Barbecue heaven in a former motorbike lot

For those in search of a spacious dining destination with friends or family, rather than heading to an air-conditioned stand-by, try an open-air eatery like the Barbecue Garden Restaurant.

The two-month old restaurant is located a few blocks from Ben Thanh Market in a shady corner of the National Library. The restaurant’s owner transformed the former motorbike parking lot into a simple, but pleasant eatery.

The library’s spirit seeps into the restaurant’s décor; the owner up a bookshelf for diners to perwhile waiting for or enjoying their meals. The restaurant also provides wireless Internet, which is indispensable in the digital age.

The Barbecue Garden Restaurant has no fixed roof, and consists of tables placed under the shade of old and newly planted trees. However, there are temporary roofs in case the weather turns sour.

The highlight of the restaurant is not its decoration, but rather its barbecue. The restaurant serves Vietnamese and international barbecue dishes that are cooked tableside. The restaurant also serves a number of French menu items due to its French manager.

Unlike traditional barbecue where the meat is cooked by fire and coals, all tables at the Barbecue Garden Restaurant are equipped with modern built-in gas stoves. Diners have the opportunity to cook a variety of meats including beef with cheese, fish fillet, squid and shrimp. This style of cooking allows diners to prepare their meal to fit their preferences. 

In addition to familiar meats, deer, goat and rabbit are also on hand to grill. Diners can also finish off their meal with a Thai-style hotspot.

As diners feast on barbecued meats, eternal and familiar songs gently fill the restaurant’s air, especially in the evening when the heat has cooled down.

Restaurant patrons come from all walks of life, from white collared workers to expatriates and travelers. The eatery is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Prices range from VND19,000-219,000 per dish.

Barbecue Garden: 135A Nam Ky Khoi Nghia St., Dist.1, HCMC. Tel: (08) 823 3340.

Source SaigonTimes