XOCHI Bar and Kitchen — Restaurant in Bengaluru

Who would have even thought such a calming and relaxing place existed in the midst of the outer ring road madness at Bellandur! In the Aztec language, Xochi is the God of Nature and Flowers, and I can very well see why the place has been named Xochi. The space is vast and the tables have been laid out far apart, to give everyone their own personal space and comfort. Most importantly, the music is not too loud, so you can have a peaceful conversation with your family, friends or colleagues. There is ample parking space for both two wheelers and four wheelers.

SHORT REVIEW: Amazing selection of food and drinks in a spacious and calm ambience, with decent pricing. This is place is perfect for a quick getaway from your office for a couple of hours, or to spend a relaxed evening with your friends and family. Some unique cocktails on offer as well!

MUST TRY: Bharva Paneer Tikka, Tofu Chilli Pepper, Fish Tikka, Dal Makhni, Indonesian Bami Goreng

DETAILED REVIEW: I visited this place with my friends and we ended up trying a lot of dishes. I’m a hardcore non-vegetarian, but the veg dishes at Xochi stole my heart! Yummazing items, which were better than the non-veg dishes as well! Here are some of the items I tried:

Bahama Mix: This is a unique drink in terms of presentation as well as flavours. It is served in the shell of a tender coconut, and contains coconut water as a base, so the taste of the drink may vary slightly from order to order. As it was tasty, tried two of these and one was sweet and the other was sour. But point to be noted is that both of them tasted quite amazing, despite the change in the flavour profile.

Choco Loco: This mocktail is ideal for kids or people who love Nutella and peanut butter. There are also traces of banana, which is probably the base of the mocktail. However, the consistency/viscosity of the drink is perfect, and one can just gulp this drink by the dozen!

Doctor Who: This cocktail has predominant notes of elderflower and rosemary, with Vodka as the base. The drink has a smooth mouth and throat feel, and hence is quite palatable.

Ginger Berry: More than the mocktail itself, I loved how they creatively used candy to elevate this drink to another level. The rim of the glassware is coated with magic pops, which crackle in your mouth as you drink the mocktail. Kudos to the person behind this idea! In fact, I loved this so much that I asked for my bullfrog to be made in the same way with a candy rim.

Milijuli Kebab: This was a dish that seemed very interesting from the menu, which read broccoli, babycorn and cauliflower in a semi-spicy masala. I was expecting it to be a minced mash of the three, but this was more like a skewer with individual florets of broccoli, cauliflower and babycorn. Nonetheless, the taste was pretty good.

Tofu Chilli Pepper: If Paneer is hard to get right, Tofu is a million times harder, and my oh my! This was the best Tofu I’ve ever had in my life, no kidding. The Tofu redefined what melt in the mouth means. It felt like really well cooked Pork Fat/Mutton Brain/Butter (I’m referring to the texture and mouth feel, not the flavour, also don’t worry, this dish is pure vegan). Do not miss trying out this dish when at Xochi.

OVERALL VERDICT: It is very heartening to note that the owners take personal interest in the running of the place and it reflects in the kind of service and the quality of the food that is served. If they do continue running it the same way, this place has the potential to be the leading restobar in the ORR area. While they may need to slightly up their cocktail game, the food scene is spot on. Would I visit again if I were in the area? Definitely! Should you try it...

Overall Impression: Xochi Bar and Kitchen generally receives positive reviews, with a strong average rating (around 4.3 out of 5 stars on platforms like Justdial). It's considered a good option for a casual outing, gathering with friends, or even pre-wedding events due to its spacious layout and inviting atmosphere. Atmosphere and Ambiance: Cozy and Refined: The interior is elegantly designed with warm lighting and tasteful decor, aiming for a cozy yet refined ambiance. Spacious: It's spread over two floors with different seating arrangements, including sofas and chairs, and can accommodate large groups. Lively: Customers often describe it as having a lively atmosphere with upbeat music, making it a good place for a fun night out. Nature-themed: Some reviews mention a "nature-themed" setting, with open spaces and large windows that allow you to relax and observe the surroundings. Facilities: Offers features like live sports screening, open-air seating, and a bar. Valet parking and free Wi-Fi are also available. Food and Drinks: Cuisine Variety: Xochi offers a multi-cuisine menu, primarily focusing on North Indian, Continental, and Pan Asian dishes. Some sources also mention a fusion of Mexican and Indian flavors. Good Starters and Main Course: Many reviewers highlight the quality of their starters and main courses. Must-Try Dishes (as per reviews): Crispy Chicken Burgers Thai Curry Indonesian Fish Bharva Paneer Tikka (stuffed with mixed vegetables and pineapple) Dal Makhani Blueberry Cheesecake Whiskey Garlic Prawns Saffron Paneer Tikka Crispy Lotus Stem Burmese Khao Suey Chicken Tikka, Dim Sum Beverages: The bar takes center stage, offering a wide selection of drinks, including refreshing cocktails. "Bahama Mix" (pineapple juice and tender coconut) and "Fruity Love" are mentioned as popular choices. They also have unique cocktails like "Spicy Indian Margarita" and "Desi Mojito." Vegetarian Options: While the menu is diverse, some reviews suggest that vegetarian options might be limited. Service: Polite and Friendly Staff: The staff is generally praised for being polite and friendly. Potential for Rushed Service: A recurring point for improvement mentioned by some customers is that service can sometimes feel rushed, with pressure to order quickly. Points for Improvement (as noted by some customers): Rushed Service: As mentioned, some guests have felt hurried during their dining experience. Hygiene Issues: A few isolated reports mention minor hygiene concerns, like mosquitoes near the hand wash area. Limited Vegetarian Options: While a variety of cuisines are served, some diners have found the vegetarian choices to be fewer compared to non-vegetarian. Location: Xochi Bar and Kitchen is conveniently located in Bellandur, Bangalore, near the Bajaj Showroom on Outer Ring Road. Overall Recommendation: Xochi Bar and Kitchen seems to be a solid choice for those in Bellandur looking for a lively atmosphere, a diverse menu with good food (especially non-vegetarian options and some specific vegetarian dishes like Paneer Tikka), and a wide range of beverages. While a few minor points of improvement exist, the overall customer experience appears to be largely positive, making it a popular spot for dining and...

Swathikha People, If You Know Me, then you know my love for South East Asian Cuisine, more specifically Thai Cuisine. I recently visited Xochi Bar & Kitchen at Bellandur and tried out some of their cocktails & food. While their menu is a mix of Indian & Asian, obviously I was leaning more towards Asian and the first dish I ordered was a Thai Tom Kha, which was more than reassuring that my choice towards Asian was a good one. Probably one of the best Tom Kha I had in recent times. Absolutely Creamy Coconut Milk Soup that hit all the right notes in my palate, lemon grass, check, Kaffir lime leaves, check, flavour profile, perfect. It was a great start to what was an amazing meal at Xochi.

The starter i picked was Crispy Lotus Stem, another stellar south East Asian influence, this was done beautifully, with the perfect seasoning, and sweet & spicy flavours that complimented the texture of fried lotus stem.

The Corn N Spinach Har Gow is a beautiful steamed dumpling filled with spinach and corn goodness with a sesame twist, the sauces that accompanied were superbly spicy and extremely good.

Now with the cocktails, and Mocktails, we ordered a few, from the classic Cosmo to a Blueberry Splash, to a Slow Screw, but a few things stood out, like the Betel Smack, the strong flavours of the betel leaf, beautifully cut through with pineapple juice with a strong dash of vodka, absolutely refreshing and very well made, a little too sweet & strong for me though, so I switch back to a delicious Mocktail called a Tropical Green Forest, which was a beautiful concoction of fresh watermelon cubes, mint, topped with kiwi crush and soda with crushed ice. Absolutely a delight to watch the Mocktail being made (YouTube video out soon) very refreshing with a delicious punch.

The other Asian started I tried was the Tofu Chilli Pepper, very different from the usual paneer, the tofu was nice and creamy with a crispy outer, wonderfully seasoned asian flavours.

Their Indian starters weren’t behind the Asian ones, the Bharva Paneer Tikka was a flavourful tandoori stuffed paneer with a little pineapple twist.

For mains again I chose to go Asian with a delicious Thai Green Curry and Jasmine Rice and Kway Teow, the Malaysian stir fried flat noodles, both were fantastic, as good as it would taste in their respective countries of origin.

I skipped desserts as I was deliciously full with what I had before.

Xochi is a fabulous place for south East Asian fare and comes highly recommended. Go fall in love with the south East Asian fare on offer here that will absolutely blow your mind and some delicious cocktails...