Tucked into the corner opposite the women’s branch of Zara on the ground floor, Brioche Dorée has an exposed feel due to its lack of walls on both sides. The café is perfect for a dose of people watching and relaxing from the hustle and bustle of the mall.
As this was the first time we had come across the brand (another notch on the list of Al Hokair’s F&B imports) we didn’t really know what to expect. From the large display cabinets we saw bread — lots of it in fact — further round the corner, a handful of sandwiches and opposite these, a large selection of mouth-watering cakes.
With no menu on display above the counter or on the table, we ended up approaching the counter and ordering with little to go on. Looking for a quick snack I asked about the beef sandwich on display. The Saudi cashier was more than helpful and explained it was a pastrami sandwich served on brioche bread with tartar sauce, lettuce and red onions. His knowledge was impressive and resulted in a quick sale for the SR30 sandwich.
Moving round the counter, the cakes looked too good to resist, so we ordered a mixed selection to go. From the patisseries, we tried the chocolate brioche, flan nature, mille-feuilles and the apple, chocolate, lemon, chocolate and banana and white chocolate and raspberry tarts — with each costing about SR14.
We finally paid, and just as we were leaving, we noticed crepes being prepared behind the counter. Odd, we thought as we mistakenly assumed all that was to offer was in the display cabinets. Upon realizing other items might actually be available, we asked the cashier about a menu, which he magically produced from behind the counter. After taking a look at it, we realized how wrong we were! The “casual restaurant” description of Brioche Dorée finally made sense.
Everything from crepes to full course meals was available, but in our opinion, the atmosphere isn’t quite what one would look for during a full sit down meal. Not only were the tables surprisingly small, (they were more akin to café furniture and not ideal for lingering), but they were also placed in such close proximity to each other, thus making a private conversation out of the question. When a gaggle of noisy children with nanny in tow appeared, we decided to take our food home.
As a result, there is little we can tell you of the main courses at Brioche Dorée but plenty of their sandwich and desserts, which I can happily say impressed the whole family. The pastrami sandwich was good as the tartar sauce was a nice complement with the salad garnish and meat; however, there was little filling and bread was the main component of the sandwich.
The chocolate brioche was sweet and dense and even better after a few short seconds in the microwave when the chocolate chips melted into the brioche. The flan nature — a bright yellow traditional French dessert made of custard — was a delectable experience. The custard-based tart was not quite gelatinous, but wobbly nonetheless, as well as rich and creamy — just perfect with an espresso or café au lait! The raspberry and white chocolate tart was delicious and properly made: The white chocolate was firm on the surface and smooth and creamy underneath. Furthermore, the raspberries in its center provided a burst of fruit juice countering the strength of the white chocolate. The other tarts were equally impressive.
It’s a shame we didn’t get round to the main courses, but we will have to drop back for those. Perhaps you can share your experiences at Brioche Dorée. We’d love to hear your comments. Bon appétit!
