4. Restaurants

Muqueca Restaurant

1008 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA, 02139
  • (617) 354-3296
  • Store is closed

Muqueca Restaurant Menu

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  • Damien S.

    An immensely enjoyable lunch with rockstar Elite Yuk L! And not just because of her sparkling personality... Dat fried yucca. And the moqueca sizzle. Their namesake dish consists hearty, flakey whitefish braised(?) tender and left to marinate in a bubbling stew of tomatoes, peppers and onions, served with a mound of rice and a starchy thick fish gravy on the side. The liquid is at once sour, citrusy, a tad piquant, and unctuous in all the right ways. A tom yum, minus cilantro and young coconut milk. Definitely fish sauce, maybe? It's a delectable mystery. The lunch portion is basically a half serving, and runs $12.50. You don't need more than this, Joey Chestnut. By no means should you do less. Get this. Get this now. "GET NOW!" - Ahnold But not before you start with the fried yucca ($6). I've had it elsewhere; I've never had it better. Yucca's one of those foodstuffs that's easy to fry dry, but not in this house. The dippers (including a fiery garlic-tomato-Brazilian red pepper sauce) are wonderful accompaniments, but this root is so unbelievable tender and creamy, it could be et on its own. Juices are blended to order, and my $5 Blue Caju (blueberries, cashew fruit, papaya) screamed summer. Then screamed again as I sucked it down. Mercilessly. The "new" kids on the block (bisq, Puritan & Co, clover) may be drawing attention to the skirts of Inman, but classics like Muqueca have been owning the spotlight for a while. ¡Viva Brasil!

    (5)

  • Zi-on C.

    Their seafood rice casserole, their spin on the traditional paella, is pretty darn good, and I would definitely come back to eat it again. It tasted similar to the authentic ones I had in Spain, just with a Brazilian twist, and I'm all for it! Unfortunately, Muqueca falls flat on a few of its dishes, namely, its Shrimp and Fish Moqueca and Sirloin Steak dish. The Muqueca is served in a huge pot with a side of rice and some fish broth (which I think is actually fish au jus), but is pretty bland. The seafood is cooked well, but there seemed to be a lack of seasoning. The steak was cooked far too well and was rather dry. However, eating the side rice with the little steak juice that was there was pretty damn good. Overall, if I'm looking for a casual dinner, I wouldn't mind coming here. The prices, however, make it more of a tough option for a regular spot to frequent. Still, worth a try!

    (3)

  • Jenni S.

    We went to dinner with another couple with a baby. The food was delicious and the service was stellar. We tried to make a reservation but since it was graduation weekend they didn't have any reservations available. They recommended that we swing by and they would try and make it work. That they did, we were seated in less than 10 minutes. The rest of the adults split a pitcher of sangria and loved it. Then we had two orders of the Brazilian crab cakes (delicious but really only enough for 2 each) and the Fried Yucca with Portuguese Sausage which came with a great dipping sauce that I could have with just about anything. For entrees we had Mariscada, which was tasty bit a hint to sweet for me. Then we got the Fish & Calamari Moqueca, which I would eat everyday if I could. The broth alone was amazing. As another side we had the Lasagna de Banana which was plantains topped by 3 melted cheese and was so creamy and mouth watering. The serve recommend we each get our own rice which was just one more order because the three entrees each came with one. There was a decent amount of food leftover.

    (5)

  • Lindsay M.

    Okay...definitely best spot for Brazilian food in Boston! Upon our arrival, we waited a couple minutes because it was starting to get busy, but once seated, the service was on point. Our waiter was very friendly and asked if we had any questions about the menu. We ordered two caipirinhas and the fried calamari with the passion fruit dipping sauce. The drinks were fantastic and the calamari was good- wish the sauce had more of the passion fruit flavor and the calamari rings less breaded. We ordered the Shirmp Bobo and the beef stroganoff for entrees. Honestly, that was the best food I've had in a while. They come out in these small cauldrons, really hot, and with a side of rice. The portion size was very generous! But seriously, the flavor of those dishes were out of this world!! A little pricey, but oh so worth it! Come here on a date or with family, very welcoming and friendly people!

    (4)

  • Ashley C.

    Came back to order the Muqueca Completa. The seafood was fresh and it was good... but I like the Mariscada a lot more because of the coconut milk and crab meat!

    (5)

  • Yuka Y.

    Muqueca is famous for their stews served in clay pots. Their cuisine is a mixture of Brazilian native Indian, African, and Portuguese cooking. Don't be fooled by their facade- it's simple, quaint, and very clean. But their food is amazing!! OK appetizer: fried frog legs. My man went wild and randomly ordered frog legs. Those frog legs are really muscular and not surprisingly lean and tough. Pair it with their on the house hot sauce and it's great. You have to try their on the house hot sauce- it's a creamy version of Tabasco sauce that packs the perfect punch to everything. Nose dripping but not deathly spicy. Rec: ++++Moqueca Completa ($25.95)- this is a TREAT for seafood lovers. It's a seafood stew with an abundance of fish, mussels, and shrimp boiled in a savory broth. Served together is a house made gravy that has a cornstarch like consistency- nearly tasteless but we still added it anyways since there's ground up fish in there too. Included is only 1 plate of rice that's enough for 1 person. Although their signature clay pot dish may look small at first glance, it's enough for 2 people. With other reviewers saying there was a line waiting to get in, it was quiet on a Sunday evening with 3 tables including us dining. Nicole, our waitress, provided excellent service. Definitely looking forward to coming back and trying more Brazilian cuisine :)

    (4)

  • Sophia N.

    This place is a gem! The juices are good and the Muqueca Completa is where it's at. It is a savory stew of boneless fish, shrimp, and mussels with tomato and onion. It's served with soft, fluffy rice and comes with a side of delicious fish-based sauce to go over the rice. The Blue Caju and the mango, papaya juices are delicious. It's a great post-workout drink. I recommend getting the 1 1/2 portion of the Muqeuca Completa if sharing between two people. My first time there, my friend and I ordered double and ended up hating ourselves afterwards but boy, did it hurt so good. The broth is delicious and the seafood is cooked just enough that it's thoroughly cooked yet still very tender to the bite. We tried the chocolate flan and though good, it was very dense and rich. There's plenty of street parking and it's free after 6 p.m.

    (5)

  • Juan S.

    So many joyous feelings come to mind when I think of this place. The service is amazing, the decor is very welcoming, and the food is top notch. no matter what you will always have something that speak to your interest. Muqueca illustrates a different streak of food than what many people may be used to or think about when one says "Brazilian" They just exhibit the many different flavors that Brazilian food has, and how diverse it is. If you want Brazilian food but not your typical flair come here. Also to keep in mind. This is also the place where I tried frog legs for the first time, and WOW how amazing where they. I'd recommend their Shrimp and seafood with rice, but I also recommend their chicken soup, or any of their soups thats yucca based. I will definitely come back here.

    (5)

  • Le T.

    Pretty nice place! Love their fried plantains and fried yucca. Make room for desserts. Best flan I've ever had!!

    (4)

  • Tony J.

    The food is absolutely great. The fish stews are really interesting and different from the standard Brazilian fare. Unfortunately, the service is awful. It's always to busy so it's really difficult to get a table. And when we were seated, it was in an awkward position that was cramped and really close to another table, just perpendicular. So when you wanted to get up, your chair would go into another person. The server took forever to do anything: refill water, bring food, even take our orders, and especially bringing the check. It just took forever. Normally we would flag down our server to get their attention, but most of the time the server was not even present on the floor. I guess it's just too busy, but at least the food is good.

    (3)

  • Monique S.

    Delicious. I told my friend I never had Brazilian food before and was surprised with some Muqueca. We had Moqueca de Peixe and a bean sauce that was to die for. The fish was perfectly stewed in a yellow sauce with all of the garlic and onions you could want. One entree is enough for two people to go for seconds a few time. They don't scrimp on the food. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. A delicious meal and great introduction to Brazilian food.

    (4)

  • Noe C.

    I had the recommended "complete" seafood stew dish with my friend last night. Unfortunately the stew smelled bad when it arrived and we both could barely eat it. The shrimp was fine but when I had the mussels, I had to spit it out. It was spoiled, not fresh. I believe that was causing the poor odor from the stew. I also noticed that our server was not present the entire time we had the meal to check in about how things were. We wanted more drinks but no one came by and water was not filled. Mind you this is a very small establishment so we should be easily spotted and served. When I first came to the restaurant the bartender was very nice and the servers seemed friendly. This all changed when we got seated. Perhaps I should have just had a drink and not that meal...! Quality of the juice cocktail was average, the restaurant atmosphere was average. However, those are minor points. If only they used fresh seafood ingredients I would have given this review a higher mark.

    (1)

  • Jasmine C.

    Muqueca has a very authentic feel and is definitely a place to go if you're with a few adventurous friends, even in a large group, and want to try something new. Don't expect extremely delicate, sophisticated flavors (as I have become accustomed to in Cambridge) but do expect a worthwhile meal. What to get: - Yuccas with their special sauce (with or without dried beef etc., it doesn't really matter) - I may have a love affair with yuccas but they are very delicious here - The Muqueca Completa: so SO worth the price, it came absolutely choc-full of delicious, fresh seafood including super fresh mussels, shrimp and wonderfully soft, pillowy white fish Pass on: - Most of the rest of the menu. It's really not a place to go and order a salad or one of the more regular entrees, either go big or go home.

    (4)

  • San W.

    Been here a few times before (oh, that trek) but most recently brought the mother along to have her try something new. We gots: Seafood Rice Casserole (shrimp, mussels, & squid with cilantro, tomato, onions, & coconut milk) MmMmm...satisfies my craving for something paella-y. Simple but flavorful with plenty of seafood, although the mussels can be hit or miss. Leftovers that I look forward to the next day. Moqueca Completa (fish, shrimp, & mussels with cilantro, tomato, & onions served with rice & pirao) Again, hit or miss with the mussels. I liked the white fish and the shrimp although my mother was iffy on the freshness. (Asian moms.) Neither of us were crazy about the pirao, which is a kind of gravy made from fish stew juices. I was happy with drenching my rice in the moqueca stew itself, which was plenty flavorful. Flan My mother surprisingly liked this more than the entrées! Definitely one of the best flan I have had in awhile. Firm and smooth consistency and not spongy or eggy. Caramel added the perfect amount of sweetness although having the whole thing to yourself might be overkill. In other notes, I love the clay pots that keep everything hot to the last bite. Perfect for a slow eater like me. Service is friendly. Long walk from Central Square is worth it - good to work off those calories afterwards anyway.

    (4)

  • Ina C.

    I was so drunk on this stuff (figuratively) that I really don't remember what we ordered! We got five or six dishes to share for the 8 to 10 of us (I told you I can't remember the details), but I just had to add my four stars to these reviews. First, the cilantro isn't too overpowering. Even those to whom cilantro tastes like soap didn't mind. Was that grammatically correct? Seriously, Muqueca is a wonderful wonderful place.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Got the fried yucca and the shrimp moqueca. Both were very good. The yucca is like fries with ranch. Moqueca had a lot of the tomato mixture in it, could use more rice. The food is a tad bland but a little salt and pepper helped. Not spicy but I did see some kind of spice on the table. Pina colada was good. My group of ten all really liked the food. Nice atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    I had no idea what to expect from Brazilian food. Every other Brazilian restaurant I've been to was a meat-filled buffet in Framingham. This place is thankfully, not that. Tons of vegetarian and pescatarian options. My fish stew was excellent - more than enough for two people and I need to figure out how they do their fried yucca! I'll echo others in that service was super, super slow, so minus one star for that.

    (4)

  • Edward W.

    I would highly recommend making a reservation beforehand if you plan on coming during prime dinner times, as this place packs up pretty quickly and the place itself is not the most spacious. Being in a large group allowed us to try many of their dishes, and I was so glad that I did! Each of us got one of their smoothies, and I got to try the mango samba, mango nana, passion blue, and blueberry mix. Of the 4, I enjoyed the passion blue the most, and the mango smoothies, while good, were a tad too sweet for my taste. We then ordered some appetizers. The Brazilian crab cakes were phenomenal, and fell apart right in your mouth giving you a mouthful of delicious crab flavor. The cod patties were just as good, and came with a unique dipping sauce that I enjoyed. The coconut shrimp was a delightful alternative to the ones you get at asian restaurants, as it had just enough coconut flavor to allow you to relish the taste of the shrimp itself. The fried yucca with Portuguese sausage was the most interesting appetizers of the 4, as I never had yucca before. I would say it was a more stringy sweet potato, but it was awesome nevertheless. The Portuguese sausage was ridiculously good as well, as I could tell that it was seasoned well. For our main courses, we all tried their signature dish: the Moqueca Capixaba seafood stew with fish, mussels, and shrimp. I will first note that the portion sizes are HUGE, as in it could last me for 2 meals huge. They did not skimp on the seafood portions, and on top of that, they piled on top of it heaps of vegetables. The dish also came with a side of rice, and they even gave some unique gravy to pour onto the rice! To say the least, this was the highlight of my night, as the food was astronomically phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this pace to anyone who wants to try a new restaurant, and would definitely come back here again.

    (5)

  • Sylvia C.

    We really didn't know what to expect based on the mixed reviews but fortunately for us - we had a great dining experience. The service was on the slower pace but friendly. Think we should have ordered their specialty dish (clay pots) instead we ventured to other items in the menu. We ordered the following: chicken patties seafood casserole fried red snapper side of fried plantains All were tasty but a but on the drier end. The seafood casserole - similar to the clay pots except the rice was mixed in - which makes it almost like stir-fry rice. The fried red snapper was a bit overly fried with no sauce to compliment. They should have left out the olives that they stuck on as eye balls...kinda made the fish look spooky. I think we would have a better meal if we suck to the popular items. Next time. =)

    (4)

  • Cristina S.

    The food is really tasty and BIG. I go with a girlfriend of mine, and we get the plaintains side, yucca side (with yummy aioli type dipping sauce). Then we usually share one of their seafood dishes, the mariscada. It's in a coconut milk broth and has mussels, calimari, kinda like a yellow version of cioppino. We followed this up with coconut tapica. The chocolate flan is also really good. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is that the service can range from excellent, to mediocre, but you never have water there.

    (4)

  • Heidi B.

    The dining space was clean. Waitstaff was attentive. Food was good - generous portions and timely arrival of dishes. Plus, the caprinha's was tasty. If you've got a few extra bucks and want a good meal in a great environment, give these guys a shot.

    (4)

  • Charmyra F.

    Tonight was my first time eating at Mu Que Ca restaurant. I saw it on PBS' Neighborhood Kitchens television show a few months ago, and was dying to try it out! I'm so happy that we went! The food was fantastic and service was on point! Our waiter gave us really great suggestions while we were making our decisions! My cocktail...Strawberry Caipirinha was gorgeous and delish! The fried plantains were out of this world! I hadn't had them since I visited Puerto Rico in 2003 and I was in heaven! My main dish Shrimp Bobó was so good! The waitstaff was super friendly and it had a family friendly atmosphere! It's difficult to go out to eat from time to time with a toddler, but they made us feel "right at home"! When our little tot wanted to walk around a bit, the waiter said to my husband who was trying to hold him back, "let him roam a little bit it's ok, we're not busy yet". That was nice! They were very friendly and attentive to serving our 3 member family. I can't wait to go back and try a few other dishes! It's a definite neighborhood gem and if you have the opportunity it's worth stopping by!

    (5)

  • Victoria T.

    I'm honestly confused by all the amazing reviews. I would not recommend nor return to this restaurant. Got the fried frog legs ($8), fried diced chicken ($12), and the fish moqueca ($19). The frog legs were alright. Very dry, but admittedly they were supposed to be fried. I would not get this again. They tasted like a leaner/more muscle-y version of chicken. There wasn't much seasoning either so it tasted like dry chicken. The fried diced chicken was....just no. The chicken was very dry, but at least it was seasoned with garlic. It came with white rice, black beans, and fries. The beans were fine, but there was nothing (no sauce or vegetables etc) to go with the rice and fries. No one likes eating plain white rice. Muqueca's specialties are of course, their moqueca's. This was my first time trying a moqueca. The stone pot was pretty cool and the fish itself was fine. The stew had tomato and onion and came with a fish sauce. Since fish, tomato, and onion all have "lighter" tastes, the stew itself just lacked flavor. The fish sauce was homemade, which was nice, but did not add much flavor either. The dishes we tried were pretty bland and I would rather have gone somewhere else. I have been to other brazilian restaurants that I have liked, so muquecas may not be for me. Service was strictly alright.

    (1)

  • Nick C.

    Found this place by accident on my way to another restaurant and decided to give it a try. So glad I did. It's my new favorite restaurant in Cambridge. I had the fish and shrimp moqueca, one of their signature dishes. Absolutely delicious and very filling!!

    (5)

  • A S.

    I was so excited to come here after reading all the reviews. I was wildly disappointed. We really should have known better than to eat here - when we walked in on a thursday evening, we were hit with a wall of old fish smell. It smelled like an outdoor fish market in a hot country at night, after all the fishmongers have gone and only the runoff liquids and scraps from cut fish that have been slowly pooling on the hot ground all day are left. Undaunted, we sat down and ordered four apps (fried coconut shrimp, regular fried shrimp, fried calamari, and brazilian crab cake) and three main course dishes, including Feijoada Completa (Brazilian national dish) and two Moquecas. The fried apps were fried in old dirty oil. They came out blackened and dried, with a horrible old oil smell. You couldn't taste the first couple bites of seafood under the disgusting shell of burnt breading. The seafood itself was rubbery. We were the only people in the restaurant until about halfway through our meal, which leaves me stunned that the waitress or kitchen did not look at what they were serving us and take issue with it. For the price we paid for the apps (approximately $9 each), we expected FAR better. We could not taste or detect any coconut on the coconut shrimp - it tasted exactly the same as the regular shrimp. The crab cake was surprisingly flavourless. The yucca flour was a nice touch, but the crabcake itself was so dry that the dusting of flour stuck to the roof of my mouth and coated the back of my throat like a cinnamon challenge gone wrong. All of the appetizers were inadequately salted, which was disappointing, but better than them being over salted, I suppose. We didn't bother finishing the appetizers (unusual for us because we generally are opposed to food waste), but were holding out hope for the main course. Everything served in the main course was over salted (exact opposite of the apps - and we hadn't said anything to the waitress about salting). The Feijoada Completa was so salty that I could not taste it after about five bites. The black bean stew was flavorless (besides the strong taste of salt) and had a really unpleasant texture. The top had dried as if it'd been sitting out for a while, leaving a weird pseudo-crust over the otherwise sloppy stew. The dried meat was surprisingly gristly and the collard greens were greasy. The fried plantains were the only passable thing on the plate, and even they had been fried in that gross old oil, which really took away from what is usually one of my favorite foods. The moquecas were also incredibly salty and stunk of old fish. This must have been partly where the smell of the restaurant came from. The fish stench was so strong, that I felt uncomfortable eating it and worried that I would be sick later from food poisoning. The old fish and salt flavours overpowered the rest of the stew, which otherwise would have been an interesting dish (the tomato was cool). None of us finished any part of our meals and none of us wanted to take the leftovers home (again, extremely unusual). Honestly, the meal was pretty nauseating. Although none of us had eaten a real meal at Muqueca and were still hungry, our stomachs had turned so severely that none of us were able to eat again until the next day. Of the three waters that came with our meal, one came in a dirty glass. Two sets of silverware had to be sent back because they were dirty as well. I don't understand how at a restaurant that has no other patrons besides our table of three, that they could serve us dirty tableware. It's not as if they were too busy with other patrons to notice. Our waters were also not regularly filled - which is inexcusable when the restaurant is virtually empty and there are two waitresses on hand. Overall, poor service and horrible food. It blew my mind that this horrible meal, where not a single dish had been edible, cost us over $100. I've eaten far better food for three for $30. I don't know where they get their pricing scheme, because none of the food was fresh. I expect to pay $15-$30 per entree for FRESH seafood - not old seafood. If I wanted old seafood, I'd buy it at BJs for a couple dollars a piece and leave it out on my patio all day for it to stink up, then eat it. I wouldn't go out to a two dollar sign ($$) restaurant for it. I'm very confused as to where these positive reviews are coming from. (I noticed another reviewer said this as well, perhaps the food is truly hit or miss.) None of us will ever return. I really want to be able to say one nice thing about this restaurant. The waitress was nice. But she wasn't attentive. We didn't finish a single item - our main courses had a few bites taken out of them. She never questioned this or asked how we enjoyed the food. It's a shame, I was really excited about this place.

    (1)

  • Nicholas S.

    The food here is absolutely delicious. I had the fish muqueca (kind of a seafood stew that you can choose which main ingredient(s) you want) and my friend had the fried fish fillets. They were both made with haddock, and both were incredibly tasty--in different ways. Even the rice was flavorful. It's steamed with garlic and possibly other things. I want to go back here again to try other main dishes as well as their appetizers and desserts. Tip: A muqueca dish can serve two people, especially if you want appetizers or dessert. This makes it an even better deal that it already is, for the quality of food you're getting!

    (5)

  • Michelle L.

    I had been wanting to try out Muqueca for over a year. I'd heard good things. I'd never tried Brazilian food but loved seafood and paella, so it seemed appetizing. But from where I lived in Mission Hill, it was quite a trek to Inman Square. I kept thinking about it, but it never quite worked out. This past May I moved to Inman Square. Suddenly Muqueca was down the street. But I couldn't quite justify going to a restaurant above my usual price range for anything less than a special occasion-- not just on a whim. Then my parents came to visit. Perfect. I would show them the neighborhood and we would head to Muqueca for a nice dinner out. Now, you would think a place couldn't live up to the hype of over a year's worth of anticipation. But Muqueca did. True, the wait was long and service was slow. But we should have expected that showing up at 8 pm to a popular restaurant without reservations. And I don't mind slow service so long as the wait is worth it. I ordered the Mariscada-- I couldn't resist the chance to have crab, calamari, mussels, shrimp, and fish all in one. My mom ordered the Fish Muqueca, and my dad ordered the Shrimp and Fish Muqueca. Every bite was an eye-opener: we couldn't believe how much flavor was concentrated in every spoonful. My chunks of crabmeat, especially, were fresh and succulent. We tried the fish gravy over our rice and enjoyed it. It reminded us a little of chutney, both hot and sweet. But we were astounded by how good our rice was even by itself, or with a little broth spooned over it. We're whole-grain aficionados and not typically fans of white rice, but we found ourselves enjoying it in a way we never have before. My mariscada came with a side dish of plantains. I'm used to fried plantains that come with Caribbean food and was surprised to find that these plantains were different, arriving sauteed in a sweet tomato-based sauce rather than fried until almost caramelized. I still enjoyed the plaintains but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Next time I might try the fried yucca instead. We also enjoyed the juice bar. Ordering juice also ameliorated the wait for our entrees. My parents split an orange-mango-papaya drink and I had the blueberry-mango-passionfruit. Mine was good, but a little tart for my tastes, and I wished I had ordered the wonderfully sweet orange-mango-papaya juice. Which is one reason I'll have to come back. Even though our food took a long time to appear, service was very courteous and attentive. We never wanted for water and several different servers-- and I believe even the owner/manager-- checked in on us multiple times during our meal. The food was beyond delicious and left us too full to contemplate dessert, as delicious as the desserts must be.

    (5)

  • Solomon C.

    first off, don't expect to be in and out of here within an hour. the food takes time to prepare so you'll be sitting around watching other people eat before you get the chance to. If you're starving, go next door for a bag of chips to hold you over. You'll need it. This place did not disappoint. I had the Fish and Shrimp Muqueca. It's a seafood stew served with a side of rice and fish gravy. Think Manhattan Clam Chowder with chunks of fish in it, except better. They were generous with the shrimp and fish chunks. It's savory and a good hearty meal. Definitely recommend going.

    (5)

  • Tani S.

    The hostess was kind to seat us even though we didn't have a reservation, just cautioned that we needed to quickly order since our table was reserved in 1 hr and 15 minutes... This fortunately was more than enough time to have a wonderful meal... We tried both the muqueca completa and the seafood casserole. The seafood casserole puts the paella to shame, all the paellas that we've had here in the US haven't been as delicious and luxurious as this seafood casserole. The muqueca was simply fabulous, I loved the abundance of vegetables in this seafood dish. The waitress was so sweet making conversation with our 2 year old (she has a little one as well) and perhaps because of the pleasant interactions, I have never seen our daughter eat so much! She loved the coconut shrimp as well as her fish dinner with mashed potatoes and rice. We have one month left in Cambridge and quite tempted to stop cooking and eat out every day with such wonderful restaurants in the area...!

    (5)

  • Derek B.

    We went to Mueque for the first time tonight. To be honest, the service was really slow (and it took a long time for the wait staff to even decide where we should sit, and the place wasn't crowded). I said to my friend, "the food had better be great." It was. Really, really great. Tender, delicious cuts of meat, huge portions, delicious sauces. Well worth a visit. Their focus seems to be more on seafood, but the steak was equally delicious and I would highly recommend either.

    (4)

  • James A.

    Really good. I'm not going to try to remember the brazillian names of the dishes - I'll just butcher them - but they were meat and seafood stews. They were great, the fruit frappé was too (not too sweet, lots of passionfruit) and finished with possibly the best flan ever. And the service was informal and friendly, just the way it should be. I want to give it 4.5 - there was just a certain something missing from the mains that stop it from maxing out. It is highly recommended, however!

    (4)

  • Daniel M.

    It is an absolute failure on my part that I have lived less than a 10 minute walk from this place for three years and I am just now experiencing it. Stupid Daniel. Stupid, stupid, Daniel. Luckily I have great friends who say things like "what?!? You've never been?!? We're going!" and so I finally popped in and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. First off there's nothing like being greeted by smiling faces and delicious aromas upon entering a restaurant. The homey feel immediately washes over you and puts you at ease. It's more like eating at a relative's house (one you like) than going out and I appreciate that. But the food. Oh man the food. Trish ordered the Mariscada and out came a glorious bubbling cauldron of amazingness. I was instantly jealous until they brought out my plaintain and tofu stew which was equally glorious as it bubbled angrily in front of me. It's a chore to stay away just long enough to not scald yourself with the dish but I managed. Just barely. OH. MY. GOD. This is the part where the clouds part and and chorus of angels sings. I don't think I could properly sum up how amazing the food is. Beyond anything I've ever had there's such a complexity of flavors wrapped up in a simple one-pot dish. Un-effing-believable. With that said stop reading and go. No, really...go. NOW. You're welcome.

    (5)

  • here t.

    Not to be a killjoy but.... It seems that everyone has been drinking the caiprinhas a bit too fast to realize that the food here is not great. It good and its "A-OK" but that's about it. Sure its whooo-hoo Brazilian and its very busy but, uh, excuse me- I don't get the flavors. Shrimp- lovely to look at, but frozen and near zero in the actual flavor department. Nicely breaded, or in the stew pot with lots of sauce etc. But the fish, which isn't frozen, has way more flavor. I recommend the fish stew over the mussel or shrimp dishes. Mussels were small and tender but again not much to them in the mussel-like flavor dept. Hearts of Palm salad- lovely little presentation. Again, dull as dishwater. Very odd banana or sweet plantain dish- sweet , weird, out of place. Desert was a couple of the round truffle like things... gooey, sort of chocolaty condensed milk. Again with little identity. I think the buzz here is waaay bigger than the actual food. Its good, not bad but the dishes lack any delicacy or distinct character in the three visits Ive had. The above was the most recent. But in the interest of balanced and fair reporting, I had to check in with all y'all.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    What can I say that hasn't already been described here? I'll just comment that. First off, come a bit early. I met some friends here on a Thursday at 7pm. I walked in at 6:50 and it was EMPTY. But by 7:15, it was TOTALLY PACKED. Literally not 1 seat left except the bar. Luckily we squeezed in to the last table. So come early, and don't be put off if you're the only one, the food is great! Also, the portions are bigger than their waitresses suggest---which is a good thing--- if you're aware. The signature Muqueca dishes definitely serve 2. We ordered 4 dishes for 3 guys 2 girls and had enough leftover for 3 more meals. So just under $20 for 2 meals of flavors that are not easy to find in America? Good deal by my estimation. So that's it, for other input read others' reviews! I'm coming back!

    (5)

  • Raquel T.

    The food here was very good, but I think my expectations were set too high because of the reviews here. Nothing really blew me away, and the service was so-so. I had the shrimp and fish moqueca bahia style (with coconut milk, but you couldn't really taste it). My boyfriend had the whole fried red snapper, which I thought was better than my dish. The rice was delicious. My complaint is more with the fact that we were asked to vacate our table immediately after paying our bill because others were waiting. It's not like we were lingering for hours, and we still had a little sangria left. It just felt pretty rude.

    (3)

  • Kathleen F.

    Walked over here from Harvard Square. First time eating Brazilian. I had the mussel muqueca and my friend had fish muqueca. We finished off the meal with some flan and fried plantains. Yum! I left feeling satisfied/full, but not in that uncomfortable/gross way. Thanks Yelp for a great recommendation!

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    This instantly became my favorite restaurant. When you've been living in the city for a while, it's a rare and exciting occurrence when you find something totally new and totally amazing. Be sure the make a reservation!

    (5)

  • Eunice B.

    Initially, I was a little worried as the waitress would not seat us until our whole party arrived (3 out of 4 were there!). Our friend just arrived as she said she was going to give our table away if another complete party arrived ... So my tip #1 is make sure you all arrive on-time if you have a booking :-) But despite that initial hick-up - it was definitely worth it. So fantastic to eat Brazilian food other than BBQ!!! Further, the service throughout the meal made up for it. They were super nice to bubs (always helps), recommended dishes, kept us informed on wait time for food etc. As other yelpers have said - fried yucca and cod cakes to start were fantastic.We then ate the fried red snapper (my favourite dish), fish muqueca and black bean and pig stew! All were yummy. Tip no 2: We went on a Tuesday night - relatively easy to get a table if you are a smallish group.

    (4)

  • Rehan W.

    eh not bad we made reservations for 8 but one of our party members was late and they wouldnt seat us...restaurant was not busy. anyway we waited 15 min and finally seated. they refused to let the baby sit anywhere but on an upside down chair and then were upset we didnt count the 4 week old as a seated member of our party when we made the reservation. overall the manager was quite rude. she also threatened to have us pay for empty plates if we wanted to share dessert. BAD! as for the food, the moquecas were soupy, not terrrible, the tofu one as well as the fish shrimp were our picks. also the plantain lasagna was pretty on point if u like cheesey plantainy gooey goodness unfortunately, the juices were not cold, kind of like warm fruity mixes. i got the strawberry pina colada, nothing to really brag about, so i was kinda let down after reading other reviews all in all a different experience, look for parking on the street and prepare to walk a few blocks if needed. food just okay and the service was def not pleasant.

    (3)

  • David M.

    The food was pretty good, though overly rich with very fresh and tasty seafood mixed in. I would actually have given the place 5 stars if only for the food, since its a cute small place, that is very unique... ...but: The prices are a bit higher than a small cafe style dining should be. This would have been ok, except for the ridiculous sercice: We were seated at a table that was just below the counter where the waitresses stand. They couldn't see us... they forgot us. First they didn't come to take our order, after a wait, they finally came. My meal was brought out, but Charlotte's was forgotten. Turns out they gave it to another table. After a longer wait, her food was brought out. This was repeated waiting for the check, geting left overs wrapped, getting the credit cards back. The waitress apologized profusely every time... but nothing changed. We did, however, get offered a free desert and a free entre, so I will give them props for that. My final review: Great food, but probably not too healthy. Questionable service (I saw other people go through less extreme, but similar frustrations around me), but friendly. Mostly, the price is just too much for a small cafe style dining experience.

    (3)

  • Tiffany Z.

    Delicious shrimp & fish moqueca -- a must try! That in combination with the feijoada (a black bean + meat stew and the country's national dish!) would be a terrific taste of Brazil for three people. Plus, I think it's nice to balance out the seafood with a heavier meat dish. I prefered the moqueca to the mariscada (coconut milk broth), but others at my table had the opposite opinion -- so, it's really a matter of preference. And, all very moderate prices. I wasn't a huge fan of the fresh juices or the desserts (and we tried 5 of them; the passion fruit mousse was the best of the ones I sampled). The service could be a tad friendlier :) But despite the negative points, I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the mood for moqueca!

    (4)

  • Lala I.

    went there with two friends last sunday. had to wait in line. entrees were ok. ordered moqueca completa and seafood rice casserole and some appetitzers. relatively small portions. i love flan and i was so excited to get it, but it wasnt good there. i was extremely disappointed. come on how can u mess up on that. i dun think i would go back.

    (2)

  • D. M.

    Came here because a friend of mine had a coupon. Didn't know what to expect but didn't come away disappointed. We started of with the house salad which was a little unusual but very good. It had corn and hearts of palm on top of the usual lettuce, tomato and etc. For main entree I had the steak which came in the cast iron skillet with fries and black beans and rice on the side. The steak was nice and tender but was too salty. My friend had a seafood dish which she really enjoyed. We finished off with dessert. I had the flan which was amazing and my friend had the tapioca & coconut which was also very good. This place is definitely worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Maybe it's because I grew up in Miami, and I am used to small ethnic restaurants that are charming and make good food. I really really liked this place. But I'm not in love with it. The Muqueca is delicious. Cilantro, onion and tomato have a great way of making a stew very bright and fresh tasting. Personally, I could have gone with a broth with more intensity. And I really wanted nothing to do with the gummy sauce that came on the side. Their fried foods were wonderfully greaseless and the cod fritters had a great crispy crust. The black beans were tasty and the greens were shredded and had a good tooth. All very simple, very rustic, very comforting. But, for me, there wasn't anything that pushed it up into the 4* category. Maybe when I go back, I will find it.

    (3)

  • George T.

    I've been to Muqueca a couple of times in their old location, and just went in their new location. Unfortunately, the wait for a table is just as a slow, so make a reservation. The fried yucca appetizer is ok, nothing special. I am unimpressed by their namesake seafood platters, their vibrantly colored fish is covered in herbs, so one would expect it to be very flavorful, but it just isn't. So why am I giving them 4 stars? It's because of the feijoada completa. It is a black bean soup with sausage and some other meat in it. And it is so good, if you've ever been disappointed by Muqueca, come back and order the feijoada completa and you will love Muqueca.

    (4)

  • Gordon C.

    If I could give this place 6/5 stars, I would. This place is one of the saving graces for the terrible food scene that poor Cambridge has to offer. We came here for Sunday lunch, and as soon as the doors opened at noon, five other groups came in. The decor was really nice - did they recently remodel? We started off with fried yucca served with ranch, which was well-prepared - not overly greasy, good crunch, and lightly salted to taste. Good opener. Their fresh juice bar is a MUST. Unlike regular smoothies, their juices don't have excessive ice and are perfectly balanced in flavor - not too sweet or thick, perfect to quench your thirst and delightfully cool. I had the pina colada, and if I had more money in my wallet at the time, I would've ordered another. The specialty of this place is, as per the name, their moqueca, which is a seafood stew plus onions, garlic, tomatoes, and topped with some cilantro. It was served with some rice and this sorta fish-sauce thing, as well as a hot sauce on the side. I ordered the moqueca completa, which came with fish, mussels, and prawns. The moqueca was absolutely perfect on its own - the stew was clearly not rushed, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the flavors balanced very well with the rice. I'm not sure that the sauce it came with on the side added all that much flavor. The thing that really put this meal over the top, however, was the hot sauce. It was really creamy, thick, and had a really pleasing punch of flavor that wasn't just a generic "hot;" it really enhanced the garlic and saltiness of the stew. Mix that all up with the rice, and it became one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. If you ever are in Boston and have a free morning, make the trip over the Charles to eat here. It's worth every single penny.

    (5)

  • Thiago G.

    Sooo Good!! Amazing Dishes!! Good Luck trying to figure out the MENU, But what ever you choose its ganna be the best!! Waiting staff is great and responsive very quick, Dim Lighting, A great evening setting Food is well worth the expensive price! Portions are Huge and Fish is Fresh!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    I was blown away by how good the food was. I had the Moqueca Completa, which is a brilliant fish stew that has a delicious sofrito-based broth. To hell with my Irish heritage, this to me is perfect comfort food. I could eat this in any weather and feel like it hit the spot. The kids had fish and chips. The batter had a great flavor, and while I'm not sure what they used for the fish, it was perfectly cooked, still retaining firmness while flaking nicely. When the kids meal rocks your world, you know you've found a good spot. Fried plantains were a nice side. Only downside was a minor complaint about the service. The food wasn't served all at once so the kids were done before we even got our plates. But I know that next time I'll just ask to make sure we all get served at the same time.

    (5)

  • Angie C.

    My husband and I went to Muqueca for the first time intending to use our Groupon, but we were in a hurry at the end of our meal because I had an appointment to get to and we forgot to use the coupon... Whomp, whomp. Oh well, at least the food was good enough that we won't mind going back! We started out with some juice (more like smoothies), which I recommend - or an appetizer if you prefer - because it seemed like the main dishes took a little while to prepare and bring out hot and begging to be eaten. We got the fish and shrimp moqueca, and the shrimp was particularly good. In addition to the seafood and flavorful sauce, the dish was very fresh with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro or something or other in the mix. We also got the feijoada completa, and it was yummy. I lived in Brazil for a year and a half, granted in a different part of the country than the kind of food this was, but I've had feijoada before and this was good. My husband's favorite thing about the meal was probably his fried plantains. :) The waitstaff was prompt and attentive without hovering, and I think several of them were Brazilian (which to me always enhances the experience of ethnic cuisine, you know, to have someone who really knows what they're talking about take care of you). We went for an early dinner (well, 6pm is early for us) and it got busy not long after, so I suggest calling to make a reservation - especially for weekend dining.

    (4)

  • Mr. Met s.

    Yucca - a must try.Crispy exterior delicious mouth warming interior. We added sausage, but it's not necessary. Lasagana with sweet banana - WOW mouth melting 3 different kinds of cheese, with perfectly made sweet, soft platians. Though the cheese wasn't the best cheese on the earth - still a great dish. Now for the Muqueca - we ordered the fish/shrimp one. Nothing really special - but just excellent and probably authentic home style Brazillian food. The fish is of low quality, and mediocre shrimp. Decent broth, that mixed well with rice. It wasn't amazing amazing, but something a Brazillian mommy would make for you/ Anyway, a must try place. Small place, seats about 20 max, good service, and plentiful meter parking. We went during 3:30pm on a Friday, and there was barely anyone there.

    (4)

  • Stephanie M.

    We decided to try this place out since everything was packed in Inman for lunch this Saturday -seated immediately, great. -took about 10mins for someone to come by to take our order. -ordered just apps (calamari and the coconut shrimp). . .and drinks from the JUiCE BAR. -TOOK FOREVER 25+ mins for food to arrive (we had only ordered appetizers). . .ANNND they accidentally gave our food to the people seated next to us and they were a bit confused and we were like umM I think that's ours, but whatevs...They also brought us the wrong check. . . I'm not sure if it's just the south american culture seeping in of EVERYTHiNG taking forever. . . the calamari were nothing special...the coconut shrimp was good though! same with the fRESH juices...very good. OH! and the MUSiC was truly awfuL. I will be back again to give it a second chance. Some of the dishes smelled REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLy good! k bai

    (2)

  • Betty P.

    It's probably not fair to write a review of a restaurant without trying its food, but I must give an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the service at Muqueca. I went to buy a gift certificate on a Sunday afternoon and although the place was surprisingly bustling, the two women who greeted me and processed my purchase were so friendly! I have been to many other places just to get a gift certificate and am often greeted with a scowl or lack of interest. Not here. The woman who gave me the gift certificate asked me how I was and thanked me for coming. Sounds silly and basic, but trust me, good service is often hard to find. I look forward to coming into this restaurant myself to try their food. As I was waiting for the gift certificate, the smells wafting from the kitchen were wonderful. BTW, you can purchase gift certificates either over the phone or in person in any denomination. The website also allows you to place food orders online.

    (5)

  • Ukyo T.

    I really enjoyed this place. First off, you have to try their fresh fruit juice; Their pina colada and Tropical Freeze (Banana, Pineapple, Orange Juice, Cashew & Passion Fruit) is REALLY fresh & well worth the money. Their seafood is really fresh - their fish was delicious! We ordered a fish/rice plate and a tripe stew. Overall, everything was really well made -- perfect seasoning and everything. I just wished I had room for dessert.

    (5)

  • Ellen C.

    I was having a wickedly craptastic day last week. Tearing into the fried whole red snapper at Muqueca *totally* fixed my mood. The place was packed, and a little cramped, with a line that formed seconds after we walked in and snagged the only open table. But the service was excellent - really friendly waitress - and the food was amazing. Lots of great flavor, and despite being deep fried the fish was light and delicious. The whole experience was like hanging out in a Brazilian grandmother's kitchen. Friendly, homey, and comfortable.

    (5)

  • Jamila L.

    Best Brazilian place I've been to in New England. I went there yesterday with a couple of friends for dinner and the food was AMAZING. We arrived there around 6:30pm on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was practically empty. There is a small bar directly ahead when you walk in and there are some bench seating and small tables to the left. This restaurant is not big by any means and the decor is not top notch. There was some fish nets and and fake sea animals hung on a couple walls and that's about it, but what they lack in decor they certainly make up for in service and food. We were seated promptly and our server was very friendly. My friend and I ordered the Caiparinha for our drinks which is just sugar cane rum, raw sugar and lime. So refreshing! If you haven't had one before, you should it will change you life. One of my friends already knew what she wanted to have before we even walked into the restaurant. She has been to Brazil before and was craving fish Moqueca. It is a brothy mixture with big hunks of haddock served to you in a clay pot. Looked delicious and she said it was. I had the Mariscada. Which had shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. It was delicious, plain and simple. Its also served to in a clay pot. My other friend ordered a simple chicken breast dish, with caramelized onions and rice with a side salad. I didn't try it but she said it was yummy as well. All in all it was a great experience and I will definitely be going back again!

    (4)

  • Marcos R.

