When Saigon Blonde opened in downtown St. Pete, it redefined what a cocktail bar in Tampa Bay could be. Six years later, the team behind Saigon Blonde is putting the final touches on a new immersive upscale restaurant set to debut this September.

In 2018, instead of simply designing a beautiful bar, the owner used Saigon Blonde to tell a story.

Saigon Blonde, located at 265 Central Avenue, is the story of a beautiful Vietnamese-French woman who operated a cocktail lounge deep in the heart of the capital of Vietnam during one of history’s most devastating wars.

The downtown St. Pete cocktail bar could easily fit in on the streets of New York City or in a Disney theme park. And by the sound of it, the team’s next concept would fit right in as well.

Red Thread, which will be located at 300 1st Avenue North, is an upscale restaurant that invites diners on a culinary journey to explore the rich tapestry of the ancient Silk Road, a network of trade routes spanning 4,000 miles connecting the East and West from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. 

The new restaurant celebrates the diverse flavors of countries along this historic path, from China and India to Persia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Red Thread is named after the “red thread of fate,” a mythical concept derived from Chinese and Japanese folklore that suggests a predestined bond between two individuals. 

As with Saigon Blonde, stepping inside Red Thread will transport you to another world, designed to highlight the richness of the cultures along the Silk Road. With a mix of gold, green, red, and black hues, the interior will feature a blend of Oriental, Mediterranean, and Indian design with brass fixtures and marble tabletops.

Red Thread will offer lunch, dinner, and a late-night menu six days a week (closed on Mondays). Brunch will be available on the weekends.

The menu will be comprised of small plates, inviting guests to share with their table, as well as a handful of entrees.

“The Silk Road connected over 50 countries, so the cuisine at Red Thread will be diverse, creative, and limitless,” said Executive Chef Zachary Sylvester in a conversation with St. Pete Rising.

“There are a lot of flavors I'm going to explore that aren't currently represented in downtown St. Pete,” added Sylvester. “It’s going to be a culture shock in a lot of ways, a very positive one, but we want to make sure that we do that with finesse.”

As with the regular lunch and dinner menu, the weekend brunch at Red Thread will not be your traditional American-style brunch.

“There's very much going to be an out of the box thinking when it comes to brunch,” said Sylvester. “Expect to see familiar dishes, but in a way you’ve never experienced.”

The late-night menu will also feature unique selections.

“We want to offer late-night guests something other than pizza. Something that's a little bit upscale,” said Sylvester.

The bar program, helmed by Lucien Chalfoun, will feature a menu of curated cocktails with a creative twist, developed to pair perfectly with the cuisine by using unfamiliar ingredients from countries along the Silk Road.

In addition to indoor seating, Red Thread will have a gated outdoor patio.

“It’ll be a totally different experience than dining at a sidewalk table on Central Avenue,” said Sylvester. “Imagine a private oasis with lush greenery and covered cabanas.”

St. Pete residents and visitors are invited to experience the rich cultures along the Silk Road this September when Red Thread debuts at 300 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete.