The menu looked interesting so we thought we'd give it a try. Can you make an espresso martini? No, we don't have coffee. And we're also out of these 4 signature drinks. Ok we'll have a beer and a wine. What can I get you to eat? I'd like the roasted carrots.... No we're out. I'd like the oysters.... We don't have any. Could we share the whole fish? No, we don't have any fish. I'm sorry but we're out of a lot of things..... Buy the restaurant is empty and it's only 6:00 on a Saturday night. Can I have the check? Sure. read more

Love this spot in Somerville. I remember when it first opened, it was one of the few places that I got excited for. It's like elevated/fusion Mexican food -- great for both dinner & brunch, and very suitable for larger groups. I've had a handful of dishes here & I'd recommend everything I've tried. Steak & eggs, pancake in a skillet, vegetarian crepe, fried rice, deviled eggs, the flan. They have a nice wine selection and rotating cocktail menu. The restaurant is like a high end cabin, with very cool murals throughout. I think one of my former roommates actually worked on a mural here, so I might be biased. Staff is welcoming and fun to chat with, they're very knowledgeable about their menu. Pricing tends to be around $50 per person. There's street parking. It's also a shared space with fat hen, which is an Italian restaurant -- I'll review that separately, but it is also worth checking out. read more

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Good service, although we did not know that they were going to be closing an hour earlier so it felt rushed. Ribeye w/ watercress salad was good and so was the Strawberry Tres Leches. Paloma was strong AF so if you like a lot of liquor in your drink, this place is for you. read more

Service and drinks are great, the food is mediocre. The Potato pancakes taste like tortillas with sauce (out the can) on top. The meat balls taste like they come frozen and they are served with the same sauce (out the can). The ribeye was cooked to perfection and the side salad was fresh and delicious. The corn salad was also delicious. read more

La Brasa - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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I ordered the bbq lamb belly. The first bite was so good i subconsciously started dancing to the music that was playing. Each bite was better than the last. read more

Ivan is the most sincere and knowledgeable guide through a culinary delight. We enjoyed savory carrots and ricotta, bronzino, lamb belly, Brussels. Ivan's insights into the wine pairings was a lesson in what to a meal can be. If you have not been to La Brasa you are missing out. It is exceptional! The vibe, the service the food, the wine list...so good read more

Great night, New Years Eve and Birthday dinner for my son. We sampled all their appetizers and each of us had an amazing main course. What a great spot, very comfortable spot, uniquely decorated and very friendly staff. read more

I went to La Brasa last week at 124 Broadway, Somerville, MA. This spot features a wide variety of elevated dishes from around the world For appetizers we had the beet salad which had beets, fennel, apple, and mustard. We also had the elote which is Mexican street corn and flautas which were fried tortillas with meat inside. Finally, for apps we had the deviled eggs which had onion and chipotle aioli. For main dishes we had the squid ink pasta. This pasta was so fresh and homemade (so if you like the taste of fish this one is for you!) For dessert we had the banana pudding with ice cream. This had a great balance of sweetness. Would order this again! My personal favorites we had were the the street corn and the deviled eggs. Each dish was elevated in such a way that you just wanted to eat more and more of it! This is the perfect spot to meet a friend or have a nice date. The ambiance is classy and romantic check it out if you are in the area! Affordability: 6/10 Ambiance: 8/10 Food: 8/10 read more

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Honestly the food best experience. Me and my bf went for the Wednes-date thing and it was so much fun! We got a 3 course meal that was chosen by the chef and dollar oysters!!! Our server was super nice and explained all the interesting dishes, sauces, and how to eat oysters. So much fun! read more

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Beautiful atmosphere. It's a shame the food and service didn't match up. It took way too long for the server to take our drink order considering we were the only table. She continued to be lackluster. The shiitake mushroom crepe, flautas and arancini were overcooked. The highlights of the meal were the shrimp pupusa and Mexican street corn. Both delicious. read more

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Very confused how this place is still open and why it's listed on Boston Eater 38. At 7 pm on a Saturday night we were one of 6 tables full in an incredibly large dining space. While this enabled the waitstaff to be very attentive, it was really odd and created a low energy environment. The food was average to below average - everything tasted the same: oversalted and slightly burned. The pork was so tough. We were in and out in 45 minutes. read more

