Las Brisas Restaurant Reviewed July / August 2008
Las Brisas at Neptune Villas overlooking Chalk Sound
Enterprising and adventuresome holidaymakers have long been drawn to the southwest tip of the island to experience the peace, tranquility and unparalleled beauty of Provo’s south-side natural attractions. Taylor Bay and Sapodilla Bay, two delightfully shallow and picturesque beaches with the latter being a popular anchorage, and Chalk Sound National Park, three jaw-dropping miles of awe-inspiring natural beauty guaranteed to take your breath away. But traffic has definitely been on the increase on the ‘road less travelled’, namely Chalk Sound Drive, as local island residents and tourists alike have discovered Las Brisas Restaurant & Bar, a taste of the Mediterranean, right here on Providenciales.
Las Brisas Classic Shrimp Cocktail Appetiser
Delight in the essence of al fresco dining on the spacious deck or underneath the gazebo as you take-in the sultry, tropical breezes and the inimitable hues of the iridescent waters of Chalk Sound; a never-ending panoply of shades and hues of turquoise continually transformed by passing clouds and the position of the sun by day; and under a mantle of twinkling stars surrounded by Tiki torches at night. Even the open-air dining room brings the outdoor beauty in with French doors always open to the unmatched views of the Sound.
Caprese Salad with Tomato, Mozarella and Pesto
The Island’s ‘Most Reasonable’ full bar, has also evolved into one of the island’s most popular, a comfortable and expansive area with tables spilling out into the pool area. We lingered over cocktails and a drop-dead dazzling sunset along with some crusty rolls while perusing the extensive menu featuring Caribbean cuisine with a pleasurable Mediterranean splash, prepared by Chef Ramon.
Paella Seafood Rice Special - for a minimium of two!
While tapas may have originated in Spain, they have become a popular culinary trend far beyond the shores of the Mediterranean and have reached many corners of the globe, tasty little bites to carry you over to your next meal. Aromatic and fragrant garlic proliferated the Shrimp in Garlic Sauce, undeniably tasty, five succulent and tender shrimp were dipped in spice, deep-fried and swimming in a pool of garlic butter sauce. Most certainly not a ‘little bite’ my Stuffed Green Plantains with shrimp arrived in three large portions, crunchy and deep-fried with a pleasant Creole type sauce. On the lighter side, the pleasurable combination of lean and savoury prosciutto, rich with flavour from aging was matched with two different cheeses; and a Caprese Salad with slices of soft and creamy mozzarella alternating with slices of earthy red tomatoes, smothered with a great pesto sauce with that unmistakable aroma and fresh-taste of basil, and the mild, nutty flavour imparted by the pine nuts. Several other tapas/appetizers and salads are offered including Chicken or Fish Croquetas, Fish, Shrimp or Conch Ceviche and Fried Chick Peas with Chorizo, that absolutely fabulous pork sausage with intense smoky, garlic flavours, compliments of Portugal or Spain.
Broiled Shrimp with Drawn Butter and Vegetables
You have an abundance of preparation options with several of the entrée selections, deciding on not only your preference of grilled, pan-fried, broiled, cracked, steamed or Creole; you also have the preference of choosing a sauce if desired, wine, mushroom, or pepper and rosemary; further, you have quite a few choices of sides, including their must-try Spanish fries.
Dine Inside or Out on the Terrace Dining Deck
My husband opted for the Snapper, pan-fried; this one was offered with an accompanying Lemon Butter Sauce, an absolutely divine combination, and his choice of a side of black beans. The snapper was served whole but was effortless to ‘dissect’ with the fish simply falling off the bone. Eight, very respectable sized shrimp arrived, shells intact, perfectly grilled and served with that same luscious Lemon Butter Sauce. This diner commented on how nice it was to see that the shrimp had been deveined, not a necessary part of the preparation, but a pleasing one at that. It is also interesting to note that leaving the shell on during cooking intensifies the flavour and in addition, spices cannot permeate the armour-like shell of the shrimp, but the simple slice made to devein the shrimp acts as an open door for flavours to enter. The Rack of Lamb generated smiles all around, the proverbial “wow” and the anticipated “fabulous”, with intense lamb flavours owing to double the spice and double the grilling, peppery and tender, with unforgettable lovely flavours. The filet tenderloin caught my eye, as it often does, and I was quite anxious to put Las Brisas to the test. A veritable portion of absolutely tender beef was grilled to an absolutely perfect medium rare. I opted for the Spanish fries... when in Rome I always say... and they were delicious! So much so that everyone was stealing them from my plate! An additional side of crisp and fresh tasting veggies included cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.
Smooth and Creamy Tiramisu with a Cherry
The Paella is mouth-watering, a culinary gift of Spain, it is a savoury and luscious combination of seafood and vegetables served over gorgeously spiced yellow rice. It’s worth the 45-minute wait, and my husband and I attend regularly for a habitual fix.
Italy’s Mediterranean contribution affords several pasta possibilities including seafood pasta with linguini and a classic fettuccine Alfredo with chicken or shrimp and appetizing and scrumptious pizzas.
A surprisingly ample wine list features wines from California, Washington, Australia, Italy, Chile, New Zealand and of course, Spain, and champagne.
Ask about sunset or catered pontoon cruises across the Chalk Sound National Park
Desserts change daily, and this evening there were several sweet selections including Rum Cake, Crème Caramel, Cheesecake and Apple Strudel. Smooth and creamy Tiramisu was a shared end to our evening, rich and delicious with pronounced coffee flavours complete with the cherry on top.
For the cigar connoisseur, Las Brisas also offers a selection of fine cigars... I can’t imagine an ambience more pleasurable than this for a cigar aficionado to savour a long and lingering smoking experience.
While virtually everyone who visits these shores will experience a Grace Bay dining experience, expand your horizons, “take the road less travelled” and treat yourself to a ‘taste’ of the south side.
Care was taken to ensure correctness of information at press time. Information is subject to change without notice. Ad Vantage Ltd. accepts no responsibility for such alterations or for typographical errors or omissions. Entire contents of this page may not be reproduced in any manner without written permission of Ad Vantage Ltd. © July / August 2008 Where When How - Turks & Caicos Islands.
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