Brasa: Bukit Damansara's new grill & wine bar brings fire & flair to protein-powered fare
August 30, 2023
Brasa occupies a two-floor setting that's spacious but cosy, welcoming with warm tones.
The street level is where patrons can catch all the culinary action, with the fireplace-like grill blazing in the background, true to the restaurant's name (Brasa is Spanish for embers).
The atmospheric ambiance evokes a vintage steakhouse, with specials scrawled on a chalkboard and shelves of bottles to browse on the walls. Dim lighting for dinner sets the mood for an easy-going affair, ideal for lingering over long conversations.
Upstairs evokes a secret, sumptuous sanctuary, with beautiful booths and private rooms - great for group gatherings, getting away from the bustle for a night of wining and dining.
Fresh-baked focaccia, fluffy and fragrant, come paired with clarified smoked and truffle butters, smooth and sumptuous, to kick off the Brasa experience.
Brasa's wine list is comprehensive, covering the Americas and Europe to South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. You'll even find a Rouge from Syria by the bottle, while wines by the glass include Italian, French, Portuguese, Argentinian and Chilean choices.
For a snack to whet the appetite, Brasa's Crispy Sago (RM48) is a triumph of texture and taste - squid ink-hued sago crackers, crunchy to the bite, enlivened by a luscious, vibrantly colourful topping of house-cured salmon gravlax, creamy avocado mash, caviar, ikura and creme fraiche in perfect, pleasurable proportions.
Brasa's grill proves capably versatile, effortlessly elevating everything it touches.
Spanish octopus (RM148) yields a smooth, thick tenderness - firm and fleshy, not mushy - kissed with the bliss of a captivating char, aromatic with saffron-scented mash, fruity and sweet with Italian-cultivated Taggiasca olives and roasted confit cherry tomatoes.
Naturally, steak is a spectacular headliner at Brasa, with Australian wagyu ribeyes, striploins and tomahawks vying for the limelight, bolstered by sides like grilled asparagus, charred banana shallots or wasabi mash.
The Wagyu Ribeye (RM102 per 100g, served with truffle mash and rocket salad) is a sacrament of sheer succulence, expertly executed for that caramelised crust that conceals pink, lust-worthy juiciness.
The Wild Berry Panna Cotta (RM42) offers opulence in its silky vanilla cream encircled with mixed berry compote, while the Pistachio Tiramisu (RM55) puts a playful spin on traditional tiramisu, layering coffee-laced pistachio mascarpone cream for a memorable finish.
Daily, 5:30pm-10:30pm. Tel: 011-5110-2857