Cocktail not tasty Food not tasty Good ambience Not worth the price You could get better dinner elsewhere read more

The oysters they served are not fresh, and certainly not clean, there are sands in it. Also, their rice is so hard that we felt like as if were eating some small rocks into our stomach. Plus, the meatballs they cooked are tasteless. What a "wonderful" restaurant they are. I have never tasted something worst than this in my whole entire life. I got photos too. read more

Service was quite bad. Half an hour to get drinks. Had to wait two hours for food after our group ticket got lost in the kitchen. We ordered chips and guacamole, and when we ran out of chips we asked for more. $10 extra for those chips. Classic nickel and diming. Place was so loud we couldn't hear anyone on the other end of the table. The food was okay. Small portions with inconsistent results. For the medium to high prices, the experience wasn't worth it. read more

Great service, great food, nice vibe! Highly recommend! The plates are good for sharing.

We returned to LaBrasa after many years away and hoped to relive the excellence we experienced before. To no avail. With the exception of a friendly greeting from Thomas we were underwhelmed and under-served the whole time. After ordering drinks, we were served a substitution for the wine requested without explanation or apology. Then things continued to decline. Our waiter acted entitled and aloof while failing to engage in genuine conversation at any time. He did not make eye contact with his guests at any time throughout the service. The bread we were served was neither fresh nor appetizing. It smelled like charcoal briquettes and petroleum fuel. The service was neither attentive nor helpful. Two of the four dishes we ordered were reminiscent of microwave heating with hot spots and bland flavor. As food was delivered it was not described but rather hastily placed on our table and forgotten. We had to wait an inordinate amount of time for service and left feeling neglected and unsatisfied. Like all good things, it seems La Brasa has run its course and has been left to die. read more

La Brasa is one of the most unique restaurants in the entire Boston area. Definitely a hidden gem in the saturated and sometimes too predictable Somerville / Cambridge scene. Chef Daniel is creative and adventurous but knows what works and makes sense when it comes to taste and execution. What do I know I - I'm no pro - but I eat out way too much and I like to think I know what tastes right, and sometimes adventurous means pretentious and self indulgent on the behalf of the chef. Not at La Brasa. Innovative but comforting and classic Latin American fusion dishes. They also do great events in their rustic but clean and cool space. We had an event for my wife here and Chef Daniel created an outstanding menu and was fair and transparent. The staff's execution of the private event was perfect- food 10/10; atmosphere 10/10; staff 10/10. Highly recommend getting here if you haven't been. read more

The vibe here was great. I loved all the plants everywhere. They had a modified menu do to COVID so somethings that I really wanted to try were not available. My friend and I both had the burning passion to drink and it was delicious! I really enjoyed the burnt tortilla seasoning salt rim - it sounds weird but it was good, had a little spicy kick to it. The table shared the guac, it was very smooth and creamy and had a strong lime flavor. I really enjoyed it - it was new and exciting for guac. I had the veggie quesadilla for dinner - heirloom corn tortilla, cauliflower, poblano chili, cheddar cheese - it was good. It felt like it had meat in it, but it didn't. I liked it. read more

La Brasa - Veggie Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The space was nice, the food was good but nothing too inspired or different and definitely overpriced for the small portions. Service was fine, nothing particularly special considering this was for a group birthday. read more

Food was sensational. The service was authentically attentive. And the ambiance was homey and enticing. Our server Ryan was great. I go to restaurants weekly where staff looks depressed to be there and after tasting the food I can see why. Ryan was enthusiastic about the food and accurate about the flavors. Also met John the chef and wish him great luck with La Brasa and the Fat Hen next door. read more

La Brasa in Somerville, MA restaurant is ! JAM tunes in the house, from Grateful Dead to Macy Gray to every good song you ever wanted to hear. And the food: Excellent! Each dish was distinct, well-executed, and needed neither salt nor pepper. The drinks represent a thoughtful composition of flavors and art. My dessert was on point. Service was outstanding. Our server, Cal, went above and beyond to keep our ice water full, our drinks were fresh, and check on our satisfaction with timing and taste of the many small plates we ordered. Each was perfection. Try this restaurant, you won't be disappointed. read more

