Chatti by Regi Mathew Introduce
In a city with a vast array of Indian restaurants, Chatti by Regi Mathew stands out as a true gem, offering a rare and authentic glimpse into the vibrant culinary traditions of Kerala, a state in southern India. Located in Midtown, this restaurant is the first U.S. venture from the celebrated Indian Chef Regi Mathew, who has masterfully translated the communal and flavorful experience of Kerala's "toddy shops" into a sophisticated New York City dining destination. Chatti is not your typical Indian restaurant; it's an elevated and deeply personal celebration of heritage, where every dish tells a story of incredible skill and tradition. The moment you step inside, you are welcomed by a beautifully decorated space with a vibrant, inviting atmosphere that feels both trendy and rooted in cultural authenticity.
Chef Mathew's vision for Chatti was born from a three-year journey through Kerala, where he collected over 800 traditional recipes from home-cooks and toddy shop chefs. The result is a menu that is both familiar and exciting, focusing on bold, rich, and comforting flavors. While the portions are designed to be shared, this is a perfect opportunity to sample a wide range of delicacies. From slow-cooked curries to spicy seafood, the food at Chatti is all about flavor, not just heat. This commitment to authenticity, combined with warm hospitality, makes the entire experience feel like a home away from home. For those who appreciate food made with heart and heritage, Chatti is a must-visit.
Location and Accessibility
Chatti by Regi Mathew is conveniently located at 252 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, USA, placing it in a prime spot in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. This address is just a few blocks from the Theater District, Times Square, and Penn Station, making it an excellent choice for a pre-theater dinner or a post-work meal. The central location is easily accessible from various parts of the city via multiple subway lines and bus routes.
The restaurant's design and amenities also ensure a comfortable experience for all guests. It is situated on a bustling street, but once inside, the atmosphere is serene and relaxing. For those who choose to drive, paid parking garages and lots are available nearby, a convenient feature in a busy part of the city. The combination of a central location and easy access makes Chatti a practical and appealing choice for a wide range of diners, whether they are meeting friends, dining solo, or exploring the city.
Services Offered
Chatti by Regi Mathew focuses on providing a full and engaging dining experience with a variety of services to meet the needs of its New York clientele.
- Dine-in Service: The primary service is a full-service, in-restaurant dining experience, complete with a beautifully decorated space and table service.
- Reservations: The restaurant accepts reservations, a key feature for planning a dinner, especially for groups, and ensuring you have a table waiting during busy hours.
- Bar Onsite: A bar is available onsite, offering a selection of unique cocktails, as well as a great wine list, hard liquor, and beer.
- Small Plates: The menu's "Touchings" section is a unique offering, featuring small, shareable plates that are perfect for sampling a variety of dishes.
- Lunch and Dinner: The restaurant caters to both lunch and dinner crowds, with a menu that is suitable for both quick, satisfying meals and more leisurely dining experiences.
- Payment Options: The restaurant is well-equipped for modern payments, accepting credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
These services, combined with the restaurant's focus on hospitality, create a seamless and enjoyable dining experience for every guest.
Features and Highlights
Chatti by Regi Mathew stands out from other Indian restaurants in NYC with its unique and authentic features.
- Authentic Kerala Cuisine: The menu is a celebration of Kerala's culinary heritage, with dishes that are "authentically Kerala, rich and comforting." The focus is on traditional toddy shop cuisine, a rarity in NYC.
- Chef Regi Mathew's Vision: The restaurant is the international debut of a celebrated chef, ensuring a high level of expertise and a deeply personal menu. The chef is known for his warm hospitality and often takes the time to greet guests.
- Unique Palate Tasters and Small Plates: The "Touchings" are a key highlight, described as tapas-style small plates that allow you to sample a range of unique and delicious flavors.
- Vibrant and Inviting Atmosphere: The decor is praised for being "beautifully decorated" with a "vibrant, inviting atmosphere." It is described as being both casual and trendy.
- Creative Cocktail Program: The drinks menu is a highlight, featuring unique cocktails that complement the food and are inspired by Kerala's flavors, such as the "Sambar cocktail."
- Warm Hospitality: Customers rave about the service, noting the staff is "attentive and caring" and the hospitality is "warm and generous." This makes every visit feel like a special occasion.
These highlights make Chatti a true gem, offering a dining experience that is both authentic and elevated, unlike anything else in the city.
