New Tysons Restaurant Celebrates Cuisines Of Middle East, Persian Gulf, Northern India

TYSONS CORNER, VA — A new restaurant inspired by the cuisine of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and Northern India is opening in Tysons Corner Center in early November.

The restaurant, Leila, is the brainchild of Bikram Keith, a D.C.-based DJ and music producer, who after traveling to the region wanted to open a restaurant that celebrated the dishes of the Spice Route.

The new 210-seat restaurant, located next to Nordstrom's in Tysons Corner Center, will consist of a 5,000 square foot dining room, lounge and patio.

Keith will co-own the restaurant with Karan Singh, CEO of the Punjab Grill in D.C.'s Penn Quarter and other restaurants, and Vinoda Basnayake, a principal of hospitality company Versus.

“Leila” shares the same meaning — daughter of the night — in all three languages of the regions represented on the menu: Arabic, Farsi and Urdu.

Leila’s menu will be developed by Singh in collaboration with Chef Jassi Bindra of the Punjab Grill. The menu will include such staples as htipiti, baba ghannoush and an array of breads fired in a custom-made tandoor.

Keith and his partners invested $500,000 on the kitchen for the restaurant, which will include custom tandoor ovens from England and an oversized Montague open-flame kabob grill.

Leila will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with weekday happy hour and Sunday brunch, as well as offering a late-night menu. DJs will perform in the evening Thursday through Sunday until 2 a.m.