Sometimes at lunchtime you do not want to spend ages choosing, you simply want to try many things at once. That is exactly what an Indian buffet is made for. Instead of settling on a single dish, you fill your plate with several flavours, from mild to spicy, from meat to fully plant based. A buffet is probably the loveliest and most relaxed way into Indian cuisine. In this article we show you why a lunch buffet fits so well at midday, what makes up a typical Indian buffet and what awaits you here in Bern.
Why an Indian Buffet Is Ideal at Midday
Indian cuisine thrives on variety. A buffet plays to that strength perfectly. You try several curries, along with rice, fresh bread and side dishes, all in one course. Anyone who does not yet know the cuisine discovers many dishes at once and quickly finds their own favourites. Anyone who already loves it enjoys exactly this range.
At midday there is a further advantage: time. A buffet is quick. You do not have to wait for the cooking, you simply take whatever you feel like right away. That makes it ideal for the lunch break, when the food should be delicious without the afternoon suffering for it. You head back full and content, with the feeling of having eaten really well.
The Variety of an Indian Buffet
An Indian buffet is a small cross section through the whole cuisine. Typically you find a selection of curries, mild and robust, with meat and vegetarian. Alongside come rice dishes such as fragrant basmati rice or a biryani, fresh bread from the oven and hearty sides such as a dal made from lentils. Often starters, salads and chutneys round off the offering.
It is precisely this breadth that makes the appeal. At a buffet you do not have to decide whether you would rather have a creamy curry or something spicy today. You take both and put together your plate exactly the way you like it. If you would like to get to know the individual dishes beforehand, you will find an overview in our guide to the most popular Indian curries.
What Awaits You at Our Lunch Buffet
Our lunch buffet brings a lovely cross section through Indian cuisine together on one plate. You choose from chicken, lamb or fish, along with three different vegetables, a hearty lentil dish, fragrant basmati rice and fresh naan bread from the oven. As a crisp addition there is Vegi Pakoda and papadam, plus a fresh salad. So everything is there, from spicy to mild, from meat to fully plant based.
The complete buffet is available for CHF 22.90 per person. Everything is halal certified. The large vegetarian selection is a firm part of the offering, which means everyone finds something at the lunch table, without any long searching. Our buffet is prepared with the same care as our dishes in the evening, home made and fresh.
How to Get the Best out of the Buffet
A buffet invites you to try. With a few small tricks the visit becomes even nicer. Start with small portions of several dishes, rather than filling a plate with just one thing. That way you discover what tastes best to you before you go back for more. A spoonful of rice or a piece of naan with the curries makes sure the sauces come into their own.
Dare to try something new as well. That is exactly what a buffet is made for. If you want to keep an eye on the heat, combine robust dishes with a cooling yoghurt or mild rice. That keeps the meal balanced. You enjoy the whole range at your leisure.
Who the Lunch Buffet Is Worthwhile For
A buffet suits many occasions. During the lunch break from the office, when it should be quick and still delicious. With colleagues, because everyone chooses freely and nobody waits long for their dish. Or for the curious, who are eating Indian for the first time and simply want to try everything, without reading through the menu beforehand.
For small groups a buffet is ideal too, because it takes away the agony of choice and brings everyone to the table full. How a first visit unfolds you can read in our article Going out for Indian food for the first time in Bern.
Practical Details: Days, Times and Price
Our lunch buffet is available from Monday to Friday, each day over lunch. The price is CHF 22.90 per person. You find us centrally at Belpstrasse 11, only a few minutes’ walk from Bern railway station and easily reached by public transport. As a single guest you can usually drop by spontaneously, for larger groups we recommend a short reservation.
Buffet or à la Carte: What Fits When
Both ways have their charm. The choice depends on the occasion. A buffet is ideal if you want to try many things, have little time or are out with a group with different tastes. You put together your own plate and are served quickly. That fits especially well over lunch, when the food should be delicious and uncomplicated.
If, on the other hand, you would like to enjoy one dish in a very deliberate way, freshly prepared and served in peace, you gladly choose à la carte in the evening. Both belong to a good restaurant. Each has its moments. Over lunch the buffet is, for many guests, the most relaxed way to experience the variety of Indian cuisine all at once. In the evening it may then be the one special dish.
A Buffet for Companies and Teams
Anyone who goes out to eat with colleagues over lunch knows the problem: everyone has a different taste. In the end half the group waits for the others’ dishes. A buffet solves exactly that. Everyone chooses freely, everyone is served at roughly the same speed. Nobody has to fall in with the others. That makes an Indian lunch buffet ideal for team meals, meetings over lunch or a spontaneous outing from the office.
On top of that comes the central location near Bern railway station. You are with us quickly and just as quickly back again, without the afternoon suffering for it. For larger groups a short reservation is advisable, so that there is enough space and everyone can sit together.
At the Buffet with Children
For families a buffet is a relaxed choice too. Children often eat more happily when they get to pick for themselves. At the buffet they find mild dishes that they like. Rice, naan and a mild curry are usually a good start. Because you put things together freely, the visit stays flexible. Nobody has to sit still for long and wait for their food. That way lunch becomes a calm and lovely affair, even with the little ones.
Prefer to Take It Away? The Lunch Box
There is not always time over lunch to sit down. That is what our Lunch Take Away Box is for, the same Indian variety, only to take with you. The Vegi Box with three different vegetables, lentils, basmati rice, naan bread, Vegi Pakoda, papadam and salad is available for CHF 13.90. If you would like meat, you choose the meat box with chicken, lamb or fish for CHF 15.90.
We have a special offer for students. On the take away box there is CHF 2.90 cheaper for students. That way you get through the lunch break quickly, affordably and freshly, whether at the office, on the go or at school.
What Makes a Good Indian Buffet
A buffet is only as good as what stands on it. Freshness is decisive. Dishes that are refilled regularly taste noticeably better than ones kept warm for a long time. The selection is just as important. A good Indian buffet offers a balanced mix of mild and robust dishes, of meat and vegetarian options, along with rice, fresh bread and sides. That way every taste finds its place.
The care in the preparation makes the difference too. A buffet is not a shortcut, it demands the same attention as a dish served à la carte. Where cooking is done with good ingredients and experience, you taste it on the plate. That is exactly what we value, so that over lunch you do not simply get full, you eat really well.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Lunch Buffet
On which days is the lunch buffet available and what does it cost?
The buffet is available from Monday to Friday over lunch, for CHF 22.90 per person.
Is there something to take away as well?
Yes. There is a Vegi Box for CHF 13.90 and a meat box for CHF 15.90. For students the take away box is CHF 2.90 cheaper.
Is the buffet suitable for vegetarians too?
Yes. A large part of Indian cuisine is plant based by nature, so the vegetarian selection at the buffet is correspondingly large.
Is everything halal?
Yes. Our entire kitchen is halal certified, and that applies to the buffet too.
Do I have to reserve?
As a single guest you can usually drop by spontaneously. For larger groups we recommend a short reservation, so that your table is ready.
Lunch Buffet at India4U in Bern
Since 2008 we have been cooking authentic Indian and Pakistani cuisine at Belpstrasse 11 in Bern, home made and halal certified. More than 700 guest reviews with an average of 4.3 stars show that the way to us is worth it, at midday too. Come by, fill your plate and let the variety of Indian cuisine surprise you.
A look at the full selection is given to you by our menu. If you would like to come over lunch with a larger group, it is best to secure a table in advance through our booking. You can read more about an evening with us on the page Indian food in Bern. We look forward to seeing you, in the heart of Bern.