BY ALYAA MALIK
It is rare to spot an elegant, intimate restaurant that focuses in giving us a plate of great steak in Riyadh. Fortunately, there’s Terrace Grill Steakhouse.
Located inside the Riyadh Marriott Hotel, Terrace Grill Steakhouse almost feels like a retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. The dim entrance gives it a solemn atmosphere yet the greeting from the reception is warm and friendly. There are plush purple chairs and a glass plate in front of me with some abstract image. As I look closer, it turns out to be a silhouette of a bull, creatively designed and very pleasing and inviting. The gentleman helps me with my napkin and offers me and my colleague something to drink. We both ask for some mocktails as we are left with their interactive menus to choose our dinner for the night.
Terrace Grill Steakhouse’s menu spotlights three various meats: Australian Wagyu Beef, Australian Certified Angus Beef, and Canadian Beef. They serve them in different steak cuts such as Filet Mignon, T-Bone, Ribeye and New York Strip. However, their appetizer menu is not to be ignored with its luscious items such as the Pan-Seared Foie Gras and the Terrace Grill Seafood Platter that’s grand enough for two. Just in case you are dining with a vegetarian, they also offer a range of salads and a few main courses with the Spinach Polenta being a crowd favorite.
Minutes later, our complimentary bread arrives with a side of premium, Beurre d’Isigny butter that makes everything taste better right from the get go. The plate of Foie Gras arrives and our indulgence continues with every unctuous bite. The cherry tomatoes and balsamic dressing that came with it provides a slight relief from all the rich flavors. The Seafood Platter brings in a taste of the sea, with the cracked crab legs and smoked salmon giving salty notes; with the shrimps and lobster tail a tad timider yet meatier.
The highlight of the evening comes in the form of the Wagyu Ribeye Steak and the Wagyu Filet Mignon. At 8 and 12 ounces each, the servings were meant for big appetites. The done-ness of the meat was made to our liking and we easily sliced through our steak with ease and delight. For more oomph, a trolley full of condiments passed by our table – allowing us to choose among sauces such as steak sauces, hot sauces, and mustard alternatives.
As our dinner progressed, a couple of diners had also started arriving. Most of them in twos, engaged in close conversations whilst eating. There is an outdoor area, which is most likely the “terrace” that their namesake refers to. With the weather being cooler these days, it is definitely an enticing space to dine in. The wait staff comes regularly to check in on our needs and they are attended to efficiently. It becomes evident why this restaurant was named MENA Travel Awards’ Best Fine Dining Restaurant in 2012 and awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2015 and 2018. There is a finesse about their food that is lacking in most steakhouses and the ambiance is also conducive for those seeking a quiet, smooth-sailing dinner. Should you opt for a nightcap, a cigar lounge is also within their premises at your disposal. Overall, Terrace Grill Steakhouse delivers the refined dining that we are looking for in steaks, seafood and more.
Terrace Grill Steakhouse
Riyadh Marriott Hotel
King Saud Road, Al Wazarat District,
Riyadh 11464
Opening Hours: 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM
T: +966-11-477-9300
