My mom, sister, and I went to Brazen yesterday for dinner for our belated Mother's Day/girl's trip to Galena and Dubuque. They had both been to Brazen prior, while this was my first trip. The service was extremely friendly, and there was a lot of various staff running around busing tables and bringing drinks. It was a little hard to figure out which was our actual server because so many different people were coming to and from our table. We order two appetizers for the table: the strawberry and Spanish ham salad and the pakora fritters. Both were incredible, don't get me wrong, but that salad was the best thing we ate the whole night. It was absolutely mind-blowing and a big enough size to share with all three of us (but I could have absolutely had it for my main and been content). We each ordered a different entree. My sister had the duck, my mother had the beef and broccolini, and I had the vegan option of cabbage and chicken curry. I am not personally vegan, but the description of this dish leapt out to me from the menu. The entire meal was absolutely incredible. We shared bites with one another throughout the meal and couldn't decide who had "ordered the best." We ended our meal with a rhubarb bread pudding with a rhubarb sauce, fresh blueberries, and a cheesecake ice cream that was absolutely UNREAL. Frankly the whole dish was unreal to the point we were all fighting over bites. This was an incredible meal and a noteworthy experience, possibly one of the best dining experiences I've had in 2023. This was a standout experience in Dubuque and the rest of the area should take note. read more

Third visit to Brazen. We gray haired ladies got the best service from Ben . Peppered him with questions and requests and he did not falter! The chicken is the best. The pork chop was very juicy but the sauce was a pleasant element to the taste buds. Nice selection of alcoholic beverages. The cucumber fizz has vodka in it but Im sure that it would be just as good without. Kevin added a living wall for ambiance. Worth the visit. read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Pork chop with agrodolce sauce - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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This drink is a bomb, I don't think Ive had a better drink than this... it's delicious, it's phenomenal! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

I've only been here twice but it's been great experience both times! I sat at the bar both times. They asked if I have a reservation so I'm assuming if you want a table that you should make a reservation :) super friendly staff, attentive, but they are busy. if you sit at the bar, prepare to be patient. It's definitely not the typical "Iowa" restaurant type food. But they don't have those items if you have a picky person who doesn't like "fancy foods".... Like myself LOL. I had the burger+cheese, it was good! If you're looking for a nice BIG juicy burger, then you found your place. I personally don't LOVE the thick burgers that I can't fit into my mouth, I had to cut it up. Fresh bread and butter they give you is amazing. My friend got the vegan miso polenta was REALLY GOOD. Surprisingly, two other vegans were at the bar and they got the crust+ vegan and vegan miso and both were raving, so that's 4/4 people saying it's good so just try it! Other time I went we got the filet and potatoes- very good and just like you would expect it. Fried chicken was massive portion. It looked good but I didn't try it. My fiancé said it was "okay" but he doesn't tend to give a response other than that unless it's mind blowing good :) I've had the chilled corn soup, I soooo badly wanted to love it but it is topped with lemon grass and that really ruined it for me. It was too much flavor. If I were to get it again I would request no lemon grass. I had the spicy marg both times and great both times. Lastly- I had the creme brûlée! YUM. It was delicious. 10/10. Get the brûlée ! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Vegan Miso - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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One of my favorite restaurants in the area!!!! No matter what you get it is made from scratch with more ingredients that you can fit in the description. I really enjoy the fish dishes and whenever they have a special it's amazing. I do hope they bring brunch back, but trekking over to Ottos in galena has been working for us. I would also suggest some branching out at their bar and trying some of the craft cocktails. The wine and beer list is also well curated read more

One of the best meals ever. Went here for my bachelorette party and they made us a special tasting menu and it was so special! So memorable, great service, excellent food, truly phenomenal experience. read more

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Forget Dubuque, this is one of the best restaurants in Iowa. It is fantastic, which that adjective doesn't do it justice. The space is nice, a bit of a modern, refurbished factory type building with a great atmosphere. One of the surprising pieces is that for as great as it is, the tables are nicely spaced and provides for a great dinner evening without feeling like you are right on top of the table next to you. As with any great restaurant, the food is the absolute superstar of the evening. The menu changes with the seasons is what they shared so what we had may or may not be on the menu if you go (which you should). We started with the leak fondue- think the best spinach dip you ever had and then imagine it 10 times better and that it had been whipped lighter than the best whipped cream. We also had the Vietnamese crape. The duck basically melted into the pastry with a sauce that bursted with flavor. For the main course, my wife had the beef and broccolini pasta which was more of an Asian noodle dish and one of just top top quality. It was excellent. I had the fried chicken. 4 pieces of the juiciest, crispiest and most flavorful chicken I can remember. If you live within driving distance, this chicken is worth it. It's worth it, even if you live farther away. And the cornbread with hot honey - oh my!!! You have to taste it to really appreciate it. Like I said, one of the best meals in the state. The night was great and we had an excellent time. Based on the quality of the food, the price point is extremely reasonable. We've paid more for much less quality food so don't worry, you won't break the bank. Brazen is a great night out! read more

