#FtLionAwards 2023 WINNERS…

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: KINAARA, London
Runner-up: RITU, London

Unlike last year, where we had a number of restaurants achieve a 5/5 rating, this year there was only one.

And what a place it turned out to be, with the talented Chef Imamuddin Khan delivering arguably one of the strongest 5/5 rated reviews we’ve ever conducted.

Ritu put up some exceptional dishes

As such, Indian fine-dining venue Kinaara at 5-star InterContinental hotel is #FtLionAwards’ Best Restaurant 2023.

With exceptional views of the River Thames opposite Canary Wharf, Chef Imamuddin has three runner-up dishes that include his Lamb Barrah for Best Grill, the Malabar Meen for Best Seafood, and The Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani for Best Main, as well as the Pink-Lit Sunset concoction for Best Beverage.

Our runner-up is another Indian restaurant Ritu in London’s St John’s Wood which, having been rated 4.5/5, served us some exceptional food.

While there wasn’t much in it between them and the other London Indian eatery Noir, Ritu pipped them to the post by a few points here and there, with their Fish Mappas winning Best Seafood.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: KINAARA, London
Runner-up: NOIR, London

And with Kinaara winning Best Restaurant, including their 5 nominations, they also take the award for Best Newcomer of 2023.

Noir’s Chef Nikhil impressed

Our runner-up is the Indian high-end restaurant Noir in north east London’s South Woodford, with the hugely talented Chef Nikhil Mahale putting up some incredibly unique dishes.

Not only was Noir rated a solid 4.5/5, but along with both Kinaara and Ritu, they were nominated for every category thus far aside from Best Burger.

With their Lobster + Love kebab dish winning Best Starter, they are a deserved runner-up for the FtLionAwards 2023.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: WING STACK – Wing Stack Burger
Runner-up: SMOKY BOYS – Smoky Brisket

Our ‘Best Burger’ award is our most popular category, and one which, throughout the year, receives plenty of page views.

Smoky Boys’ Smoky Brisket burger

Well, this year’s winner is one we came across, much to our surprise we might add, during our epic Halal restaurant tour of Wales.

Wing Stack in Cardiff didn’t just turn out to be an extremely ambitious establishment, but served us their signature Wing Stack Burger which we couldn’t help but describe as “extraordinary”.

Coated in a light, delicate and flavourful buttermilk panko coating, this was enhanced with the addition of homemade slaw and inhouse sauces, as well as slices of pickled beetroot. One of the best chicken burgers we’ve ever had.

Not too far off was Smoky Boys’ Smoky Brisket burger. With pieces of slow-cooked pulled beef brisket taken to the next level by the addition of caramelised grilled onions, some tangy coleslaw and gherkins, and mixed with a smoky BBQ sauce, this was a good’un.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: THE GRILL STEAKHOUSE – Ribeye
Runner-up: KINAARA – Lamb Barrah

This category is another popular one, especially when there’s steaks involved, and especially given how strong the Halal steak game has become over recent years.

Kinaara’s incredible Lamb Barrah

Yet, while it is a steak that takes the top honours this year, the runner-up was one of the best lamb chops we’ve had.

Buckinghamshire’s leading Halal steakhouse, The Grill Steakhouse in Aylesbury, served us a ribeye of epic proportions, with attractively thick griddle marks on a gorgeously glazed and glistening steak that was cooked medium rare.

Not only did the spicy-cum-smoky glaze play its respective part, but the seasoning was spot on, thanks to premium Maldon Smoked Sea Salt helping to bring through that deep umaminess.

But it was Kinaara’s french-trimmed Lamb Barrah that left an indelible impression. The joy of cutting into this positively pink and juicy lamb chop was unmatched, with a yoghurt-based marination whose spicious heat was masterfully measured.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: STICKY MANGO – Sticky Mango
Runner-up: KACHORI – Salted Caramel, Jaggery & Peanut Parfait

Chef Patron Peter Lloyd’s Sticky Mango in London’s Tower Bridge served us his signature Sticky Mango dessert which took the traditional and tweaked it just enough for the modern audience.

