Service Ready

Molly Irani, visionary cofounder of the James Beard Award–winning Indian restaurant Chai Pani, shares her journey of how she and her husband turned their passion for next-level food and hospitality into a thriving business that puts people first.

Growing up with parents who owned a restaurant, Molly Irani understood the power of community but also had a keen understanding of the industry’s challenges. When her husband Meherwan—a fortysomething former car salesman with no prior culinary training—suggested opening a restaurant in their North Carolina town to showcase the vibrant Indian street food of his childhood, Molly thought he was nuts. And yet, the couple turned this bold vision into reality, creating Chai Pani, an eatery crowned by the James Beard Foundation as Most Outstanding Restaurant in America. In Service Ready, Molly Irani takes readers on an inspiring journey from an unlikely dream to the heights of culinary success.

Reflecting on her experience working in restaurants, Molly was determined to do things differently at Chai Pani. While her husband perfected the food, she developed a groundbreaking business culture that prioritized a nurturing, inclusive work environment. This philosophy not only distinguished Chai Pani from competitors but helped launch a growing food empire, which now includes multiple locations, the spice business Spicewalla, and the fast-casual spin-off, Botiwalla.

Molly shares the ten core principles that have driven Chai Pani’s success, providing valuable lessons for any industry. Her story celebrates the power of female leadership in a traditionally male-dominated field, demonstrating how empathy and care can redefine the meaning of success and help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. She opens up about the challenges and rewards of being business partners with your life partner, and reveals how she and Meherwan learned to merge their strengths in order to thrive at work and at home. And she reflects on navigating the recession of 2009, the pandemic, and the devastation of the floods in Asheville, illustrating the resilience and innovation needed to overcome anything. Their philosophy—being a restaurant that is a “people company that happens to sell great food”—has fostered a loyal team and a powerful sense of community.

A heartfelt tribute to the hospitality industry, Service Ready is a beacon of inspiration for aspiring restaurateurs and business leaders everywhere.