The Latin American hotspot serves carpaccio, churrasco and chicharon.
It’s not often that the FACT team fight over their food. However, the excellent steak in chic surroundings at Brute in Riyadh satisfied our carnivorous cravings. Located in the new Ramla Terraza development in As Sahafah, Brute specialises in exquisite Argentinian steaks. The restaurant is the brainchild of the team behind Argentinian steakhouse, Gaucho, ensuring a commitment to excellence and a passion for exceptional dining.
With floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor and outdoor seating and meat fridges stocked with quality cuts, Brute offers an interactive and Instagrammable dining experience. The restaurant is stylish yet inviting, with an abundance of carved wood, ornate tilework, sleek marble tabletops and chairs upholstered in maroon. If you visit the upper levels, gashes in the wall expose fiery illuminations, as if a volcano is erupting and the lava is leaking through. The illusion adds a touch of warmth and softness to the setting.
The open kitchen is buzzing with chefs turning out excellent cuts of meat and tasty entrees. On the afternoon FACT visits, the restaurant is busy, creating a high-end vibe that is also relaxed. Service is excellent but not stuffy, and each cut is presented to the table and thoroughly explained, which is ideal for those perturbed by the extensive selection of available cuts.
We peruse the menu, which presents cuts of beef, sharing starters, salads, and a selection of South American specialities. The entrees are enticing and we settle on the Corn Empanadas and Wagyu Beef Carpaccio. The Empanadas (SAR 29 per piece) offer puffy pockets of pastry generously stuffed with a corn and mozzarella mix that is crisp on the outside and comforting and delightfully delicious within. The Beef Carpaccio (SAR 110) was also a hit. Prepared tableside, the thin slices of meat are rolled with fried capers, a parmesan crisp and wasabi mayo into one moreish meaty plate.
When selecting your steak, the varied options at Brute will suit any meat eater, from the Dry Aged Wagyu Tomahawk (SAR 1,700) to the Wagyu Striploin (SAR 390) and Lomo Fillet (AED 210). Churassco is the perfect choice for those looking to try something a little different, and Brute’s Beef Sampler (SAR 635) is the best way to enjoy the grilled speciality from Argentina. Superb for sharing the Churrasco de Lomo, Spicy Churrasco De Ancho and Churrasco de Chorizo offer a different marbling, yet each is tender and tasty, retaining a juiciness that is often difficult to achieve with meat.
Steakhouses are not often known for dessert. The Sizzling Brownie (SAR 60) was a fantastic finale, served in a hot skillet and topped with a sweet and seductive pecan, espresso, vanilla sauce, and a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Oozing with chocolatey goodness, the FACT team fought over every last spoonful.
Brute is taking it back to basics – stripping down theatrics and dishing up what the chefs know best – authentic, hearty Latin American food anchored around quality ingredients and presented with Latin Passion. Housed in an upscale and contemporary setting, Brute is a great place for a group or an intimate dinner should you be looking for a meat feast in the capital. Just choose your dining companion (note: competition) carefully.
GO: Follow @brute_ksa on Instagram for more information.
