A celebrated hospitality group is bringing DC foodies a fresh taste of India later this year. Botiwalla, a popular concept from the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, will be opening a new location in Tenleytown this autumn.
Botiwalla will be opening in Upton Place at 4000 Wisconsin Ave NW. The small but mighty chain has five locations currently open and operational-four in North Carolina and one in Atlanta. Press materials provided to What Now DC show that Botiwalla will be making its DC debut this fall, though a precise opening date is not yet available.
The release further states that Botiwalla is “Chef Meherwan Irani’s love letter to the legendary late night Irani Cafes of his childhood. These tea and kabab houses celebrate the late-night food scene of India with its glowing charcoal sigris and sizzling meats.”
Botiwalla will offer DC foodies the opportunity to enjoy the flavors of Indian street food without needing to board a plane or change time zones. The restaurant’s menu includes “sizzling kababs of chicken tikka, lamb, masala fish, and paneer cooked over charcoal and wrapped in hot buttered naan or atop a crunchy salad or rice bowl with fresh herbs and chutneys. Other highlights include smoky Lamb Burgers, the iconic Vada Pav, Chai Pani’s greatest hit chaats like Masala Smashed Potatoes and Okra Fries, plus fizzy sodas, boozy slushies, hot chai, and cold lassis.”
While the food is, of course, the star of the show, future visitors can look forward to an immersive and memorable overall dining experience: “When entering Botiwalla, guests will be instantly transported to the Irani cafes of mid-century India with their layers of lush colors, faded patinas, Victorian details, and nostalgic memorabilia.”