    Just to give you an idea, I was sitting next to a Brazilian guy who came all the way from Cape Cod and described this place as the "best Brazilian restaurant in the Northern Hemisphere [..] and I've been to Panama and other countries." Every patron in the restaurant seemed to be so happy to be eating this food, be it they were in groups, a date, or even just alone like our friendly nordestino. Concededly, I am not the greatest connoisseur of Brazilian cuisine, but I've had the food before, and have learned how in most cases it is supposed to be hearty, tasty (not necessarily spicy) and the combination of Iberian, African and American Aboriginal elements, just like the food of my country, the Dominican Republic. We shared an amazingly generous order of yucca with a dip sauce made of garlic and probably mayo. Excellent appetizer! For her: shrimp moqueca, one of the house's signature dishes, shrimp in a red stew with a masterful seasoning of cilantro... to die for. And I ordered the seasonal fried red snapper, a humongous fish to be eaten with pommes frites and yucca flour and some sauce to dip with. Oh, and both of our orders came with a generous and delicious portion of white rice seasoned with cilantro. While it was difficult to eat this dish, I should have asked for something that would make me be less self-aware, especially meeting someone for dinner for the first time. Overall, despite the small size of the venue (BTW, they're planning on moving to a new larger place also on Cambridge St.) and the fact that the kitchen's smells can permeate into your clothes, I give this place five stars for the deliciousness of its dishes, the warm and friendly service, authenticy and reasonable prices.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    Husband and I enjoyed Muqueca for dinner. Our server was very friendly. I had the beef stroganoff. Not what I expected at all, but very good. Not being very familiar with Brazilian fare, it surprised me that it had little french fry crunchy things on it. Is that a traditional thing? Doesn't seem like it, but it worked. Husband had the seafood casserole and it also had great flavor. Great presentation of the food in stone bowls. One warning, I had a second sprite, thinking it was from a fountain machine, but when we got our bill we were charged for 2 sprites. Wish the server would have told us, because I didn't need that second sprite that bad.

    (4)

  • Jon S.

    My favorite restaurant in Inman square. Often times I take my out of visitors here as it is tough to recreate this coastal Brazillian flavor profile elsewhere. I order the moqueca or the deep-fried red snapper and ignore the rest of the menu. I'm impressed by the consistency of the moqueca. It tastes the same every time (major kudos from me). The fruit drinks are nice and natural tasting (if that's your thing).

    (4)

  • Jane N.

    Based on all the glowing reviews here I tried Muqueca last night and yep, the word on the street is for real! I had the amazing caipirinha (well 2 actually) and my beau had a couple rounds from the juice bar: excellent. The cocktail was a perfect balance of sour lime and booze... mmmmm. This drink often gets the syrupy-sweet treatment but the bar keep here knows what she's doing! We shared the yucca appetizer and then each had a plate. The shrimp bobo was so creamy and the perfect comfort food for a cold New England night. We had a reservation and I'm glad we did: the place was jumpin at 7:30 on a Sat. Service was friendly and prompt. What more can I say? I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    After thirteen years in Cambridge, we decided to finally check out Muqueca. The new space (note: they have moved a block away from their original location) is colorful enough, though the room lacks any real kind of ambience or coziness (think of it this way -- Casa Portugal has more ambience than Muqueca -- and I don't think Casa Portugal is notable for its ambience). I ordered the muqueca, which was not nearly as rich as I thought it would be -- it's a thin, mild broth with tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and tons of shrimp served with a bowl of rice and a watery, but thankfully quite flavorful, seafood stock. Admittedly, I was picturing a thick, rich stew of coconut milk and fish, so this was far lighter and milder (and, frankly, blander) than I expected. I also ordered a side of fried plaintains, likely the best part of the meal --fried to (unhealthy) perfection, these were absolutely delicious. Our friends also ordered muqueca (one had fish, one had fish and shrimp) and my husband had the sirloin, which was pretty tough (note: no steak knives at Muqueca, or at least none were presented after we requested one), served with a fried egg and onions. The dessert choices might warrant a trip down Cambridge Street to Christina's -- we had the chocolate flan, which was more mousse than flan. Dense and heavy, it wasn't exactly what I expected. There are other options though, including a tiramisu (they were all out of tiramisu tonight) and a chocolate cupcake which looked promising. Where Muqueca is less impressive is with its service. The oddness started when we walked in and the waitress told us she wouldn't seat our incomplete party (we were waiting for our two friends). Ordinarily I'm fine with this kind of policy, but the waitress was surprisingly rude, and it seems to me that any kind of policy should be communicated in a friendly-- rather than a punitive-- way. Once we were seated, it took a long time to get our waitress' attention, but when she arrived she was very helpful with menu suggestions. However -- and here I echo Kim P.'s review-- when my husband ordered the sirloin steak, he asked for salad instead of fries. When the dish arrived with a heap of fries, he said "I actually asked for salad." The waitress said "no you didn't," and he said, "Well, yes, I did." She walked away and returned with a small salad and an unhappy face. Finally, a small service no-no: Muqueca was guilty of my all time restaurant pet peeve! The waiter started clearing plates before we were all finished. Folks absolutely love Muqueca (it was packed when we were there, and any time I've passed by, it's been crowded) and I suspect the crowds appreciate the casual atmosphere, the affordable prices, and the comfort food. If you want something relatively simple -- like a fish stew -- Muqueca is a great, relatively cheap option. I wouldn't, however, recommend it if you want a nice evening out- the service is a bit too prickly, and the food is a bit too bland.

    (3)

  • Jim W.

    Awesome Brazilian food and very reasonable. I have to agree with previous reviews-get here early or go on a weeknight if possible. The food is worth a wait, but the place is tight and you don't want to be pressed against other folks waiting in this place, unless it is bitter cold and you just need to be squeezed into a tight space with a passel of other hungry people and sweat like crazy from the heat rolling out of the kitchen. There were 5 in our group and we probably ordered 6-7 different items and shared around the table. Great way to go. Fried Plantains I had here may have been the best I've had.

    (4)

  • Judy W.

    Completely great experience on a rainy early Tuesday evening - 6:30 is a good time to go: meters are done, so free parking right outside and a prime window seat. Airy blue ocean colors, complementary artwork, and soothing Brazilian music at just the right level. Service was quick and attentive. Caipirinha was ok, but not freshly made. Crispy coconut shrimp apps were good if not particularly coconuty. My tofu/plantain muqueca was hot and fresh but slightly bland; companion's shrimp/mussel muqueca was better, with a fish sauce to pour over the rice. Good espresso and super sweet truffle for dessert at reasonable cost made even more so by a coupon. Made me wish I could go to Brazil!

    (4)

  • Kris M.

    Literally, as good as it gets. Came here with my Brazilian friend, who claims that this is the best Brazilian restaurant in Boston she's found. High praise, indeed. Four of us descended on the restaurant on Friday night around 7. Having called ahead, we had a reservation in place, but it was not really needed as there were two tables open. Having said that, I'm sure that by Murphy's Law if we hadn't made the call, they would have been full. Appetizers were fried yucca with sausage and Brazilian patties with chicken (salgadinhos ou frango). Yucca was tasty, if a bit dry, but with a good dipping sauce, while the patties were little fried dumplings of delicious chicken and some cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered shrimp bobo, mariscada, plaintain and tofu moqueca (for the vegitarian), and chicken strogonoff. Everything came out piping hot, happily simmering and bubbling away in black-glazed pottery bowls. Everything was also delicious, even the strogonoff (which I wouldn't have expected). Full of flavor, not quite spicy but not quite sweet, and packed with vegetables, fish, and shellfish of all kinds. For dessert we split the chocolate and the regular flan; the regular flan was a bit tastier. All told, our meal set us back about $80 before tip, and it was well worth every last penny. Bonus: at least one of the servers is a Yelper! They do deserve their "Yelp loves us!" sticker in their window.

    (5)

  • Fawn Q.

    What a disappointment. The seafood muqueca that we got was very bland, it is also quite small. The Brazilian national dish, Feijoada Completa, was really tasty, it had a good combination of sausages, pork, and pork belly (nom nom)

    (2)

  • Bonita Y.

    Introduced to this place by MIT grad student (proves that this place is a GENIUS choice!) Scene: Entered in on a chilly-October night with few flakes of snow Item to order: MARISCADA...for $18.95, you get a bowl of: - Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid - cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. - Served wi th rice, farofa & plantain moqueca Three words: I'll be back :D

    (4)

  • Ash D.

    We were out for dinner to this place on a freaking cold Winter Friday and were welcomed with a warm blow of heat from the space heaters hanging from the wall as soon as we entered the place. It's exactly what we expected. A small, packed, foodie, hole in a wall joint with very friendly waitresses and good looking food. We tried everything recommended by the waitress and we liked what we got. I would say that the shrimp bobo was our best closely followed by Cod Capixaba and of course, fish Moqueca. If you are a foodie you would love this place. If you are not, it's still worth going.

    (5)

  • Esther W.

    Heard awesome things about this place so went with a few friends to check it out. This was my first non-bbq exposure to Brazilian food and I LOVE seafood so I was excited. We shared several appetizers and dishes among us to get a good sampling. The Brazilian crab cakes and fried Yuca with some kind of yummy sauce -- both awesome. The calamari was not special at all (kind of like the frozen kind you get out of a box) and wouldn't get it again (but the passion fruit sauce that came with it was quite good). For entrees, we had the plantain lasagna which was really good for the first few bites, especially when it was piping hot, but then the overload of cheese and cream sauce got overwhelming. The seafood muqueca was great, especially the fish. We also got the mariscada, which was like a seafood casserole (included coconut milk I think, so it was almost curry like) which I thought was really tasty. I think we all liked it for the most part, although the food took a really really long time and we were starving. And, I had one major problem through the dinner which I should have realized beforehand -- I don't like cilantro. Unfortunately, the crabcakes, the muqueca and the mariscada all were loaded with cilantro. That was the hard part for me. So, cilantro-haters, make sure you take note.

    (4)

  • ivy L.

    Came here on a whim and had to sit at the bar cuz they were all booked. Make reservations ahead of time! Ordered the Mariscada and Fish with Shrimp Moqueca. Both were very good, full of flavor. Out of the two I think the Mariscada was better.

    (4)

  • ana l.

    There are not enough stars for this place. The restaurant might not like reservations for 17 people on a Friday at 630pm, but they will do it. The small place gets packed around 7pm..didn't really see many people having to wait because it seemed to have a good turn around rate with customers coming and going. Appetizers: Calamari not a fan of their breading, but the passion fruit dipping sauce is wonderful! The yucca was a bit drier then I would have liked but the dipping sauce complemented it well. My main course: Seafood rice casserole. This IS the dish for seafood lovers. Plenty of shrimp, calamari, and mussels in each bite (and you will get seafood in each forkful). The rice is moist and seasoned so well I could not stop talking about how good it was. Side note: Two of us ordered this dish and were sitting on the same side so our orders were combined and served on a larger platter. Also tried the Cod Capixba: Delicious! The rice, eggs, and plantains are served on top of the cod. Very nice presentation. The dishes are plentiful, the staff is pleasant and the food is ready in no time!

    (5)

  • Beril B.

    Very good service. Good food. Friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend the mixed Seafood dish with cilantro, onions and coconut milk.

    (4)

  • jen m.

    My boyfriend decided that this is where he wanted to go for his birthday dinner and i'm SO glad he did. I was skeptical after a quick glance at the online menu, not having any experience with Brazilian food and not being a huge seafood lover. We went on a sunday evening with a group of 10 and we had a 5pm reservation. we were seated very promptly despite the restaurant being busy. the waitress took our drink orders and we all became immersed in the menu. there were so many choices - heavy on the fish. the muqueca with tofu and plantains called to me and that's what i ended up with. we started with the fried yucca appetizer, which was very good with the ranch dip that came on the side. they were lightly salted and nicely crisp. the hot sauce on the table was a great addition to the ranch for a spicy dipping sauce. the hot sauce was unique - creamy and thick with a really good mouth numbing burn but good flavor as well. our meals arrived within a reasonable amount of time (people were just finishing apps) and the servings were quite large! the muquecas are served boiling hot in cool stone bowls along with a side of rice. if two people get the same one, they get a larger bowl to share (although the waiter made sure to ask if this was ok, which was a nice touch). my stew was delicious!! it was full of cilantro and tomatoes and onions...everything blended together so well. I got it spicy and it was the pefect level of heat. there were chunks of tofu and plantains to soak up the yummy flavors. i was very impressed but was only able to eat half of the bowl - it was that big! for those of you who hate cilantro, my boyfriend was able to order his stew without cilantro or onions and the waitress explained that they make everything to order (likely why it's not super fast to get your food) so they can customize as you wish. i mentioned to the waitress that we had a birthday and they came over with a slice of the coconut tapioca cake with a candle and sang, which was cute and appreciated. overall, i loved our experience here and will definitely be going back and bringing others. by the time we left (around 7pm) there was a wait at the door, so plan to spend some time - get a glass of wine (very reasonable $5 for house glasses), bring good company, and enjoy the food!

    (4)

  • Josh K.

    I tried the Lasagna de Banana, and it was good but not what I expected from a Plantain Lasagna. I thought either the noodles would be made out of plantains similar to the way gnocchi is made from potatoes and/or there would be plantains mixed in with a traditional lasagna tomato sauce and cheese. The lasagna consisted of plantains cover with cheese, and there were no noodles or tomato sauce in the dish. It resembled lasagna about as much as cheese fries resembles macaroni and cheese. With that being said, the dish was still good. The cheese was delicious, and the plantains were cooked nicely. It just was a little too cheese heavy for my taste. The menu looked so good, so I'll definitely go back to try another dish.

    (3)

  • Marcelo C.

    Better than the food you get in Brazil!

    (5)

  • Alisa K.

    This restaurant has great food but the service was so terrible I can't in good conscience give it a good review. Judging from the other reviews, our experience was not an aberration. Our server made a big fuss that we were a party of 7, not 6, as one our friends has a four week old baby. I asked for an extra glass three times to three different servers and finally gave up and walked over to the bar to get one. Finally, I asked for an extra plate for the dessert a few of us were sharing and our server told us they would have to charge us for an extra plate. The food was quite good - I had the vegetarian muqueca with yucca and tofu, which was one of the best vegetarian dishes I've had. The banana lasagna was a really unique blend of sweet and savory. The pineapple mint drink was refreshing and they have a great selection of nonalcoholic cocktails. The food is great but this place really needs to work on its service.

    (1)

  • B D.

    Being from Brazil and having experienced a muqueca back there, I should not give this place five stars. Very good food there, nice ambiance. Update: Twice I've been to this place and was seated and not acknowledged for over 15 minutes. The first time I stayed because my friend really wanted to try the food. The second, I left. Will not be back.

    (3)

  • Heather G.

    Fried plantains were OK but the star was the passion fruit dipping sauce they provided upon my request. The plantains were too dry to eat as a stand-alone, and the taste was more grease than anything. tried both the Fish Moqueca and the Mariscada. The mariscada was by-far the superior option if you had to get one. The broth is more coconut-y than the moqueca, and the dish comes chock-full of delicious seafood. A lot of the seafood in the dish is a bit overcooked and rubbery, but then again, when you serve a soup in a piping hot stone bowl, I bet it is tricky to keep the seafood the right consistency, as it continues to cook in the bowl throughout the meal. This soup was hearty and filling without feeling heavy. It had a very fresh flavor and hit the spot on a cold night. The moqueca was also good, but a bit heavier-tasting than the mariscada. The broth was spicier and heavier, and the fish itself was unremarkable. Still, the dish was tasty, and provided a lot of leftovers for the next day. Going back, I would have the mariscada again 100 times over. A MUST-HAVE.

    (4)

  • F A.

    My Brazilian friend introduced me to this restaurant and I am a big fan of this place. Their prices are reasonable and the seafood is always fresh. Nice to try something different once in a while, and all of their muqueca is great. Very friendly staff as well.

    (4)

  • Sara G.

    Wow! Really great food--and the price is right. Business is definitely doing well after their move to the new place. Even with the liquor license, their mixed juices are the way to go. The staff is friendly, and the food is just really, really tasty. And, you will have enough left over for lunch the next day.

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    This place is great. I was in Boston for two separate trips during the summer of 2007. During my first stay is when I found Muqueca. I don't know they name of the name of the neighborhood, but there's lots of Portuguese & Brazilian influences. Muqueca was my first Brazilian food experience, and they didn't disappoint. I went w/ a Brazilian smoothie. I can't remember the flavor but it had Brazilian fruits & it was yummy! I had some plantains as a side and had Shrimp Muqueca for the main course. All the food was off the fresh (sorry for going 80s, but it was yumm!). I wish I had a belly big enough to gulp it all up! :) I wish I had a fridge and microwave at the hotel, cuz I had a little food leftover and it woulda been great for lunch the next day. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting to try some great Brazilian food.

    (5)

  • Tara G.

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! YUM YUM YUM! Fish in a pot!

    (5)

  • Jeff R.

    I've been in Boston for almost 3 months now, and this is the first place I've been to that compelled me to write a review. Our dinner at Muqueca was the best I've had in Boston. We arrived on a Saturday night around 8 and waited about 15 min for a two person table, but I'd recommend a reservation because it's a very small space. We ordered the coconut shrimp, the shrimp muqueca, and the fish muqueca. It was A LOT of food. The coconut shrimp was tasty but not terribly memorable. But the muqueca's were so good. The seafood was perfect and the vegetables tasted so fresh. And the best part about it was that it was loaded with cilantro! The bill came to $40, which is pretty good for 3 seafood dishes. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is that they don't serve alcohol. I would have loved some sangria or a caipirinha to go along with the meal, but no such luck. Unfortunately I'm not interested in ordering a $5 smoothie or glass of fresh fruit juice for dinner, no matter how delicious it may be. But...drinks can always wait. The food is certainly worth it.

    (4)

  • Janine A.

    The place is small and very crowded. I believe we waited about 20 mins for a table. The service was ok, and there was a really long wait for the food. I take it the food is made to order because everyone seemed to be waiting a long time for food. The food was absolutely worth the wait. Fresh, amazing, and large portions. We could have shared one order between the two of us instead of ordering individual meals. This is not a place to go to if you are in a hurry or on a schedule because of the wait for food. The pace of the staff is really slow too. We waited for to go containers, and waited for the bill. The food was absolutely worth it. Next time we hope to leave room for dessert.

    (4)

  • Katrina G.

    So Good. I love Indian, Thai, Mexican and Caribbean food and I have several go to places, however yesterday I wanted to try something new. This place hit the spot! Best food I've had in a Boston restaurant in years. The plantain Moqueca and the "must try" Mariscada (shrimp, mussels, tomato and onions in a spicy coconut milk reduction) was amazing. I cannot wait to go back and sample the rest of the menu and desserts. Tip: Call in advance to secure a table. Plan to wait 10-15 minutes past your reservation time as people like to linger over dessert at this very popular little spice heaven. Don't worry, it is well worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Aditi R.

    Right when you walk in you're immediately hit with a fishy smell - except this time around it's a good kind. Seafood enthusiasts would love this place for it has the perfect balance of intense flavor and incredibly well cooked seafood. It's a small restaurant with an incredibly eclectic patronage. At any given time I have seen people of all nationalities sitting at this place and it makes it that much more fun to come and dine here. The staff is incredibly nice as well and the decor of the place lends itself to a cheery atmosphere fit to be right out of a finding nemo set (the giant wall art with marine life and a net around it being the focal point). They have a great juice bar for people who want something refreshing to start off with. However we decided to forgo that and get right into pigging out. So the appetizer order was the fried yucca. Oh how delicious - when served it doesn't look all that appetizing for it doesn't have much color nor does it have anything in terms of presentation, but the taste makes up for all of that and much more. The dipping sauce provides a great way to add to the taste of the crispy fried yucca and we had soon devoured the entire thing within 5 minutes of it being served. On to the next! You cannot come here and not try their signature moquecas. Unfortunately, I am allergic to shellfish and cannot try most of their moquecas. Fortunately they cater to one and everyone, so they have a fish, fish and calamari, and even a vegetarian moqueca. PERFECT! So we went ahead with the Fish and Calamari one and it certainly did not disappoint. The sizzling clay pot that is brought out (after a good waiting period of about 20 minutes) to show that there was a reason for the waiting we had to endure, the colors are immediately eye catching, as is the aroma and the sizzle of it all. This dish is amazing. The fish was cooked to perfection (they change the fish each time you order this dish) and melted in my mouth and the calamari was equally amazing. My only gripe with this dish is that of the two times I've been here and ordered this dish, it seems to lack a little bit of salt and thus doesn't have that punch - but no worries, we add some salt and pepper and the incredibly spicy side they have at the table and voila, we're set! Oh is it delicious... The second entree we ended up ordering was the Lansanha de Banana which is made with plantain, 3 cheese sauce & oregano. Brought along with it is a plate of rice. I don't even want to THINK about how many calories are in this dish, simply because I just don't want to ruin it for me ever ordering it. The three types of cheeses melted on the sweet plantains are incredible. Though you have to be hungry for a day or so to finish this dish - it's simply too rich to finish al in one go, especially when there's another entree on the table...even with two people. But man is it good! After we were sufficiently stuffed, we looked over our shoulders to see our neighbors being served flan. Suddenly (and magically) there was more room created in our stomachs for more food! So we continue our culinary journey through Brazil to end our night with some flan. Nothing spectacular, but certainly satisfying and a good way to put a close to a wonderful meal. This place is quite far from where I live. I have to catch two different trains and walk an extra 15-20 minutes to get to this place, but I'm willing to do it over and over again simply because their food and everything about their restaurant is amazing. DEF give it a try if you haven't!

    (4)

  • Gina G.

    Muqueca is a must for those who have never tried Brazilian food. Its dishes are representative of some of the most popular foods in Brazil (I'm Brazilian), and it's cheap! I recommend 1) The fried yucca (mandioca in Portuguese) but think they should be eaten without the sauce and with extra salt. That way you can actually taste it! 2) Rice and beans - it's not like Mexican rice and beans and is a staple in Brazil, you gotta have it. 3) The steak - yes it's "just a steak" but it comes sizzling on a tiny grill to the table ad is great quality. Plus it comes with vinaigrette sauce (typical), farofa, rice and beans 4) The strogonoff: i didn't think it was wonderful but my boyfriend LOVED it. It's quite good, also a typical dish (though its origins are Russian). 5) Dessert: acai bowl or pudim de leite! YUM. Clearly I'm not into muquecas or fishy dishes, so I'm not one to recommend those. Also, the owner, whose face is plastered on many awards/reviews on the wall - is super sweet, loves what she does, is a chef, cook, and waitress at the place. And everything is made FRESH to order, they don't reheat (from what I saw). The only reason why I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is that the atmosphere is blah.. its a great place to go with friends or just for yummy food, but for a romantic date or special occasion you might want to pick something else.

    (4)

  • Bobby P.

    This place is fantastic! I was lucky enough to dine here the last two times I visited my sister and brother-in-law in Cambridge. I don't know if its even worth the trip now that they've moved to a different neighborhood (just kidding, just kidding!). I can't list specifics from memory, but the seafood stews we ordered were like a slice of Portuguese home cooking heaven (or so I imagine). The combination of exotic new flavors and fresh ingredients are enough to inspire me to write this review several months since the last time we went. After a few bites it becomes very obvious that a lot of effort goes into the preparation of these dishes, and the proprietors take a lot of pride in what they serve. Now if only I could convince them to move to Philly...

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Muqueca is on the outskirts of Inman Square but certainly worth the short walk, I got the Mariscada which inconspicuously says on the menu "Must Try". It was basically some kind of seafood stew with mussels, shrimp, squid, and crab meat. It came with a good side of rice, some kind of warm plantain soup that you are supposed to put on top of the Mariscada, I did and it was delicious! We got a side order pf fried sweet plantains and for dessert some flan. All were excellent.

    (5)

  • Terry C.

    The food at Muqueca was good. But not THAT great. Appetizer - crab cake (served in a crab shell) fried Yucca - they're both good. For entree, we ordered the House Special Fish, Shrimp and Mussels Moqueca (good) Seafood Rice casserole (the best out of the three) Cod Capixaba (the taste of this dish was not bold enough. All i tasted was the coconut milk) Considering the size of the restaurant, I'm glad they take reservations. However, this place lacks ventilation and the service was not that great. There was a party of 2 waiting for a table and our server asked if we were done, we said No, we're still working and he repeats as if he's surprised, "you're still working on it?" and we said yes. I just felt too rushed, they wanted us to order, eat and get out.

    (3)

  • Jamie M.

    What a find,the food is amazing here. Reasonably priced great food, and your going to leave stuffed. Brazilian food is out of this world.

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN Simply put-I wish I could take this dreadful experience back! I walked in with high hopes for this little Brazilian nook, little did I know this would be the last time I would step foot in that miserable hell hole. We sat down and the waiter was immediately discourteous. I felt uncomfortable and rushed ordering and asking questions about the authentic dishes. I will admit the calamari and the stroganof were quite tasty although the consistency left me feeling a bit queezy. There is no way I can put into words how miserable the staff were, even if the meal itself was 5 star the horrendous staff knock it quickly down to 1. They charged us $6 extra for extra sauces and when I mentioned it to the owner his response was astonishingly inhospitable. Never have I ever witnessed such a scene, I seriously think his pants were a little too tight to breathe maybe thats why he exploded on 3 lovely ladies looking for nothing more then a pleasant afternoon. Your biggest mistake would be to come here, its overpriced and a disgracefully cold, awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.

    (1)

  • samatha r.

    Well.. We went to the restaurant only to find "Coming soon" board on it's window. Shoking, ain't it ? Especially so when you go during snowy rain that's boston's gods special weather. Thankfully, the staff who are working at the restaurant directed us to a little establishment which is mother of this one which is going to come soon. So, we walked a block further to enter the grey building to real restaurant. We had fried calamari, crab cake as apetizers, and for entres, we had seafood casserole, fish moqueca, cod copoxia and a fried redsnapper. For starters, The picture doesn't lie --- So, a red snapper comes exactly as they said in the menu.. Fried in it's entire form. Casserole is very good. Rest are done right, smell right and taste right. Unfortunately, we are not as used to fish are most bostonians are. Still, food is good. Ambience is friendly. Things to take note of - You can't have both apetizers and entres. It's either one, so it's like one dish per person. So, keep that in mind when you are ordering. that's it, I guees.

    (4)

  • Kelly P.

    I just ate at this restaurant with my husband. We are still trying to decide if what we actually put in our mouth was food because it was so bland. Both of us had fish stew with shrimp and mussels. You could definitely split the dish because it has a lot of fish and shrimp. It just tastes like a mound of nothing.

    (2)

  • Blair H.

    Mmmm...one of those places that makes me happy. Cozy, little hole in the wall serving good Brazilian fare. I can nom Muqueca. Even though this place is a hole, it's very clean and warm. It doesn't feel sketchy. It's also pretty cheap, I think the seafood Muqueca (a stew made of seafood, vegetables, coconut milk, and palm oil), smoothy (super good), crab cakes (meh), and dessert (super meh, get more muqueca) was $28. I'll definitely go again knowing what's better on the menu.

    (4)

  • Jon O.

    To be fair this place had good service and had a nice environment. But this spot is not worthy of a 4.5 / 5 star rating. The fried Yucca was pretty good and had a good crispy texture and nice sauce to accompany it, and the smoothie was pretty tasty as well as fresh. However, the Muquecass didn't seem to have the burst of flavor which I really had anticipated. Perhaps, I am wrong in my expectations for it to be relatively similar to its cousin the molcajete, an famous Mayan dish you can find a some Mexican restaurants, but it didn't have nearly the appetizing taste, texture, spicy bite, nor creativity that previous molcajetes I've encountered have included. I found myself searching for sauces to spice it up a little bit. Overall it was okay, but nothing I would Yelp! about to other friends. My search for decent South American food continues...

    (3)

  • Rogelio M.

    They didn't serve me well, ( I guess is because I'm a Brazilian ) the price is really high the food quality is poor, and they rush you to leave the table. I was very Disappointed. I'll never come back !!!

    (1)

  • Jess L.

    This little nook in the wall restaurant probably has a maximum capacity of 30 seats and even that may be stretching it. On the freezing cold night that we went to this hole in the wall, we had to be seated next to the door (which was pretty cold) bc we didnt have reservations and our other friend didnt show up yet. They were pretty strict about where we can sit. The waitstaff and service was actually fabulous. No complaints here! They come to your table in good timing intervals and makes certain that you have everything you need. The best part is that all the waitstaff is Brazilian and was able to explain the food to us very well. At least they wanted to explain the food to us and seemed very proud to do so. Very enthusiastic waitstaff, which you seldom encounter. In regards to the food....hmmm...here I have mixed feelings. The fried yuca was definitely delicious. However i got the mocaque de camerro (not sure if i spelled that correct). It was the shrimp stew. It was definitely hearty and filling. I had a dozen big shrimps in that stew. But what I found was that most of my food lack some savory taste to it. It needed some additional salt or something. It wasnt a palate popper. However, the waiter did give us this good fish gravy which i found helped to bring the flavors out of my mocaque a bit more. It defintiely helped to put some of the tableside homemade hot sauce into my food for more flavoring. My other friend order the veggie tofu mocaque and it was also lacking in savory flavor. We did order the fruit smoothies and that was absolutely fabulous. Definitely try the Blue Caju (with cashew juice)..so yummy! Eventho the food wasnt all that exciting, i did get a great experience and enjoyed the atmoshere. With appetizer, a stew dish, and a smoothie my entire meal only costs me $25 including tip and tax. Not bad at all! I would say definitely give this place a try and experience it, but dont expect fantastic popping flavors.

    (3)

  • Amy S.

    Who doesn't love Muqueca's food, friendly service, warm decor, and authenticity? I won't bother to say much about those well established joys. I found out last night that they take reservations... Even for two people. How did I find out? When I walked in the door at 7 with my bf, the staff got panicky. They had several empty tables ,but they were reserved. They were unsure if they should give them to us or wait for the parties with the reservation. There was a big hullabaloo, and I started to freak (since i was low blood sugar AND dehydrated). Then, right at my nervous breaking point, they sat us at small table in the corner. Whew. Shortly after, the place got slammed by the reservation folk and a bunch of walk-ins. Even though we had been sat first, they took our orders last. The reservation couple who came in two parties after us seemed to have pre-ordered or something. They were sat, watered, and fed well before us. This kind of bummed me out, but then our food ended up coming promptly. So, I calmed down and focused on enjoying the place. The lady servers were just so nice, I couldn't stay irritated. Next time, maybe I'll make a reservation. My suggestions for a two person order... split a sizzling bowl of seafood yumminess - either a muqueca or bobo or capixaba... Order an extra rice and then supplement it with sides and apps. Our supplements were the brazilian crabcake (delish), plantains (yum), beans (nothing special), greens (way too salty). No room for desert in our case.

    (4)

  • Ruben L.

    I love this place!!! You need to go a few times to try the muquecas, the feijoada, the steak and the strogonof... and also make sure you try the fresh fruit juices while you are there. This is true authentic Brazilian food, not like the Midwest Grill that has a fake churrascaria set-up (that used to be across the street, but now muqueca moved further away). By the way, I really like the new location. There is a lot more space so we don't need to wait an hour to get a table anymore.

    (5)

  • Sean E.

    I ated too much at Muqueca... I skipped breakfast this morning, mostly due to the decadently delicious chocolate flan that topped off my meal here last night. I had the FEIJOADA COMPLETA which contains a few of my favor-ite things - including black beans, various types of meats, collard greens, rice and plantains. The beans and meats come as a stew in a hot pot that stands proud at your table. Ladle it out on the rice and you've got a small piece of heaven going for you. The Brazilian meat patties, or Salgadinhos, were a delicious appetizer and hit a sweat spot for my gf who had been looking for years for the perfect Salgadinho. They don't serve beer or wine here but the delicious Brazilian soda they have makes up for that. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere is very warm and inviting even you end up with a seat by the door on a cold winter night. A perfect date spot to watch the huddled masses shuffle down Cambridge Street. And when you can get two diners, two deserts and split an app, all of high quality, for under 50 dollars, you know you'll be coming back.

    (4)

  • Amzers B.

    I went with my boyfriend and a friend on a Thursday night, and about half of the tables were full. Seated right away. The interior is well decorated but not super fancy, which I liked. It was all very colorful! For apps, we got fried shrimp with passion fruit dipping sauce (the fruit taste came along afterwards, which was neat. I was expecting something like super sweet sauce but it wasn't sweet at all.) and black bean soup. The soup came with some warm bread, and it was puree'd with no whole beans in it, which made it a little sloppy to eat but it was delicious. For entrees, my boyfriend got the picanha. It was butter soft and delicious. He finished the plate, though he didn't like the farofa. I'm going to chalk that up to him being a boring white guy though and not knowing how to eat it. You're supposed to put it ON food, not take mouthfuls of it alone. Or maybe native Brazilians eat it straight, but I couldn't. My friend and I split the feijoada. Our waitress asked if we wanted two plates of sides (rice, plantains, farofa, collards, orange) which was nice. The meat (beef and chorizo) and beans came mixed in a still-sizzling crockpot and was so delicious. My friend and I finished the meat, but we still had a plate's worth of sides between us, since they load you up. Consider getting only one if you split it. For drinks, we were all driving, so sadly we couldn't test the capirinhas. We got different mixes of fruit juices which were thick and tasty. I'm definitely going back!

    (4)

  • Marilyn T.

    If you're lucky enough to grab a seat, go for it! Otherwise, there's not much room to wait. We finally made it in on our 2nd attempt. The space is tiny, but it creates a fun, authentic atmosphere. We tried a couple of the muqueqas, the signature dishes, which were wonderful for a cold winter night. The stews stay warm and are pretty filling without being overly heavy. The smoothies are interesting but a little weird for my taste. I loved the banana lasagna - a cast iron skillet of cheese and plantains, which was so satisfying with the combination of sweet and savory. Like I said, if you happen to walk in at the right time and can avoid a painful wait, definitely try it!

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    This is the best Brazilian restaurant in MA! I have been going for many years and am happy they moved to their larger location. The service is great and everything on the menu is delicious, especially all the sides!!

    (5)

  • Ashley G.

    Not an everyday meal, but the food was delicious and interesting. The waitstaff is super sweet and you know you're in a good place when you're surrounded by a bunch of Portuguese speakers at a Brazilian restaurant. If they're there, it must be authentic. The fried Plantains were amazing as is the "soda" in the green can.

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    I made a mistake. I made a mis-steak. I ordered the steak. Which was tasty, but just a steak, really. My friend got the plantain lasagna, which was huge and tasted good but also, overall, sort of boring. Maybe we made the worst two choices on the menu. And considering the amount of intense love for this place, maybe I will have to go back. But for right now, I don't get it. Or maybe the big problem is that I don't like seafood stews, so I stayed away from them and that seems to be the single item that one must get at Muqueca. In which case, I'm sure the place is quite good, but not for me. Oh well.

    (3)

  • Yvonne W.

    This place is perfect for a cold autumn or winter day when you need something hot and hearty to warm you up. I've been here twice, and both times thought that the food was really good and the ambiance bright and tropical (very unlike the Cambridge/Boston area). The stews that seemed to be the most memorable are the tripe/bean/bacon stew and another black bean/meat stew (the latter was over a year ago, so it's fuzzy in my head now). The tripe stew is really rich and warms you up. It was well seasoned and particularly appealing because of the pork fat (how can one say no to pork fat?!). Their classic fish stew is surprisingly a bit lacking, especially compared to their meat stews. My lovely said that he felt that there was an aromatic or a spice lacking, as though they forgot to add garlic or something else to add another dimension? The fish itself was good, though, yet nothing to get too excited about. The juices here are also worth mentioning. Last weekend I had the mango/blueberry/passion fruit juice, and it was so refreshing! The juices here are fresh squeezed, and you can definitely taste that they are fresh squeezed. A little pricey, but then again fresh-squeezed juice everywhere is, and the combinations here are a bit different than what you would normally expect. One downside is that the place is a little on the small side, and the floors tend to be uneven (when the waitress would walk by my table to get through an aisle, I always felt like my chair was sinking just a little deeper into the ground). But I think they are actually moving to a larger space a few blocks away, which could be promising (and maybe they will get a liquor license? Maybe?).

    (4)

  • Nancy K.

    I went to this place with a few friends. We were lucky to get seated right away, since this place is tiny. However, they are soon moving to a larger place down the street. Good thing, since they seem busy. The man that took our order was really friendly and nice. We ordered the frog leg appetizer, just to be adventurous. I wasn't impressed with the frog. And maybe it's just that I don't care too much for frog. It's a good thing we also ordered a plate of fried plantains. The menu had a lot more seafood than we expected. Good for me, bad for one of my friends. My anti-seafood friend had a hard time ordering. He ended up with some chicken thing that looked a bit dry, and much less appetizing. I ordered the clam muqueca, which was absolutely delicious. I thought it was much more flavorful than the shrimp one that another friend ordered. I've only eaten Brazilian barbeque, so the muqueca is definitely a refreshing change. This place is great if you like seafood. Otherwise, you're better off going to a churrascaria.

    (5)

  • Keywon C.

    It won't be too romantic: Always crowded, tables were moved and shuffled more than once I ate here. Family and casual atmosphere, not too different from what you'd see in Sao Paolo, according to those who've been there. But the food is great. I always get Lasagna de Banana (plantain lasagna in cheese) and something else. The tropical drinks are good too, and I am a fan of the hot sauce sitting on the table. I'll buy a bottle before I graduate and move back to CA. Like what others said, if you're walking by and they have a table, go for it. You want to have a plan B though, because if you're too hungry it might be a torture to stare at other diners for 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • Anastasia C.

    Wow. Delicious. We decided to pick a new restaurant for dinner last night so we headed to Cambridge St., drove by some places, parked the car and walked to Muqueca. We made a fantastic decision. We got shrimp patties as an appetizer and they were great, very flavorful. For dinner we got a side of fried plantains, I ordered shrimp bobo and my fiance got the mariscada and we each got a fresh made juice. Both entrees came with a good portion of rice, too. So, so good. We barely spoke throughout dinner because our mouths were full of delicious food the whole time! There are a couple of things that make this a four instead of five star (the food is a five and above). It would be nice if we could have gotten a beer with our dinners or at least brought our own. Also, its super tiny and we got seated near the door, which was a bit cold last night. However, I heard they are moving their restaurant soon, so hopefully there'll be more seating because we are definitely going again and I don't want to have to wait for a seat!

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    Given that I'd spent a month in Brazil's northeast, I thought I would give Muqueca's muquecas a try. Especially to compare with the muquecas I had on the beach in Morro de Sao Paulo. I chose the fish muqueca while a friend had the shrimp. All in all, very good, and what lacked in flavor (don't get me wrong, there was a fair amount of it) was more than made up for in the portion size. I have never had more fish in a stew. Just FYI, this place doesn't have booze. For a taste of Brazil, this is unfair.

    (4)

  • Jenn T.

    We came here today because the boyfriend has been wanting to try it. The place is a tiny mom & pop type of restaurant but we were lucky and got a table right away at around 8:30 (the place was packed though). I've been to plenty of small restaurants but I definitely felt claustrophobic in there although our order was taken not long after we sat down, we waited for a REALLY long time for our appetizer. Normally we wouldn't have cared but because the party that sat down roughly 20 minutes after us got their appetizer AND entree before ours, we were definitely a bit ticked off. Not only that, in the middle of our meal, the male waiter (possibly the manager or even the owner) came and asked the table to the right AND the left of us if everything was good and whether they're enjoying the meal...and completely skipped us. not sure what that was about. Service: 1.5 star We ordered a fried garlic chicken dish to start (not on their online menu), fish moqueca and fried plantains. I enjoyed the chicken dish, which came on bones so the waitress gave us an empty bowl to keep the bones (they don't give you plates to eat on), and when I was still working on my last piece of chicken, the waitress came and took away the empty dish and bowl, leaving me with nothing to put my bone on. fish moqueca was good but i certainly don't feel that it was so good that i must go back there again, or that i should bring someone there. it seemed like a simple enough dish that we could just make at home. plus, because we only ordered one entree, we were charged $2.95 for an extra bowl of rice. Overall, I wouldn't recommend against trying the restaurant but I don't recommend going back there after your first try.

    (3)

  • Lys W.

    I have been here a few times now, and I feel finally qualified to give my opinion on this establishment. It is a small place, and I believe that is partly what give Muqueca its charm. You feel like you are eating in some back street in Brazil, like you have found that coveted unknown restaurant that you can brag about to you friends for having eaten "so ethnically and local." I have a new favorite smoothie, the Brazilian Summer. It is made with pineapple juice, mint and ice. I was never much of a fruit or smoothie person, but this drink gave me the cool down I needed to approach my entree. There are not a whole lot of vegetarian items on their menu, but what they do have is well made, and usually cheaper than the other entrees. Score! I had the plantain and tofu moqueca and as always it was delectable. I can't eat a lot of it, because it is very sweet, so I ended up pawning some off to my friends around the table. Overall, very good, and I believe that I have a new favorite restaurant to take my family and friends out to when they come and visit me.

    (4)

  • Arthur M.

    The Brazilian style fish stew is fantastic, as is the yuca, and the smoothies.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Knocking off a star because prices have gone up enough to make us not eat here as often. Still yummy though.

    (4)

  • Kenny L.

