Brasero was a random restaurant I found that isn't putting Chicago on the map but I think should. The vibe is great, the menu's simple enough, and the food was amazing! Beautiful plates. You can see them roasting meat in the open kitchen and it makes you want to get your food right away. Steak was a perfect medium rare, chicken was tender, and the pork hock had a great balance of flavors. But the showstopper for us were the oysters! You can order them in whatever quantity you want so I suggest everyone in your party have at least 1! I haven't tried anything like it and it was a good sour spice they got going on. New, not the typical cocktail sauce, just an explosion of flavor. Olivia was a great host. Recommended bars and food around the area which we really appreciated going to after dinner. read more

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We had a fantastic family dinner at Bracero. We did early evening with a five camera reservation and the waiter was very good with our kids. Food is excellence. read more

From beginning to end, everything just hit. Shana was AMAZING and took such great care of us. We went all in: Hamachi Aguachile, Wagyu Beef Tartare, Brazilian Fried Chicken, Smoked Chicken, Braised Pork Shank and the Coal-Roasted Sweet Potato. Every dish brought something different, and there wasn't a weak link on the table. The flavors were bold, creative and layered without feeling like they were trying too hard. Brasero was probably our all-around favorite restaurant of the entire Chicago trip - and considering how many incredible places we ate, that is saying a lot. read more

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Very rarely do I wish I ate red meat, but this is one of those times - if I did, I would've done the tasting menu! However, I can only comment on what I tried. The hamachi cold appetizer was good, I liked the tartness of the lime. The red snapper hot appetizer was very good, especially with the dipping sauces, it was just a bit greasy. You MUST try the sweet potato, incredibly well done. The coconut soft serve dessert was a fabulous way to end. This would be a great place to come on a date or for a special occasion. Our waiter was very helpful in deciding what to order. read more

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Lovely ambience, great food, great people. Great experience. A delightful South American culinary. read more

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YUMMY WOW WOW WOW. Came here for my birthday dinner. One of the best sweet potatoes I've ever had -- it was all caramelized and sweet and cozy. The chicken was also perfect, it was moist and the honey mustard sauce was delish. Our waitress also gave us two free desserts which was so kind ??!! Funny because the brownie in the Maggie's Brownie dish was actually my least favorite part of it (pretty dry/unflavorful) I enjoyed the caramel peanut butter mousse and pretzel ice cream that it came with more. The coconut soft serve with chocolate sauce was delicious and refreshing. I think the dishes are priced a little too high but overall this was a super lovely meal, the restaurant has a nice atmosphere, and we had quick service. read more

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Brasero was so good the first time, we had to run it back! We came back for our birthday and had such a great time again. Kat was our server this time and she was so lovely, very helpful, and friendly; a delight! This time, we sat closer to the window, which led to brighter/better photos(yay!). I had an N/A Badito, which tastes like a virgin piña colada, but better. We started with grilled oysters, which were just as flavorful as the first time. The yellowfin tuna crudo was fresh and I could've eaten a whole order of that by myself. I don't remember if they had the Pao de queijo last time, but we each got one Pao and I really think I could've eaten 3 of those. They're puff balls that are crispy on the outside and filled w a chewy amazing cheese inside, served with Catupiry cheese and blackberry Serrano jam that took it over the top. I will be dreaming about the paos. Our mains were the moqueca, which is a seafood stew, packed w fish, shrimps, clams, and ramen noodles in a coconut milk base. And we had to have the coal roasted sweet potato again of course. We also had the 12 oz Westholme Wagyu picanha, this was served w a chimichurri and a vinaigrette, the combination of the two really made a difference for the picanha. It was well cooked and very tasty. Kat brought us each a coconut soft serve sundae for our birthday that was so good, we'd order it again next time. If you're considering trying out Brasero, stop dillydallying and make the trip. You won't be sorry. Food is so inventive with amazing flavor combinations that'll leave you wanting more. Service is also fantastic. read more

