Kuro Eatery

All-day neighbourhood restaurant Kuro Eatery, an extension of sister site Kuro Coffee next door and painted in a twin shade of brilliant white, is doing all the things one would expect from a central Notting Hill restaurant. The interiors are verging-on-empty minimalist, a menu of contemporary small plates features ingredients we can barely pronounce, while a thoughtfully-prepared wine list includes all your organic, natural and biodynamic types.

None of this is necessarily a bad thing, although we were a little apprehensive when we first arrived. The sparsely-furnished space feels slightly hard, from the grey stone bar to cushion-less wooden bench seating and a noticeable absence of colour throughout. We'd pitch it somewhere between Scandi and Japanese in style, so yes, very cool, but not the warm hug we’re looking for on a cold winter’s evening.

Still, the expertly-executed Mediterranean-leaning plates that start to arrive soon soften the experience. A charred hunk of hispi cabbage paired with torn soft cheese, maple syrup and toasted almonds delivers so much more than the sum of its parts. As does a fluffy round flatbread emblazoned with a medallion of goat’s cheese and lashings of hot honey. The most expensive dish at £30, a chunky piece of brill, with sweet-pickled cabbage and beurre blanc, was so delicious that the hassle of having to debone it ourselves seemed like a minor inconvenience. To finish, a dessert sold to us as ‘burnt cheesecake’ arrived deconstructed in a bowl, along with an overpoweringly fragrant rosemary sorbet. This is the only thing that didn’t quite come together for us.

Elegantly understated, Kuro has made its restaurant debut not with a bang, but with a whisper, and while on the outset might seem a little austere, its charisma ardently shines through in its food.

In the colourful and quirky district of Notting Hill, you’ll find Kuro Eatery. After the success of their popular Kuro coffee house since its opening in 2021, owners Julian Victoria and Jacob van Nieuwkoop made the move to open the eatery, creating a haven of meticulously planned and prepared food.

Experienced chef Andrianos Poulis’ Greek heritage shines through Kuro Eatery’s menu, which bursts at the seams with tempting Mediterranean flavours. With the intention of creating ‘simple and clean’ dishes, the all-day dining location serves up seasonal and locally-sourced produce, so you can be sure that what’s on your plate is good for you and good for the community. Breakfast and lunch are served every day, with dinner currently on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Stepping into Kuro Eatery, you’ll find yourself in a minimalist’s dream of a bright, light location with cream, wooden, and glass accents throughout – perfectly Instagrammable and a serene location in which to enjoy your meal.

Dropping in early for breakfast, you can browse Kuro Eatery’s beautiful range of handcrafted pastries, or perhaps you’ll be tempted by the made-to-order breakfast options, including French toast with berries and, interestingly, rosemary.

The main menu for lunch and evening meals is ‘uncomplicated’, but cooked to perfection. Bringing in those Mediterranean-inspired dishes, the chef can prepare for you tagliatelle with smoked cheese and crispy pork, or langoustines carefully seasoned with cumin, coriander, and ghee. Also on offer are some mouth-watering sides, like crispy roasted potatoes, seasoned with Parmesan oil and chives.

Of course, there’s always time to fit in a dessert, and Kuro Eatery makes it easy for you to choose, with three options on the menu (quality over quantity, we think). The burnt cheesecake with rosemary and berries in particular makes for a beautiful combination of flavours to round off a splendid meal at the eatery.