You walk in and are immediately welcomed with the warm smell of the wood oven, cool greenery and cozy decorations! This paired with $1 oyster special was exactly what we needed on a cold fall day. The food and service were excellent, and we stayed and dined for quite some time. My favorites were the lamb tostada and the tacos for appetizers. The swordfish and the duck entrees were amazing- served in a creamy sauce and mole sauce respectively, and very nicely arranged! Great decor and atmosphere and great food! read more

La Brasa - Swordfish - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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We recently moved into the East Somerville neighborhood and received a gift card to eat at La Brasa, and it was such a pleasant experience! We dined outdoors on their charming little patio space (plants, wooden fence with translucent lime green borders, twinkle lights) and was served quite promptly. It touts as a more elevated South American food and they do it well. The pricing is on the higher end so be prepared to snack a little before hand or be willing to shell out some $$ My husband and I had some chips and salsa rojo (salsa was surprisingly well worth the money!), and the chicken and halibut entrees (chicken with peanut mole sauce and halibut with vegetables pipan rojo sauce). Topped off with their version of a sangria and a twist on the classic old fashioned. The food was all quite delicious. The halibut was cooked to perfection (nice little crisp to the outside but succulent on the inside), and the hand crafted tortillas and rice on the sides were a nice addition. The chicken leg in peanut mole sauce was also quite good, with the chicken also retaining it's tenderness inside, with a nice char on the outside. At this point my husband and I were quite full so we could not partake in their desert menu but if it's similar to their main menu, I'm sure it's worth it! The sangria is more of a sparkling fruity prosecco cocktail rather than the traditional sangria based in red wine. It's tasty and easy to drink, but just be warned if you were expecting the more traditional one! read more

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This review is strictly based on a catered event at the restaurant for a wedding reception. I recently came here for a family member's wedding reception and definitely had some positive and negative impressions on the restaurant in general. First, the restaurant does not have a parking lot and is located on a main street, but there is plenty of paid street parking around, which becomes free after 8pm. The outside of the restaurant does not look like much, but once inside, the space is trendy-looking and modern. The restaurant wasn't huge, but had sufficient space for a party of about 100 people. The windows of the restaurant by the entrance are huge, so throughout the evening people kept peering in to see what was going on. When we arrived for the reception, the party was already in full effect. Although the dinner entrees were family style, the appetizers were first-come, first-serve and sitting on platters at the bar. The platters included multiple trays of raw oysters, black bass crudo, assorted breads and hummus spreads and 2 different types of fried chicken wings. The oysters were some of the freshest I had eaten in a while. They were free of any dirt and very clean. The chicken wings were also very tasty too and basted exceptionally well. The chicken wings were by far the appetizers that were refilled the most often, while the oysters were refilled a few times, but they ultimately stopped refilling the oysters early on. We definitely could have used a few more trays of it. For the next course, we were given an escarole salad, mexican fried rice and roasted carrots to share family style. Unfortunately, we weren't a fan of any of these three items. The mexican fried rice was off in that I felt it was a little undercooked. The roasted carrots faced the same issue where it could have used more time on the stove as well. Some of the carrots were soft, but most were too hard. For the main course, we had baked haddock, slices of skirt steak and roast pig to share. By far, the main courses were the best of all of the courses. The haddock was rather small and was pretty decent though flavor wise. The roast pig was dry, as expected, but I loved the pieces of crunchy skin wherever it lied. The skirt steak was definitely the best of the 3 main courses - flavorful, juicy and perfectly cooked. Service throughout the evening was excellent here. The waiters and waitresses were on point and were quick to take away any empty plates. Space was limited on the tables so their quickness to clean up was appreciated. The bartenders were also very friendly and willing to do what they could to make cocktails that were not on the menu, so no complaints in the service department. Like I said, the review is only for a catered event, so I'm not sure how their typical menu would fare. I would hope their regular restaurant menu would fare better as the food during the catered event was just OK. A few items stuck out here and there, like the oysters, chicken wings and skirt steak, but the rest of the food served to us was average. In order to give the restaurant a more fair review, I'd definitely have to have a sit down meal here. read more

