I’ll admit it: when it comes to brunch, I’m usually pretty predictable. Avocado on toast, Eggs Benedict, maybe a veggie breakfast if I’m feeling adventurous. So when we arrived at Cinnamon Kitchen Battersea and I found myself genuinely paralysed by choice, I knew this wasn’t going to be your average London brunch.
Set beneath the railway arches at Battersea Power Station, the restaurant has served Vivek Singh’s contemporary Indian cooking since 2018. The industrial setting is easily one of the coolest in the Cinnamon Kitchen collection and, visiting from East London, dining beneath a railway arch is obviously very much my vibe.
Brunch at Battersea Power Station
We visited on one of those rare, beautiful sunny London days and claimed a terrace table in a little pocket of sunshine. At midday everything felt fairly sleepy; half an hour later, the tables had filled, food was flying out of the kitchen and brunch had properly begun. I’m not saying we started the crowd, but I’m also not not saying that.
Inside is darker, moodier and much more evening-y, with industrial interiors, an open theatre kitchen and chefs working around the tandoor. Even from outside, we could smell the drifting aroma of spices and delicious grilled meats cooking.
An Indian Brunch That Actually Feels Different
The weekend menu takes brunch in a far more interesting direction. There are still eggs, toast and shakshuka, but they sit alongside more unusual suspects such as Punjabi potato paratha, lamb keema and tandoori chicken tikka toasties.
Our standout was the roasted aubergine shakshuka: beautifully soft eggs with deep orange yolks, sitting in a rich tomato and aubergine sauce. It had the buttery depth of a really good curry without becoming too heavy. Then came the warm garlic naan, ready to drag through the runny eggs and sauce.
The akuri masala scrambled eggs were packed with spice and herbs and piled onto sourdough, turning something I eat at home most weeks into something completely different. That is what Cinnamon Kitchen does brilliantly: starts with something familiar and makes it infinitely more interesting.
Don’t Skip the Punjabi Chole
We had been eyeing up the chickpea dish, chole kulche, but knew there was no chance we would finish everything. Our waiter suggested adding the Punjabi chole as a side instead. Excellent advice. The chickpeas were rich, gently spiced and incredibly moreish. I spooned them into the shakshuka and fully stand by the decision.
We also tried the lamb seekh garlic naan wrap with greens and coriander chutney. After spending half the meal staring towards the tandoor, it only reinforced the feeling that our next visit should be devoted almost entirely to the grill.
The £55 Grill Brunch for Two
We very nearly ordered the Grill Brunch for Two. It certainly impresses with its line-up: kasturi chicken tikka, lamb seekh kebab, seared bream, king prawn, lemon rice, black lentils, chutney, raita and mango lassi. If you want to try a bit of everything without making ten decisions, this would be my pick, although my boyfriend sensibly pointed out that it might derail the rest of our afternoon. Annoying, but fair.
There is also a biryani brunch, where bottomless wine, Prosecco, beer and selected cocktails can be added for £29 per person.
The Battersea Inspired Dish That Made Us Want to Come Back for Dinner
Ironically, the dish that may have stolen the meal was not from the brunch menu. We tried the opening dish from Under the Arches: The Battersea Line Experience, a £45 menu inspired by India’s great railway journeys of the 1940s and 50s and created specifically for this setting beneath active railway arches.
The little dish looked instantly reminiscent of Battersea Power Station and landed somewhere in the universe of an extremely elevated vegetable samosa: crisp spiced potato, cooling yoghurt, herbs, pomegranate and plenty of texture and freshness. It was ridiculously good, and the moment we looked at each other and said: right, we’re coming back for dinner.
Make a Day of Battersea
With so much on its doorstep, Cinnamon Kitchen was only one part of our Battersea day. We also visited the exhibition, Ramses and the Pharaoh’s Gold at NEON, beside the Power Station, before exploring the shops, walking through Battersea Park and taking the boat back towards Tower Bridge.
Coming from East London, it is not exactly around the corner, but that made it feel like we had actually gone somewhere. My recommendation is to make a day of it: come for brunch, explore the Power Station, try the Chimney Lift if you fancy seeing London from above, wander through the park and get the Thames Clipper home.
As for Cinnamon Kitchen? I went expecting brunch and left mentally planning dinner. The only question now is how soon is too soon to go racing back? Honestly, not soon enough.
Book your table here.