Barbeque Nation - Bhopal - Virasha — Restaurant in Madhya Pradesh

It is most heartening to see the Barbeque Nation (BBN) chain come to Bhopal- one of the few established chain restaurants globally and I am glad that it saw potential business in Bhopal. BBQ’s concept may sound run of the mill if compared to globally popular restaurants. However, in Bhopal, BBQ brings with it a unique culture which perhaps Sayaji’s existent restaurant in city fails to capture fully and at which Sankalp’s Saffron restaurant failed miserably. We visited on Dhanteras and found seats thankfully (someone was telling the place had one-hour waiting on Monday- I was happy to hear that). Since the place had just opened up, it did not have a lot of patrons I guess. BBQ has the grill concept in the centre of your table. I was particularly delighted as BBQ is one of the places I frequented in my teenage and initial working days in Chennai and was in total awe of its starters and the dal makhani. Here in Bhopal, the place lived up to expectations on most counts with its expansive spread and disappointed just a teeny-weeny bit which I attribute to sheer lousiness. For veg starters, I was served, succulent grilled pineapple, paneer tikka, Cajun potatoes, papad kebab and the standard addition crispy corn. I must tell you about the crispy corn- it is a dish best eaten when it comes fresh fried out of the oil and served within 10 minutes. The actual crispiness and appreciation for this dish comes only when it is served like that. At Sayaji I noticed they make the crispy corn in advance and serve a staler version which loses its crunch and freshness and hence not so appealing. The Cajun potatoes tasted superb with slighltht mashed potato, made crisp and served with some Cajun spices and sauces. The papad kebab was also not much to talk home about. What was disappointing on the grill was the choice of dressings. I recollect eating some yummy dressings including a sweet/tangy liquid. But here, it was all chilly stuff and not worth coating my paneer tikka or tandoori aloo with. Even the green chutney was not fresh. There is something about freshly grounded coriander and lemon juice. The 2 combined is bursting with taste when it is fresh out of the mixie. Here at BBQ, of course, the green mint chutney is mixed with curd for the tanginess but it wasn’t fresh. However, the chef promptly replaced it on request with a fresh version. Chef Zabber Khan and the staff were cordial and kind to serve the non-spicy version of paneer tikka for my 6-yr-old son. The main course comprised of a few Chinese dishes, some chat and the usual paneer gravy and dal and rice and biriyani. I binged on the dal makhani – it was truly well made (still no comparison to NoorESabha’s preparation). Hubby had the non-veg buffet and sang praises of the starters and the main course. For desserts, there was sliced pastry, moong dal halwa (awesomely made), anguri gulab jamub, cut fruits and a variety of Kulfi. All of it was remarkable. One grouch I have about going to these places is that the variety on the table compels your taste buds to the extent that you cannot help binge eating. I did too ☹ ☹ A piece of advice: To fully relish the meal at BBQ, skip the earlier meal of the day so that you have an appetite to take all the love and food that is served unlimited on your table! A must-visit place if the prices don’t bother you. Every penny spent there...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Barbeque Nation, and I must say, it was an excellent experience from start to finish. The staff member who attended to us, Mr. Rajendra, was attentive and made sure we felt welcomed throughout our meal.

We opted for the "Express Buffet," which cost around ₹400 per person and focused on the vegetarian options. While the selection wasn't extensive, it was more than enough for my friend and me. Among the dishes, we did find one that didn't quite meet our expectations: the Soya Chap. It had a slightly bland taste due to being cooked with milk. However, when we mentioned this to Mr. Rajendra, he was quick to respond. He offered to have the dish remade and barbecued, which we initially declined. But after a short while, he brought us the revamped version, and it was fantastic!

The drinks were also fantastic, complementing our meal perfectly and adding to the overall experience.

After enjoying our meal, we inquired about dessert. Unfortunately, there was a miscommunication with one of the staff members, who informed us that desserts were not included in the buffet. Curious, we decided to check the dessert section ourselves. There were only a few options available, and the vanilla pastry I was hoping for was not among them.

When we went to pay, the team asked about our experience. We mentioned the dessert situation, and to our surprise, the staff behind the counter immediately apologized for the mix-up. They quickly went to the dessert section and brought us a few plates of desserts, insisting we try them. Although I was already full and the vanilla pastry was unavailable, their persistence was commendable. They even offered to make the vanilla pastry fresh for us, which we gratefully accepted. It was delicious, and they also surprised us with a kulfi dessert, which was equally delightful.

Throughout our meal, the staff was incredibly attentive, checking in on us regularly to ensure everything was to our liking. The chef even came by to ask about our experience, which added a personal touch to our visit. Their hospitality and care were evident, making us feel valued as customers.

In summary, our experience at Barbeque Nation was excellent. The food was good, the drinks were fantastic, the service was outstanding, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable dining experience. For around ₹400 per person, the "Express Buffet" offers great value, and I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a great meal and...

I don't usually dine out much and was doing it after a long time after covid lockdowns. But boy what a way to make a comeback. The bar has been set too high now.

You go to barbecue nation for the very first time to savour the tandoori delicacies without any limits but service and the overall experience takes the cake in the end.

I was served by Avinash and his politeness and professionalism made me feel so good. He was constantly around and I never had to wait for ordering anything. Since it was my first time, Avinash was patient enough to explain everything in detail and how I could get the best possible experience. He also suggested me the best accompanying drink and really it was best of the lot. He was constantly asking me about how spicy I would want my starters to be and since I like my food on bit on the spicy side, I was served with exactly the kind of spiciness I was expecting. I went with my mother who was a bit hesitant and disinterested in the beginning but the politeness of Avinash and overall experience made her feel comfortable and she was smiling by the end. The entire staff was extremely worried with the kind of experience I was having and kept on asking me if I wanted something to be changed. Even the chef greeted us and asked how everything was.

The ambience, location, everything is near perfect. Ample amount of parking space and location is not too far.

Food was good, mildly spiced which you can get customised according to your taste buds. I liked the fact that even though I had asked for non veg items I was still given veg delicacies which were also good. I specially liked chicken wings, prawns and tikka. The fact that there was live grill, meant that the food never got cold. Chicken Biriyani was good and didn't have unnecessary oil, something which both me and my mother loved. Desserts had a lot of options too and kulfi of paan flavour was surprisingly good served with gulkand garnished over it.

I had reserved my seat for afternoon lunch but it wasn't necessary. Still, the staff recognised my reservation and everything happened without any hassle. The staff gave me the possible seat near window instead of being at the centre.

Really it's commendable in today's day and age that a franchise, that is spread all around the country, takes so much care about how a customer's experience is going and have their staff deal with us in such a polite way. Hope...