Sanjiv Bhatt, who currently owns and manages two restaurants in North Olmsted, Inchin's Bamboo Garden and Tadka Restaurant, will be opening an Inchin's Bamboo Garden Express and Chapati Indian Grill adjacent to one another at 11440 Euclid Avenue in the Uptown development. Both establishments are expected to open by January.

The new dual location will be adjacent to MOCA in the Uptown project, which houses Panera and other venues. Bhatt describes the Chapati Grill as "a fast food concept, similar to Chipotle, but with Indian flavors." The Inchin's Bamboo Garden Express, says Bhatt, will have a menu similar to that of the North Olmsted location, which features Indian/Chinese fusion. Both restaurants will be open seven days a week with lunch and dinner service and will offer wine and beer, although Bhatt hopes to expand the Inchin's Bamboo Garden Express's potent potables to include liquor.

The two eateries will employ a total of between 20 and 25 employees. Chapati will seat approximately 35 people, while the Bamboo Garden will seat 150 and will have a private area for parties of up to 25 people. The city of Cleveland is currently reviewing the plans and drawings, but Bhatt is confident he will have official approval as early as this week. He has selected a contractor, the name of which he's withholding until the agreement is inked. Bhatt describes the contractor as a local business with 20 years of experience in restaurant work.

Bhatt cites two reasons for the expansion.

"Cleveland is coming back," he says. "When I started on the west side, it was the worst time in Cleveland. In the past three or four years, I've noticed that downtown is growing. You see construction everywhere."

Bhatt's business has also enjoyed an upswing, and his customers clamored for options.

"My east side customers would tell me that it's very difficult for them to come here to enjoy my food," he says. "They were insisting on something on the east side."

The Inchin's Bamboo Garden locations are part of a national franchised chain that Bhatt has joined. With the Chapati Grill, however, he owns the franchising rights and plans to expand accordingly. To that end, he's looking forward to another Chapati opening in the Langston Building, 2303 Chester Avenue, as soon as next month and has signed a lease for the first Chapati in Chicago.

"I can sell the franchise in all 50 states," says Bhatt. "We're targeting 20 to 25 Chapatis to open all across the country."

The Cleveland Uptown Chapati will also serve as a corporate training center for future franchisees.

"This will be our showcase for Chapati."