Khaab Indian Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Bexley

A Disappointing Encounter with Indian Cuisine in Columbus

During our recent visit to Columbus, we decided to indulge in some Indian cuisine and chose Khaab Indian Kitchen & Bar for a dinner experience. Arriving an hour before their last order, we were pleased to find ample parking space available over the weekend and were immediately taken in by the restaurant's inviting ambience.

Our meal began on a promising note with a selection of appetizers that managed to impress. However, the experience took an unexpected turn with the arrival of their tomato soup. To our surprise, it was brimming with paneer, making it more reminiscent of a paneer gravy than a traditional soup. Upon inquiry, our server explained that their recipe includes paneer in tomato soup. While we appreciate creativity, such an inclusion could be problematic for lactose-intolerant diners, and it would be considerate for the restaurant to mention this upfront on the menu.

Unfortunately, the main courses failed to redeem our experience. Both the Veg and Chicken Biryani lacked the distinctive flavors and spices typical of authentic biryani, leaving us feeling like we were eating a bland pulao rather than the aromatic dish we had anticipated.

Overall, despite the favorable setting and nice appetizers, the main course failed to live up to expectations, leading to a disappointing dining experience. Given the lackluster biryani and unexpected soup twist, we do not plan to revisit Khaab Indian Kitchen & Bar in the future. We hope they can address these culinary missteps for a more satisfying dining experience for...

This is the second time I've been here. Usually one gets the buffet and likes it so much that she returns to eat dinner. Ever doing things backward, I had dinner (albeit takeout) then buffet. Both were fine, but not anything to write home about. This despite our Pakistani neighbor swearing by this restaurant.

I suppose for most, this restaurant will do the trick. And, indeed, for someone as picky about her Indian food as she is, one would imagine that she would actually enjoy heat in her food. But, no, not this one! So Aab was about perfect for my level of desired hot. Semi-decent spicing, including fresh ginger, was evident. But maybe too much salt here. Or not enough cardamom here. Or, well, except for the palak paneer, something just seemed to be, well, missing. And, sadly, even the kheer was watery - and had barely a trace of fresh cardamom or rose water. (Granted, most kheer doesn't have rose water, but it's just super nice when it does.) No gulub jumun, either. Plus, for the buffet, the naan is kept on the warming table, which didn't keep it warm and, furthermore, made the bread a bit chewy. (When ordered to go, it seemed fine.) The veggie pakora were cold and were rectangular objects with few veggies. The other dishes, meh. And plus, though the mobile site told me the buffet was open 'til 3, it was only open 'til 2:30.

The staff, especially my waitress, was pleasant. But I had to flag her down to get my mango lassi.

So I continue my search and think of excuses to visit friends and family in the Seattle area in order to enjoy...

Khaab Indian Kitchen and Bar is truly a hidden gem in Bexley! Their lunch buffet is hands down the best around: fresh, flavorful, and packed with variety. What makes it even better is that they offer the buffet to-go, which I’ve already taken advantage of when I didn’t have time to sit down.

I first dined in at their buffet this past Sunday and was so impressed that I went back the next two days for takeout! Each time, the food somehow tasted even better than before! The atmosphere is calm, clean, and relaxing, and the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel like family. Everyone from the host to the manager is so kind, welcoming, and genuinely pleasant.

As for the food, it’s seasoned to perfection! So far, I’ve enjoyed a wide variety: chicken biryani, chicken curry, chicken 65, orange chicken, aloo cabbage, aloo choley, tandoori chicken, garlic naan, saag paneer, bhatura, chili chicken, tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, fish amritsari and Hariyali (which I tried for the first time and am now a lifelong fan). Hopefully they put it on the menu, as I found out today it was just a random surprise for the buffet today. Each dish is bursting with authentic flavor and cooked with care.

I honestly cannot say enough kind words about this place. Between the warm hospitality, relaxing atmosphere, and consistently incredible food, Khaab Indian Kitchen and Bar has quickly become one of my favorite spots. I just hope they don’t get tired of seeing me, because I’ll be back...