New Place in Soho

Just when you think there's no more new spots for restaurant in Soho area, another one showed up, and this time is at a new building at the foot of Soho hidden next to the escalator. The first tenant is Kinship on the third level, open for business about a month ago.

With chefs Chris (formerly of Lily & Bloom) and Arron (of Gough's on Gough) behind this new venture, it's no surprise you see a trace of both restaurants in Kinship. I love the chill-out vibe that's perfect for a casual night out with friends, and the menu geared towards no-non-sense home-style cooking true to Chef Chris' American root.

Their small kitchen space - tucked at the corner next to the bar counter - means they could only offer a limited set of menu (about 10 or so choices in total among appetizers, mains and desserts), but there's no lack of variety, and all the dishes we tried were well executed. We began with a few starter dishes. While the chicken liver mousse may not win any award in photogenic category, I love the rich flavor, working well with the cucumber relish and biscuit that served on the side. I could munch on those flaky and buttery biscuits all night long.

Roasted carrots were prepared using ingredients from a local farm. It's done in rustic way roasted in oven and finished with cultured carrot juice and a generous dollop of fresh curd on top along with a few other ingredients. Burnt onion risotto was a brilliant meatless dish with soft risotto rice mixed with sauteed onions and deep-fried shallots and egg "beignet" on top - what a good comfort food.

We tried three different types of main courses (the fourth one we saved it to our only vegetarian friend at the table) The duck ravioli was the simplified version of the real thing, with shredded duck confit sandwiched between two pasta sheet and with pesto sauce. The spiced seafood stew reminded me of the classic Cioppino, with fish fillets and a generous portion of lobster in a slightly spicy tomato-based stew, with the spaetzle underneath soaking up all the flavor from the sauce.

I had my eyes on the Mr Whippy Ice Cream dessert the moment I sat down and saw the menu. One couldn't go wrong with the combination of vanilla soft-serve, salted caramel sauce, chocolate brownie bits and peanut brittle. The place is the right venue and with the right kind of food when you don't wanna think too hard of where and what to eat, I reckon.

(Meal was by invitation)

When? June 27 2019
Where? Kinship, 3/F 2-4 Shelley Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong
Menu Highlights? Burnt Onions Risotto
Web: kinshiphk.com