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Lovely scratch kitchen - good service - great for conversation and ambiance. And well crafted cocktails! read more

Ambiance is The food was just okay. One of the dishes has burnt bread as a sauce and our whole table thought it was pretty interesting to have such dark/black sauce from using burnt food which is not the healthiest. The atmosphere is nice, service was fine, but wouldn't come back for the food. read more

Always one the best places in Dubuque. We come here for most of our special occasions.

I'm fairly certain this is my 3rd or 4th review of Brazen! If that doesn't tell you how much I love this restaurant, I don't know what will. Dining here is usually a treat, but last Friday, my husband spontaneously asked to go out for dinner - and who was I to turn down a meal at Brazen. I'm a local to the area, and will say that Brazen is my favorite fine dining (yet casual) option to enjoy in the Dubuque area. I typically order the Salmon, but I wanted to try the pizza this time. I ordered the Crust+Sausage and it was so delicious and flavorful. The mushroom and onions added more flavor than I thought imaginable. I don't typically like onions, but didn't mind them on this pizza. The crust is thin with a nice crunch. Of course I had leftovers. My husband ordered the Fried Chicken. He really enjoyed it, he said the fry was flavorful and nicely cooked and the chicken itself was not overcook at all, he used the word tender to describe it. I'm glad I ventured from my usual Salmon and anticipate trying more menu items in the future. The menu is seasonal, so I make sure to visit at least once per season to try out the new twist on staple dishes! If you save room for dessert order the Creme Brûlée! read more

This place is overrated and pretentious. The vegetarian pizza was just ok. Good crust but didn't really have much going for it. Way too much spinach. Too pricey for what it is. I wouldn't come back. read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Vegetarian pizza with asparagus nowhere to be found and so much spinach! Too much! Would not recommend. - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

We had an unexpected trip to Dubuque so using this app I found this cool little spot downtown. The building was exactly what we like and the ambience was great! We were able to enjoy a beverage at the bar as we arrived a little early for our reservation. The acoustics were great which is always a bonus in older buildings! We enjoyed great service from the staff and the appetizers were yum! I had the beets and my husband had the ribs. The wine was "ok". For the main course I chose the halibut with a squash purée and wild rice risotto. The squash was over salted a bit but the flavor was pretty good. The halibut was a bit dry. My husband had the fried chicken and he said it was really good. I tasted his cornbread and it was sooo good! Overall, it was a nice experience. You'll definitely need to make a reservation! read more

First time eating there for wife's birthday. She'd been there before. Leek fondue was awesome! I ordered the 20 oz ribeye w/ mushrooms and onions. Steak arrives and looks delicious. First bite with some mushrooms and onions, and the mushrooms and onions were cold, steak not very warm. Took a second bite of just mushrooms and onions and cold. Ok then. Scooted them off the steak and took a bite. It had become cool from the cold mushrooms and onions but the worst part was that it had NO flavor, no seasoning, just bland. Waitress was great and very friendly. I waited until after I got the bill to tell her that I appreciate her service but the steak was not good, and I won't be back. She removed the cost from the bill for the onions and mushrooms, but that's not the point. If I'm going to pay you $80+ for a steak with toppings, at least get it to me hot. read more

Excellent experience from the service, the food, the ambiance! We celebrated our anniversary here and had cocktails, ribeye, shrimp and grits, draft beer and dessert. The ribeye is definitely one of the top five I've ever had, maybe top three haha. Incredibly tender, flavorful and well-seasoned, but not over seasoned. Just be aware when they ask if you want onions and mushrooms, they will charge you for it, and kind of more than you expect lol. The shrimp and grits is also pretty different than any I've ever had. It was a tomato based sauce, and not as rich as others, although with the bacon in there, it definitely comes off a little more full flavored in the salty sense than normal. Oh man their Old-fashioned with Bullet bourbon was one of the most amazing old-fashioneds I've ever had, and I get them a lot. Their goat cheese / cream cheese mixed cheesecake was incredible as well. Great for both the dairy sensitive and even the gluten sensitive guest, as it also does not have a crust, but only has graham cracker crumble on top. Really rich and flavorful and doesn't have that overwhelming goat cheese taste. read more

