The modern city centre of Riyadh is not really very welcoming. The buildings are tall, and mostly covered in glass. So they reflect the environment around them.
Of those that aren’t, many are of an anonymous beige/brown colour much favoured in the city.
Every now and again, however, it is possible to stumble across a hidden treat.
Read below our Garden Barbeque Restaurant Review
Summary
First Impressions
Food Selection
Ambience
Service
Price
Overall Score
First Impressions
Taken from Alkhozama Hotel Facebook Page
The Garden Barbecue at the Al Khozama Hotel is one such place.
Like it’s name suggests, it is actually situated in the hotel’s garden, and open to the the evening air.
Water mist sprays down from overhead to ensure that the guests don’t over heat in the summer.
That is not to say, however, that they won’t overeat.
Food Selection
There is a wide, comprehensive selection of foods on offer, and they are all included in the buffet price.
There is no restriction on how many courses you may assemble, so sit back, tuck in and go back as many times as you want.
The Appetizers
Personally, I think the appetizers are one of the best in Riyadh. The combination of selection & quality suits my palette and relieves my long felt craving for vegetables and salads.
Arabic Food
For the local touch, there are several Arabic salads – all cold – to begin with. These vary in quality according to the attention that is paid during preparation.
Usually though, the kitchen staff at the hotel do them well.
For a regular dinner it would be possible – advisable even – to call for the bill and leave at this point.
But if you do that at the Garden Barbecue you will be missing out much more to come. There are soups, there are pies, there are speciality dishes (stews, etc), and then there is the main attraction: the bundles of deliciousness that they throw on the charcoal grill.
The Grill
- Beef (your favourite cuts)
- Chicken (several different parts)
- Sausages
- Kebabs
- Prawns (several varieties)
- Fish (your choice of the best)
- Seafood – it’s a gourmand’s delight!
Make sure you tell the chef’s directly how you want your choices grilled; things can easily get overdone,especially if let in the hands of the waiters.There’s not many vegetable dishes to accompany them, but the choice of salads is more than adequate to compensate for this.
Desert
The first thing to catch your eye as you walk in is the desserts. The Al Khozama has a renowned bakery & confectionary, so the chances are you will not be disappointed.
At Garden Barbeque, the deserts look like works of art. They also Taste exquisite
Many of their cakes and pastries look like works of art. In a country that loves sweet things, the Al Khozama is right up there in terms of the delicacies it produces.
Mini portions are offered in the garden so you can take your pick of your favourites without having to feel too guilty, and there is a good selection of the ubiquitous Arabic sweets as well as others with more international inspiration.
Ambience
Wondeful View by Pink Tarha
Ambience to die for by Pink Tarha
Janelle over at The Pink Tarha has written her own review and the pictures above are hers.
The ambience is one of a kind in this establishment. The grass at your feet and the trees surrounding you brings about a feeling of outdoors that you expect from being in an outdoor garden. Combined with the high rise buildings and the spectacular view of Faisaliah Tower, it adds a layer of modernism to your outdoor feelings
Service
The service is one of the best aspects of this place. It is exactly the kind of service you would expect from a 5-star hotel in Riyadh
- Tentative Waiters
- Friendly and Pleasant Demenour
- Above & beyond what is required
- True show of Arab hospitality
Price
Alas our dream has to crumble
The price per person is 350 SAR.
At first glance, it does seem somewhat steep, but then you consider that almost everything about this place is superb.
The care and perfection taken in every aspect of this restaurant creates an overall experience that is unmatched.
As such I personally feel that it deserves such a price. However, I do not plan on going often.
Tell Us in the Comments
We'd love to hear from you, tell us your experience by answering some of the questions below or anything else you want to tell us
- Have you been to the Barbeque Garden before?
- How was your experience?
- Was it Similar to ours?
- Is there somewhere comparable you know of?