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We went to Brasero tonight to celebrate my pre birthday tonight and wow, what an amazing meal. I hadn't even heard of Brasero until today and now I can't wait to be back. The restaurant itself if lively yet romantic for date night but non descript from the outside. It's a Brazilian inspired menu since the chef spent time in Brazil and there is a lot of seafood on the menu. We sat at the bar and the HH menu was still on so we tried the grilled oysters, head on shrimp, crispy papas and their signature 'noodle' dish. Everything was amazing and we can't wait to get back and try the branzino. Our bartender Abraham was so nice since he got us seats at the bar, gave us some background on the chef, made excellent recommendations including the Noodles and got us some Guava/Lychee gelato on the house. Excellent service! read more

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Fantastic meal at brasero!! Took my boyfriend for his birthday and we had a wonderful time. Some of my favorite dishes were the oysters, the fried snapper and the heirloom tomato salad. We also got the cheesy bread and the prawns. I think the only reason I am giving this a 4 is because our first dish of the day the tuna crudo was just so salty it kind of threw me off. The service was attentive and the food came so fast. I am very excited to come back and revise my 4.5 star review read more

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Dinner here was soooooo good! Staff were super friendly and helpful and marked on the menu which dishes could be made without certain ingredients for allergies (one of my friends is gluten free and the other has a sesame allergy, and we were able to share most dishes!). Restaurant is pretty big and wasn't too loud. Good atmosphere! The banana martini was strong and delicious. We decided to split everything and got the Brazilian cheese bread, heirloom tomato salad, steak frites, asparagus, and sweet potato. The biggest wow factors were the heirloom tomato and steak frites. When I tell you I will be dreaming about this tomato!! Such a cool spot and would definitely come back. read more

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Great supper club pick! This is a Spanish inspired restaurant in west town. I honestly expected the menu to have more small plates, but it's a lot of big mains. We split a lot of the sides and the pork shank. We tried the noodle dish, the sweet potato, the potatoes and the little cheese balls. I loved the sweet potato so much and it honestly reminded me of a better version of the Maxwell trading one aka a really expensive potato lol. I also loved the potato side dish, and the pork shank was extremely flavorful and fell right off the bone. The cheese balls were delectable, and I could've eaten many more of them. The service was super kind, but ended up being really slow so they gave us four desserts for free??? So so nice!! We tried the sorbet, coconut sundae, Panna, cotta, and this passion fruit white chocolate one. All of the desserts were immaculate and genuinely I would come back just to have the desserts again. I also got the mule and it was a pretty good cocktail- nothing crazy. Overall, I was a fan of this place and although I think it's a bit expensive for the plate size, I would come back for happy hour or dessert! read more

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Highly recommended by a longtime Chi~City local, and let me tell you, Brasero doesn't disappoint. Let's get into it. Cuisine: 5/5. Crispy Papas (Happy Hour and super good), Broccolini (crispy and hella flavorful, possibly best ever), Steak Frites (Ordered Medium, it's Bomb AF, and the Chimichurri is on point). Nothing disappointing. All hella flavorful and delicious. Maggie's Brownie for Dessert - hell yes with the caramel peanut butter mouse. Beverages: 4/5. Rum Old Fashioned. Nice, but I prefer it with Bourbon or Mezcal. Service: 5/5. Hella attentive and on it. Water refills on point. Respect. Ambiance: 5/5. Beautiful interior. Nothing to dislike. read more

Brasero - Dessert Menu. - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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WOW! W O W I was impressed from the moment I arrived until the moment I left (which I didn't want to) Honestly, when my friend told me about the place, I knew it was Latin American from the name, and I'd eaten Latin American food the day before, but I looked at the menu and said yes because I didn't really feel like looking for places... and I'm glad it worked out that way and we went!!! We had two share plates: pao de queijo & wagyu beef tartare. 2 plates: noodles and steak (probably pichana) 1 side: sweet potato 1 dessert I wish we had two more stomach to try it all!! The place is perfect balance between elegant and approachable. It has an intimate vibe. Great staff. Food also is on the table in a blink. Orgullosa de ser latina y de esta excelente representación de nuestras raíces gastronómicas en Suramérica. Proud to be Latina and of this excellent representation of our gastronomic roots in South America. 10/10 read more

