Two weeks in and chef Doug Katz’ fast-casual Indian/Thai rice bowl concept at Van Aken District already is drawing crowds. Chutney B (3441 Tuttle Rd., Stall 206), as it’s called, opened in late June in the Market Hall, and the venture is a departure from the chef’s other restaurants like Fire Food and Drink and Provenance at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
“It’s going really smoothly,” reports Katz. “I’m so used to doing a typical full-service restaurant, but I think we were really thoughtful to keep the menu simple so the line moves quickly. We’ve run out of a few things before close, but we’ve learned from that.”
Chutney B offers dishes like Indian Tomato Masala, Thai Yellow Curry and Moroccan Harira, each served over a bed of jasmine rice and topped with a unique chutney. The above dishes can be supplemented with protein toppers like grass-fed beef meatballs, curried chicken and miso-glazed tofu.
Katz says that he is happy with the current menu, even if it is very streamlined. That said, diners might see some specials in the coming weeks or months.
“We really want to make sure that we can produce efficiently and keep the quality consistent,” he says. “The more we add, the more difficult that becomes.”
Next up for Katz is Zhug, a full-service, 80-seat restaurant that will open this fall in the former Fawaky Burst/Liquid Planet spot (12413 Cedar Rd.) in the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. Demolition on the space has begun, he reports. For more on that restaurant, click here.
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