Contact Information
To plan your visit or make a reservation at Chatti by Regi Mathew, you can use the following information:
Address: 252 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
Phone: (212) 994-9599
It is highly recommended to call ahead for reservations, especially for dinner, to ensure you can experience this authentic culinary journey without a wait.
What is Worth Choosing at Chatti by Regi Mathew?
The menu at Chatti is full of incredible dishes, and exploring the "Touchings" is an excellent way to start your meal and experience a wide range of flavors. Highly recommended options include the Toddy Shop Beef Fry, the flavorful Malabar Mutton, and the unique Prawn Pouches. The Fish Cutlet and Calicut Mussels are also fan favorites.
For the main course, you can't go wrong with the Mutton Potato Curry, a comforting and hearty dish. The Beef Curry with Parotta is also a must-try, with a reviewer praising the "soft Parathas that almost melted in your mouth." The Seafood Specialties are also a highlight, with the Seer Fish Darne and the Lobster being popular choices. For vegetarians, the Green Aubergine Curry and Breadfruit Curry offer rich and delicious flavors.
Be sure to save room for dessert. The signature Cloud Pudding is a "tender coconut delicacy" that has been praised as a must-try. Another great option is the Sago with Tropical Fruits for a refreshing end to your meal. The unique ice cream flavors like Bird's Eye Chili and Ginger Tamarind are also worth a try for an adventurous palate. What makes Chatti worth choosing is not just the food, but the entire experience. It is a place where you can discover new and authentic flavors, feel the warmth of true hospitality, and connect with a rich culinary heritage, all in the heart of New York City.
Chatti by Regi Mathew Menu
TOUCHINGS
- Trivandrum Chicken Fry $12.00
'Kozhi Porichathu' - succulent pieces of chicken marinated with fennel, garlic, chili & deep-fried
- Coriander Chicken Masala $14.00
'Kozhi Malli Peralan' - succulent cubes of chicken, slow-cooked with freshly ground coriander powder & coconut milk
- Border Chicken Fry $14.00
'Pichu Pota Kozhi' - hand-pulled country chicken tossed in a sauce of freshly ground pepper
- Malabar Mutton $16.00
Cubes of mutton slow-cooked in a flat open vessel with coconut slivers & Kerala spices
- Toddy Shop Beef Fry $15.00
'Irachi Fry' - slow-cooked cubes of beef brisket with Kerala spices, a specialty of toddy shops
- BDF $16.00
'Beef Dry Fry' - crisp-fried chili marinated beef strips - a favorite bar snack in Kerala
- Beef & Green Peppercorns $16.00
'Irachi Kurumulagu Peralan' - slow-cooked beef slices with tender peppercorns & coriander powder
- Fish Cutlet $15.00
'Meen Cutlet' - minced fillet of fish, marinated in Kerala spices, coated with coconut crumbs & deep-fried
- Prawn Pouches $18.00
'Prawn Kizhi' - prawns delicately spiced with coconut masala & Malabar tamarind, steamed in banana leaf pouches
- Prawn & Coconut Slivers $17.00
'Chemmeen Thenga Kothu' - prawn cooked with tender coconut chips, spices & Malabar tamarind
- Quilon Coconut Prawns $17.00
'Chemmeen Tawa Roast' - tawa-grilled prawns tossed with spice-roasted coconut & curry leaves
- Calicut Mussels $14.00
'Kallummakaya Fry' - mussels roasted with shallots & select spices, a delicacy from the Malabar region
- Coconut Clams $15.00
'Kube Sukke' - clams with shell, cooked with grated coconut, delicate spices & tamarind
- Chili Roasted Calamari $14.00
'Koonthal Tawa Roast' - squid rings cooked on a griddle with toddy shop masala
- Cochin Calamari $12.00
'Koondal Fry' - crisp-fried squid rings, coated with coconut crumbs
- Sardine Fry $14.00
'Mathi Varuthathu' - another toddy shop specialty. Sardines, marinated in chili & shallow-fried in coconut oil
VEGETARIAN
- Mushroom Pouches $12.00
'Koon Kizhi' - mushrooms delicately spiced with coconut masala & Malabar tamarind, steamed in banana leaf pouches
- Idukki Potatoes $12.00
Koorka, country potatoes tossed with garlic, chili flakes & coconut slivers
- Tapioca Patties $10.00
'Kappa Vada' - deep-fried mashed tapioca patties served with a spicy dip
- Banana Blossom Patties $10.00
'Vazhapoo Vada' - fried banana blossom patties
