Say Grace EP 1: A Conversation with Meherwan and Molly Irani of Chai Pani Restaurant Group
Oct 16, 2025
Meherwan and Molly Irani, the dynamic duo behind Chai Pani Restaurant Group, share their journey of transforming Indian street food in the U.S. They discuss the importance of building a strong hospitality culture and how their personal histories shaped their vision. Their courageous decision to open during the 2008 financial crisis is explored, emphasizing passion over fear. The couple highlights the significance of internal hospitality and investing in their team. With ambitions of expanding to 10 restaurants in 10 years, they aim to redefine hospitality in America.
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Raised In A Family Bistro
- Molly ran every station in her parents' French patisserie-turned-bistro and learned hospitality from hands-on family work.
- She also vowed to avoid restaurants after seeing how the business exhausted her parents before later returning to the industry.
Home As A B&B Shaped Hospitality
- Meherwan's grandmother ran their home as a B&B for Western visitors near an ashram, feeding strangers daily.
- That upbringing taught him hospitality and how to adapt homestyle cooking for unfamiliar palates without dumbing it down.
Use Crisis To Start What You Love
- Use a crisis as permission to take calculated risks you wouldn't take when things feel safe.
- Reframe risk: when the status quo collapses, consider building what truly excites you.
