photo by Tim Robison
Ed. Note: Friday night there were lines out the door following our news of their soft opening.
Wisconsin Ave NW and Upton Street, NW
From an email:
“Come by Botiwalla for its grand opening to the public on Wednesday, October 14th. The first ten parties in line will receive a Chai Pani Restaurant Group swag bag, plus freebies for anyone and everyone, and the chance to win free Botiwalla for a year.”
Check out the menu:
More:
“Botiwalla is located at 4000 Wisconsin Ave NW in Tenleytown, at the corner of Wisconsin Ave NW & Upton St NW.
Opening Wednesday, October 14 at 11 AM! Open every day 11 a.m.–9 p.m. No reservations
MENU: Kababs are the centerpiece of the Botiwalla menu, in the Sigri (charcoal grill) section: Sizzling aromatic skewers of chicken tikka, malai chicken, lamb, or paneer tikka and veg are cooked over charcoal and wrapped in hot buttered naan or atop a craveworthy Desi Salad or Boti Rice Bowl with fresh herbs and housemade chutneys. Botiwalla also offers Chaat including Chai Pani’s cult-followed Okra Fries as well as Bhel Puri, Masala Smashed Potatoes, and Aloo Tiki Chaat. The Pav section includes “street sandwiches” including the Vada Pav (potato) and Maharaja Lamb Burger. Botiwalla’s Kids Menu is not an afterthought. The Lil’ Walla Menu includes malai chicken bites, grilled cheesy naan, and kids-sized okra fries.
In addition to snacks and grilled meats, the restaurant features boozy slushies, desserts, and retail items like house brand Spicewalla and classic Indian grocery staples.
HISTORY: Botiwalla is Meherwan’s homage to the lively Irani cafes of India — tea and kabab houses run by Parsis who immigrated to India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Meherwan’s great grandfather owned Sarosh Canteen, the only Irani cafe in his hometown of Ahmednagar, India. With a wild and wonderful mash-up of Victorian decor and Indian sensibilities, Irani cafes catered to the English colonialists’ love of high tea and afternoon snacks. Even after the British left India, Irani cafes survived – adapting their menus to Indian taste and becoming some of the most iconic and revered dining institutions across the country. More about the history of Irani cafes and why they’re dwindling in numbers in the modern era in this article by Ligaya Mishan in T Magazine.
DESIGN: When entering Botiwalla, guests are instantly transported to the Irani cafes of mid-century India with their layers of lush colors, faded patinas, and Victorian details. Parsi family photos as well as knick-knacks and bric-a-brac acquired from trips to India adorn the walls with a “more is more” approach. Irani cafes have historically been central to the pop culture landscape of India, as beloved as Bollywood, which also has a presence in Botiwalla interiors, as well as vintage advertisements. The space was designed and executed by a team led by Chai Pani’s Creative Director Mikey Files, the driving force behind the restaurant’s brand identity since the early days. Files brought in regional artists to keep the art of Indian hand-painting alive at Botiwalla as he did at Chai Pani D.C.
Seating Capacity: 65 seats interior + 40 patio seats // 3,200 square feet”