IL Terrazzo
Al Faisaliah Hotel - North, 1st Floor, Olaya, Riyadh.
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Tel: 01 2732222
Overlooking Al Faisaliah Center’s beautifully landscaped plaza, the mist-cooled IL Terrazzo restaurant serves Brazilian barbeque prepared in accordance to a 300-year-old South American tradition. Guests select from a variety of succulent meats seasoned and slow-roasted to perfection over an open, wood-burning fire and a delightful fresh salad bar. A dining experience sure to please both visitors to Saudi Arabia and residents of Riyadh alike!
IL Terrazzo,
Il Terrazo is a Brazilian barbeque restaurant situated outside on a lovely terrace overlooking the fountains and courtyard of the hotel Al Faisaliyah. Customers can dine while enjoying a fantastic view of the Globe on top of the Faisaliyah tower.
This is my all time favorite restaurant in Riyadh and I’ve been to it numerous times. It has always been a success to bring first time visitors to Riyadh here. Large group of expats can often be seen dining here as well as young couples on romantic dates.
Il Terrazo restaurant can only be visited by making a booking and it’s advisable to book well beforehand for weekends and bigger parties. The buffet starts at 8pm every night continuing to around midnight.
The lovely terrace is cooled by cooling mists and fans in the summer, and during winter they offer guests heaters and even warm blankets to wrap around you. A rarity in Riyadh, this terrace is not gender-segregated or boxed but totally open and mixed with lively music is playing in the background. The ambience here is relaxed and as “normal” as it gets in a Saudi restaurant.
At the center of the restaurant there is a buffet island with salads and appetizers on one side and desserts on the other. At the table the customers will be served to side courses such as rice, vegetable and potato dishes accompanied with different sauce from a revolving multilayered tray. In addition to these, the main course, the open fire- barbecued meats are served to the table at frequent intervals by the Kenyan waiters.
The waiter will serve a different meat on each round from a long bbq stick. The variety of meats range from beef, lamb, goat, chicken, fish, beef, kudu, jumbo prawns and even camel. It could be said this restaurant is not for vegetarians!
For starters the guests can indulge in the 5 star salad buffet full of fresh colorful produce. This is by far the best salad bar in town. Additionally there are soups and freshly baked breads to choose from. For drinks they have a great Saudi Champagne and some tasty non alcoholic wines on offer.
After the guests literally feel like bursting from all the juicy meats they have sampled combined with the tasty side dishes on offer, it’s time for dessert. Equally high quality dishes are on offer at the dessert table. The desserts are presented in cute readymade small portions and some are available for the guests to indulge in as much as they like. A variety of fresh exotic fruits are also available. Everything can be topped off with a choice of sauce!
If by now you are not ready to be towed out with a Toyota pick-up truck, there’s also an ice cream bar with a choice of delicious flavors and again, sauces!
The buffet costs 200sr per person not including the drinks. The restaurant offers a nice Saudi champagne and for those who want to splurge a bit, an excellent selection of non- alcoholic wines and sparkling wines which will be served from a standing ice cooler.
Another great thing about this restaurant is the friendly smiling service by the African waiters. If informed beforehand they will sing a Happy Birthday song while playing African drums. Certainly a night to remember!
I’ve been in this restaurant twice but the last time was in year 2005, as price is still affordable back then. The location is perfect during the so called “winter” season in Riyadh, as I recall they have this big torches provided in each table to keep the guests warm and comfortable. They offer open buffet for everything from – salads – grilled meat – ice cream and cakes… Great deal especially for those you have big appetite!
Great selection of meats and cooked right. The brazilian technique is pretty close to spot on.
The only thing missing is having them roast some pinneapples for you at the end of the meal.
I asked them to do that once, but it wasn’t on a clean flame and ended up tasting like a meaty fruit instead.
Bit pricey but not bad.