- Curry Leaf Mushrooms $14.00
'Koon Kariveppila Fry' - crisp-fried mushrooms tossed with sun-dried curry leaves & delicate spices
- Tender Jackfruit Cutlet $14.00
'Idichakka Cutlet' - deep-fried, tender jackfruit cutlets, coated with coconut crumbs
- Breadfruit Fry $14.00
'Kadachakka Fry' - crisp-fried breadfruit
- Taro Fry $12.00
'Chembu Fry' - fried colocasia cubes tossed in a sweet, tangy tamarind & palm jaggery sauce
SOUP MEAL
- Seafood Moilee Soup $29.00
Assorted seafood, cooked with coconut milk, ginger & turmeric
- Rasa Vada $14.00
Deep-fried, Bengal gram fritters in a delicate peppery soup
SEAFOOD SPECIALTIES
- Pomfret $35.00
- King Prawn $20.00
- Scallops $28.00
- Seer Fish Darne $35.00
- Lobster $65.00
per lb
- Tawa-Grilled, Toddy Shop Style
Choice of seafood, marinated with toddy shop style masala & cooked on a griddle
- Tawa-Grilled with Gooseberry Masala
Choice of seafood, marinated with gooseberry & tender peppercorn masala & grilled. A tribute to Kerala's tribal cuisine
- Coconut Fry
Choice of seafood, tossed in golden roasted coconut masala, a Chatti specialty
- Pearl Spot Parcel $22.00
'Karimeen Pollichathu' - Pearl spot fish, with shallots & tamarind masala, wrapped in banana leaves & grilled on a tawa
CURRIES (NON-VEGETARIAN)
- Chicken Stew $24.00
Succulent chicken cooked with carrots & potatoes in coconut milk
- Ramapuram Chicken Curry $24.00
Chicken cooked with coconut milk & coriander powder
- Duck Mappas $29.00
Boneless duck cooked in coriander powder & coconut milk curry, a Kuttanadu specialty
- Mutton Potato Curry $28.00
Home-style mutton & potato curry from Malabar
- Beef Curry $25.00
Toddy shop style beef curry
- Clay Pot Fish Curry $29.00
Fish cooked with Malabar tamarind & matured overnight in an earthen pot
- Raw Mango Curry $32.00
Prawn/Fish cooked with raw mango in delicately spiced coconut milk curry
- Lobster Moilee $48.00
Pan-seared lobster tail cooked with lemon & coconut milk
CURRIES (VEGETARIAN)
- Breadfruit Curry $24.00
'Kadachakka Curry' - breadfruit cooked with coriander powder & coconut milk curry
- Okra Tomato Curry $22.00
'Vendakkai Mulagittathu' - okra cooked in a moderately spiced tomato curry
- Red Pumpkin Stew $23.00
A stew of red pumpkin cooked in coconut milk with whole Kerala spices
- Black Chickpea Curry $22.00
'Kadala curry' - black chickpea curry cooked with roasted coconut & Kerala spices
- Green Aubergine Curry $22.00
'Vazhuthananga theeyal' - long, green brinjal cooked with tamarind & roasted coconut masala
- Green Peas Potato Curry $22.00
A creamy coconut curry with green peas & potato
- Sambar $16.00
Tropical vegetables cooked with tamarind & Kerala spices
- Malabar Aviyal $16.00
Batons of vegetables cooked with yogurt & crushed coconut
BREADS & RICE
- String Hoppers $8.00
'Idiyappam' - home-style string hoppers from Kerala
- Malabar Fried Bread $8.00
'Nei-Pathiri' - deep-fried rice bread from the Malabar region
- Steamed Hoppers $9.00
'Vattayappam' - fermented & steamed, fluffy rice cakes
- Steamed Rice Cake $8.00
'Puttu' - Pounded rice steamed with layers of freshly grated coconut
- Kerala Parotta $7.00
Flaky, layered flatbread, a popular street food
- Steamed Rice $6.00
Steamed long-grain rice
- Red Rice $8.00
Kerala's indigenous Palakkad matta rice
- Ghee Rice $10.00
'Nei Choru' - short-grain rice cooked with clarified butter, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon & fried onions
- Tapioca Mash $8.00
'Kappa Vevichathu' - boiled & mashed tapioca, tempered with curry leaves & mustard seeds
- Coconut Tapioca $10.00
'Paal Kappa' - tapioca cooked to a creamy texture with coconut milk
- Rice Dumplings in Coconut Milk $10.00
'Pidi' - rice dumplings cooked in coconut milk a traditional dish from Central Travancore
- Mutton Cup Biriyani $18.00
Mutton biriyani cooked with short-grain rice & Tellicherry spices
DESSERTS
- Cloud Pudding $16.00
Tender coconut pudding, a signature dessert from our sister restaurant Kappa Chakka Kandhari in India
- Sago with Tropical Fruits $14.00
Slow-cooked sago, served with chilled coconut milk & seasonal fruit
- Filter Coffee Pudding $14.00
A signature dessert inspired by South India's famed filter coffee
- Palada $14.00
