I had lunch at The Skinny Kitchen in Islington recently. My experience mixed but overall positive.
Here’s the skinny on lunch at The Skinny Kitchen.
First the good news.
I liked the food. Buckwheat noodles with tofu (soba with beansprouts, tender stem broccoli, carrot, ginger, soy, lime, chilli and sesame seeds and tofu, £11) was tasty and filling. I very much enjoyed my Skinny Bunny smoothie too (pineapple, banana, mango, spinach, lemongrass and coconut milk, £5.50). I thought both my noodles and my smoothie were reasonably priced.
Removed from the bustle of Upper Street and situated on the corner of the Business Design Centre just a short stroll from Angel Station, the restaurant is conveniently placed. It’s a comfortable and nicely designed setting too.
Now, the bad news.
Service was kind of a joke. The place didn’t seem all that full but it was difficult to catch a server’s attention. After being seated I had to wait almost 15 minutes before anyone took my order. The table next to me had waited about that same amount of time to pay for their food. When they flagged down a server to get their bill they were kind enough to point out how long I had been waiting simply to order. When I left, I heard the next set of folks sat next to me complaining about how long it was taking for someone to take their order.
As much as I liked my bowl of noodles, it wasn’t what I originally ordered. I had asked for tacos but was told the kitchen was out of tortillas. Bummer. These things happen I suppose, but I really was looking forward to having some tacos. There’s a choice of crispy chicken, blackened cod and crispy avocado.
Despite the poor service and menu minuses, I’m giving Skinny Kitchen a tepid thumbs up, with some qualifiers. If you’re at the Business Design Centre for an event (which I was and why I chose to eat at Skinny Kitchen) it’s worth a shot and your best bet without having to hit the street. Just make sure you make it known you’re in a hurry and would like to order ASAP.
The Skinny Kitchen Islington is located at 52 Upper Street, N1 0QH next to the entrance to the Business Design. There are outlets in Ealing and Canterbury as well. Find out more at theskinnykitchen.co.uk.
