Tiny Bites: Fresh, wholesome fare for the family at The Kinnet Café

Tucked away on the third floor of The Kinnet wellness centre, The Kinnet Café is a hidden spot in the middle of Sheung Wan. The café was recently renovated. Its simplistic yet detailed design, along with the natural lighting permeating the café, gives off a relaxing ambiance. What’s more, they have a sizeable outside terrace – perfect for catching some rays and enjoying an al fresco bite to eat.

Staying true to their belief in wellness, the chefs at The Kinnet Café work hard to bring to the table a wide selection of delicious and nutritious meals featuring organic meats, fish and incredibly colourful salads. The food-hall-style display of colourful salads and delectable, guilt-free sweets is sure to attract the attention of your little ones.

The Kinnet’s drinks are definitely worth trying. From superfood smoothies to cold pressed juices, all beverages use minimal sugar. Nevertheless, they taste so great that your children won’t suspect a thing (apparently all nutritious food tastes horrible). The war on broccoli is over!

The fruitiness of the hemp-seed infused Tropical Punch ($68), a blend of various tropical juices and fresh mint, perfectly complements the summer weather. Or if your child is a big fan of chocolate (like everyone else I know), get the Chocolate Almond (a concoction of fruits, almond milk and raw chocolate powder, $68). Sugar is replaced by the natural sweetness from fruits and the use of almond milk lowers the fat content. The Housemade Lemonade ($55) with fresh pressed lemon juice and mint is also worth a try.

Getting your kids to eat anything other than Lucky Charms for breakfast on a weekday can be a challenge. Next weekend, sleep in and make a trip to The Kinnet Café for a healthy and delicious breakfast with the family. The Avocado Eggs Benedict ($90) is great for introducing some protein into your little one’s diet. The bread (pick the multigrain) and the mashed avocado pair excellently with the poached egg. The traditional hollandaise sauce is replaced by a lighter, yoghurt sauce – lip-smackingly good stuff!

For something sweet, go for the French Toast with Mixed Berry Compote and Maple Syrup ($68). Fried eggy bread with syrup is comfort food at its best. The french toast here is topped with fresh pomegranate seeds, blueberries and bananas, providing nutrition as well as the energy needed for a great weekend. Indulge in the berry compote and maple syrup on the side for some dipping fun!

Parents need their healthy food fix as well so why not try out one of their roasts? I had a taste of their roast beef and it was lovely… The slices of beef were served with just the right amount of gravy, and were so tender and cooked to perfection with a pinkish centre. Why bother slaving away in the kitchen making a Sunday roast when you can enjoy the perfect roast beef here? An added bonus – all fish and meat dishes at The Kinnet Café are served with side salads.

For a lighter lunch, opt for one of their tartines, guaranteed to make both parents and children happy. The 12 Month Parma Ham & Brie with fresh pear, endive, crispy bacon and fig dressing ($92) combines sweet and savoury ingredients creating an indulgent dish. The crunch of the pear and the soft ham adds an interesting texture. The only bone I have to pick with this is the difficulty of picking it up as so many ingredients are layered on the bread… but totally worth it! Other popular family-friendly flavours include include Paprika Roasted Eggplant, Grilled Prawns with Crushed Avocado and House Smoked Salmon with Charlotte Potato Salad.

Finally, kick your sweet-tooth without feeling guilty and indulge in The Kinnet Café’s desserts. Think freshly made cakes and tarts, made using healthy alternatives. Children tend to love the Apple Tart (another sneaky way to get them to eat fruits). It has a great crust-to-filling ratio and the apples are soft but not mushy, and flavoured with subtle spices. For cakes that aren’t so sweet, try their Banana Chiffon Cake or their Carrot Cake.

Thumbs Up

• The restaurant lives up to expectations and delivers delicious and healthy food. The food was without a doubt chock full of nutrients and the ingredients were fresh and of good quality.
• The menu is also family-friendly in that most of the dishes are meant to be shared… just take a look at the tartines!
• Free wifi – Perfect for little ones who need their iPads to stay entertained.
• There’s ample space for parking strollers.

Thumbs Down

• There isn’t a kids’ menu per se, but it’s not really a problem as toddlers can eat most of the food on the menu.
• They don’t have highchairs at the moment but they are working on it.

Stroller Access

The restaurant is around 5 minutes walk from the Sheung Wan MTR station and there is a lift that takes you up to 3/F.

Price Range

Fairly reasonable, prices of breakfast items and mains range between $80-150. There is also no service charge.

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday, 7:30am-9pm. Breakfast is served from 7:30-11:30am.

The Kinnet Café, 3/F, No. 33 Hillier Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, 3968-7623; www.thekinnet.com, [email protected]