Rice flakes slow-cooked in milk - a must-have for auspicious occasions in Kerala
- Coconut Pancake $12.00
'Madakusan' - coconut pancake rolls served with purple taro ice-cream
- Bird's Eye Chili Ice-cream $8.00
'Kandhari' ice-cream
- Ginger Tamarind Ice-cream $8.00
'Inji Puli' ice-cream
- Purple Taro Ice-cream $8.00
'Neela Kachil' ice-cream
Chatti by Regi Mathew Details
Service options
- Dine-in
- Delivery
- Takeout
Highlights
- Fast service
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Hard liquor
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
Crowd
- Groups
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Parking
- Paid parking garage
- Paid parking lot
Chatti by Regi Mathew Photos










Chatti by Regi Mathew Location
Chatti by Regi Mathew
252 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
Chatti by Regi Mathew Reviews
cocktailsbeef frypuddingtoddy shoppaladamusselstapasjackfruit cutletmalabar muttonraw mango curry
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Easily the best South Indian food in NYC—hands down. The flavors are authentically Kerala, rich and comforting with every bite. While the portions lean on the smaller side and it’s not exactly health food, the taste more than makes up for it. The space is beautifully decorated with a vibrant, inviting atmosphere that adds to the overall experience. A true gem for anyone craving real South Indian cuisine.
August 03 · Lij TI read about this newly opened restaurant “Chatti by Regi Mathew ” in NYC and decided to give it a try. I was very pleased with the food and it was so rich in flavours, taste. Palate tasters were unique and so delicious. I never tasted anything like this before. Biriyani , mussels , Nei pathiri, fish cutlet were the key highlights . I would recommend this place to anyone.👍 The hospitality was warm and generous, making the entire experience feel like a home away from home. If you’re craving authentic South Indian food, especially from Kerala, this place is a must-visit. Highly recommended for anyone who appreciates food made with heart, heritage, and incredible skill! Please do open a restaurant in London as well.
April 16 · Pooja RLoved the ambience and service at Chatti. The interior is very tastefully done, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The food was very good—highly recommend the Tawa Fried Pomfret, it's a must-try! Mutton cup biriyani is worth trying. We also had the Toddy Shop Beef Fry,and Kerala Porotta, which were good, though not particularly standout. Cloud pudding( coconut souffle) was also very good.A special mention to our waitress, Petra, who was exceptional. It's clear she’s a well-trained professional in the hospitality industry. She knew every detail about the dishes and made us feel truly welcomed. She's definitely an asset to the Chatti team. Overall, a great experience with delicious food and warm service.
April 13 · S LHaving lived in India for 20 years, I never really explored regional cuisines — I mostly stuck to the usual heavy Punjabi fare I was used to. So I’m really glad I finally got to try Keralite cuisine at Chatti. The food was light, clean, and full of unique flavors that felt both refreshing and comforting.The food was thoughtful and beautifully presented, and while there was one dish that may not have been to my taste, the overall experience was truly impressive. What really stood out was the warm hospitality — the chef/owner personally guided us through the menu, answering our questions and helping tailor our choices.Chatti also caters to various dietary needs with vegan and gluten-free options, which is always appreciated. Don’t skip dessert — it was absolutely delicious, and the drinks were just as creative and flavorful.It’s not a cheap eat, so be prepared for NYC pricing, but if you’re looking for something different and authentic, Chatti is definitely worth a visit.
June 27 · DKGreat atmosphere, amazing Kerala cuisine, tapas style. Beautiful decor and ambience! Chef Regi went over and above to make his customers feel welcome. A special shout out to our server Camilla who was attentive to our dietary needs and provided exceptional service.
July 09 · S M
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