh herbs

An absolute must-order. They were packed with flavour.

And what’s for dessert?

We’d already heard whispers about the chocolate cake – a dish that’s developed something of a cult following despite the restaurant having been open for barely a month. Sadly, by the time we visited, it had sold out, so we settled for the runner-up – kanef rolls. Two rolled logs of kadayif (that shredded, hay-like pastry) wrapped around a soft, stretchy cheese filling and scattered with crushed pistachios. Good enough to soften the blow, though we’d be lying if we said we weren’t thinking about the luscious chocolate cake still.

Last but not least, what’s to drink?

Wine starts at £8 a glass, weighted heavily toward Lebanese and independent producers, while the cocktail list takes familiar formats and gives them a regional twist. We had KINZ’s version of a negroni and an Aperol spritz – and they did have a unique Lebanese flair to them, which we can always appreciate in keeping with the cuisine and focus of the space. The negroni, for instance, was infused with chamomile.

Verdict

It’s actually quite difficult to write about a place you like this much without sounding forced, but we left KINZ with full hearts and very full stomachs. You can tell this restaurant is an outpouring of love and deep respect for Lebanese cuisine, and everything feels so carefully considered that it’s hard to imagine anyone walking away from it not absolutely delighted. We, for one, cannot wait to go back.

Key details

Address: 50 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JD

Website: kinzrestaurant.com

Socials: @kinzrestaurant

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