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Food was good . Service was not good . Server seemed bothered for just asking for water . Even the bar staff wasn't friendly . They just stared at you when you went up to the bar. Had to ask them for a drink then they came over . I won't go back . Way better options out there . Metered parking is tough . They do have a tiny back parking lot that's shared with another business. read more

We recently booked for Mother's Day. The food was okay, but nothing special. I ordered steak and eggs and both items seemed like they were quickly made and slightly overdone. The interior was nicely decorated, however the layout left no room to move about and I was blocked in while trying to escape to the bathroom more than once. The service was also lackluster. We passed up on having our server taking our main course order immediately, which was a mistake because it took a good 20 minutes to try and flag him down politely. I get that it was Mother's Day, but it seemed like they had more than enough staff available and quite a few empty tables. One of those meals in which you decide you probably won't go back by the end. read more

Awesome food and friendly staff. The overall layout was great for a large party also. We attended a wedding party here from 6-12am and the entire wait staff was great throughout. Food was 10/10! Highly recommend checking this place out for dinner or drinks! read more

They don't advertise it as such, but due to the meat, vegetable, and corn themes in the dishes, almost the entire menu is gluten free and safe for Celiacs. The food is fresh and delicious. read more

La Brasa - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We had a reservation for two; when we arrived, we were informed that the restaurant had no standard tables for two available (despite us having a reservation). After being initially offered two seats at a deserted end of the bar (in front of a pile of dirty glasses), the two of us were seated at a high top for eight people at a deserted end of the restaurant. We placed a drink order; forty minutes into our reservation, the drinks still had not arrived, and we got up and left. Worst atmosphere and worst service I have experienced at a restaurant in a long time. read more

WOWZA! I really enjoyed La Brasa. The portions are miniature so definitely ball out and order a lot. For appetizers we started with the ensalada, oxacan cheese empanada, and pork croquetas. For sides we ordered the black beans, Mexican fried rice, and loaded sweet potato. For dessert we ordered the pound cake! Here are some specifics on our favorite dishes: LOADED SWEET POTATOES- Okay so these sweet potato's have a whipped cream version of goat cheese on the top and it is to die for PORK CROQUETAS- This was a great twist on a typical croqueta. The flavors in this were amazing! We ordered another one because it was that good! ENSALADA- I know you're thinking salad are boring but this was a hit! The creamy cilantro ranch and the smoked breadcrumbs took this dish to the next level. Came here as a party of 7 for a birthday dinner! If you're with a larger group definitely stick to the sides/appetizer categories on the menu. They have a great cocktail list! They are also willing to make you "whatever you are in the mood for." Our reservation was early and no one was in the restaurant yet were unable to get seated until everyone in the party arrived. It's a bit pricey for the portion size you are getting but besides that, this was a great time! read more

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Some dishes were excellent ; some dishes were simply good. We went on a Friday night and it felt low energy and kind of empty. Server was a bit unfriendly and made a few odd comments. Regardless, our group had a very nice time. Our group shared the shrimp tostado (yum!), loaded sweet potato (yum!), and Cesar salad - mains were pork chop, bronzino, and chicken. Pork chop and chicken were great - bronzino was, eh. Overall food 4; service and ambiance 3, for the price point doesn't quite hit the mark and there are other spots that do a similar menu. Good but not great. read more

I don't like to put down small businesses as I can understand how hard it is to be one, but La Brasa is simply not worth the price. The food was good I'll give it that -- but wow, is it hindered with incredibly small portions all catered with terrible service. It took 10+ minutes to be greeted and have a drink order taken. Upon which they were full of ice and again, overpriced. I really wanted to like the place, but the infrequent service combined with the small, overpriced plates will not be bringing me back. read more

Went on a Saturday night early. Ate at the bar, $1 oysters were delicious. The service was fantastic, Joey and Josh deserve a raise! I had the chicken, what was excellent. Large portion and could have brought home. Friend had veggie quesadilla which was quite good. Will be back! read more

The food was unimaginably salty, imagine a toddler helping you cook, just pouring salt on a pork chop and then burn it in the oven! That's the pork chop, I had the food yesterday, I'm still trying to hydrate... ordered the appetizer wings; behold salty, and burned!!! I'm not even gonna mention, it was five measly pieces for a total of $18. I bet you they weren't free range living with Colin ...The taquitos were all right. My wife thought the steak was ok but then again, she had a pitcher of margarita .Obviously won't be back here again unless there's a zombie apocalypse and there's nowhere else to eat. Staff was extremely nice and helpful, although kept getting her orders wrong, so there's that. read more

The menu is small maybe because of the pandemic. I got a white sangria that tasted like cheap wine with chopped strawberries that looked like they were soaked in there for quite a while. I'm used to sangria with a lot of fruit. My halibut was delicious as it had chopped veggies in a delicious sauce. I broke it up and placed in tortillas to make a taco and the white rice I mixed in the remaining sauce. The street corn was okay. The quac had too much lime and was way to creamy like it was done in a food processor. I like my quac chunky. A person I was with said her ceasar salad had too much anchovy. The pork tacos looked good and the people who had them said it was good. So 50/50 quality. read more

Kid Tested. Parent Approved! La Brasa is an unusual spot in that the general noise level of the room is loud enough to drown out the occasional exuberant squeals of a small child, yet not too loud for the adults to enjoy a conversation with normal indoor voices. They also had a high chair available for said youngling, and a lady staffer brought over a cute child sized spoon for the little one to use. Their Sunday menu was a subset of their normal nightly menu. A short menu is normally not an issue as long as you see something you want to eat. In this case, however, most of the protein dishes were just that - protein. We tried to round out the meal with some veggies, but other than the radish salad $11, the only vegetable offering that evening was the grilled spring onions & romesco $7, which were super-good eaten in conjunction with the beef roast. But still, it was spring onions - not known to be a dense or filling vegetable, so the portion was a bit light, even for one, but we had shared it. Tacos de carnitas - slow roasted pork shoulder with salsa verde & chile de arbol $5 arrived two to the order, doubled tortilla-ed and well stuffed. One was an acceptable starter to the meal. The barbecued beef brisket with charred green tomatillo barbeque sauce $16 was thick sliced, dressed with the tangy bbq sauce and presented on a metal tray with a knife. It was tender and tasty, particularly the fatty piece I first sampled. The bonchon fried chicken with butter roasted snail vinaigrette, parsley & fresh horseradish $15 was a whole chicken leg/thigh, a little dry, but with crisp skin. And beneath it was an unannounced scoop of vinaigrette dressed cole slaw, that had a kick that was too much for me, but enjoyed by my spice loving DC. If I want bonchon, however, I'll head out to Bon Chon; not here. The Korean squid & shrimp pancake $12 was small, but thick and soft. I had imagined it to be rather like the Korean seafood pancakes of yore, but it resembled in looks to the Vietnamese crepe appetizer ~ banh xeo, yet tasted like neither. The roasted whole lobster with herb butter $21 arrived as a whole hard shell (really hard shell) creature split in two with claws separated from the body accompanied by two metal crackers. The lobster flavor was intensified by the cooking process and the flesh filled the hard shell completely and to the degree that it clung to the inside of the shell and had to be tugged off. In addition to the menu items, we spied a cart with a beef roast being hawked by the ounce ($3.50 per oz), so we inquired and ordered 6 oz. The meat was sliced and weighed, then placed in a round metal plate before it was topped with our approval with chimichurri sauce, a sprinkle of sea salt, and some hot au jus. With the exception of the yummy crust the meat was tender enough, but nothing particularly special. The chimichurri sauce, however, was quite nice. Afterwards we were presented with an "After Dinner" menu with a selection of coffee drinks and but two sweets - affogato (espresso & ice cream) $5, and chocolate pudding $6. Sounded kind of dull, but I'm not a coffee person, so I asked the staffer who delivered the affogatto and the cappuccino to please tell me about the chocolate pudding. First, it isn't chocolate pudding anymore. It might be caramel. Oh, did it undergo a conversion? - went though my head. When it arrived, however, it was butterscotch and yummy. But it was $6 for a rather tiny portion. At ground level beyond the bar to the left is the handicap accessible individual bathroom, but through the door to the right, few a few turns and down a few steps (be careful, as I almost met an unhappy union with the first set) are larger, multi-stalled, separate bathrooms. read more

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Amazing food! We didn't want any of the dishes to end. The atmosphere is also so fun and festive.