Kachori’s Salted Caramel, Jaggery & Peanut Parfait

The pouring of the warm coconut cream over a candy-floss dome revealed black sticky rice, as well as a smaller dome-shaped mango sorbet beneath, all of which made this entire thing a delight.

Just the contrast between and the warm and cold, as well as the sticky and wet, with a sweet nectar sauce as a reward at the end to slurp down, was always going to guarantee success.

Chef Brinder Narula at Kachori in London’s Elephant Castle put together a novel plate called Salted Caramel, Jaggery & Peanut Parfait.

A wonderful dessert this, with the jaggery and peanut parfait – the latter coming through strongly – boasting an exceptionally good texture which, though smooth, was solid enough to pleasantly dissolve on the palate. A worthy runner-up.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: RITU – Fish Mappas
Runner-up: KINAARA – Malabar Meen

This year’s runner-up restaurant Ritu continued its culinary euphoria by serving us this tremendous Fish Mappas.

Kinaara’s Malabar Meen

While its attractive tawny-coloured curry sauce was rich and buttery, this plate was ultimately driven by the combination of mustard seeds and fried curry leaves.

Not only did this help temper its spices just enough for us to enjoy the natural taste of the meaty chunks of monkfish tail, but made this one for the ages.

Meanwhile, the Malabar Meen at Kinaara was an exercise in subtle brilliance on the part of Chef Imamuddin.

Its deft touches accounted for this curry being gently spiced, while also boasting a velvety texture, with the tender and meaty chunk of Halibut being allowed to shine through for all its worth. An absolute joy!

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: RIBEYE – Baked Cannon of Lamb
Runner-up: KINAARA – Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani

#FtLionAwards ‘Best Restaurant’ 2022, Ribeye, does it again, with its latest branch in Birmingham’s Brindley Place presenting this picture-perfect Baked Cannon of Lamb.

Kinaara’s Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani

In addition to having us “looking at lamb in an entirely new way”, its slices of pink meat were arranged atop a silky smooth potato mash and topped with sweet caramelised shallots, before being finished with a deeply-flavoured jus.

And if it wasn’t for this dish, then Indian fine-dining venue Kinaara‘s aromatic Dum Pukht Chicken Biryani would have received the honours.

Here we had succulent chicken and long-grained rice enveloped in a masala spice, which never threatened to overpower the mild flavours of this beautiful “traditional Awadhi-style” biryani. We won’t be forgetting this in a hurry.

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: NOIR – Lobster + Love
Runner-up: RIBEYE – Firecracker Chicken “Bang Bang”

Honestly, you will not have had any starter like Noir’s ‘Lobster + Love’ kebab. This was, as we put it during our review, “some of the most delicious and most unique we’ve ever had!”

Ribeye’s ingenius Firecracker Chicken “Bang Bang”

These were executed with the precision necessary for finding that optimal balance between the soft and firm; yet still remaining utterly succulent.

What elevated these beyond superlatives was the distinct charring achieved by the traditional charcoal tandoor, which accounted for the incredible smokiness lingering in the background, before being topped with translucent globules of zesty lime which easily passed for cavier. One of the dishes of this year.

But perhaps the most innovative we’ve had in 2023 is Ribeye’s ingenius Firecracker Chicken “Bang Bang”.

With a uniquely compelling coca cola-based marination whose vinegary-sweet hit is offset by the hint of spice, this was spectacular!

(Shortlisted Nominees)

WINNER: QAVALI – Maikhane
Runner-up: KINAARA – Pink-lit Sunset

When you have a restaurant that presents to you an elaborate drinks booklet, which dedicates an entire page to each beverage, you know they’re serious about their concoctions.

Kinaara’s sophisticated Pink-lit Sunset

And so it turned out with Birmingham’s Qavali, whose Maikhane easily boasted the most complex flavour profile we’ve had in quite some time.

Turning out to be a zingy, fruity, aromatic affair, and one which kept our interest right until the end, this was tremendous in every respect.

Otherwise, fine-dining venue Kinaara kept its consistency right throughout with a drink that was mature and sophisticated.

The Pink-lit Sunset turned out to be a humdinger, with a zingy undertone helping to highlight its sophisticated floral notes.