Desperately wanting, Kinoya.

Can a home cook make it as a chef?

After months of waiting, Kinoya is now open in The Greens, fronted by former supper club queen Neha Mishra. For those who have followed the journey on social media (a story of food, if you’ll allow the pun), the process of opening a restaurant has been a fascinating one, and I personally enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes action. I never had the opportunity to attend one of the private sessions, but based on rave reviews over the past few years, my expectations were higher than usual as we walked into Kinoya.

For those who’ve never been, an izakaya is a traditional, casual Japanese dining experience, based on drinks and snacks, served in a warm and friendly atmosphere. All points to Kinoya so far.  The restaurant is a cozy set up in the Greens and sized right for the cuisine. For once, we’re delighted by the number of covers. There’s also a dedicated ramen counter, a chef’s table, and two eight-seater private dining areas.

Given I’m here with the Bougie Snacks (my food club), we take a h…