After ascending the massive central staircase at UB CIty, the first instinct is to proceed straight onto the bustling open-air area ringed by eateries, but sometimes, going off the beaten track is a good thing. Off to the left side of the said staircase is where one finds the recessed entrance to Bbq’d, through which the cavernous buffet and dining area is revealed. We picked a nice corner with a view down to Vittal Mallya Road, and the first order of business was obviously the stuff the restaurant draws its name from.
The idea here, like most places with a similar setup, is to sit and enjoy the grills at the table before partaking in the buffet spread. And in this respect, choices are plenty. There is a cottage cheese satay and mushroom and bell pepper teriyaki, among others, for the vegetarians at the table. Meat eaters have interesting options as well, with a standout being the chipotle prawns, which combine a little crunch with a zesty aftertaste, that can then be neutralised by the likes of grilled orange wedges.
While the grills by themselves are a great way to spend ages at the table slowly snacking away, there is a lot more to take in. A variety of interesting chaats are topped off by the innovative curd rice-based tikki, steamed dumplings ensure that a little bit of Asia is represented and mutton lovers will appreciate the Persian mutton chops, which had us briefly ignoring the grills and reaching for more.
Bbq’d also has a selection of craft beers, which include a recognisable hefeweizen and Indian pale ale besides a chocolate stout and ‘Masala Saison’. The flavours here are apparent enough for each one to have a distinct personality, though we recommend you try out a sampler of all the available flavours before picking a drink for the evening. And regardless of what you pick, make sure to give the nasheeli chai cocktail a spin, which makes good use of the theatrics of dry ice combined with the familiarity of a kettle and small cutting chai glasses.
The buffet itself is a familiar experience, provided you have any room left for it. A little white pasta and a helping of the biriyani was what we could manage, though that left us with enough room to attack the dessert counter, which features a number of Indian and European specialties, ranging from an excellent jalebi and rabri and pumpkin halwa to the ever dependable chocolate fudge cake. For a different treat for the sweet tooth, head to the ice cream counter and ask for the cotton candy ice cream.
Bbq’d doesn’t set out to reinvent the wheel as far as presentation and experience go, but with its craft beers and expansive menu, it does enough to make those weekend family dinners a little more fun.
