Our editor Kai Lutterodt aka @the.soho.girl visits Kima to discover what’s on offer at the new seafood restaurant to arrive in Marylebone Village…
Let’s set the record straight – I will trek across London in rush hour for good food, more specifically, for good seafood! Luckily, an invite to try Kima, meaning wave in Greek, on its opening week didn’t involve an adventurous travel story cutting through waves of people or traffic… just a short stroll from Soho to Marylebone. I’m always reminded of how quaint and ‘village-like’ this area north of Oxford Street is, as I walk past the fashion boutiques, coffee shops and locals on walks with their dogs.
Kima is situated on Paddington Street, which I’ve since dubbed ‘Greek Street‘ as its arrival completes the triangle of three Greek restaurants adjacent to each other. Of course OPSO just opposite, is Kima’s acclaimed sister restaurant from Andreas Labridis and two-Michelin star Nikos Roussos – so no pressure for their new arrival to live up to stands… but in my humble opinion, it does!
Watch my Kima Reel here
From Fin-to-Grill
Kima centres around fresh seafood and day-boat fish, drawing inspiration from the Greek seas and taking fin-to-gill cooking to a whole new level. They practice a ‘waste not, use all’ philosophy, so waste is kept to a minimal. Bones and spines are transformed into delicate broths served ‘sabu sabu’ style with slices of fish. Lesser-used parts such as the heads will be simply grilled to showcase the flavours of the throat and cheeks, seen as a delicacy by many. Lightly fried tails are served with an aioli, whilst charred fish collars are drizzled with the finest Greek extra virgin olive oil and a good squeeze of lemon. More noble parts of the fish, such as the fillets, are simply barbecued and served with seasonal side dishes. Alongside the seafood offering is selected cuts of meat that is aged in-house, cleverly paired with fish for their own take on surf and turf, such as a rack of lamb served with a bisque-demi-glace sauce.
As with the fisherman’s catch, dishes will change daily according to availability and will appear on the reeded glass wall above the fish counter. Starters on offer include charred langoustines, aromatic ceviche and tartars, along with elevated Greek staples such as tzatziki, taramas and ‘Soutzoukakia’ – grilled meatballs with an eel gremolata-Athenian salad. Whilst mains will span from home-made fisherman’s pie made with octopus topped with fava puree au gratin, to daily specials such as tuna T-Bone steak, grouper shank ‘Giouvetsi’ and fish collar with smoked tomato and charred okra.
Kima’s dessert offering includes a 75 dots millefeuille crafted with layers of delicate caramelised seaweed… ingenious or what?!
The carefully curated seasonal cocktail menu presents a symphony of flavors, each concoction crafted to give a twist on Greek flavours. A notable recommendation is the Feta Sour, an intriguing libation that promises an unrivaled sensory experience. The elegant marbled bar area offers a cosy nook to savor your libations accompanied by delectable small plates.
Inside Kima
Stepping into Kima, patrons are transported to an idyllic setting reminiscent of the serene and picturesque Greek coast. The striking white and blue exterior sets a captivating façade, while the warm and inviting ambiance of the 30-cover interior creates an atmosphere ideal for refined dining. Foodies, this is the sort of restaurant you could be held up in for over two-hours discovering dish-after-dish and talking about the flavours with your guest. The staff are friendly, and will also indulge you with talk about the food. I was on a culinary journey…
The interior design of Kima, masterfully curated by distinguished Greek architect Ioanna Balli, boasts an understated elegance. Attention to detail can be seen in the subtle brass lamps and other refined elements that illuminate the minimalistic setting with a ‘Kima’ sign backdrop, and the captivating display of the freshest “Catch of the Day” fish, delicately nestled upon a bed of ice.
Kima restaurant transcends mere gastronomy, offering an unparalleled sanctuary where culinary aspirations come to fruition. Prepare to embark on a remarkable culinary journey that will leave an indelible impression upon your senses.
Chef Nikos shared, “We are thrilled to present a new perspective on fin-to-gill eating with Kima, and to be bringing a new seafood focussed restaurant to London.”
WHAT WE ATE
– Rock oysters with fennel salsa
– Bottarga on toast
– Raw fish of the day (Yellow fin) served thinly sliced with extra virgin olive oil
– Taramas with cod roe cracker
– Eel ‘soutzoukaki’, yolk, aged soy
– Skate wing souvlaki
– Octopus ‘Xidato’
– Yellowtail chops
– Smoked potato mash, pickled mustard
– 75 dots sea weed millefeuille
– Olive oil macarons
It was a pleasure to run into food journalist Richard Vines, who shared a raving review of Kima via Instagram.
Perfect for: Special occasions | Group bookings | Lunch meetings | Dinner dates | Hidden gem | Seafood lovers | Highly rated | New Openings
Written by Kai Lutterodt | @the.soho.girl *I’m delightfully dyslexic (and courageously creative) – please excuse any typos! | Photos: Kai Lutterodt / My Soho Times
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Make a Reservation
Opening hours:
Wednesdays – Sundays for lunch and dinner
Saturday – Sunday for brunch
📍 Kima 57 Paddington Street, Marylebone London W1U 4JA | www.kimarestaurant.com| @kima.restaurant.london
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