Matteolikesfood

There are restaurants you remember for a particular dish, others for their beautiful interiors, and then there are those you remember simply because of how they made you feel.

KIBOU on Northcote Road belongs to the latter.

A Japanese restaurant in the heart of Battersea, KIBOU offers the kind of menu where it is dangerously easy to order too much. Sushi, rolls, bao, tempura and plenty of Japanese favourites arrive in generous, rich portions that quickly take over the table.

The prices aren’t exactly shy, but neither are the portions.

I’ve visited more than once and, on two occasions, admitted defeat and asked for a takeaway bag. For someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy leaving food behind, I consider that an achievement on their part.

The food is undoubtedly good. It’s tasty, satisfying and generous enough that the price starts making considerably more sense once the plates arrive.

But strangely enough, that’s not what keeps coming back to me when I think about KIBOU.

It’s the people.

From the manager to the runners, everyone seems to greet you with a big smile. There is a warmth to the service that feels genuine rather than rehearsed.

And what makes it particularly noticeable is that the restaurant can be incredibly busy.

You see people moving up and down, right and left, carrying plates, clearing tables, answering questions, and seemingly being pulled in five directions at once. At times, you could probably look around and think that another pair of hands wouldn’t hurt.

Yet somehow, that pressure never seems to reach the guest.

The smiles remain. The energy remains. Someone still acknowledges you. Someone still makes you feel welcome.

Working in hospitality myself, I know how difficult that is.

It’s easy to deliver warm service when everything is going perfectly. When the restaurant is quiet, the rota is full, and nobody is waiting for anything, smiles are relatively cheap.

The real test comes when the restaurant is full, the team is stretched, and there are twenty things demanding your attention at exactly the same time.

That’s when hospitality becomes a choice.

And that’s what I admire about KIBOU Northcote Road.

The food may be what brings you through the door, and you might even leave carrying half of it home with you, but the people are what give the restaurant its personality.

Sometimes great service isn’t about perfect choreography or having someone standing silently behind your chair.

Sometimes it’s simply someone rushing past with their hands full, stopping for half a second to look at you, smile and make you feel that they’re genuinely happy you’re there.

And somehow, even on the busiest night, KIBOU seems to understand that.

Website: KIBOU Battersea | Japanese Restaurant and Bar in Battersea
Phone: 020 7223 8551
Address: 175 Northcote Rd, London SW11 6QF