Chef Meherwan Irani Brings Indian Street Grill Botiwalla to City

With interior construction well underway in the white “jewel-box” flanking Alpharetta City Center’s Town Green, Botiwalla — from chef and restaurateur Meherwan Irani — is on track to open in May 2019.

Botiwalla is the newest concept from Irani’s growing restaurant and spice empire, Chai Pani Restaurant Group. The first Botiwalla opened three years ago in Atlanta’s Ponce City Market where it quickly became known for craveworthy grilled chicken, lamb, paneer, and steak wrapped in hot naan with fresh herbs, smoky Lamb Burgers, finger lickin’ chaat like SPDP (Sev Potato Dahi Puri) and Masala Smashed Potatoes, and the cult-followed Desi Salad. In addition to snacks and grilled meats, the restaurant features boozy slushies, afternoon high tea, and retail items such as Irani’s own Spicewalla spices, roasted and packed by hand in Asheville, North Carolina.

Since opening Chai Pani Asheville in 2009, Irani has changed the perception of Indian food in America. He is a leading voice in the industry’s conversation around diversity and cultural exchange, and last year was named by TIME Magazine as one of the “31 People Changing the South.” He is also a four-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southeast.

Irani describes Botiwalla as a modern version of an Irani cafe, historically a gathering place for snacks, tea, and conversation where all are welcome. It’s a place close to his heart and an homage to his roots as Irani’s grandfather owned his hometown’s first and only Irani cafe, Sarosh Canteen, in Ahmednagar, India.

For the food at Botiwalla, Irani is inspired by India’s kababwallas, grilling skewers of marinated meats over glowing charcoal grills, or sigris, served with simple flatbread and fresh herbs in the streets and alleyways of almost every city in India. “My mission is to make the most delicious version of Indian street food, blowing away people’s preconceived notions about Indian food in the process,” he says.

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ABOUT ALPHARETTA CITY CENTER

Alpharetta City Center is a 26-acre mixed-use property developed in partnership with the City of Alpharetta to expand the existing downtown historic district by 6 city blocks. The city opened its new City Hall, a new Fulton County Library, the five-acre Brook Street Park, the one-acre Town Green, and the 445-car parking deck in January of 2015.

A partnership of South City Partners and Morris & Fellows developed the street-level shops of “The District,” and “Amorance,” 168 luxury apartments. “Amorance” opened for occupancy in July, and the shops are opening throughout the fall. Morris & Fellows also developed “The Gardens” restaurant and park area, with restaurants opening throughout the fall and winter.

City Center, which received a 2018 Development of Excellence award from the Atlanta Regional Commission, also includes the corporate headquarters of DataScan, and “Voysey,” a neighborhood of 42 single-family homes under development by Hedgewood Homes.

Learn more at www.citycenteralpharetta.com.

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