There’s a new kid on the “Polaris Parkway block” and I’m so excited to share this hidden gem with you. This afternoon, I stopped by Rollz Rice Indian Kitchen with my husband. (Yay for Friday lunch dates!)
I was blown away. Friendly service, DELICIOUS food, and such a totally unique menu! I was so pleased to see Indian street food on their menu, because it’s the kind of thing you usually only find in Indian kitchens but almost never in restaurants.
My husband was like a little kid in a candy store when he saw they had kathi rolls on the menu. One of his favorite foods of all time, on a trip to Kolkata, India (where they originated) he once ate them straight for 4 days.
It’s the number one thing he requests my mom to make for him. Kathi rolls are basically Indian style wraps – soft flatbread filled with your protein filling of choice and topped with veggies, herbs and delicious sauce.
How Does Rollz Rice Work?
The restaurant is set up in a “create your own” style. Similar to Chipotle, Bibibop or Piada, you get to choose a base + filling + toppings/veggies + sauces. Or if you’re not quite sure where to start, they have a list of house suggestions that you can order without having to make any decisions.
The restaurant is fast casual, and I do mean it’s FAST! Perfect for a lunch stop on a busy weekday.
Step 1 – Pick your base. Choose from wrap, bowl, or salad.
Wrap Options:
If you get a wrap, you’re basically creating a Kathi roll. So so good.
Plain Wrap
Fenugreek Seasoned Wrap
(The traditional way to eat a kathi roll is to dip one side of the wrap in egg and cook it so the wrap is layered with an omelet. You can do this for 50 cents and I highly recommend it!)
Bowl Options:
Cilantro Rice
Plain Rice
Salad:
Lettuce
Step 2 – Pick your protein
You can pick from a variety of different proteins. Everything I tried was seasoned to perfection.
Chicken ($7)
Fish ($7)
Goat ($8) – This was hands down my favorite. Best goat I’ve ever had. Tender, flavorful, and a touch of spicy heat. It was perfection.
Paneer ($7)
Potato ($6)
Chickpeas ($6)
Step 3 – Add on some goodies at no additional cost.
Lettuce , red onion, cilantro, carrot, cucumber, jalapēnos, or cheese.
Step 4 – Top with one of their signature sauces.
Tikka Masala: Needs no description in my opinion, but it’s a yummy blend of tomato, yogurt, and onion
Harissa: Spicy garlic, chili and mayo based sauce
Achaari: A super traditional Indian sauce made of tomato, onion and mustard seeds. (THIS WAS MY FAVE!)
Creamy Sriracha
Avocado Cilantro (Also my fave)
Now that you have the general concept down, here are 6 reasons to try Rollz Rice!
Reason #1: There’s Something For Everyone
Raise your hand if you have a friend who’s vegan. Pescatarian? Paleo? Keto? Gluten free? Eats halal food? If you’re like me, you have friends who are all of those. How easy it is to find a place to go out to eat? Not very easy, right? Finally, a spot that everyone can grab exactly what they want!
My favorite thing about Rollz Rice is that you can create your meal to suit your dietary needs. Eating low carb? Get a salad base and pile on the meat. Vegan? Grab a rice bowl (both options are vegan), top with delicious chickpeas or potato and pile on the veggies! Drizzle a little avocado cilantro (vegan) sauce on top, and it’s seriously delicious. All the meat is locally sourced and halal, and it’s easy to choose gluten free options or a protein base that fits your diet.
Reason #2: The Food
Everything is made from scratch! All the proteins, soups, flatbreads, signature sauces and even the amazing Indian-style ice cream is made in small batches using the owner’s personal family recipes. The flatbreads are fresh and flaky, just like the ones my mother makes. While the delivery and set up are unique, the flavors? Authentic. This is the not the heavy, cream-soaked dishes that you find in most of the Indian restaurants in our city. Nope. This is the stuff your Indian ma or dida (grandma) whips up on a Sunday afternoon.
Reason #3: Rollz Rice is Crazy Affordable!
Rollz Rice offers an exceptional value. I was honestly shocked at how filling my bowl was. Depending on which protein you select, you can expect to pay between $6 and $8. FOR A MASSIVE AMOUNT of perfectly seasoned, delicious, fresh food. My “Fisher College of Business” educated brain thinks they should charge more, but my super frugal side is so grateful they don’t. A $7 lunch that hits all the food groups, fills you up and makes your mouth happy? YES. Every.single.day.
Side items are equally well priced:
Reason #4: The Sweetest Owners!
Seema and Kailash Chughwani were so warm and inviting when we stopped in.
It was easy to see their passion shine through as they talked about their new concept. They came up with the business idea two years ago, and while they waited for the right opportunity to open up shop, they started catering and testing out their recipes. It was interesting to me that neither come from a restaurant background, because I could tell right away that the product they were offering – the food, the hospitality, and the concept itself was well thought out. It’s honestly the kind of operation my husband and I would dream of starting in our younger, more energetic, restaurant management days.
We are incredibly spoiled in Columbus with so many delicious restaurants in every direction. It’s easy to #supportlocal, and it feels good to support places where the product is exceptional and the owners amazing. (Hai Poke and Tula Taqueria, I’m looking at you, too!)
Reason #5: The Goat. OMG the Goat!
Growing up, the standard curried meat in our house was always goat. I didn’t realize that goat meat wasn’t super popular until I had my very own “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” moment in third grade when a girl named Tammy set me straight. (Shout out to Tammy for also informing me that I couldn’t read the part of Cinderella in our “read-aloud” class play because I didn’t have blonde hair, and giving me the advice that if I actually used soap when I showered, maybe my skin wouldn’t be the color of dirt. #SolidAdvice)
So I’m going to hazard a guess that there’s a slight chance you’ve never had goat meat. And I’m telling you right now, you’re missing out. Goat is more tender and mild flavored than lamb or beef and has fewer calories, cholesterol, and saturated fat than not only lamb, pork and beef, but also chicken and turkey! It contains more iron than those, too and is typically grass-fed and grass grazed. Also, no worries if you’re not a fan of other goat products (I personally can’t STAND the taste of goat milk/cheese and still love the meat.)
I’ve been married now for 12 years (!?!) and together over 16 years, and at every BIG family dinner or holiday celebration, my husband has taken one bite of goat curry, and politely declined more. He’s tasted and considered goat at every Indian buffet in which we’ve seen it offered, and is always a bit “meh” about it. Not at Rollz Rice. He politely took a bite of my goat meat bowl, and then his eyes got huge. “Woah. That’s really good.”
He continued to eat my goat, pausing every bite to assure me that “No. Seriously. That is so good.” Another bite. “Wow. What did they do to this goat? It’s so good.”
It’s honestly the best curried goat meat I’ve ever had. I’ve eaten (and loved) goat meat consistently since I was a child, and THEY HAVE THE BEST GOAT CURRY. Go and try something new, and it might just rock your world.
Reason #6: Authentic Indian Ice Cream
If you’ve never experienced traditional Indian ice cream, called kulfi, you should probably fix that. Kulfi is lighter in calories than typical ice cream because it forgoes eggs, and also does not require any additives or preservatives. It’s made simply, with milk, sugar and all-natural flavors. The texture of kulfi is denser and creamier and ice cream.
Rollz Rice has three to choose from:
Interested in checking out Rollz Rice Indian Kitchen? Here’s what you need to know:
Rollz Rice Indian Kitchen
724 Polaris Parkway
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
614-505-6406
Open:
11am-9pm Monday – Saturday
11am – 7pm – Sunday
*They also cater!
Are you adventurous enough to try the BEST GOAT EVER? If so, I’d love to see! Tag @LakesandLattes on IG and let me know.
Happy dining:
I was sold on their name alone, and then their food looks amazing too!