Affordable and awesome
MENU: COMBINATION OF STEAKHOUSE, SUSHI BAR AND SIGNATURE DISHES
Service was great and cleanliness impressive.
The East Rand is fast becoming home to a number of excellent restaurants and, best of all, it is more affordable as there is no surcharge for an establishment’s address.
BarQGrill is a find. It is on the main drag of North Rand Road in Boksburg. The restaurant has been there for about eight months and it is one of those places you spot frequently, wonder about dining there, and then somehow forget about it.
Mother’s Day was probably the worst time to check out a new eatery. But we did it. And the adventure paid off.
BarQGrill is a great experience. From the manager who opens the door for customers, the staff that seat you through to waiter service, it was exceptional. It certainly passed my mum’s litmus test, and she is a tough one to please.
The menu is a combination of steakhouse, sushi bar and signature dishes. For starters try the Blossom Onion for R60. It is a giant, flowered-out onion with a crispy outside served with a cheese sauce. What a delicious idea this is. The Jalapeno Puffers for R75 are another standout. These are a phyllo pastry wrapped interpretation of jalapeno poppers without the tough, deep fried skin and stalk. It is filled to the brim with feta and jalapeno bits, served in a sticky-delicious, sweet chili sauce.
Plating is impressive at BarQGrill. Beautiful pinch-pot like earthenware presents diners with eye-candy. This restaurant takes care of attention to detail.
And then there is the mains. I had a giant 350g fillet steak with cheese sauce. It was perfectly grilled and not drowning in barbeque basting. Instead, it was prepared not to compromise taste. For sides, really good garlic-buttery baby potatoes. You can order your meat on or off the bone.
The cheese sauce tasted like real cheese. Variants of this side at other eateries arrive at the table either as a floury white sauce with a bit of cheese shrapnel, or a dose of processed-cheese tasting, mass-produced yuck.
The beef pita is reasonably priced at R125 and the meat is super tender and the wrap is so big that it contradicts its light meal status. At R95 the chicken breast is equally generous and tasty. The Wagyu beef burgers are large, and there’s a Beyond Beef burger on the menu.
The chicken sword, at R195, is a 300g skewered, grilled and honey mustard drenched specialty served with any side on the menu. It is as delicious as it sounds. There’s also a good selection of seafood dishes and sushi to explore.
Desserts are also not mass produced, pre-frozen and microwaved. The Baklava ice cream cigars are legendary and the crème brulé was the best my fussy mum has ever had.
Cleanliness is close to godliness and the restrooms at BarQGrill are spotless. To me, this reflects what the kitchen might look like, and how much the restaurateur takes an interest in the wellness of their staff and customers.
Managers roam the place to check on everything, while the owner sweats it out in the kitchen. And that personal effort will pay off. Because I will be back and likely every other family that enjoyed BarQGrill on Mother’s Day, and any other day for that matter.
Even better are the prices. We were five adults and two under-five kids and the bill was several hundred rand below my expectations. BarQGrill is not only affordable, but flipping awesome.