The fast-casual Indian restaurant’s relaunch is "an effort to better represent its refreshed menu of South Asian-inspired cuisine," a press release from the restaurant states. Tava first opened in the rear of Town & Country in 2012, serving up Indian-style burritos, rice and salad bowls made with grass-fed meats and house-ground spices, among other quality ingredients.
Tava Indian Kitchen co-owner Hasnain Zaidi makes fresh roti at the Palo Alto restaurant in 2013. Photo by Michelle Le/Palo Alto Weekly file photo.
The new Tava Kitchen now offers "signature" entrees that can be served with rice or in a wrap with a choice of six proteins: chicken tikka masala, slow-roasted chicken, lamb meatballs, braised beef, pineapple-glazed salmon and Asian tofu. Customers can now choose from a range of hot and cold sides, from glazed sweet potatoes sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt and chilled Brussels sprouts and grapes with a mint chutney to mac and cheese topped with "South Asian" bread crumbs.
The restaurant will continue to serve its stone-baked garlic naan bread, too.
"We are thrilled to introduce the new Tava Kitchen which we feel is a better expression of our brand as it highlights our key focus on fresh ingredients and incredible flavor," CEO Jeremy Morgan stated in the press release. "The restaurant now features more culinary-forward menu items that offer our guests an approachable, modern take on South Asian cuisine that we feel will be beneficial as we execute on our plan to grow from our three current locations to a total of 12 restaurants by 2018."
Also new at Tava is a line of kids meals — three entrees served with rice, a choice of fresh fruit or vegetables and organic milk, starting at $5 — and house-made, fresh-squeezed lemonades (classic, ginger lemongrass and strawberry flavors).
The Palo Alto location is the first to open with the new menu and branch, but two other outposts in San Francisco and Santa Clara will follow, according to the press release.
In honor of the grand reopening, Tava Kitchen will be giving away free lunch for Palo Alto High School students and the general public this Wednesday, March 23. Paly students can register here to eat lunch for free from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Members of the public can register here to eat for free between 12:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Hours of operation at the Palo Alto Tava Kitchen (855 El Camino Real, Suite 162) are Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Read the Palo Alto Weekly's review of Tava Indian Kitchen from 2013: Fast food, Indian-style.
