Kinara by Vikas Khanna

Dining at Kinara by Vikas Khanna was an absolutely beautiful experience from start to finish. The ambience alone makes this place special — elegant décor, thoughtfully arranged outdoor seating, soft lighting, and the enchanting touch of live harp music that creates a calm, luxurious, and romantic atmosphere. It truly feels like a celebration of Indian culture with a modern twist. We ordered a fully vegetarian spread, and every dish was outstanding. The flavors were authentic yet refined, with perfect balance of spices, freshness, and presentation. Each item felt carefully crafted, turning simple vegetarian food into something truly memorable. From the starters to the mains, everything tasted rich, comforting, and absolutely delicious. Service was attentive and welcoming, making the entire evening smooth and enjoyable. Combined with the beautiful setting and live music, it turned dinner into a full sensory experience rather than just a meal. Kinara is more than a restaurant — it’s an experience. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want a peaceful, upscale dining evening, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended for anyone who loves exceptional vegetarian Indian cuisine in a stunning atmosphere. ✨

First Impressions & Location Situated away from the main city, the venue offers a breathtaking sunset view as you drive in —a highlight before stepping inside. Pros: What Really Works Indian Fine Dining: Cuisine is nuanced, rich, and exhibits sophisticated flavor combinations with attention to aromatic layers and spice balance. Presentation: Each plate is visual theater—vibrant chutneys finished with microgreens, sauces mirrored on glossy porcelains, perfect symmetry. Live Instrumental Music: You’re treated to soft live traditional instruments, that gently enhance the ambience. Free Valet Parking: Complimentary and well‑managed. Staff & Service: While a few tables were served by the same woman all night, her energy and warmth left such a mark that we heard guests say, “They really must hire more people like her.” Overall, service remains courteous and professional throughout however noticably slow. Improvement Areas Isolated Location Ideal for ambience, but means guests must plan logistics carefully—taxis take longer, ride‑hailing apps may delay. Slow Service Meal pacing is relaxed, but timings spike. Particularly noticeable when waiting between courses. ✅ Final Opinion Overall Rating: 4 / 5 — A thoughtfully curated Indian fine‑dine destination offering standout dishes, exquisite presentation, calming live music, and stunning sunset scenery. The service has personality and polish, albeit slow paced slightly undermine the overall polish. Excellent value for those who seek something beyond the boulevards.

Great staff and great service - true Indian hospitality. The atmosphere was great as well, very clean, beautiful decor, and a great harp player. However, the restaurant failed where it matters most: taste! While the quality of ingredients was good, the food lacked taste. The bhindi kurkure was salty, and the paneer butter masala had an overpowering tomato flavour, and quite a subdued taste. When I sat down my wife told me my in-laws would love the place and were coming back with them. By the time we were done, we were both firm on the fact that we won’t be coming back. Again, staff service decor all great, just lacks taste.

Kinara Restaurant, Dubai: A Disappointing Iftar Experience! Our Iftar at Kinara, Dubai, presented a mixed experience. While the food quality and presentation were commendable, several service-related issues impacted our overall satisfaction. Key Observations: * Delayed Iftar Start: We arrived precisely at Iftar time, expecting a seamless transition into breaking our fast. However, the restaurant was not even open, delaying our entry by five minutes. More importantly, there was absolutely nothing readily available to break our fast, despite our pre-booked Iftar menu. This was a significant oversight and a poor start to the evening. * Service Inconsistencies: Service was slow and appeared inexperienced. * Attentiveness Challenges: Gaining staff attention for ordering required noticeable effort despite the restaurant's low occupancy. * Portioning Discrepancy: We ordered five Iftar menu sets, which were served family-style. While this was acceptable, the handling of the lemon prawns was utterly disappointing. The lady clearly stated two prawns per person in the menu; however, we received only one per serving. When questioned, we were told that the chef had provided "larger" prawns, justifying the reduced quantity. This blatant attempt to cut corners in a Michelin-starred restaurant was deeply disappointing and felt like a cheap tactic. * Fazaa Discount Miscommunication: We had confirmed during our reservation that the Fazaa discount would apply to the Iftar menu. However, upon payment, we were informed that the discount was not applicable because the Iftar menu was already discounted. This discrepancy between the information provided during the reservation and the actual billing was big turn off. * Food Quality & Ambiance: The food quality was good, and the restaurant's interior with an open kitchen was pleasant. * Value for Money: The overall experience did not align with the perceived value for the price. In a nutshell, Chef Vikas Khanna needs to actively monitor the service quality at this restaurant. The stark contrast between Kinara and Kashan by Ranveer Brar, which offers exceptional customer experience, highlights the significant shortcomings at Kinara. Big No for anyone who plans to visit there for Iftar or Dinner!

All style and no substance unfortunately! It was our first time here and we were celebrating a special birthday. The experience started off well but very quickly went downhill. The chicken tikka starter was overcooked (very chewy), and after raising it with the staff, we received another portion, which also had overcooked pieces. Several things we ordered never turned up (and even after complaining about it, they still didn't bother), the dough in some of the breads was raw in parts, and a paneer kulcha took 15-20 minutes to arrive. Very poor service from Karam, followed by equally poor customer care from the manager, Ratnish. Overall, a very disappointing experience - I expected much better from the Vikas Khanna brand (maybe I should have read all the other 1-star reviews and lowered my expectations)!

5/5 stars for presentation 2/5 stars for everything else Wow, I'm so glad I spent my special occasion at Kinara, Vikas Khanna's restaurant in Jebel Ali, Dubai. The first time I went, I was blown away by the glam and presentation. But, silly me, I thought the second time would be just as magical. Boy, was I wrong. The food was good, but not "wow, I'm going to die from flavor explosion" good. The portions were small, because who needs to feel full when you're paying top dollar? The quality of food was amazing, but that's not exactly a unique selling point, is it? I mean, I can get amazing quality food at literally any other restaurant in Dubai. But what really made our experience special was the waiting. Oh, the waiting. We waited for what felt like an eternity for our food, and even longer for the dessert menu card. I mean, who needs dessert when you can just stare at an empty table for 20 minutes? And don't even get me started on the service. Our server seemed to have forgotten that we existed, because nobody bothered to ask if we needed anything. Not even a refill on our drinks. All in all, I'd highly recommend Kinara to anyone who wants to be disappointed on their special occasion. But hey, at least the presentation is pretty. *Pro tip:* If you want to enjoy your meal, go somewhere else. If you want to take Instagram-worthy pictures, then Kinara is the place for you.

The restaurant is located quite far from the city, and after driving over 50 km, the experience fell short of expectations. Based on the waiter’s recommendation, we ordered the Achari Lamb, which was excessively salty — surprising for a fine-dining restaurant by Vikas Khanna. Despite sharing our concern, no meaningful resolution was offered by manager, which affected the overall experience. The ambience and service were average, and no baby chair was provided throughout the meal. Overall, we had high expectations but left disappointed.

Very far, and honestly not worth the drive. Portions were just enough for one person, and the prices definitely don’t match the quantity or the quality. The food and service were both disappointing — dishes were overly salty and nothing really stood out. When you have far better options in the city like Tana Tan, Gazebo, or Moti Mahal, driving all the way here feels pointless. Even a normal Indian restaurant would have been a better experience 🤣