Barbeque Nation - The World on a Grill

If you are looking for a place with great ambiance, multiple cuisines, all-you-can-eat food at an affordable price, your search ends right here at Barbeque Nation.

Location: Dr. ambedakar Road, Junction, Pali Hill, Khar (West)

Price: 550 bucks on a Sunday, 450 otherwise.

Menu: 6 non veg starters, 7 veg starters, 1 veg and non veg soup, main course and 7 desserts!

I was initially supposed to go to Barbeque Nation last Sunday for a friend's treat. When I called up in the morning to book a table for 4, I was told that their reservations were full! So if you want to go there on a Sunday (which I advise against, the extra 100 bucks is not worth it) you must book at least a day in advance. Finally, I ended up going there yesterday for lunch. The interiors are really good and I liked the lighting. Not too dim nor too bright.

All the tables have a cubical cavity bang in the center, which is covered with a wooden lid. As soon as you sit on the table, they put a vessel with burning coals in it and cover it with a skewer stand. You are then given a choice of complementary drinks. Kingfisher beer, ice tea, fresh lime soda or a soft drink. I advice ice tea because the aerated drinks occupy space you see. Barbeque nation seems to have a tie up with Kingfisher. Even the mineral water they serve is manufactured by Kingfisher. I never knew Kingfisher water existed before I visited Barbeque Nation. I thought only one bottle must have been manufactured for that surrogate ad.


Skewing your own food is truly a novel experience. It is optional actually. You can have the starters without skewing them. But I like skewing my starters. Made me feel like a chef and all.




There is this small flag on each table (you can see part of it in the background in the adjacent pic). Whenever you are done with the starters, you have to put the flag down. The flag says 'Stop the starter service'. With a very heavy heart and a heavier stomach I had to put the flag down. The only low point of the day! The charcoal vessel is taken out and the wooden lid is put back on the table. Since they have this 'globe on the grill' tag line the dishes are named after countries. Like Tunisian lamb and Lebanese mushrooms. The Cuban potatoes are excellent. I had decided to keep off the grass (veg that is), but just couldn't resist the potatoes.

Main course is like the normal food you get in most restaurants. I gave it a miss and headed straight for the desserts, which once again were exceptional. So after a fulfilling 3 hours, I finally left barbeque nation, totally content and vowing to come back soooooon.

Catch Me if You Can

When it comes to watching movies or reading books, I am a very stoic person. My face hardly betrays any kind of emotion. You wouldn't know if I am watching Cartoon Network, a tense football final with Chelsea one goal down or some touching documentary. Even Tom and Jerry can barely elicit a smile from me. And it is no different when it comes to books. But 'Catch Me if You Can' by Frank Abgnale had me laughing, howling and pacing the floor in excitement. It is by far the most thrilling book I have read. And the fact that it is an autobiography just adds to the charm.



The novel is the autobiography of Frank Abagnale Junior, who was one of the most famous, successful and sought after con-artists in the 20th Century. It tells the story from his own point of view of how he managed to cheat the system by en cashing bad bank cheques in over 20 countries, spread across four continents. In the process he became a millionaire, twice over. During his criminal career Abagnale donned the pilot's uniform, practised law, passed off as a college professor and a child doctor. And all that before he turned 20!

There is also a movie based on the book by the same name starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Tom Hanks. The movie is fun to watch as well, but the two just can't be compared. The book with its witticisms is far far better. And like they say you should never judge a book by it's movie. So irrespective of whether you have watched the movie or not, rush to your nearest book store and grab the first copy of this book. And ya, thank me later.

Juggle me de

Juggling is a physical human skill involving the movement of one or more objects, usually through the air, for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, where the juggler throws objects through the air.


