Kinu by Sizzling Tandoor — Restaurant in Saanich

Visited Kinu for the first time. It is a nice restaurant and has comfortable seating inside. Having it Uptown was really convenient.

When you arrive, there was a lot of storytelling about the restaurant’s history, which was interesting, but I would have preferred a bit more focus on the food and pacing. There was a long wait to order, to get water and then long gaps between courses, and we waited quite a while for the bill at the end, even after putting our jackets on.

The menu is focused with literally only the one item you order— so don’t expect traditional plated variety or side dishes you might find at other restaurants, just a very small bowl of basmati rice on the side. Many of the items lend themselves better to family-style eating, so just be aware.

That said, the Goat Dum Biryani was rich, flavourful, and beautifully prepared and a good choice for an individual. The Butter Chicken is tasty as well, but better suited for sharing with the table rather than eating as a solo dish. With a small side of basmati rice as the only accompaniment, I ordered naan to round out the meal and take away the monotony of literally only butter chicken with basmati rice for supper.

For the price point, slightly larger portions (the rice, the Papadam and Naan bread) would have made the experience feel even more balanced.

It is worth noting that there is no Tandoori Chicken on the menu.

While this particular style of Indian food wasn’t quite what we expected for dinner, my first time experience didn’t warrant a 4-rating all around. I might go back to give it another chance and hopefully revise my ratings. I hope others enjoy their experience here and that the off-service was a one-time thing and that portions might be more generous as in other Indian restaurants I have been to. Allegedly they have another restaurant with a dinner buffet and tandoori chicken. That might be something to try and...

While our food was reasonably tasty, it was overshadowed unfortunately with disjointed service and overly talkative servers.

Firstly, I felt we weren’t given good guidance on the menu, as the appetizers we choose were apparently quite similar (the kinu chicken and cauliflower had the exact same sauce), but we weren’t told otherwise. Plus, we counted - there are like 7 small pieces of chicken. Our drinks arrived 10 minutes after our food; and we were told the lamb Rogan Josh was ‘more than enough for four people’ when it really wasn’t - it was one shank. The server kept talking it up like it was the ‘most amazing meal ever’ which is a bit far fetched. We were also only given a small portion of rice for 1 person, when we were a party of 4.

A servers role should help their guests make informed decisions about the food they are choosing, especially if it’s their first time. With the portion sizes being small - at $20-$30/plate, I’m not sure if it was worth it.

Secondly, while the servers were friendly, we could hear one talking to the table next to us (at length) and her voice was SO loud that I could barely hear the guests at our table. When she came to ours, she continued to talk to us, at length, about how high the rent was in Uptown etc. It was just too much talking and not really what I wanted to hear while we were celebrating my dad’s birthday.

When I’m enjoying a meal with my family, please don’t talk about your problems - ask us about the food; if we live in Victoria; had we been there before; etc.

In summary, the meal was disappointing; service, disjointed and lacked a kind of flow; small portions not being good value for money; and we were being ‘talked at’ / schmoozed in a distasteful, whenever the servers would come to our table. Not a good dining experience, and not worth the...

A Culinary Delight with Exceptional Service and Ambiance

Kinu Restaurant is a true culinary gem, boasting an amazing new design and a team of knowledgeable staff, including an owner who is passionate about both educating guests on the cuisine and ensuring a delightful dining experience.

Our meal began with the Masala Prawns, which were cooked to perfection. While we would have preferred a bit more spice, the flavors were enchanting and tantalized our palates with their aromatic richness.

Next, we indulged in the whipped cheese and naan, which I highly recommend. The light sweetness of the dish, combined with a selection of nuts, pomegranate reduction, and rose leaves, pairs beautifully with the nigella seed naan. The naan itself is so delicious, you could easily enjoy it by the boatload on its own.

We couldn't resist trying the Tokri Chaat, which was both visually stunning and a flavor explosion. Not everyone may appreciate the warm and cold mix, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The black chickpeas, aloo tikki, and dahi bhalla elevate this dish to another level.

For our main course, we ventured outside my comfort zone with the Goat Dum Biryani. Having never tried goat before, I was thrilled that my first experience was with this dish. Opening the phyllo pastry top released sensational aromas, revealing beautifully aromatic rice and tender goat that falls off the bone.

We arrived early with our 5-year-old son, and the staff were wonderful with him. However, next time we plan to come without him to fully savor the experience. We will definitely be back!

Overall, Kinu Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with exquisite dishes and impeccable service. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a memorable meal in a beautifully...