Payal Saha
Founder
A Kolkata native, Payal opened the first Kati Roll at 99 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village in 2002, with no restaurant experience and one assistant.
- Opened 99 MacDougal Street
- 2002
- People working the first store
- 2
- Stores today, in three states
- 7
Her story
It started with missing home.
Payal Saha started The Kati Roll Company with one simple concept. "I tremendously missed kati rolls when I first moved from Kolkata to New York City," she remembers. "I just wanted to have a place where I could enjoy my hometown's street foods. I thought if I missed them so much, other people must too."
With no prior experience of running a restaurant, Payal opened the first Kati Roll in New York City's eclectic Greenwich Village in 2002. Unable to afford a full staff and unsure how New York would take to this new fast food, at first Payal and one assistant were the only two working the eatery. From grinding fresh spices to making the bread from scratch and barbecuing the fillings, the two worked side by side serving up fresh, tasty rolls.
Word caught on about the food. With the help of positive New York press and the loyalty of its South Asian and mainstream patrons, The Kati Roll Company was soon on its way to becoming one of New York's epicurean staples.
YFS Magazine profiled Payal in 2012, and QSR Magazine quoted her in 2024 when the first franchise opened in Dallas. She is a regular speaker at business and food-related conferences and events.
Payal lives in New York City with her husband, Anil Bathwal. She is a passionate cook, loves her garden and thrives on good food.
I tremendously missed kati rolls when I first moved from Kolkata to New York City.”
In the press
Payal in the press.
- QSR Magazine The Kati Roll Company Arrives in Downtown Dallas (opens in a new tab)
- Eater NY Kati Roll Wants to Be New York's Next Big Fast Casual Export (opens in a new tab)
- Business Opportunities Entrepreneur Brings Kati Roll to US (opens in a new tab)
- WomanCon WomanCon Success Spotlight: Payal Saha of The Kati Roll Company (opens in a new tab)
- YFS Magazine How Entrepreneur Payal Saha Launched a Successful Indian Fast Food Company (opens in a new tab)
- The Daily Meal Word of Mouth: Amil Bathwal and Payal Saha on the Best of New York (opens in a new tab)
- The Telegraph (Kolkata) Where Bengals on a roll (opens in a new tab)
