Ownership groups led by Rick Wahlstedt of Le Bilboquet and Farshid Arshid of Umi have teamed up to bring elegant Vietnamese cuisine to The Shops Buckhead. Set to open in 2019, Le Colonial is one of the most sophisticated and respected Vietnamese restaurants in the country, with other locations in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, and now Buckhead. Inspired by the tropical vistas and French colonial design of Saigon, the restaurant will provide Southeast Asian dishes accented by French haute culture.
“I couldn’t be happier to introduce this very special and dramatic concept to Atlantans,” said Wahlstedt in a press release. “Our menu will be about light and subtle fare, which we believe is just what Southerners want, but in a romantic, turn-of-the-century, tropical environment.” It was three years ago when Le Bilboquet was first being built that Wahlstedt met Arshid, and the two quickly came to appreciate one another’s drive for excellence in cuisine and the diner experience. Arshid, along with his partner Charlie Hendon, felt that collaborating with Wahlstedt on Le Colonial was “a no brainer.”
“The Asian elements of the menu are totally aligned with our direction at Umi and in the Atlanta culinary scene,” explained Arshid. This newest Buckhead location is set to be the most modern interpretation of the Le Colonial concept, in contrast to those in other cities that have been a mainstay for more than 20 years. Visitors can expect Le Colonial specialties such as Bo Luc Lac Shaking Beef served with farm greens and caramelized filet mignon, Ca Chien Saigon with crispy wild-caught red snapper, and Ca Song, a spicy yellowfin tuna tartare.
Le Colonial will boost global recognition of Buckhead’s upscale restaurant scene, and with culinary masters such as award-winning Vietnamese cookbook author Nicole Routhier and Executive Chef Hassan Obaye, it is sure to be a success at The Shops Buckhead.