    Bookmarked 1/16/08 So apparently I craved this all the way from Taiwan after my recent surgery! For whatever reason, I kept thinking this was the Brazilian BBQ place in Inman. Thanks to Melissa for coming here for her "favorite" pina colada here after our Christina's Ice Cream run (by favorite I mean we threw it away after drinking half. There's this unusual sour taste to it...but I realized it now it's the pineapple that they added. Apparently I needed to try their real dishes though and since the next day was my Sunday brunch date with Jenny and Calvin, I decided to come here instead of Metropolis (need to try those supposed killer banana pancakes soon). Perfect too such they open at noon on Sundays and there wasn't much people when we went in. First of all, all the dishes are HUGE and really tasty so don't feel bad if you need to take half home for dunch. I had the signature Fish Moqueca (I'm not sure why it's spelled with an "o"). Again, large portions of fish in the nice hot flavorful stew with all types of additions that company it. Calvin had the Picanha - Prime Cut Sirloin, medium rare. Served on a cast iron skillet with vinaigrette sauce & farofa. This looked REALLY good! Jenny had the Feijoada Completa - Brazilian national dish. Black beans stew with fresh & dried meat, pork, sausage & bacon. Served with collard greens, fried plantain, farofa & orange. HUGE amount of black beans (separate for you to add as much as you need) to be taken home. JD had the Lasagna de banana - Made with plantain, 3 cheeses sauce & oregano. Served with rice. This sounded really good but looked too carb heavy when presented. Paul had the Chicken Strogonoff - Mushrooms, palm heart, corn, milk Served with rice & potato sticks. Apparently this kid loves his fungus (Paul, let's not make the mushroom rice again at your place, okay? :) For drinks, I got the Tropical Freeze - Banana, Pineapple, Orange Juice, Cashew & Passion Fruit and Jenny got the Brazilian Summer - Pineapple & Mint. Mmm...perfect for keeping my stomach full for my hell layover at Logan. We can all forget about the fork flinging across the table now, right?! :P

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    PheNOMenal! I didn't know how I would feel about a fish stew since I'm not used to that kind of dish, but the Mariscada was absolutely outstanding. It had shrimp, crabmeat, mussels and squid in a broth with tomato, onion and coconut milk. The flavors were incredible. I also tried one of the meat dishes, but I far preferred the seafood. The place itself is super cute-- it's a pretty small dining room and it has all sorts of ocean-related decorations on the walls. Kind of reminds me of a cheesy Florida hotel. But in a charming way.

    (4)

  • Charoline D.

    Finding parking in Inman was not too bad, but it seems imperative to make reservations if you're as impatient as I am. I, late as usual, arrived to find friends had ordered two plates of friend yucca and fried yucca with steak as appetizers. How tasty, I'm not even sure I had ever tasted yucca (knowingly) up until this point. It was served with a dipping sauce that for me, was fairly reminiscent of somewhere between tartar sauce without the chunks and cucumber raita. For a beverage, I took yelpers recommendation and got a juicebar drink of blueberries, mango, and passion fruit. SO tasty and naturally sweet. None of that added sugar hogwash you get from adding stuff like sugar or apple juice. I kept eying our neighbors meals, trying to decipher what they had from the menu descriptions. I assumed one was Shrimp Moqueca, spicy shrimp stewed in diced tomatoes, onions, and cilantro served with a nice pile of rice and went for it. Very tasty, but a little too salty for my taste and was definitely not what they ordered ;(. I preferred my cohort's Shrimp Bobo in it's yucca and onion cream sauce. I'll definitely be back to try the mussels and the crabcake at a later date. Everything here seemed to be on point. Except for the service, even though we had reservations we had to wait a bit for a table and seem to have been forgotten and parked ourselves at a nearby 4 seater. Only it wasn't cleaned, and our waitress failed to notice that and proceeded to plop down menus and silverware. double ;(

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    This will be brief since a lot of reviewers have done the work for me in terms of more specific descriptions. This place is amazing in a way I don't usually hoot and holler about. Like, if you were in front of me right now, I'd grab you on both shoulders firmly and look right into your eye and tell you that you NEED to experience this restaurant. Like, if you don't, the world will come to an end in a hideous apocalypse or something. Seriously. Amazing. Don't wait.

    (5)

  • Lorraine L.

    I'm so happy that Muqueca moved to the larger space and is now only 2 blocks from my apt! After multiple visits, I prefer to order family style so I can have a bit of everything. The plantain lasagna is a sweet cheesy counterpoint to any muqeuca, but is way too rich for me to eat as my main dish. Definitely get a fresh squeezed juice from the juice bar and an appetizer because the moquecas take a while to stew to bubbly perfection. My only disappointment is the chicken stroganoff mainly due to the thick heavy bland cream sauce that covered the dish.

    (5)

  • Lesley A.

    Excellent seafood! Very friendly service.

    (5)

  • G H.

    Love this place. Pretty much everything that you order is very tasty. It is a bit on the pricier end, but it's worth it on a cold evening. Small downside is that the service is very slow since there seems to be only 2 people serving. How can a place that serves banana lasagna be anything other then fun times? :)

    (4)

  • Shawn W.

    I came here a few days ago with a wonderful group of yelpers, and was very pleasantly suprised. The exterior and interior of the place aren't terribly inspiring, and it's an extremely tiny place, but that's all I really have to say about Muqueca negatively. They don't serve alcohol, but they make up for it with their large smoothie selection. Now, the main attraction, the moqueca, is amazing. I hadn't heard of moqueca before going here, but it's definitely something that I wont be forgetting anytime soon! I ordered the shrimp, mussels, and squid moqueca. It was absolutely fantastic, especially considering the price. The various seafoods were mixed in with rice, a yellow sauce(saffron?), and bits of veggies. It reminded me of a japanese curry dish. I had a ton of leftovers at the end of dinner. I'll be returning soon.

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    So I didn't realize how small this place was until I walked in with my posse of 12 by my side. Whoops. However, I had made reservations a week beforehand and they were willing, so extra points for them!! Being of straight Portuguese decent, I hadn't really tried Brazilian food (well, except for when my mom's cousin made it for us) so I was excited to see if I could spot the differences. Let me tell you, there are differences. First, we all got a couple of smoothies. I went with a traditional Strawberry Pina Colada. It was delicious, and I could taste the chunks of fruit. We ordered some Yucca with grilled linguica. The linguica was cooked perfectly, it was crispy and juicy, just the way I like it. I am now a huge fan of Yucca. They were delicious, and the dill sauce that it came with was cool and refreshing. So of course, we tried the traditional Muqueca dish. Joe and I decided to share since we were told they were big portions. We ordered the shrimp and mussels. However, we got shrimp and fish instead. I didn't mind much, however, I really wanted to try the mussels, but I ended up stealing some from Jess instead =D So, the first thing I notice is that Brazilian food uses a lot more spices than Portuguese food. Portuguese food is very simple, since there usually isn't a lot of ingredients involved. I thought the dish was excellent, and it was such a huge portion that it was a steal at $17.95 for the both of us. I could have used a little more rice, but it's probably better for my diet =D I will definitely be returning here in no time, and it was a perfect venue for me to spend quality time with my favorite Yelpers celebrating my birthday =D

    (4)

  • T I.

    interesting food! well I have only been here once and I think I really liked it. But my friend an I also ordered something we didn't like! the crab cake was awesome. it's a lot of food and you should probably consider sharing! not a good place for vegetarians. even the veggie options have some kind of meat!!! But overall, I will go there again..

    (4)

  • Adam R.

    A quaint, family-run place. We went here for Valentine's Day and thoroughly enjoyed our meal! The only reason they get four rather than five stars is because we weren't seated for our 7pm reservation until 7:30. The place was packed, barely enough room for their tables, I'm not even sure why they take reservations. I was a little annoyed that they didn't do any crowd control, knowing they had people with dinner reservations lined up out the door. Other than that, our food came out surprisingly fast. We had the crab cake appetizer which was fabulous and not nearly big enough for two. Get your own, you'll be happier! We shared the Mariscada entree, which is a typical seafood-based stew served like the rest of their typical dishes in a sizzling pot. Delicious. Spicy, flavorful, nothing overwhelming...great seafood. Had the Tapioca for dessert which was good if you like tapioca. Nothing to rave about, but tasty. Fairly priced, great atmosphere, friendly staff, always packed. Worth the wait!

    (4)

  • Brian G.

    So three stars is A-OK according to the rating system. So I don't feel guilty. I thought it was great that they accommodated all 10 of us Yelpers, but sadly, there really wasn't much selection for the vegans/vegetarians. I'm not always in the mood for tofu, geez... I got 4 vegetarian platter which consisted of 4 of the 6 sides and was a little depressed at my portion size. Rice and beans were fine, nothing special, but tasty. Plantains were AWESOME. Goddamn I love me some plantains. My all fruit smoothie was pretty tasty and well priced too.... I highly recommend trying one of those if you go. Once again, not incredibly impressed, but I had fun and left full.

    (3)

  • Darius K.

    Really nice little place: I love the blue and orange theme, and the menu is really well chosen although their "veggie dish" signifier applied to dishes with sausage, chicken, and fish in them. (I think it's a very Brazilian take on the term "veggie": it ain't beef.) I had the lasagna de banana--i.e., plantain lasagna. It was super heavy and not really lasagna so much as fried plantains drowned in cheese and baked, but it was certainly good with black beans and rice. My fellow diners had the flatiron steak and the cod capixaba. The steak was good, but, you know, just steak. And the cod capixaba (salt cod with hard boiled eggs, plantain, and coconut milk in a kind of stew) was, by my friend's account, amazing. My only problem with the meal was the fried calamari: the calamari was rubbery and the batter had the consistency of the onion rings they used to serve at my elementary school cafeteria (hint, Ravensworth Elementary School Cafeteria: 1 star). I give these guys 4 stars for food, 5 stars for service, but they get the full 5 because they were willing to seat us without a reservation on a busy night (another party was 15 minutes late and didn't call so we got their table!). They're very friendly people here.

    (5)

  • Rosane W.

    Really, really, really good. :) This place is a nice little restaurant with Brazilian food. The tables were a little too close to each other which made it a little uncomfortable for having private conversations. The moqueca was so great that it made the experience worth while and it was enough for two people.

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    Really ought to be 4.5. Their muqueca dishes are worth 5 stars, but other's didn't impress me as much. Ambiance: Muqueca is a small restaurant with only about 10 tables. The kitchen is open so you can see all of the chefs (mostly female) working in the back with their white hats bopping around. In front of the kitchen is a counter where they have some of their desserts and cash register. I think they can accomodate one large party (10+ people) at a time. Luckily, I think you can more or less make a reservation. Food: If you love seafood, fresh tomato, and cilantro, Muqueca is the place to go. For appetizer, I had their fried yucca. It was not anything super special. Smoothies: We oroder the pina colada and blue caju. The pina colada is definitely the better of the two. The blue caju was good but not out of this world. Muqueca: This is the specialty of their restaurant and this is why you should come to this restaurant. Served with a plate of rice, the muqueca comes in a small iron(?) pot of sorts. The main ingredients are the seafood of your choice, fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. The flavor is fresh and the dishes are well seasoned. There's also a smaller bowl of sauce that's for your rice. The flavor is similar to the muqueca but the sauce is definitely thicker. Mariscada: A hearty portion of shrimp, mussels, crab meat, calamari, the mariscada has a very similar flavor to the muqueca. I think it tastes more like muqueca with more variety of seafood. It also comes with a plate of rice and a side of plantain muqueca. The plaintain muqueca was good but not as good as the seafood muqueca. You also get fried yucca flour with this dish and you can put the yucca flour on top of your mariscada. I was pretty full when I came to the restaurant but I just could NOT stop eating. Luckily, I was able to share this dish with 2 other people (we were all pretty full). I think you can definitely break this meal into two, so the $18.95 price tag isn't too bad. Fried Plantains: Sweet plantains that are deep fried to perfection. Delicious but I don't think you can really mess up fried plantains though. Service: The service was good but nothing too special. Allowing for reservations always makes it a plus for me at any restaurant.

    (4)

  • Kelly C.

    So good. So crowded. but So good. MMMM I need to try this banana lasagna people are talking about! I've been here several times, always with new people, and so excited to show them my hidden jewel! The fish stew is just lovely, especially on a cold rainy Boston day. They also make fresh juices. Ahhh.. Brazil

    (4)

  • Ashley R.

    Came here awhile ago just never got around to writing a review. I don't remember the exact dishes that were served but it was delicious! Such an unpretentious wonderful dining experience. I will say that maybe this isn't the food everyone...but for those who it strikes a chord with it is amazing! Also, a Brazilian friend of mine who has gone here loves it too and says it's authentic so in my opinion that's always a good sign. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Melissa M.

    Oooh, Mu. Que. Ca. Your pina colada smoothie last night was made for me in a record 12 seconds instead of your normal waiting time of 3 minutes. Ooh. Ooh. Ooof. Mu. Que. Ca??? Something was amiss. It tasted sour and even Kenny (the poorest of teachers) couldn't even drink it. Aye aye aye! Dios Mio, Mu Quec, what happened? Mi no comprendo, but I will volver soon, because mi corazon will yearn for the sweet smoothie goodness that I know you can provide. Yes, I will return.

    (4)

  • Cecilia L.

    Muqueca is delish and cute as a button. It's tiny but our group of five was there on a Wednesday and had no trouble getting seated. The moquecas and plantains are amazing but the best thing by far is the seafood casserole. It has this unbelievable coconutty saffrony flavor and I was so sad I hadn't ordered it. There's no alcohol, but the fruit smoothies are awesome. I'm not sure what to say about the feijoada. It has the tastiest sausage and beans but also some nasty, gristly mystery meat.

    (4)

  • Orly M.

    I had been meaning to try out Muqueca for a long, long time, so I was excited when the opportunity arose to dine here with a lovely bunch of Yelpers. I didn't realize how small this place was -- it's TINY. The 10 or so of us took up about hald of the restaurant. I agree with Shawn W that the inside of this place is kind of meh, but I don't really care anyway, there is a certain charm in simple restaurants that serve delicious food. And this was delicious, that's for sure. I arrived ravenously hungry and the fish muqueca really hit the spot. It was warm, comforting, and VERY filling. Definitely 2 meals. I didn't order a smoothie but I sampled some. The mint pineapple one really stood out, and the mango was really good too. Trish, I will run on the beach with you with plantains, that sounds like a dream date.

    (4)

  • Diana L.

    One of these days, I'm going to hide in the restaurant until they close and then eat ALL THEIR FLAN and run away. Chocolate flan? Evil geniuses! Their fried yucca is pre-tty phenomenal, too. The only thing that I didn't dig was their steak tips with onions appetizer, cause the steak was overcooked. And I hate it when I have to leave little mashed up meat chunks on my plate. I tried, but I couldn't chew the meat. Other than that, everything was fantastic. We loved our fish soup (Caldo De Peixe), our collard green soup with potato and linguica (Caldo Verde). The fried cod patties were decent, too. Don't forget to leave room for dessert when you come here. The chocolate flan is excellent with a hot cup of espresso. I could eat it until I burst. Commence dancing around... NOW!

    (4)

  • J L.

    This is, in my opinion, the best Brazilian place in the area. It's also one of the best restaurants in Boston in my view. I've been to Rio and I've only found a couple places that are better than Muqueca in Somerville. The muqueca dishes are classical favourites. The seafood casserole is also good. Be sure to try their fruit drinks - wonderful especially in the summer months. The only downside is parking on a weekend. But you'll find something if you're persistent. Make sure to reserve for weekends too.

    (5)

  • Zizzles A.

    I've never found the traditional "comfort food" staples of America all that comforting. Yes apple pie and fruit cobblers are warm and fuzzy, but fried chicken, meatloaf, Mac & Cheese? Meh. I feel less comforted and more bloated or lethargic after eating that stuff. Comfort food should be easy to eat, and not heavy. Moquecas fit the bill for me, and is up there among my favorite comfort foods. The fried Yucca is very crispy, and with the tangy creamy sauce, is quite difficult to stop eating. The crab cakes are straight up amazing. Lots of crab meat, some bread crumbs (?) and pure goodness. Their stews are gigantic, so my table only ordered 2, the mariscada and the cod capixaba. The mariscada came with a gelatinous gravy that was mostly unnecessary. The mussels had a fair amount of grit in them. The plantains were a nice, slightly sweet touch. The cod dish was mostly the same thing, with salted cod, which is delicious, and eggs. The stews themselves are sweet from coconut milk, seafood broth, onions and tomatoes. It's hearty with vegtables, but light because the broth is still a broth, and not gelatinous/starchy gunk. 1 stew is certainly good for two meals, as long as you provide some extra rice on your own. Some of the seafood choices may taste a little fishy the second day, but the salt cod keeps perfectly. To top it off, the juice bar is refreshing and interesting. I tried the pineapple mint and the blueberry/mango/passion fruit. Of the two, the blueberry one was tastier, and so very easy to drink. The pineapple mint drink was also great. It was a little frothy, and the mint is quite strong so it's not something you would gulp.

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    I LOVE this restaurant! The main dishes are delicious, particularly the seafood stews. They also have great appetizers and absolutely delightful fruit smoothies. Basically, if you like South American food/seafood, you will be happy. The staff is friendly but there can be a very long wait on weekend nights. Overall I am always excited to eat there.

    (5)

  • Ashley J.

    Wow was this a good meal! My husband and I ventured out of our 'hood tonight for an anniversary treat and decided to head to Muqueca on our friend's recommendation. Absolutely everything we ate was flavorful and fresh, and overall the atmosphere was very friendly and authentic. Not the quickest service (I asked for water twice before getting any) but, on the flip side, we strolled in at 8 o'clock on a Friday with no ressie, and even though the place was packed, we still got a seat pretty quick. Definitely a must for anyone looking for something fun and different for dinner in Boston. For more info on the dishes we ate, visit here: SeeDanCook.com . Yes, it's a shameless plug for my hubby's blog, but he's described the food perfectly.

    (4)

  • Amy G.

    I was kind of underwhelmed by my experience. I arrived at their 'new' locations and got the standard fish muqueca (btw, they charge $1 PER shrimp, if you want to add shrimp) during lunch since I work nearby in the biotech valley. I thought the colors and smells of the food were quite vibrant, but when I took a bite, I felt that my meal was seriously lacking in flavor. Big disappointment after reading these rave reviews- I wanted to be blown away!

    (2)

  • Naomi U.

    This place has a tremendous Brazilian seafood menu. Rich, savory, and carefully prepared; the food is 5 stars. So why did I take off stars? We went very early on a weekend evening, without a reservation (Do Not Try To Dine at Muqueca Without A Reservation) this was not a good idea. We waited for over an hour (mind you we 'd been told ~30 minutes) in the sweltering heat, once I had actually become dizzy I went inside and ordered two beverages. It was hard to get acknowledged or served at the counter to make the order; without anyone in front of me this took about 10 minutes. The juice itself was made for us just as we were seated about 25 minutes later. To be clear; once seated we were given excellent service, but I felt it was cold (perhaps even mean-spirited on such a hot day: 98 and really really humid) not to water the stupid? loyal? stubborn? customers waiting patiently outside int he heat for such a long long long time. It was also a bit warm. It's a tiny joint, crammed to the gills, serving mostly bubbling clay bowls of steaming seafood, so it would also benefit a great deal from more air-conditioning capacity.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    "Muqueca" is one of the only restaurants in Boston that specializes in serving muqueca capixaba (not to be confused with the similar but distinctly different muqueca baiana), a traditional Brazilian seafood stew from the state of Espirito Santo. Delicious and authentically cooked & served in traditional handmade clay pots, go to Muqueca for their signature dish -- fish, shrimp, or mussel muqueca, a dish any seafood lover is sure to enjoy. Served with rice (almost similar to a curry). Start or finish a meal with a "vitamina", a fruit shake featuring a wide variety of tropical fruits. Or really surprise yourself with a bowl of açaí...it's like ice-cream from Mars (minus the dairy). Make sure you get there before crunch time as the restaurant is very small and fills up quickly on the weekends...

    (4)

  • Brandi S.

    Muqueca is one of those restaurants from which you'll crave a dish as fall sets in. Do not think "Brazilian BBQ". Here it's about the stews. The fish stews (although I was skeptical at first) are excellent. Warm, comfort food - I can't wait until a cool fall/winter night to enjoy Muqueca again. Drinks are affordable; food outweighs bright and cold-ish ambiance (convenience store like overhead lights, too bright for proper evening atmosphere) - but the food makes up for it. Service is friendly; prices are good. Even if you want not to like it on first impression, the main course will make you think twice! Skip the apps and desserts to enjoy your full course of fish stew!

    (4)

  • Alena D.

    So good. Stay, eat, have food coma. Delicious. I'd recommend the muqueca stews w/out fish (Cod can be a little dry) and eat over rice with their awesome sauces and powders. A little pricey for what it is, but it's rare to find a place were you leave and are completely satisfied, you can feel it in the warm glow of your tummy.

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    Another cute little gem. I just had an amazing meal at Muqueca. We decided to do something different for dinner and Brazilian sounded great. We were graciously welcomed in on a Saturday evening. The server we had asked us if it was our first time dining and said we would be very well taken care of. I immediately knew we were in good hands. Start your meal off with one of their smoothies. I tried the Tropical Breeze. It had banana, papaya, coconut milk, mango, orange juice, cashew and passion fruit. Super yummy and refreshing! My boyfriend had the Brazilian Summer with pineapple and mint. I tried a sip. It was very light and crisp. For an appetizer we had the shrimp saute with garlic and olive oil. It was great. The shrimp were tender and butterflied in the oil saute over greens. Generous amount of shrimp too! Entrees were fantastic!! We both ordered our own but ended up eating them family style. I was unsure what to order and was recommended to try the Muqueca stew. I got the version with the fish and coconut milk. WOW! It came out sizzling in a clay pot with a side a rice and other accompaniments. The dish was amazing. The presentation was so cool. The portion was generous and could easily be split for 2 people. If you go there definitely try it. You will not be disappointed! My boyfriend had the sirloin steak. It arrived sizzling on a cast iron skillet. It was very juicy with lots of flavor. A salad came with it too before the meal. The dining room is small so call ahead if its the weekend around dinner time. 5 stars for service and the food! We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Erik S.

    Muqueca is a great establishment with great service, good food and a nice spot. The waitstaff was very pleasant and my party of 4 never wanted for anything. The food options were varied, interesting and quite tasty. I opted for the fish and shrimp muqueca. They bring your food out in a clay pot where the broth is still cooking the ingredients. It makes for a pretty cool presentation. The food has a pretty powerful cilantro flavor, but it doesn't overpower the meat. The shrimp and the fish were quite good. I felt like the meal deserved a bit more rice because I still had lots of broth at the end and would have loved to use more of it as a sauce for my rice. If this place was $10 a plate, I'd eat here all the time. At $20 a plate, i'll come back, but probably not too often.

    (4)

  • Whytnee B.

    DO NOT COME HERE ON WEEKEND NIGHTS. That being said, I love this place. It's cheap and the food is unique and delightful. Not an ideal place for dieters, but who likes them anyway?? I highly highly recommend the plantain lasagna, which I am constantly forgetting to tell people that it is nothing like traditional lasagna. It is a plantain and creamy cheesy mess, baked and crispy top, and so so so so good. The muqueca is good too, of course. Also the calamari, particularly the sauce. And be sure to order Guarana to drink. I haven't had dessert here, but the cake with the prune atop looks.... appetizing?

    (5)

  • bean c.

    Best Brazilian place in town - or several towns and states even. The muqueca is the must try of the place alongside a side order of plantains. I favor the mariscada since I'm a big seafood fan. The maracuja mouse at the end is a nice finish as a dessert order. The smoothies are also quite fantastic to go with the meal. They put real fruit and juice in these things and they are so refreshing because of it. My husband is part Brazilian and he give this place the authenticity thumbs up. Only drawback is that there are about ~10 tables in the entire restaurant and the place is filled up every moment that it is opened. The wait could be as long as 30 minutes on one that we were there. There isn't much waiting room, either. So if you happen to come on a chilly day, be prepared to be squeezed out and waiting in the cold. With that being the case, I still would not hesitate the slightest giving it 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Loren B.

    I tried this place in large part because it got good yelp reviews and my expectations were certainly met. I went here with a large group and everyone seemed to be pretty happy with the offerings. I recommend ordering Tapas style assuming the people you're with people open to such things. Regardless, you must try something from the juice bar. A nice place to check out, but little pricey for what you get. Make sure you get a reservation early.

    (4)

  • Andrea M.

    The seafood muquecas (stews) offered at Muqueca are a warm, fuzzy blanket of food love on a cold day. It's totally worth the walk on a chilly night to pick up comfort food to go, if, like me, you're too cheap (and too close by) to pay Dining In to bring it to you. Truth be told, go to Muqueca anytime you're craving a yummy seafood fix. The stews are a beautiful balance of broth, veggies, and everything from fish to shrimp to muscles and even plantains/tofu for a vegetarian/non-seafood option. The Seafood Casserole was tastylish, with hints of the coconut milk that make it rich without overwhelming the dish overall. The fried yucca is tasty, and comes with or without slices of linguica (although it is a little dry on the outside... the dipping sauce may balance that, I didn't have any), and the fried plantains are of the sticky, sweet, yummy variety. Don't forget a smoothie from the juice bar, all sorts of fresh and fruity. For those who aren't into the fruits of the sea, check out the decidedly meat options, including steak tips, roast pork, diced chicken, and sirloin. They did a lovely job of splitting our large group's bill onto 4 separate credit cards, which was awesome considering how busy it was! If you're hungry, or with a group, get there on the early side of dinner, and you're more likely to get a seat faster. Worst case, you can get a smoothie and some candy snacks at the counter and hang out while you wait. ;)

    (4)

  • S S.

    The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the seafood casserole with rice! I highly recommend this dish. The place is a bit small, but we ended up waiting for just 10-15 minutes on a Friday night. So, all in all, I enjoyed the atmosphere and had a yummy dinner.

    (5)

  • Allisson G.

    Love the food from Muqueca! Can't wait to come back...the decor could be better yeahhhh fishes hanging on the wall it's just too much could be more classy! haha but I'll always stop by for more Muquecas anyways!

    (4)

  • kwala t.

    This place gets crowded on weekend nights, so plan for a potential wait, but if you are looking for affordable and well-prepared food around Inman or Central, this is the spot. While we didn't try the restaurant's namesake, the mariscada (in the northeast brazil style, with coconut milk, cilantro and served with farofa and stewed, sweet plantains) was wonderful - hearty and full of seafood, with just enough tomato and coconut flavor to make it really stand out. It was enough for two dinners, so order carefully - sharing is almost requisite. The feijoada (traditional brazilian black bean and meat stew) was also great, and so much bang for your buck! We started with the fried yucca and sausage, which was served with a rich, creamy sauce - a total heartstopper, but really yummy. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the caldo verde, a porridge-y kale soup that just didn't have enough flavor for my taste. But overall, I was very pleased to discover Muqueca and satisfy my saudade for Brazil. A great deal, and very nice staff to boot.

    (4)

  • Andy R.

    This place was fantastic. We went in the early afternoon, and I suspect we were lucky that there was a table just opening up; there is very little space. The service was friendly but inattentive. They actually forgot an appetizer we had ordered. But the entrees were so substantial they may have been doing us a favor. I couldn't finish even half of my dish. The food wasn't even very expensive for a Boston restaurant. This place is a real gem.

    (5)

  • Tom E.

    woooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwieeeeee This was a good meal. Actually it felt like two meals. I'm prone to overdoing it, stuffing myself silly and then having to go for a run the next morning - but here is where I really overdid it. And who can blame me? Amazing Brazilian/Angolan fish stews, served with fried yucca and plantains. All in generous portions. Actually Yelp helped me here - after a thread 'ask your friend what their favourite restaurant is' - I asked my Portugese friends and we ended up here. A great place for a group dinner and I was obviously very lucky to be dining with people who knew what they were upto and knew the owner. ----Important Tips---- 1. It's very small so expect some elbow collisions and a wait for your table. 2. There is no license so order one of the Brazilian fruit drinks - they are seriously good. 3. You WILL need to wash all your clothes after leaving. Unless you want to smell of onions and fish.

    (5)

  • Joseluis A.

    oh muqueca bahiana! i fuckin love you. yelp reader, thats it. this is it. you want to eat here. thats it. do you have $20 on you? do it. the muqueca is excellent of course but you really gotto try everything on the menu. good appetizers. awesome fried frog legs. fried yucca, comes with an amazing diping garlic sauce. even the collard greens are awesome. just go for it kid. do it.

    (5)

  • Danny F.

    A very very solid 4 stars. I love Brazilian/Portuguese seafood, and this really hit the spot for me on a busy Friday night. Service was very friendly and knowledgeable, and food was even better. I had a huge hearts of palm salad and shrimp muqueca. Both were simple dishes done right, fresh and flavorful, and that's really the magic of this place.

    (4)

  • Tanvi D.

    Summary --- Intimate homely atmosphere, Awesome food, will go there again any day.. Main Write up -- Went there this past sunday for dinner with a friend. I'm semi vegeterian (will eat meat, but, like to have veg. options if the meat dishes are not appealing), so, I was a bit apprehensive about going to a brazilian restaurant. But, the food was exceptional and definitely worth the trip. We got there around 8:00 pm. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the pleasantness of the wait staff. The hostess / waitress (she looked like she was incharge) greeted us with a smile and asked us if we could wait for couple minutes while she got our table ready for us The place is kinda small with about 10 tables. When we came in there was a party of 5 people who were huddled rather uncomfortably around 2 tables, and another party was just leaving. The waitress *told* the party of 5 to move to the table that was just vacated. These people just picked up their dishes and moved. This was a good sign. The sign of locals. They cleaned up the tables and promptly seated us. She brought us the menu and gave us plenty of time to think about what we wanted to for dinner. I got a banana lasagna -- layers of plantains baked with cheese and my friend got their signature shrimp muqueca -- shrimp in a very savory seafood broth with onions, tomatoes and lots and lots of cilantro. We also ordered mango nana - mango, banana and papaya juice, for our drinks. We could hear the blender as she prepared our drinks.. They were yummy!! Next our food came out in 15 minutes, and both the dishes were served with rice. The muqueca was also served with a bland gravy thing. My dish, the banana lasagna, was very filling. The cheese was saltier than I am used to. I liked that. and the plantains were firm yet squishy and cooked to perfection. I sneaked a bite out of the muqueca it was simply out of the world. I loved how all the flavors came together and melted in my mouth. I think I am going to order this the next time that I am there.. Oh yeah there will definitely be a next time.. One of the other wonderful things about this establishment was that there was a constant flow of locals that were coming in chatting with the wait staff and picking up their dinner to go. They even let a mother and child in after they had closed the place. Even though they were officially closed for the night, we NEVER felt rushed. They let us eat our food in peace and took our plates away when both my friend and I put our napkins on the table. All in all, it was an amazing dinner..

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    We bumped into this wonderful restaurant as we wandered through Cambridge one warm spring evening. Locals spoke highly of it, so we dove right in! The fish Muqueca was outstanding! As fish lovers we were delighted. The flavors were distinct and distinctive, the service friendly and the ambiance pleasant.

    (5)

  • Olivia C.

    My first taste of Brazilian besides making-out with the blue-eyed dishwasher from Fire and Ice. Mo. Que? CAARREESS Deep fried calamaria with passionate fruit sauce Stew specialities served sizzling to your table to put over flavorful rice. Fish and Shrimp Moqueca. Tender Tender Cod. Collared Greens. Fried Red Snapper with Plaintains and French Fries and Marinated Tomatoes. Excellent black Brazillian coffee. And endless fruit shakes from fruits I never heard from the rainforest: Aa, Cupua, Graviola and Acerola. This place is beautiful. They make their own pots to cook in. Cozy small. And one of the best meals I've had in a long time. To top it off I got to meet Ligaya in real time!

    (5)

  • Alyssa F.

    Tonight was my third dinner at Muqueca and each visit has been as delicious as the last. The restaurant is small and usually crowded, so if you can, call ahead for reservations. We waited 35 minutes for seating last night, but the staff let us place our order beforehand and by the time we had our table, our appetizers were ready and the entrees were just minutes behind them. The plantains are sweet and gooey and irresistible and the fried yucca is delicious in the house dill and cream dipping sauce. The entrees are served in traditional clay cooking pots. I had not tried the signature stew until this visit, but one forkful of the shrimp and mussel moqueca made me a fan for life. You'll want to sop up every last bit of the savory broth with your rice and you might even consider asking for a straw. The banana lasagna was cheesy and sweet. I'm not a fan of thick drinks, but the fruit smoothies have gotten nothing but rave reviews from my friends. On previous visits, I'd ordered the house style shrimp and seafood rice casserole, both of which I'd recommend, but the muqueca is the star of the show.

    (5)

  • Don W.

    145 reviews is clearly not enough, so here's another paragraph of praise. We went to Muqueca at 2PM on Sunday, and it was packed. Fortunately we knew to call ahead and we only had to wait 5 minutes when we arrived. Wherever the recession is, it must have skipped over this restaurant. It's not a fancy place, or a big place, or a center of elegant dining. I'm not sure it would be a good first date place because it's not easy to have a conversation. But the food was delicious. I had the Muqueca with fish and shrimp, and my wife had the shrimp bobo. They were both delicious, and different from each other. It was spicy, but only if your definition of spice includes more than heat. It wasn't hot, but the hot sauce was right there if we wanted it. And we had the guarana soda. We had no room for dessert and left stuffed for $45, including tip. It makes me wish I lived closer.

    (5)

  • Francine W.

    SO GOOD. SO GOOD. SO GOOD. the mussel and shrimp muqueca is to die for. the rice mixes so well with the stew. YUM. the fried plantains are great as well. the place is small so be ready for a wait if you go during peak time!

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    My boyfriend and I went to Muqueca for dinner last week. I got the tofu/plantain muqueca, based on Yelp suggestions, and both my boyfriend and I were definitely not fans. It had a mushy consistency and was somewhat bland. The juice bar was very cool -- I would recommend trying something from there if you go.

    (3)

  • Rafixo S.

    I'm Brazilian and I love to take friends from other countries to try a good Brazilian food, but until now, I've been embarrassed by some cheap taste food that some brazilians are offering, but after I try Muqueca, I felt proud again for being Brazilian... The best...

    (5)

  • Dave B.

    I really wanted to love this place. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was really disappointed in the food. The seafood dish just wasn't very flavorful. I think it might have been a dish I didn't like, or just a bad night, so I'm giving them another try.

    (2)

  • Sari C.

    Oh. My. Goodness. So awesome! I had the mussel and fish moqueca with a side of fried plaintains. The plantains were so delicious; the moqueca was totally ridiculous. I've never had moqueca before and I know I'll be going back as often as I can afford. It was in a tasty, but sort of thin, broth, chock full of mussels - I was expecting maybe 5-10 mussels in the shell, and I got maybe 20 shucked mussels along with a generous portion of white fish, plus delectable thick onion slices and veggies, and rice. The rest of my party had the squid & fish moqueca (good if you like squid), and the mariscada, which was a nice complement to the moqueca as the coconut milk made it sweeter and it had a wide variety of seafood in it. We got the crabcake appetizer, which was tasty but reading everyone else's reviews, next time I'm going to try the yucca fries. Also, the staff was VERY friendly and helpful; I asked how to pronounce things and the waiter laughed and taught me how to pronounce everything we ordered. A great experience! By the way, their kids menu is really tasty looking and cheap - $6 for kids sized portions of steak tips and more.

    (5)

  • Bevin C.

    If Muqueca is crowded, get take out. Don't sit down if Muqueca is crowded. I repeat, do not try to eat Muqueca when it is crowded. It doesn't matter how good the food tastes if you have to wait an hour and a half sitting at a table with no water and not a glance from the harried wait staff, future diners with their asses up against the edge of your table breathing all over you as they wait to get their own table and eagerly await the chance to be appalled at the way that restaurant falls apart on a Friday night. I hated it here. It was the worst. The food was really delicious though. Too bad I'm too traumatized by a Friday night spent waiting in misery to go back there for a long, long time.

    (4)

  • Sonny R.

    Delicious! Can't wait to be back in Boston!

    (5)

  • Maridel S.

    Came here for dinner with some friends and I'm glad we did! We found parking just steps from the entrance and were seated right away once everyone in our party arrived. Make reservations ahead of time coz the place is pretty small and gets packed quickly. The staff was great, very friendly and attentive. We split the Coconut Shrimp (delish- not too coconut-ty), Moqueca Completa (perfectly cooked seafood, very rich), Plantains (needed a bit more seasoning), and 2 pitchers of Sangria (one of the best I've ever had). Dinner/drinks came out to about $25pp (there was 7 of us). We will definitely come back for more!

    (4)

  • P M.

    Wow - this place is exceptional. Must try the yucca appetizer, the calamari and the mariscada. The service was pretty friendly - and we were there on a very crowded saturday night. Don't bother if you don't have reservations. We stood waiting for an hour. But it was worth it. For dessert, we had the passion fruit something which was deelish - very sweet and sour. But I think the chocolate mousse dessert was the best. Would definitely come back here again. Portions are huge. One entree is enough for 2 people. It's really great comfort food.

    (5)

  • Q S.

    Loved the cod dish with plantains and coconut milk!

    (4)

  • Darren T.

    The place was indeed small -- when we first got in we weren't sure where to stand while waiting to be seated. It was a busy night, too. Thankfully, the hostess was fair and let us take the table reserved for a party that was a no-show (more than 15 minutes late without calling). The menu was full of great-sounding stuff. I was going to try the Strawberry Pina Colada that many on Yelp raved about, but the Blueberry Papaya smoothie called to me and I couldn't resist (I love blueberries and am quite partial to papaya as well). The drink had a great smoothie texture, consistency, and color. I wish the blueberry flavor had been more pronounced, but overall the drink was quite satisfying. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which comes with a passion fruit dipping sauce. I *love* passion fruit and I tend to enjoy a little sweetness with just about any savory item, so I really enjoyed this appetizer. The calamari was a bit tougher than I'm used to, but not too tough as to be unpleasant. My main dish was the "Lasagna de banana", which I ordered mostly out of curiosity and the knowledge that anything drowned in cheese (as lasagna usually is) couldn't be bad. It amounted to a bowl of plantains drowned in a wonderful, cheesy sauce with a great mix of textures and consistencies. The plantains were perfectly cooked and the whole dish melted in the mouth and was a joy to eat. I really loved this dish and it made wonderful leftovers! I also liked the interior decoration and the relative simplicity of the menu, which is especially good given how appealing the items themselves are. My experience was so good that I know I'll be going back. I'd like to try other items on the menu because they sound good, but the lasagna was so good it'll be hard to resist getting it again. =P

    (5)

  • Butters B.

    This place is charming with great service. Not the cheapest (fish muqueca is $23) but the quality of the ingredients is very good. We always get the fried yucca with the yummy garlic dipping sauce and the fish muqueca. Love the juices too!

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    Delicious and novel (to me). IMHO, most Cambridge churascarias (sp?) border on disgusting (low quality of meat) and overpriced (all you can eat for low quality meat, @ $25 = waste). Muqueca, however, features a substantial volume of very freshly prepared seafood served in a delicious variety of sauces. But for the price and management's inability to timely fulfill reservation, I would rate at 5 stars.

    (4)

  • grey b.

    AWESOME. DELICIOUS. AWESOME. I want to go to Brazil now. Also, the fired plantains side dish is a MUST. make sure to get a blended fruit drink.

    (5)

  • Irene F.

    I know this place gets crowded, so I came on a weekday. Yum! Despite all the hype, Muqueca didn't disappoint. The restaurant is named Muqueca for a reason -- try it! For some reason, even though the price difference is a dollar, the fish and shrimp muqueca is almost twice as big as the shrimp-only muqueca. Fish stew has never tasted so great. I really recommend it. Another great dish is the Feijoada Completa, a meat and black beans stew that comes with collard greens and fried plantains on the side. The food takes a while to come out, so get a smoothie while you wait. I tried the strawberry pina colada and I can't wait to go back and try the others!

    (5)

  • MaryTyler M.

    I can not BELIEVE I lived minutes away from this place forever and never even considered going in. After seeing it pop up on the main page the other day it was my first choice for dinner with my out of town visitor -- a foodie fish-head, often unsatisfied with the places I (a vegetarian) typically haunt. Quickly seated, quickly served, but slow to leave without being given any nudges from the waitress. What more could a gal want? I was really psyched on my tofu + plantain moqueca (which also made an amazing cold leftover the next morning), and my friend cleaned her plate of technicolor house salad with some amazingly cloud-like creamy Brazilian bread. She did say that her fish soup was "just ok", but I think she was a little colored by moqueca envy. It must be hard to sit by and watch someone ladle their bubbling cauldron of deliciousness onto their garlicky rice while you're snoozing over same-old soup. I can't wait to go back for fried plantains and a smoothie. Pee Ess, I highly recommend splitting a moqueca with at least 1 other person. And bring your camera -- this food begs to be photographed.

    (4)

  • kim d.

    It's hard for me to give a less-than-average review, since I'm generally easy to please when it comes to going out to eat... and so many people had SO many great things to say about Muqueca here on Yelp. A friend of mine is subletting a place in Cambridge from a native Brazilian, and Muqueca's menu was the only Brazilian food menu in his apartment - we thought for sure we were headed to the right place. First - we made a reservation after hearing the stories of the long waits. No need really, they made us wait 30 minutes to be seated anyway. We showed up 5 minutes before our reservation time just to be safe. It's a tight space, so there's really nowhere to wait but to stand hovering over other people. Not so fun - especially for me since I'm 8 months pregnant. We then make it to our table. It takes 15 minutes for someone to take our order. At this point, we're starving - 45 minutes after our reservation time we FINALLY get to order. Maybe they sat is in some in-between table and no one was sure who was in charge of taking our order... We had long decided on the two dishes we wanted to split. One shows up before the other - we actually thought they did this on purpose because they understood we wanted to split the meal. Nope - they just never put in our order for the fried fish. After we finished eating that first dish, someone tried to take away our silverware. We tried to explain to her that we had another dish coming. Blank stare. My friend speaks great Portuguese and so then proceeded to tell the woman that we had in fact also ordered a fried fish dish. The woman then went to the counter and placed our order. At least we only had to wait 10 minutes for that to come out. The food really wasn't anything to write home about. Maybe it was our menu choices (though my friend spent time in Bahia and picked things off the menu that she thought were representative of good Bahia food), or maybe Muqueca is just so well-loved because it's a unique offering of Brazilian food (every other place in the area seems to go quite a bit heavier on the meat options). To make up for the order mix-up, a couple of chocolates for dessert were given to us "on the house." A kind gesture, but the order mix-up was not as big a problem as making a quite obviously pregnant woman stand for 30 minutes when she had made a reservation and there were open tables. I'm not going back and I actually discourage my friends who have asked me about it. Food won't make you sick - but you might find a better way to spend ~$15 for dinner.

    (2)

  • Lindsay L.

