Emma H.
Yelp
You know that feeling when you've been away for ages, and you finally get home and it feels awesome - totally familiar, but better? That's what coming to the reinvented space in Oak Grove felt like, the first time we dined at the new Kindred after a years-long love affair with its previous incarnation, Kitchen Six.
K6 was our go-to neighborhood spot before the pandemic (and during - more on that in a moment) and my favorite thing was the menu layout. Six items in each section, and six sections on the menu - rotating constantly, rolling in seasonal produce and keeping only one or two dishes on the menu constant (pimento cheese, steak and pot de crème, I see you). Kindred takes that and one-ups itself with the small but mighty entree list, a steak selection oozing with paint-by-numbers simplicity (+$3 blue cheese and bacon, +$6 Spanish shrimp, yes please) and a fabulous stack of shareable apps (octopus romesco and beet terrine, you are welcome at my table any day).
Not to be outdone, Kindred's cocktails and wine list also have a same-but-better vibe going on. Both red and white sections boast a thoughtful number of everyday-priced wines, so you don't have to worry about spending "fancy dinner" money here if you don't want to break the bank on a Tuesday. Don't miss the few knockout bottles, though - I'm still looking for an occasion to order the Silver Oak cab - and you have to try the fancy fizz at least once. Cocktails are creative but classic, like the gin fizz with a twist (which, in Kindred's case, is blackberry and thyme; tastes like fall in a glass).
The people? All the way through 2020's trying times, the K6 team handled pick-up orders with a smile, even figuring out how to hand off perfectly mixed cocktails in travel-friendly (and cute as heck) packaging. At the same time, they collected donations and served hundreds of meals to front line heroes every week. So it's no surprise that, now they're back and better than ever, the service is just right, every time. From the inimitable Sherri, maitre d' of our dreams, to the subtlety professional but friendly team, something good is going on at Kindred. The decor has been spruced up, and even the most picky instagrammers will find a selfie-ready backdrop for their tales of cool, fun nights out. Kindred is for romance, for girls' nights, for dinner with neighbors, for happy hour with friends, and for family celebrations all year long. Don't sit on this, get there before everyone else figures it out too. And to #TeamKindred: Welcome to the neighborhood, my old friend. We've missed you.