I think Brachetto is a well kept secret. I’d never heard of the place before and was driven more by curiosity than anything else to visit. I invited a friend over and he too was pleasantly surprised. Where has this place been?

Like most of the finer restaurants in Kigali, Brachetto is elegant in a simple way. The décor is not over the top but is more likely intended to make guests feel welcome. I would say functional but comfortable.

A walk through the dining area from the entrance to the far end is characterised by wine displays. A collection of Italian and South African wines that cannot be rivaled, Brachetto has set itself apart with this wine collection, and if you are the discerning wine connoisseur, then this is the place to visit. The far end of the dining will see you step into a lounge facing the garden. You could not ask for a more serene setting while partaking of a beverage. On my visit, I had time to do some work in privacy in this lounge as I awaited my guest.

Brachetto has a Mediterranean, European, Italian fusion menu and the tapas add a Spanish dimension to this menu. After my guest was seated and had ordered for a drink, the very professional staff suggested a selection of tapas to go with our drinks as we waited for a table. We opted for speck, a cured ham from Italy and a spicy honey and goat cheese tapas.

The staff at Brachetto seems to love their jobs. Dressed in black shirts and pants with black aprons, this ensemble is a professional one and is diligent in their service. Our waiter soon ushered us to our table as our orders were ready. I opted for a medium rare Rwandan beef tagliata with shaved parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar.

I was impressed with the adaptation of this Italian style steak using beef sourced locally. Prepared to the doneness I had requested, this steak was as tender as I had hoped and quite surprisingly so since we do not see much quality beef produced in the region.

The steak was indeed savory and the balsamic provided an acidic balance and the parmesan adding a bit of bite to the vegetables due to its granular texture. A well balanced meal and beautifully presented.

Brachetto is an intimate place, one where conversation over a meal is uninterrupted unless one requires service. However, like it is tradition in Italy, Brachetto can host large dinner groups.

Located in Kacyiru on KG 5 Ave, Brachetto is open for service from 11am to 2pm for lunch and 6pm for dinner.

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