    Inman Square has a good number of Brazilian and Portuguese restaurants, but this one has started to get a great buzz. We went on Saturday night at about 8 with a part of 4, and were surprised there wasn't an open table. I would definitely recommend making a reservation just to be sure because it's quite small. We started with the fried yucca. The yucca was pretty standard, but it came with a really nice sauce. We then all ordered varieties of the Moqueca, which is supposed to be their specialty. I had the shrimp, which was outstanding... great flavors. All of my friends liked theirs a lot as well. If you're hungry, the shrimp with fish or mussels and the the fish with shrimp and mussels are almost double the size of the just shrimp or just mussels moqueca and only a dollar or two more. They also have a smoothie/juice bar which looked really good but I didn't try.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    I chose Muqueca for my last meal in the Boston area (for a while, at least) because I was in the mood for plantains. This inspired me to order the "Lasagna de Banana", which, despite its name, wasn't bad at all--though the sheer quantity of cheese started to bog me down after a little while. I got to try a little bit of my mother's muqueca and it was wonderful.

    (4)

  • EJ S.

    Preface:: 1st time trying authentic Brazilian food. Reserved a week in advance for 6 on a Saturday. My hubby & I actually arrived ~15 min earlier and was seated promptly. (By the time we left 7:15ish, the place had picked up big time) Eats:: Fried Yucca for starters. It had similar consistency of fried potato but maybe a little lighter. The dipping sauce added a nice tart to the crispy squares. I got the Seafood Rice Casserole. A bit on the salty side but overall it was good with its rich, buttery and cilantro flavors. JD got the Feijoada. Enjoyed the black bean stew w/meats. Wasn't a fan of the collard greens (too salty). The generous portions left us with takeout. Drinks:: The strawberry pina cola smoothie was simple but fresh/tasty. Space:: Colorful, dining area is very small and could come across as dingy. Air-conditioned interior (complemented by the smoothies) beat the July heat. Service:: Efficient. Final Comments:: Check it out. Don't think you could really go wrong with this place. I'd like to go back and try lasagna de banana & fish moqueca.

    (3)

  • Jungmin L.

    I hate overcooked seafood. The seasoning is slightly salty. The flavor is acceptable, though.

    (2)

  • Joe R.

    I was very impressed to find a restaurant with a menu almost completely composed of items I had never heard of before. I mean, how many places can you say that about? I tried several dishes - all were quite intricate and tasty. The wait-staff was great, too. If you go, be sure to get one of the fresh juices. Also, Muqueca is BYOB.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    Great steak and seafood. I've been to Brazil, it's an authentic place.

    (5)

  • Mcslimj B.

    Authentic Bahian comfort food, notable for its namesake seafood stew, in a sunny, super-casual room. If Casa Portugal suggests Old World refinement, Muqueca is all homespun New World insouciance, with its brightly painted wooden furnishings and gruff service. A starter of mandioca frita com linguiça ($5) features crunchy cubes of deep-fried cassava, smoky sausage slices and a thin cucumber-dill dipping sauce, with Brazilian sodas ($1) and tropical-fruit smoothies ($3) to wash it all down. What we're here for, of course, is the moqueca, a seafood stew that, in Brazil, falls into two regional camps. The owners, from Espírito Santo, serve moqueca capixaba in traditional handcrafted clay pots, forgoing the palm oil and coconut milk of the heavier Bahian style. The bubbling-hot, oversized moqueca de peixe com camaro e sururu ($13) showcases haddock, shrimp and shelled mussels in olive oil, lemon and tomatoes; stained coral with annatto and showered with cilantro. Sides include white rice, piro (seafood stock and fish trimmings gelatinously thickened with cassava flour) and a hot sauce of pureed chiles. Finding our moqueca mild to the point of blandness, lacking the richness of a caldeirada, we liberally add piro and chile. Fresh, value-priced and a bit simple, this dish feels like the work of a rustic home cook. For the Brazilian expats who pack this storefront nightly, that's clearly a virtue.

    (3)

  • Josh F.

    I live in the area and I've heard a lot about this place, so I figure I would give it a try. It's def worth a trip there. Has a very loyal following. I tired the signature stew dish w fish and calamari and was impressed w the freshness and flavors. I have never really experienced Brazilian cuisine so I had nothing to compare it to, but I had a good experience here.

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    Mmmm... this place is absoutely amazing! I really liked the Plantain Lasagna as well as the fish and shrimp muqueca. Both are flavorfully rich but very different, good complements to each other. The lasagna was a suprising but well paired mixture of banana and (predominantly, it seemed) mozarella cheese - soo good! The fish is soooo amazing in the moqueca -- a great savory mixture of tomato, onions, cilantro and yumminess. Even the mussels moqeuca was very good, with tons of mussels! The national dish (feijoda completa?) was good, but I don't think I like it enough to want to order it again (the other two were so much better). I liked the strawberry pina colada, wasn't syrupy sweet or anything like that... the drinks are really good, light, natural tasting (which not everyone may appreciate).

    (5)

  • Arun C.

    Glad I read some reviews before going because I was willing to wait it out until my friends and I got a table on a Saturday night. It was worth it. Great flavors and portions for the main courses, and the blended juice drinks went well with it all. I'd recommend reservations. I read somewhere here that they don't take them on Friday's and Saturday's? I don't know about that since the guy asked me if I had reservations when I went on a Sat nite.

    (4)

  • Tamar O.

    My husband and I were visiting Boston and found this place through Yelp (it was one of the best reviewed restaurants). This restaurant is in a little Brazilian/Portuguese neighborhood in Cambridge. The food was absolutely amazing. I will not come back to the Boston area without eating there again. I had the Seafood Rice Casserole. It was so flavorful (cilantro, coconut & turmeric (maybe)) and came hot in a clay pot. My husband had the Shrimp Moqueca, which was lighter and came with boiled rice. Oh, and that spicy red sauce was awesome too. I will have to do research and figure out what it might have been. Our first Brazilian food-experience was so great, I feel we might be disappointed if we try it again elsewhere. Maybe we should take a trip to Bahia to avoid that!

    (5)

  • Jamie F.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Boston! I adore their fish muqueca and fruit smoothies. The amazing food, brightly-colored dining room, and friendly owners make this place worth the wait.

    (5)

  • stacey l.

    Food is great.. The dishes are so interesting, its hard to decide what to order. The menu isn't huge, but in a specialized joint it's not necessary. The prices are great, very few dishes over $10-11. Only minus on the stars comes from the awful service I have experienced there for sit down service. They are tiny and have 15 or so tables in a crowded corner store front. We ordered an appetizer and after 35 minutes our meal shows up. She then remembers that we never got the app, but at that point there was no use. We never got attended to for refills on drink and then we finally got the bill we had an issue and she never came back to the table to fix it. Because there was a line of people waiting to be seated, I went up to the station and told her what was wrong and she said hold on because she was busy! I was just trying to pay and get out of there so they could flip the table and get the people in line seated. I will never go back on a weekend night. But will go back for sit down service because I feel some of the dishes would not do well for take out.

    (3)

  • Caitlin B.

    YUM! I have tried to replicate the seafood muquecas at home and failed! They are so flavorful and delicious, one of my favorite places in Cambridge. I wish the place was bigger because it is a bit cramped, but the food is SO worth it! Lovely with a side of plaintains. The fruit drinks are really good too. The best part is there is always enough left over to take home and eat for breakfast!

    (4)

  • Ryuji S.

    I know this place since 2001. At that time, food was just as perfect as today, and at much lower price, but I never had to wait for a table. I started writing good reviews about them online, and a few years later, I regretted writing good reviews. I can't even get a table even in a slow day! If you like light but tasty codfish stew, this is the place to go. They cook rice just perfectly even by the Japanese standard.

    (5)

  • Zee S.

    Not what one thinks of when thinking of Brazilian food! This area of Innman Sq. is littered with BBQ houses serving up meaty portions, but Muqueca is different. This northern Brazilian restaurant offers hearty seafood stews, whole fried fish and bean and pork stews. The house salad includes apples and hearts of palm with thin cut sweet onions and green olives. The house made balsamic is light and refreshing. The seafood Muqueca cooked in a clay pot with delicate tomato, cilantro and citrus flavors is a must try on a a first visit. The Mariscada and the Cod Capixaba are also excellent. The fried yucca makes a great appetizer in addition to the salad. The fried whole fish is excellent but a challenge to eat especially for young kids since it's complete with bones. The Fejuada Completa (touted as the Brazillian national dish) is a hearty bean stew with pork and sausage, delicious but a little intense for some. The collard greens, yucca powder and oranges that accompany the Fejuada are also great. With all this great food, it might be tempting to eat too much and not save room for desert. This would be a mistake. The chocolate flan, tapioca cake, passion fruit custard and little truffles are all amazing. This is an amazing place and highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Huan z.

    Very Yummy! I would give it a 3 and half star. My fish soup need little bit more salt but it is very delicious. Plantain Lasagna is very sweet. We also had coconut shrimp as appetizer. It was bit oily but very crispy and tasted good with the sauce. My favorite dish there was the rice. Their rice was very well cooked, soft with wonderful taste. Two thumbs up!

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    We ordered the calamari, mariscada, fish muqueca, and chicken vegetable broth for delivery. The calamari had the ratio of breading to calamari that we like a lot and the sauce was very nice. The Mariscada sauce was also amazing with a great assortment of seafood. Fish muqueca was also delicious although I find it interesting to cook fish in so much sauce. I would say that hte chicken vegetable broth was the least favorite, although still delicious with lots of chicken and vegetables. I would say it's a thicker soup that is full of flavor. Since it was delivered, I think that we probably would have enjoyed it more at the restaurant since this was the first time we had some of these dishes and didn't know what some of the condiments were. Food probably would've been even better if fresh at restaurant, opposed to delivered, where it was excellent even delivered!

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    This place was as good the second time as the first, and deserves an upgrade to five stars. I got the vegetarian muqueca (with plantains and tofu), and I didn't care that it was missing meat. That to me is the mark of a good vegetarian dish. The service is good, the price is acceptable, and the stews are awesome.

    (5)

  • Al A.

    Bad food. Surprisingly bad service given such a small restaurant. Most of the food came out over cooked.

    (1)

  • laura w.

    I love this place. My fav is the Muqueca and plantains. I'm sad it moved a couple blocks further from me but I'm happy they are expanding and their new place looks beautiful. I have to check it out!

    (5)

  • Zing G.

    This place probably does really deserve 5 stars, but I'm sticking with 4 only because the Fried Yuka was a let down; especially after other reviewers got my expectations so high. The fried yuka was just too hard - like eating an uncooked potato. That said, everything else we had was absolutely fantastic. The signature dishes (the seafood stews) are out of this world and really set this place apart from any other seafood or Brazilian restaurant I've been to. The atmosphere is small and cozy and the server was excellent. We got in just time, as shortly after we were seated a mob formed outside the door waiting to get a table. I'd suggest getting their at 6:30 or earlier for prompt seating. This is a great date spot... though a warning: like all "soup" restaurants, be it Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian or Brazilian - you will leave there with your hair and cloths smelling like food; delicious food none the less.

    (4)

  • A H.

    I went here about 2 months ago, and have been meaning ever since to warn people about this place. Food was fine, albeit overpriced (-1 star), but the service is what is making them get a bad review (-3 stars). My party of 4 came in around 6 on a weeknight and were seated pretty quick. The place had maybe 3 other parties serviced by 3 waitstaff. It should have been a knockout for service, but instead we found ourselves having to ask for every little thing ("Hello Miss? All 4 of us have been out of water for 20 minutes...do you think we can get a refill?"). As dinner wrapped up, they asked if we wanted to see the desert menu. We figured why not, and it took legitimately 15 minutes for them to just come back with menus -- no thanks! When we got the bill, we found additional items they tried to sneak on, and had to call them out on it. My wife was so infuriated with the service, especially trying to add on items we never ordered, that she suggested I leave less than 10%. Unfortunately that wasn't possible -- Muqueca thinks so highly of its service that it adds 18% to all checks. Bravo! Now I know why your waitstaff is so lazy -- regardless of how bad the service they provide, they know they get paid. Well Muqueca, let me ask you a math riddle. How much is 18% of $0? Good, because that is exactly how much you'll be earning off of me from now on.

    (1)

  • Jackie S.

    YES! Muqueca! This is what I'm talking about. Scrumptious food, a cute and eclectic dining area, and friendly servers. Wonderful! I stumbled upon this place after my boyfriend and I were looking for a place to grab dinner after a long move-in day. We were exhausted, starving, and losing hope when we turned the corner and saw this adorable little restaurant. We walked in, were greeted warmly by a server, and sat immediately on a Monday night. The server explained everything on the menu to us, which was a relief because we'd never eaten Brazilian food before. We ordered the Fried Yucca appetizer, which was crispy golden-fried Yucca root. It had a potato-like texture with the sweetness of jicama or squash. SO delicious! We also ordered the Feijoada Completa, which was a black bean strew with dried beef and pork sausage. This dish was executed immaculately. It came with an orange slice, rice, collard greens, and a sweet sprinkling of yellow (corn?) powder over the dish. We also ordered a juice from their juice bar, which was made with pineapple/cashew/guava amazingness. The whole meal was under $30 and we ate like kings (and queens, of course). Check Muqueca out for a fun date place or a new ethnic experience. It's a culinary treat to remember!

    (4)

  • Layla P.

    Hmmm soooo good! We tried the chicken Brazilian patties to start and they were so delicious, we actually cut up the last one with a little knife so that everyone got exactly equal amounts. We also tried the Fish Muqueca, the Feijoada and the Cod Capixaba - they were all amazing, but I especially like the Cod Capixaba because it had coconut milk and that's a favorite for me. We also tried several desserts which were equally fantastic. I highly recommend this place. And it is a Brazilian place that is actually vegetarian friendly, imagine that? So go for it! The service is friendly and attentive, the prices good, and they take credit cards. Limited seating, so be prepared to wait if it's peak dinner time.

    (5)

  • Francis W.

    We had to wait FOREVER for a table and the place is pretty small, but it is worth it. The coconut milk seafood stew was AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend the seafood dishes place.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    i had been trying to get here for a while and am so happy i did. the food was SO SO good and served in these awesome heavy hot bowls. it's like foreign comfort food. also, for 3 people, bill was only $43.00. cheap and yummy!

    (5)

  • Reena B.

    Went out there for a dinner with a large group. The food was excellent. And as a vegetarian, the Muqueca with tofu was very yummy...its rare to find a place with that much good seafood (according to our friends) and have fantastic vegetarian food.

    (5)

  • jeremy k.

    I have to say the service was fine and perfectly friendly, and the food was not bad for the money. But seeing all the wildly positive reviews, I must say I went in with high expectations and left slighly disappointed.. 1) the place gets really noisy. 2) the shrimp in my muqueca bowl tasted much better than the fish did. On the plus side, it was light on the wallet, dinner for two, with drinks was less than $50 including a 20% tip. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid the place, but it's nothing to write home about either.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    This got high reviews on Yelp, so my coworker and I decided to check this place out. I was mildly disappointed. The food was decent, but I didn't see what all the hype was about. I actually enjoyed Bossa Nova's food (in SF) more. We ordered some coconut rice dish and the fried yucca.

    (3)

  • Dave J.

    Yelp was right. It's tasty and worth the walk to Inman and the price. We got there around 8:00 and it was pretty empty, but by 8:30 on a Thursday night, there was probably a 15 min wait. Solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Julia S.

    My all-time favorite hearty, feel-good, unpretentious neighborhood restaurant. The seafood casserole is fabulous and made a believer out of my sister (who never eats seafood).

    (4)

  • Shuan L.

    One of the bf's best high school friends was in town, so we arranged to meet her plus two other people at Muqueca for a late lunch. We were a chatty group. The bf and his friend had a lot to catch up on. Plus, when you get a cluster of medical students together, they inevitably nerd out and start talking nonstop about bodily functions and medical procedures that gross out other restaurant patrons. Then the food arrived, and we literally fell silent for the entire meal. It was glorious. The sight of our small table crowded with steaming clay pots of seafood stew was so beautiful I kind of wanted to cry. Portions are generous, and the staff is friendly. This place is a true gem.

    (5)

  • Katherine I.

    While you're reading this review, wondering if you should try it, the line is lengthening. So, I'll keep it short. You'll love anything that includes a mix of seafoods served in an old-country pot. Bye.

    (4)

  • Yuko I.

    The food was not something to say so loud, I experienced a lot better muqueca. So, I was disappointed with this place first of all. When I tried to pay me and my friend's bill with half cash half credit card, I was told to put more tips as I tipped on the credit card and the server did not see it. I fond this was rather rude, but I got patient and explained, the server still did not understand I paid tips on credit card and insisted I should pay more. Finally, I called a manager as the server was making the scene, the guy did not even apologize but he simply said "it is up to you if you want to pay or not pay for the service..." I felt I should not have paid tips. Rude and horrible service. Never come back.

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    I'll just pile on. Great food, and good prices. It is popular and small, so there is sometimes a wait. I recommend going early.

    (5)

  • Madeleine Q.

    i brings my out of town guests here all the time. this is my all-time favorite eatery in boston. i do miss the old hole in the wall joint but the new remodeled place has more tables and spaces for people so less waiting time to be seated!! you must try one of the muquecas and the brazilian national dish (beef stew in black bean soup). soooo good!!! they don't have good calamari or pork chops so don't get american friendly dishes when you go there.

    (5)

  • I D.

    This place was really good. I love seafood and the menu is perfect for a seafood lover. I got the Mariscada and it was delicious. BF got the steak and it was good, but not great. I'd stick to their seafood options 'cause it seems that they know what they're doing with that. The place is small so reservations are recommended...even on a weeknight.

    (4)

  • Chinwe N.

    This place is awesome. Very intimate and authentic food. Definitely a good meal at a great price!

    (5)

  • Iris M.

    Let me start off by saying that I've been to Muqueca numerous times, before it moved to its new location. The previous restaurant was small, but had this really warm, amazing atmosphere. Eating meals there always felt as if I stumbled on a great secret. It was always packed, but accommodating. Now, I don't harbor those same fuzzy feelings for this restaurant, especially with all the other Brazilian restaurants in the area. The food has really taken a turn for the worse (compared to what is used to be) in the last year and a half. It's just not as flavorful. I don't know if management has shifted, but it's not the same. I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because of how good it USED to be, and I'm hoping that it will get better one day sooner rather than later. I will say that the smoothies are good there, so I don't feel as bad now about giving it 3 stars. Casa Portugal down the street has better food, though.

    (3)

  • Vanessa C.

    this is some of the tastiest food I have ever had in boston. after having been a few times now I can tell you what I found to be good and what to avoid. Excellent: THE SEAFOOD RICE CASSEROLE. this is one of my favorite dishes I have ever had in my entire life. frealz. Good: the muquecas - honestly the casserole is twice as good! stay away: dont bother with the shakes. I havent tried the meat menus here but if you go for the seafood rice casserole I can pretty much guarantee you will not be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Rooster L.

    This place is fantastic! The food is excellent and reasonably priced. We didn't have a reservation at got there about 6:15 on a Saturday night. We had no trouble getting a table but by 7 you would have had to wait (you can make reservations) The staff was very friendly although they didn't speak a lot of english. I ask what was in one of the sauces and they actually told me love was one of the main ingredients!! We got the fried yucca and portugese sausage appetizers and I got the mussels muqueca (house specialty). If you like seafood the muqueca is the way to go. If not, my boyfriend got the Prime cut sirlon and it was fantastic. The portions are on the large size - I think two ladies could split a muqueca and app and be full. Or there are always leftovers!! Desert and coffee are a must here. The deserts are small, rich, and cheap! The most expensive desert is $3!! I got a cafezinho (brazilian espresso) and it was $0.75! I didn't think you could get normal coffee anywhere for $0.75! So for 1 app, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and one coffee the bill was $45! If I had to criticize, the decor is ok, its a little crowded in there and don't serve alcohol. But honestly they don't need to change anything!

    (5)

  • Judy P.

    I love Muqueca. Shrimp muqueca and Fish muqueca are very addictive. Friend plantain was okay for me and their shakes are not that great.

    (4)

  • Christine V.

    Just loved this place! This place was small and cozy. We ordered a bunch of things I can't remember but I enoyed every bite! Be ready for the richness of each dish! Even the rice was buttered! mmmm

    (5)

  • Holly A.

    hubs and i dined here as part of our east coast extravaganza 2010 vacation. hands down one of my fave joints in the boston area (this includes overpriced back bay eateries). delicious, fresh food that's great for vegetarians - LOVED it. the yucca and plantains were fabulous!

    (5)

  • Jess P.

    I'm going to have to echo the chorus of DELICIOUS. Small place, casual with what I want to describe as a kind of homey, family feeling, but I think that was mostly thanks to the several groups with young children who were there on a Tuesday night. The moqueca was delicious and perfect winter food, warm, filling and hearty but not too heavy. The fish is a mild white fish, cod?, and the flavors of the stew itself are good but not that intense (beware if you dislike cilantro though). There's some sort of spicy red sauce though if you want a bit of a kick. We finished with the chocolate flan, which was tasty enough, but nothing too exciting. Maybe the other options would be more interesting, but considering that's not the main attraction, not a big deal in my opinion.

    (5)

  • KoreanSoup S.

    pretty good brazilian seafood in clay pots

    (4)

  • patti t.

    This is the only place I've have Brazilian cuisine and have fallen in love with it. Aside from that this place serves food fresh and made to order. The staff is extremely nice and very accommodating.

    (5)

  • Abby H.

    I'd read the online reviews recommending this place. I'd read that one order of the fish stew (muqueca) can feed two. Since we went for lunch, I was sure that we'd ordered enough food- and we weren't that hungry. The waitress disagreed and REPEATEDLY insisted that we needed to order more food for our group. As a result, we ordered more than we needed and spent more than we wanted to. With high pressure sales like this, I felt like I was at a used car lot. Despite an excellent signature dish, we won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Joanna S.

    I used to live a block from here and often stop by to pick up flan on my way home. I miss those days. Aside from the flan, try the fried yucca and the best Muqueca is the one with the seafood and coconut milk. The portions are big and you always leave happy, with leftovers.

    (4)

  • Jia H.

    This place was truly fantastic! even in a neighborhood with lots of other great Portuguese/Brazilian restaurants. We ordered the muqueca (stew) with clam since they're the specialty of the restaurant. The clams, while not fresh were plentiful especially for the price. The shrimp entree was also flavorful although the veggie sides were lacking. They also have great smoothies for less than $3 and a lively and friendly crowd. There was no wait at 7pm on a weekend. Next time I'll definitely need to save room for fried snapper and passion fruit flan!

    (5)

  • Leo S.

    For constantly great homy style brazilian food, I recommend Muqueca. It's ideally located close to Inman square and to Christina's Ice cream shop. Food is served in a hot stone bowl and contains cilantro, lemon, tomato flavors. Their seafood dishes are probably the most popular and are close to spanish paella. For $10-$20 per entree, there's nothing you can beat. It's a very popular place, often cramped with local students. Great comfort food and a must try if you're in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Jacob W.

    This place is amazing. Went recently on weekend night, the only downside was the wait...it's a very small place, i would highly suggest reservations...but it is more than worth the wait. The service was great and the staff was very accommodating,they even took our order while we waited so our food was almost ready as soon as we were set. We split the fried yucca (mmmm) and Mariscada.(simply amazing.) I still can't get over how good it was!! Those two dishes were also more than enough for two. First Brazilian experience in/around Boston and it was a great one. I cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jesse A.

    The last time I had feijoada was during an impromptu samba party at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro... That was one of the great dining experiences of my life, so you know Muqueca is doing something right that I've given it five stars... I'm not brasilian, but as far I can tell, Muqueca is the genuine artifact... The feijoada is sublime and their signature dish, muqueca, was equally perfect...So much flavor. I liked the hot, cozy ambience of the old location better than the marble and modern new digs, but they serve alcohol now, so what's lost in ambiance is made up for with a cool beer to wash down the smokiness of the fall-of-the-bone short ribs and intense richness of the blood sausage... I will go back to muqueca again and again

    (5)

  • Peter P.

    Unique excellent food that you can't find anywhere. The price has gone up as the restaurant became more popular though.

    (5)

  • Catherine S.

    I love this place. I first went there when I worked down the street and was very small. I recently returned to the new bigger and better location, and not only are the new digs great - but the food was even better than I remember. Nice and light and packed with flavor. Wonderful menu, wonderful service. Clean bathroom too - bonus!

    (5)

  • vincent j.

    Very tasty food, very special drink.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    I love this place. Great neighborhood spot for Brazilan food and the owners are absolutely delightful. Bright, colorful, small and informal dining space with Brazilian TV going in the background. The restaurant is named for the fish stew that is from that part of Brazil. A big stone pot will come to your table overflowing with fish or mixed seafood, brightly flavored with lots of cilantro IIRC. Their entrees are great and don't miss the wonderful black beans - so good over rice. They also have a small steam/buffet table for food by-the-pound. Love the traditional potato salad, but don't miss their specials. Once it was a couscous with ground chicken and vegetables. Not typical but wonderful. This is also a great place to stop in for a to go snack - wonderful juice bar and a variety of salgadinhos (croquettes) like ham and cheese or beef and taro, plus cheese bread.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    This place is tiny, so get there early, or you'll be waiting out in the cold for a table. Once you're seated, it's definitely worth the wait. I had the Chicken and Shrimp Moqueca, and it was perfect. The sauce was flavorful, the rice was fluffy, and the portions were enormous. The food itself is worth five stars, but I took one off for slow service. And although our server was extremely friendly, I'm pretty sure she understood less than half of what we said.

    (4)

  • Gaelle D.

    Maybe it's because I went there on a Thursday night but I had a great experience at Muqueca! Unlike the weekend Yelpers I was very happy with service: fast, courteous, and genuine. Needless to say, the food was totally amazing! I tried two appetizers. I highly recommend the Brazilian "crab cake", which is much finer than the inaccurate translation suggests. It's actually an oven dish, not deep-fried or anything. The fried yucca was very good for such a simple treat. As for the main dish, I especially enjoyed the Mariscada: shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk, served with sides of rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. It was very flavorful and could probably feed two people per order! The house special Fish Moqueca was also a great dish, although less big. Same with the Shrimp Moqueca that had some extra salt to it but was still pretty good, although more average than the other two. Will definitely go again! (But certainly not on a weekend night!)

    (5)

  • M T.

    Awesome clay pot cookery of fresh seafood and vegetables served with enchanting, searing habanero sauce. Reasonably priced, parking around back, and nice decor. A winner!

    (5)

  • Zach S.

    Definitely the best Brazilian food I've had in the Boston area. Try the mariscada and have as much seafood as possible.

    (5)

  • Lydia S.

    All I can say is EXCELLENT! Some of the BEST Brazilian food I have eaten. The seafood meals are wonderful and fresh. It's a cozy atmosphere and the people are friendly. Get there early becauase the line is always out the door. The only thing it lacks is wine. I would love a glass with my meal.

    (5)

  • Delince and Tishia L.

    We have done our share of Brazilian food and I have to say this place was pretty good. Of course you must try the Muqueca it's amazing. The staff was OK but we really enjoyed our meal.

    (3)

  • Alyssa N.

    Too bad I think I'm allergic to something here (post-dinner hives are no fun), because the food was yummy. Coconut shrimp are some of the best I've had. Lots of fresh juices (try a true pina colada here) and fresh fish. Good prices. Tiny space, few tables. Don't let that stop you.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    Dinner at Muqueca was the perfect thing to cheer me up on a rainy, grumpy day. We had the fried yucca, shrimp muqueca, and feijoada, all hearty flavor and deliciousness. The portions were larger than I remembered them being (we probably could have shared a single stew), but that is my only complaint (hardly a complaint) about this small, inviting place run by a very nice couple.

    (5)

  • M. Deloris D.

    Ahhh...Muqueca. While in university, I would frequent a place in Santa Cruz called Cafe Brazil. Since leaving the land of sea and surf, I have been jonesing for a good feijoada and acai bowl. Muqueca delivers on both fronts. Problem is, I've had mixed experiences at this estabilishment. Twice I've had rapid service and twice I've waited more than an hour to be seated so today, I'm giving Muqueca three stars. Great food. Mediocre service. Just about everything I've had a Muqueca has been delicious. Do give the acai bowl, couve, plantains and feijoada a try, they're my favorites.

    (3)

  • hilary c.

    Order the Muqueca, the dish for which the restaurant is named. Buttery rice and a hotpot of fresh, flakey fish, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and if you want, shrimp and/or mussels. Enough for two meals....

    (4)

  • Nupur L.

    We ate lunch here for the first time today, happily ate the leftovers tonight and loved it so much that we're going back for dinner tomorrow. Robust seafood flavors and perfect spicing make this the kind of place that you'll look back on if you move out of the area, remembering the good old days when you could just go to Muqueca. I'm already nostalgic for it and it's not due to my overly sentimental nature. It's just that good.

    (5)

  • Jill S.

    Charming, small & cozy with great people-watching windows onto Inman Square. I went on my first day in Cambridge and it was my first taste of Brazilian food and I loved it! We had the seafood rice casserole (yummy! and HUGE - leftovers for lunch the next day) and the "Feijoada Completa" which is slow cooked meat and beans, fried plaintains and a couple of other things. The latter is apparently Brazil's national dish and it was slow-cooked and tender and oh so delicious. They actually make their own clay pots used to prepare it and served on your plate. The waiter was awesome - he sensed our unfamiliarity and took the time to explain dishes, and the lady who delivered the food to our table cheerfully explained what each item was and how one goes about eating it. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Shirley Y.

    fish stew?!@#@!? that's usually the response i get when i describe to my coworkers about this colorful and amazing little brazilian restaurant across the street from the well known midwest grille in east cambridge. however, i love going this establishment with the homemade clay pots full of fish, shrimp and vegetables that comprise the muqueca, the signature brazilian dish and the rice and fish sauce on the side. the fish is fresh, possibly from the fernandes fish market next door, or any of the fish markets in the neighborhood. the muquecas are plenty to share with another person and the appetizers are equally filling. muqueca has no liquor license but highly recommended are the fresh fruit juices, some of them with the amazonian fruit that you cannot pronounce and will not find anywhere else. the place is small but not too small. there are various tables scattered about with an open kitchen behind the fruit juice bar. there is usually not a wait if you go with one other person on a weeknight for dinner.

    (5)

  • Sherie J.

    Finally! Something I bookmarked and actually got to try! Love the neighborhood in Cambridge. This was a wonderful way to celebrate my 3rd month in MA. Cute little joint I think my friend Marie and I met the owner/chef. She was wonderful. She took us on a tour of the menu and it's everything other Yelpers have been barking about but better when you get to eat the food. Everything was fresh from the fruit smoothie to the tapioca/coconut dessert . We both love seafood so we decided to share the fish Muqueca and also the seafood stew made with coconut milk. Both came with rice and a fresh plaintain salsa that was killer! The hot sauce on the table was also very, very creamy and spicy hot just how I like it! I know my review isn't doing this amazing tiny restaurant justice. You must go. Especially if you love seafood and something adventurous. We were advised that the restaurant is moving to a new location (still on Cambridge St.) with more tables and a liquor license! Good for them. They deserve all the success in the world! I am hoping to become a regular!

    (5)

  • Keith C.

    Great restaurant, went there with my girlfriend on a drizzly Friday night at around 6:45 and got seated right away, but heed the warnings about reservations, everyone else coming through the door had booked, and by 7:15 there was a line outside. The waitstaff is friendly and the decor is comfortable. They don't serve booze there, but they do have delicious smoothies. Our meal: Fried yucca with Portuguese sausage Seafood mariscada side of plantain muqueca tropical freeze smoothie Everything was delicious, but the fried yucca left a little to be desired, it was rather bland, but the side sauce helped. The portions are big, we shared a main course and left with half of it to take home. Great casual dining destination.

    (4)

  • Chance X.

    This is a very small business. Very cozy, cute interrier and friendly staff. It makes you feel like u r eating at a kichen in a brazillian family. It makes you feel warm. The portion here is huge. We, 4 of us, each ordered a main course and we packed half of the meal home. It is delicious but each main course taste some what the same. However, the fried fish is HUGE. I've already said their portion is big, did I. But it is huge, I am really shocked. I don't think brazilian food is really my thing after this first try. But I'd recommand if you want a different experience. They are lovly.

    (4)

  • Doris K.

    Amazing! Their service, spices and food are absolutely amazing. The calamari was really good, very crunchy. The crab cake was to die for, like nothing I have ever had. Then we had Feijoada which was a little salty but went well with the rice. Most of the things are family style. I would suggest making reservations or arriving early because this place is always busy and very small. I love Antoine, our waiter. He was funny and good-spirited. I was asking what was in the crab cake because it was so good. He explained and showed me a certain seed that they use to give it a bright orange color. If I could I would eat here every night. That's how good it was.

    (5)

  • Lidya T.

    I felt compelled to write a review on Muqueca even though there are already so many good reviews out there about this place. Been to this place twice and following is what we ordered at both times: -Fried Frog Legs - for the adventurous only but really...they are delish. -Fried Yuca - Very crispy. -Brazilian style crab cakes - i must say this is the best crab cakes i've ever had. The crab cake is served in the earthen mold shaped like a crab, at first i really thought that it was the real crab shell... -Seafood Stew (I can't remember the exact name - it's the one without coconut milk) - I actually like this one better than the one with coconut milk. - Seafood Stew (With Coconut Milk) - just as good. -Black Bean, Pork and Sausage Stew - this is actually the least favorite of mine. This is supposedly the brazillian national dish. I am sure it is not because of the food being bad but it just simply does not sit right in my pallate. I am not used to the big bowl of pure blackbean with pork and sausage, i find all i can taste is the blackbean itself. But hey, to each his own i'm sure Brazillian does love this dish for it is their national dish. Overall, I have not had bad experience with the food nor the service so i will keep coming back. I agree with the boyfriend's comment this is actually a good place to bring visiting friends for a good ethnic lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Miss H.

    Funny that we haven't been here before, because my husband is Brazilian and I love their food. The food e muito bom! Fried Yucca - one of the best I've had here or Brazil! Golden and crisp on the outside, moist and soft on the inside (not dry at all). Delicious dipping sauce too. Frango passarinho was really good - crisp and dark golden and moist and lots of garlic flavor/aroma! Mmmm. My husband got a mixed moqueca with plenty of shrimp and mussels. The rice and beans really hit the comfort food spot, though the beans are very salty for my taste. Though I know most people like it that way. While we like our caipirinhas stronger, they were well made for our standards, which is hard to get in the states. The only weird thing that baffled us was that we arrived at 6pm with no reservation, and only 3 of the tables were occupied and the hostess looked at the reservation book for a minute, humming in worry, not sure if there was room for us. We looked at each other and laughed wondering how it would be a challenge to seat a 2-top before the dinner rush in an empty restaurant. The restaurant wasn't even completely full by the time we left. Not a typical for Brazilian hospitality, but we'd go back for more good food.

    (4)

  • buckminster f.

    if you have not tasted fafa's muqueca you have yet another thing to live for. because words cannot convey the delectable splendor that is fafa's muqueca, i will stop here and invite you to try it yourself. too bad they don't have a liquor license. lord knows they tried but the grumpy neighbors stopped them in their tracks.

    (5)

  • Alyson L.

    Very authentic Brazilian food. The service is personable and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. You feel like you're at someone's house and they're cooking you a homemade meal.

    (5)

  • Leroy t.

    I'll spare the rhetoric: IT DOESNT GET BETTER THAN MUQUECA. Go to Muqueca, now. It is very delicious. Every item on the menu is fresh and tasty, but you MUST get the muqueca. Shrimp is bomb, as are the mussels, and everything else. Must get a smoothie! You won't think of smoothies the same way again.

    (5)

  • Kimberly P.

    So.... maybe Brazilian is just not for me? I mean, it's not the impossibly tiny dining room, I've dined in way smaller places back in Philly. It is not the staff, the owner (?) was incredibly friendly and came out to talk with my party when it was obvious that we wouldn't be seated at our reservation time. It was a cute place really... but the food was blah and I have one bone to pick about the service. I had the pork dish served with white rice, black beans and fries or salad. Now, when I ordered the dish, the waitress asked if I wanted the fries or salad. I requested salad. When the dish arrived, it came with fries and I just asked for the salad. The server comes over with attitude saying that next time I should request salad when I order.... um... excuse me? I did. When I told her that, she denied it and kind of stormed off in a huff. Excuse me? Everyone at the table heard you ask me if I wanted a freakin' salad please do NOT catch an attitude. Even if I was mistaken (which I wasn't) there was NO need for the attitude. That aside the pork was incredibly dry. I am by no means a pro chef but my pork never comes out dry so I am having a hard time understanding how a restaurant could serve something so dry it was probably related to the Sahara. My compadres had the shrimp bobo and the plantain lasagna and they both liked the dishes. Me on the other hand... meh. I came, I tried and I just don't think it is for me.

    (3)

  • Kathy T.

    This place was really good! Very tiny place - there is absolutely no waiting area what so ever. I felt like I was eating dinner at someone's home - the waitstaff all spoke Portuguese and were very friendly. The Brazilian food was very good - the moquecas, plantains and rice were extremely filling and very reasonably priced. For about $20 a person we practically had to roll ourselves out the door at the end of the evening.

    (4)

  • Paul Y.

    First time having Brazilian food - so I don't have much to compare it to, but as far as a meal is concerned, this is as good as it gets. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated, the wait staff was very friendly (kid-friendly too) and willing to explain the unfamiliar dishes. From the juice bar, I had the Blue Cazu, which the waitress explained had a very Brazilian taste and included cashew juice (I learned that the cashew nut is really the stem of a fruit that can be juiced). For an entree I had the Feijoada Completa which was a bean and meat stew served with rice, fried plantains, and collards. It was extremely flavorful. I also sampled the Mussels Moqueca and Shrimp Moqueca, both of which were wonderful dishes flavored with cilantro, light spices, and a tomato base. For dessert I had the flan and needless to say, the restaurant passed that test with flying colors. Especially noteworthy about the flan was the sauce, which had a very clear "unprocessed" flavor.

    (5)

  • D S.

    I would recommend take out as the restaurant itself is not particularly nice, but the food is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, and the servers are very efficient and polite. It'd be better if they had more seating, and could serve caipirinhas and beer. Juices were delicious, the mariscada really is delicious.

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Friendly service. Reasonable portions. Average to slightly below average food. Definitely overpriced. Amusing/stupid descriptions on the menu (especially the dessert menu - worth looking at just to laugh.). Wouldn't go back.

    (2)

  • Mouhsin S.

    Got back from Brazil a few weeks ago ... I was jittery, cold, difficulty staying awake ... yup, definite diagnosis of Brazil withdrawal syndrome. My friend prescribed dinner at Muqueca. We experimented with the fried frog legs ... tasted like chicken to my unsophisticated palate. The seafood muqueca was excellent, full of bubbly goodness, great spices, and lotsa seafood. But what really fixed my jonesing was the Acai ... I don't know exactly whats in that bowl of magic purple goodness, but I do know that whatever it was, it quickly found a new home in my happy stomach. Brazil withdrawal syndrome, happily resolved :) ... at least until the next craving strikes!!!

    (5)

  • Erin F.

    Maybe because I live up the street from Muqueca is the reason I eat there so often(once a week). Almost always my husband and I get takeout because it is usually packed (good for muqueca). Yes it can take up to a half hour for even take out, SO WORTH IT!!! The food is consistantly exellent and so reasonably priced. I am a fan....

    (5)

  • Lea G.

    it's delicious. we had fried snapper, sweet plantain, brazilian summer, ... and the mango mousse was so rich. the shrimp muqueca was the least favorite. the waitresses were friendly. the place is tiny and packed, so be prepared to wait and get rushed out. i guess that's part of the experience, and it's well worth it.

    (4)

  • Sophie R.

    Went here for the first time a few weeks ago and was very happy to find somewhere new and tasty. If you're seated near the counter in winter wear layers, both on top and bottom. The heating vent/radiator will scald your legs if you're not too careful, but simultaneously your torso may get chilly from the door opening onto the street. That said, try the Mariscada that my friend recommended ("Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca"), totally incredible, and enough for two to share (so the $18 price tag isn't so bad). We also had the frogs legs (crispy, fried, with a squeeze of lime, good for something different) and the Brazilian Summer fresh juice (Pineapple & Mint, very refreshing). Friendly service, not a long wait, but very small so there's likely a significant wait on weekends.

    (4)

  • itay i.

    Great food. Cheap. Very small space.

    (4)

  • John F.

    I had never experienced Brazilian food before eating here, but afterwards I was totally taken by it. The food all smelled amazing, and tasted the part as well! The various dishes are interesting, filling, and most importantly, mighty delicious. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so you can expect to wait on a weekend night.

    (4)

  • Anonymous P.

    This food is adventurous and great. Perfect for seafood lovers. Go when it's not crowded. If you think the prices for the entrees are somewhat high ($10-$20 an entree), please realize that you can easily split them. Indeed, they seem intended for splitting. And c'mon people, live without the booze, get some exotic fresh fruit juice, and go to Bukowski's or somewhere for drinks after. Perhaps my favorite restaurant in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Kai L.

    i really like this place. the food is very yummy, mostly fish (duh, it's fish stew), which is rather different from many of the brazilian restaurants i have been too. the place is very tiny, but feels cozy and friendly. definitely get a few people to go so that you can try different dishes. Any muqueca dishes are definitely signature dishes, but also try other non-stew dishes. the wait staff is usually helpful in explaining and recommending dishes.

    (4)

  • julia r.

    the food is filling and delish; definitely authentic. the muqueca is indeed quite tasty. the menu begs to be sampled widely, but factoring in the small dining space, i would say that a group of 3-4 is optimal here.

    (4)

  • Sania T.

    great food but poor serviceee....

    (4)

  • M C.

    I started going here a few years ago but never get to go as much as I'd like. I have tried the fish stews and the yuca and they are amazing! Such great food and home cooking for the price. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Fred C.

    This is probably one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area. If you like seafood of any sort, you should give Muqueca a whirl... and when you go, you or someone who's willing to share with you absolutely need to try one of the "muqueca" dishes and/or the mariscada. Beyond that, the fried plantains are good as are their various fresh fruit smoothies... mmmm. As some other yelpers have pointed out, the food will take a little bit of time so go before you think you'll get hungry ;)...and then prepare to feast.

    (5)

  • BD D.

    The best. You must try the Muqueca here- either the fish or the fish with shrimp. Its just wonderful, simple and healthy food. I have also had the special house fried fish and the house steak- both are excellent. Its always crowded, but worth the wait and you can always meet interesting people in line. Order a blender drink- the acerola and orange combo is delicious.

    (5)

  • Jessie H.

    My favorite Brazilian restaurant in Boston. Amazing food and good for vegetarians too.

    (5)

  • Matthias J.

    I went to Muqueca with my family last week-end and the adults shared 3 dishes: the Feijoada, their Plantain Lasagna and a "Muqueca Completa". Of the three, the only one I was familiar with was the Faijoada, and I must say this was the best I have had so far. The Muqueca was also very good while the Plantain Lasagna, although a bit heavy with all the cheese, was "interesting" (but in a good way). I was happy with the choice. The kids had some grilled chicken with rice and beans and fries which were clearly not frozen and microwaved as other places do. We were lucky to find a parking spot on the street right next to the restaurant, which was a huge plus, as I would say parking is the biggest negative of this place. The restaurant is nice, clean but nothing fancy. The only negative aspect from our visit (but not enough to cost the review a star) was that we asked to have a baby food container heated for our 15 month old daughter (who was not quite ready for black bean stew) and were told they couldn't do it for "liability reasons". The logic being that they cook with seafood and could "contaminate" the container and if the baby was allergic it would be their fault... Sounds a bit bogus to me.

    (5)

  • Elana B.

    Really cute restaurant, food is delicious and very flavorful! We had the fried yucca, shrimp bobo, and feijoada. All were wonderful with exciting new flavors. Lots of food, at times a bit rich for us. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Pat M.

    If you don't mind waiting (the place is very small and only has about 15 tables) the food is excellent as well as the service. Everything was extremely fresh and well prepared, but it is a small kitchen so be prepared to wait a little while for the food to get to you table. Also, the portions are quite large, so plan to have enough to take home with you! If you like Brazilian food this is definately a place to stop in and try!!!

    (4)

  • Tanya S.

    The namesake Muqueca is wonderful, so are some of the other variations like the seafood rice. The flavors are delicate and complex and the dishes are both colorful and fragrant. It's not so salty and meaty like most of the other Brazilian food I've had (even though I do like that type of food too). Nice place.

    (4)

  • Kiki B.

    ooh, i almost hate to write this review and give it away, but it's just sooo good. i don't eat pork or shellfish, so a lot of menu items were off-limits, but what we did have was phenomenal, especially the plantain lasagna - incredibly rich and dense, but incredible. the smoothies are a great accompaniment. you have to wait for a table (weekends muchh longer), but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Eunice C.

    this place is delicious! i ordered the seafood moqueca, and, like my fellow yelpers, was not disappointed. flavorful, filling-but-not-too-heavy, perfect. service was prompt and friendly. i don't recommend going in large groups, though, as seating is tight.

    (5)

  • Tyler C.

    i suspect this place has gained a cult following from both Brazilian expats and hungry students both, so this review might be superfluous. But yeah - brazilian/caribbean fish/seafood stews, as well as some brazilian dishes. Everything has pretty much been said in other reviews here, so i'll just chime in with my 2 cents - my favorite is actually the mariscada, which is big enough to feed 2 people...I think the only difference is that there's coconut milk in the sauce and maybe some differing spices than the standard muqueca stew. Also...this place makes mean smoothies...in particular the pineapple-mint which had me feverishly trying to duplicate it in my blender over the past summer...it was that tasty. on the To-Try list - something on the menu, "feljoada completa" if i recall correctly. I have no idea what it is but it sounds tasty....

    (4)

  • Andrea W.

    This place is great. They found a way to get us a table even though they were filled with reservations for the whole night. I had the moqueca with fish and it was fantastic - but I didn't love the sauce that went with it. Even better was the maranasca.... or something like that. YUM

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    I've been wanting to go to Muqueca for the longest time but it requires the stars to be aligned for a- me to be at Inman Square b- there not to be a long line or wait at Muqueca! Well the heavens finally answered me and I tried it out! It was indeed delicious. We started out with fried yucca, which were lightly fried and not too oily. Then came the main dishes: muqueca, the signature dish that consists of delicious mix of seafood, vegetables, and herbs (ie tons of cilantro!!!) with a rich sauce. I had the shrimp muqueca while my friend had the mariscada (Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca). The food was unbelievably vibrant and delicious. Although the pots appear to be small, the meal was very filling with the rice. In fact, I never got dessert! Call ahead for reservations or go on a weeknight. The restaurant is tiny: approximately 10 tables, but incredibly cozy and colorfully decorated. Like pho (Vietnamese noodles), great for the seemingly neverending Boston winter-time! Sidenote: my other two friends got the coconut shrimp and fried fish filet (ie fish mcnuggets) and were disappointed, but then again you don't go to a fabulous restaurant renown for steaks and get a McDonalds-like cheeseburger!

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    I've been here so many times and I have never once been disappointed. One of my favorite dishes is the steak that is served with rice, beans, and a fried egg. It is not super seasoned, but it is well done and is very tasty. The last time I was here, we started with fried yucca which was simple but tasty. It is a pretty sizeable portion for an appetizer. Two of us decided to share the mariscada as an entree (just ordering extra rice so that we both had our own portion). This dish was absolutely delicious. The sauce was good and there was a lot of seafood to share. Between two of us, these two dishes were definitely more than enough food for dinner. The restaurant is very small, so be prepared for a wait. We unfortunately went the same night as Harvard's graduation, so it was quite crowded and the parties tended to linger for a bit since they were generally larger groups with what appeared to be lots of family.

    (5)

  • Archana V.

    First time in a Brazilian restaurant and I liked everything I ate! Had the crabcake for appetizer, which was different from the regular crab cake patties. According to our waiter they are the best crabcakes ever! I beg to disagree. I reserve that spot for the crabcakes at the Bluenose Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine. Anyway coming back to Muqueca, the appetizer was delicious. We also had the fish and shrimp Moqueca which was chockfull of seafood and was served in broth that had lots of tomatoes and cilantro. Yum! I got the silk stocking cocktail which I didn't like very much. But the capirinha was awesome. If I had to complain about anything, it would be the distinct seafood odor as soon as you enter the restaurant. Otherwise this is a great restaurant and I'll be back to try more.

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    GREAT FOOD! I never had authentic Brazilian food and this was such a great experience!! I ordered the national Brazilian dish...they served a pretty big portion which I couldn't finish. It was really good!! I just want everyone to try the dessert! They are reasonably priced at $3 and they are fantastic....wow! LOL Try the Coconut and Tapioca and the Mango Mousse!!

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    One more restaurant to check off of my Must Eat At list! And it was almost as good as the Yelp hype. 4.5 stars. First off, I was worried about the wait on a Saturday night. I called ahead and while they didn't have any reservations available til 8pm, they said they'd put me on the "waiting list" and do their best to seat us. When we arrived at 6:30, they said it'd be 15 minutes, and in the end, we only waited 2. Totally reasonable! Good start, MuQu, I liked you already. Me and my friend started with Mango Nana smoothies, which were sooo tasty. They remind me of the Mango Tango Odwalla drinks, but a little less sweet and with a little pulp. For food, we split the Mariscada . A MUST TRY!..............................................­................... $15.95 Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. I agree it's a must try...it came all bubbly hot and you'll definitely have leftovers that you can't wait to eat. And the Feijoada Completa..........................................­............................... $11.95 Brazilian national dish. Black beans stew with fresh & dried meat, pork, sausage & bacon. Served with collard greens, fried plantain, farofa & orange. This was not as special/different, but okay nonetheless. Too bad, I'm still deducing 1/2 a point. The plaintains (ooooh how can you not love plaintains?) were good and the collard greens garlic-y. They serve you individual plates of rice and you spoon your sauce-y dishes right over it from the clay pots they cook them in. It came to like $20 a person total (yes fyi prices have gone up since those listings from their online menu) so all in all a great meal at a fine cost in a cute little restaurant. It inspired me to want to go back to Tu Y Yo, which is Spanish and not Brazilian, but equally tasty and slightly better ambiance.

    (4)

  • Luisa O.

    Delicious. i recommend the Muqueca- a fish stew from a region in Brazil. Its large enough to split with two. For me, the best sides are the kale and plantains (banana frita.) Some of the dishes are too much meat for me, but Muqueca's signature dish is the brilliant fish stew! Small place and sometimes there is a long wait.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    Really, really delicious. I have been searching for Salgadinhos for years. 23 to be exact. I couldn't remember what they were called, but I've never seen them on a Brasilian restaurant menu. I remembered them as tasty tasty little patties filled with spiced ground meat and fried to perfection. And that is what Muquequa served me. That alone gives them 4 stars in my book. The feijoada was excellent. Top notch. The chorizo was absolutely perfect. The other dishes I was not as familiar with, as the cuisine is from a different region than I knew, but was all very tasty. I look forward to going back and trying them all. And the 5th star? Where does it come from? The pudim (flan). Seriously. This alone could make a meal. Their pudim was the best I've had since Brasil. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Austin T.

    i came here as a brazilian food noob. so... read my review knowing that i probably have no idea what i'm talking about. :D um, so i had no idea what was going on. i ordered "Brazil's national dish" and i got 4 plates. was i supposed to mix it all together? eat it with my hands? drink the stew? snort the powdered flower ... parts? i was so confused. the server was kind enough to ask if i'd been there before and then tried to explain the dish to me. but she just pointed and muttered. not helpful, dude. i left here full but i'm still a brazilian food noob.

    (3)

  • Ligaya T.

    Yes, it's worth the line. Give your name, go to Christina's and eat a small bit of dessert first. Then half an hour later, dive into one of their signature seafood dishes and revel in your brilliance. Collard greens, bomb. Plantains, scrumptious. Smoothies, spectacular. Do you see all the superlatives? Count the number in all these Yelp reviews. Need any more convincing? It will take one bite, I promise.

    (5)

  • Esther Z.

    Hello affordable mouth-watering seafood casserole! No joke this place is an experience - one that you won't regret. The traditional Brazilian food here is out of this world. I would vote for the dessert too! The drinks however, I won't recommend. I've never actual had them but I've seen the size of them and they are so comically small that they probably won't do any good.

    (5)

  • Collette A.

    Great food and helpful staff at this small in size but big on taste restaurant. Came with a party of six and was seated immediately.

    (5)

  • Racquel C.

    Good food! My fish and shrimp moqueca simply needed more salt or seasoning ... was very bland. But overall, very good. The flan is the best flan I've ever tasted! Delicious! Great service and great presentation of food. Would definitely return!

    (3)

  • Uday S.

    A trip to Boston is incomplete without a visit here on a late Sunday for a lazy lunch with a few drinks. Been here a few times and the service and quality is consistently great for me to come back. A perfect meal here is: A Brazilian summer to drink Heart of plam salad. Fried yuca Muqueca de peixe and camarao Brigadeiro to end your meal. While I've been to a few Brazilian steak places, this is a refreshing different taste of Northern Brazil.

    (5)

  • Leila L.

    We had Seafood Rice Casserole and Muqueca Completa (shrimp, fish, and mussels). Being a first timer of Brazilian moquecas, I can't say I don't like them, but it was not like wow-this-is-good kind of experience. And I guess most of the dishes are quite alike, with seafood soup+tomato+cilantro kind of flavor. I mean the two things we got, though look not that alike--one is dry with rice in the dish and the other is in soup with rice on the side, but taste almost the same. In general, an okay place to go if you have strong crave for seafood.

    (3)

  • S W.

    One of the best restaurants in Cambridge and a personal favorite for lunch! Big fan of the moqueCa ComPleta and the feijoada ComPleta!

    (5)

  • Tiana A.

    The food is very good. I was here to celebrate my father's birthday. The server we had was great, he made us laugh and he helped us with the menu. The place is fairly small so come early. You will be full when you leave here.

    (5)

  • Michaela D.

    We really liked the smoothies!! However, the soup was not what I expected. It was very creamy and the chorizo and potatoes were all purée. I think it might be better to go into the restaurant next time as opposed to ordering online.

    (4)

  • Hansel B.

    A friend took me to this little gem in Cambridge. It's a little bit out of the way, but worth a visit. Their specialty is called "Muqueca" and its a clay pot with seafood in a broth. You can get it with plantain or tofu. I went for tofu... yeah right, plantains! I'm dominican, gotta have plantains in my meal :) You come here for the food, the decor is plain, nothing special. The place is clean and you'll hear lots of Portuguese and Spanish around you. It was nice to try something new from Brazil, I would recommend this place for those who want to explore a different side of Brazilian food.

    (4)

  • Shalin D.

    A casual, good time with excellent food. Ordered the caiparinhas. Be careful: they're strong. Two drinks in and I was pretending to be a rabid futbol fan like the rest of the patrons in the restaurant (FYI: I know jack about futbol). What's great is that they muddle the mint when they make the caiparinhas. Not like hotel bars where the mint is just dropped in. Always a good sign. It just got better from there. We ordered the shrimp muqueca for the table and steak on the side. The steak was medium rare, prepared beautifully. The stew was equally delicious. The broth had an unctuousness that highlighted the seafood well. The portions were large enough to counter some of the buzziness from the alchy. The environment is the best part: totally casual. Families occupying large tables. College kids on dates. Folks jabbering on in Portuguese or Spanish.

    (5)

  • Janet L.

    Authentic food and friendly staff. A lot of stews and great seafood too. They even some thirst quenching juices.

    (4)

  • Jean C.

    I am Brazilian and I love good food. Muqueca sure is my favorite Brazilian restaurant around Boston. Beats Fogo de Chão, in Copley Square, with both better service, authenticity and a way more delicious menu and Oasis, in Medford, with better service and organization. Keep up the great work meus amigos. I'll go there every time I have a chance to.

    (5)

  • Thomas H.

    After just arriving in Boston, my wife and I wandered around the area near our hotel in search of something yummy to eat. After browsing the menus of a few restaurants, we settled on Muqueca. It was a good choice! TL;DR summary: Portuguese dishes are delicious and generous, but pricy. Non-Portuguese dishes are delicious and still somewhat pricy. This restaurant is a great choice for seafood lovers, with some tasty (but generic) dishes for those of us who don't eat fish. We ordered: * Fried yucca and linguiça appetizer. Though the yucca doesn't have much unique flavor of its own, and is a lot like eating very thick fried potatoes, this was a good starter for two to share. * Fish muqueca -- fish stew and veggies served up in a clay pot, along with a side of garlic-infused rice. Generous portions of fish. Not oily, not greasy, and very satisfying. * Pork tenderloin served with black beans, garlic rice, and fries. Not a distiinctly Portuguese thing to order, but it was tasty, well-seasoned, and overall it was everything it should be. We left with full bellies and some significant leftovers. Sadly, we also left having dropped more money than we initially planned, because prices are rather high all around. If I had to gripe about this place, I would just say two things: 1) The menu is very strongly geared toward seafood. If you cannot (or will not) eat seafood or fish of any sort, your choices are limited. The dozen or so appetizers are all variations of fish, except for maybe two like the yucca and sausage. Similarly, the most authentic entrees here are fish and seafood, leaving fish-free people like me with the more generic dishes like the pork tenderloin. That's not to say these dishes are bad, but they are not unique to this restaurant or distinctly Portuguese cuisine. 2) The $$ rating on Yelp is correct. You will pay around $10-13 for an appetizer, $10-15 for Americanized dishes, and upwards of $23 per person for the more distinctly Portuguese dishes. Even if you skip drinks and dessert, expect to pay around $25/person plus tip. This is not cheap college student faire.

    (4)

  • Noa C.

    This place offers very unique food, which is nice in the time of burgers and pizza. But just beware that there are A TON of fried options here! As in, it's almost impossible to order an appetizer that isn't fried! We started with the fried yucca, which was nicely cooked and the sauce that came with it was a good, light accompaniment. We also had a fried meat croquette that was lovely. but again, everything was fried. For the entree, we decided to split a Moqueca Completa - one of their signature dishes (and the reason we wanted to try this place out). It is exactly as described: a seafood stew with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. The sauce was nice, but a bit bland and the seafood was cooked well. The atmosphere is a place you could bring your parents or work friends, but don't expect them to be too impressed. Over all, a decent place to try unique food, but I probably won't be returning.

    (3)

  • Ziyan C.

    ~~COST~~ $80 total for 1 drink, 1 appetizer, 2 entrees. Great filling lunch for three people. ~~SERVICE~~ Very friendly, feels like a homey family-owned place. They weren't very busy on a Wednesday at lunch so we had a chill meal. ~~MUST-HAVES~~ Anything from the juice bar, the Yucca/sausage appetizer, any moqueca. ~~JUICE BAR~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Blue Caju - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Blueberry, Cashew Juice & Papaya. $4.95) This was tasty & tart. I'm not sure where the cashew juice came into play in the flavor - we thought it was the nut but realized the pictures showed the actual cashew fruit. Who knew there was a fruit too... But anyway, the juice was nice and thick, textured, and grainy which I really enjoyed. Refreshing cool drink on a hot summer day. ~~APPETIZERS~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Fried Yucca w/ Portuguese Sausage - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Mandioca com linguica. $7.95) The yucca's texture had a good mixture of being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sausage was very meaty, really good and hard. Salads etc menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… ~~MOQUECA CAPIXABA, OUR SIGNATURE DISH~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Fish w/ shrimp moqueca - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Moqueca de camarao. $22.95) This came with two a bowl of the stew, a bowl of sauce, and a plate with rice. The rice was soft and sticky. The muqueca was really delicious, with lots of ingredients and flavors. The fish sauce was very thick and tasted great with the rice and the stew. ~~MEAT~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Sirloin Steak - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… black beans: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (W/ caramelized onions & eggs. $14.95) The steak was kind of hard, but still juicy. This was different from the muqueca as a more classic dish, not a a crazy variety of flavors/sauces, but I still enjoyed the juiciness fo the meat and the fresh onion. The black beans were good, though it was more of a watery/soupy thing (I mixed it in this dish with the rice, in the muqueca and its sauce.. I love the ability to mix & match here). Plantains were soft & sweet, well done!

    (4)

  • Amanda V.

    This place doesn't deserve to have visitors. The service is very slow and they are not gentle at all. THE FOOD IS NOT EVEN BRAZILIAN FOOD. I am part Brazilian and the foods had no taste...It was quite offensive to Brazilian culture. Even my six year old cousin who could do so much better with preparing the food. And what about the FEIJOADA? GUYS GO TO BRAZIL AND TRY REAL FEIJOADA, THEN BUY A BRAZILIAN CULINARY MAGAZINE AND THEN START AGAIN!!!

    (1)

  • Fereshteh A.

    I tried the fish stew and it was wonderful. I definitely recommend going with stews as they are authentic and delicious.

    (5)

  • Joel L.

    This place was awesome. The interior tries hard but is a little lacking; however everything else is great. The server was nice and patient. The food was fantastic.

    (4)

  • Manfred S.

    Cannot beat the best Brazilian food when Brazil beats Chile in a World Cup shootout with caipirinhas. Great atmosphere. Great food. Great service.

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    I ate some good things here: a bowl of beans and pig meat all spiced up and hearty, a simple, onion-y, fish-heavy seafood stew with a clear broth, and a similar one with coconut milk broth, fish, and mussels, and also a kind of crazy good crab cake. I also drank too many of those dangerously cheap caipirinhas. But so it goes. I had a bit of an altercation with the hostess, who was giving us a hard time for showing up at 6:30 on a Friday with a group of three. Someone had called ahead and been told that they wouldn't take reservations for less than four, but that 6:30 would be no problem. So we showed up and were told that we could only have a table for about an hour, at which point they'd move us to the rather small bar. We decided to just eat at the bar and had a funny conversation with the attentive and friendly bartender, so it worked out ok, but I was kind of disappointed to be treated that way at what ended up being a fairly expensive meal. The food was damn good so I guess they can afford to do it. Hell, despite all that complaining I'm still giving it four stars.

    (4)

  • Anonymous U.

    Loved this Brazilian restaurant. It was delicious ! It's a little pricey but worth every penny! I have nothing bad to say about this place. Street parking is the only parking and I watched a car get towed away at the gas station across the street, so take parking seriously around here. Overall, great experience.

    (4)

  • Sabrina B.

    The only authentic Brazilian cuisine restaurant in Cambridge. The food are from North East region of Brazil, the moqueca(seafood stew) is served on iron pans which bring in more flavor and well iron to your food! A must try if you love seafood dishes, they offer drinks such as caipirinha( hard liquor and exotic fruit) they have virgin options too. Service is great, yes it takes a while for the food arrival only because this is not fast food ok?! Fresh ingredients,passionate cooks and a beautiful plate is served to please your tastebuds "eyes" :D Arrive before 7 on weekends. Try moqueca completa~ order extra side of pirao. Passion fruit caipirinha drink, very strong 1 is ok, if driving 2 will give you a DUI

    (4)

  • Dave P.

    We ordered one thing, they delivered a different dish. It took so long to get what we wanted. By the time they put foods on the table, they were cold and real messy. This was my 2nd trial due to many great comments. How could people rated them 4-5 stars......they must be a family member.

    (1)

  • Peter D.

    i love the feijoada. i don't just like it, i love it. and it comes with all the traditional trimmings.

    (4)

  • Basma S.

    This place was fun. I had the fish and shrimp stew. Muqueca It was so good. simple yet delicious. The fish was so tender. I would love to go back again.

    (4)

  • Sara C.

    Absolutely delicious! I had never had Brazilian food before, and I am sold! We had two orders of the seafood Muqueca and one of the shrimp bobo, which was more than enough for four hungry people. Both dishes were unique and delicious, and we couldn't decide which was better! The drinks from their juice bar were also excellent.

    (5)

  • Cristina R.

    My Brazilian coworker raves about this place and comes regularly with her family, so I wanted to give it a shot! Let me start by saying that this was my first experience with Brazilian food other than steakhouses, so I can't comment on the authenticity of Muqueca. I'm just comparing the experience to the various other Latin and European foods that I've had. My friend and I went on a Tuesday at 7:30, and there were about 5 tables being occupied. The interior is pretty casual, no frills, with some colorful wall decorations. We wanted an authentic experience, so we started out with some caipirinhas. Man were these good. Just the right amount of alcohol and very citrusy and fresh. We then split an order of fried yucca. I'm familiar with yucca and have had yucca fries at different restaurants, and this dish wasn't spectacular. The small bits of yucca were fried well, but the white "special sauce" didn't have much flavor, so we ended up also dipping them in the hot sauce that was on our table. We then split one muqueca with fish and shrimp. They brought two orders of rice with this, and it was definitely enough for two people. I don't know.. I guess I just had high expectations, but this didn't blow me away. The tomatoes, onions, and cilantro in the clay pot complemented the seafood well. It also came with a small bowl of fish sauce, which I scooped by the spoonful onto the rice since the white fish was a bit bland on its own. Overall, it was a nice dish, but I've had more flavorful stews in the past. Considering that we had 2 drinks, split one appetizer, and split one entree, the total of nearly $50 seemed a bit steep, especially since the environment is so casual and the ingredients used weren't super expensive (we mainly filled up on yucca and rice). Their menu is extensive, so if I return I would try something else. I'd still recommend it for a solid Brazilian food experience! And get the caipirinha!

    (3)

  • Hana K.

    This Brazilian restaurant in Inman Square has to-die-for authentic Brazilian food and very friendly service by local Brazilians. Two people who have lived in Brazil have confirmed the authenticity of Muqueca's menu for me. Must-try appetizer: Coxinha -- This popular Brazilian snack is not on their menu but they will gladly make it for you. It came hot out of the oven. The breaded dough so crispy on the outside yet so soft inside stuffed with shredded chicken and veggies. Must-try entree: Strogonoff (either chicken or shrimp) -- The real Brazilian way to eat it: crush the mountain of rice and potato sticks flat on the dish, pour the stew on top and enjoy! The thick, creamy stew was very filling and satisfying but had a hint of lime or some citrus to keep the dish refreshing. Portions were big enough to fill two people. Feijoada (national dish) -- Does not look so appetizing from its black droopy photo but rest assured, with one bite of the delicious been sauce with perfectly cooked pork, you will see why this is the national dish of Brazil! It comes with a side of rice and freshly cooked collard greens. Must-try dessert: Flan -- Definitely home-made. Again, huge portions big enough to fill two people. If you prefer the smooth jello-like flan, this may not be your thing. Must-try drinks: Caipirinhas -- Strong and sweet just how the Brazilians do it! Seems to be a very popular place among families, especially with children. The bathroom here was surprisingly spacious, and one of the cleanliest I've seen in Boston! BE WARE -- They do not take reservations for parties smaller than 4 but we had no problem finding seating on a Friday evening.

    (4)

  • Marie R.

    Tasty. Here i had the Shrimp Saute Garlic Olive Oil & Cilantro with white rice and broccoli and carrot sides. It was very good. Good seasoning and everything. Also had a good portion for an app.

    (4)

  • Melissa Y.

    This place is a gem. After I moved out of the Boston area I tried to find another restaurant like it but can't! As a seafood lover, the mariscada was my favorite. Yucca and beef appetizer was great as well. The location is a bit further out in Inman, but absolutely worth it.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    I love this place! I've been twice for lunch and had grilled chicken with rice and beans and the fried yucca with steak tips, both dishes were delish! My fave drink is the Mango Sambo. The atmosphere is comfortable and well lit, and the service is quick and friendly.

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    We had a late lunch today and stumbled into the best meal we've had since we moved here to the Boston area three and a half years ago. Our fried plantain appetizer was delicious, my wife's Fish Moqueca was delicious, my Shrimp Bobo was delicious, and the flan we split for dessert was so good we decided to get two other desserts to go. The entrees were a remarkable melange of favors. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a great meal at a reasonable price in the Boston area. I'd advise making reservations, as we showed up at what we thought would be a slow time (~1:30 on a Sunday) and while we got a table immediately, it was pretty full the whole time we were there.

    (5)

  • Ben L.

    It took me ages to actually come here because, well I had no idea what a portuguese seafood restaurant was and I had no idea how good it was going to be but really what people should have been telling me is that I could be eating plantains and frogs legs and finishing off with a steaming bowl of mussels, shrimp and chunks of fish. For some reason they'll always try to push some extra rice on you but it doesn't matter too much if you take it or not, somehow you always leave happy and full.

    (4)

  • Michele H.

    I was so excited to discover this place on my birthday. Clay pot stews brimming with the freshest seafood. Think warm, ocean fresh bivalves and calamari and shrimp surrounded by a tomato-lime-cilantro broth. Even a plantain and tofu versions for vegetarians that was so good, I might get it next time. (And that's saying something, as I love seafood). Not much in beer selection, which is disappointing, as I'd love to have a great Brazilian beer. Atmosphere is nice but not as nice as the food. Fried yucca is warm and light and wonderfully salty.

    (4)

  • ali g.

    Such a cute place! Came for dinner and really loved the food. Wine is great at $5 a glass. We ordered crab cakes and it came in such a cute clay pot and was steaming hot. Delicious! My two friends and I shared the special fish dish thst comes in a big pot and with rice. So good. Only complaint is that is is lit up like a Christmas tree inside. For a dinner place, I would give it 5 stars if they dimmed the lights a small amount and put on ut a few candles on the table. I don't need to clearly see my neighbors nor the people across the room whole I am eating.

    (3)

  • Carolyn J.

    Food was great! I'm glad I had the chance to finally get over here. I thought we were going to have to wait awhile for a table but surprisingly was seated right away. We tried to make reservations for but we're told first come first serve basis for small parties. The place is on the smaller side so I guess it makes sense. As soon as we seated we were greeted and told to try the famous caparinha..it's made with sugar and limes and boy it tasted good. My husband had the passion flavor one and the kiwi flavor! He wasn't driving so he got to have two. The young girl told us to try the cod patties and chicken patties.( I don't Remember the Portuguese name) with there homemade hot sauce! I coudldnt believe they had homemade hot sauce and it was amazing. We then had the fish and shrimp Muqueca and she told us its a must try with coconut milk in it so hey why not, and wow it was fantastic and I was able to pack up plenty for the next day too! My husband had the sirlion steak on the sizzling platter. It was sizzling alright and the meat was just right served on top these great salted French fries. We finished off with their flan and coffee. I wish I had room to have tried a dessert on my own cause the flan was so delicious. The service was very attentive and friendly.. The girl took time out to make suggestions and explain the menu to us..I noticed she was not only my server but also the hostess! Bouncing back and forth to greet people at the door and wait on the tables.I was very impressed watching the two girls be the hostesses and servers and do it very well mind you.( I waitressed a short time back in college years ago and it's not easy!) The other girl even made an appearance at our table. So overall ladies hats off to you! My husband and I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Rodrigo N.

    Great Muquecas!! Will be coming back!

    (5)

  • Jacob M.

    Delectable and authentic Brazilian place, specializing in moqueca. Their staple Brazilian dishes are all very good, but try their Shrimp Bobo.

    (5)

  • Thaty S.

    Outstanding ! Been there many times and every time is so perfect !!! The food is absolutely delicious, I just want to eat everything on the menu. I recommend the shrimp on passion fruit sauce as an appetizer and the shrimp and fish moqueca as an entree. Or choose anything you want, it will be delicious still.

    (5)

  • Raul G.

    When people think of Brazilian food, they think steakhouse. While the steakhouses are great, Muqueca offers a different and refreshing perspective to Brazilian cuisine. There are no slabs of meat, mainly fish stews. My wife and I have tried the Muqueca Completa and Shrimp Bobo, both of which are delicious! You cannot go wrong with either. Make sure you get the chocolate flan for dessert. You will be very happy. The restaurant is fairly small but cozy. There's usually a nice mix of people there, too. Dinner service can get a little slow and you can expect to wait for a seat on the weekend. But overall, Muqueca is a hit with my wife and I. We've been 3 times already, and will certainly be back again.

    (4)

  • CW W.

    Live in the area so thought would give this place a try, something different as I've never had Brazilian food before. Went with my bf for lunch. There was only one other table when we arrived. The service was very friendly and cheerful with smiles on their faces but SLOW as molasses. Picture 2 servers and 2 tables, what kind of service would you expect? Water was brought to our table in a few minutes and taking our order was a few minutes but getting our food, took longer than what I expected. Ok the food. To be honest nothing really stood out to me. We tried for an appetizer the collard green and bacon fried balls which were really, really salty. My bf got the pork loin which he said had no flavor really except for the onions that were cooked with it but the black beans on the side were good. I got the chicken stroganoff which was ok except that the chicken tasted overcooked. If I could just rate the food I would probably give 3 to 3 1/2 stars but because of the service that's why I gave a 2. Again the waitstaff was very friendly but they were not very attentive. First our food took a while to come out. Remember there was only one other table so we can't imagine why it would take this long. Second after we got our food, yes the server checked on us but once we were done, no one came to clear our plates for a very long time. So long that we joked about walking out, in all fairness 3 -4 more tables had sat down but we were waiting far too long. We wont be going back. But if you're looking for a place with good food and aren't in any rush this might be for you. I strongly advise looking at the menu before going to make sure you find something you might like. As always never take my word and give it a try yourself.

    (2)

  • Nancy H.

    Flavors like fireworks in your mouth. Tastes so natural and light. Muqueca how do you do it so? I went with some girlfriends and we shared the fried yucca app, shrimp & mussels muqueca, and the chicken strogonoff. The strogonoff and muqueca came in cute pots, perfectly portioned with rice nicely plated. And oh my, was it so tasty yet simple. Lots of mussels and 7 or 8 pieces of shrimp in the muqueca; the tomato, cilantro, onions, and spices all cooked together with the seafood makes it awesome. While the chunks of chicken in the thick stew like strogonoff are cooked to perfection. Talk about sweet and simple, but filling and tasty. Come, see, and devour the tasties!

    (4)

  • Teresa M.

    Great service, and great food. I enjoyed both the juice bar and our muqueca. Between two of us, the muqueca, 2 juices, and a shared fried yucca was more than enough food. It was like all the good things in paiella, but tasted much fresher and really delicious- less grain/carb centered. We really enjoyed our meal. I liked the blueberry/mango/passion fruit juice a lot too. The fried yucca was a bit bland, but add hot sauce to the creamy sauce that comes with it and it's fun. The gravy with the muqueca is okay but it was really good without it so we mostly let it be.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    We were in town and looking for something different to try. Muqueca popped up and we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed! This is one of those "hole in the wall" gems you find that keeps you coming back. My wife had their Sirloin steak with the Vinaigrette dressing and it was really good. The flavors were very different from anything we have had before, but it was a very good flavor and she enjoyed it. I had one of their signature seafood dishes that was cooked in one of their special pots. It was excellent as well. The variety of flavors were wonderful as they passed through my mouth. Everything was nice and subtle with all of the flavors blending nicely. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to try something different but safe. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and were patient with our newbie questions.

    (4)

  • Jesse Z.

    Good paella in a pinch, but nothing to write home about. Taste of dishes reminds me a bit of a chain restaurant, as if the meal was mass-produced. I don't believe the restaurant is part of a chain, however.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    I went here with my boyfriend and a friend and thought this was a great find! We ordered some of the traditional muqueca dishes and it was delicious; I love seafood so this was perfect for that. I didn't try anything form the juice/smoothie bar, but my friend did and was very pleased. I really love ethnic food especially since I don't feel that the Boston area does it all that well, with very few exceptions. Cambridge always has great spots, though, and this is one of them. My only advice would be that if you're driving, it might be hard to find parking because it's all street parking. We came right when it opened so it wasn't a big deal. I'll definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Numvuyo H.

    Outstanding! We requested to sit at the bar and were served immediately by two friendly servers. I asked for recommendations on everything and wasn't disappointed. Appetizer: Fried yucca (with delicious cream dipping sauce) Entrees: Lasagna de Banana (hearty, cheesy, reminded me of eggplant parm) and their signature dish Plantain and Tofu Muqueca (you can get either plantain or tofu, but I asked for both) Drinks: Classic Brazilian cocktail the Caipirinha, I got original flavor, but they have other options (e.g. blueberry). This drink is fabulous and an upgrade from the mojito. Fantastic and interesting spot, will definitely recommend to friends!

    (5)

  • Bobby C.

    Made reservations for 7:30PM on a Tuesday. Place was somewhat busy with 3-4 tables open. As others have mentioned, this place is pretty authentic including the waitstaff. Service was ok, nothing special. Our waters were always being filled. Appetizer/sides Plantains...can't go wrong with this. Fried Yucca...ok. Entrees Seafood Rice Casserole...good/reminded me of eating a seafood paella. Muqueca Completa...get one of the other ones...way too much seafood...a bit overpowering with the different seafoods.

    (3)

  • Ari H.

    Delicious! Yelpers recommended this restaurant for my birthday dinner, as I wanted a place that accepted reservations, had a liquor license, and amazing cuisine that wasn't standard American fare. Drinks: Some people ordered glasses of wine and beer. The rest of us shared a $19 pitcher (the menu called it a jar) of sangria, complete with pieces of fruit inside. Appetizers: One person ordered the black bean soup and he said it was very good. Someone else ordered the fried plantains and I tried one of them and it was very nice. I ordered the fried yucca with sausage and it was out if this world yummy! Entrees: Most of us ordered their signature dishes called muquecas which were essentially seafood stews. Some muquecas were fish only, others were fish with mussels, shrimp with mussels, fish with shrimp (I got this), etc. Someone got coconut shrimp. Another got lasagna with bananas (and he couldn't praise it enough). Service was attentive, artwork on the walls was for sale and added to the ambience. Thanks for the recommendation, Yelp!

    (5)

  • Charles M.

    Love the food here. The house special "muqueca", mariscada or fried snapper are all excellent. Great food for the price. Wait can be long so make a reservation. They won't give you a table unless all parties are present.

    (4)

  • Dan K.

    overall the food was delicious and very unique. if you come here, you have to try the fried plantains and the yucca, delicious! beware of coming with a large group, our orders were a little all over the place but we were patient and they were very nice.

    (4)

  • Blake G.

    As a vegetarian, I've avoided Brazilian restaurants because Brazilian cuisine is so meat-oriented, but I discovered Muqueca has three vegetarian main courses, plantain or tofu moqueca, plantain lasagna, and veggie strogonoff, and many sides that are vegetarian. I had plantain moqueca, a tomato-based stew. Moqueca is a signature Brazilian dish, normally made with seafood. The vegetarian version is made with plantains or tofu. I ordered the plantain version because it sounded more authentic (do Brazilians eat tofu?). They will also make the dish with a combination of plantains and tofu. The plantain moqueca was superb, one of the best vegetarian dishes I've ever eaten and I am not easily impressed. The plantains lent the stew a succulent sweetness that made it unlike anything I've ever tasted. But even bites without plantains were remarkably tasty. I'm not sure why it was so good, but I will go back here just for this dish. Some people on Yelp have complained about the service at Muqueca, but the service was fine when I went, though it was an early hour so only a handful of tables were occupied.

    (5)

  • Divya B.

    Fried plaintains, shrimp bobo , and mango mousse with some sparkling wine. Life is good! We were a group of 8-10 people and all our orders came through without any mix ups or confusions.

    (4)

  • Hilary B.

    Oh my goodness, I love the muqueca. Delicious. Service was fine.

    (5)

  • Vivian C.

    It's been a while since I've dined at Muqueca. In fact, at my last visit, they were still located on the older smaller corner spot just a bit aways. I loved the food as always though. I couldn't resist getting my usual - the Mariscada $24.95 - which was still chock full of mussels and shrimp when we were starting to scrape the bottom, and was great with the rice, farofa, and plantain that came with it. We also tried the chicken strogonoff $13.95, which was tasty, but super creamy, and a tad salty - I couldn't do an entire meal of it, so it was a good thing we were sharing the two dishes. We enjoyed the humor of the dessert menu... while we doubted that we were born for the flan, we ordered it anyhow, as well as the yummy sounding manjar coco n tapioca. Each was $4.50 for a good sized slice. The flan was creamy dense and tasty. The tapioca dessert had textures going for it and a sweetness that was cut by the tapioca balls. I think I preferred the latter a tad. ***10/2012 visit*** So, they don't seat reservations till the whole party has arrived, but on the Sunday we went, that wasn't an issue since they never filled up completely. Four of us shared the following and found ourselves quite full, even though we were trying to save room for dessert: Brazilian Patties (Portion of six) - Chicken and Shrimp I think (3 of each) $7.95 House Salad $8.95 Palm heart, lettuce, tomatoes, apple, olives & corn MARISCADA * A MUST TRY! 24.95 Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. Fish with Mussels Moqueca $22.95 We also added two orders of rice ($2.95 each), so we'd each have a plate from which to eat from. I had a failure in my memory - I seemed to remember that the Mariscada came in this huge bowl... nope, it was the same size as the Moqueca, but still it was all plenty for the four of us. Everything was yummy. The salad was fresh. The patties hot and crisp though small. I think I've helped Muqueca to recruit three new fans.

    (4)

  • Alee G.

    Fried Yucca Perfection, Moqueca Completa Deliciousness, and Passion Fruit Mousse Fantabulous. AMAZING restaurant. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Elaine L.

    Tasty food and good portions. We ordered the fish moqueca and shrimp moqueca. Both had tender seafood and flavorful stews.

    (4)

  • Restie c.

    Average food. Nothing memorable. Actually over priced for what you get. I paid $30 for a main dish. I'm expecting something that i could say, that was pretty good. Lousy service if you're not Spanish/Portuguese speaking. Won't refill my water but the Spanish (?) speaking people on the table beside us were waited on head and foot.

    (2)

  • Tater M.

    Their bacalhau (lightly fried salted codfish) balls has significantly higher mashed potato content than fish. But it was good. In a potatoey type of way. If you're looking for Bahia style moqueca stew- with coconut milk then oops wrong place. They serve Espirito Santo style (without coconut milk). Which is pretty good too. ~ $22 for a moqueca capixaba. One is only good for one person. Their mussels are shell-less if you get a moqueca..not sure why. But they cook their shrimp perfectly: still tender and juicy. Also, be prepared for automatic 15% tip added for your party of two.

    (3)

  • Zoe P.

    There are only a few reasons why you might take a pass on Muqueca, but they weigh heavy with us. We went only once, two years ago, and we've never been back. Why on earth is that? It's a little pricey for how filling it is (or isn't) and my husband left hungry. Oh dear. It's just tasty home cooking. I make a fish stew similar to these, and it tastes about as good. And the fish stew is the heart of their menu. (Do I make all those fun, fried and savory, but rather over-priced sides? I do not.) The vibe was a little uptight - as established by the clientele, not the staff. But what could they do with a bunch of anxious, after-work, Cantabrigians? Overcharge them for fun, fried and savory sides, I guess. So yes, it's delish, but they never really made it into the rotation. Pity.

    (4)

  • Simon L.

    Pretty sure Muqueca just moved into my top ten favorite restaurants. Casual, small tables, not particularly warm and cozy, but food? Seriously awesome. Excellent service, and friendly. Skip the appetizers, go straight for the Moqueca. We had an order of the coconut shrimp that was a little over fried and some cod patties that were good. Moqueca is a Brazilian style fish stew served in a searing hot black clay pot made specifically to accommodate this delicious stew made with out water and consisting of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic fish and urucum. You are about to try Brazilian food from the southeastern area of Brazil - and it's deliciously fishy. The specialty here is Moqueca Capixaba from the state of Espirito Santo. Although the Mariscada is the more traditional style made with coconut milk and it's on the menu, the Moqueca Completa ($23.95) was amazing and consisted of a giant filet of cod, shrimp and mussels in a wonderfully rich tomato broth. The intricacies of the spices, urucum and red pepper, garlic and some lime juice, were incredible. My sister had the Mariscada made with the similar spice combination but was sweeter and milky with the addition of coconut milk. Again, delicious. Her husband had the shrimp and mussels Moqueca, again, need I say it, superb. Brazilian wouldn't be Brazilian without some meat on the menu and of course there's steak and stroganoff. But the fish is why you want to try this spot - it was fresh, tender, stewed perfectly. Dessert was flan and passion fruit mousse. Both were excellent but unnecessary. Beverages were caipirinhas and sweet Brazilian wine. This place will quickly make it into your rotation, no questions asked.

    (5)

  • Anni S.

    Nice food! We had frog legs, fried yucca and shrimp muqueca with caipirinhas. The place is small and cozy with brightly colored paintings and decorations. Worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Susan L.

    And I thought Brazilian food would be just meat! This one turned out to be mostly a fish menu. I had a delicious stew with shrimp. The stew's name is eponymous (what a great term): muqueca. Also had fried yucca, which tasted like potatoes, as a table appetizer. Service was friendly, helpful. It's a small, colorful, inviting, fairly noisy restaurant that's on a main street, but on its own outside a square. Parking is typical for Cambridge--good luck!

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    Clearly, Muqueca's a popular and highly regarded spot with great tradiotional Brasilian cuisine. I tried the Fish and Calamari Moqueca which was quite tasty - softer flavors that came through nicely without any hint of blandness and well-cooked white fish and calamari. BUT...at $24, I have to say I can get considerably better for the same or less. It just boils down to personal preferences I suppose b/c it just didn't impress me enough to justify the cost. I did get to sample some fried chicken too and that was pretty terrible unfortunately, completely overdone with no hint of tenderness. All in all, good Brasilian fare as far as I can tell, just not worth the hefty prices.

    (3)

  • Jeremy K.

    Had a lovely dinner there with my parents after waiting in line for 45 long minutes (something that is apparently common at this establishment). I had never had Brazilian food before although I've had Portuguese and Spanish food before. I was familiar with linguiça and yucca but had never had muqueca - on the other hand I've had my fair share of caipirinhas. Muqueca is a dish which inspired the restaurants name and the specialty there; in a nutshell it's a stew, traditionally with seafood and herbs in it, with no water in it and cooked over a long period of time. Variations have since been created and I ordered the one with plantains and tofu as my entree. Before the entree I had linguiça and yucca as an appetizer, which came served with a side of a wonderful sauce of some sort. It was delicious. So was the caiparinha which was one of the best I've had since moving to Boston. The prices are perfect, the service friendly and prompt and despite the long lines, it was well worth it - a very enjoyable, flavorful and fun meal. I will definitely be having more muqueca at Muqueca in the future! My parents really enjoyed their meal as well, and especially my father who's been to Brazil many times for work and who said that this was pretty spot on. You can try to make reservations there but usually they'll still end up having you wait - they are victims of their success to be warned. Parking on Cambridge street usually isn't all that bad either but you can also walk from Lechmere fairly easily.

    (5)

  • Marlana Y.

    Its a hole in the wall but the food is awesome. The shake is fresh, LIKE VERY FRESH. I don't think they include sugar in it so it may taste a bit plain.I like my drinks with sugar so most likely wont order that again. If you like Chinese Shabu Hot Pot or Korean's Tofu Chigae (that's how I would relate the stews here)- then you will love it HERE! They are already cooked and they bring it out in a big pot of stew and its so DELICIOUS. I rarely try new types of foods but it is so good. I will def be back if I was ever in the area.

    (4)

  • Guillermo M.

    It was my first time trying muqueca style food and loved it. This place was very authentic and actually the recommendation came from a brazilian friend. The juices bar is amazing. We had a couple of juices but the acai and guarana one was the best. We also tried the caipirinhas and that is a must. For main dish we had a shrimp and fish moqueca and it was extremely good. Felt very home made and the side with rice and a gravy for it were delicious. For me it lacked a bit of salt but nothing that couldn't be fixed. We closed with the tapioca dessert and it was also delicious. Would like to come back a try the fejoada.

    (4)

  • Gabi R.

    Amazing meal! I went with a friend from Sao Paolo, who gave it her stamp of approval. Food: we got 3 types of muqueca and a stroganoff. The stroganoff looked delicious, but I was too busy with the muquecas to bother with it. The friend who got it loved it. -Fish & Shrimp Muquecas - I don't know the name of the fish in English. All that matters is that it was divine. The shrimp, particularly, was perfectly cooked, stewed but not overcooked or rubbery. Same savory onion and tomato broth but flavored by the seafood as well. -Yucca gravy - it came with the seafood muquecas - it was starchy and had a spicy flavor. I actually enjoyed it more than the broth of the muqueca itself. -the juice bar is also fascinating - try something that you wouldn't find on a menu else where. I dont even know what was in mine, just that it was fresh, tangy and well blended. Ambience: casual, classy and connected with the local culture. Features paintings by local artists for sale - and these are good artists. The focus is on food here, but the service and ambience are like sugar in milk - add to the experience covertly.

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    Wicked good- different from the bras steak houses. Much more vegetarian and seafood friendly. Food tastes hand made and fresh- great selection, fair prices. I'd come here any day over one of the steak houses. I wish they had pao de queijo though.

    (4)

  • Kat B.

    My husband and I have gotten take-out a bunch of times from Muqueca and we dined here once with friends. A few of the times we got take-out via Seamless they were really confused/disorganized and couldn't figure out that we had already paid. I think another patron mentioned that in a review. So now I make sure to bring my cell phone so I can show them the invoice. I have not had any problems with regular call-in take-out orders, however. Our favorite dishes are their mariscada, shrimp bobo, fried yucca and Portuguese sausage appetizer, plantain lasagna, chicken stroganoff, and muqueca. We've enjoyed all the versions of their muqueca we've tried so far (shrimp, tofu+plantain, crabmeat, and fish). My only complaints are that sometimes their mussels aren't all debearded or could be fresher and their house special shrimp dish was a miss. There weren't many shrimp, maybe 4-5 pieces and the dish was kind of bland. Perhaps it would have had more flavor if they had packaged it better for takeout - a lot of sauce leaked out of the styrofoam clam shell container despite the fact we were careful about walking it back home. A closed plastic container would have been better. Also there were a couple times when the salt level was quite intense, specifically in their crabmeat moqueca and their tripe stew. I'm happy that Muqueca was the restaurant that introduced us to Brazilian cuisine. I also really enjoy their juices, especially their blue caju and brazilian summer.

    (4)

  • Suzanne G.

    They wound't let us use a coupon on Valentine's day even even though the voucher didn't say anything about holidays. If they were busy then I maybe would have understood, but there were two tables filled when we were there. The seafood muqueca was okay, but on the verge of being fishy. The only item I enjoyed was the fried plantains, but it's really not worth coming back in general.

    (2)

  • Crystal J.

    Its a very unique brazilian restaurant. Instead of grills, they serve seafood stew, and the food is really good.

    (5)

  • Noemi C.

    Have been here a couple of times and it surprised me to see that, after the place was featured on a TV show of neighborhood restaurants, it was packed last time I was there, so if you plan to hit this place on a Saturday night make sure to call ahead and reserve a space. Decorated with colorful paintings and fish nets to reflects some of the atmosphere of the Coastal Espirito Santo in Brasil. The wait was a little longer than we expected but, for me, as a Brasilian that I am, I didn't mind at all. Muqueca is a typical food of the South West of Brasil, and even back home, we are all aware that any good restaurant in the region will have a waiting line. So all was good. This time we started with mandioca frita and carne de sol (fried yucca and fried dried meat) a traditional appetizer in Brasil. Even tough none of the ones I have tasted here are even closer to what we really have have back home, they are still a fair sample of what the 'real' things is. For dinner we ordered Muqueca Completa which is a very simple yet delicious, light and healthy food made of a mix of seafood, cooked in its juices, with lots of cilantro, tomatoes, onions, a little of urucum or dende oil. In Bahia - Brasil differently from Espirito Santo, this dish receives a generous amount of coconut milk, so keep in mind that this restaurant is owned by a great cook from Espirito Santo, so, no cocnut milk here... The seafod is carefuly set on a special clay pot covered with all the seasonings and covered and left alone to cook over open fire. When it starts to boil we add the shrimp and let it cook for a few more minutes and voila....from the oven all goes straight to the table - on the same clay pot which was cooked. It is served with white rice and pirao - or a type of a 'gravy' if you will - made with the juices of the muqueca and yucca flour. For drinks they have Meia de Seda which is a mix of wine and condensed milk served on an apperitif side glass....sweet and different taste but very usuall in small town in Brasil, or, if you are feeling adventirous...the famous and traditional Caipirinha, the traditional Brasilian drink of course a Brazilian flan for desert. The place is located in Cambridge and parking can be a drag sometimes, but there is no doubt that it is worth the 'sacrifice'. If you are adventurous and loce seafood this is a place you must visit. Ideal for small groups, to enjoy friends and family on a intimate and relaxed conversation.

    (5)

  • Rachel W.

    Amazing Amazing night. We went on a Tuesday night around 7pm, no need for a reservation as we were seated immediately. However, as the night went on the restaurant became fully packed, as it should be for the food is absolutely out of this world! We started off with drinks, I'm not sure what we ordered, some Brazilian specialty, it was delicious. They do not have a hard liquor license but this drink was still really really good. We had the fried Yucca as our appetizer, delicious. If you can handle spice, ask for the hot sauce. We split the Muqueca Completa (shrimp, fish, and mussels). I've never had anything quite like this dish before, how cow amazing. I'm so glad this place is only a 5 minute walk from our house! We finished off dinner by splitting the flan, it wasn't that great, I've had better, maybe next time we'll try to passion fruit mousse! Totally affordable too, I think our bill for everything came out to ~$33/person with tip. For such great quality food, it was worth every penny. Yum!

    (4)

  • Marissa G.

    Everything they say about the place is true. Wonderful food, friendly atmosphere, authentic dishes. For starters we had the cod cakes and the crab cake. Both were delicious, but I especially loved the way it was spiced and stuffed into a wooden shell (Filipinos do this with a fresh crab shell). Very tasty. I know everyone here is praising the muqueca, but for me, the traditional Fejioada is the bomb. Black beans and pork over rice with a little of the perfect red hot sauce-- it is comfort food all the way. My friends preferred the fish muqueca, which meant more for me. The kale side dish is a refreshing twist on the veggie, too. This is a great place to take out of town guests who may have never tried Brazilian food before.

    (4)

  • Lee D.

    A second fryer dedicated for gluten free!! I was in fried plantain heaven!! The very knowledgeable staff were also quick to inform me that the muqueca, with it's accompanying rice and muqueca "gravy" (thickened with cassava flour), were all gluten free! It was a nice feast! Ready to go back and try more options on the menu!

    (4)

  • Sami W.

    You guys know that they moved down the street to a bigger place, right? This was my first time eating Brazilian food, So I don't know if it's authentic or not, but what I had was really good. We shared Fried Yucca as an appetizer and the Fish with Shrimp Moqueca for our main meal. I enjoyed every bite of it and I will definitely come to try other things off the menu.

    (4)

  • Kim V.

    My bf took me here for my birthday and we had to try the signature dish, the moqueca completa in addition to the seafood casserole. They were both delicious! We also had some cod cakes that were not bad either. We had the flan for dessert and we give it two thumbs up. If you have a craving for seafood stew, this is your place!

    (5)

  • Jay L.

    Never really had Brazilian seafood stews before, but they are quite tasty. Had the Mariscada and another of the Moqueca dishes. The food is reasonably priced, and the service was great.

    (4)

  • Julie S.

    Fabulous food, super service, and this month (August) they are displaying some of the most fascinating and unique art work I've ever seen.

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    Have been hearing good things about this place for years; finally went to try it out on a recent Sunday afternoon. Usually with Brazilian food it's meat meat and more meat, so it's a nice change of pace to go to a place that specializes in seafood! I think we went during shift change, so the service a little slow, but in general friendly. The food was really good! I had my eyes on the traditional muqueca, and it did not disappoint! The stew is so flavorful, the fish tasted really fresh, and the portion is very generous. We also had coxinhas and fried cod fritters for appetizer, you can never go wrong with coxinhas, but I actually liked the cod fritters more! Very light and not too salty! I'm super happy to have finally made my way to Muqueca and will definitely be back for more!

    (4)

  • Ellie W.

    Muqueca is seafood overload. It's a nice change from the Brazilian barbeque joints I'm accustomed to (and probably less of a pending heart attack). I started with a blueberry-pomegranate smoothie (b/c smoothies are like crack to my inner Whitney)--ooh that hit the spot. Awesome fruit concoction. While the fried yucca w/ garlic sauce was quite good, the crab cake was kind of...mushy. I guess I expected something fried, but instead we got something of a baked dish of somewhat mushy crab meat. It was missing that crispy flavor that FRIED crab cakes have..and tasted a little under-seasoned. I LOVED LOVED LOVED their seafood rice casserole. Oh, the seafood and yummy juices running through the rice...wahhh. I devoured that. We also got the shrimp with mussels moqueca and the mariscada--listed as a "MUST TRY" on their menu (it's not). While the moqueca and mariscada were both solid dishes, they kind of tasted the same and it felt like a waste ordering both. Muqueca is definitely in my top 10 list for seafood--just be sure not to order too much. Each main dish is HUGE and can probably feed 3 people...

    (4)

  • Oliver T.

    Good food!!! I would suggest The traditional Brazilian meal to get a good variety of what they have to offer.... Plan on going back to try the fried yucca

    (4)

  • Catherine W.

    Shared the cod patties for appetizer, and the Fejoada Completa and the Muqueca Completa (Bahian style). Both were delicious. The restaurant is very cute and casual inside. Comfortable with children; added bonus is their bathroom has a changing table. Service was very friendly. Street parking only, but we had no problem on an early weekend night.

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    Muqueca gets the coveted 5 star spot from me. Everything is just so DELICIOUS there. Mind you, I have only tried a few things but I have never been disappointed. Throughout the years, I have frequented Inman Square on a pretty regular basis. For years, my boyfriend would point out Muqueca and and I would shake my head and say, 'no, I don't like fish, you know that. ' Boy was that a mistake. Thinking back on it, I could have consumed so many more fish muquecas and been in bliss all this time. Fortunately, I can now make up for missed time. I have only tried two main dishes there - the fried red snapper and the fish muqueca. The fried snapper is served whole - fins, eyes, teeth, are all included - so don't be thrown off. The fish tasted so fresh and tasty! It was served with a few sides (plantains, ground yucca, fries, salad) so come hungry or plan to share it. The fish muqueca is a delicious stew served with probably cod or haddock in a clay pot (that's what it is cooked in) and then mixed with really fresh cilantro, tomatoes, and onions. It comes with a side of rice which is perfectly cooked and seasoned. I personally like to add a little hot sauce but BEWARE...this hot sauce is serious stuff. My recommendation - try a little bit on the corner of your dish and then add more if you enjoy it. We usually order a side of plantains with our muqueca and they pair pretty well together. It's just so hard to try something new when I am literally salivating over the fish muqueca as I type. My boyfriend likes to be a little more adventurous and has never been disappointed. Unfortunately, I cannot eat shellfish so that limits the menu for me a bit but I have heard nothing but great things. My recommendation - go here. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    After they moved to their new location, they had a bumpy time adjusting, and I held off going there for a while. I'm talking, waiting 45 minutes for a table and ordering appetizers so it would be ready by the time we had a table, then waiting 45 minutes after we got a table for our main dishes, when the appetizers never came. And we were starving. To be fair, we got a discount from the owners because of the excessive wait time, and we were literally about to pass out. However! Things are much improved. Wait times are normal after ordering again. Prices are higher (oh well). It's a surefire place to bring visitors to town if you have a sense that they like this kind of food (flavorful, seafood). I still think they should have an extra server or too, but at the current level it's acceptably part of the laid back feel, as opposed to feeling like they don't know what they're doing. Also, their smoothies are still hit and miss, but I really like the Brazilian Summer (pineapple and mint). Pro tip, which has been mentioned here before: You can get a 1.5 size muqueca, which is quite quite enough for two normal appetites.

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    I love any place where the people that work there actually represent the culture of the food. So A+ there, Muqueca. But I don't like paying way more money for food that really isn't as flavorful as I feel it should be, especially for all of the lovely stew/muqueca options that you have here! Even with our buywithme we still spent $40 of our money for just two of us eating and no alcohol (although Matt J. did get an acai per usual!!) . We started with their fried yucca that was labeled as coming with their "special" sauce but that sauce was pretty flavorless so maybe they forgot to put the special in it?? Good thing their hot sauce on the table was PLENTY hot which I love. One of the first spots in Boston to have true hot sauce and we weren't warned about it like other tables, so I bet they could sense I like it hot :-) Then I got their Mariscada which was shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk and it was definitely the coconut milk in my broth that beat the pants off the broth in Matt J's fish muqueca dish. That coconut milk came bubbling at the table and that made my dish the winner. But still we both were a little underwhelmed with the overall spice, but there was definitely more than enough food to go around since we could have split one of those things!

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Authentic Brazilian seafood with comfortable seating and fair prices. They also have a lot of dishes from the interior of Brazil. The servings are generous. If you're looking for Brazilian BBQ, this is not the place for you.

    (4)

  • Paula M.

    Great service and amazing food. We had the Salad with Apples, Muqueca Complete, and Chocolate Flan! a Great meal, and an amazing find. Great service even as we walked in at about the same time as a group of 20- yikes! We had no problem being seated, and our kids meals were served up first to avoid any meltdowns. The rest of our dishes came promptly afterward. TIming was perfect, food was great, and friendly staff. I would recommend this place- anytime! Yes, this is a review-worthy place.

    (5)

  • Paul M.

    Muqueca is a restaurant that I always knew I should have tried sooner but didn't and then once I had kicked myself for not doing so earlier. My parents had been raving about the place for years, but I finally went a few months ago....and have been back several times since. The fish Muqueca is quite simple amazing. It comes out sizzling hot in a clay pot for 1 or 2. The pot is filled with perfectly cooked haddock, fresh onions, cilantro, tomato, and yummy stew broth. If you get this meal follow these three instructions: 1) flatten out your rice pyramid on your dinner plate, 2) spoon your Muqueca over said rice, 3) try to remember your utensils and not just bury your face in this solution, it's rude though completely understandable. Side sweet plantains and collared greens are very note worthy. Fried red snapper good, but seriously the place is called Muqueca for a reason...order from that section. Also, the habenero hot sauce at each table is very, very good (but it's spicy, be careful!). They only have a beer & wine license so I don't think the caiparinhas are legit (i.e. no cachaca) so take caution if you order one. I'd give this place 5 stars on food alone. The price may seem a bit steep at about $20/person for entrees alone, but you're getting really fresh ingredients cooked to order and it's one heckuva tasty meal. Worth it.

    (5)

  • Sue H.

    My experience at Muqueca is perfectly described as A-OK. I've actually been wanting to check out Muqueca for quite awhile now, especially after reading great reviews on Yelp and elsewhere. I'm also a huge fan of Brazilian BBQ, so I figured why not try other traditional dishes? I really wanted to love Muqueca... Perhaps my expectations were just a tad bit too high to begin with. Food was tasty, but nothing mind-blowingly special about anything I ordered. Service was also just A-OK -- courteous but spotty throughout the night, probably due to a Wednesday dinner rush. I'll admit I was a little piqued about the longer than average waiting times to get entrees on the table though... So what did I order? My dining companion and I shared the Fried Yucca for an appetizer, which was a great way to start off dinner. Loved the accompanying dipping sauce that came with it. For entrees, we shared the Fish with Mussels Muqueca and the Deep Fried Red Snapper. While presentation was great, I was a little let down by the muqueca, which tasted a bit under-seasoned to me. Maybe it was a fluke? Sigh, isn't this what people come here for? Oh, high expectations -- darn you. On the other hand, the red snapper was pretty good! Hey, I LOVE fried fish (especially when it's whole with bones and all), so maybe I'm a little biased. The plantains that came with the dish were awesome. Normally not a fan, but this time around I couldn't stop eating them; had to refrain from ordering an extra side! Wasn't too keen on sharing them either... (Sorry friend!) At the end of the day, Muqueca was alright... I probably won't be back, but if you're curious about Brazilian cuisines, you should consider checking out Muqueca. They've got a pretty big menu, so lots to choose from.

    (3)

  • Di Yin L.

    Shrimp muqueca is the best thing I've had anywhere. Fantstic kale. Great fried plantains. Don't order the Brazilian national dish - it's not great. The gravy is useless to me. Always good to make reservations if it's an evening meal.

    (5)

  • George S.

    Nice little find on this place. Couldn't get into Oleana so we went on Yelp and found this place. Great food, good service not the best looking room but it works. Good alternative. gs

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    This place is a fantastic little authentically Brazilian restaurant with a great variety of everything Brazilian you would want!! I got their fried yucca for an appetizer which came with a good dipping sauce and their shrimp and fish muqueca was a generous portion of steaming, hot seafood-filled soup which always bubbles on your table due to the sterno below it. It was full of great flavor- they top it off with tons of cilantro which I don't like but it was really good still. Their fresh fruit smoothies and dessert were especially delicious. I got their mango coconut smoothie (made all with fresh fruit so super delicious!). Their passion fruit mousse was one of the best things I ever ate- cold, sweet, full of flavor with the PERFECT melty, pudding texture- you have to get this if you can!!! Their pudim and tapioca cake (Manjar Coco n Tapico) were also great desserts!!

    (4)

  • Phil C.

    So I guess Brazilian food isn't all about bbq, though that wouldn't have been a problem for me. :-P The decor reminds me of a little seafood shack somewhere like Rockport. The walls are blue, and at least one wall is lined with sea animals and objects. Muqueca is a tiny place, so the wait may be long at times. The seafood rice casserole is very much like a paella, though it had coconut flavor to it. There was an abundance of squid, shrimp, and mussels. All of them were cooked well and didn't taste like hard rubber bullets. There was enough coriander to give the casserole a fresh taste, yet not make it intrusive. It definitely wasn't too salty, though it wouldn't have hurt to have a little more salt. The service was a bit shaky early on, though the mistakes weren't fatal flaws. Plus it recovered towards the end of dinner. The service was, admittedly, a bit disorganized. The waitress dropped some flatware in the beginning but promptly replaced them later. There were some communication issues too, which also led to the disorganization.

    (3)

  • Cecilia T.

    Second time here for brunch and second amazing brunch!!! Delicious food, brunch menu changing weekly! Definitely will come back!

    (5)

  • Kathleen F.

    A little pricey but worth it for the awesome food. This is a very unique eating experience for Cambridge and it's nice to be able to get some quailty brazillian food. I loved the seafood stew it was such an incredible dish. I also like the shaved collard greens that come on the side with it they are cut and cooked perfectly! The fried Yucca was also amazing as were their cocktails which were suprisingly affordable, the caipirinha was excellent!! I highly recommend this place it really is a hidden gem and you can't get food like this anywhere else in the area!

    (5)

  • Robby T.

    Tasty fejoada & muqueca...And moving to a bigger space soon 4 blks away, so less waiting...hopefully!

    (4)

  • Dorothy W.

    Hadn't been to the new location but finally made it twice in one week. The new place has a friendly bar and a waiting area. It's much larger than the old spot but still intimate enough. Each time we have been, every table was taken. We continue to enjoy the various seafood stews, for the most part. They are full of rich, hearty flavor and very satisfying. Large portions make it easy to share. Our hearts of palm and tomato salad was sadly drab and uninspired, however, with very little flavor. A morose looking little scoop of white rice arrived five minutes before the muqueca. Everything is been achingly slow. Our drinks sit on the end of the bar for ten minutes as our server walks right past them. Finally we had to point out that they were there. It took her another five minutes to bring them over. Our pitcher of sangria was very welcome but a bit too Hawaiian punch-like for my taste. The fruit smoothies are extremely satisfying, however. The best time to go is at lunch when you virtually have the place to yourselves. The menu is the same and the service is a lot quicker. Dinner can be a true test of your patience. We waited over an hour after ordering one night to get any food whatsoever. The other night it was forty five minutes. The people who work here are really nice and we do like the food. Hopefully, they can iron out the wrinkles and we can leave not feeling as irritated. We keep trying.

    (3)

  • Jackelyn V.

    Awesome Food :D

    (5)

  • Eva K.

    This was my first time at Muqueca, and first time at a Brazilian restaurant of this kind. They just moved to a bigger place down the street in Inman, and were packed on a Sunday night, which I think speaks for itself. "Brazilian fish stew" just doesn't have much of a ring to it, but man, it was the most awesome thing I've eaten in a long time. We also had a traditional bean and meat stew, which I thought was good, but not as awesome as the muqueca, which is a cilantromatic smelling heaven. It's definitely one of the best restaurants in Inman in terms of pure enjoyment. Plus, the atmosphere was fun, and the waitress was super nice and helpful despite the fact that they were really busy. If they ever have a groupon, I'm buying five! FYI - they're closed on Mondays!

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    Unique twist on comfort food for a cold winter night! This was both our first visit and our first exposure to moqueca, and unfortunately we didn't have much time (though service was quick enough to get us to the concert without seeming at all rushed). We thoroughly enjoyed the rice stew and the mixed fish moqueca, and we agreed we have to put aside time to try appetizers and dessert next time. A wonderful, savory oasis amidst the frosty grey Boston winter!

    (4)

  • Katie H.

    So good. I got the lasagna made with plantains and my boyfriend got the tofu and plantain muqueca. The lasagna tasted very rich (mmm cheese...) and the muqueca was really unique and delicious. I was expecting the lasagna to be a noodle lasagna with plantains in it, but the plantains in essence WERE the noodles. And that was perfect, because who wants to fill up on noodles when you can eat more plantains and cheese?

    (4)

  • Lydia W.

    The service here is weird. We came in and the two servers continued to converse and giggle for a few minutes before they paid any attention to us. Once we were seated, service was again kind of spotty for a while. After we ordered, everything was fine. I loved my caipirinha. How can you not get the official drink of Brazil when here? It was strong, infused with lime flavor, and not too sweet. For appetizers we got the fried plantains (so good but really cannot be shared between only two people...don't get unless you're in a bigger party) We also got the fried frog legs (sadly there were only two but they were quite delicious!) and it comes with some greens. And the hearts of palm salad...oye. I did not expect it to be straight up chunks of hearts of palm and slices of tomato. It was a bit overkill, and again, a dish that requires more than 2 people to eat. We got the Muqueca Completa which comes with fish, mussels, clams, and scallops. I think. There was so much fish I had a really difficult time towards the end. I love how hot the seafood is and there is a lot of cilantro on top of the stew. It's a great dish to share and the flavor is very unique. I really wanted to try the Bahian style one (with coconut milk amongst other ingredients), but because I had never had a traditional Muqueca, I figured this was the more rational option. The hot sauce is VERY hot. It's fun but use it in very tiny increments :) I think I had very high expectations for Muqueca, but it was only okay to me. Not mind-blowingly good, but a nice and inexpensive dining experience.

    (3)

  • Su-Yee L.

    Came here on a late Saturday afternoon. The food was delicious but the service is what knocked off the last two stars. The waitress was rather surly to us because she didn't think we'd ordered enough and we got our food later than people who sat down after us. My friend had gone here the week before and she mentioned that she and her dad definitely were not treated as badly last time. Then we found an 18% gratuity tacked onto the bill which we thought was odd since we were a group of 3. C'mon, we're not high school kids! We know how to tip! The fish muqueca ($16) was really good though, as were the chicken brazilian patties ($7). Fried plantains are always delicious. So the food was great, although a bit pricey. But the waitress seriously had an attitude problem and wouldn't pay any attention to us at all. So, 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Alex C.

    I haven't been to Brazil, but the foods good. They get really busy, so it's ideal to come early. We got the muqueca and it was delicious. It's not cheap, but not super expensive either. And as an added bonus, also don't skimp on the seafood. I definitely would like to come back and check out the rest of the menu.

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    I had the feijoada and it was absolutely delicious and the portion was very very generous. It came with some farofa, rice and some fried plantains. My fiancee had the chicken stroganoff and it was absolutely delicious, I stole a lot of his food off the plate! :) For dessert I had the passion fruit mousse which was even better than most of the mousses that I have had in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely a must try. Highly recommend this place for delicious Brazilian food.

    (5)

  • Jacqueline S.

    If you're looking for fresh, flavorful, Latin American inspired seafood, this is the place to go. We had reservations for 8pm on a Thursday and were promptly seated even though we arrived late and the place was fairly crowded. Cute colorful decor, an atmosphere and waitstaff that are warm and inviting. Now let's cut to the chase. We ordered the Fish Muqueca, Feijoada Completa, fried yucca, and collard greens. And a pitcher of sangria, of course. The yucca came out first; it was the perfect level of crispiness and I loved the garlic sauce served with it. Next the Feijoada, Muqueca and collard greens- all quite delicious but I favored the Muqueca as it was light yet satisfying and extremely fresh. Also, the fried plantains on the side were AMAZING. Definitely order a side of these if they don't come with your entree. All together, a wonderful meal. I definitely suggest checking this place out.

    (4)

  • Annie W.

    i can't believe i haven't reviewed these guys yet. their muqueca is amazing, their seafood casserole is amazing, their shakes are amazing, the prices aren't cheap (~20 an entree) but the quality is top-notch and the portions are huge. i'm a big eater and i leave stuffed to the brim, sometimes with a doggy bag if there was an appetizer beforehand. there is nothing that i haven't loved on this menu, and i've been back many times. it's a big restaurant, but it gets packed on the weekends, because it's a secret everyone knows about.

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    YUM. My boyfriend and I came on on a cold, snowy Thursday night and our meal managed to both bring us to warmer climates, and give us the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from eating something hot, delicious, and totally soul soothing on a winter's night. We got the mariscada which is flavorful, vibrant, and comes with great sides. The plantains that come with it are delicious and pair really nicely with it. The seafood pie is delicious, but perhaps not as easy to like as the mariscada. There's quite a bit of bacalhau used - salt cod, so it's not necessarily for the faint of heart. If you like strong, funky flavor though, you'll love this. The caipirinhas are good and cheap, and the wait staff was extremely friendly. If you go, go early and order an appetizer as this place gets crowded AND the muquecas and mariscada can take awhile to come out.

    (4)

  • Zachary F.

    You know those restaurants that you've come to time and time again that have never disappointed you? Muqueca, to me, is one of those restaurants. As a result I know that when I peruse the menu, everything is potentially delicious. Highlights: Capirinhas! The Fried Snapper! Any of the Muqueca! Book a table on weekend nights.

    (5)

  • H T.

    In short: I loved their plantains, I loved their fried yuccas I loved everything, except for a misunderstanding. I wanted a vegetarian muqueca- Green Leafy TOFU symbol. Not an ALL veggie muqueca! That night, for me, was very plantainy. Plantains in my muqueca, And more fried plantains, on a separate plate. Ahh... well, what's good is this is right near Christina's!

    (4)

  • Dessa R.

    I never thought I would start a review with such a cliche, but what can I say? Sometimes the glove fits. Here we go: I wanted to love Muqueca, I really did. It just fell a little flat for me. I see all these five star reviews, and I wish I could ride that train with y'all, but I just can't. The space was completely forgettable, other than the fact that we had people seated less than foot from us. Any closer, and we would have been eating off each other's plates. One of the diners next to us was a native Brazilian, so I suppose that must say something about the authenticity of the food. He seemed very happy. If only I could have shared that enthusiasm. I ordered the acai juice, which was probably the saving grace of my meal. It was so unbelievably yummy. I was tempted to order other juices from their fresh fruit juice menu, but my nectar was already very filling. Perhaps next time I will try a different one. I shared the Brazilian crabcake appetizer, which was all right, with an interesting texture. I ordered the Lasagna de Banana, which is exactly what it sounds like. Yup. Banana (well, plantain) lasagna, baked with cheeses. The portion was enormous-- even after sharing, I could not finish the dish alone. It also was all right. I remember it being extraordinarily cheesy, which normally would score EXTRA points from a cheese lover like myself, but not this time. The cheese was almost overwhelming-- yes friends, reread that. I wrote it. Hell hath frozen over when Dessa feels something contains too much cheese. The service was just awful. Really. Houdini had nothing on these waitresses. I'd probably go back to try a different entree and another juice, with some trepidation.

    (3)

  • Dominic Z.

    With unbelievably delicious Brazilian food and a colorful atmosphere, Muqueca is a fantastic restaurant for any occasion. Great for dinners with friends, family, significant others... heck, find any excuse to eat here! The Best Dish: Seafood Casserole. As long as you like seafood, you'll have dreams about this clay pot bowl of rice, shrimp, mussels and other goodies. It looks small, but it's surprisingly dense and filling, so much so that you won't be able to finish it if you eat... The Best Appetizer: Frog Legs. Squeeze a little lime on these tender bad boys and you've got a fiesta for your taste-buds. And the presentation will try to steal the show. Dessert: The Tantalizing Truffle. This little guy is so rich, he makes Bill Gates look middle-class. If you have a sweet tooth, save some room for this perfect finale.

    (5)

  • Vanessa K.

    Not your typical Brazillan fare. It isn't an all you can eat buffet, and it isn't predominantly meat - it's another side of Brazillan food. A little bit pricey, but lots of flavors. Yucca with sausage - it's ok. yucca was tender, but nothing special, I could have made it at home. Feijoada Completa - that was good. lots of flavor. lots of sauce. the meat was really tender, and it was great over rice Fish and Calamari Moqueca - this was soooo good. never had anything like it. it's like a stew, but the sauce was thin and fragrant. a lot of fish and calamari. definitely to share, not for yourself, unless you feel like a fatty :P

    (4)

  • Vivian C.

    Food is average. Service is poor, there is minimal interaction from service. I felt like I wasn't welcome by the server here.

    (2)

  • Anne W.

    This place is way overhyped. I don't know if it's because I had high expectations but I seriously doubt it's authentic. It's clean and bright and reminds me of a chain.. the place is packed. So obviously it caters to somebody's tastes. Ordered their famous moqueca with shrimp and mussels as well as coconut shrimp. I think I have had better coconut shrimp in Outback. The moqueca was okay.... the mussels were not fresh but frozen and tiny. The shrimp is the exact same shrimp they use in the coconut shrimp. Deveined but flavorless. The Brazilian drink was probably the highlight of the meal and I swear.. it's better at Fogo De Chao. I'll give it one more try.. but I am not having high hopes for this place.

    (2)

  • Josephine L.

    Muqueca is a hearty Brazilian seafood stew, often served with rice. I was delighted to find a restaurant in the Boston area that served this after having devoured many delicious muquecas in other cities. The fish and shrimp muqueca is a must-try. Rich, tomato-y broth, fresh seafood, all combine to give incredible flavors, especially when eaten with farofa, the delicious toasted flour they serve as an accompaniment. (I was inhaling the farofa like cocaine by the end.) I adore the mariscada, a stew consisting of shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. There's something about the combination of tomatoes, onions and coconut milk that is absolutely divine. If you hate cilantro, the muquecas might not be for you. We specifically asked for the removal of cilantro for one of our party, and they either didn't remember or couldn't do that as I think the broth is prepared with cilantro already in it. For a cilantro-free alternative, try the Feijoada Completal, Brazil's national dish, which is diced meat cooked with black beans and served with collard greens, farofa, fried plantains and of all things, orange slices. Our cilantro-hater loved it. The service is spotty, however, and the reason for docking one star. This is not a place to grab a quick bite, nor do they really go out of their way to perform anything more than perfunctory service. Nothing bad--no attitude or anything. Just rather brusque and cold service, with extended periods of wait time. Plus, they had a tendency to forget our requests like more water. All in all, definitely worth a stop if you're in Inman Square on a cold night.

    (4)

  • T T.

    After returning to Boston after two years, I was excited to go to Muqueca again, which I fondly remembered for serving delicious seafood stews. Unfortunately, after trying the restaurant again recently, I was disappointed. The smoothies are merely okay and are pretty expensive. I had the fried yucca, which was surprisingly dry. It really needed to be eaten with the dipping sauce to add moisture. The rice that came with our muquecas was overcooked and mushy. The stews were pretty good but not quite as good as I remembered. Service was slow despite the larger space (and, I'm assuming, larger staff). Overall, I was disappointed given that I was really looking forward to eating here again, and the food wasn't as good as I remembered.

    (2)

  • Christopher G.

    This is a temporary review. One of a bad experience, but not necessarily so bad that I've given up on this place. The food was fantastic, just what the doctor ordered. Fresh seafood, Plantains, all kinds of latin goodness. The waiters seemed friendly enough . . The problem was, death by Labor day, perhaps. I was there Sunday night the place was packed. They acted like they were totally off-guard. Surprised that this many customers would attack them past 8pm (we arrived around 7:30). We didn't finish until past 9, the food taking over an hour. The place was still packed at 9, and people were waiting in line to be seated. So okay Muqueca, you get a pass. Keep it up though, and i'm afraid great quality food and a friendly smile can't save ya.

    (3)

  • Amanda Y.

    yum yum yum!! lovely waitresses, and a flan to die for!! My friends and I are faithful customers, they even know by heart what we order everytime!! when they knew that my friend is traveling, they offered a complementary flan after lunch which they know is our favorite!!

    (5)

  • NN R.

    I love the Muquecas! I usually order the Muqueca Completa, which has almost everything. Although it might seem pricy at first, it is so sharable because I cannot possibly eat one Muqueca by myself, so I always share with my boyfriend. In the end, still a great value. The Shrimp Saute Garlic Olive Oil & Cilantro is a TASTY appetizer, GET IT. :) Brazilian Crab Cakes are a close second. Oh my god, so yummy just thinking about it! Do not try the desserts and always reserve a table especially on weekends.

    (4)

  • Raj S.

    They just moved to a new location, right across from where they were before. I think a bit of the charm is lost but they have a lot more tables and there is more space. No more jostling to get in and out! They also now have a beer and wine license which is AWESOME! They also have bar seating and waiting area where they serve food. A friend and I shared a tasty shrimp appetizer, (not as great as before but still really good) fried red snapper and super delicious shrimp & mussels muqueca. We tried the sweet (red and white) wine from Brazil but it was bit too sweet! I didn't really like the red Chilean wine either. All in all, this is good comfort food! And I'm headed back soon...

    (4)

  • Bethany W.

    I stopped in to try one of their "world famous" juices, but I got distracted by the appetizer menu. I couldn't pass up the steak tips with onions and fries. The steak tips had great flavor, but lose a star for being a bit on the tough side. The restaurant was clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and the service was great.

    (4)

  • Aboud Y.

    Beautiful, charming little restaurant with fantastic service and delicious food. The claypot seafood selections (Muqueca) are truly not to be missed...the fish comes out so moist and delicious! And if you like heat, ask for some of their housemade hot sauce which is also outstanding (great flavor and some serious kick). The waitstaff is also very friendly and informative. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Bryan B.

    I had a longer review of this place all lined up, but then I got bored of it becaus my writing style is pretty poor. So here is the expedited version of it. I went to Muqueca with 7 other people, and pretty much everyone enjoyed their food. $20 a dish enjoyment? Not quite, not really that close actually, more like $12 a dish enjoyment. That is not the most disappointing aspect either,my wife found a hair in her food... We were offered a replacement of the dish which we did take, but that arrived while everyone was nearly finished with their own food. I've had two other similar issues before and each time the plate with the problem was replaced and did not show up on the final bill, not the case here. On a $200 bill, feel free to not charge us for the dish that was replaced right around the time that everyone else was finishing their food... Just saying. Glasses went unfilled, condiments went unoffered, "how is everything?" went unasked. Anything we wanted to have happen, we had to request. To wrap up, yes food was pretty good for the most part, not superb though. Service was spotty and that is being generous. I really wish I could have better things to say about Muqueca, and to be honest most everyone was happy with their dish, but the poor service with the hefty price and a hair kind of killed the whole experience. And no it was not a busy Saturday night, it was Sunday with service winding down and the place less than half full.

    (2)

  • Shaina P.

    As a rule of thumb, people should try restaurants whose names are difficult to pronounce just by reading the sign on the outside. I'm so glad I finally tried Muqueca. It's the kind of ethnic cuisine that people travel far and wide to try; not just because you're "in the neighborhood." It's also the kind of cuisine that you're not sure whether to order for yourself or if you should share one dish. But, as I was assured, you gotta order for yourself and just share taste amongst friends if you must. As a note, you could probably share your dish with one other ... it is quite large ... and in the high teens price-wise one may opt to share. Very sadly I was unable to order more than my one (cast iron pot) of Shrimp & Fish Moqueca. My tummy was full from a large meatball sub from lunch. It was a large sizzling bowl with the flavors of the sea in a lovely form -- not over-cooked and a hint of tang from large cuts of onion and a sizable sprinkle of coriander. Trish ordered Mariscada the "Must Try" which to Trish is a "Must Order Always." I will order this for next time indeed -- loaded with more perfectly simmered sea creatures and flavored with subtle spice (not spicy) and coconut milk. And I realized due to the lengthy wait for the slow cooked concoction I should always opt for an app (most likely, the fried yucca). Because if you enter slightly filled, by the time your wait begins, the aromas will release your stomach into hunger quite quickly. Love.

    (5)

  • Jade H.

    The food was very well cooked. Sauces were tasty and I even liked the Beans of the National dish. Everything everyone has said about this restaurant's food is true. The reason why I don't give it a full five stars is because they added the tip right into our check! What? That was a little tricky. What makes them think that four people should have tip inclusive? What makes them think that we were that enthusiastic about their service? Indeed! I never like having choices taken away from me.

    (4)

  • Calli C.

    Pete and I and another couple stopped in for dinner on a Friday night; we had made a reservation and when we came in and were led straight to our table, it wasn't full at all. However over the length of the meal the room filled up rapidly with groups of people laughing and talking and enjoying their amazing food. We ordered up a variety of drinks, and mine was the fresh pineapple-mint juice, which was phenomenal. We also shared the fried shrimp, which came with a tasty spicy-sweet sauce that was devoured rapidly. We each ordered our own clay pot dish: the moqueca completa, the mariscada, the tripe stew, and the feijoada completa for me. Be prepared for a boatload of food! Everything came out piping hot and unbelievably tasty; my dish was rich and meaty, with a few bones lurking about. Since I am allergic to bivalves, I didn't try anyone else's dish, but they all exclaimed about how amazing and tasty it was. Only one person in our group actually finished his entire dish, with most of us having plenty of tasty leftovers to bring home. Unfortunately, at the end of the night I was feeling extremely nauseous and sick to my stomach. Even though I had ordered a meat-only dish, I assume there might have been some cross contamination, as a lot of the dishes they prepare have mussels in them. My fault for not thinking I needed to tell them about my allergy. Still, totally worth the trip and hoping to make it back soon!

    (4)

  • Susanne H.

    The restaurant is pretty small and normally packed even late night however it is well worth the wait! This place is absolutely authentic since everybody seems to speak Portuguese. We ordered the seafood muqueca de paixe plus the cod capixaba. The fish, shrimp, mussel muqueca had generous servings of seafood. My favorite having said that, was the cod capixaba. It's created from salt cod, and stewed in coconut milk. The stew also consists of plantains, olives, and boiled eggs. A strange combination but SCRUMPTIOUS. It tasted even much better following adding the hot sauce served at every single table. Reminded me somewhat of Thai food, but not really. This is some thing you might have to attempt...

    (5)

  • Fernando P.

    As a brazilian living abroad is always nice to find a brazilian restaurant when missing home. One of the problems I usually find is to reproduce the quality, richness and variety of a brazilian restaurant abroad, due to the difficulty to fine products. This place may not be as good as a brazilian restaurant set in Brazil, but for a place trying to bring some of the brazilian taste to abroad it is making it an excellent job. TURN ONs: To try some of the brazilian food Farofa Fried yuca Guarana soft drink TURN OFFs: Eventually food may seem a little blend lacking some seasoning No cheese bread/cheese rolls, one of the brazilian most wanted treats RECOMMEND: Fried yuca I'm a vegetarian, but I would recommend the shrimp since is something usually known in Brazil to constitute a dish with a rich flavor

    (3)

  • Karan A.

    Place is deff over-hyped. Came here after reading the Yelp reviews. So the ambiance and atmosphere is VERY casual - almost like a dinner, which is unexpected for the premium prices they charge. Our waitress kept trying to upsell us on drinks and appetizers and was disappointed when I just stuck with an entree and water and my gf with an entree and a juice. The food took forever to come, we waited a good 25-30 mins even tho it was a Sunday and the restaurant was operating at less than 50% capacity. The food was nothing special either, I got the fish moqueca. It wasn't that great as over-hyped by other Yelpers especially for $19. Will probably not come back again,way too many better restaurants in the area that compete better.

    (2)

  • Jean B.

    A comida e boa, mais e muito caro o atendimento nao e dos melhores, mas isso e bem normal de locais brasileiros...

    (1)

  • Corey L.

    I've been here a lot over the years. Muqueca is great Brazilian seafood. Everything on the menu is flavorful and incredible. My favorite is the mariscada - incredible. I often add in a fish and shrimp moqueca - which I don't find as tasty, but is still really good. I've also had crab cakes, yucca, coconut shrimp, steak tips with onions and fries, and plantains. Seriously, all have been great. I've never been disappointed. Portions are quite solid too. I've also had the flan and chocolate flan (like the original better) and Cupuaco (traditional Brazilian drink) - all great! Try this place!

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    I was really excited to try Muqueca, because I LOVE Bom Cafe, and they're under the same ownership. I had Feijoada Completa, the Brazillion National dish. The collard greens and plantains were good. I found the black bean stew to be just okay. It had a very strong black bean taste...so much that I couldn't really enjoy the other flavors in the stew (the meat, specifically.) The beer I ordered ended up being non-alcoholic. This was not listed on the menu. My friends muqueca was quite good. We both enjoyed it. So, I'd give it a 3.5, because it didn't meet my expectations that I had from going to Bom Cafe.

    (3)

  • DONNA R.

    So Mom said "surprise me"when I asked her what she wanted for dinner.Great! So as I sat in traffic,were can i find a place on the way to her house? Hi ho off to the internet I go...Muqueca- Brazilian -hum....that might work. So after I finally find a parking space, and feed theher meter,in I go. I was greeted with a smile by every staff person in the place ( to the people who said they weren't friendly /needed attitude adjustments seriously? If they were any nicer the would have cartoon bluebird flying around their heads! ). 2 of the ladies helped me with my decision on menu items that would be give Mom and I an overall "taste" of the menu. while I waited for my food to come out they staff chatted with me ,while getting work done at the same time, imagine not just leaving me to stare at the walls-which by the way have some colorful cheery artwork-my food came out quickly ,was tasty ,reasonably priced and good size servings.I gave them 4 stars because cilantro was a little heavy for my taste ,but Mom loved it ! I would definitely eat here again. Thanks for a great dinner ladies

    (4)

  • Larry K.

    Outstanding flavors. Do yourself a favor and stop-in!

    (5)

  • H. G.

    I went here with a real live Brazilian and let him do the ordering... I was a little disappointed by the appetizer selection, because almost everything was fried. But if that's how they do it in Brazil.... So we tried the cod patties ($6.95) and the fried yucca ($4.95). The fried yucca was pretty good, but I more liked the cod patties, especially because of the spicy sauce that accompanied it. As for drinks, if you're ordering wine, go by the glass. Their pours are substantial, so you're not going to save any money ordering a bottle. And you might get stuck with a whole bottle of thin white wine, like the one we ordered, that almost tasted like half wine/half water. A different glass of wine I tried later tasted much better. As for entrees, there were four of us, so we tried three. I didn't particularly love the feijoada completa ($18.95), which is a black bean stew with pork, sausage and bacon. The fish moqueca ($16) was pretty good, but next time, I would try the mariscada ($22.95) instead, which is listed on the restaurant's website as a "must try." But the star was the shrimp bobo ($16.95), which was a stew of shrimp, tomato, cilantro, yucca cream & onion. It was incredible, and totally justified the hype of this place and will ensure that I return soon. Overall, for a hole-in-the-wall type place, I was a little surprised by the prices. The apps and drinks were reasonable, but the entrees were all a couple of dollars more than I expected. But, like I said, I'm coming back for that shrimp bobo and the mariscada (and maybe next time I'll have a few caipirinhas too).

    (3)

  • Mabel N.

    I have been to this place a few times now. Fried Yucca - Deliciousssssss MARISCADA Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels, squid and a touch of coconut milk - Mouth Watering (My favorite) Picanha - Prime Cut Sirloin - Delicious but LOADED with salt!!! Flan - Best flan I've ever had! Service was great!!!!!!

    (4)

  • B. P.

    Best Brazilian/Portuguese seafood place I have ever had. Lived in Boston for 15years and it is the go to place for me

    (5)

  • S. M. S.

    Mall food court Brazilian food served in a balmy (and sorta dirty) restaurant that I wouldn't go back to.

    (2)

  • Marlee S.

    The mariscada is delicious, and I'm not even big on seafood. It's got lots of big and little shrimp, mussels, and squid, and comes in a yummy coconutty/tomato-y broth. The plain moqueca that it comes with is too salty for my taste. If you get this dish, I'd suggest splitting it with someone because it's a lot of food. Coconut shrimp = yum, calamari wasn't anything special. Moqueca completa had a spicier broth, and is for avid lovers of seafood. Picanha was amazing. Good cut of meat, and I couldn't stop smelling the bowl long after it was eaten. We had reservations on Friday for 8:30 or 9pm, and we still had to wait for a table to clear out.

    (4)

  • Helen M.

    I had a Travelzoo voucher for this restaurant and was so excited to try Muqueca with the boy after reading these reviews. Apps: fried yucca and sausage, and the fried frog legs. The yucca was amazing! Nice and crispy and dense. I picked at it all night! The sausage was good but a little salty to eat by itself (the boy had no problem finishing the sausage without my help). The frog legs were good. We generally have these chinese-style (stir-fried) but the Brazilian style was good (although I think they may have been frozen and not fresh.) Entrees: I got the Moqueca Completa without shrimp and the boy got the deep fried red snapper. The Moqueca Completa was good but a little too salty. Generous portions so I was able to doggy bag half of it home. The red snapper was delish! A good size fish and good seasoning/flavor. I would definitely order this again. Desserts: passion fruit mousse and a truffle. The mousse was nice and light and perfectly sweet. I really liked this. The truffle was pathetic so don't even bother ordering this! It was literally a ball of dense, overly sweet chocolate rolled in chocolate sprinkles. Sounds good on paper but not in real life. We only ordered two desserts because it was included in our voucher. Service/Ambiance: Service was super friendly when I made reservations and when we got to the restaurant, they had a mix-up, saying we couldn't use our voucher on Sundays even though only Friday and Saturdays were listed on the voucher. When we showed the information on our phone, they had a problem because they needed us to write everything down like our name, voucher #s, etc. I have to remove one star from this review for their unorganized and slightly rude service. Would I come back? Yes! The food was fresh with generous portions and the ambiance was romantic. I just hope they treat future customers who purchased deals a little better.

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    I was so excited to try this place after buying their deal on Travelzoo: $39 for two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. However, I was pretty sad when I left the restaurant. Here's why. Not only were we treated poorly for using their "deal", they wanted to hurry us out without even having dessert! The portions were way smaller than their usual offerings. I tried their "infamous Mariscada" dish which was more like a heavy cilantro soup with only two shrimps floating around in the whole thing! The plate looked NOTHING like what others had photographed on here. I felt so cheated. A delicious cioppino at Neptune's ($25) carried way more quality seafood than what I got from Muqueca -- 3rd-rate seafood served out of a frozen bag. So, their Mariscada had two shrimps, a handful of mushy mussels, and less than a spoonful of tiny salad shrimp. No fish. My husband tried the Shrimp Bobo. The sauce was GREAT; however the contents were not. If the restaurant's true intention with these discounts is to attract new customers, they are actually forcing the opposite. Now that they've already collected your cash, they feel no reason to please you. The tip is already added in the bill! That's the sad truth. I understand seafood very well, and consider myself an expert on fresh fish because I grew up on the Mediterranean. Both dishes we ordered were not worth more than $5 each. I love fish stews, but what Muqueca poses as stews are actually watered-down cilantro soups piled high with onions and tomatoes as fillers -- with hardly any seafood in them (plus its the frozen kind from China). If you must go here because you've already purchased their deal on Travelzoo, get the shrimp house salad. It's the tastiest thing on the entire menu.

    (2)

  • Linda P.

    I don't know how this place has four stars. My three friends and I came in around 9:30pm and their kitchen closed at 10:45pm. We ended up ordering the Moqueca Completa (fish, shrimp, and mussels), Fried Yucca, and Shrimp Brazilian Patties. The waiter kept hinting that we hadn't ordered enough food and was not very pleasant. He seemed like he was tired from the day and just wanted us to hurry up and finish. Normally, I'd understand but they did not treat the table next to us like that. They kept ordering even while we were paying the bill. So, only three of us ate. What we ordered was more than enough and we got plenty of drinks. The shrimp patties were delicious. There were six of them. The fried yucca was not warm enough. The texture was not right. The dipping sauce was bland. The Moqueca Completa was mediocre, nothing fantastic. My sangria was bland too! What a disappointment. I guess their fruit smoothies are good, though. Overall, a little upset with the service and mediocre food. They do have amazing hot sauce in a jar on the table though.

    (2)

  • Jill Q.

    The husband and I went for an impromptu dinner/movie date last night, and we are really happy we wandered in here. We've lived in this neighborhood for 5 years and have always wanted to try it. There were plenty of parties eating but there was no wait in getting a table. The menu is almost all seafood, which was fine with us, I think the only items were a couple chicken and sirloin dishes, and a roasted pork loin...most everything else had shrimp, fish, calamari or mussels. We both had a glass of malbec (we're not really wine people so don't expect much of a detailed review) but it was great wine. We both got seafood stews, mine had shrimp, calamari and mussels and his had fish. Both of us had plantains on the side. Everything came out really fast (we told the waitress we had to catch the bus to Harvard to see a movie, and they were SO accommodating!), but the quality was so great. Our stews came out sizzling in these cast iron pots on their own trivets, and came with a side of rice. Both were unbelievably good-fresh, great seafood, well-cooked veggies and awesome sauce. Even the rice was yummy. We had time to enjoy our meals and our wine and still made the bus in the nick of time, in a little less than an hour. Would definitely recommend this place! Am considering taking the parents and the in-laws here for dinner next time they visit. It's that good.

    (5)

  • Sasha B.

    Delicious!! If you are a seafood/shellfish lover, this is the place for you! Definitely get a starter, the moqueca takes a while so you'll want some munchies. We got the fried yucca, they come with a delicious garlic sauce. For entrees we shared the fish and shrimp moqueca and the black beans and pork "brazilian national dish". The moqueca was TO DIE FOR! The fish was super tender, it just fell apart in your mouth. The national dish comes with a whole host of sides, which is fun. The pork meat is more of a pork belly, yum yum. I also had the caphriana, definitely well made at Muqueca! Lots of fresh lime, just the way I like it!

    (5)

  • Leah M.

    Went here for a birthday dinner with 6 friends and we had a 8:30 Reservation. Most of the group was late and did not arrive until 9, but Muqueca was very accomadating and understanding! The group was late because parking was an issue; this is not the best location for parking! On to the food... Started off with the fried yucca..so good! I have never had this dish before, but will def be ordering again! The dipping sauce was also on point! We had a good assortment of meals at the table...muqueca completa, Feijão Tropeiro, coconut shrimp, plaintains... Everyone seemed happy with their choices! I had the Feijão Tropeiro which was a mixup of collard greens, beans, egg, and chorizo...this went really well with a side of rice! They also gave me tons; I had enough for dinner that night and 2 more leftover meals at home...for only $14! I would go back again!

    (4)

  • moosh k.

    I come here primarily for the muqueca - seafood stewed with generous portions of tomatoes and onions. I have had all the different combinations of mussel, shrimp, fish and I was never disappointed. This is an absolute must-have comfort food for the long cold winter days of Boston. The stew is served piping hot in a clay(?) pot, and is very yummy eaten with the rice. The stew is meant for 1 person, but I think it's enough to feed 2 if you are planning to save room for dessert at Christina's down the street. If you want more food, you can order the 1.5 - ask the server, which is larger than the 1 person share but less than the two. Boyfriend and I have done that a couple of times. We love the appetizers too- fried yucca and crabcake are our favorites. Also love the juice mixes (eg. cashew + banana + other fruits) - very wholesome and hearty. I would have given this place 5 stars if the service was a tad faster.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    I've eaten at my fair share of Brazilian places (ok, ok. mostly AYCE bbq style places) and I have to say this place is amongst the best I've had. it also helps that their hot sauce is crazy, crazy spicy...be prepared to pay for it now (and later at twice the intensity) if you overdo it with the hot sauce! that, of course, didnt happen to me. no really, it didnt! =P Dishes we had at the table that i tried: Apps: - Fried Yucca with Dried Beef (4 stars - this was a pleasant surprise. the fried yucca was really good....imagine fried cut up potatoes, but the potatoes weren't as dense. the beef was a salted, fried beef. yummy with their "secret sauce".) - Coconut Shrimp (3 stars - twas ok, nothing spectacular) Entrees: - Shrimp Muqueca (5 stars - think of it as a Brazilian version of Paella. Super good, super flavorful). - Fish Muqueca (N/A - I'm not a fan of cooked fish, so I passed on this....although my "i dont eat that much" mom ate the whole thing...'nuff said) - Mariscada (5 stars - it's kinda like muqueca with squid, shimp and crabmeat....with a hint of coconut added. the flavor was very unique). Desserts: - passion fruit mouse (4 stars - good, light, and not too sweet). - Tapioca & Coconut (5 stars - soooooooo good. a tapioca cake with coconut drizzled with a bit of caramel -- brown sugar, rum, and water -- and condensed milk) - a must try! - flan (5 stars - flan wasn't too think....was actually very light. had the caramel drizzled). **extra 1/2 star for their service. the wait staff is very friendly and the owner/manager was very accommodating!

    (5)

  • Lynne S.

    If you're ever in Inman Square, I'd definitely recommend this Brazilian gem of a restaurant. The place was packed for lunch at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon, which is always a good sign. After enviously eyeing the drinks at everyone else's table, we decided to try something from the fresh juice bar. I highly highly recommend the "Brazilian Summer" made with pineapple and mint - seriously, does it get any better than that? It did. We started with the fried yucca, which was served with a secret sauce of what tasted like something mixed with horseradish and dill - YUM! We were already pretty full by the time we got our Fish, Shrimp & Mussel moqueca, so it was a good thing we decided to just split one! A moqueca is a Brazilian style seafood stew with cilantro, tomatos and onions. It was honestly one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I walked out of this restaurant very full and very happy - the sign of a succesful meal!

    (5)

  • Liz B.

    My home away from home is Vila Velha, Espirito Santo, Brasil, where I had my first taste of Moqueca. Watching my sister-in-law make it in one of those clay pots, the smell coming from the kitchen was like heaven. This place has the best authentic Moqueca in the area. I'm glad I found this place, it brings me home, even for a short while. Favorites: Moqueca Completa, Brazilian patties, Fried Yucca, and Mousse de Maracuja (Passion Fruit Mousse)

    (5)

  • Helen H.

    I went there twice - in 2010 and recently, in 2011. Both times the food was very good and very unusual for me. I had a seafood muqueca and really enjoyed the variety of fish in it: shrimp, fish, and mussels. The waiter from the second visit was Russian, so we got to chat a bit :) The only "bad" thing about this place - both times we had to wait about 20 for our food if not more. Granted, the first time I was with a large party, but the second time I was with a friend and the restaurant barely had other customers at that time (around 4:30 pm).

    (4)

  • Guilio Ñ.

    4.5 stars really. Mommy says the service was very fast. Jon says it was good. Eliza says the seafood casserole was excellent. And Jules says, muito obrigado for a very memorable Brazilian dinner!

    (4)

  • Alexis C.

    I love the moquecas here. For some reason, I usually come here with large parties, but I need to get around here with smaller groups, too, because it's amazing. I like the colorful decor and the cozy/snug atmosphere, but you kind of want a reservation because the wait can be long at prime times.

    (5)

  • Shawn S.

    Found this place through Yelp when looking for a place to grab lunch. Was in a hurry and the one waitress was extremely slow so when she finally came by I ordered the fish and chips since I didnt have time to ask questions about what the menu items were. They were ok..nothing special. The other 3 people I was with ordered the chicken salad and 2 other fishy foods that were more ethnic. They said they weren't bad either. Overall not anything great and service could use some work.

    (2)

  • Sara M.

    I used to live in this area and always walked by wondering what this restaurant was all about. It always looked busy and we tried to go once but the wait was too long. I moved to Brighton and forgot all about it until I saw something that reminded me. We hopped in the car on a random week day and went to dinner. It is quite small with maybe 12 -15 tables. I ordered an acai drink, which was a bit grainy but they make all their smoothies/fruit drinks right after you order them. I got seafood muqueca that came in a hot pot and it was pretty delicious. The flavours worked well together but I have to say I like the arroz mariscos better at Casa Portugal. My fiance ordered some meat stew, which was pretty good too. There were some condiments that we weren't really sure how to use, since our server was slow and hardly came around. All in all, good food with ehhh service. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but I might try it again if I was in the area.

    (3)

  • jazzy l.

    Muqueca means stew or food slow cooked in a claypot. It was a rainy night and I was dropped off here (thankfully) to have dinner with my friend who lives in the Inman Square area. PARKING - street only. SMALL tables but I saw a party of 9. RESERVATIONS - We didn't make reservations but the waitress was able to accommodate us after a 15 minute wait on a Friday evening at 730pm. SERVICE - Really good and not overbearing. DRINKS - Brazilian summer (pineapple and mint). Who knew it can be this good? FOOD - We shared the Fried Yucca With Portuguese Sausage. I've never had Yucca (in big chunks) before so it was too starchy for me. Fish Moqueca $13.95 - I got the signature dish. I was surprised at how mild this dish tasted. I thought it would be brimming with bold flavor, spices, and infused goodness. I was wrong. See my photos.

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Yucca!!! Soooo good... You better get you some of that Muqueca too. What exactly are you doing at this place if you dont? Good desserts too! P.S. This review is an understatement... I'm feeling kind of lazy after going review crazy today, so give me a fricken break -- I'm out of steam. Why don't you just go here, eat the damn good food, and write a better review if you have a fricken problem with my brevity. P.P.S Ok, maybe that was a little out of line. I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope we can still be friends.

    (5)

  • Trish F.

    I had a dream last night I was running on a beach towards a bowl of their plantains. Hmmmm.. true wuv. It was the total opposite of the serial killer raptors dream.. but that's neither here nor there. I came here a couple days ago and still love love love this place. I shared in a bowl of plaintains, Brazilian crab cake, mariscada, and shrimp&mussels moqueca. The crab cake was great, but I prefer the "breading" of traditional crab cakes. The mariscada, marked "A Must Try" on the menu was HEAVEN. Oh.. definitely my current favorite dish at Muqueca. I took some of the shrimp&mussels moqueca home and ate it cold for dinner last night.. still flavorful and still delicious the day after.. ::this is me wishing my Quaker Oats rice cakes could magically turn into Brazilian food:: Only thing to worry about here is reservations. If you don't show up on time.. you're outtta theerree! It's too small for them to hold empty tables. Surprisingly enough.. our party of 10 showed up on time! Who would have thought. haha

    (5)

  • May N.

    Yum! Small Brazilian restaurant with emphasis on seafood. Prices are not too bad, most expensive entree is under $18, but that doesn't count the market prices for some of the seafood. Our group of 7 had to wait ~30 min for a large enough table, but it was worth it! It is probably best for groups of 5 or less. We started with the fried Yucca appetizer which was lightly fried with a creamy "secret" sauce. Then the food came and all looked delicious. I got the seafood rice casserole (which I really liked, hit the spot for seafood and a cool night), a few got the mariscadas, and the vegetarians got the banana lasagnas. The food could be served family style or for individuals. Portions were generous and my partner and I took home doggie bags perfect for leftovers. Intimate place, great service. Only bad things - if you don't like cilantro (ugh!) watch out, and no alcohol. But the next day, I learned about how hard and expensive it is to get liquor licenses in Boston, so I forgave them.

    (4)

  • Samantha C.

    Just OK. There were some good, but also some bad. I ended up leaving feeling underwhelmed... PROS: * Yuca as an appetizer -- definitely recommended! * Pineapple/Mint smoothie -- ah-mazing! CONS: * the calamari -- obviously frozen (all same-sized rings with a think breading that couldn't have been fresh). although the owner was kind enough to take it away & let us get something new, I was shocked that such an item was served at a place where the seafood should be fresh!! * the service -- food came out way too quickly. I'm not too picky about it, but our main courses came out so fast that we barely had time to finish our apps! OVERALL: Portions were good & reasonably priced. Cool decor & friendly staff. Food could be stepped up a bit so the meal was just OK. I probably won't be back.

    (3)

  • Deanna D.

    Great food and wonderful service!! Very cute little restaurant and good variety of choices on the menu. The dishes were a little pricey but good portion sizes. We had the MARISCADA (mixed seafood curry) and the FEIJOADA COMPLETA (mixed meat stew) which were both tasty and unique. The service was great-- she was very helpful and made good suggestions. Overall good experience. Its not a cheap eats place but a cute date spot.

    (3)

  • Lee C.

    Amazing, authentic and earthy food. A must for any seafood lover who enjoys traditional ethnic fare unlike anything served elsewhere. This is NOT your typical Brazilian buffet/BBQ restaurant. A regional cuisine from coastal southern Brazil. Don't be afraid to ask what everything is. The flavors are just wonderful and the staff is friendly and welcoming. It's as if you've been invited into their home. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Natalia T.

    My hubby and I went there yesterday for dinner. We had 1.5 muqueca completa, fried calamari for appetizer and he had soup. We also got 2 mixed juices from the juice bar. The food is delicious, needless to say, I love this place, but in the end we were left with $75 bill. For a dinner for 2 that is quite expensive...

    (4)

  • Debra L.

    The downside to going to a place that has been reviewed 91 times and has an average star rating of 4.5 is that your expectations are set really high. Maybe a little too high. Based on everything I have read and heard, I could not wait to get to Muqueca! I knew that it would be crowded, so my husband made a reservation. It was pointless. We got there about 10 minutes before the reservation time but weren't seated for close to 40 minutes after that. So really, there was no point in making a reservation, which made me wonder why they even accept reservations? They'd be better off with a no reservation policy. Now, for the food. We got an order of half shrimp & half cod Brazilian patties to start with. They were decent. Not to die for, but a good starter. The cod ones weren't really hot enough. When the Muqueca (we got the combo, shrimp, mussels and fish) arrived, it was visually appealing, sizzling and colorful. Aaaah, finally! This is what we came here for. Okay, it was good. The seafood was tender, but a little mild. As another reviewer mentioned, I too thought the broth was a bit too mild. I think it could have been more spicy or more flavorful in general. It was good, but not 5 star out of this world, in my opinion. Enjoyable, but there was just something missing about it. We also had a side order of plantains that were incredible - maybe even the best plantains I've ever had? Service was polite and efficient. Muqueca was solid but not a place I'd go out of my way to get to again.

    (3)

  • Janet C.

    We went to the restaurant with a couple who wanted to try it and the food was great, great service, friendly atmosphere. I'm very happy to say that the quality and service we grew to love is back again!

    (5)

  • Jon H.

    God, this place is so damn good. Parking sucks, but if you get to this place, the service, the owner (and chef), atmosphere, and FOOD is sooo good. I always get the same thing, which is the stroganoff. I know what you're thinking - is that Brazilian? Doesn't matter because this is the best plate you'll ever taste. I've taken four or five people here just to get it, and they all agree - its the perfect dish, with the perfect ingredients and perfect portions. Yes, I just used perfect describing food in Boston. The smoothies, appetizers, and most of the other broths and stews are all great as well. Everything here is GREAT. Downsides: Parking around Inman, and its a small place. But usually if you have to wait, just walk around Inman.

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    My review, as relayed to me by my boyfriend in the car on the way home from dinner (imagine high girlie voice and crazy hand motions): "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this restaurant. It was soooooo good. I mean, I read on Yelp that it would be good, but it was soooooo good. I had the Shrimp Moqueca, and my boooyfriend had the Mariscada. Mine was a little spicier and his was a little more coco-nutty. Both were deeee-licious. I can't wait to come back for another really romantic meal." That's pretty dead on. ;)

    (5)

  • Andrew R.

    Get the frog legs!!

    (4)

  • Noa P.

    Great food. We will come back.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    I like Brazilian food but was very disappointed with Muqueca. First, I inquired about a vegetarian dish, and when the waitress listed tofu, I stopped her. I told I didn't like tofu, so she suggested another dish. When it arrived, surprise! Tofu! I was starving & just didn't eat the tofu. But there wasn't much to this dish anyway. Boring, and at $14, way too expensive for what it was. My friends thought theirs was just OK -- but for the prices, we all agreed that they were way overpriced. These meals came w/ nothing except for blah white rice. You get nothing "free" at this restaurant: no bread, olives, breadsticks, etc. I'm surprised they even gave us water (chase down the waitress for refills, though).

    (1)

  • Alex S.

    A conversation I could imagine having about this place: Me- It is really really good Brazilian restaurant. Fictional Friend- Oh, I LOVE Brazilian BBQ Me- Well I do too, but this place isn't a BBQ place it is more of a seafood place and their namesake specialty dish is a stew like dish with all types of veggies and seafood that comes out boiling in these hot pot like bowls. Fictional friend- I love spicy Latin seafood stews. Me- Again I agree, but the meals I had are actually more rich and savory than spicy. Fictional friend- Well, I will go but I know what to expect; this place is going to be really expensive with that low lighting and rich earthy colored walls and furniture that attempt to justify the exorbitant prices. Me- Oh imaginary friend, I would really expect you to be right about more things since you are just a figment of my own imagination but the place is actually bright and a little tacky with fake fish and fishing nets nailed into the wall and all together it is quite affordable. This place is AMAZING. Reasonably priced delicious seafood served in a unique and tasty fashion that complements the freshness of the seafood without covering up its natural flavor. The biggest negatives: No full bar which means no traditional Brazilian drinks and as I mentioned the ambiance could be a little nicer (not to say that it was horrible, just that it did not match the high level of the rest of the dining experience.)

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    After a year on my list I finally got to Muqueca. Working with a guy from Brazil prompted me to come here for lunch. I've never had moqueca before, so don't use this review as a basis for comparison. The moqueca and mariscadas were very nice. The hot sauce on the side, ounce for ounce, was probably some of the hottest sauce I've had. The heat hit differently than any Indian, Thai or Mexican spice I've had before. Be careful with it! Also make sure to order something from the juice bar. I'll be back, hopefully regularly.

    (4)

  • t.T c.

    Granted this is the only Brazilian place I've tried, but I think it's really good. The location is great. The portions are pretty big for its price, and the Brazilian Crab Cake is to die for. The rest of the food is all so wonderful. I've had their smoothie drinks, but don't like it much, but the ingredient they use in the smoothie is fresh, you can see them putting it into the cup! The place gives you a home-style cooking feeling. And this place has a special place in my heart because its where I had my first "date" with someone I truly love. muquecarestaurant.com

    (5)

  • Nancy Z.

    You know when you find something on sale for a REALLY cheap price but you don't love it as much as you would like to? You're so tempted to get it, but you know you'll never wear/use it. Muqueca was kind of like that for me. This place gets so many five stars! The menu also seems like it's entirely oriented around the authenticity of Brazilian food. I really wanted to like it because I lovee homey authentic dishes, but dammit! I just couldn't get into it! The staff was wonderful. It was my first time at the restaurant and our waitress made really good suggestions. I decided to follow through by ordering the Mariscada, which is a variety of seafood with cilantro, tomato, onions, and coconut milk. I think the dish was good, but I feel like the coconut milk kind of dulled down the potential of a cleaner and much brighter flavor. The dish came with farofa, which is ground yucca that tasted kind of oniony (really good) and plantain moqueca, which was pretty good too. Maybe I just don't have the tongue for the Brazilian authenticity, but I thought it was just okay. To me, it was just a stew that's served with rice. For an appetizer, I ordered the fried yucca, which is chunks of yucca served with a special sauce. The special sauce tasted almost identical to zesty ranch and the fried yucca was kind of plain. It was like eating big steak fries with ranch almost. I've had yucca prepared differently multiple times and loved it, but this one was probably the most boring one I've had it. If you love stews and all that hearty good stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy this place. It's size is small, but bright in colors. It has almost a cute tropical feel to it. Ugh. I feel like an ass for giving this place 3 stars, but I'm just being honest... Muqueca was okay, but just not for me.

    (3)

  • Angela F.

    The food is delicious and the service is great! I never get disappointed when I come here. The Chicken Stroganoff is one of my favorites. It has a rich creamy taste but the richness is not too overbearing. I've also tried the Prime Cut Sirloin, Shrimp Moqueca, and Shrimp Bobo. These entrees are also quite delicious. However, I personally would choose the Shrimp Bobo and Prime Cut Sirloin over the Shrimp Moquenca. Appetizers I would recommend are the Fried Yucca and Plantains. The only negative thing about this restaurant would be its size. The restaurant has about 6 small tables...we had to wait for about an hour for a party of 8 on a busier day. Other than that, I definitely recommend this restaurant! You won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Adrian L.

    Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. I always bring my friends visiting from out-of-town here. Their food is amazing, their smoothies are great and it's a good deal for the quality of seafood they are serving.

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    Hated this place. The specialty fish stew seemed like it was just some fish and some salsa put into a pot. It tasted really fishy...not fishy-suspicious but fishy-fishlike. We also tried the pork loin and it was dry and bland and served with very bland vegetables. For what we got, it was quite pricey. The place was empty at dinner time on a weeknight. I don't know why so many people recommended it to us...we'll never go back.

    (1)

  • Mily G.

    This restaurant almost falls on my way home from work and for close to 5 years now I have been looking at its signboard skeptically from a distance. Muqueca - didn't ring any bells (turns out, it's Brazilian and pretty well known actually!). Then one day I noticed that the restaurant had relocated a few blocks and now fell directly on my route. Since Anjali was asleep in her stroller it seemed like a good time to try out the place. It was superb. Moqueca is a traditional style of cooking fish in a clay pot. I tried out the Fish Moqueca and Mihir, rather tamely I thought, took a Steak and fries. Everything was delicious. The fish stew was light and fragrant, flavored with cilantro. It tastes very similar to Bengali preparations of fish and I was hooked and homesick. We had ordered fried plantains on the side and it was among the best I have ever had. Mihir's steak was pretty good too, at least he loved it. It came with an unusual sauce and a small bowl of delicious beans. I have noticed many South American restaurants have this side of stewed canary beans that contrary to their appearance, taste heavenly. One more reason to not order those ubiquitous fries. The wait was a bit long, enough that we started to get antsy, and I sent Mihir off to the kitchen to see if he could rustle up some appetizers or even dessert for us to start with. The staff, very sweetly, suggested that we wait for our meal as it would be substantial. How often does anyone say that? So we waited, and it was good that we did because after we stuffed ourselves we still had enough to pack for another meal. A lot of the people there seemed to be regulars, always a good sign, and all the plates around me looked good. A couple next to me wanted to play it safe and ordered everything that looked deep-fried. But in a place like this playing it safe seems unnecessary. The decor strikes a fine balance between a cozy, laid-back atmosphere and an ethnic aesthetic that does not overpower you with souvenirs and artifacts. It's the kind of place that invites you try it out once as it looks exotic and different but once in you realize that it's everyday enough for you to keep coming back. The restroom was spotless and roomy (always the sign of a good restaurant), though it smelled faintly of fish. Maybe the cook had just passed through...

    (5)

  • Ger T.

    Went here with two friends on a whim, because one of the said friends had a gift certificate. The first thing that strikes you is the fantastically multi-colored walls. It's like walking into a rainforest in the dead of Boston winter, and it was freezing (literally) when we were getting off the bus in Inman Square, so the colors hit me like a wake up call: WAKE UP AND EAT! The food: awesome. I am a big fan of homey comfort food, and this is comfort food to the max, Brazilian style. Definitely try their fried yucca, even if you're not a fan of fried food. It's starch-y, like a light potato, and just barely crispy on the outside, very delicate. For the main course, it's an almost endless menu selection of different clay pot fish dishes (the "muqueca" of the restaurant name). I had the fish and mussels, and it was delicious, basically like a really chunky seafood stew with tons of veggies. All the desserts sounded lovely, but I was way too full by the end to eat another bite. For cilantro haters: beware, their food is chock full of it. You could request a dish sans-cilantro, but as it seems such an integral part of the cuisine, I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

    (5)

  • Roni E.

    How have I NOT written a review on this? It's been over a month since I came here for my b-day with Barbara Ann, Paul, Jessika, Miss Dishie, and Barbara Ann's children. I was advised by the most knowledgeable Miss Jessika that, "you don't come here for steak or chicken, you come here for the seafood". And so I ordered a Fish Moqueca but substituted the rice with collard greens instead. I kinda wish I stuck with the rice instead. The collards were bland and really could have used some sort of flavor. Put that aside 'cause the fish was really delicious! I also had the Strawberry Pina Colada which really doesn't need an explanation. But what really made this evening was the girls who worked here. Erik may be 5 but he's a sneaky lil sucker. He had gone to one of the girls and told them it was my birthday. They ended up bringing over this awesome chocolate mousse/flan cake with a candle in it for us. She even gave Erik his own flan. It's a tiny place, so beware that there may be a line, but it's worth it. If you have more than 2 - 3 people, I would suggest making a reservation.

    (5)

  • Maria V.

    I went into Muqueca knowing absolutely nothing about Brazilian food, and I left unable to stop raving about it! If you like seafood and cilantro, your tastebuds will dance and sing with the very first bite here. Got the fried yucca and crabcakes as an appetizer -- the yucca was so lightly fried, it didn't fill me up too much so I couldn't eat my main course, and the crab was so light, totally unlike the fried crabcakes we usually think of in the U.S., very meaty and light. For the main course I shared a moqueca (sizzling-hot clay pot!) of fish and mussels. It's so filling but not heavy on the stomach. Anyone who loves good seafood will really appreciate this, as it's kind of a hearty stew with loads of veggies, but not quite like any other fish dish I've ever had except maybe bakaliaro/bakalao (if you've had that). Definitely call ahead and reserve a seat, the place is tiny and always filled to capacity -- and given the portions here (just right, but they don't skimp!) it'll take patrons a while to finish. Don't miss out on the juice drinks either, they go fabulously with a moqueca. This place is cozy and warm, from the hearty dishes to the beautiful salmon-colored walls. It's like a mini-vacation, a pure delight in the middle of winter!

    (5)

  • Karen H.

    Rainy day? Have some muqueca. Then go home and cozy up in bed to take a nappie. Perfect day. Deliciousness. The cod capixaba and the shrimp muqueca were very good. Wish there were more plaintain goodness in the capixaba. You may also refill on rice a few times in order to finish the stew (refill does cost extra). Not super cheap, but if you get a few and split between your group it's probably a better deal. But it's still worth it even if you eat one by yourself!

    (5)

  • B P.

    New place...still very good...sometimes when restaurants upgrade service and food quality take a hit...one star off for the piece of paper I got from the fish ..may have been the wrapper(I sincerely hope it was) either way I think it was cooked :)!

    (4)

  • Joshua C.

    My wife and I have driven by this place many a time on our way to church, and never really given it much thought. So one day, we decide to check it out. It was really cold outside...and upon walking into the restaurant, it was still cold! Talk about poor heating. Almost everyone in the restaurant was still wearing their jackets from outside! Not cool. Or should I say, really cool. Haha. Sorry. The food though made up for the chilly environment. We ordered a shrimp muqueca (a Brazilian soup/stew with lots of tomatoes, onions and other goodness) and a sirloin steak. Definitely forego the steak. It was good, but nothing special, and came with fries. I feel like you could get that at your average American restaurant. Okay, on to the muqueca. It was goood! It was hot, so that was nice, and you eat it with white rice. It wasn't extremely flavorful, but fresh and satisfying. They also give you a good amount of shrimp, which is always nice. They also provided some side dishes like black beans, a tortilla-like soup, some brown powder thing (no idea), and a lovely cool, refreshing salsa. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the muqueca and would definitely come back just for this. Prices are fair given what you get (seafood and meat), but don't expect a fancy restaurant. This place is like a pizza joint...except the food you get is quite another thing. Mmmmm...

    (4)

  • Jason H.

    The best Brazilian food in Boston. I've had a few of the entrees and the chicken stroganoff, which was very tasty. Not a great wine list, but the food is what will bring you back here anyways.

    (4)

  • Mihir P.

    I brought some friends here who were visiting from out of town. One of them is part Brazilian. I have had Brazilian food a ton of times but not at this restaurant and not specifically the muqueca dish. The place is tiny and cozy. Has seating for 20 people -tops. I don't think they serve alcohol but who cares? GO FOR THE FRESH JUICES. If you have a heart problem, avoid the guarana. For an appetizer, we had the cod balls (NOT cod's balls). I didn't think they were anything special. But the dipping sauce on the table was great; We all ordered muqueca in some form (muqueca is a a stew of seafood, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and other veggies). It arrived in a sizzling large iron bowl. It was excellent! Tasted wicked fresh and the cilantro gave it the perfect zing. The rice served with it was moist and naturally sweet. My part Brazilian compadre said it was the best muqueca he's ever had. Don't bother getting the non-Brazilian menu items like chicken parm, fried calamari etc. If you have a friends who don't like Brazilian food, leave them at home. Get there early!!!!! I cannot stress that enough. There will be a wait and parking is nearly impossible.

    (4)

  • Khalid S.

    Food was GREAT! Another vote for the vegetarian lasagna de banana. I also would reiterate that the place is TINY, still the staff is constantly running, so you may not have the fanciest service. Not good for BRINGING kids, but I'm sure they'd enjoy the takeout!

    (5)

  • Eric O.

    Friends took me here for my birthday a few weeks back. I left a fan. First off, I'd strongly recommend forgoing lunch if you're stopping by here early - no one in our party cleaned plate. Of note, the smoothies (they don't serve alcohol), mariscada, shrimp moqueca & shrimp bobo were all warmly accepted. While they do offer vegetarian options, the Vegan of the group wasn't too impressed. The only issues detracting from the experience are relatively minor. On a cold night, be prepared for a wicked draft if you're in line of sight of the door. Though we had a reservation, we were forced to wait outside for over 15 minutes for them to clear a table. All in all, a welcome addition to my growing stable of good Boston restaurants. Not very suitable for larger gatherings of friends, but for a date or couples night, it fits the bill.

    (4)

  • kenley s.

    ...this was one of the first restaurants that I wandered into while exploring Boston for the first time years ago... was wonderful then, only been back a few times...the Muqueca, and Feijouda were absolutely delicious...in fact sorta craving it now all of a sudden...sadly I've moved to the west coast, dunno where I'm going to get my Muqueca fix now :(

    (5)

  • Colin N.

    Muqueca exists to set the standard for Brazilian food in Boston. Their signature dish, after which the restaurant is named rocked my world. It's a seafood stew served with rice and some other accompaniments. The taste is so rich and good - it's to die for. There does tend to be a wait on the weekends. I put my name down, got a tea at 1369 and came back in a while with my date. Muqueca will impress anyone who wants an authentic experience and wonderful food over a ambience and decor. Make sure you like who you're with because there's no booze there to break the ice!

    (5)

  • M K.

    Wasn't that impressed with my shrimp muqueca. In fact, it didn't seem like it was anything unique. The big plate of rice was disappointing, but more so was that my bf had the fish muquecue and was sick for a good 20 hrs afterwards. We won't be going back. Not worth the hype, sadly.

    (1)

  • Amanda W.

