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    Brazen Open Kitchen Bar

    4.6 (420 reviews)
    PriceyNew American
    Closed 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Brazen Open Kitchen Bar Photos

    Business Info

    BRAZEN OPEN KITCHEN BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Brazen Open Kitchen Bar

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    Adriana F.

    If you're in the mood for elevated, locally focused New American cuisine served in a stylish but friendly setting, Brazen is one of the top dining experiences in the region--even earning high praise as "hands down" the best in Dubuque We started with the crab cake and Asparagus Soup. Both excellent. The soup was silky and vibrant, this asparagus soup is elevated with a hint of chive, a touch of black pepper heat, and a drizzle of olive oil for depth. Clean, comforting, and expertly balanced. The crab cake was delicately crisped jumbo atop a buttery beurre monté, with fresh pea and cucumber relish for a bright, balanced finish. Rich, refined, and full of flavor. Continue with Salad and Salmon The Brazen Salad is a fresh, colorful mix of maps greens tossed in a maple vinaigrette, this salad balances sweet, crisp apple with earthy beets and shaved fennel. Toasted walnuts add crunch, while Parmigiano brings a savory finish. Bright, seasonal, and beautifully layered. The Salmon was a bit dry but it melted-in-my-mouth tender, the salmon is elevated by a velvety velouté and fresh spring peas. Asparagus and potato add texture and heartiness, while smoked caviar brings a luxurious, briny finish. Elegant, seasonal, and beautifully composed. Cocktail Review Both cocktails I had were absolutely delicious and showcased creativity and balance. The Carrot Cocktail was a standout -- smooth and bright, with Wheatley Vodka and Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur bringing warmth and depth. The fresh carrot and lemon added a refreshing, earthy-sweet twist that felt both unique and perfectly seasonal. The Old Fashioned was classic done right: rich Elijah Craig Bourbon, just the right touch of raw sugar and bitters, and an aromatic orange twist. Simple, strong, and flawlessly executed. The service was outstanding -- attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails, and genuinely warm. Every interaction felt thoughtful and effortless, adding to the overall experience and making the evening feel truly special. If ever in Dubuque and want an exceptional gourmet experience this is your place

    Brazen side salad, walnuts/Parmesan/and beets all delicious
    Kerst G.

    Ambiance; simplistic & softly lit, appreciated the bar crowd & dining were separated so we could hear each other having dinner & conversation. Food; Good but not great. Carbonara I was leery to order as I make it at home & have been making it since I could cook. Sauce was very dry, I felt that maybe the chef was afraid to make scrambled eggs (naturally) and that maybe the dish sat under the heat lamp for a little really drying it out. Otherwise; appropriately flavored. 35oz. Bone in ribeye- server stated it was prepared sous vide style at medium rare & then finished on the grill. It was well done. For $100 my fiancé felt I could have made better steak at home. Creamed spinach was fantastic, super flavorful! Mashed potato was simple & nothing to write home about. Dessert; save room for the crème brûlée, it is chef's kiss!! Service; attentive & knowledgable about the food. Craft cocktails; tasty & unique

    Sabina M.

    Visiting the city on business, and everyone I asked for recommendations said I had to go, so I went. They did not disappoint. From the ambience, the positive energy, the buzz from the patrons enjoying themselves, and the excellent service, I am telling my colleagues. Before even mentioning the food, they nailed it in that department. You MUST try the shrimp appetizer. Must!

    mushroom bucatini
    Caitlin L.

    Could not speak higher of the food and service!! They have a rotating menu, so you have to stop in this fall to try the mushroom bucatini (recommend adding chicken to make it a bit more filling). Portions were large enough to let me enjoy my meal for a second night! The ambiance is dark and moody and a great spot whether you're having a girls night or a date night.

    Heather S.

    The service was absolutely spectacular!! I cannot express how amazing the staff and service is. It's a rustic looking decor that makes you feel calm. The food is ok, I'm a person that loves flavor. I want the POW of flavor which isn't something I experienced.

    Dan Dan noodles

    We had a an overall wonderful experience at Brazen. We did not have a reservation but were able to grab two seats at the bar. The service was excellent! The bartender gave us great recommendations, it was a new menu for the winter, and our food did not disappoint us.

    Olivia B.

    Brazen open kitchen was the perfect spot for a little date night. The restaurant is super cute and has a nice cozy romantic feeling to it. They have tons of seating inside, a large bar, and some outdoor seating. The drinks were excellent and our food was also very tasty. They have a cool open concept kitchen space in the back part of the restaurant and I really enjoyed watching the food come together. Service was also excellent and attentive. I was celebrating an anniversary here and they brought us a tasty cream brûlée to celebrate which was so thoughtful. Would definitely stop in here again!

    Vegetarian pizza
    Ashley J.

