&KITH — Restaurant in England

disclaimer: consideration that this is new place, with new staff, new processes, and breaking into a tough market. Updates will be made after more visits. But this is a place that has a high price point and needs to be reviewed accordingly.

&kith which draws its name from the adage Kith and kin is neatly nestled a stones throw from dover street car park. Decor is nothin short of flawless with the perfect blend of light, space, colour, and ambiance. It’s evident that copious amounts of time, and money has been poured into store design and layout in giving this store its beautiful and premium feel. It’s truly got that new place vibe! It is evident how passionate the owner is about this business and not to mention how professional and friendly he is.

Being the new kid on the block sporting trained baristas, bar tenders, and comes with its own Michelin stared chef. We were first in line and one of the team opened the doors and sort of left us in the lurch. Fortunately the owner realising them ran to the front and greeted us warmly and seated us at our behest. Seating though beautiful is a touch on the uncomfortable side. Contoured chairs might have not looked as good but would have made for a more comfortable sitting experience.

The menu is very focussed with the priority on quality not quantity. There’s a refreshing assortment being atypical with your run of the mill breakfast. Unfortunately our waitress seemed a little more confused when asked for clarity as we were but the owner was quick again to clearly describe each item, provide recommendations based on what we were feeling for, and fill us with confidence.

First, coffee. A double espresso and an Americano for the morning caffeine fix and some sparkling water to compliment the espresso. Unfortunately More holes begin to appear. No teaspoon with the espresso to stir? Americano served in a paper cup? The espresso had some body, but was sour and under extracted with a little more sediment than usual. Americano was flat, hollow, very little texture and definitely extracted at too high a temperature. Okay.

Hopefully the main course will pull it together. Ordered the popular pancake stack which is decorated with fried chicken thighs and maple syrup. During the incredibly protracted 35 min wait which was was garnished by the chef shouting “SERVICE!!!“ the dry bar opened and had a glimpse of the beautiful cocktail menu. Maybe next time! Cutlery was placed in a corner directly on the table. The waitress should have taken the extra 10 seconds to place a serviette and sit the cutlery atop.

The breakfast was to put it gently, a disaster. Dry, doughy pancakes, the anaemic amount of maple syrup mostly absorbed by the top pancake, and chicken thighs which looked like they were fried in the reused oil from yesterday for way too long. The combination was poorly plated, difficult to put down, and what should have otherwise worked in harmony, just felt wrong. At least if a little pot of maple syrup accompanied the meal it would have made it easier to consume the Sahara liked bottom pancakes.

In summary. Leicester is desperate for a place like this. A large beautiful place with a fantastic selection. The staff desperately need training in table etiquette and manners, and need to know the menu like the back of their hand, much like the owner. The chef might just have been having a bad morning but our neighbour returned the food, and complained about the lack of cutlery which confirmed our sentiments. I want this place to stand the test of time, I want them to do well and I’m hoping the changes can be made quickly as first impressions make a monumental difference.

I hope to revisit and give the evening menu a shot and maybe, just maybe be blown away by this...

Having visited here a few times, I know it is a decent brunch spot in Leicester and probably the biggest. I was really disappointed with my experience over the bank holiday weekend where the restaurant was overwhelmed with customers. Had visitors so wanted to take them somewhere where I had tried a few times.

On getting there- we were told a 40min wait which we agreed to simply because nowhere else was open. The manager didn't want us to wait inside but I had to request as I had my elderly parents with me and it was cold outside. He did agree but said he was trying to manage my expectations as he would not be able to take orders as the kitchen staff were so backed up. Given the bank holiday, I understood the pressures and accepted food would be a slightly longer wait.

We were seated shortly after but were told we weren't allowed to order food for 25mins but ordering a drink was ok. No one came by to ask about drinks and when I tried ordering at the time he suggested I was told they would have to check with the kitchen staff and refused to take any orders including drinks.

I tried to put this down to just a busy bank holiday but I observed a couple who came in after us were allowed to order, received their meals and even left whilst we were still waiting 🤔

When we were finally allowed to order, we requested to hang onto a menu as wanted to order french toast for later. The waiter insisted took the menus off us as "he didn't want us to change our mind" on what to order.

When the food finally came, I had to prompt for our hot drinks twice and they were in fact the last thing that came and the latte was cold as though it had been sat around. I was really disappointed with the food, the eggs were a little raw on top and rushed. It was so busy that I didn't feel I could even ask them to correct it.

I was almost sad this was experience with &kith as it was one of my favourite places to visit but have always been offpeak. Due to management crumbling under pressure that day I had felt unwelcomed. I dont think I've ever been treated this way by any establishment and tried to be understanding given the busy period but felt unwelcomed as though I was a hindrance. Given the size of the establishment you would expect kitchen staff to keep up. Perhaps some thought needs to be given to recruit more staff on busier days or to have a booking system. It seemed they couldn't cope on busier days which gave the impression they are rarely at complete capacity. Disappointed 👎🏽😬

I'm not the sort to complain and kept my cool the whole way through this ordeal but feel manners don't cost a penny. Have read similar reviews of people having such experiences on busier days. Perhaps this is something that needs to be looked at as there appears to be a consistent attitude in...

I recently visited a coffee shop diner with a visually appealing atmosphere heavily influenced by Muslim culture, and I must say the aesthetics were perfect for Instagram-worthy shots. However, I was left with mixed feelings about my experience.

On the positive side, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making us feel at home despite some disorganization and inefficiency in their service. The menu offered a range of enticing options, and I was looking forward to trying their drinks.

Unfortunately, my excitement quickly waned when I visited the restroom. The single "unisex" toilet designated for disabled people was shockingly filthy. The state of the skirting boards and walls was appalling, and it was evident that proper cleaning had been neglected for some time. To make matters worse, there was no soap available for handwashing. What was especially off-putting was that even the staff were using this unclean facility.

The lack of cleanliness in the restroom was a significant deterrent, and it put a damper on our overall experience. As we waited for our drinks, which took over half an hour to arrive, we decided to leave and head to Prana near the town hall square instead.

Prana provided us with a contrasting experience of perfection. Their prompt service, immaculate facilities, and delicious offerings made up for the disappointment we had encountered earlier. While the coffee shop diner had potential, the state of their restroom and the extended wait for our order ultimately led us to seek a more inviting dining experience elsewhere.

In conclusion, while the coffee shop diner had its merits in terms of atmosphere and friendly staff, the lack of cleanliness and inefficiencies in service left us with a less than satisfactory impression. Prana, on the other hand, lived up to our expectations and provided us with a delightful...