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This was our first indoor dining experience being from Chicago. It was well executed with servers wearing masks and gloves and tables well spaced. The outdoor seating is quite far from the restaurant (out in a courtyard in the middle of the building unseen from the main restaurant so we didn't think they had any since the covered space by the entry seemed like a more logical place for tables. The menu is quite limited with one of each type of protein and only a few pizza (Crust Plus... as they call it) combinations. All that being said the food was very tasty. We ordered the pork belly. Very crisp, 5 nice sized hunks of fried pork belly with a small little salad and a weird looking but tasty gray colored sauce. It said there was fish sauce in it but I could not make it out and was hoping for a little more oomph. The wedge salad had a very light version of a dressing, what was nice is that they placed it between the stacked iceberg leaves so you had dressing in every bite. The blue cheese and bacon toppings were more like dust and would be better if the pieces were a little bit larger for more discernible flavor. It also had no onions at all which I think are really good on a wedge. The crust plus spicy sausage pizza was a typical Neopolitan style - floppy inner crust, billowy edges with very good flavor. We'd return if in the area. read more

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Easily the best meal we had while visiting Dubuque. Per my brother's recommendation, six of us dined here on a Tuesday night (we did make reservations). Our table ordered the shrimp, gnocchi and leek dip appetizers (all amazing) and salmon, margarita pizza, 20 oz. ribeye, roasted chicken, ramen and carrot soup as entrees. Delicious! most of the entrees could have been shared amongst 2 or more people, especially the steak and pizza. I've been craving the leek dip ever since we visited. So good. Our waitress, Stephanie, was great. We had several questions and she answered them with no trouble. There are no freezers in Brazen and she made it a point to tell us this. Really cool. Decor was very simple, but trendy. Save room for those donuts with chocolate sauce. Melt-in-your-mouth fantastic. And if you like to watch the chefs prepare your meal, you're in luck. The main dining room allows you to look right into the kitchen---hence "open kitchen" in Brazen's name. No secrets here. Brazen is in a great location nestled in the up and coming Historic Millwork District of Dubuque. Take a walk around after dinner and soak in all of the revitalization that's happening. Thanks for a phenomenal meal, Brazen. read more

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Brazen was fantastic! My family and I were visiting from Chicago and looking for a place for a delicious dinner. Brazen did not disappoint. We were lucky enough to get seated despite all reservations being booked. Try this cocktails and fried chicken. read more

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Third time eating here and the first two times were very good. This time my girlfriend and I both ordered the Bucatini. Since I don't eat beef or pork I omitted the pecorino. What I got was noodles with peas which while that is what the menu listed I would get, it was very underwhelming to say the least. The noodles seemed overcooked and the pasta was itself was very dry. You would think some mushrooms or some other ingredient could have been used for a little more variety than a bowl of noodles and peas. My girlfriend said even with the pecorino in hers she felt the same way with the noodles being overcooked, dry and underwhelming. Honestly I would have preferred going to Olive Garden for a lot less money and feel like I would I gotten a dish with more flavor plus unlimited salad and breadsticks. We also ordered the full size Brazen salad and told the waiter that we would just split it. He did bring it out on two plates which was nice but the $12 full salad became two $8 salads on the bill while we could have ordered it at as a side salad for $7, kind of fuzzy math. The other thing that is disappointing is while the menu is limited the choice of offerings doesn't seem to vary much. I guess it's great if you like ordering the same thing every visit but makes coming back much less inviting. All three times we have been there were months apart so that's why we thought there would be a little more of rotating of the entrees. It will be a long while before trying again regrettably. read more

Food is the best in town, the menu always changes and everything is delicious. They have the nicest servers in town and best drinks by far. Our favorite place for date night or brunch. Can be fancy or casual, whatever you're feeling! Best place in Dubuque. read more

I ate here with friends, and let me tell you, it's the bees knees!!!!! I had the pork shank!!! They should rename it "Shankadelic," because it's Shankadelic, baby!!! read more

