Chai Pani, the downtown Decatur Indian restaurant helmed by chef Meherwan Irani, will close this Sunday, March 1, for a little more than a week. The temporary closing is the final stage of an overhaul in both the menu and design of the restaurant. Chai Pani will reopen for full dinner service and a Holi party on March 10.
The update comes at a time of increased visibility for the restaurant as chef Irani was recently named a semi-finalist for the 2020 Best Chef Southeast award by the James Beard Foundation. It is the fifth time Irani has been nominated for the prestigious culinary award.
The changes at Chai Pani include a restructured menu complete with new dishes, such as chaats inspired by the restaurant team’s recent trip to India and large-format shared meals like a Bengali fish fry. Many of the changes were brainstormed between chef Irani and the restaurant group’s culinary director Daniel Peach as he completed a year long sabbatical in India in 2019.
Though the space will not undergo structural renovations, it will receive a major design update, including new floors and furniture in addition to decor.
On March 10, Chai Pani will reopen with a Holi party based on the colorful ancient Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Outside the restaurant, there will be a DJ, games and activities, a stand serving free pani puri and the signature colored chalk of Holi. Inside, Chai Pani will host its regular dinner service, which is first come, first serve; the restaurant does not take reservations. The restaurant team plans for the Holi event to be the first of more regular happenings at the Decatur location now that chef Peach has returned to his position.
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