Thattu, the award-winning Indian restaurant that has spent its early years operating as a food stall and more recently as a pop-up, will open a permanent storefront in Avondale this fall, reports Eater Chicago.
Nominated for a James Beard Award and recipient of a Jean Banchet Award, Thattu serves coastal cuisine from the southwestern state of Kerala. The project comes from wife-and-husband team Margaret Pak and Vinod Kalathil, who have self-financed it.
Chef Pak has adapted recipes taught to her by her mother-in-law, and menu highlights include Kappayum Meenum, or Yucca Mash & Fish Curry, a ‘perennial Kerala comfort food;’ Roots Korma, Thattu’s take on coconut and cashew based korma; and Kerala Fried Chicken, a spicy ‘naked’ boneless fried chicken served with a cooling yogurt sauce.
Pak and Kalathil have taken over a 2,900 square-foot space across the street from Guild Row, where they’ve been holding Thattu’s pop-ups. Kalathil told Eater Chicago Thattu won’t be a fine-dining experience; rather, patrons will be able walk-in and enjoy the offerings.
In addition to a sidewalk patio and a garage door window into the dining room, Thattu will feature a full-bar. There is also room for a retail space to sell pantry items.
The space at 3118 N. Rockwell Street is currently under construction and fall 2022 looks to be the projected opening timeline. In the meantime, you can find Thattu on social media to see when it is popping up next.
