Restaurant Kinsley recently welcomed Spencer Coplan as executive chef, and on Tuesday, Sept. 9, the public was ushered to the upscale uptown Kingston eatery to celebrate and sample exciting new additions to the menu.
Coplan is a true kitchen veteran who has hopped around the U.S. for more than 20 years creatively feeding people and learning new techniques. He’s successfully brought the Kinsley menu a bit more down to earth without sacrificing any culinary elevation. His roots in Southern cuisine shine through in the Nashville hot chicken, which was tender and juicy with a nice crunch, on the milder side of hot, and enhanced with a refreshing, herby house-made ranch and thin, crunchy pickle slices. Also making it to the menu up from the South are chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits.
The swank former bank at 301 Wall St. sports outdoor patio dining on the street, an intimate bar next to the original vault door, and a lively, plant-festooned dining room. Every area was packed Tuesday night, and the friendly, attentive staff impressed with their ability to handle the rush with grace and efficiency. Everything came to the table looking worth its asking price. Entrees range from $20 to $52, and there are other delicious sides and smaller dishes for less.
The corn and pepper gnocchi had a heavenly cloud-like texture floating in a decadently sweet and creamy vegetable concoction. The Nutella tart with crème fraîche, hazelnut praline and sea salt tasted even better than it sounds, with rich textures and flavors.
The atmosphere was upbeat and highly social — both drinkers and diners were striking up conversations left and right. Restaurant Kinsley feels like one of the VIP sections of the social melting pot that continues to stir in Kingston, attracting fierce loyalty from locals while luring visitors in droves. The new menu under Coplan — along with the efforts of the deft Restaurant Kinsley team — will keep them coming back. The 42 rooms in Hotel Kinsley’s flagship boutique hotel upstairs and its three other uptown buildings will be there if they need a place to crash.
Join the family! 
