GymkhanaThe two Michelin-starred London restaurant made its US debut on Wednesday. Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, instantly becoming one of the most high-profile Indian dining rooms in the country—and the first ever Indian fine dining restaurant on the Strip.
Gymkhana, a restaurant in London’s Mayfair, has built a reputation for serving unapologetically delicious Indian food in a townhouse that was inspired by India’s historical members clubs. For the first time ever, this experience can be had without having to cross the Atlantic.
“Our aspiration is to bring great Indian food all over this country—not just to New York, Miami, or Los Angeles, but to put it alongside any of the great ethnic cuisines you get in America, and what better city to do that in than Las Vegas?” Pavan Pardasani told Travel + Leisure.
Vanessa Rogers/MGM Resorts International
Years of planning went into the project. Ari Kastrati was the chief content, hotel, and development officer at MGM Resorts. He dined in the London original before the pandemic and saw the potential of the Strip. Pardasani remembered that Kastrati was insistent on the fact that Las Vegas desperately needed this. “I have to give a big thank you to MGM Resorts for bringing this opportunity to life.
Pardasani explained that the transformation of a 90-seat two-story Mayfair house into a Las Vegas eatery required not only reinvention but also no compromise. The new Gymkhana has nearly doubled in size, to 175 people, and features multiple bars, distinct dining areas, but the focus was on preserving the essence of the restaurant. “We lose that multi-level townhouse feel—it’s very difficult to replicate that in a casino environment—but we were determined not to lose what makes us authentically Gymkhana,” Pardasani told T+L. “We had a smaller footprint, and we needed to adjust the size. However, the overall experience, from design to menu, is truly a transformative one.”
Interiors envisioned by UK-based studio North End emulate the warmth and shine of an Indian private residence. Gymkhana’s signature doors lead guests to a lounge and bar decorated in greens with decorative cut-glass crystal chandeliers. The main dining area is awash in vibrant colors. Red ceilings, plush green banquettes and patterned carpets all evoke Northern India.
Within the main dining room, the 42 Bar—named for the London restaurant’s Albemarle Street address—is outfitted with pink-toned marble and low lighting. The Vault is a more intimate space with deep red banquettes in dark wood panels.
JKS co-founder Karam Sethi & executive chef Srikant Kumar have kept the menu true to the London original, while also adding Americanized dishes. The cooking is a blend of Indian street food sensibilities and fine dining. Pardasani called this “fusion cuisine”. ghar ka khanaOr the food in the house. “For us who came from this culture it is very nostalgic,” he said.
Beyond the London signatures on offer—such as Tamarind-and-Yogurt Chaat; Tandoori Masala Lamb Chops, and Wild Tiger Prawns with Garlic—a few menu items were created specifically for Las Vegas, including, in a first for Gymkhana, beef dishes. Wagyu Naan and Beef Shortrib Pepper Fry are new additions. Pardasani clarified that it wasn’t a matter of swapping out dishes. “It wasn’t about swapping dishes out,” Pardasani explained.
The bar menu includes several London favorites as well as some Vegas-only touches, such the Punch Trolley Service which delivers cocktails in large format to up eight guests. Also on the drink menu—thoughtful nonalcoholic options draw on classic Indian sips like an Alphonso Mango Lassi and a Salted Lemon Nimbu Pani, a tart-salty, Indian-style lemonade.
The team is not unaware of the significance of opening the very first Indian restaurant in a Strip Casino resort. Pardasani stated that there is a growing interest in Indian food. “For me, having been raised here, it’s incredibly meaningful to make our cuisine more accessible and bring guests into our world so they can understand the beauty of our culture, our food—the sophistication, the thoughtfulness, the level of taste. I’m eager to help us join the other great cultures Americans have already recognized on the international stage. [as part of the fine-dining landscape].”
Pardasani offers advice for guests attending their first Gymkhana.
He suggested that diners take a seat in the 42 Bar to enjoy their dinner. People assume that the best food is served at a dining table. But if you really want to feel the atmosphere and the uniqueness of this restaurant, then sit at the 42 Bar and order.
