For nearly two decades, Gulshan "Bitu" Kumar has been serving up Indian food at his Sitar restaurant first on Lee Highway and for the last decade downtown across from the Tennessee Aquarium.
Looking to branch out, Kumar this week opened Bollywood Tacos & Bar on Main Street serving up a fusion of Tex-Mex, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines.
The restaurant will be run and managed by his nephew, Deepak Kumar, who has his own Bollywood Tacos restaurant in Milledgeville, Georgia.
"It has done very well there," Kumar said of his nephew's Georgia restaurant, "and he has his own staff who can run that, so he will be here," Kumar said, adding that he will continue to operate Sitar on Market Street.
The Bollywood concept includes such favorites as chips and salsa, Mexican Streetcorn, Honey Chipolte Shrimp, Buffalo and Roasted chicken, Kumar said. He said it is a mix of flavors that work well together and offer people plenty of choices.
Kumar had originally leased the space at 203 E. Main St. with the idea of opening a burger restaurant, but the owner of the chain disappeared.
"I lost a lot of money and thought about selling the space, but my nephew suggested this," Kumar said.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Karen Atkinson brings out a to-go order at Bollywood Tacos on Friday, March 12, 2021 in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Bollywood concept includes such favorites as chips and salsa, Mexican Streetcorn, Honey Chipolte Shrimp, Buffalo and Roasted chicken, Gulshan ҂ituӠKumar said. He said it is a mix of flavors that work well together and offer people plenty of choices.Among the Bollywood-themed items are Bollykicks such as the Chicken Shawarma with chicken marinated in shawarma spiaces and vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mustard and topped with tzatziki suace and the Falafel Taco features withj falafel mixed with vegetables with sauteed onions and peppers and topped with tzatziki sauce.
The Lamb Kafta Taco has minced lamb infused with spices, onions and peppers, mint, exotic herbs, with crunchy cole slaw and baja sauce and the Butter Chicken Taco with marinated grilled chicken in Indian tandoori spices, with sauteed onions and peppers, topped with cilantro.
It's a diverse menu with premium tacos like the Beef Bar-Bacoa with braised beef, pickled red onions, fresco cheese and cilantro. The Southern Seoul features pork carnita, spicy Korean BBQ, pickled onions, cilantro and crunch coleslaw. Looking for something a little sweeter, the Peach Country taco has fried chicken breast, pimento cheese and peach salsa.
There is also a Veggie taco with jalepeno, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, fresco cheese, corn salsa and topped with chipotle aioli.
The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with full bar service.
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6454.