The chandelier sparkles in the dining room of one of Raleigh’s newest restaurants, where one of the must-order dishes is a basket of fries unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Perhaps that’s because the new Botiwalla by Chai Pani is a bit unlike any other restaurant, taking the counter service model to new heights. Instead of a white tablecloth dining room, that chandelier dangles above the cash register, next to which are Indian versions of Lays potato chips and snacks. Above, portraits from Golden Age Bollywood movies stare out from high up shelves, the frozen drink machines whirl and the air is fragrant and rich.
Botiwalla arrived in Raleigh this summer from the acclaimed Asheville restaurant group Chai Pani, which has a James Beard award and a slew of restaurants from Washington, D.C. to Atlanta. When it first debuted in Raleigh Iron Works, Botiwalla was dinner-only, but last week it finally kicked off lunch service…