My wife and I chose La Brasa for our reception venue post-wedding because everything about this restaurant is fantastic: service, food, vibes, and location! We hosted a 70-person event, complete with DJ, photobooth, personalized cocktails, and a dance party. Every piece felt utterly seamless and easy, from working with the restaurant's front-of-house manager, bar manager, and chef de cuisine. We selected dishes my wife and I loved from our time coming in as patrons and La Brasa brought these dishes out family style for us and our guests to enjoy for dinner. Dessert was fantastic and the servers were incredibly helpful whenever anything came up, from a lost credit card, to ensuring that we had all our decorations in one place in order to get it home in one piece after the night was over. The only real hiccup we ran into was communication. We started with one event coordinator when we first booked, only to be switched to another when the former left La Brasa. We found ourselves being left in the dark a few times, only to find out it was easier to communicate via email & texts more than guest portal. If you're looking to book an event through La Brasa, this is the one piece of advice that I would offer, though it doesn't detract from the amazing planning, food, & coordinating that came together on the night of the event. Whether you're here for a date night or here to host your wedding reception, la Brasa is doing it right - have some dinner and drinks, talk with the staff, and know that this venue may be exactly what you're looking for. read more

Their food was extremely over salted. So ridiculously oversalted that we had to quit halfway through dinner and leave everything else on the plate. I've never experienced salty food like this anywhere, by the end it was almost painful. The unfortunate downhill slide in the past few years is sad to see. What else is wrong if things like this come out of the kitchen? read more

If you're in Boston, stop what you're doing and go to La Brasa. Seriously, stop and go now. Make reservations, or take a chance for bar seating as they offer full service at the bar. My boyfriend and I came to Boston for the weekend and didn't know to make a reservation, but knew we wanted to try this place based off of Boston Eater's "38 Essential Places to try in Boston." Fortunately, we were able to get bar seating. We started with the Mexican fried rice, and I had a rojo cider. The fried rice was SO good. It seemed to be cooking in a sort of chili oil and it had the perfect crunch from being cooked in a cast iron pan. We planned on just doing appetizers and drinks, and then we saw the rib roast go by.... The rib roast is served by the ounce on Fridays and Saturdays. A wonderfully pleasant young man has it on a cart, slices it for you, and seasons/add sauces before serving. We saw it go by and just had to get a piece. OUT. OF. THIS. WORLD. We recommended this prime rib to everyone we encountered and said okay we're going to have to get more. We told our bartender and ended up speaking with a woman, Kelly, while waiting. We told her we ordered more because it was so good and her eyes lit up as she told us her secret trick or ordering extra to bring home for steak and eggs the next day. I loved chatting with Kelly and she told us about a house special dessert they do. Flan with homemade whipped cream, sprinkled with a little ash. Ash you say? Yes, ash, and trust me they are doing it right. The ash added a nice texture and jived perfectly with the top of the flan and whipped cream. We were waiting for our second helping of rib roast, and were kindly brought out fried potatoes with garlic aioli to thank us for waiting. We were so appreciative as it was totally unexpected and we were totally fine waiting, enjoying each other's company. We got our second helping of rib roast after a bit and Kelly asked how it was. I told her it was amazing, perfectly tender and the chimichurri topping was divine. I said we think we're going to have to take her up on the flan and Kelly told us we already had one coming at the end of our meal. The kindness and service from every single person in this place was impeccable. They were all educated about how the food was prepared and the drinks and took the time to speak with us despite having a packed restaurant on a Saturday night. More restaurants should be like La Brasa. I will be back. I will bring my dad here and my mom, and I seriously recommend this place to anyone who happens to be in the Somerville area of Boston. read more

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