An attractive, polished Riyadh restaurant with notably warm service and a broad fusion menu, but current pricing can feel high for the portions and execution.
ENCORE delivers solid food quality and exceptional service hospitality, with staff consistently earning specific praise across reviews. Inconsistent execution across dishes and repeated price concerns prevent a stronger grade, while the pleasant setting and reliable all-day dining appeal keep it a dependable choice rather than a destination.
ENCORE presents itself as a polished, intimate restaurant in Al Safarat, with a calm, attractive setting and service that repeatedly wins the room. Guests describe warm welcomes, complimentary drinks and bread, live-music events, and staff who make the experience feel personal; one recent regular says the team remembers preferences and goes out of its way to make things right. The cooking is ambitious contemporary fusion rather than a single traditional cuisine: sushi and sashimi sit beside gochujang salmon, Korean-glazed steak, harissa prawns, Mexican bowls, pasta, pizza, and Mediterranean seafood. Steak, salmon, sushi, salads, and breakfast receive the strongest praise, although a few diners found individual dishes average or hard to justify at the price. Families have plenty of recognizable choices—burger, pizza, pasta, chicken sandwich, fries, pancakes, French toast, and ice-cream desserts—alongside more adventurous options, so it is practical for mixed groups rather than an adventurous-food-only destination.
Area vibe: Diplomatic, embassy-lined district with professional and residential amenities.
Safety: Generally secure and well-patrolled with comfortable evening footfall in main streets.
What's nearby: Near embassies, international schools, consulates, office compounds and boutique hotels along major arterial roads.
Start with sushi or sashimi, then consider the salmon, steak, or one of the well-regarded breakfast dishes, but note that some signature items carry a steep price.
Go for the polished setting and attentive service, but budget carefully because the bill can rise quickly and the creative menu is not uniformly consistent.
The usual mood is polished and peaceful, but special sushi events with live music can shift the restaurant into a livelier experience.