10/04/2025: Review of Kinome – beautiful presentation but disappointing taste and service
We visited Kinome and had their 11-course omakase menu, which on paper sounded promising. Unfortunately, the experience did not live up to expectations - neither culinary nor in terms of service.
The food:
There is no doubt that the dishes are great. The servings were decorated with flowers and presented with a sense of the visual. Unfortunately, the taste did not follow.
The first course – baked pork – was overwhelmed by a thick batter, which made it difficult to taste the meat, which had also become tough and rubbery.
The second course, scallops in beetroot/chili sauce, was a positive surprise. A nice balanced flavor - especially because I don't usually like scallops.
Third course, a deep-fried prawn, suffered from the same problem as the first – too much batter and too hard cooked. The prawn was dry and the dish was even served cold.
The small taco with shrimp and avocado was okay, but not memorable.
An oyster with thinly sliced dried fish followed – here there was simply too much topping, but luckily most of it could be pushed aside.
A bowl of smoked salmon and horseradish was presented dramatically with smoke under the lid, but taste-wise it was a one-sided smoked experience.
The sushi was fine and tasty, with a good variety of tuna, salmon and crab.
Finally, three small desserts – nice, but not memorable.
The service:
The start was inauspicious. I ordered a non-alcoholic lychee mojito, which unfortunately tasted fermented and completely wrong. I love lychee and know how it should taste - my boyfriend agreed. When we pointed this out, we were met with a slightly dismissive attitude. The waiter insisted that the drink "always tastes like this" and we were not offered a new one without payment.
I ended up just drinking water for the rest of the meal.
In general, the service seemed rushed, even though the restaurant was only half full. The dishes were served without much enthusiasm, often just mentioned quickly in a low voice.
Summary:
Kinome serves beautifully presented food in quiet surroundings, but it does not show through in taste or service. The presentation is nice, but the quality is lacking - both in the culinary and in the guest experience.
It became three stars, but it felt more like a two. Unfortunately not a place I would like to revisit or recommend further
Was disappointed with the drink for the start, that I was not actually motivated to take pictures of the dishes as or were nice.
18/02/2025: Our dining experience was fantastic! The sushi was exceptionally fresh, expertly prepared, and beautifully presented. Every bite was delicious. The service was just as impressive—the staff was warm, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed. Highly recommend!
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