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Stopped in last night after securing a coveted restaurant week reservation thanks to OpenTable Gold status for 6 of us to celebrate our dear friend's birthday. The vibe and service were top notch all night. Everyone had an excellent time, our server was stellar, ordered a drink and we blinked and she was back. The restaurant is beautiful and we loved being able to peak at the open kitchen and watch them rocking that grill. Food: Restaurant week 4 course menu: (1) Hamachi, I literally drank the remaining aguachile yuzu oil happiness that was in the bowl. Pro tip don't be shy, take a sip or bring a straw. It's bright so flavorful. You don't want to leave a drop behind. The fish is lovely too - fresh, light, great temp. (2) fried chicken, banging with crunch, crispy, juicy chicken. The ranch is a lovely a complement. The chicken doesn't need it but it's nice to have. (3) waygu, the char, the temp, the Smokey flavor. 10/10. There was a collective mmmmmmm as we all took the first bite. The mash, super creamy paired really well with the steak. (4) chocolate cake, moist, rich, chocolatey, and the toppings with the crispy chocolate balls reminded us all of a little Debbie's cake. Nostalgic and delightful. Also had a bite of the guava sorbet, packed with flavor, creamy, smooth, and refreshing. The birthday scoop of coconut ice cream (as a person who is not a big fan of coconut) fantastic. I could have a bucket of it. Outstanding experience - the manager came over to check in on us too while we were snagging some happy hour drinks and waiting on our table. We intentionally got there a little early to HH. He was delightful! Came over and let us know our table was ready early and then came back to wish our friend a happy birthday before we left. We've already been talking about what we want to come back and get from the regular menu. Don't sleep on Brasero read more

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**extremely delayed restaurant week review** Course 1: Pao de quejo bite was delicious but was a little chewy Course 2: honestly the kale salad was so yummy! The fried chicken, to my surprise, was VERY good. The crunch on the chicken was perfect Course 3: the wagyu pincha was unreal. The smokey flavor on it and the cook on the meat was perfect. The veggie noodle stir fry was a hit for our vegetarian friend. The sauteed salmon was good but not a huge standout. Course 4: the chocolate cake and seasonal sorbet were both super yummy! We opted to get a bottle of red wine that is from Brazil. My favorite drink was the Bodega Bruit from brazil - super unique and refreshing The service was ok. Our waiter seemed a bit inexperienced and not super on top of it. The space inside has a ton of seating and some great bar seating as well. read more

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Came here for a birthday dinner and I can't recommend it enough. We were a larger party, so the reservation was made via email and Whitney was very patient with me as I ended up changing the party size several times. They were also accommodating with dietary restrictions. Everything we ordered was fantastic, I highly recommend the branzino, tartare, and the sweet potato and grilled oysters were particularly incredible. read more

Brasero - Grilled oysters - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Definitely had a great atmosphere. The fried chicken and snapper appetizers were amazing! I think that set my expectations for everything else. The picanha was cooked perfectly. I also love that they removed all the bone from the branzino. My only con for the night was the brownie. I feel like it should've been warmed because it was hard. Our server was attentive and nice. read more

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One of the best dining experiences I've ever had. The restaurant is beautiful and space inside is huge. We were seated right away and opted for the Leap of Faith $115 version, which is basically them bringing you everything on the menu. I think the only things we didn't get were the pork shank and the steak tartare. Everything was varying degrees of awesome. The ribeye was our favorite, the branzino a close second. We also really liked the prawns, oysters and fried rice. All in for four with drinks was $700, so it's not a cheap evening, but worth a special occasion. read more

