CLEVELAND — Choolaah took flight eight years ago when it opened its first restaurant in Orange Village. Since then, the regional restaurant group has gone on to open six more locations, with its latest one landing in the heart of Ohio City, just steps from the West Side Market.
The fast-casual eatery struck a chord with diners thanks to a winning formula that makes authentic Indian food accessible and approachable. Like most locations, this latest store is a colorful, art-filled space with indoor and outdoor dining. A wall of windows opens up to the sidewalk patio, while a rear patio offers a quiet space to dine outdoors.
Co-CEO Randhir Sethi says that Ohio City is a great fit because of the menu’s many vegan, vegetarian and restricted-diet options. All the food is made from scratch on-site at each location, including the fresh-baked naan, prepared in tandoor ovens in the open kitchen. The range of wholesome, flavorful, and approachable bowls, wraps and street snacks are highly customizable, allowing guests to shape their perfect dining experience.
While the bowl or wrap format might feel familiar by now, the proteins, sauces, and sides make Choolaah unique. Diners can choose from items like chicken with tikka masala, lamb meatballs in chickpea masala, and paneer in yellow lentil daal, all served over white rice, brown rice, or greens. Wraps filled with chicken, lamb, or paneer arrive in warm, fresh-baked naan with sauce. Rounding out the menu are tasty snacks like crispy samosas and savory pav bhaji, an Indian version of vegetarian sloppy joe. It all gets washed down with hot or cold chai, mint ginger lemonade, or mango lemonade.
The restaurant officially opened its door Friday, July 29.
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