A Confident Reimagining of Indian Dining
The arrival at Kinu Restaurant feels instinctively familiar, not because you have been here before, but because the atmosphere, energy, and intention align effortlessly the moment you enter. Soft lamps glow across the dining room, the fireplace is flickering, and the air carries layered aromas of spice, citrus, and warm bread. The space encourages you to slow down, to settle in, and to let the experience unfold naturally.
At the heart of the room is owner Kirn Bawa, whose presence brings both warmth and quiet authority. Moving easily between tables, she greets guests, checks in on plates, and supports her team with ease. As the daughter of the founders of Sizzling Tandoor, Kirn is confidently guiding the family legacy forward, shaping a contemporary dining experience rooted in hospitality and connection. “I wanted to create a place where people feel a sense of community and comfort, while experiencing flavours from all over India in a modern, refined way,” she says, a philosophy that is felt throughout the evening.
In the language of family, some nicknames carry the warmth of a well-worn sweater, comfortable, familiar, and deeply rooted. For Kirn, known affectionately as “Kinu” by her aunt, the name is more than an endearment. It is a nod to her Punjabi heritage, to a fruit with complex ties to India and Pakistan, and now, to a restaurant where food, identity, and innovation converge. The kinu tangerine grows abundantly on both sides of a border shaped by partition, defying cultural and religious divides. With a father of Pakistani Punjabi descent and a mother born in India, Kirn understands the layered history the fruit represents, making the name both personal and quietly powerful.
Kinu becomes a self-portrait of Kirn’s journey. From the logo accented with Punjabi script to the eclectic, globally influenced menu, every detail carries her imprint. This is not simply an Indian restaurant, nor is it bound by expectation. It is a space that honours flavour foundations while allowing curiosity to lead. That perspective was shaped early, when Kirn stepped fully into the family business just shy of her twenty-second birthday. With no formal serving experience, she took over Sizzling Tandoor and learned the industry from the inside out, blending her background in public relations and event planning with a desire to reimagine how Indian cuisine could be presented on Vancouver Island.
She moved away from predictable aesthetics and formats, introducing thoughtful wine pairings, carefully plated dishes, and a cocktail program designed to feel youthful and fresh. That same spirit defines Kinu. “We are not just an ‘Indian restaurant,’” she says. “We are a restaurant.” The distinction matters. At Kinu, gnocchi or oysters may share the menu with a beautifully prepared biryani, creating an experience that feels imaginative yet grounded in authenticity.
The Uptown location reinforces that accessibility. Central and walkable, Kinu is designed as a natural gathering place for locals and a welcoming destination for those coming from across the city.
Once inside, the dining room feels transportive, layered textures, ambient light, and a rich palette creating an atmosphere that encourages guests to linger. It is relaxed yet refined, indulgent without excess, immersive rather than formal.
The menu reflects that balance. Dishes are meant for sharing, each one considered and composed. Whipped goat cheese with warm naan is rich and instantly craveable. Masala prawns deliver brightness and depth, while the Kinu chicken and slow-braised lamb shank offer comfort through precision. The goat dum biryani anchors the table, aromatic and deeply satisfying, rewarding patience and attention.
Cocktails are woven seamlessly into the experience, recently earning recognition as Best Cocktails in the City. Layered and balanced, they are designed to complement the food rather than compete with it. A nomination for Best Restaurant further reflects Kinu’s growing presence in Victoria’s dining landscape.
Confident without being loud, Kinu offers something rare, a dining experience that feels warm, worldly, and quietly luxurious, guided by Kirn Bawa’s assured hand and her belief that hospitality, at its best, brings people together.