Brazen was a great place for a night out. The service and food were both of very high quality! We went on a Friday night and made a reservation (highly recommended). For drinks, I had a lemon drop and my husband ordered an old fashioned- both were the best we've had in a long time! The dinner menu was high-end and featured foods that you don't normally find in the more rural areas of the Midwest. I had a fantastic Creme Brûlée for dessert and felt like I was dining off in a big city far, far away! read more

Excellent service, menu is fancy... we were referred here by colleagues on a business trip. I got the shrimp and grits.. it was good, portion was average. Overpriced in my opinion. Would definitely return just for drinks, bar and patio has a good vibe. Neighborhood is cool! read more

Never disappointing - The chef classics are always a safe bet but I love the specials! Creative bar. read more

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Been meaning to try this place out for awhile now, and so glad we finally did. My wife and I ate there with another couple. Abby was our server and was very attentive, informative, and great throughout the entire meal. She informed us that they don't have a freezer in house and everything is made fresh. They change their menu seasonally, and the night we went they were unfortunately out of the Arctic char dish. We all had drinks, the margarita, a Manhattan, and two others I can't recall. But we all liked them. The leek fondue was VERY filling as an appetizer. You also get some pieces of sourdough with house butter before, and the fondue was incredibly flavorful and so great. The asparagus had a soft boiled egg and chili crunch oil, and another sauce that I can't recall, and it was delicious. Highly recommend both. For entrees we got the pork schnitzel, fried chicken, Dan Dan noodles, and the papardelle. I added shrimp to my Dan Dan noodles, which came with 3 and were enormous and perfectly cooked. We all shared with each other, and each dish was delicious. The noodles are made in house, and the texture was superb. We were warned that the Dan Dan noodles are a little spicy, but if you have any heat tolerance at all, you'll barely notice it. Probably spicy for the same people who think black pepper has a kick to it. The pork schnitzel is cooked with pink in it, which is completely safe and fine if you were unaware, but that may still turn some people off. The fried chicken was moist and crispy, and it came with cornbread that was AMAZING. The papardelle was also very creamy and delicious. For desserts we got the crème brûlée, basque cheesecake, and pot de crème. Are any of these anything new or crazy? No, but we had zero complains about any of them encase they were all perfect. Each one had the perfect texture you're looking for in the desserts, and so flavorful. Can't recommend this place enough and can't wait to go back. read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Leek fondue and asparagus appetizers - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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This was definitely a highlight of our anniversary weekend. The ambiance was so relaxed and the waitstaff were very personable and accommodating. The food was phenomenal- leek fondue, New York strip and the side of gourmet fries was some of the best you could ever find! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - New York Strip dinner with fresh gourmet fries - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

We stopped here during our 4th of July weekend stay, and Brazen served us our best meal in Dubuque. Despite accidentally making reservations for the wrong day, despite bringing our somewhat fussy young child past his bed time, and despite us accidentally requesting patio seating on a cool evening, the restaurant beared with us, and politely accommodated us indoors. We ordered three plates: an appetizer (smoked salmon), pasta (cavatelli), and entree (pork chop). Perhaps we are used to paying more-for-less, but we found the portions generous, bordering enormous. Although our inability to finish may have had something to do with the complimentary sourdough bread, which was so good--the best I've had in a restaurant in quite some time--we requested another basket. Of the three dishes we ordered, the breaded pork chop (akin to chicken milanese) took gold: expertly cooked, juicy, and balanced by a light salad. The smoked salmon was also quite good. If there were any regrets, it's that we should have ordered a different pasta. The cavatelli sauce was too brothy and light for our tastes and didn't make for great hotel room leftovers (the pork chop, on the other hand, was still excellent straight from the mini-fridge the next day). We would have loved to stay for dessert, but our child was not cooperating. So next time, it is... read more

Fantastic! Great atmosphere, cocktails were top notch and the food matched the whole experience. Pork schnitzel was our favorite and I would highly recommend it! read more

I am giving this restaurant two stars because of its decent caipirinhas and its prompt and attentive servers. I went with my co-workers on a week day. We were a large group and most people thought the food was mediocre. My assistant and I had the misfortune of ordering the "Margherita pizza".I am using quotation marks, because what they brought looked and tasted nothing like one. It was, by large, the worst pizza I have ever eaten in my life: the crust looked and tasted like a soda cracker, the sparse sauce was off some can or jar, there was barely any cheese (which was tasteless), and the sad wilted pieces of basil looked like they were either old or pre-boiled to serve as toppings. read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - "Margherta pizza" - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

This is a great place! It has unique and delicious food. Drinks are also fantastic. A must try if you are in the Dubuque area.

