Vietnamese cuisine with a modern twist (Kingfisher Cocktail Bar & Eatery)
Food, Vietnamese, Golden Hill

‘Kingfisher is Coming to Golden Hill’

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Fans of creative Vietnamese food have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Kingfisher Cocktail Bar & Eatery, which was supposed to open months ago in the former Russian-owned Kafe Sobaka.

Now the time has finally come.

With design and menu issues resolved, the seafood-centric restaurant is expected to launch sometime in January to the tune of spiny lobster in green peppercorn butter, crab congee, diver scallops with seaweed and pineapple, and other upscale dishes constructed by executive chef Jonathan Bautista.

Bautista hails from George’s at the Cove and Common Theory.

Co-owned by three Vietnamese partners, the restaurant draws upon traditional flavors and ingredients while borrowing from Vietnam’s French influences as well as Bautista’s Filipino roots.

Non-seafood dishes are also in the offing. They include crispy chicken wings served with coconut ranch dressing, smoked beef ribs, and Vietnamese sunchoke curry.

And the cocktail menu looks promising when you consider papaya margaritas, guava daiquiris and shots of “rocket fuel” made with butter-washed rum and Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur.