Wonderful food. Roasted chicken and flan were fantastic. Service was excellent. Highly recommend.

Incredible brunch! All plates were fresh and full of flavor. As you enter, you're embraced by a warm aura accustomed with r&b (all hits). The food was delicious, fresh, perfectly prepared, and full of flavor. The biscuit slightly reminds your palate of an apple pie. The pork falls off the bone and perfectly balances with its cabbage pairing. The elote is full of flavor. But the oven package - you have to get the oven pancake. It's some airy, fluffy, light-corn goodness. read more

Waitress was great. Food was good, little portions for a whole lot of money. Drinks were okay, we got margaritas which were basically all ice and very expensive. We live very close and were hoping we could leave a good review because it's always empty but unfortunately we won't be going back. read more

Attended a private wedding and had an excellent time. The food was amazing and the staff were very helpful and friendly. It looks like outside dining would be great. It was pretty crowded and it was an open bar so of course they were many Customers ordering drinks. And it was great that the bartender remembered what I ordered without having to tell him again. The space itself was actually perfect for events. Of course parking is never fun anywhere. The staff were even helpful with that. I would definitely return and definitely recommend read more

The best way to describe this place is casual higher end Mexican food. The casual is more around the atmosphere which sort of resembles a log cabin with lots of wood paneling and a very warm vibe. The food is less Mexican tacos and enchiladas and more high end with some amazing mixes of duck, mushroom rice, among other great treats. This is the kind of place that needs to succeed as it really elevated the food scene outside of downtown Boston. Easy to walk in because the restaurant is really large and did not have a bad dish on the menu, this is a high recommend. read more

La Brasa - Burger and Mexican Fried Rice - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Overall, food was bland and overpriced, while nothing stood out about the service. See below: Service wasn't spectacular / outstanding. I thought it was weird that our server was wearing a wool beanie inside the restaurant in late May and another server kept getting too close to our table bc she kept checking out my 3 year old toddler. We ordered the following: 1. Chicken wings: pricey as it was $3.25 a wing. However, we took the plunge since the yelp reviews said that the wings here are omg amazing. Nope. They were overly salty. I needed to drink two glasses of water. I wish it was offset with something spicy but it was such an one layered flavor - salt 2. Empanada w poached duck egg: whereas the chicken wings were super salty, there was no flavor to this at all! So bland and COLD! Duck egg is supposed to be naturally salty but nope, not here. 3. Ox tongue and peas: bland as well! It was rough. The tortilla that came with it is bland and doesn't add to this. How are you supposed to wrap ox tongue in a tortilla anyways? Seems silly esp since the peas keep spilling out of the tortilla. We only ate 1/3 of this dish 4. Bronzino: the only redeeming meal. It had the spice we were looking for with the citrus and jalapeños. I love love love dessert and have a massive sweet tooth but told my husband I refused to eat dessert here since the shared apps and entrees were so terrible. I didn't have any hope for the desserts. He agreed and was unsatisfied with this meal as well. Never ever coming back here. read more

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Not good value for the money. Food is good quality, but small portions. Went with 6 people. Only two had entrees. We had a total of three cocktails. We ordered flat tap water. We spent more than $30 on water!! The bill was nearly $500. Our server Sara was awful. Asked if we could have a plate heated up and we were told "we don't do that here." Four different times we had to hail other servers. I wonder if she knew she didn't need to do a good job because she was guaranteed a tip. The most disappointing thing was that we said many times that our son had just graduated from Harvard and there were no congratulations. I would only return if the prices were much less. read more

The guac, salsa, chips, and drinks were all really good. But I paid $22 for a vegan version of the vegetable quesadilla and wow, what a joke! The description on the menu says "vegetales," like vegetables plural, and also includes huilacoche, which I love. But this sad quesadilla contained mushrooms and salsa. That's it. No huilacoche, and not a single other vegetable besides mushrooms. For $22. I make more satisfying quesadillas than this, and I'll stick to doing that in the future. read more

La Brasa - Sad quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

the restaurant with the worst manager.It was our first time at this restaurant. We were going to dinner. The service was very bad. Besides being the waitress, the girl who served us was also the manager of the establishment. It's hard to understand how she got that position. We ordered our drinks, but they took a while to arrive. The place was empty, and only a few tables were occupied. We didn't understand why they took so long to serve us. We ordered our food, but she didn't tell us anything, or about sides. The food took a long time to arrive. On one plate, there was a piece of fish decorated with a green patch and on the other, a piece of chicken. We called the waitress and asked where the sides were, and she said we would have to tell us, that that was the chef's dish. HOLY SHIT, how can you be so stupid? The dish cost $36 and there was only one piece of fish. Would I leave my house to have a piece of fish for $36 and eat it without any side dishes? We had to order rice and vegetables and wait... I informed them the fish was cold and they sent it back to the kitchen... and they sent the fish back, but we had to wait a long time for the rice to come, which was burnt and full of mixed vegetables. Bad food, terrible service, horrible experience, worst restaurant to visit. They need to improve if they want to keep this place open. read more

This is nearly michelin starred food, in my book. Granted, I've only been to one michelin starred restaurant but as far as I can tell La Brasa was better. Holy shit, everything was so good, and we pretty much ordered everything on the menu save for anything with shellfish or pork in it. Our table ordered many cocktails and all were perfection. I literally cannot fault it. read more

I was here on Saturday for their East Somerville Market, and it was a really nice! I love the decor here, very rustic and chic. Everyone I interacted with was pleasant, the hostess and waitress and everyone else in between. I was here during brunch time with my mom, and we each got a salad, and then split an order of bacon, eggs and toast. Excellent, especially the toast, of all things. That bread was heavenly. It was a nice touch for the waitress to leave an entire glass bottle of water on the table, because I always end up asking waiters and waitresses for like three extra cups of water when I go out to eat. Yes, this place is pricey, but you pay for quality and experience. Is this a place I'd visit every weekend for brunch? No. Is it somewhere I'd take someone from out of town looking for an amazing "treat yourself" meal with great service? Absolutely. read more

La Brasa - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Disappointed!! La Brasa has been on my list since it opened. Great reviews with an eclectic menu that is somewhat obscure. I'm all about the food! Slightly Mexican and I'm excited, bring it on. Service is equally important and can ruin a meal but the food and knowing what your ordering is primary. Came in early on a Thursday night after work. I've been wanting to try this place for a long time, since first published on Yelp. Yes that long. The place is great in atmosphere, ambiance and overall vibe. Open studio style with a kitchen you can see from everywhere you could possibly sit in the rectangular restaurant. Upbeat music and a mixed crowd for a Thursday but very few people. Plus there is nice staff who will wear customers faux fur vests and sunglasses to bond and form alliances. Sweet. Google fur man I'm sure he's online. People taped him. The food... I ordered the sirloin strip with harrisa, yogurt and charred vegetables plus the Mexican fried rice. That was the description. Simple and pure. I asked about the vegetables with the strip loin and was told it was broccolini. Great. Heartbroken. The steak was mesquite flavored, a flavor you either like or don't. It needs to be specified. I would never have ordered it had I know. Friends chastise me for asking too many questions but yet again this is why are $28.00 I would most definitely have not ordered it. Plus I was told the side was broccolini but it was actually broccoli rabe. Very different. When I asked him if it was actually broccoli rabe instead of broccolini, because it was bitter and I was eating it the response was priceless. Bless them. The bartender conferred with another staff who said it was "rapini". Aka broccoli rabe. Seriously???Know your food! The Mexican rice was really very very good. Crunchy with mixed vegetables and not overly salted. I emptied the bowl and would order it again!! If I come again... All things learned ask questions about the menu and staff please learn your vegetable etiquette; broccolini-broccoli-broccoli. Restaurant owner/manager/chef you should further detail your menu especially if your staff don't know when one asks. When I mentioned it to the server, he didn't care at all!! I didn't ask it be taken off my bill but I really should have asked. So sad. read more

horrible service, sent food back, charged for everything ended up with food poisoning. AVOID

3.5 star really. Food: rib eye - good tender and the sauces are solid. Not like mind blowing but good. Bronzino was good though I'm not the biggest fan of whole fish. The surprise of the night is the chicken wings. Really good but kinda pricey. But really a surprise. Something in that sauce is so good. My no good list was the octopus quesadilla - don't get me wrong. I would have a bowl of that octopus. But it is just on the quesadilla and the quesadilla was awe full, hard and tasteless with just a little bit of cheese on the inside. It is so strange. Like the two things didn't relate at all. Need some rework there. Green beans were good but way too charred for my taste. Atmosphere: honey, casual fun. Solid service. read more

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La Brasa hosted my brother's wedding this past weekend. The food was absolutely phenomenal, but I have to recognize the staff too. The line for cocktails was long and we were the only guests stuck at a table with kids. Staff came around and took our drink orders for us. Whether this is common practice or on the fly, we really appreciated the extra effort. Later on, my toddler was hungry for dinner before it was ready and the snacks we brought weren't cutting it. I shamefully asked the kitchen for chicken, and they happily obliged. They brought out a special plate for my son before serving the family-style platters to the other tables. We were so grateful for their accommodations. read more

This may be the most unfriendly restaurant I've ever been to..... So four of us met her for dinner and it was just a poor all around expierience. The food was solidly ok, but the complete and total shit service that pushed the one star review. Lets start with the menu, it was almost like tapas, but not quite since it wasnt a huge menu. I got the porkchop which was ok but it was 30 bucks for a single pork chop, for a side i got mexican fried rice which was good but a little greasy. The entire time we were there not one employee smiled....not one. It truly felt like we were bothering them. The guy who dropped off our food couldnt be bothered to reply to my thank you, he didnt even acknowledge us. Overall it was a terrible expierience and it wasnt exactly cheap, for the four of us it was a little over $180 and none of us drink. I would strongly advise against this place if at all possible. read more

This place is just... a no, an absolute no. Will not return. First time going here with my husband and friend and we just had a horrible experience. From the pictures on Instagram and the reviews we've read, we thought why not give this local place a shot? Never hurts right? Space and ambience was nice and pretty much the only pro of this review. The menu is confusing. Short which most smaller restaurants have but it makes no sense. My husband and my friend were confused to why the main courses dishes had no sides and there wasn't even a section for sides. Took our waitress forever to come back to us to take our order. Not only that, usually when you go to a restaurant your waiter or waitress will ask if you have been here before. Not a word from our waitress besides ready? I had to ask her how the menu works. Come to find out, it's like tapas. The starters are your SIDES. The main course is just a meat dish. You pretty much order everything separate and share. $45 for a 10oz sirloin steak is pretty expensive for a small local upscale place. I've gone to a few 5 star steakhouse and paid less for a 16oz and get more food with it too! My husband and friend ordered carnita tacos and may I say these are the SADDEST looking tacos ever. I wished I took a picture. It looked like someone threw refried beans on the taco shell, sprinkled some cilantro and called it a taco. I laughed so hard when I saw those tacos. $10 for two sad looking tacos. I ordered their fennel salad and it was just liquidy. There was so much water? mixed with the dressing that it made it soupy and unappetizing. We also ordered oysters and when our waitress came to drop it off on the table, she didn't even bother telling us which oysters were which. Like how am I suppose to know I'm ordering the right oysters second time around if I have two different type of oysters the first round? Oh another kicker, my friend accidentally dropped her dip for her potatoes. We were sorry and offered to clean it up but our waitress said not to worry that she'll deal with it. My friend left to go to the bathroom and our waitress grabs her table napkin off her plate and uses that to clean the mess. Like hold on. Since when does a waiter or waitress grabs something off a customer's plate when it's not time to clean up? Not only that, she doesn't even bring a new one back to my friend! How is she suppose to wipe her mouth? With her hand? We had to ask our waitress for another napkin. Drinks were ehh. I ordered a Shirley temple and I felt like I was drinking straight grenadine. My friend orders a Moscow mule and it tasted limeamade. My husband orders a coke with lemon and our waitress says I'll have to check if we can make it. Like what? Our experience there was just an absolute joke. We have never ever wanted to get out of a restaurant so fast. Oh and it claims to be an Mexican restaurant. There's barely anything on the menu that is Mexican. I overhear a customer ask one of the employees what kind of cuisine this place is and the woman replied upscale Italian. There's nothing Italian of it either! read more

Always a wonderful meal here. The food is so unique and wonderfully paired. Things you would never think to put together just melt together in the most amazing bite. Great service and worth the splurge. Dishes range in size so depending what you order it can actually be a very reasonably priced meal. While on the high side, prices match the caliber of food. The chef is amazing (or whoever is creating the frequently changing menu). I would highly recommend both the food and the cocktails to anyone and everyone. read more

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The Atmosphere was OK, lots of ladies and a very diverse clientele. Lesbian families, a mix of races.. food was good but portion size was really small for the prices - 20 for a very small plate of Corn Beef Harsh and 2 eggs- I could go to any diner and get double the portion size for half the price. The drinks were good. I don't think I would be back here even though it's really close to our home. For "brunch" they have a very limited breakfast selection. Service was ridiculously slow. Took a very long time for my husband and my plate to come out. The table next to us got chips and salsa right away. Maybe I was supposed to order it but nobody even recommended anything.. so we sat there twiddling our thumbs for a while. Maybe the dinner is better. read more

I came here on a Friday evening and had made reservations for 8PM, which after arriving, I realized was completely unnecessary because the place was relatively empty. I had heard both great and mediocre reviews of this place, so I thought I'd come to try it out for myself. From what I gather, the place prides itself on wood-fired/grilled fare. Most of the food is prepared on the grill; they have large portions of meat come to tables, which you can order by the ounce. As an aside, I did notice that the butcher carving the portions had long dreadlocks, and his hair was dangerously close--some may say too close--to resting on the meat. Appetizing, right? The space has a rustic feel with tons of reclaimed wood. They have a small outdoor patio (even if it is overlooking Broadway), and a relatively large dinning area. We started with drinks, which were definitely the most disappointing part of our meal. I had ordered "One of these days" (mezcal, punt y mes, honey, grapefruit) and my friend ordered "Enough Horatio. Enough already!" (Vodka, St. Germain, lime, cucumber). Mine was extremely smoky and his tasted only of cucumber juice. You've been warned. The food itself was great in general. We had ordered the black bean hummus, the Mexican fried rice, the empanada, the Brussels sprouts, and a special of the day, which was a baked sweet potato with goat cheese and pistachios. We were generally happy with everything. Highlights were the sweet potato and the Mexican rice. The pastry of the empanada was also great. The Brussels sprouts were very average and dry, and another disappointment. We ordered almost everything on the menu that was vegetarian, and if we were to return, would definitely need to repeat dishes given their limited menu for vegetarians. Even for omnivores, the menu isn't large. In general, I was happy with my experience, but I don't know that I would return for a few reasons--in particular the limited menu and the strange drinks. Also, our service felt rushed and even with five plates and drinks, our meal lasted less than 45 minutes. Like I said, the food was good, but overall, I'd side with those who had a more mediocre experience. read more

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HORRIBLE SERVICE Our waitress Haley was so rude. Honestly she looked as if she rolled out of bed and came to work in her slubby PJ's The food and drinks were fantastic but because of how terribly rude the service was we will not return. It was a birthday celebration with 8 industry people with a $800 bill. Such a bummer. Great ambiance,great food but service is everything . read more

Great service...excellent food. Had dinner at La Brasa last night with my wife and a friend. Don't understand the negative reviews about poor service. We were greeted immediately by the hostess but wanted to go to the bar first for a drink. Fred was very personable, easy to chat with and paid attention while we waited for our friend and had a drink. Our server Charlotte could not have been more perfect. She knows the menu intimately, has a great personality and made us feel special. The food was delicious and we hope to return. Yes some of the dishes are on the small size. read more

Stopped by for brunch and shopping at ESOM Market. The space is beautiful and very welcoming. The food: I gave it 3 stars because the brunch menu is limited which was disappointing. I ordered a yummy dish, (the name escapes me) but it came with bacon, 2 fried eggs, home fries, toast and a salsa topping. The fried egg was a little too runny for my liking but overall the dish was good. Waitress was very responsive and food came out quickly. ESOM Market: The layout was very fluid and it was cool to walk to each vendor table and hear about each product. I hope to visit the Market again in the near future. I would visit La Brasa again but probably not for brunch. read more

La Brasa - Fried eggs, home fries, toast. Not pictures bacon - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

SEASONAL MENU What I write about probably will not be available on the menu in a couple of months. I came in a group of 7, and this restaurant definitely accommodates large parties well. The restaurant is a huge space with a rustic vibe. The waiter suggested family-style tapas for our group. That being said, we asked how large the small plates were and found they were "supposed" to be fit for two people. Each small dish ranges above $10, so be prepared to spend more than you're used to for tapas style dishes. The menu is split up into small dishes, veg/grain dishes, main dishes, and large plates for the entire table. The vibe of all the dishes is a mixture of Mexi-American or Asian-American with some very spicy dishes. It's not quite ethnic, but not quite American either. Everything was very savory and full of flavor, bordering on being too salty. For a group of 7, we each spent $40 without drinks including 20% gratuity (!!) for 15 plates. We were all completely stuffed, though. This restaurant is definitely on the more expensive side, and given the food is more casual and in a random location, I'm not sure the price hike is that justified. However, this is a great spot to grab drinks with a large group and share some plates. Smalls/veg/grains: All of the small plates were small, so we had to order two of each for our group. We ordered empanadas, lentil & mushroom tartines, romaine salad, fried chicken, tacos de carnitas, and fried rice. The standouts were definitely the FRIED CHICKEN, FRIED RICE, AND LENTIL& MUSHROOM TARTINE. Main: + FLOUNDER: For a $25 main, which may seem expensive, the dish really did present the entire fish, skin and all. The fish was marinated and flavored with Mexican flavors. Dessert: + DULCE DE LECHE FLAN: This presentation was really not thought out. It looks like someone had slapped the pudding onto the plate and it splattered everywhere. However, this dessert is rich, creamy, sweet, and even salty from bits of sea salt. This dessert was enough for all 7 of us to have a bite and feel satisfied. I would definitely come back for this dessert! - CHOCOLATE AVOCADO MOUSSE & SOURDOUGH BREAD PUDDING (special): This dessert wasn't on the menu, and sounded interesting so we took a shot at it. It was the biggest mistake ever. The sourdough bread pudding and weird taste of the mousse did not work on this dessert at all. Everyone at our table struggled to eat even one bite. read more

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I really liked the overall vibe of this place and the service was really good. The food was okay and there wasn't any wow factor. I did like the Margarita read more

An outstanding addition to the northeast side of the river and East Somerville. Roast pork leg meat and belly with green beans, red beans, spring onions succotash and a broccoli purée ($24) is popular. The pork belly is crispy and succulent, parting easily with a fork. The leg is thick with fatty meat and needs the fresh corn and beans to cut it's richness. Roasted green onions and burned slightly to bring a softness and smoothness atop the meat. This dish is a great combination of vegetable and meat and well worth trying. Roasted carrots ($9) lay in a rich, fiery, mole and are sprinkled sesame seeds. The long thin carrots slice easily with a fork and hold the rich mole well. Swiss chard pie ($12) , soft egg, ham in a tomatoe onion sauce. A flaky pastry sits atop this hearty mixture and next to a perfectly soft boiled egg. The ham is smoky , the tomatoes and onions sweet. Mexican fried rice ($8) with scallions is a sticky rendition of its asian counterpart. Sweet and moist, garlicky almost. Fried chicken ($17) delivers a thigh and leg superbly crispy that is doused in a soy based tomato Mushroom salsa. Hard to share so order two. Fresh yellow and red tomatoes ($?...)with Burratta mounds and olive oil bring three ingredients , one seasonal, two all year but perfect for the summer crashing into each other - peanuts and shredded Romano bring texture and sharpness to the plate. The smoked beef brisket ($19) is tender and moist with well developed tendon break down. Unfortunately the meat is overwhelmed by the mountain or tomatillo sauce sitting atop the brisket. The prime rib sliced at table side is a nice parlor trick. The meat is medium rare and sliced to order by the ounce. Several cocktails make use of rose water and are light, bright and virgin as requested. The other house manhattans are deep, smooth and thick. Served the way we like 'em. The service is friendly and professional. The clientele is surprisingly restrained and obviously there to sample some excellent food. read more

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Had a great time celebrating a friend's birthday at La Brasa last night. The decor is gorgeous! They did a great job picking out furniture. It's nice and spacious in La Brasa, so I totally recommend bringing a group of friends or family here. The food is unique and scrumptious. You can't go wrong with the menu. I tried nearly everything on the menu and enjoyed every dish. What I'd personally recomemend is the Mexican fried rice and prime rib. The small portion of fried rice was absolutely amazing - the flavors rich and the ingredients so, so fresh! What in the world? Asian girl who judges her rice extra hard, but MAN, hats off to La Brasa for this dish! You can order the prime rib by the oz, YES! I had myself a fat slice of it, carefully dipping piece by piece in the delicious sauce. read more

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Came here for their Valentine's Day special and it started off oddly. My girlfriend and I were taken to a seating section in the back which was closed off to the main restaurant and noticed we were seated with the only other gay couple in the place and only couple of color. They took about 30 min to take our order and another 30 minutes for our first course and there was a 90 minute time limit for us to dine because of covid. We got our main course right at the 90 minute mark and we were rushing to eat that so we could eat our following dessert course in fear of being kicked out for the time limit. The food was also by no means exceptional for the price and honestly a real bummer for a special day dinner. Would not recommend. read more

The place is very nice, I ordered the quesadillas and it was delicious, the poblano sauce is soooo good. The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars is because the service was very very slow, but the rest of the experience was great. read more

La Brasa - Spicy margarita - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

My experience at La Brasa was amazing! My bf and I came here for dinner after shopping at Assembly Row. We got the 4-course special that night called the "Sonoran Fiesta". First course was a delicious ceviche. Next up was a roasted bass, and then steak tacos. My favorite dish of the night was the ceviche. It was so good, that we scooped up every last bit of the liquid. I could've eaten a whole pot of it. The bass was a very close second. It was well-seasoned, and the portion was very generous. My bf loved that it came with half of an avocado. The steak tacos were interactive, and it was my least favorite dish of the night. It was tasty, nonetheless. The dessert was an incredible tres leches cake. I was very happy that they gave us each our own slice of cake, because I would not have wanted to share this! I also had an "Arnold Bomber", which is their alcoholic version of an arnold palmer. Our server was great, and I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. I definitely want to come back! read more

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My one criticism is that the service was a little slow at first. First impression: The beer selection seems lifted from a connoisseur's wish list. Very well selected but I wish I had been given a recommendation to pair with my meal and more of the selection was on tap. Most of the selection was bottled. My wife had the fried a chicken with escargot and I had the grilled chicken with yogurt. The fried chicken was by far the superior dish, but the grilled chicken satisfied me as well. We had the tomatoes with ricotta, garlic, and balsamic vinaigrette as well as the carrots with molé. The molé was slightly bland compared to the mole I have had at home but I may be a little spoiled, being married to a native of Sonora and part Yaqui. I have the original recipe for molé from a woman who is full Yaqui (I will try to share this recipe with the chef of La Brasa only). Making an authentic molé is a matter of mixing fresh versions of a certain specific mix of spices and is not readily shared usually. It was good but not even as flavorful as the mole available in a Mexican restaurant located at Powder House Square. The tomato dish was nice mostly because it was evident that the tomatoes were absolutely organic/farm grown and weren't the genetically engineered monstrosities that we get at Stop & Shop. I wanted more basil on the dish overall, though. I imagine that Basil is kind of difficult to have on hand at all times in a restaurant setting because of how quickly it loses freshness. You essentially have to grow it on site to get the right flavor from it. The chicken entrees we ordered were cooked to an astounding level of perfection. The grilled chicken was the most tender chicken I've ever had without an undercooked center. I wasn't that into the flavor of the grilled chicken (3.7/5) but could appreciate the skill that went into making it so tender. The fried chicken with escargot had that salty sweet flavor known by the culinary scientists as the mailliard reaction" which results in an amazing, smokey aftertaste and sweet initial mouthfeel. Almost an orgasmic feeling as it washes through your mouth. I'm glad that we didn't forgo the escargot because I think they may have added a complexity to the flavor to the sauce. Wikpedia: "The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned foods their desirable flavor. Seared steaks, pan-fried dumplings, breads, and many other foods make use of the effect. It is named after French chemist Louis-Camille Maillard, who first described it in 1912 while attempting to reproduce biological protein synthesis. The reaction is a form of nonenzymatic browning which typically proceeds rapidly from around 140 to 165 °C (284 to 329 °F). At higher temperatures, caramelization and subsequently pyrolysis become more pronounced. The reactive carbonyl group of the sugar reacts with the nucleophilic amino group of the amino acid, and forms a complex mixture of poorly characterized molecules responsible for a range of odors and flavors. This process is accelerated in an alkaline environment (e.g., lye applied to darken pretzels), as the amino groups (RNH3+) are deprotonated and, hence, have an increased nucleophilicity. The type of the amino acid determines the resulting flavor. This reaction is the basis of the flavoring industry. At high temperatures, acrylamide can be formed. In the process, hundreds of different flavor compounds are created. These compounds, in turn, break down to form yet more new flavor compounds, and so on. Each type of food has a very distinctive set of flavor compounds that are formed during the Maillard reaction. It is these same compounds that flavor scientists have used over the years to make reaction flavors." For dessert, we both had afogatto's, expertly made by the house barista, Judson, who is just as much a world class expert on refined flavors as the chef here. Judson could run his own world class coffee shop, but he had brought his expertise here as part of the team and his restaurant. It's rare that you can have world class espresso along with a world class meal, but it's all available together here. Tonight was one of the more enjoyable, decadent, and exotic meals my wife and I have had in a long, long time. We were utterly satisfied with the every part of the experience. I'm glad to have been introduced to such an original and refined fine dining spot on the other side of the Charles river other than Hungry Mother. I'll be back for the beef, pork, coffee, and fresh, farm grown ingredients. The staff really takes pride in providing their customers with quality and it is evident in every way right down to the care taken in designing an interesting, intimate space. A+ even with my small molé quibble. I have no regrets other than not ordering a the same fried chicken my wife had, pork, or beef brisket for myself. La Brasa is DELICIOUS on a whole new level. read more

La Brasa - Fried chicken with escargot. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We went here for Brunch with my girlfriends. We enjoyed myself but here is my feedback for the restaurant itself: Food Everyone enjoyed everything we ordered. "They won me over with their food" was stated by several in the group. I had the pork loin sandwich because I love pork. I got it without cheese as well. All fair but it was missing some sort of zing. I asked for more horseradish mayo, which just tasted like mayo. Drink My mimosa was blood orange with pulp and tasted a bit tart but it was fine although I wouldn't say it costs $10 in the real world. I would have ordered another drink but no one ever came back to ask. They stated their coffee "philosophy" was simple, which means they have coffee and espresso but no frills. Atmosphere This place is trendy. It's very "brooklyn" in style and has lots of fake unfinished things to make it seem like it's always been like that. I uploaded a two photos of the inside. There is also a little store for gourmet/trendy ingredients. My friends loved it and that's their style so I can understand it but I really saw it as trying to fit a hipster mold, which they did. The doors really got us, we went to the main doors which apparently is where you enter for dinner but not for brunch. Then you go to the next door, still locked, until you get to the last door which is where the store is. The music was perfect for brunch. I wish I could get my phone to identify the songs so I could make my own radio station similar to what they were place but it didn't work. Service Everyone was nice and looks cool. They took care of us but we definitely felt like "where did they go" once we were done with our meals. It took awhile to get the check to leave but it happened. All in all, I'm willing to try it again for dinner if someone took me. The prices aren't what I prefer to pay for good quality food since I could make it at home cheaper. This is the type of place you go for the style, atmosphere, and to be fancy and cool. Go enjoy yourself. read more

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

Came here with a large group last night and had a pretty enjoyable meal! The humo y espejos cocktail, was good but not as smoky as I hoped. Deviled egg crisps are not something I would have ordered on my own but they are awesome - very clear why they are so popular. All of the grilled meats were pretty good, but there weren't any particular standouts. Our group also really loved the Brussels sprouts. I liked how charred they were but found the sauce a little too sweet. Overall, really good spot for a group, but don't know if I would come here with just a few people, since my favorite part was trying a little bit of everything. read more

Saw them on Chronicle. Food looks great but they don't wear gloves to handle ready to eat cooked food!!!!! Health violation!

This place was delicious! I went with a group of 6, we all started with a cocktail or wine. I tried a special called The Marvelous Mrs. Maple that was maple and coconut flavored with rum - so delicious and served in a fun tiki glass. We then split the bread served with ricotta with honey and shishito peppers; broccolini; Brussels sprouts; loaded sweet potato; and crab dip. I would skip the bread and ricotta and sweet potato next time (lacked flavor and bread to cheese ratio when served was off, and the sweet potato was really nothing more than a baked sweet potato with goat cheese on top). But the broccolini, sprouts and crap dip were all loved amongst the group for their unique savory flavors. We then ordered the Brasa burger (it's not on the weekend menu but you can ask and it can be made for you). One of the best burgers I've had and the potatoes served on the side were salty and crispy and delicious! We then ended the meal with some coffee and the dulce de Leche flan. I'm not a big flan fan personally but this one was very sweet and good. The coffees were strong. All in all a very delicious meal and made us feel fancy without breaking the bank. The interior is also very cute and well decorated - highly recommend this spot for a date night or celebration! read more

I've been to La Brasa lots of times as I live right around the corner. Things I love: - Generally friendly staff. They know me, they know that I'm a basic dude and always order an Aperol Spritz for brunch. - The pancake - yeah its $$$ but so good. - fried rice. Fried Rice. FRIED RICE. its good!!! - Brunch is always good. - Cocktails are always solid and they have a decent beer selection. - You generally never need a reservation. This place is Y-U-G-E. We always get seated quickly. Things I wish were better: - Lots of turnover in staff. I get that it happens and people move on but I miss the friendly people I used to know! - Steak. I've ordered steak here a few times and it has been either RAW or WELL DONE every single time i've been here. Last night my partner and I ordered the $80 26oz ribeye. Yeah its pricey but I wanted a big fucking piece of cow for dinner. We ordered it medium rare. It came out raw. We sent it back. The steak was gone for 10+ minutes and came back half raw and half well done. I'm sorry if I'm a snob but you just don't screw up the most expensive meal on your menu. You just don't. They did offer us a free dessert which was nice. But... lol... the flan was dry and super thick, which is never how it is. I have had their flan 20+ times and this was the only time I've been disappointed. Sadly I'm leaving the Boston area in a few weeks and wish our last dining experience at this place was better. :/ read more

**Dinner review only** I haven't reviewed anything in forever, but I will awaken my Yelp slumber for this place. I'm really glad I didn't check Yelp before coming- I usually skip anything below 4 stars, but the most important lesson is that sometimes Yelp is wrong. I can't possibly fathom how this place is less than that. I have tried a lot of restaurants all around the country (and especially around Boston) and was super impressed by this place. The service was good. The ambiance kicked ass without trying too hard. They have a patio (not always a given in Boston). Wine + cocktail menu was spot on. The dishes were innovative & delicious. I could see the complaint that the restaurant is a little on the pricey side, but welcome to Somerville my friends. My boyfriend got the oxtail tongue taco as an app, and loved it so much he chased down our waitress to get 2 more. I split the chicken wings & empanadas with a friend. Both had innovative twists (snails & poached eggs!) and it really worked for the dishes. I got a roast chicken & zucchini dish for my main that I gobbled every bite of. My friend was not stoked by her salmon dish which was laid on a giant pile of mint leaves (?!) so can't say I recommend that one... I am very wary of restaurants that try too hard and don't deliver. This place is not that. This place is great. I recommend ignoring the low review average and giving this place a go. read more

I was pleasantly surprised - from the reviews I thought the service was going to be awful. But we went right when they opened and it was great. Attentive and had great suggestions. The food was all very delicious but the portions are small and the prices are way too high. I love the style and the ambiance here. Definitely ups the ante in the East Somerville area. Overall, I had a good experience. I don't know if I'll be racing back, but I would return. read more

La Brasa - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

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Excellent drinks and appetizers, pretty good food. I visited La Brasa recently for a birthday celebration. We ordered a few spreads for the table, and all of them were really good. I will say that I think they should bring more bread with the spreads - otherwise we have to keep asking for more. The drinks were the real stand out here. We all got two drinks each, and every one that I tried was excellent. The best one for me was "Ryan Gosling's Tears" - it is a tea based cocktail which includes some toasted pine nuts for flavor and texture. It's incredibly tasty and unique, and I would highly recommend it. I ordered the pork chop, which was very good. It's a little pricey for what it is, but it definitely had great flavor. I think it could have used some more sides to balance out the dish so you're not just eating straight meat. I would probably come again for drinks and appetizers, but maybe pass on dinner. read more

First time here. Five star for the ambience and stylish. Nice service. And the most important of all, the food are amazing: Get the grilled fish, it's a whole fish with bone, but the bone could easily be pulled out and won't stick with the fish. Perfectly sourced, perfect cooked, smell and tastes extremely good. They have a big stove with wood for the grill. Love the special taste brought by burn of wood. The steak we got is the 29$ one, it could serve 2 people. Not evenly cooked, but still taste special. they have some special source I guess. The more done part tastes like prime. Get the fired rice, amazing taste with sweet, spicy, sour and more. The taco is great, kinda of fusion with French boiled meat. Definitely a must try. Will come again. read more

La Brasa - Delicious grilled fish. - Mexican Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts