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Best. Chai. Ever. But serious, if you just go for the chai it would be completely worth it. The okra fries were delicious and unique as well.
No wonder this spot always has a line! Located inside Optimist Hall, Botiwalla serves up flavorful eats, refreshing drinks, and a seriously good margarita. The atmosphere: Plenty of indoor seating, plus room temp and cold water dispensers for easy access. The colorful, eclectic décor adds so much charm and personality to the space. The food: The Mango Lassi is a must. Super creamy, refreshing, and perfectly sweet. I grabbed the Malai Chicken Skewer (served with a bright green chutney). I also opted for a side of hot, buttery Naan brushed with Ghee. Both were delicious. The skewer had great flavor, though a little pricey for just one. The naan, though? Worth every bite. Served piping hot and so good! The service: Extremely friendly. The cashier offered excellent recommendations and made the whole ordering process feel welcoming.
Don't let the line fool you, it moves fast. I knew what I wanted from the start but had a great conversation with one of the works about menu items that I'm excited to try next time. I got the masala smashed potatoes; seasoning on the potatoes weren't really there for my but the ketchup was a nice flare and had a kick for sure. SPDP is what got me in line and I love each bite. The perfect mouth full, great crunch and layers of flavor. I only thought to take a picture on the last one - my bad!
Botiwalla is a great choice for to-go or eat-in when you're feeling like eating delicious Indian street food. Botiwalla is more like a restaurant than the rest of the stands inside Optimist Hall. There's plenty of seating inside and outside of the grill. It's decorated really well and takes you to India while still being in North Carolina. I love that they sell spices and other goods across from the order line. The staff are all really nice and quick with service. I only ordered the okra fries and mango lassi as I was driving back home and wanted a snack for the road. The okra fries were DELICIOUS!!!! Oh my gosh, I need to make these at home because there's nothing like these where I am! The mango lassi was good, too. It was for the roadtrip home and I felt better having that instead of soda or energy drinks. I'm definitely coming back on my next trip to Charlotte to try other menu items, but for sure getting those okra fries again.
Botiwalla has the best crispy okra fries! I did not know such thing existed until I passed by their menu ad while walking through the Optimist Hall for lunch options. Definitely do give them a try if you're a fan of fries!
There are a LOT of options in Optimist Hall and this one is tucked away in the back and would be easy to skip over, but if you're into Indian street food this is a solid option. We grabbed a paneer sandwich, which was well-seasoned and the paneer itself was super plump. This one I probably could have skipped but the bhel puri is worth the try. It's a huge dish that is perfectly crispy with a lovely mix of spices. Not a dish I'm as used to so was happy to have experienced this. And don't skip the mango lassi.
Delicious food, the friendliest staff, clean space. Kind of glad I don't live near here or I would be by too often Masala Smashed Potatoes $6 (crispy fingerling potatoes tossed with chaat masala, lime, & cilantro. Served with sweet and spicy Maggi ketchup) - tasty even the next day as leftovers Vada Pav $11 (cpicy potato dumplings (2) fried in a curried chickpea batter. Served with green & tamarind chutneys on toasted buns (pav) brushed with ghee) - this was really good. Quite spicy but couldn't stop eating
Really good smells coming out of this place! It's been a while since I've had any indian food so I figured I'd check it out. The food is as fresh and vibrant as the decor. I got the lamb kabob roll which was really flavorful, big hits of cilantro and red onion. The naan was really well done and the lamb was perfectly cooked and spiced. I'm not a huge fan of red onion and it's on me for not asking them to omit that. But otherwise was very good. Next time I'll ask for no onion because they really go hard with it.
vada pav was packed with flavor! was too full to try anything else. But glad I was able to try this at least! Will definitely come back here next time!
Nice place to try in Optimist Hall. I ordered my food online and picked it up inside. The employee who gave me my food was friendly and verified my order. The seating are was nicely decorated. I truly enjoyed my food the potatoes were flavored very well and crispy. The Lamb burger sliders were a good size and delicious. I felt like I got my money worth of food.
The food is interesting. First time eating this type of food. It's not my favorite, but is edible. Very oniony flavor and cilantro scent. The setting is like walking into a food court, staff very friendly. Portion size is decent. Recommend if you want a full belly.
Everything that we tried here was amazing! We ordered the Bengali special fish (curiously came in a burger style with nice chutney!) the malai chicken kabob and the MG road style chicken wings, all incredibly tasty and flavorful. The highlight was the bourbon spiked hot chai (tea!) . Again, the ambiance and the service is awesome too.... Thoroughly recommended and will be back whenever we are in Charlotte!!
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
2 months ago
This was an amazing find for a visiting tourist on a business trip from a different state. The vada pav and Gobi 65 got my attention right away when one of my colleagues had ordered this through DoorDash during lunch that I had to check this place for dinner and then come come back again the next day to also get dinner for the visiting family. The place is part of the Optimist Hall and has some much space to sit inside and outside of it. The place is also beautifully painted with a lot of pop culture reference from Indian Bollywood. The staff are kind and help through the menu options to make great recommendations. There's also ample parking space opposite to this restaurant. read more
This place was located in the food Hall so I was only trying one item and I decided to get the chicken tikka kabob. It was a little drive but had good flavor. No real complaints about it. I would definitely go back and try other items on the menu. read more
27 days ago
The Paneer Tikka Boti Rice Bowl and Matchstick Okra Fries were amazing. The food is made hot, fresh, and fast! I'm so glad we have them here in Optimist Hall because good Parsi cuisine is hard to find. The booths are big and clean and the staff are always friendly. We will definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
No wonder this spot always has a line! Located inside Optimist Hall, Botiwalla serves up flavorful eats, refreshing drinks, and a seriously good margarita. The atmosphere: Plenty of indoor seating, plus room temp and cold water dispensers for easy access. The colorful, eclectic décor adds so much charm and personality to the space. The food: The Mango Lassi is a must. Super creamy, refreshing, and perfectly sweet. I grabbed the Malai Chicken Skewer (served with a bright green chutney). I also opted for a side of hot, buttery Naan brushed with Ghee. Both were delicious. The skewer had great flavor, though a little pricey for just one. The naan, though? Worth every bite. Served piping hot and so good! The service: Extremely friendly. The cashier offered excellent recommendations and made the whole ordering process feel welcoming. read more
Don't let the line fool you, it moves fast. I knew what I wanted from the start but had a great conversation with one of the works about menu items that I'm excited to try next time. I got the masala smashed potatoes; seasoning on the potatoes weren't really there for my but the ketchup was a nice flare and had a kick for sure. SPDP is what got me in line and I love each bite. The perfect mouth full, great crunch and layers of flavor. I only thought to take a picture on the last one - my bad! read more
Botiwalla is a great choice for to-go or eat-in when you're feeling like eating delicious Indian street food. Botiwalla is more like a restaurant than the rest of the stands inside Optimist Hall. There's plenty of seating inside and outside of the grill. It's decorated really well and takes you to India while still being in North Carolina. I love that they sell spices and other goods across from the order line. The staff are all really nice and quick with service. I only ordered the okra fries and mango lassi as I was driving back home and wanted a snack for the road. The okra fries were DELICIOUS!!!! Oh my gosh, I need to make these at home because there's nothing like these where I am! The mango lassi was good, too. It was for the roadtrip home and I felt better having that instead of soda or energy drinks. I'm definitely coming back on my next trip to Charlotte to try other menu items, but for sure getting those okra fries again. read more
Botiwalla has the best crispy okra fries! I did not know such thing existed until I passed by their menu ad while walking through the Optimist Hall for lunch options. Definitely do give them a try if you're a fan of fries! read more
There are a LOT of options in Optimist Hall and this one is tucked away in the back and would be easy to skip over, but if you're into Indian street food this is a solid option. We grabbed a paneer sandwich, which was well-seasoned and the paneer itself was super plump. This one I probably could have skipped but the bhel puri is worth the try. It's a huge dish that is perfectly crispy with a lovely mix of spices. Not a dish I'm as used to so was happy to have experienced this. And don't skip the mango lassi. read more
Delicious food, the friendliest staff, clean space. Kind of glad I don't live near here or I would be by too often Masala Smashed Potatoes $6 (crispy fingerling potatoes tossed with chaat masala, lime, & cilantro. Served with sweet and spicy Maggi ketchup) - tasty even the next day as leftovers Vada Pav $11 (cpicy potato dumplings (2) fried in a curried chickpea batter. Served with green & tamarind chutneys on toasted buns (pav) brushed with ghee) - this was really good. Quite spicy but couldn't stop eating read more
2 years ago
Really good smells coming out of this place! It's been a while since I've had any indian food so I figured I'd check it out. The food is as fresh and vibrant as the decor. I got the lamb kabob roll which was really flavorful, big hits of cilantro and red onion. The naan was really well done and the lamb was perfectly cooked and spiced. I'm not a huge fan of red onion and it's on me for not asking them to omit that. But otherwise was very good. Next time I'll ask for no onion because they really go hard with it. read more
Nice place to try in Optimist Hall. I ordered my food online and picked it up inside. The employee who gave me my food was friendly and verified my order. The seating are was nicely decorated. I truly enjoyed my food the potatoes were flavored very well and crispy. The Lamb burger sliders were a good size and delicious. I felt like I got my money worth of food. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
The food is interesting. First time eating this type of food. It's not my favorite, but is edible. Very oniony flavor and cilantro scent. The setting is like walking into a food court, staff very friendly. Portion size is decent. Recommend if you want a full belly. read more
2 years ago
Everything that we tried here was amazing! We ordered the Bengali special fish (curiously came in a burger style with nice chutney!) the malai chicken kabob and the MG road style chicken wings, all incredibly tasty and flavorful. The highlight was the bourbon spiked hot chai (tea!) . Again, the ambiance and the service is awesome too.... Thoroughly recommended and will be back whenever we are in Charlotte!! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
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 read more
The Malai Chicken Roll is a 10/10 and you need it in your life! This was my first time trying it. It was extremely filling... tender marinated chicken topped with the dynamic flavors of slaw, onions and cilantro on soft hot naan. It was ahhmazing and I was sad when I got to the end. Thankfully I found one last surprise piece of chicken in my little bag that had fallen out which was the love on top of love. The only bad thing about this place is that there are not more locations around town (at least not yet). I wish I could pop in without the inconvenience of driving to Optimist Hall. My husband also swears by the Crispy Masala Fish Roll. He said it's a hit but he didn't share any with me because we were both being stingy with our rolls. Service was also great. My meal was basically ready before I could finish placing the order but it was hot and the staff was friendly and appreciative of our business. I highly recommend! read more
2 years ago
This resembles a fast-food version of Indian food. I was surprised when I ordered the Gobi that it didn't come with rice. I asked about that after they delivered it to me (you walk up to the counter to order, then they hand you a number to take to your table). They went ahead and gave me some rice, so I appreciate that. The SPDP was phenomenal! Really, really great and highly recommend you get this. Honestly, I liked it better prepared like this than I did when I had them from a street vendor in India. Great combination of flavors. The pineapple turmeric drink was very good also and you can really taste the turmeric. Turmeric is supposed to be great for your health, to fight inflammation and other things so this is a health beverage I'm telling myself. Haha Honestly, there are better places in Charlotte to get a full dinner of Indian food, but this is a decent place if you are just looking for a snack. They have a very casual sit down area and I liked sitting in a booth. They have restrooms right there inside the restaurant, so you don't have to find one somewhere else in Optimist Hall. They let my friend bring her food from another vendor in Optimist Hall into the booth with me so we could sit together and socialize. They also have some Indian snacks and sauces for sale. read more
The mango lassi was of course the best thing, hands down. But also the spdp was a beautiful blend of flavors. Maybe the cilantro was a bit much but that kind of only happened on some bites. The masala smashed potatoes were crispy, flavorful, and a little hint of sweetness. read more
Quick bites! What did I get I got the Bhel Puri and a side of naan bread. I liked the Bhel puri, it has a nice chutney on it, gave it a little kick. I ate mine there and the rice puffs still has its crunch, not sure how this would transfer for take out.. I imagine it getting flat and losing its crunch so it may not be a good take out... The naan bread was really soft... definitely tasted different from other restaurants naan. Not sure if these are made in-house.. it almost tasted more like pita bread. Environment Love the theming in this place. Located inside the Optimist Food Hall, there is plenty of seating available for customers only, inside and outside. You order your food, take a number and they will bring the food out to you. Niceness of the staff Didn't have any grande conversation with the staff. Got my items with no issues. Dollar It was snack priced. It was about $8 I think for the puri Yes? I would! Interested in trying the kale pakora... also disappointed they didn't have the gobi 65... read more
Thoroughly enjoyed my recent visit to Botiwalla. I have been to optimist several times but never quite made it to check it out. I decided to try the chicken wrap (can't remember the name). The chicken was moist and flavorful. It was wrapped in a warm soft naan which was also quite tasty. I didn't realize this place also has a full bar with great priced cocktails. Overall a great experience. I'll be back to try a few more things from the menu. read more
Ordered cheese paratha from the kids menu for my 18 month old not hoping it to taste like our store bought frozen kawaan paratha. Someone please tell me this is not true! I also think a kids meal should have at-least been whole grain and not this flaky floury ! Don't approve at all. read more
6 years ago
