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Laith Gondal

@laithgondal

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The Kingsbury. A restaurant where Bruce Wayne dines.

A Midnight Birthday Dinner in New York City.
Gentlemen & French music.
Building a restaurant with my father.
Falling in love.
34.

My birthday was a @saafgarments affair at the @kingsburynyc

Photos by @vikramnssingh taken in New York City by @laithgondal

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2 days ago

“A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats”
I’m not building this restaurant alone, couldn’t do this alone, wouldn’t do it alone, and won’t do it alone. I’m blessed I get to do this with my loved ones. Not only do I get to change my life, but potentially being able to change the lives of the people around me, is where I have found my motivation. I want us to be great. That is the standard. No excuses. Because that is what it will take. But we also need to have fun. We also need to love. Otherwise, what is it all for? taken in Lower East Side Manhattan by @laithgondal

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14 days ago

Progress doesn’t have to be pretty to be progress. We’ve been working hard to build this restaurant. Every day is a new challenge that requires a new solution. The vision becomes clearer every day. We can’t wait to serve the city of New York and show what our team can do. We have the biggest goal and it only makes sense to do it on the biggest platform. We love this city. God Bless. taken in Lower East Side by @laithgondal

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20 days ago

Hey guys, this is my first time on camera in a long time so it might take me some time to get used to this, but here’s a little introduction to the restaurant! taken in Lower East Side by @laithgondal

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a month ago

The Kingsbury is coming.

A restaurant inspired by my mother’s city, Peshawar, and everything it means to me.

Coming Fall 2026.

—

A year and a half. 64 restaurant and bar showings. 8 applications. 7 landlord rejections. 1 yes.

That's what it has taken to get here. Moving to another city to chase a dream doesn’t always look pretty, but progress doesn’t have to be pretty to be progress. After a year and a half of searching, I finally have my first opportunity to open a restaurant in New York City. And now that I'm here, I know the real work is only beginning.

So after a lot of consideration, I can finally say it out loud: my first restaurant will be inspired by my mother’s city, Peshawar. A place with a deep history and a food culture built around simplicity, tradition, and fire. I’m calling it The Kingsbury — my dream name for a restaurant.

The idea is simple: good food, good drinks, and even better service. A place for girls nights, dates, birthdays, anniversaries, work dinners, celebrations, or just a meal with your neighbors. We want to serve our community, our industry, and our neighbors.

This isn't just my restaurant. It's something I'm building for all of us. This is ours. This is yours. As a son of Peshawar, I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position to bring a piece of my culture to Manhattan. This restaurant is my love letter to Peshawar, my family, and especially my mother. It’s being built by immigrants, run by immigrants, and owned by immigrants. That is who we are.

I know how privileged l am to have the chance to do something most people never get to do. I may only get to do this once, and I want to make it count. The dream is free, but the work isn't. We have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but I feel strength from my community, from my team, and from the people who came before me. I'm ready to run through a wall and build something that belongs to all of us.

Welcome to The Kingsbury.

- Laith taken in Lower East Side by @laithgondal

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2 months ago

In the next two months, I’m opening my restaurant in Manhattan.

I’ve washed dishes, bussed tables, run food, bartended, worked the line in Chicago and New York. Two years ago I thought I knew what hospitality was. I didn’t. NYC humbled me fast. The learning curve was crazy. I burnt my hands, damaged my feet, my body broke down. Eventually my body recovered. Through all this, my people kept me going. They taught me the ropes, to keep pushing when everything hurts. And that is when I developed a new respect for the people that serve New York City.

I’m bringing some of those people with me. We’re building this thing together.

Thank you for believing in me and supporting me through this. I’ll need all the help I can get. taken in New York, New York by @laithgondal

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3 months ago

Nobody really talks about this, but sometimes when someone disappears from social media...it’s for the best.

It’s easy to scroll and think “damn that’s crazy, what am I doing?” And honestly? Social media can be a great way to document your life and the work you’re putting in.

But here’s my truth: I’ve historically posted when I *wasn’t* living my best life. Using it as a way to compensate thru cheap dopamine hits.

Right now, I’m the busiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. I’ve achieved more in my personal and professional life than at any point before — so much that I genuinely haven’t had the capacity to post. And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also learned to keep some special moments private.

That said — I do want to share my life’s highlights with all of you as I live in this amazing city. Because so many of you helped me get here. And as I step into the next chapter, I could definitely use your support.

I made this video to close out this chapter of my life: working at Monkey Bar, a top 5 restaurant in New York. The opportunity of a lifetime — and the reason I came to NYC in the first place.

Here’s to what’s next. 🥂 taken in New York, New York by @laithgondal

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3 months ago

It’s been more than a year in NYC, I feel I’ve already lived several lifetimes here. But I honestly think, I’m just starting my journey ## by @laithgondal

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5 months ago

Sometimes I forget I’m living My Favorite Life by @laithgondal

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9 months ago

6 observations after 9 months in NYC
- You can do anything here, but anything good won’t be easy
- If you don’t decide who you are, the city will decide for you
- Time moves 4x faster here
- I miss my parents
- You just need a close group of friends; build with them
- You have to put yourself out there even if you get hurt taken in New York, New York by @laithgondal

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a year ago

🌙💜 taken in New York, New York by @laithgondal

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a year ago

4 months in NY ✅ Observations so far: it can get lonely, there’s always something to do, this city rewards ambition but can also humble you fast, people here are actually nice, carry an umbrella, you can walk almost anywhere, and most importantly I belong here. I love it here, and I’m never going back. taken in Upper East Side by @laithgondal

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a year ago