This place is awesome! Iowa needs this type of restaurant, it's a farm to table style place that has a rotating menu and they put a lot of effort info what the serve, it really shows in the quality of their food. It's a new American style restaurant, they have familiar dishes with their twist as well very creative dishes. As always, we tried several dishes and they all were excellent. I feel we got a good grasp on how they do things, quality food, no short cuts, great presentation, awesome service, good portion sizes, and the food taste great. One of the best places to eat in Iowa for sure. This one is worth driving to in my opinion. If you are just passing through, live near by, or within reasonable driving distance this is a must try. They are doing wonderful things here and look forward to trying them again. Glad we have this big city type of place in Dubuque. read more

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Food was amazing! Drinks were unique . I would highly recommend dining at Brazen while in town!

We had an amazing dinner at Brazen. We made a reservation and were seated as soon as we arrived. We were brought delicious warm bread and butter to start. They have a few signature cocktails, craft beer and an extensive wine menu. For my meal I ordered the Brazen Fall Salad and a Crab Cake off the appetizer menu. The salad was amazing. Lettuce topped with bleu cheese, nuts, fennel, apple and some other delicious toppings I've since forgotten about. The crab cake was perfect and topped with a delicate micro greens. My husband ordered a pizza which he enjoyed. We couldn't decide on just one dessert, so we went with the cheesecake and the creme brûlée. I've never had such good creme brûlée (it was my favorite) and my husband preferred the cheesecake. We had a great time, and I look forward to an opportunity to return. Too bad we live so far away! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Cheesecake - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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I rarely visit Dubuque without going to Brazen. Each time I visit I have the same experience. I walk in the door and am always greeted by a smiling, happy host who is never afraid to engage. The atmosphere is perfect. Not loud and conducive to a great experience. The wait staff all have engaging personalities, are knowledgeable, and seem like they would to anything to help. The food is consistently delicious and the drinks are always on point. Wine selection has been limited but more than sufficient. Overall the experience is . Highly recommend. read more

Such a cute, elegant restaurant and bar in DT Dubuque. Scratch kitchen, without a freezer, means the food is fresh and of a high quality. Wedge salad was my favorite, the creamy dressing was not blue cheese heavy like others and the crumbled bacon was a plentiful ratio. Got the sweet potato and goat cheese pizza with kale and spicy honey. Very sweet almost like a dessert and very complex flavors. Easily enough for 2, maybe 3. Service was great and the restaurant was very clean. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a fancier dinner experience with good quality food! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Wedge salad - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

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If you find yourself in Dubuque, Iowa, this is the place. Located in their central downtown. The location boasts a modern industrial open interior. Very swank and hip. I was dining alone and sat at the bar. Service was on point and bartender offered good advice. Based upon previous reviews, I asked about the fried chicken. The Yelp pictures all illustrate brunch examples drenched in gravy. If you're there for dinner there's no gravy. In fact there's really just four good sized pieces of fried chicken. The chicken itself is fantastic. It's covered in a flaky crust that seals in the juices and flavor of the meat. Even the white meat breast was super juicy. I'm subtracting a star for the lack of any accompanying side. read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - Fried chicken - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Try the Thai noodles w/ Shrimp! Peanut sauce was perfection. They call this dish spicy but it is not hot! Their homemade bread comes out first. Hot and delicious! Finish off the meal with 1 of 5 desserts! I chose the crème brûlée. Terrific way to end the perfect meal. read more

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Great atmosphere and service. Ribeye was superb. The salmon was also very good. Highly recommend for a great dinner or drinks.

This is a hidden gem in Dubuque, Iowa! It's a scratch kitchen and farm to table. Everything is healthy, organic and fresh. The price is reasonable and the portions are quite large! If you're looking for the pheasant special, get their early! They take reservations and walk ins. Bar is great, they have quite the selection, too. The open kitchen in the back was great because you were able to see how fast and hard these chefs worked. The service was really nice, too. Everyone is friendly and they're quick to recommend food that tastes good, not because of price. Everything we ate, from the octopus appetizers to the cheesecake was just amazing. It was my first restaurant i ever ate in Iowa. I want to go back! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa

Awesome food and atmosphere! Chef Kevin is the best!!! Great place to take a large or small group. For an extra special treat try The Reserve Room! read more

Brazen Open Kitchen Bar - New American Near Me - Dubuque, Iowa