When one thinks of nice New Orleans cuisines, one not often considers Asian delicacies within the hierarchy. However I’m right here to inform you that skipping out on a bar and restaurant like The Kingsway would clearly be a mistake.
The Kingsway is a sister restaurant to Ashwin Vilkhu’s Saffron restaurant, which is situated proper throughout the road. However whereas Saffron is an upscale Indian restaurant, The Kingsway attracts its inspiration from Singapore — and the dishes that Vilkhu grew up with.
I’ve to confess that I didn’t know a lot about Singaporean meals earlier than moving into The Kingsway, however Vilkhu was completely happy to information me by the melting pot strategy of the delicacies and the restaurant, with dishes that variously lean extra Indian, extra Chinese language, or extra Thai at instances. Dinner service is a build-your-own four-course menu ($92 per particular person, not together with any supplement-priced dishes), with three decisions for every of the 4 programs.
I’ll confess that of the eight dishes my spouse and I samples on a latest go to right here, it was laborious to select a favourite. Every thing got here out of the kitchen cooked completely and seasoned good. If you happen to twist my arm, I would recommend the must-tries embody the Crab, Brie & Champagne Soup, the Salt Baked Shrimp, and the distinctive Chocolate Cake for dessert. However I don’t see how you would go unsuitable with something on the menu.
In fact, Drinkhacker was actually right here for the beverage service, and we tried six of the eight cocktails on the present menu (not together with the “sellers selection” choice). Almost all of the cocktails are clearly impressed by conventional classics, together with the Golden Hour (a penicillin with wok-roasted scallion within the recipe) and the Johnny 5 Previous Normal (which masterfully provides soy and Chinese language five-spice to the long-lasting drink).
Once more, there’s heaps to love right here, however my high choose was the Day Dreamer (rum, lychee, blanc vermouth, lemongrass, lime, and milk), a clarified milk punch riff on a lychee martini that appears innocuous however which is bursting with lychee taste with out being overpowering. Amazingly effectively balanced.
Almost pretty much as good was the Particular Supply (tequila, Thai tea cream, orange, lemon, lime, egg white, and bitters), a riff on the hometown favourite Ramos gin fizz, however made with tequila and orange as an alternative of gin and lemon. It’s an grownup orange Creamsicle, the place the tequila affect could be very delicate.
The Kingsway’s espresso martini riff, Preserve You Yeunyeung, is maybe its most acquainted presentation, with Imperial black tea and coconut sugar added to the usual recipe — but it surely made for an ideal dessert pairing on the finish of the meal.
If you happen to’re not into cocktails, the bar has an in depth and considerate wine listing and even provides some distinctive imported Asian beers that I’ve by no means seen elsewhere — and which have been useful in chopping by among the sweeter flavors encountered over the night.
It’s laborious to imagine that, on the time of our go to, The Kingsway had solely been open for 8 weeks. The place is busy, the service appears to be working like clockwork, and the vibes are immaculate. Simply the way in which they should be for something hailing from Singapore, proper?
4201 Journal St, New Orleans, LA 70115
kingswaynola.com
Visited 21 instances, 21 go to(s) at present