After trying and loving Chai Pani in Asheville, I was ready to try their sister restaurant here in Charlotte. Covid-19: they are currently doing takeout only. Optimist Hall is incredibly crowded right now, but Botiwalla isn't too bad. Do yourself a favor and order and pay online ahead of time. Our food was ready 10 minutes after we ordered. Pro tip: there are picnic tables outside of their back door entrance that no one knows about! We got the SPDP, Bhel Puri, Lamb Burgers, Chai, and Mango Lassi. I really wanted to get the Vada Pav and Paneer Tikka Roll since we loved them so much at Chai Pani, but we decided to try new things. Both the SPDP and Bhel Puri were amazing. I think the SPDP is what you'll see called Dahi Puri at other Indian restaurants. We get both of these dishes a lot at Indian restaurants and these were some of the best versions we've had. I really appreciate that they give you the option to order them assembled or disassembled. Most places just give them to you disassemble which is good if you're going to be traveling with them, but I prefer to get them assembled if I'm eating right away. The Lamb Burgers were good. I broke my rule always ordering vegetarian at Indian restaurants for them and I shouldn't have. I liked them, but the vegetarian dishes were much better. The Mango Lassi was delicious. Definitely make sure you order the Chai. It was amazing. It was spicy and not too sweet. It was so much different than what you get at a coffee shop. This is my favorite place at Optimist Hall and we'll definitely be back for more! read more
This lines for this place are always popping but they keep it moving! I love this spot. The food is so fresh and flavorful. I love the shop inside that sells all the aromatic spices and everything you'd need to make your own delicious home cooked meal. The vibe feels like the perfect Indian snack shop stop. I've now eaten here a few times and each time I'm already planning my next trip back! read more
When you're at a cross road of burger and lamb... come here!! Kicking off spring requires a burger, right? Well at least for me it does. A friend of mine spoke highly of them so I had to give it a try and man oh man... my tummy is still smiling. This location is inside of Optimist Hall (if you're short for time - coming from the cocktail bar outside, walk up the left stairwell and enter first door on left...you can't miss it) and it's no judgment if you want a little of something from everywhere (lol), but I highly recommend you start here. Social distancing is being practiced so wear your mask and be mindful of the floor decals. Luckily there wasn't a long line so I was able to get my order in pretty quickly. I decided to go with the Botiwalla Lamb Burgers (two sliders) and the Masala Smashed Potatoes (the descriptions on the menu are straight forward but they're happy to answer any questions)... without a drink my total with tip was around $16. WELL WORTH IT!! I received a text when my order was ready and with contactless pickup in place, it was bagged and ready for me on the table. Now the good part...The sliders were love from the time I took a bite! The Lamb was well seasoned, complimented by the Desi slaw and green chutney. And the burgers paired well with the potatoes. I don't know which one provided the spice kick but there was a hint of something...but the Moggi ketchup made it all better. Man, listen... I'm going back!! I'll see y'all there! read more
6 years ago
I stopped by for lunch today and was pleasantly surprised. The menu is not extensively long, but somewhat longer than other eateries in OH. I ordered the Chicken Tikka and my hubby ordered the Lamb. We split the smashed fingerling potatoes. Food came out fast and was still hot after a 10min. ride home. OMG everything was delish! Meat was not dry. Have napkins cause sauce with good and runny. Naan was soft and pillowy, not rubbery. Dipping sauce tasted like a spicy polynesian sauce. This is a cashless business. Restrooms inside are for employees only. I will be back! read more
I've been on an Indian food kick lately & this restaurant did not disappoint me. Located in Optimist Hall Charlotte, this restaurant is so quaint & cute. Rich in culture with the artwork & music. Ordered the lamb burgers potatoes as the butter chicken. Ohhh so good! The burgers & butter chicken had a little kick (spicy) so keep that in mind. I also had the pineapple mule. It was light & refreshing. A great experience overall! read more
First time here and I got the paneer tikka roll with the pav bhaji. The paneer tikka roll was phenomenal. Definitely would recommend getting the house made spicy sauce on the side to kick it up a notch. The paneer roll itself was very filling. The pav bhaji was very average and pretty bland. Could have used more spice and was a little too sweet for me. The atmosphere reminds me of a mix of culture combined with modern aesthetics. The staff was very friendly and gave good recommendations. Overall, this is a cool place for the atmosphere with good food. I would recommend checking it out if you are craving Indian food. A little bit of spice can take the food to the next level. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
Honestly - you can't go wrong here with any choice you make! Don't let the line scare you - orders move quick and they'll text you to pick up so that you have some time to grab dessert! read more
Botiwalla was recommended to me by a friend and I'm so glad I tried it! Located in Optimist Hall, it has a dedicated seating area which was nice and felt like a restaurant instead of the food stalls. You can't go wrong with the Vada pav--I hadn't tried Indian street food before and it was one of the top 3 new dishes I have tried in 2023. It was that good! The chutneys and crisp potato Pattie's fried in chickpea batter, plus the spice sprinkled on top gave deep flavor. I also loved the malai chicken wrap on naan, but it was more in line with what I have tried before. The chicken was marinated and tender. Service was friendly and the food came out quickly. I will definitely come back here next time I'm in the area. read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
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More info about Botiwalla
340 E 16th St
Optimist Food Hall
Charlotte, NC 28206
NoDa
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(980) 296-3993
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2 years ago
2 years ago
