The evening is warm and I make my way from the underground to Cellar at Kindred, an all day eatery in the heart of Hammersmith. It’s the sort of evening where you can tell summer is just on the cusp, people are starting to emerge from the depths of winter, pub gardens are starting to fill and jackets are slung over arms as people jostle through the streets.
Kindred is a real hidden gem in Hammersmith and if I wasn’t looking for it, I probably wouldn’t notice the courtyard-like space that’s home to a co-working space, hireable venue and restaurant. Fairy lights are strung throughout, lending a warm glow against the 7pm sky that’s just starting to darken and a rustic brick facade awaits. I push open the door to Cellar at Kindred and am greeted with a cosy and intimate space ideal for date nights, an evening with friends and family or as somewhere to come by yourself for a drink or bite to eat at the end of a long day.
There’s a mix of high and low rise tables and booths, lighting is low and seductive, and the vibe is undeniably cool. There is a feel of bringing the outside in here, with plenty of natural colours from the sage green of the walls to the wooden elements of the furniture and foliage draped around. There’s a large open bar that takes pride of place and if you head to the far end of the restaurant there’s an open kitchen where you can watch your meals being prepared. To the front of the restaurant there’s their resident DJ playing an array of throwback tunes that sets the vibe for a fun evening ahead.
My friend and I slide into our allocated booth where we peruse the menu. Their all day menu has a mix of pretty much everything you could wish for, with the chef’s inspiration coming from far and wide. Tuck into fresh pizzetes from the pizza oven or fragrant power bowls. Our waiter recommended we choose a couple of small plates to share as well as a large plate each. I opted for the buttermilk fried chicken to start with, accompanied by a curry leaf mayo.
My friend chose the crispy mac and cheese bites, sprinkled with Lincolnshire poacher cheese shavings and drizzled with ancho chilli oil. A feast for all the senses, not only were they beautifully presented, but also packed with flavour and piping hot from the kitchen. We washed these down with a cocktail each from their extensive menu – spanning from their signature cocktails to the classics. I chose the ‘Tom & Cherry’ – Old Tom gin mixed with cherry, vanilla, a little lemon and sparkling wine. My friend’s Street Market Daiquiri, designed to celebrate the hustle, bustle and diversity of West London’s famous markets, mixes Chairman’s Spiced rum from St. Lucia, watermelon, elderflower, pineapple and fresh lime juice.
For mains, the choice again, is diverse. You can enjoy everything from fish, to vegetarian dishes, to burgers and their daily pasta. My choice of the pearled spelt, leek and fennel risotto turned out to be a fantastic one, accompanied by market green vegetables and drizzled with basil oil. My friend’s confit barbary duck leg was pronounced to be the best duck she had ever tried, with the meat falling off the bone. Accompanied by coco bean puree, spring greens, cherry jus and duck bubble & squeak it was the perfect portion to be filling without causing any bloating.
Despite being comfortably full, having seen the desserts that had been brought out we didn’t hesitate to order one of our own. Simple yet with an interesting array of dishes on offer, the dessert menu didn’t disappoint. It was with little debate that I picked the sticky toffee pudding and my friend the tiramisu. Both were relatively quick to arrive and presented as beautifully as they tasted. We took our time with these, sipping the wine we’d ordered to accompany our mains and just soaking up the atmosphere. There’s not too many places in London that play old-school R&B while you’re dining on a Thursday evening, but it worked. Not too loud, but enough to add to the vibe, it made the night feel that bit more fun and carefree.
Once the last of the wine had been drunk and the dessert plates carried back to the kitchen, we reluctantly dragged ourselves back to the tube station – which is handily a 30 second walk outside. Cellar at Kindred is a beautiful restaurant that fits all occasions. It’s somewhere that feels special but not pretentious and the food is as good as the atmosphere. When after something that ticks all your boxes, look no further than Cellar at Kindred.
Cellar at Kindred
Bradmore House
Queen Caroline St
London
W6 9BW