Juggling has always been my favourite circus act. I, though, am not very good at it. At best I can manage to juggle three balls and that too for not more than 10 seconds. But juggling really fascinates me. And the best part about juggling is that the object really doesn't matter. It could be plain balls, bowling pins or even chainsaws. The very act can keep you so engrossed that you remain oblivious to every other thing happening around you. And then just when you settle into a comfortable rhythm, you add that extra object and repeat the process all over again! That is what's keeping me busy these days. Juggling. Red balls, black balls, tennis balls. Newer ones, older ones. And just when I think I am easing up, I add another ball. Whichever is near at hand.

Kim Kardashian and Simona Halep

Mumbai currently is reeling under 30% water cuts. The only reason I know about it is because the read the papers. I have been getting 24 hours water supply ever since I can remember. So much for equality! The prime reason for our scarcity of water has to be the location of these stupid lakes. Had one been in the lane adjacent to my house and another on the railway tracks between Byculla and Sandhurst road, Mumbai would have enough water and some more, .

So 'New York' is the latest box office super duper hit. Doesn't surprise me at all. The guys would go to watch Katrina, the girls John Abraham and the couples anyway would take the corner seats. I don't blame them. Katrina looks stunning in the film. I don't remember the last time I watched an entire song on television, but I have already watched some song (I really couldn't figure out which one it is from the lyrics) featuring Katrina thrice. Twice on mute.

I have been watching this reality dancing show called 'Superstars of Dance'. The show features dancers from eight different countries spanning six continents. Countries compete against each other in the solo, duet and group dance rounds. This show really brings out the fact that India is a country of individuals. Whilst having won the silver in the solo category, India did not even qualify in the group dance category. And interestingly, it is the exact opposite when it comes to China.

HBO, with its subtitles, is a real saviour for people like me. I enjoy watching English movies, but not with the concentration like that of one attempting the 'listening' section in a TOEFL test. So now I can watch movies without straining my ears and shutting all the windows. The only issue with watching these movies on HBO are that they are 'suitably modified for family viewing'! Baaaaaah.

End of blog post. In case you are wondering what the title is all about, I just couldn't think of one for a post as random as this. So I put up two names which I feel will be the most googled or binged :P Helps in increasing your blog hits you see ;)

Well said

Chhatrapati Shivaji Sea Link

After a couple of failed attempts, I finally drove on the Bandra Worli sea link on Saturday, at six in the morning. That way I killed two birds with one stone! The toll and more importantly, the traffic. Some observations. The sea link is actually only 4.6 km long. The 5.6 km figure quoted all over the papers takes into account the approach roads at Bandra reclamation and Worli. The link is only half complete as of now. It was supposed to be an 8 lane link. As of now, only 4 lanes are open. So once the sea link is complete, you can expect traffic to reduce further. Of the 4 lanes currently available, 2 lanes are blocked because people park their cars there and gaze endlessly at the sea beneath, little knowing that it is the same body of water that can be viewed from Worli or Bandra. Apparently, China built a sea link 6 times the length, in half the amount of time. Coming to the most important thing about the sea link, its name! I fail to understand the fuss about it. I mean, isn't everything in Mumbai supposed to be named after Chhatrapati Shivaji? Both the airports are. Our premier railway station is. Our best museum is. The fish market is also named after him. The zoo is named after his mother. So why bother about Veer Savarkar or Rajiv Gadhi? Enjoy your ride down the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sea Link!

Wacko Jacko

I fail to understand the big fuss over the death of Michael Jackson. Whether it is the news, VH1 or the MTV ticker, Michael Jackson is everywhere. You just can't escape from him. That is a lot for someone who hasn't released a music album or for that matter made a public appearance since God-knows-when. But one thing that really caught my attention was the fact that Jackson's funeral will be the most watched funeral ever. It would even surpass the television audience for Princess Diana's funeral. Now that is something! Considering that Diana tried every trick in the book to be popular and a people's person. And Michael did just the opposite! As for me, I haven't really thought much of a man who says

I Said If
You're Thinkin' Of
Being My Baby
It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White

And then goes on to paint himself white!