NZZ Bellevue: Chaat brings North Indian street food to Zurich Seefeld
Zuri Min and Alessio Feser opened the restaurant Chaat at Seefeldstrasse 96 in Zürich last August, bringing a North Indian-focused menu to the Seefeld neighborhood, NZZ Bellevue reported. The opening follows two research trips to India where the co-founders tested various dishes after discovering the vacant property last winter.
Second-Hand Decor Creates Unpretentious Dining Space
The 40-seat indoor dining space features light yellow walls, checkered upholstery, heavy dark wooden furniture, and items sourced from second-hand shops. Min, who previously designed hotel interiors, collaborated with Feser, who has a background in gastronomy, to create an unpretentious atmosphere. Large windows open directly onto a shaded terrace that matches the indoor seating capacity during the summer months.
Demand regularly exceeds capacity. Min and Feser deliberately hold back a portion of tables from online booking systems to accommodate walk-in diners. The crowd draws local Seefeld residents and international expats alike, frequently resulting in a busy room where guests are occasionally turned away due to full seating.
Indian Chefs Prepare Traditional Street-Food Specialties
The culinary program centers on sharing small dishes. The name Chaat refers to traditional Indian street-food specialties derived from a Hindi word meaning to lick. Starters include the Samosa Papdi Chaat, combining chickpeas, yogurt, sauces, and pomegranate seeds, alongside Upvas Kachori, which features fried pastry pockets filled with a creamy coconut and spice mixture.
Kitchen operations are run by three Indian chefs, including a specialist dedicated to the Tandoor oven. The clay oven produces garlic naan with soft textures and charred edges. Main selections feature a tender Kashmiri-chili marinated lamb shank, a spiced Palak Paneer finished with ginger strips, and a Chicken Korma prepared in a cashew-yogurt sauce seasoned with green cardamom and saffron.
Dessert Offerings and Practical Details
Dessert options include a coconut milk rice pudding flavored with cardamom, raisins, almond slivers, and pomegranate, alongside a firm pistachio dessert comparable to ice cream. The restaurant operates at Seefeldstrasse 96, serving a mix of neighborhood residents and international visitors with dishes ranging from mild to spicy.