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So this place is incredible. It immediately gets 5 stars for value alone. Why? Well we did their $120 price fixed menu and this is what we got. Course 1 Pro de queijo - served warm. Cheese was a bit firm. The jam and cheese were excellent. Hamachi aquachile - one of my favorite bites of the night, fish and apple never tasted so good. I wanted ten more of these Kale salad - a bit spicy but well balanced and a good addition to an excellent appetizer course. Course 2: Oysters - I skipped these. Prawns - large prawns. Seasoned well. Not a stand out and difficult to eat. Fried chicken - served in a cut basket. Extremely crispy and tasty. Chicken itself was a bit of an after thought but the breading was incredible. Course 3 - ACTUAL DINNER 22 oz bone in ribeye - well cooked seasoned well and came with lovely dips though it didn't need it. Whole branzino - mild fish in an insane sauce. Couldn't get enough of this dish. Braised pork shank - in a stew with beans. Tasted like there were dozens of spices in this thing really excellent. Sweet Potato - this is the single best thing on the menu. You may want to get another one (or two) as it is that good. They just do incredible things to this. Dessert: Chocolate cake - dense cake with coconut and hazelnut that was fine. Passion fruit semifredo - guava jam and passion fruit are an incredible combo here. This is the best out of all the desserts. Coconut soft serve - tasty I mean what more do you want? Tropical flavored sorbets - lovely. All in all for the price alone this is a steal for the amount of food and it doesn't hurt that it was mostly excellent read more

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Hands down my favorite spot off Chicago Ave. The interior is beautiful and the service is always on point. Everything I have ever eaten here has been delicious. This time I had the peanut chicken which was great, next time I would ask for sauce on the side though as it was smothered a tad too much for me. The sides that are my favorite right now are broccoli rabe and cheesy potatoes. They had a giant street sign advertising happy hour but when we sat down for an early reservation they said those deals are only for people sitting at the bar which was a tad disappointing. End your meal with a dessert, you won't regret it as they are all good. We live down the street so will absolutely be back again soon. 10/10 would recommend to anyone considering stopping in! read more

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First time last night. Table of 3, ordered Hamachi, fried chicken, biscuits, wagyu picanha, seafood ramen, sweet potato along with two cocktails and a glass of red wine. Food 4/5 -Fried chicken and seafood ramen were stars. Picanha was overpriced for what you got and didn't meet expectations. Service 2/5 -They share servers which helps pre-bussing but not exactly service. Asked 3 servers what the seasoning was on the fried chicken. First said "I don't know" and walked off. Nice! Second said "I don't know, it's my second day but I'll find out." Totally reasonable but didn't come back. Our main server came back and gave us an answer. -Evening felt a little rushed especially once we were done ordering. Check was dropped off with dessert and server took bill with gratuity while still finishing up ice cream. Dessert 5/5 coconut sundae was awesome For over a $100/person meal I wouldn't go back, mainly due to the rushed and lacking service. If they sold that coconut sundae out of a side window I would return for that. read more

Food is incredibly good. I didn't think the fried chicken was all that from a price point but it was still good. Enjoyed the potato's very much. read more

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Went here for a date night and it was a great atmosphere for it. The standout of the food was definitely the Wagyu picanha steak - it was so fatty and flavorful. The pork shank was also good and had a lot of meat. The Wagyu tartare was okay, I wanted it to have a little more flavor. The potatoes and the hamachi crudo was good as well. read more

Delicious dinner and great service! We had a wonderful dinner here last night. Autumn, our server, was wonderful with recommendations, and honest answers to our questions. The food was amazing. Pao de queijo, tuna crudo, oysters and cocktails to start. Branzino, fried rice, squash and wine for dinner. Coconut soft serve with white chocolate sauce for dessert. They were quick to make simple adjustments to accommodate our dietary needs, which was great. read more

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Our second time there and Brasero doesn't disappoint. Just a fun and lively space to grab a meal in West Town. The dining room is warm and welcoming with wood tones. Service is quick with our water glasses always filled and our server flitting between the tables. The menu is setup with several shareable dishes (both hot and cold) along with plates and meats grilled over an open fire. We shared a few dishes-kale, hamachi aquachile, pao de quiejo (always a fun bite), and steak and frites. Everything was delicious and a perfect amount for the two of us. Love that they cook over an open fire and the steak had a great smokey taste as a result. One slight negative would be the steak was cooked a smidge below the requested medium rare. Nevertheless, a solid place for a night out. read more

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Honestly, the chefs may be wizards. The food is soooooo good. I don't even care for steak and I devoured the picanha. But the branzino stole the show! The PÃO DE QUEIJO and GRILLED PRAWNS were a must and I need to go back to Chicago to try them again! My friends enjoyed the oysters. Honorable mention for the sweet potato. So good!! The finale and the magic really was the coconut soft serve. It was so light and refreshing. They have food down to a science. I have to come back read more

