The Kingsway New Orleans

Who does, anyway? There is family love. There are also creative differences and the tensions of running a business together. There’s a shared vision too.

The father-and-son dynamic that brought us a groundbreaking addition to the New Orleans dining scene with @saffronnola has led to another one-of-a-kind restaurant – @thekingswaynola , the new Asian tasting menu restaurant Ashwin created in large measure in homage to his dad.

For Father’s Day, I dug in with Arvinder and Ashwin over mango chutney old fashioneds about what they’re building, where it all came from – the rigor and respect that grounds their working relationship.

“Sometimes fathers don’t say it very boldly, but the reason we still work together is, internally, I feel that way every day,” Arvinder, the dad, told me. “It’s tough love, but the love is always there.”

Link in my bio has their story.

Photo under the headline here by the great @cgranger from the story , and a bunch of snaps by me for a glimpse of The Kingsway, which should be high on your list to try (see my earlier story for the full read on the new restaurant [link in bio, just scroll down a bunch]).

#wherenolaeats #igersneworleans #nolaeats #nolafood #nolafoodie #nolalife #nolalove #uptownnola #fathersday #chef #cheflife #magazinestreet #nolarestaurant #louisiana Less

When @saffronnola opened it brought something new to the New Orleans dining scene with its worldly, upscale vision of Indian cuisine.

As a second restaurant from its chef, @ashwinvilkhu , slowly took shape just across the street, many regulars surmised it would be a more casual counterpart for Indian flavors.

But @thekingswaynola goes in a much different direction, one that no other restaurant possibly could.

The new restaurant is a contemporary, upscale Asian restaurant with a prix fixe format, and its own take on the tasting menu approach.

Across a four-course menu, some dishes are distinctly Chinese, others are Vietnamese, and some are family creations. It’s more like the food of Singapore, a crossroads of Asian cuisines, than a fusion of them.

The through line is the chef’s own family - a story of hospitality and cuisine over two continents and two generations.

“All of this comes from my memories,” Ashwin told me. “It’s an homage to memory.”

Link in my bio has the story and many more photos by @cgranger , a couple here by me for a glimpse.

#wherenolaeats #igersneworleans #nolaeats #nola #uptownnola #nolafoodie #nolafood #nolalife #magazinestreet #neworleans Less