braai — Restaurant in Borneo

Braai is a beautiful hidden treasure on Brunei’s lovely seaside. The aesthetic is simple yet elegant at the same time & the staff were very respectful. As someone who is very picky about her steaks, I was skeptical of how good it would actually be but they truly exceeded my expectations.

We ordered the Braai bread, butternut squash salad, striploin steak & spatchock chicken. The Braai bread was simple yet flavourful. The salad was unique although it could have used a little more of seasoning or some kind of dressing to elevate the flavour.

But then came the star of the show - the delicious striploin & oh my gosh!!! Absolute perfection. The meat was cooked to a perfect medium as requested. It was so perfectly seasoned that despite being someone who loves sauces, I could easily enjoy this without any sauce on it. Regardless the mushroom sauce with it was absolutely delicious and complimented the steak so well. After almost 3 decades of trying to find a good steak place in Brunei, I finally found one!

The chicken was a pleasant surprise - the meat was grilled perfectly, falling off the bone easily and seasoned very well. They dont go overboard with their seasoning yet somehow still managed to achieve a lot of flavours with their meat which just highlights the exceptional quality.

One thing to note is it was my birthday we took our own cake & asked them to bring it out later for dessert. While they did do all that perfectly, later on the bill we saw a charge of $20 for “cakeage” which was apparently a service charge for bringing our own cake (lol?! 🤦🏻‍♀️). This was the first time in years of fine dining that I came across this & neither had we been informed but when we spoke to the staff they kindly removed the charge as we did not know. So just a heads up; don’t take your birthday cake to them 🤣 But their service shined with even the way they handled this so overall still a lovely...

Folks, I’ll give it to you straight. This place is going to knock your proverbial socks off. The bottom line up front (BLUF) is this: Braai is a tremendous establishment. Based on my big 5 performance categories (ambience, service, cleanliness, food, and “X-factor”) Braii walks away with a stellar 8/8 star review.

Ambience: impeccable. Modern decor, chic lighting, sturdy chairs. Raw, exposed cement gave an industrial vibe, which paired nicely with unique silverware and wooden interior. An interior designer’s wet dream. Rating: A

Service: Adrian (Adrien? Unsure of spelling) and his staff were extremely accommodating of our large group. We showed up at the incorrect time and with 3 additional people, but the staff bent over backwards to fit us in and make our dining experience as good as it could be. The staff even ordered for us! Polite, friendly, helpful, and efficient. Overall rating: 5 stars

Cleanliness: immaculate, I tell you. The only standard of cleanliness which I would be comfortable using as a frame of reference for this restaurant would be a Japanese public bathroom. That is to say: it was absolutely spotless. It smelled great and I would have eaten off of the floors if any of my meats had happened to fall from the table. Rating: 99/100

Food: the meats were cooked to perfection, the mashed potatoes were scrumptious, the mushroom sauce was exquisite. The desserts? Home made ice cream and sorbet? Tremendous. The food was, simply, magnificent. Food achieved the gold standard rating.

X-factor: crocodiles. Allegedly at low tide, you can see fearsome salt water predators prowling the waters near the pier. We did not know this and went at high tide. If I go back, will update. Either way, we will award style points for this unique bonus. Rating: ...

We recently celebrated our son's birthday at this delightful restaurant, and it was an experience to remember. The venue offered a picturesque setting that perfectly complemented the joyous occasion. All of us sat at the indoor area, comfortably accommodating our 35 guests, and the intimate room provided just the right space for our personalized decorations.

The staff was accommodating and professional, requiring a reasonable $400 deposit for our large group with pre-ordered meals. The evening was filled with laughter and celebration, enhanced by the restaurant's inviting ambiance.

The soup of the day was a real crowd-pleaser—rich, creamy, and satisfying, with generous shreds of meat woven throughout. It was mouth-watering and comforting, and each bowl arrived with a small, hearty braai bread that was just the right size for dipping. A delicious, fulfilling way to start a celebration.

The Mains - The pasta with Angus beef (additional $5 only) was also a standout—robust in flavor, well-balanced, and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The tomahawk and lamb chops were cooked to a perfect medium-rare, delighting our guests with their tenderness and flavor. The burgers received numerous compliments; some guests even took them home, and they remained delicious the next morning, still flavorful and not at all soggy.

Final Verdict

Ambiance: Scenic, cozy, and perfect for an intimate gathering.

Service: Efficient, friendly, and attentive.

Food Quality: Superb across starters, mains, pasta, and even next‑day burgers.

We highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to host a...