While making my way north along 5th Ave. from the Fashion District to Midtown, my growling stomach could have stopped traffic. I was one of, well, just about everyone on the street consulting my phone with such focus that stoplights couldn't slow me down as I accessed Yelp's iPhone application. Too many options with search terms too defined for my quick pace walking uptown was frustrating, so I went for UrbanSpoon (that nifty app everyone has where you shake it to find a restaurant nearby!) Sure enough, the first one that came up, Kati Roll, was half a block off 5th on West 39th. Outside, it appeared to be an unassuming fast-food style eatery for local business people. Inside, the line was 10 people long, the space was tiny, and the aroma was incredible. A unique board game-like menu offered visuals corresponding with the different types of Kati Rolls to order, a roll being made up of paratha (deep-fried flat bread) wrapped around meat, cheese or veggies. I went for the chicken and shami kebab rolls, learning the chicken was flavored with tikka masala and the kebabs were minced lamb meat. I was FLOORED by these things. So unique to begin with that I might have been blinded by sheer novelty, but on tasting the mini-masterpieces I understood why the line practically wrapped around the block as I sat there savoring. The chicken roll had thin-sliced red onion, cilantro chutney and super spicy tikka masala rubbed chicken. And I should really mention that the chicken was of the utmost quality. Tender, charred—excellent tandoori. The ground lamb roll was equally delicious with its own brand of spice and red onions. I tried to save a bite of each to compare at the end but realized I was finished before I remembered to. I would make a point of heading back here next time I'm in New York. There's one in the Village as well.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Kati Roll Company
While making my way north along 5th Ave. from the Fashion District to Midtown, my growling stomach could have stopped traffic. I was one of, well, just about everyone on the street consulting my phone with such focus that stoplights couldn't slow me down as I accessed Yelp's iPhone application. Too many options with search terms too defined for my quick pace walking uptown was frustrating, so I went for UrbanSpoon (that nifty app everyone has where you shake it to find a restaurant nearby!) Sure enough, the first one that came up, Kati Roll, was half a block off 5th on West 39th. Outside, it appeared to be an unassuming fast-food style eatery for local business people. Inside, the line was 10 people long, the space was tiny, and the aroma was incredible. A unique board game-like menu offered visuals corresponding with the different types of Kati Rolls to order, a roll being made up of paratha (deep-fried flat bread) wrapped around meat, cheese or veggies. I went for the chicken and shami kebab rolls, learning the chicken was flavored with tikka masala and the kebabs were minced lamb meat. I was FLOORED by these things. So unique to begin with that I might have been blinded by sheer novelty, but on tasting the mini-masterpieces I understood why the line practically wrapped around the block as I sat there savoring. The chicken roll had thin-sliced red onion, cilantro chutney and super spicy tikka masala rubbed chicken. And I should really mention that the chicken was of the utmost quality. Tender, charred—excellent tandoori. The ground lamb roll was equally delicious with its own brand of spice and red onions. I tried to save a bite of each to compare at the end but realized I was finished before I remembered to. I would make a point of heading back here next time I'm in New York. There's one in the Village as well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment