An ISB student’s post on social media about the highly-priced ‘bhutta’ at Virat Kohli’s exclusive restaurant has gone viral on social media.
Dining out at a celebrity restaurant doesn’t come cheap. Especially when that celebrity restaurant is owned by former India captain Virat Kohli and his Bollywood star wife Anushka Sharma. We are talking about ‘One8’ chain of restaurants and a customer in Hyderabad found out the same.
These establishments combine gourmet offerings, exclusivity, and a touch of the celebrity’s personal style. However, the steep prices often lead to spirited discussions about value for money.
In Hyderabad, a city celebrated for its vibrant food culture, Virat Kohli’s restaurant, ‘One8 Commune’, has become the latest talk of the town. The restaurant gained attention recently after an Indian School of Business (ISB) student, Sneha, expressed her dissatisfaction with the pricing of a simple dish.
Sneha took to X to share her experience, posting a photo of her order: ‘bhutta’ (steamed corn), priced at Rs 525. A dish typically sold for Rs 30 to Rs 50 on the street, its upscale presentation — garnished with coriander, lemon, and a spread—did little to temper the uproar online.
“Paid Rs 525 for this today at One8 Commune,” Sneha wrote in her post, which quickly went viral.
paid rs.525 for this today at one8 commune 😭 pic.twitter.com/EpDaVEIzln
— Sneha (@itspsneha) January 11, 2025
The reactions were mixed. Some criticized the restaurant for its steep pricing, while others defended it as part of the premium experience offered by such establishments.
One user commented, “You’re paying for more than just the food—think ambience, brand value, and the vibe.” Another added, “The cost reflects the ‘community’ they’ve built: the music, the premium location, and the overall experience.”
You paid for the “community” One8 has created 🙂 ~ the people hanging around, the music, the vibe … coming from the high rent, higher than average staff salary, etc etc etc
— Akshay Chaturvedi (@Akshay001) January 12, 2025
Others, however, were less forgiving. “This is the ‘Kohli tax,’ plain and simple,” wrote one user. Another critique read, “I didn’t enjoy my visit. First, they had an issue with chappals (Birkenstocks), and second, every dish we tried was underwhelming. The pricing just doesn’t match the quality.”
Despite the divided opinions, ‘One8 Commune’ remains a popular draw for Virat Kohli fans and food enthusiasts eager to experience its distinct vibe. Located at RMZ The Loft in Knowledge City, near Hard Rock Cafe in HITEC City, the Hyderabad outlet opened in April 2024, joining the chain’s presence in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.
The menu at Hyderabad’s ‘One8 Commune’ features a lot of the Kohli’s favourites like the mushroom cream avocado cheese ‘googly’ – it is a slightly tweaked steamed dim sum in red. The red comes from the beetroot juice used in the dim sum wrap dough.