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We dined at Brasero with a group of 10 to celebrate a birthday! We were definitely prepared to order à la carte and the server rightfully guided us to the family style menu. $120 per person and we got enough food for everyone to have their fill and we got to try most of the menu! And let me tell you: every single dish was phenomenal. Highlights: the ribeye and the pork shank were SO tender. That sweet potato may be their secret weapon. The oysters and the prawns are full of flavor. And their desserts weren't run of the mill; the passion fruit semifreddo was a standout. I highly recommend the family style menu; you definitely get your money's worth! read more

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I only have good things to say about Brasero. I'm always looking for a "wow" factor when trying new restaurants, and Brasero delivered exactly that. To start, we had the pão de queijo -- cheesy, puffed bread balls served with a cream and jam on the side. A very comforting and easy appetizer. Then we tried the grilled oysters, which were absolutely amazing -- they came pre-seasoned with a lemony, garlicky topping. So flavorful, these are a must!! Lastly, we had the whole branzino, perfectly grilled and topped with the most incredible chimichurri and aïoli. The charred bits were delicious, and we ate everything down to the bone. The service was fantastic, and the interior had a dimly lit, upscale atmosphere. I also loved the open-concept kitchen where you could watch the chefs prepare the food. Will definitely be back again! read more

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If the phrase "don't judge a book by its cover" were a restaurant, Brasero would be it. I'd read a lot of positive reviews about this place, but they don't do it justice. I went here for a date night, specifically to experience the Branzino. My girlfriend and I started out with a couple of recommendations from our waiter, who was attentive and knowledgeable. We tried the Pão de Queijo and Grilled Oysters. The Pão was a unique take on a bread starter, but the Grilled Oysters were an unexpected highlight! I've never had an oyster that melted in my mouth, but this one did just that and the seasoning was superb. Now, the pièce de résistance: the Branzino. The fish was seasoned and grilled to perfection. They present you the whole fish and it's self serve, so it makes for an interactive dinner. Taking your time with the dish not only helps you avoid the bones -- it allows you to savor every detail the chef has curated. All in all, Brasero is a restaurant you don't want to miss. read more

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Just go! Go & do the "Leap of Faith". We prefer bar seats so we're able to be close to the bartender and ask whatever questions we may have. Dell was our bartender/server and he did an amazing job selecting our food items for the evening. My personal faves: The Coal Roasted Sweet Potato Grilled Broccolini Pao de Queijo Yellowfin Tuna Crudo Grilled Oysters Branzino Waygu Picanha read more

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Took my wife her to celebrate. Nice, warm, upscale environment- nicely lit. Service was friendly and spot on with coursing the meal. The food was A++. We came hungry - shared two entrees and a side (the rice with porkbelly-really amazing) - and left full. Highly recommend! read more

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Everything about this place is phenomenal, from the quality of food, to the cozy ambiance and of course, the top notch service. My friend and I went for dinner on a Saturday and the restaurant was full but not over the top loud which can be really hard to find. The space is decorated beautifully and there is plenty of ~romantic~ seating too. We decided to order a bunch of the small plates, including the Tuna, Shrimp/Crab Ceviche, Fried Chicken, Sweet Potato, Heirloom Tomato Salad & the cheesy bread rolls. Everything was delicious but we thought the tuna, sweet potato & the ceviche were the winners of the group. The pricing for ALL of that, after tip & split in half for each of us was ~$100 so really great bang for your buck too. Our waitress was lovely, provided lots of recommendations and checked in on us the perfect amount. Overall we thought Brasero was a winner and will definitely be back! read more

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I love Brasero! A friend was in town for my birthday, so I figured what's the best meal in Chicago and made a reservation here. We decided to do the tasting menu and wow they just never disappoint on the food, the flavor and the quality of the service. I hope this restaurant stays around a long time because everyone who comes into town has to get a taste. The vibe was super chill. The music was really nice and just allowed us to have a nice evening dinner. read more

