Raaga Go Chef Paddy Rawal Announces Retirement

Chef Paddy Rawal seriously considered closing his popular Indian eatery Raaga in 2017 after six years in business. But instead, he opened a takeout-only version in Raaga Go on Old Santa Fe Trail the next year.

Today, however, Rawal sent out a brief press release which reads: “Chef Paddy Rawal of Raaga Go has decided to hang up his pots and pans, put aside his knives at the popular takeout kitchen. Early retirement may be one of the reasons, but definitely not lack of support from this lovely community. A big thank you to the state of New Mexico, [the] City of Santa Fe and the community.”

Hailing from Mumbai, Rawal came to the states in the early aughts and worked in various restaurants thereafter. He opened the original Raaga on Agua Fría St. in 2011. Additionally, Rawal released The Raaga Cookbook: Modern Indian Cuisine in 2014, with followup Curry, Korma & Kebab the following year. Rawal even appeared as a contestant on the Food Network show Chopped in 2016.

The early retirement news comes as a slight surprise as Rawal was approved for a beer- and wine-only liquor license on Sept. 27, according to the city’s Marketing and Special Events Coordinator for Community Engagement Alexandria Mares. SFR attmempted to reach Rawal for comment, but the business phone line at Raaga Go is already shut down and he did not return calls for comment.