JKS Restaurants is a prolific hospitality group, operating 35 restaurants, including two-Michelin-star Gymkhana, Ambassadors Clubhouse, Brigadiers, BiBi, Hoppers, and more, and it’s about to enter the United States.
Founded in 2008 by siblings Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi, most of JKS’ restaurants are in its home market of London, with a few locations in the Middle East.
But a new location of Ambassadors Clubhouse is planned for the new A24 headquarters in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood in October, and a new Gymkhana is scheduled for November at Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Ambassador’s Clubhouse debuted in London last summer and is one of the newest concepts under the JKS umbrella. It’s named for the Sethis’ grandfather, a former Indian ambassador, and its interiors are modeled after his summer house in Dalhousie, a town in the northern part of India. The fun-loving vibes nod to Punjabi hospitality and party culture, and the menu takes cues from royal kitchens and roadside vendors alike. A recent visit to the London location confirms a lively experience, with curated playlists and flowing cocktails.
Gymkhana, which opened in London in 2013 and has since opened a location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is inspired by the private clubs of India, where high society members would gather to dine, drink, socialize, and play sports.
The Las Vegas menu will feature many of Gymkhana’s signature dishes, including tandoori-grilled meats, biryanis, curries, and chaat-style shared plates, plus a few new dishes exclusive to Las Vegas. The bar will serve Indian-inspired cocktails, tableside punches, and an extensive gin & tonic selection.
The Gymkhana-Aria partnership has been a long time in the making.
“Conversations with the JKS family have been ongoing for the past several years,” said Ari Kastrati, chief content, hospitality, and development officer of MGM Resorts, which operates the Aria casino. “We both felt that now was the right time to welcome Gymkhana to Aria because of the rise in popularity of Indian cuisine, along with the desire to continue elevating Las Vegas as a culinary destination by bringing in one of the most sought-after restaurant brands in the world.”
The Aria team said it believes Gymkhana will add a new level of sophistication to the resort’s food and beverage portfolio, which already includes big brands like Carbone, Catch, and Din Tai Fung.
JKS isn’t ready to share exactly what else the future may hold, but they’re keeping their options open.
“Planning our Indian restaurants’ entry to the U.S. has been exciting and taken nearly a decade for us to prepare, with the next step being ensuring the imminent openings are a success,” Jyotin Sethi said. “As a group, we have always aspired to grow our international presence, seeking considered opportunities and taking the time to ensure the alignment between location and brand feels right. As with all future growth, this remains the priority.”
According to The New York Times, the JKS openings are just the start of a Britain-to-U.S. pipeline that will see other big-name Indian restaurants expand stateside in the coming years, with New York as the primary target. Dishoom, which is inspired by Bombay’s old Irani cafes, and Kricket — both with multiple London locations — are expected to open in New York as early as next year. And the Darjeeling Express owner, Asma Khan, is considering bringing a Kolkata-inspired restaurant to the city at a later date.
Following Gymkhana’s Las Vegas opening, JKS will also launch a retail line, Gymkhana Fine Foods, in the U.S. The premium range of Indian cooking sauces and marinades is made by the same chefs and features the same ingredients as those used in the restaurants.
