After hitting a home run with the contemporary South Asian restaurant Saffron, the Vilkhu family is preparing to open a New American restaurant this winter called The Kingsway. Essentially located kitty-corner from Saffron at 4201 Magazine St., The Kingsway will feature the same elevated atmosphere, but the food will combine French and East Asian cuisines with an American sensibility, according to reports. While partners Pardeep and Arvinder Vilkhu have been behind Saffron, their children Ashwin and Pranita Vilkhu will be in charge of The Kingsway.
Saffron was started by Arvinder Vilkhu as a catering operation, and it grew into a weekly pop-up in the West Bank. After gaining widespread praise for food that combined South Asian and Louisiana influences, Saffron became a brick-and-mortar location in 2017. In October, the restaurant began adding a tasting menu alongside its standard menu. Named after the Gretna street where the family used to live and inspired by their favorite Vietnamese restaurant, The Kingsway looks like it will the Vilkhu culinary journey full circle.
