Cinnamon Kitchen, Leeds – Restaurant Review

By Steve Crabtree, October 2025

On a Tuesday night after work, my friend Matt and I decided to finally catch up properly – something we’d been meaning to do for far too long. And in doing so, where better than to head to one of Leeds’ most elegant spots, right inside the Queens Hotel?

Cinnamon Kitchen has quietly built a reputation for bringing high-end Indian dining into stylish, city-centre surroundings, and tonight it was running its special Diwali Feast. A three-course menu for £35, available for a limited time.

“Elegant, warm, contemporary edge”

The setting here is impressive. The Queens itself already has that old-school grandeur, with modern touches here and there. It’s nice. And Cinnamon Kitchen compliments that with an elegant, warm, contemporary edge. The room is large and open, filled with golden tones, dark wood and rich finishes that make it feel sophisticated yet welcoming.

There’s a massive chandelier in the centre of the room, which creates a nice soft glow across the tables. Velvet seating, marble counters, potted plants and flickering candles complete the look. It wasn’t full to the brim – it was a Tuesday evening, after all – but there were enough diners to give it a good atmosphere. You could call it calm and steady.

Welcomed in perfectly by the lovely Swapnali, and looked after for the evening by the equally delightful and very smily Rahul, our entire service for the evening was a world away from the cold and empty greeting I received on my last visit here when the restaurant was the nautically themed Grand Pacific a few years ago.

So far, so great. Bring on the food..!

“A bright start”

We settled in nicely, tucked over to one side of the restaurant, in a comfortable spot that gave us space to relax and chat. A proper catch-up over work, family, plans for Whitby, and the usual back-and-forth about everything and nothing.

Rahul offered to tap us through the menu, but we politely declined as we’d already got our eyes on what we wanted!

I kicked off with the Double-Cooked Easingwold Pork Belly starter – cubes of tender, delicately spiced pork served with a curried yoghurt and a small side of salad. The tandoori flavour was mild to medium, enough to lift the meat without overwhelming it. The pork was cooked beautifully, soft and juicy, and the yoghurt added that creamy tang to finish it off.

Over the table, Matt opted for the Pineapple Kasundi Chaat. I must say, it looked lovely and he told me it was everything a good chaat should be. A mixture of textures and flavours, from the crunch of puffed rice to the pop of pomegranate and the freshness of the chutney. It looked bright and colourful, and he was full of praise for how well-balanced it was.

A bright start, and the taste buds were very satisfied!

“Not quite what I imagined, but enjoyable”

Matt and I don’t catch up enough, and when we do time goes quickly. So, before we knew it Rahul had arrived again with our next course to devour.

For mains, I went with the Grilled King Prawns Colombo Curry, which carried a £9 supplement, and Matt went for the Lucknowi Chicken Biryani.

Presentation of my dish looked lovely when it arrived – four opened prawns, neatly executed, with a fruity, mildly spiced sauce and a portion of ghee rice on the side. The prawns themselves were excellent, but I’d imagined something a bit more traditional – prawns marinated – a little more filling. As delicious as it was, it leaned more towards a large starter in portion than a main course. Not quite what I imagined, but enjoyable. Again, the tastebuds satisfied, but the stomach cried out to me for a bit more. That’ll teach me for declining Rahul’s offer of explaining the dishes…!

Matt’s main looked hearty and full of colour. He said it was a real comfort dish – tender pieces of chicken on plump, well-cooked rice, far removed from the dry versions you sometimes get elsewhere. He’d have liked a little more kick from the spice, but still rated it highly. The only thing that didn’t quite hit the mark for him was the pink raita on the side, which he said was an interesting idea, but not one he’d rush back to.

“A sweet, but small finish”

For dessert, I went for the Spiced Parkin – a warm, lightly spiced slice served with banana ice cream. The flavours were spot on, with a nice blend of ginger and sweetness that worked beautifully together. But again, I’d picked the small portion option. A sweet, but small finish and after my lighter main, I could definitely have eaten a bit more.

Matt chose the Saffron and Pistachio Kulfi, which he said was a lovely way to end his meal. Not too sweet, with a gentle nuttiness running through, and he enjoyed scraping the last few icy flakes from the sides of the dish. Big child!

We sat for a while after finishing, chatting and soaking in the calm atmosphere. The lighting softened as the evening went on, and you could tell that everyone around us were relaxed and happy. Cinnamon Kitchen is an nice spot to spend an evening, and it’s clear that great care has gone into its service and presentation. The food was refined, with a few standout dishes, and the overall experience was very good.

If I’m honest, I left still a little peckish – partly down to the lighter main and modest dessert portions – but I couldn’t fault the quality of what we had. With its warm welcome, beautiful surroundings and considered flavours, Cinnamon Kitchen is a good spot on the Leeds’ dining scene, and I’d happily return to check out its main menu someday.

Cinnamon Kitchen, The Queens Hotel, City Square, Leeds LS1 1PJ

Opening times:
Mon – Sat 12:00pm – 1:00am
Sun 12:00pm – 12:00am

cinnamon-kitchen.com/leeds

Steve Crabtree( Writer )

Give Steve music, give him food, give him theatre, tech or travel… and he’s a happy man. He’s been writing professionally since 2003, turning to journalism in 2017 when it offered him the chance to enjoy a lot of his existing passions, and learn some new ones at the same time. Steve can be found spending many of his summer nights watching bands at The Piece Hall in his hometown of Halifax, or enjoying a bite to eat and a drink with his wife anywhere in Yorkshire at any time of year. Random fact: He does the best impression of Zippy and George from Rainbow that anyone has ever heard.

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