Food & Beer
LET'S EAT!
By Dan Greenwood
southern mn style An employee at Kato Burger Pit scoops up fresh fries to a burger basket. Kato Burger Pit has expanded its menu to offer Indian curries.
Burgers and Curry Kato Burger Pit offers American classic comfort foods, along with traditional Indian curries By Dan Greenwood | Photos by Pat Christman
P
retpal Mand had plenty of experience working at his family’s restaurant, India Palace in Mankato, so it wasn’t a stretch when he and his business partner decided to add several Indian dishes to the menu in May at their new restaurant, Kato Burger Pit, which initially opened with a focus on American comfort food. “We thought we’d try out some burgers,” said Mand, who opened the business with his older brother earlier this year. “It seemed like a good idea since there was a 32 • OCTOBER 2020 • MANKATO MAGAZINE
drive-thru. Later, we thought, why not bring in some Indian and other international food items in because we have lots of ethnicities at MSU with all those international students.” The Kato Burger Pit, in the former Massad’s location near Minnesota State University, is known for its burgers too, like the Juicy Lucy, suggested by a friend. It’s a beef patty stuffed with melted cheese made popular at a couple of establishments in Minneapolis, including Matt’s Bar on the city’s
south side. “We also have a mushroom and swiss burger,” Mand said. “Our rodeo pit burger has onions, pickles, barbecue sauce, bacon, cheese and lettuce, and we have a Texas toast burger and a spicy jalapeno burger.” Mand’s personal favorites are the vegan options on the menu, like the marsala burger – a vegan patty with lettuce, onion, tomato and pickles – and a vegan kabob that is accompanied with onions, jalapenos and ginger ground with
