BBQ Tonight review: low key restaurant with spectacular Middle Eastern barbeque food

This is a menu you’ll want to work through

BBQ Tonight
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Address: 35 Lower Clanbrassil Street Dublin 8, Dublin
Telephone: 01 5556970
Cuisine: Pakistani
Cost: €€

What’s on offer?

BBQ Tonight emerged on the little stretch of Middle Eastern restaurants on Clanbrassil Street in Dublin in 2013 and expanded into the premises next door in 2018. Owned by Pakistani native Farhan Malik, notable customers have included Micheál Martin and the Pakistani and Indian cricket teams. It’s a low key restaurant that does a huge takeaway business.

Kebabs and meats are cooked over charcoal or in the karahi, the traditional clay oven. They make five different types of naan, including a speciality sesame bread. The menu is comprehensive, divided into sections including samosas and bhajis, kebabs, seafood dishes, Afghan specials, biryani, vegetable curry dishes, clay oven dishes and pizzas. It has an incredibly loyal following.

What did we order?

A vegetable samosa, Afghani BBQ platter for two and one bhindi dopiaza, a vegetarian curry dish with okra and fried onions. There are some customisable options, you can pick one sauce for the BBQ platter and, for the bhindi dopiaza, there’s a choice between chips, pilau rice or naan bread.

How was the service?

A hassle-free ordering experience using Deliveroo. Delivery was prompt and the food arrived hot, in good condition.

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Was the food nice?

The vegetable samosa had spicy vegetables enveloped in a crispy pastry, deep fried and came with mint sauce. The Afghani BBQ platter for two is one of the signature platters and included a combination of Afghan chicken tikka, lamb chops, shish kebab and chicken wings, all tasting of the grill, served with a salad, sauce and two naans. The bhindi dopiaza is a dish of okra cooked in fresh tomatoes so the sauce develops as it cooks, which brings a freshness to the taste. Fried onions, ginger, garlic and medium spices add to the flavour. If you’ve never tried okra, give this dish a go.

What about the packaging?

Most dishes come in foil containers so reusable at home. One standard microwave-safe plastic dish that can be reused and recycled.

What did it cost?

€54 for dinner for three people – Afghan BBQ platter for two, €35; vegetable samosa €6, bhindi dopiaza €13.

Where does it deliver?

Delivery is through Deliveroo within a 5km radius. Open daily, 1pm-11pm.

Would I order it again?

Yes, the food is tasty and different from the usual takeout options. It’s a menu I’d like to work through.

Corinna Hardgrave

Corinna Hardgrave

Corinna Hardgrave, a contributor to The Irish Times, writes a weekly restaurant column