Brasero - Steak - Latin American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brasero has been on my list of restaurants to try for quite some time, and I have to say it was totally worth the wait. We had originally made the reservation via OpenTable a couple of weeks ago, but sadly, there was a glitch as the restaurant was actually closed on that day. The manager called me the day prior to let me know and was super nice about the situation. He even gave me a gift card for the misunderstanding. We rebooked our reservation and did not regret our experience! The space itself is gorgeous and perfect for date nights and group dinners. Our server was immediately welcoming and it felt like we were catching up with an old friend. He was super helpful in helping us navigate the menu. Grilled oysters: you pay per oyster, but I would consider this a "must have." The pop of citrus with the spice and crunch made for the best flavor and texture profile. Grilled prawn: they were thick, and had a nice spicy sauce. Good overall, but a little mealy in texture at times. Also pay per piece. Hamachi: nicely acidic with the mayo providing the balance. The fish itself was also super fresh and delicious Tuna crudo: of the two raw fish options, this was the "must have" in my opinion. Best combination of flavor profiles. Brazilian fried chicken: super juicy chicken and the breading was delicious. My only warning is that it's so good, you eat all of it, making you full for the mains. Wagyu picanha: The star of dinner. The steak was perfectly cooked with a nice, smoky flavor. The spice and acidity of the chimichurri complimented the steak well. Fried rice: So so good! The pork belly and egg made it beautifully rich! read more

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came here for a restaurant week dinner. it was pretty easy to make a reservation online, and the brasero team actually was quite accommodating and flexible with our couple adjustments to the reservation time. the service was very speedy, each course came out one right after the other, which probably was also because our reservation was as soon as they opened. our server was adept at explaining each course and our waters were consistently refilled, which was nice. the first course we chose was the oyster shooters, and they were fresh and delicious, although small. the second course, we got the fried chicken and the kale salad. both were good as well and i'm glad i came with my sister so we could try both options. then, we both got the wagyu for the main course. i was a bit surprised when it came out, as it was literally like 4 slices of wagyu steak. once i got past the small portion size, i must say the wagyu steak was absolutely delicious, seasoned perfectly, and just so tender and melt in your mouth as wagyu is. it was delicious with the chimichurri and the mashed potato. i wish the portion was bigger, however. overall, this was a nice dining experience and the food was pretty good. read more

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amazing dining experience! the food was so good, we got 8 different items. my 3 favorites: 1. heirloom tomato salad 2. linz black angus steak frites 3. grilled prawn read more

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The older Bartender with glasses weirdly came up and moved my menu from under my bowl while I was trying to take a photo which was weird and off putting ( hence the one star deduction) but aside from that from the moment I walked in the service was so kind! Especially the hostess with the bun, she was beyond gracious. We sat at the bar for happy hour! The restaurant itself is dimly lit and truly gorgeous ! Would be great for a date night or special occasion! They have a pretty good happy hour menu that runs from 5-7PM every day and All night on Sunday! Started with the tuna crudo and also tried the steak tartare which were delicious and very flavorful! the capirinha drink which was equally good but mostly ice !!! Will be back read more

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You morph into a different era and location when you walk into Brasero. I felt like I was going into the past from the future and immersing myself in a different perspective. Here are the foods I tried leading up to my favorite, starting with the La Sirena Kale Salad, which needed more toppings; however, it was perfectly dressed. The Scallops are like a burst of flavor in your mouth, then magically they disappear. I felt like the raccoon with the disappearing cotton candy. The Grilled Oysters taste like the garlic butter you dip seafood in, so yes, I strongly suggest them. The Braised Pork Shank is a showstopper, as heads turn as it is brought to its final destination by the waitstaff. It's decorated with greens, and when I tell you the risotto is a burst of flavor in your mouth, believe me. The risotto, surprisingly to me, being Italian, has beans in it - creating more of a rice and bean profile, and I'm already craving more. read more

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We sat at the bar for happy hour and had an amazing experience. The bartenders were great and took care of us all night. The oysters and beef tartare were the star of the show. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Had a really really great experience and dinner for a family birthday. We needed Gluten Free - they had so much knowledge and great options. Food and drinks are top notch. read more