Botiwalla By Chai Pani - Charlotte

This is one of my most visited spots. I was in love with it visiting ATL and so happy when it opened here! Can't go wrong, but the naan rolls are where it's at. The fish one is my fav, with crispy thin fish filets and crunchy vegetables. The naan is the softest I've ever had. Love the mango lassi to cool you down. Get the okra fries and you'll have a hard time with any other fried okra after you experience them!

There is no Chai Pani in Charlotte, just this fast casual spinoff. Given it is located in a food hall, I thought it might just be a little stall, but in fact they had a decent-sized space to themselves, colorfully decorated as is their brand. Which makes it all the more puzzling that their menu was so limited.I will give them credit for at least having a salad, but I did not see any chickpeas or lentils on the menu. As diverse as Indian cuisine is, since when can you have a place without lentils? And neither did they offer the matchstick okra fries of the full restaurant nor any of the other veggie chaat items.Don't get me wrong, my mini potatoes were deliciously spiced, and the salad had a nice mix of flavors (though it didn't quite fill the bowl). It just seems strange to me that there are so many good fast food type items, particularly veggie ones, that did not make it from the Chai Pani menu onto this spinoff. Even the Botiwalla in Asheville had a bit more going for it I think.

This restaurant has a very nice vibe. It's inside a great open market space which itself means you can get a lot done. People watch. Walk some steps especially when the weather outside isn't great. The food was quite tasty. One caveat. I did order the Gobi and it wasn't listed as a pokoras. But that's exactly what it was. The flavor was a bit subdued. Maybe that's the nature of the audience they serve. But it was great ingredients and wonderful flavor.

Located in a pretty convenient place, with 2 hours of free parking. Out of all the restaurants in the food hall, I was drawn to Botiwalla, smelling its delicious food wafting from down the hall. I cannot remember the name of the corn dish for the life of me, but it was part of their summer seasonal menu. It was (10/10), refreshing, with great portions. I love any kind of corn, but this corn dish garnished with other veggies and a crunchy sort of accompaniment was a delight every bite.Lamb burgers (8/10): I've had these at the ATL Botiwalla location, and these burgers are delish every time. So juicy and flavorful, and always surprisingly filling. I will say though, I remember these sliders being a bit larger/coming with a side when I first came. I'm not sure if this is location dependent, though.The service was fantastic. Cashier was kind, and servers were attentive. There's plenty of room for dine in. It's a bit louder since the location is within a food hall, but it's a pleasant kind of loud. Would come back here soon!

Botiwalla is a regular stop for us on our trips to NC. We love their vada pav. My wife and I particularly love how their chai is served with a whole small pack of Parle G - this is the gold standard that other restaurants now need to live up to. Their SPDP is also quite good; we order it without onions, and they always deliver on that. Though we try different items at different visits, the vada pav is our go-to dish every time.The ambience is 70s Bollywood movie posters, and is cheesy to a fault; but it adds enough character and isn't out of place. Service has always been friendly and quick. There is ample parking outside Optimist Hall and it's even free for 90 minutes. I know we're going to be back the next time we're in the city.

When walking up to Optimist Hall, I caught a whiff of something really delicious and followed my nose to Botiwalla. On previous visits this place had a line that seemed to have no end so I was pleasantly surprised to find it nearly empty on a Monday afternoon. Definitely visit during the week if possible. Service was quick and every staff member we encountered was friendly. It was hard to narrow down our options as everything on the menu sounded delicious. We wanted to pace ourselves to be able to try a few different places this trip so we opted to split the lamb burgers. Perfect choice! These sliders were much more substantial than I expected. They packed tons of flavor in every bite and I would go back again just to order them again. The buns were perfectly toasted to hold up to the toppings. I knew after seeing so many photos of these sliders online they had to be popular for a reason and I was not disappointed. If you're torn about what to try here, the lamb burgers are a phenomenal option. It's going to be really hard not to order them again on my next trip but I try to sample a little something different every visit. As for the rest of the place, I love how the design is not only inside the dining area but also extended to the order window on the outside. It really stands out when passing by. I love the section of spices and teas they offer as well. It seems like a lot of attention to detail was put into every inch of this place and it really makes such a difference. I can't wait to visit again and try more of the menu. (And probably order the lamb burgers as well.) Trust me, if you pass by this place it'll be hard not to stop in once you smell their food! I'm sure you can't go wrong with anything on the menu and they seem to have a solid selection for everyone to find something they will enjoy.

Visited from Michigan and I love coming to the Optimist food hall every time. This was my first time trying out Botiwalla and it did not disappoint. We didn't have to wait in line and it was easy to order. There is plenty of seating inside and outside the restaurant. I got the chicken tikka roll and it was amazing. So flavorful and the naan bread is really delicious. 10/10!

Stopped by on my way from DC to Atlanta and omg this place is ICONIC. The lamb burgers and smashed masala potatoes are the best thing I've had in a WHILE. The pineapple turmeric soda was really refreshing too.Def try this place!!!!

Had the aloo tikki chhole: Crispy Indian potato fritters served over a spiced chickpea stew with tamarind chutney, green chutney, sweet yogurt, sev and red onion. SO GOOD! Service was so friendly and recommended food based on my preferences.Ambiance is a fun and casual vibe- great place for a casual hangout with friends at the Optimist Hall

When visiting a new city, I always love finding food halls, so I came across Optimist Hall! There were SO many food spots and the vibes were immaculate! It was not only a food hall but also had ample seating and chill vibes for people who may want to get some work done or read a book. I ordered the butter chicken and side of naan from Botiwalla and it was one of my favorite meals from my vacation! The butter chicken sauce was on point and so flavorful and I loved the side of raita that I added into the butter chicken. One of my favorite things also is to dip the naan into the sauce. I would have given this spot a 5/5 except my chicken got a little dry, and I wish the pieces were smaller so I could just scoop and eat versus having to cut some chunks.