    A good spot but they are very, very few options if you are vegetarian. They seem to conflate vegetarian and vegan and all together there was only around 4 options. While I understand, not doing replacements or substitutions, it would also be nice to have options for vegetarians, like the mushroom pizza which had sausage in it, and could not be made vegetarian because the sausage was in the sauce. Maybe that changes with the menu, but I would've loved to see farm to table options that were vegetarian other than salads.

    Todd B.

    4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* 06/06/2023 We were determined to have a steak tonight while in town on business travel and several other places that we checked weren't open on a Tuesday night. This place is quite an impressive venue - wide open atmosphere that highlights the chefs in the kitchen and their work. The only thing holding this place back from a full 5* in my book is the value...as the pricing was quite high - but when you come here, it is probably for a special occasion! Due to the fact that we had already stopped at another venue for appetizers, I ended up going light and splitting the Ribeye (see picture) with a fellow employee. As you might expect in a restaurant of this quality, it was fantastic and one of the better ribeyes that I've had. As long as you come prepared for your meal being quite expensive, you definitely will be happy with the food, atmosphere and service. I would highly recommend a stop here for your next special occasion - just don't forget to make reservations, as they are VERY busy. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Short ribs with brussel sprouts
    izabela S.

    The food was absolutely delicious! The beef just fell apart in my mouth. Everything was very fresh and I would definitely come back to eat here! The atmosphere is rustic brick, with very comfy chairs and wood tables. Great place for a date. Our server was on top of it and quick to meet our needs! Great experience!!

    Nice decor
    Nataliya Z.

    It was a very lovely dinner. I really enjoyed my salmon and crème brûlée which was rich and full of flavor. My husband loved his fried chicken. Cocktails were well executed. The service was nice and the ambiance was cute.

    Roast Chicken

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    6 months ago

    Excellent food, great drinks & chill vibe. Highly recommend! Everything we tried was cooked perfectly - great service

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    11 months ago

    The service is really good. The interior looks really good. My favorite dish there is the fried chicken cause it's really good.

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Brazen Open Kitchen Bar

    Do I have to make a reservation?

    Definitely. I'm sure you could sit at the bar and wait, but I would make the reservation!

    What is Brazen doing to keep patrons safe from COVID?

    View All 3 Questions

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    Entering, we got there a few minutes early and they weren't quite seating the first seating (5:00…read morepm). Within a few minutes, they did take us for our requested reservation. Btw... reservations are only made by phone as they are not on Open Table, Table or Yelp for reservations. The bonus is that you can request a booth (as we did) when you call. It was perfectly lit inside so that while still romantic, you can see the menu! We didn't have to bring out the phone for this. There was a special small menu as well, that had a special Valentine's Day menu. What I didn't realize, until half way through the meal, was that the cocktail menu was on the back side. We did have to request the wine menu, which came in an old, tattered notebook. An investment in a nice professional wine folder would be a nice touch for this more upscale establishment. We had a fabulous dinner for Valentine's Day! We did order a bottle of the house Pinot Noir, a wonderful sweeter wine from Napa Valley. We started out with the chef's salad, which was a mix of greens, feta cheese crumbles and a deliciously sweet and tart balsamic vinaigrette! Both my husband and I had the beef tenderloin, which came with scrumptious mashed potatoes and perfectly steamed carrots and broccoli. For dessert, we had the wonderfully tasty Betty Jane's Gremlin Cheesecake, which did not disappoint! It was so creamy, not too rich, with just the right amount of sweetness! Priced at $10, we felt it was a little steep for the very slim slice that was served as most couples share a dessert! Honestly, it was so good, I just wanted more of it! The service was outstanding with the perfect amount of attention. Bus service didn't really happen but the server, Gabe, was on top of it, clearing plates when needed. All in all, we had a lovely night celebrating Valentine's Day, a day early to avoid the crowds!

    This average at best experience was a disappointment. We were one of only two tables on a Wednesday…read morenight. We normally sit at the bar, when we dine, but it was uncomfortably sunny at the bar so we sat at a table. Our waitress greeted us. We asked what the specials were and she had to find out. We also asked what were the menu highlights and she said the menu was new and she hadn't tried anything. I started with a gin cocktail. It was not as well balanced or well presented as drinks we had had the previous two nights. We ordered the roasted veggie dip to start. It was supposed to come with either pretzels or veggies. We forgot to specify and we got a small ramekins of dip with giant pretzels. Why not mix it up and have both? We also had the mussels. They were okay but not particularly hot or flavorful. For dinner we split the pork tenderloin which came with coconut rice and a pineapple mole sauce. Lukewarm and bland. You didn't taste the coconut or the mole at all and the carrot salad on top made the whole dish cold. To top it off, when the bill came it stemmed more than we expected. The waitress charged us for a beef tenderloin instead of a pork tenderloin. Luckily we caught it but honestly she had 1 or 2 tables and she couldn't get it right. We would not return to this restaurant- there are better choices in the area.

    Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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