Love steak? Well, you’ll love this New York Parisian-inspired restaurant.
Do you want to eat one of the best steaks in Riyadh? Of course, you do. Well, make your way to Raoul’s new restaurant, where you can do just that. Raoul’s brings the charm of Paris via New York to Via Riyadh, and has got us drooling over its dishes.
The original New York bistro has been serving Parisian cuisine since 1975 to locals and celebrities. Located in SoHo, it started as a family business, attracting locals, celebrities, and fans along the way. A-listers spotted in the restaurant include Al Pacino, Johnny Depp and Kate Moss.
Raoul’s in Via Riyadh captures nostalgia, and brings it to beautiful life. When we enter, we’re greeted with the sound of La Vie En Rose, dimly lit lighting and attentive staff, which sets the scene for an enchanting night out.
Raoul’s in Via Riyadh is filled with traditional touches, which range from white tablecloths to red velvet curtains. Even the bathrooms have an Art Deco feel, thanks to the gold-rimmed mirrors, door handles and taps.
Take your pick from booths or tables, indoors or outdoors, and upstairs and downstairs, which is accessed by a sleek spiral staircase, no less. Check out the corner with curved banquettes, which are great for groups. We opt for a booth by the wide windows, which offers Via Riyadh views.
The menu is divided up by petit plats a partager, entrées, plats principaux, sides and desserts. We start off in style with the Oysters du Jour and Escargots a la Bordelaise – when in a Parisian-inspired restaurant, do as the Parisians do, after all. The snails have an unexpected creamy taste and are so well seasoned that my guest, who was trying them for the first time, became a fan.
For the mains, we share the Lamb Navarin served with bright lights chard and Steak Au Poivre served with fries. The lamb is oh-so-soft, falling off the bone. The steak is cooked to medium perfection and is one of the best we’ve ever had. The peppercorn crust and peppercorn sauce make this return-worthy good.
The desserts range from a Crème Brulee to Profiteroles. We are impressed with how they draw inspiration from the region and create a Sticky Date Pudding. Served with a side of ice cream, it hits the sweet spot.
The bar is at the heart of the ground floor, and serves non-alcoholic wines as well as mocktails. We sip our way through Kir Raoul’s (non-alcoholic wine and homemade cherry essence) and the Pink Promise (hibiscus tea, rose and cardamom). End the night with an Espresso Martini, and watch the mixologists shake their stuff.
Raoul’s clearly never goes out of fashion. In an age where so many restaurants are pulling out Insta gimmicks, it’s refreshing to see a restaurant put food in the spotlight. The chefs have been perfecting these dishes for decades – and it shows. Go, enjoy the timeless stories, style and, of course, steak.
GO: Visit https://coolinc.com.sa for more information.