    Sweet heavens, my senses play off each other when I relive this meal. Mouth waters, palms to my cheeks, 'mmmm' guttural sounds, wide excited eyes. Maybe it was because I was hungover. Maybe it was because I planned the dinner 5 days in advance. No excuses- I enjoyed every bite here (and the leftovers today in the office - totally had to cover my mouth from moaning so my coworkers didn't question my internet etiquette). My friend was in town for the weekend and loves food blogging. And her boyfriend is allergic to seafood, and she was dying for seafood. The preview I gave her was that my friends referred to Muqueca as 'bangin.' We met up with another one of my friends and beat the Saturday dinner rush by a hair. Since I live a block away, we called ~6:50 before bracing the cold June rain to check if there was a wait. 'No, but we have some 7:30 reservations, so come soon.' We got there by 7:05 and though there were a few open tables, there were 2 parties ahead of us waiting for the hostess and manager to decide what to do with us. He briefly offered us seating at the bar but we reminded him that we were three. He turned his back for a moment and then offered us a big table. No harm done, pal. We had not a drop of desire for alcohol (though my eyes wandered to a drink resembling a mojito or caprihana and I thought, 'next time'). But we did want fruit fuel. We got the berry blue, the tropical, and the pineapple mint smoothies, the latter of which was my favorite (guess I had a craving for virgin mojitos?). They were all refreshing and you could pick out each of the ingredients. We actually determined what to order by browsing their online menu before leaving my apt. I was so lucky to be in the company of non-picky, cilantro-embracing, fish and spice-friendly individuals. No offense to the rest of you, but more often than not I dine with ppl who prefer to have and not share their own dishes. To be honest, if you are not a sharer and choose to come here, you should consider letting your guard and possibly hygiene standards down and sharing some saliva over a Moqueca pot because they are too big for just one! We split the Mariscada, Fish and Calamari Moqueca, and a side of fried plantains. The meal came with several sides that the busboy (man?) named off: plantain stew, a sweet sauce for the plantains, and yucca shavings, plus he cautioned against TOO much of the hot sauce on the table. We each got our own rice ($3 for the extra rice since we ordered 2 dishes for 3 ppl), which was garlicky and not a grain was spared. To be honest I was so engrossed in the flavors and the way they made me so so happy that I stopped talking to my friends and have no idea how they chose to eat the food. I took turns between the Moqueca (huge pieces of white fish + very flavorful calamari) and the Mariscada (shrimpy small shrimp, large split shrimp with the tails on, mussels out of the shell, more calamari), sneaking in some plantains and whatever that incredible plantain sauce was, pouring yucca shavings all over the plate, mixing in plantain stew. Every now and then I'd chomp down on an incredibly bright flavored onion or a bunch of cilantro. A few times I reminded myself to add more hot sauce. I think I kind of lost myself in the meal, to be honest. Anyway, at one point I looked up and my friends were experiencing similar revelations of joy. Then kind of at the same time, we agreed that we should save room for dessert since we spotted some yummy desserts before our dinner arrived. 5 extra bites later, we begged our server to wrap up what was 2 smaller meals worth of food. What started as 'Oh, only 1 dessert, we are sooo so full' turned into 2. The dessert menu was fun - whimsical English translations that were endearing enough to make us want to try them all. We ordered tapioca and coconut and the chocolate truffle. They came out quickly and were consumed almost as quickly. The truffle was like a creamy chocolate mousse but stickier and more congealed, coated in chocolate sprinkles. The tapioca and coconut was a combination of super sweet little tapioca pearls combined with mildly sweet coconut shavings as well as roasted coconut shavings. There was a fig on top. They were both under $4. Do not hesitate to order dessert here. All those expressions of pure joy for less than $30 a person. Plus we beat the dinner rush. And as an added bonus, they put all the sides in the takeout containers, separated in the smaller sections of the container. I appreciate that thoughtfulness! Our server clearly knew we had a great time and told us to come back. Yes, yes, I will be back. Hopefully that meal alone (plus the excited conversation to and from the restaurant to my apartment) was enough incentive for my friend to come visit again :)

    (5)

  • Little Miss M.

    Aside from the lack of alcohol, Muqueca is a fantastic find. As a seafood junkie, Muqueca is my seafood fix. The seafood is fresh, the service is pleasant, and the range of classic to exotic dish selections is aplenty. There are also a number of non-seafood dishes, but I would suggest non-seafoodies to visit their website to review the menu before a visit. The smoothies are also a great touch, but the true gem here is the food. Definitely no frills dining; the emphasis is on the food.

    (4)

  • Abdullah A.

    This is a little cozy brazilian restaurant has a colorful decoration that is reminiscent of its origins. The place itself may feel a little tight (there's only space enough for something like 7 tables, though I heard from the waiter that they are soon to be moved closeby to a bigger place), but this also helps to create an intimate environment. I've only gone to have lunches, it is packed during sunday at that time, full with brazilian people, which I always see as a sign that the restaurant is authentic. The plates you must not miss are: Picahna, which is a traditional brazilian steak cut, which they serve with beans and rice. The other good dish is the Muqueca, a fish and shrimp in a tomato, onion and cilantro sauce. While you are trying these delicious plates you can try different tropical juice mixes that are really good (passion blue is a must try!) For dessert, you can delight yourselves with a couple of desserts: the Tapioca and coconut, sweet small balls of coconut and tapioca with condensed milk, a very sweet dessert. The other one is the Flan, which is different to any other flan I've tried before, with a more dense texture and a richer flavor.

    (4)

  • F N.

    Wonderful place!!! Good food and great service. Please try the Fried Red Snapper for a main course and for an appetizer the fried yucca...you will not be dissapointed. Been to this place lots of times...always have a great time.

    (5)

  • Margarita V.

    Went there last weekend for lunch during an out-of-town trip. I've been on a South American food kick lately and this place looked promising. The place is small, colorful, and instantly made me feel like I was on vacation somewhere tropical. A giant plate of fried yucca was brought out as an appetizer, which was addictively good (especially whatever the hebal-creamy dipping sauce that accompanied it). I ordered the seafood pie and it was unlike anything I had ever tasted (and HUGE!). Almost like an omelet with tons of minced fish and shrimp, but so much better than it sounds (or looks). The hot sauce provided for the table gave the pie a great kick. Between that and the enormous helping of white rice, I was full pretty much all day from the meal. I had a bit of my companion's pork and rice and beans, which were also tasty, and stole his unwanted fried onions, which were sweet (I tasted some nutmeg) and added an even yummier flavor to my meal. I'm going to have to find a restaurant like this in New York, because there were tons of dishes on the menu I wanted to try, and I'd love to go back. Great place to go for hearty, exotic food!

    (5)

  • Edmon K.

    Great food. Different kind of Brazilian restaurant. Mariscada and Shrimp Muqueca is my favorite. Service can be slow so be patient. Food is worth it! Try Caipirinha with your meal.

    (4)

  • Emma D.

    Awesome Brazilian food. I've been to Muqueca twice now. I love the interior which is unassuming and painted in bright colors with photographs on the wall. The place is definitely small. Which is rough if you want to eat with 6 people, but I think sets a great atmosphere. The first time, my group of four had to wait around 20 min for a table. The second time my sister and I walked right in. Note that they do take reservations excluding Friday and Saturday nights I believe. Apparently you can even rent the whole place as the night I was there the waitress began to turn people away as they had a birthday party scheduled for 9pm. Servers are incredibly friendly and willing to help you learn to pronounce all of the Portugese words. Food is delicious - I've tried several of the muquecas and I really enjoy the camerones one (shrimp and lots of fresh cilantro thrown in!) The most recent visit, we also had the feijoada which is a traditional dish in many portugese speaking nations. Beans, beef, pork simmered for a long time and served over rice. Sides of wonderfully garlic collard greens and (always my favorite) fried plantains. At my sisters insistence, we split a piece of flan. I've never been a huge fan, but this was great - reminded me a bit of carmel cheesecake. The two meals ($12 each) that my sis and I split provided leftovers in plenty, which I might add are just as good reheated! Note that they have takeout AND delivery!! If you're on a date or just with one or two other people go to the restaurant. If you're in a group of eight either make a reservation or get take out. Either way definitely give it a try if your in the mood for something a little different.

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Solid. It is such a good feeling when you try a place on a whim and it turns out to be a great experience. Thats what happened last night at Muqueca. I acknowledge the comments of many regarding the potentially long wait for seating and slow service. This is a small place and it seemed like they only had a couple people working. We were able to sit down right away on a Tuesday night, but it took a while for our food to come out. We were getting a bit impatient, but the thing is, the food was well worth waiting for. And, I thought the waitress was quite attentive while we waited. So, what did we get? Seafood casserole and shrimp bobo. Both were so good, and so filling. After washing these down with a couple exotic (and affordable) fruit smoothies we were completely stuffed. There are several other things on the menu that I want to try, so I will be heading back here soon. (Vegetarians, they even have a couple good veggie options: banana lasagna, whoa sounds crazy huh?)

    (5)

  • Erika B.

    OMG So Good! Authenitic Brazilian food! I'm in love with their seafood stew, it's perfect. I've had to wait a while, the last two times I went there but it's always so worth, it... I just grab a Nova Schin from the bar (which has like, 4 seats) but I can't complain about this place at all. The food is awesome and so is the staff :)

    (5)

  • Damien S.

    An immensely enjoyable lunch with rockstar Elite Yuk L! And not just because of her sparkling personality... Dat fried yucca. And the moqueca sizzle. Their namesake dish consists hearty, flakey whitefish braised(?) tender and left to marinate in a bubbling stew of tomatoes, peppers and onions, served with a mound of rice and a starchy thick fish gravy on the side. The liquid is at once sour, citrusy, a tad piquant, and unctuous in all the right ways. A tom yum, minus cilantro and young coconut milk. Definitely fish sauce, maybe? It's a delectable mystery. The lunch portion is basically a half serving, and runs $12.50. You don't need more than this, Joey Chestnut. By no means should you do less. Get this. Get this now. "GET NOW!" - Ahnold But not before you start with the fried yucca ($6). I've had it elsewhere; I've never had it better. Yucca's one of those foodstuffs that's easy to fry dry, but not in this house. The dippers (including a fiery garlic-tomato-Brazilian red pepper sauce) are wonderful accompaniments, but this root is so unbelievable tender and creamy, it could be et on its own. Juices are blended to order, and my $5 Blue Caju (blueberries, cashew fruit, papaya) screamed summer. Then screamed again as I sucked it down. Mercilessly. The "new" kids on the block (bisq, Puritan & Co, clover) may be drawing attention to the skirts of Inman, but classics like Muqueca have been owning the spotlight for a while. ¡Viva Brasil!

    (5)

  • Zi-on C.

    Their seafood rice casserole, their spin on the traditional paella, is pretty darn good, and I would definitely come back to eat it again. It tasted similar to the authentic ones I had in Spain, just with a Brazilian twist, and I'm all for it! Unfortunately, Muqueca falls flat on a few of its dishes, namely, its Shrimp and Fish Moqueca and Sirloin Steak dish. The Muqueca is served in a huge pot with a side of rice and some fish broth (which I think is actually fish au jus), but is pretty bland. The seafood is cooked well, but there seemed to be a lack of seasoning. The steak was cooked far too well and was rather dry. However, eating the side rice with the little steak juice that was there was pretty damn good. Overall, if I'm looking for a casual dinner, I wouldn't mind coming here. The prices, however, make it more of a tough option for a regular spot to frequent. Still, worth a try!

    (3)

  • Jenni S.

    We went to dinner with another couple with a baby. The food was delicious and the service was stellar. We tried to make a reservation but since it was graduation weekend they didn't have any reservations available. They recommended that we swing by and they would try and make it work. That they did, we were seated in less than 10 minutes. The rest of the adults split a pitcher of sangria and loved it. Then we had two orders of the Brazilian crab cakes (delicious but really only enough for 2 each) and the Fried Yucca with Portuguese Sausage which came with a great dipping sauce that I could have with just about anything. For entrees we had Mariscada, which was tasty bit a hint to sweet for me. Then we got the Fish & Calamari Moqueca, which I would eat everyday if I could. The broth alone was amazing. As another side we had the Lasagna de Banana which was plantains topped by 3 melted cheese and was so creamy and mouth watering. The serve recommend we each get our own rice which was just one more order because the three entrees each came with one. There was a decent amount of food leftover.

    (5)

  • Lindsay M.

    Okay...definitely best spot for Brazilian food in Boston! Upon our arrival, we waited a couple minutes because it was starting to get busy, but once seated, the service was on point. Our waiter was very friendly and asked if we had any questions about the menu. We ordered two caipirinhas and the fried calamari with the passion fruit dipping sauce. The drinks were fantastic and the calamari was good- wish the sauce had more of the passion fruit flavor and the calamari rings less breaded. We ordered the Shirmp Bobo and the beef stroganoff for entrees. Honestly, that was the best food I've had in a while. They come out in these small cauldrons, really hot, and with a side of rice. The portion size was very generous! But seriously, the flavor of those dishes were out of this world!! A little pricey, but oh so worth it! Come here on a date or with family, very welcoming and friendly people!

    (4)

  • Ashley C.

    Came back to order the Muqueca Completa. The seafood was fresh and it was good... but I like the Mariscada a lot more because of the coconut milk and crab meat!

    (5)

  • Yuka Y.

    Muqueca is famous for their stews served in clay pots. Their cuisine is a mixture of Brazilian native Indian, African, and Portuguese cooking. Don't be fooled by their facade- it's simple, quaint, and very clean. But their food is amazing!! OK appetizer: fried frog legs. My man went wild and randomly ordered frog legs. Those frog legs are really muscular and not surprisingly lean and tough. Pair it with their on the house hot sauce and it's great. You have to try their on the house hot sauce- it's a creamy version of Tabasco sauce that packs the perfect punch to everything. Nose dripping but not deathly spicy. Rec: ++++Moqueca Completa ($25.95)- this is a TREAT for seafood lovers. It's a seafood stew with an abundance of fish, mussels, and shrimp boiled in a savory broth. Served together is a house made gravy that has a cornstarch like consistency- nearly tasteless but we still added it anyways since there's ground up fish in there too. Included is only 1 plate of rice that's enough for 1 person. Although their signature clay pot dish may look small at first glance, it's enough for 2 people. With other reviewers saying there was a line waiting to get in, it was quiet on a Sunday evening with 3 tables including us dining. Nicole, our waitress, provided excellent service. Definitely looking forward to coming back and trying more Brazilian cuisine :)

    (4)

  • Sophia N.

    This place is a gem! The juices are good and the Muqueca Completa is where it's at. It is a savory stew of boneless fish, shrimp, and mussels with tomato and onion. It's served with soft, fluffy rice and comes with a side of delicious fish-based sauce to go over the rice. The Blue Caju and the mango, papaya juices are delicious. It's a great post-workout drink. I recommend getting the 1 1/2 portion of the Muqeuca Completa if sharing between two people. My first time there, my friend and I ordered double and ended up hating ourselves afterwards but boy, did it hurt so good. The broth is delicious and the seafood is cooked just enough that it's thoroughly cooked yet still very tender to the bite. We tried the chocolate flan and though good, it was very dense and rich. There's plenty of street parking and it's free after 6 p.m.

    (5)

  • Juan S.

    So many joyous feelings come to mind when I think of this place. The service is amazing, the decor is very welcoming, and the food is top notch. no matter what you will always have something that speak to your interest. Muqueca illustrates a different streak of food than what many people may be used to or think about when one says "Brazilian" They just exhibit the many different flavors that Brazilian food has, and how diverse it is. If you want Brazilian food but not your typical flair come here. Also to keep in mind. This is also the place where I tried frog legs for the first time, and WOW how amazing where they. I'd recommend their Shrimp and seafood with rice, but I also recommend their chicken soup, or any of their soups thats yucca based. I will definitely come back here.

    (5)

  • Le T.

    Pretty nice place! Love their fried plantains and fried yucca. Make room for desserts. Best flan I've ever had!!

    (4)

  • Tony J.

    The food is absolutely great. The fish stews are really interesting and different from the standard Brazilian fare. Unfortunately, the service is awful. It's always to busy so it's really difficult to get a table. And when we were seated, it was in an awkward position that was cramped and really close to another table, just perpendicular. So when you wanted to get up, your chair would go into another person. The server took forever to do anything: refill water, bring food, even take our orders, and especially bringing the check. It just took forever. Normally we would flag down our server to get their attention, but most of the time the server was not even present on the floor. I guess it's just too busy, but at least the food is good.

    (3)

  • Monique S.

    Delicious. I told my friend I never had Brazilian food before and was surprised with some Muqueca. We had Moqueca de Peixe and a bean sauce that was to die for. The fish was perfectly stewed in a yellow sauce with all of the garlic and onions you could want. One entree is enough for two people to go for seconds a few time. They don't scrimp on the food. The fish was tender and perfectly seasoned. A delicious meal and great introduction to Brazilian food.

    (4)

  • Noe C.

    I had the recommended "complete" seafood stew dish with my friend last night. Unfortunately the stew smelled bad when it arrived and we both could barely eat it. The shrimp was fine but when I had the mussels, I had to spit it out. It was spoiled, not fresh. I believe that was causing the poor odor from the stew. I also noticed that our server was not present the entire time we had the meal to check in about how things were. We wanted more drinks but no one came by and water was not filled. Mind you this is a very small establishment so we should be easily spotted and served. When I first came to the restaurant the bartender was very nice and the servers seemed friendly. This all changed when we got seated. Perhaps I should have just had a drink and not that meal...! Quality of the juice cocktail was average, the restaurant atmosphere was average. However, those are minor points. If only they used fresh seafood ingredients I would have given this review a higher mark.

    (1)

  • Jasmine C.

    Muqueca has a very authentic feel and is definitely a place to go if you're with a few adventurous friends, even in a large group, and want to try something new. Don't expect extremely delicate, sophisticated flavors (as I have become accustomed to in Cambridge) but do expect a worthwhile meal. What to get: - Yuccas with their special sauce (with or without dried beef etc., it doesn't really matter) - I may have a love affair with yuccas but they are very delicious here - The Muqueca Completa: so SO worth the price, it came absolutely choc-full of delicious, fresh seafood including super fresh mussels, shrimp and wonderfully soft, pillowy white fish Pass on: - Most of the rest of the menu. It's really not a place to go and order a salad or one of the more regular entrees, either go big or go home.

    (4)

  • San W.

    Been here a few times before (oh, that trek) but most recently brought the mother along to have her try something new. We gots: Seafood Rice Casserole (shrimp, mussels, & squid with cilantro, tomato, onions, & coconut milk) MmMmm...satisfies my craving for something paella-y. Simple but flavorful with plenty of seafood, although the mussels can be hit or miss. Leftovers that I look forward to the next day. Moqueca Completa (fish, shrimp, & mussels with cilantro, tomato, & onions served with rice & pirao) Again, hit or miss with the mussels. I liked the white fish and the shrimp although my mother was iffy on the freshness. (Asian moms.) Neither of us were crazy about the pirao, which is a kind of gravy made from fish stew juices. I was happy with drenching my rice in the moqueca stew itself, which was plenty flavorful. Flan My mother surprisingly liked this more than the entrées! Definitely one of the best flan I have had in awhile. Firm and smooth consistency and not spongy or eggy. Caramel added the perfect amount of sweetness although having the whole thing to yourself might be overkill. In other notes, I love the clay pots that keep everything hot to the last bite. Perfect for a slow eater like me. Service is friendly. Long walk from Central Square is worth it - good to work off those calories afterwards anyway.

    (4)

  • Uday S.

    A trip to Boston is incomplete without a visit here on a late Sunday for a lazy lunch with a few drinks. Been here a few times and the service and quality is consistently great for me to come back. A perfect meal here is: A Brazilian summer to drink Heart of plam salad. Fried yuca Muqueca de peixe and camarao Brigadeiro to end your meal. While I've been to a few Brazilian steak places, this is a refreshing different taste of Northern Brazil.

    (5)

  • Leila L.

    We had Seafood Rice Casserole and Muqueca Completa (shrimp, fish, and mussels). Being a first timer of Brazilian moquecas, I can't say I don't like them, but it was not like wow-this-is-good kind of experience. And I guess most of the dishes are quite alike, with seafood soup+tomato+cilantro kind of flavor. I mean the two things we got, though look not that alike--one is dry with rice in the dish and the other is in soup with rice on the side, but taste almost the same. In general, an okay place to go if you have strong crave for seafood.

    (3)

  • S W.

    One of the best restaurants in Cambridge and a personal favorite for lunch! Big fan of the moqueCa ComPleta and the feijoada ComPleta!

    (5)

  • Edward W.

    I would highly recommend making a reservation beforehand if you plan on coming during prime dinner times, as this place packs up pretty quickly and the place itself is not the most spacious. Being in a large group allowed us to try many of their dishes, and I was so glad that I did! Each of us got one of their smoothies, and I got to try the mango samba, mango nana, passion blue, and blueberry mix. Of the 4, I enjoyed the passion blue the most, and the mango smoothies, while good, were a tad too sweet for my taste. We then ordered some appetizers. The Brazilian crab cakes were phenomenal, and fell apart right in your mouth giving you a mouthful of delicious crab flavor. The cod patties were just as good, and came with a unique dipping sauce that I enjoyed. The coconut shrimp was a delightful alternative to the ones you get at asian restaurants, as it had just enough coconut flavor to allow you to relish the taste of the shrimp itself. The fried yucca with Portuguese sausage was the most interesting appetizers of the 4, as I never had yucca before. I would say it was a more stringy sweet potato, but it was awesome nevertheless. The Portuguese sausage was ridiculously good as well, as I could tell that it was seasoned well. For our main courses, we all tried their signature dish: the Moqueca Capixaba seafood stew with fish, mussels, and shrimp. I will first note that the portion sizes are HUGE, as in it could last me for 2 meals huge. They did not skimp on the seafood portions, and on top of that, they piled on top of it heaps of vegetables. The dish also came with a side of rice, and they even gave some unique gravy to pour onto the rice! To say the least, this was the highlight of my night, as the food was astronomically phenomenal. I would definitely recommend this pace to anyone who wants to try a new restaurant, and would definitely come back here again.

    (5)

  • Sylvia C.

    We really didn't know what to expect based on the mixed reviews but fortunately for us - we had a great dining experience. The service was on the slower pace but friendly. Think we should have ordered their specialty dish (clay pots) instead we ventured to other items in the menu. We ordered the following: chicken patties seafood casserole fried red snapper side of fried plantains All were tasty but a but on the drier end. The seafood casserole - similar to the clay pots except the rice was mixed in - which makes it almost like stir-fry rice. The fried red snapper was a bit overly fried with no sauce to compliment. They should have left out the olives that they stuck on as eye balls...kinda made the fish look spooky. I think we would have a better meal if we suck to the popular items. Next time. =)

    (4)

  • Tiana A.

    The food is very good. I was here to celebrate my father's birthday. The server we had was great, he made us laugh and he helped us with the menu. The place is fairly small so come early. You will be full when you leave here.

    (5)

  • Michaela D.

    We really liked the smoothies!! However, the soup was not what I expected. It was very creamy and the chorizo and potatoes were all purée. I think it might be better to go into the restaurant next time as opposed to ordering online.

    (4)

  • Charmyra F.

    Tonight was my first time eating at Mu Que Ca restaurant. I saw it on PBS' Neighborhood Kitchens television show a few months ago, and was dying to try it out! I'm so happy that we went! The food was fantastic and service was on point! Our waiter gave us really great suggestions while we were making our decisions! My cocktail...Strawberry Caipirinha was gorgeous and delish! The fried plantains were out of this world! I hadn't had them since I visited Puerto Rico in 2003 and I was in heaven! My main dish Shrimp Bobó was so good! The waitstaff was super friendly and it had a family friendly atmosphere! It's difficult to go out to eat from time to time with a toddler, but they made us feel "right at home"! When our little tot wanted to walk around a bit, the waiter said to my husband who was trying to hold him back, "let him roam a little bit it's ok, we're not busy yet". That was nice! They were very friendly and attentive to serving our 3 member family. I can't wait to go back and try a few other dishes! It's a definite neighborhood gem and if you have the opportunity it's worth stopping by!

    (5)

  • Victoria T.

    I'm honestly confused by all the amazing reviews. I would not recommend nor return to this restaurant. Got the fried frog legs ($8), fried diced chicken ($12), and the fish moqueca ($19). The frog legs were alright. Very dry, but admittedly they were supposed to be fried. I would not get this again. They tasted like a leaner/more muscle-y version of chicken. There wasn't much seasoning either so it tasted like dry chicken. The fried diced chicken was....just no. The chicken was very dry, but at least it was seasoned with garlic. It came with white rice, black beans, and fries. The beans were fine, but there was nothing (no sauce or vegetables etc) to go with the rice and fries. No one likes eating plain white rice. Muqueca's specialties are of course, their moqueca's. This was my first time trying a moqueca. The stone pot was pretty cool and the fish itself was fine. The stew had tomato and onion and came with a fish sauce. Since fish, tomato, and onion all have "lighter" tastes, the stew itself just lacked flavor. The fish sauce was homemade, which was nice, but did not add much flavor either. The dishes we tried were pretty bland and I would rather have gone somewhere else. I have been to other brazilian restaurants that I have liked, so muquecas may not be for me. Service was strictly alright.

    (1)

  • Nick C.

    Found this place by accident on my way to another restaurant and decided to give it a try. So glad I did. It's my new favorite restaurant in Cambridge. I had the fish and shrimp moqueca, one of their signature dishes. Absolutely delicious and very filling!!

    (5)

  • A S.

    I was so excited to come here after reading all the reviews. I was wildly disappointed. We really should have known better than to eat here - when we walked in on a thursday evening, we were hit with a wall of old fish smell. It smelled like an outdoor fish market in a hot country at night, after all the fishmongers have gone and only the runoff liquids and scraps from cut fish that have been slowly pooling on the hot ground all day are left. Undaunted, we sat down and ordered four apps (fried coconut shrimp, regular fried shrimp, fried calamari, and brazilian crab cake) and three main course dishes, including Feijoada Completa (Brazilian national dish) and two Moquecas. The fried apps were fried in old dirty oil. They came out blackened and dried, with a horrible old oil smell. You couldn't taste the first couple bites of seafood under the disgusting shell of burnt breading. The seafood itself was rubbery. We were the only people in the restaurant until about halfway through our meal, which leaves me stunned that the waitress or kitchen did not look at what they were serving us and take issue with it. For the price we paid for the apps (approximately $9 each), we expected FAR better. We could not taste or detect any coconut on the coconut shrimp - it tasted exactly the same as the regular shrimp. The crab cake was surprisingly flavourless. The yucca flour was a nice touch, but the crabcake itself was so dry that the dusting of flour stuck to the roof of my mouth and coated the back of my throat like a cinnamon challenge gone wrong. All of the appetizers were inadequately salted, which was disappointing, but better than them being over salted, I suppose. We didn't bother finishing the appetizers (unusual for us because we generally are opposed to food waste), but were holding out hope for the main course. Everything served in the main course was over salted (exact opposite of the apps - and we hadn't said anything to the waitress about salting). The Feijoada Completa was so salty that I could not taste it after about five bites. The black bean stew was flavorless (besides the strong taste of salt) and had a really unpleasant texture. The top had dried as if it'd been sitting out for a while, leaving a weird pseudo-crust over the otherwise sloppy stew. The dried meat was surprisingly gristly and the collard greens were greasy. The fried plantains were the only passable thing on the plate, and even they had been fried in that gross old oil, which really took away from what is usually one of my favorite foods. The moquecas were also incredibly salty and stunk of old fish. This must have been partly where the smell of the restaurant came from. The fish stench was so strong, that I felt uncomfortable eating it and worried that I would be sick later from food poisoning. The old fish and salt flavours overpowered the rest of the stew, which otherwise would have been an interesting dish (the tomato was cool). None of us finished any part of our meals and none of us wanted to take the leftovers home (again, extremely unusual). Honestly, the meal was pretty nauseating. Although none of us had eaten a real meal at Muqueca and were still hungry, our stomachs had turned so severely that none of us were able to eat again until the next day. Of the three waters that came with our meal, one came in a dirty glass. Two sets of silverware had to be sent back because they were dirty as well. I don't understand how at a restaurant that has no other patrons besides our table of three, that they could serve us dirty tableware. It's not as if they were too busy with other patrons to notice. Our waters were also not regularly filled - which is inexcusable when the restaurant is virtually empty and there are two waitresses on hand. Overall, poor service and horrible food. It blew my mind that this horrible meal, where not a single dish had been edible, cost us over $100. I've eaten far better food for three for $30. I don't know where they get their pricing scheme, because none of the food was fresh. I expect to pay $15-$30 per entree for FRESH seafood - not old seafood. If I wanted old seafood, I'd buy it at BJs for a couple dollars a piece and leave it out on my patio all day for it to stink up, then eat it. I wouldn't go out to a two dollar sign ($$) restaurant for it. I'm very confused as to where these positive reviews are coming from. (I noticed another reviewer said this as well, perhaps the food is truly hit or miss.) None of us will ever return. I really want to be able to say one nice thing about this restaurant. The waitress was nice. But she wasn't attentive. We didn't finish a single item - our main courses had a few bites taken out of them. She never questioned this or asked how we enjoyed the food. It's a shame, I was really excited about this place.

    (1)

  • Collette A.

    Great food and helpful staff at this small in size but big on taste restaurant. Came with a party of six and was seated immediately.

    (5)

  • Racquel C.

    Good food! My fish and shrimp moqueca simply needed more salt or seasoning ... was very bland. But overall, very good. The flan is the best flan I've ever tasted! Delicious! Great service and great presentation of food. Would definitely return!

    (3)

  • Hansel B.

    A friend took me to this little gem in Cambridge. It's a little bit out of the way, but worth a visit. Their specialty is called "Muqueca" and its a clay pot with seafood in a broth. You can get it with plantain or tofu. I went for tofu... yeah right, plantains! I'm dominican, gotta have plantains in my meal :) You come here for the food, the decor is plain, nothing special. The place is clean and you'll hear lots of Portuguese and Spanish around you. It was nice to try something new from Brazil, I would recommend this place for those who want to explore a different side of Brazilian food.

    (4)

  • Shalin D.

    A casual, good time with excellent food. Ordered the caiparinhas. Be careful: they're strong. Two drinks in and I was pretending to be a rabid futbol fan like the rest of the patrons in the restaurant (FYI: I know jack about futbol). What's great is that they muddle the mint when they make the caiparinhas. Not like hotel bars where the mint is just dropped in. Always a good sign. It just got better from there. We ordered the shrimp muqueca for the table and steak on the side. The steak was medium rare, prepared beautifully. The stew was equally delicious. The broth had an unctuousness that highlighted the seafood well. The portions were large enough to counter some of the buzziness from the alchy. The environment is the best part: totally casual. Families occupying large tables. College kids on dates. Folks jabbering on in Portuguese or Spanish.

    (5)

  • Janet L.

    Authentic food and friendly staff. A lot of stews and great seafood too. They even some thirst quenching juices.

    (4)

  • Jean C.

    I am Brazilian and I love good food. Muqueca sure is my favorite Brazilian restaurant around Boston. Beats Fogo de Chão, in Copley Square, with both better service, authenticity and a way more delicious menu and Oasis, in Medford, with better service and organization. Keep up the great work meus amigos. I'll go there every time I have a chance to.

    (5)

  • Dave P.

    We ordered one thing, they delivered a different dish. It took so long to get what we wanted. By the time they put foods on the table, they were cold and real messy. This was my 2nd trial due to many great comments. How could people rated them 4-5 stars......they must be a family member.

    (1)

  • Peter D.

    i love the feijoada. i don't just like it, i love it. and it comes with all the traditional trimmings.

    (4)

  • Basma S.

    This place was fun. I had the fish and shrimp stew. Muqueca It was so good. simple yet delicious. The fish was so tender. I would love to go back again.

    (4)

  • Sara C.

    Absolutely delicious! I had never had Brazilian food before, and I am sold! We had two orders of the seafood Muqueca and one of the shrimp bobo, which was more than enough for four hungry people. Both dishes were unique and delicious, and we couldn't decide which was better! The drinks from their juice bar were also excellent.

    (5)

  • Thomas H.

    After just arriving in Boston, my wife and I wandered around the area near our hotel in search of something yummy to eat. After browsing the menus of a few restaurants, we settled on Muqueca. It was a good choice! TL;DR summary: Portuguese dishes are delicious and generous, but pricy. Non-Portuguese dishes are delicious and still somewhat pricy. This restaurant is a great choice for seafood lovers, with some tasty (but generic) dishes for those of us who don't eat fish. We ordered: * Fried yucca and linguiça appetizer. Though the yucca doesn't have much unique flavor of its own, and is a lot like eating very thick fried potatoes, this was a good starter for two to share. * Fish muqueca -- fish stew and veggies served up in a clay pot, along with a side of garlic-infused rice. Generous portions of fish. Not oily, not greasy, and very satisfying. * Pork tenderloin served with black beans, garlic rice, and fries. Not a distiinctly Portuguese thing to order, but it was tasty, well-seasoned, and overall it was everything it should be. We left with full bellies and some significant leftovers. Sadly, we also left having dropped more money than we initially planned, because prices are rather high all around. If I had to gripe about this place, I would just say two things: 1) The menu is very strongly geared toward seafood. If you cannot (or will not) eat seafood or fish of any sort, your choices are limited. The dozen or so appetizers are all variations of fish, except for maybe two like the yucca and sausage. Similarly, the most authentic entrees here are fish and seafood, leaving fish-free people like me with the more generic dishes like the pork tenderloin. That's not to say these dishes are bad, but they are not unique to this restaurant or distinctly Portuguese cuisine. 2) The $$ rating on Yelp is correct. You will pay around $10-13 for an appetizer, $10-15 for Americanized dishes, and upwards of $23 per person for the more distinctly Portuguese dishes. Even if you skip drinks and dessert, expect to pay around $25/person plus tip. This is not cheap college student faire.

    (4)

  • Noa C.

    This place offers very unique food, which is nice in the time of burgers and pizza. But just beware that there are A TON of fried options here! As in, it's almost impossible to order an appetizer that isn't fried! We started with the fried yucca, which was nicely cooked and the sauce that came with it was a good, light accompaniment. We also had a fried meat croquette that was lovely. but again, everything was fried. For the entree, we decided to split a Moqueca Completa - one of their signature dishes (and the reason we wanted to try this place out). It is exactly as described: a seafood stew with tomatoes, onions and cilantro. The sauce was nice, but a bit bland and the seafood was cooked well. The atmosphere is a place you could bring your parents or work friends, but don't expect them to be too impressed. Over all, a decent place to try unique food, but I probably won't be returning.

    (3)

  • Ziyan C.

    ~~COST~~ $80 total for 1 drink, 1 appetizer, 2 entrees. Great filling lunch for three people. ~~SERVICE~~ Very friendly, feels like a homey family-owned place. They weren't very busy on a Wednesday at lunch so we had a chill meal. ~~MUST-HAVES~~ Anything from the juice bar, the Yucca/sausage appetizer, any moqueca. ~~JUICE BAR~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Blue Caju - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Blueberry, Cashew Juice & Papaya. $4.95) This was tasty & tart. I'm not sure where the cashew juice came into play in the flavor - we thought it was the nut but realized the pictures showed the actual cashew fruit. Who knew there was a fruit too... But anyway, the juice was nice and thick, textured, and grainy which I really enjoyed. Refreshing cool drink on a hot summer day. ~~APPETIZERS~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Fried Yucca w/ Portuguese Sausage - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Mandioca com linguica. $7.95) The yucca's texture had a good mixture of being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sausage was very meaty, really good and hard. Salads etc menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… ~~MOQUECA CAPIXABA, OUR SIGNATURE DISH~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Fish w/ shrimp moqueca - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (Moqueca de camarao. $22.95) This came with two a bowl of the stew, a bowl of sauce, and a plate with rice. The rice was soft and sticky. The muqueca was really delicious, with lots of ingredients and flavors. The fish sauce was very thick and tasted great with the rice and the stew. ~~MEAT~~ Menu: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… * Sirloin Steak - 4 stars pic: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… black beans: yelp.com/biz_photos/muqu… (W/ caramelized onions & eggs. $14.95) The steak was kind of hard, but still juicy. This was different from the muqueca as a more classic dish, not a a crazy variety of flavors/sauces, but I still enjoyed the juiciness fo the meat and the fresh onion. The black beans were good, though it was more of a watery/soupy thing (I mixed it in this dish with the rice, in the muqueca and its sauce.. I love the ability to mix & match here). Plantains were soft & sweet, well done!

    (4)

  • Amanda V.

    This place doesn't deserve to have visitors. The service is very slow and they are not gentle at all. THE FOOD IS NOT EVEN BRAZILIAN FOOD. I am part Brazilian and the foods had no taste...It was quite offensive to Brazilian culture. Even my six year old cousin who could do so much better with preparing the food. And what about the FEIJOADA? GUYS GO TO BRAZIL AND TRY REAL FEIJOADA, THEN BUY A BRAZILIAN CULINARY MAGAZINE AND THEN START AGAIN!!!

    (1)

  • Sabrina B.

    The only authentic Brazilian cuisine restaurant in Cambridge. The food are from North East region of Brazil, the moqueca(seafood stew) is served on iron pans which bring in more flavor and well iron to your food! A must try if you love seafood dishes, they offer drinks such as caipirinha( hard liquor and exotic fruit) they have virgin options too. Service is great, yes it takes a while for the food arrival only because this is not fast food ok?! Fresh ingredients,passionate cooks and a beautiful plate is served to please your tastebuds "eyes" :D Arrive before 7 on weekends. Try moqueca completa~ order extra side of pirao. Passion fruit caipirinha drink, very strong 1 is ok, if driving 2 will give you a DUI

    (4)

  • Cristina R.

    My Brazilian coworker raves about this place and comes regularly with her family, so I wanted to give it a shot! Let me start by saying that this was my first experience with Brazilian food other than steakhouses, so I can't comment on the authenticity of Muqueca. I'm just comparing the experience to the various other Latin and European foods that I've had. My friend and I went on a Tuesday at 7:30, and there were about 5 tables being occupied. The interior is pretty casual, no frills, with some colorful wall decorations. We wanted an authentic experience, so we started out with some caipirinhas. Man were these good. Just the right amount of alcohol and very citrusy and fresh. We then split an order of fried yucca. I'm familiar with yucca and have had yucca fries at different restaurants, and this dish wasn't spectacular. The small bits of yucca were fried well, but the white "special sauce" didn't have much flavor, so we ended up also dipping them in the hot sauce that was on our table. We then split one muqueca with fish and shrimp. They brought two orders of rice with this, and it was definitely enough for two people. I don't know.. I guess I just had high expectations, but this didn't blow me away. The tomatoes, onions, and cilantro in the clay pot complemented the seafood well. It also came with a small bowl of fish sauce, which I scooped by the spoonful onto the rice since the white fish was a bit bland on its own. Overall, it was a nice dish, but I've had more flavorful stews in the past. Considering that we had 2 drinks, split one appetizer, and split one entree, the total of nearly $50 seemed a bit steep, especially since the environment is so casual and the ingredients used weren't super expensive (we mainly filled up on yucca and rice). Their menu is extensive, so if I return I would try something else. I'd still recommend it for a solid Brazilian food experience! And get the caipirinha!

    (3)

  • Hana K.

    This Brazilian restaurant in Inman Square has to-die-for authentic Brazilian food and very friendly service by local Brazilians. Two people who have lived in Brazil have confirmed the authenticity of Muqueca's menu for me. Must-try appetizer: Coxinha -- This popular Brazilian snack is not on their menu but they will gladly make it for you. It came hot out of the oven. The breaded dough so crispy on the outside yet so soft inside stuffed with shredded chicken and veggies. Must-try entree: Strogonoff (either chicken or shrimp) -- The real Brazilian way to eat it: crush the mountain of rice and potato sticks flat on the dish, pour the stew on top and enjoy! The thick, creamy stew was very filling and satisfying but had a hint of lime or some citrus to keep the dish refreshing. Portions were big enough to fill two people. Feijoada (national dish) -- Does not look so appetizing from its black droopy photo but rest assured, with one bite of the delicious been sauce with perfectly cooked pork, you will see why this is the national dish of Brazil! It comes with a side of rice and freshly cooked collard greens. Must-try dessert: Flan -- Definitely home-made. Again, huge portions big enough to fill two people. If you prefer the smooth jello-like flan, this may not be your thing. Must-try drinks: Caipirinhas -- Strong and sweet just how the Brazilians do it! Seems to be a very popular place among families, especially with children. The bathroom here was surprisingly spacious, and one of the cleanliest I've seen in Boston! BE WARE -- They do not take reservations for parties smaller than 4 but we had no problem finding seating on a Friday evening.

    (4)

  • Marie R.

    Tasty. Here i had the Shrimp Saute Garlic Olive Oil & Cilantro with white rice and broccoli and carrot sides. It was very good. Good seasoning and everything. Also had a good portion for an app.

    (4)

  • Melissa Y.

    This place is a gem. After I moved out of the Boston area I tried to find another restaurant like it but can't! As a seafood lover, the mariscada was my favorite. Yucca and beef appetizer was great as well. The location is a bit further out in Inman, but absolutely worth it.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    I love this place! I've been twice for lunch and had grilled chicken with rice and beans and the fried yucca with steak tips, both dishes were delish! My fave drink is the Mango Sambo. The atmosphere is comfortable and well lit, and the service is quick and friendly.

    (5)

  • Jim M.

    We had a late lunch today and stumbled into the best meal we've had since we moved here to the Boston area three and a half years ago. Our fried plantain appetizer was delicious, my wife's Fish Moqueca was delicious, my Shrimp Bobo was delicious, and the flan we split for dessert was so good we decided to get two other desserts to go. The entrees were a remarkable melange of favors. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a great meal at a reasonable price in the Boston area. I'd advise making reservations, as we showed up at what we thought would be a slow time (~1:30 on a Sunday) and while we got a table immediately, it was pretty full the whole time we were there.

    (5)

  • Ben L.

    It took me ages to actually come here because, well I had no idea what a portuguese seafood restaurant was and I had no idea how good it was going to be but really what people should have been telling me is that I could be eating plantains and frogs legs and finishing off with a steaming bowl of mussels, shrimp and chunks of fish. For some reason they'll always try to push some extra rice on you but it doesn't matter too much if you take it or not, somehow you always leave happy and full.

    (4)

  • Michele H.

    I was so excited to discover this place on my birthday. Clay pot stews brimming with the freshest seafood. Think warm, ocean fresh bivalves and calamari and shrimp surrounded by a tomato-lime-cilantro broth. Even a plantain and tofu versions for vegetarians that was so good, I might get it next time. (And that's saying something, as I love seafood). Not much in beer selection, which is disappointing, as I'd love to have a great Brazilian beer. Atmosphere is nice but not as nice as the food. Fried yucca is warm and light and wonderfully salty.

    (4)

  • Paula M.

    Great service and amazing food. We had the Salad with Apples, Muqueca Complete, and Chocolate Flan! a Great meal, and an amazing find. Great service even as we walked in at about the same time as a group of 20- yikes! We had no problem being seated, and our kids meals were served up first to avoid any meltdowns. The rest of our dishes came promptly afterward. TIming was perfect, food was great, and friendly staff. I would recommend this place- anytime! Yes, this is a review-worthy place.

    (5)

  • Carolyn J.

    Food was great! I'm glad I had the chance to finally get over here. I thought we were going to have to wait awhile for a table but surprisingly was seated right away. We tried to make reservations for but we're told first come first serve basis for small parties. The place is on the smaller side so I guess it makes sense. As soon as we seated we were greeted and told to try the famous caparinha..it's made with sugar and limes and boy it tasted good. My husband had the passion flavor one and the kiwi flavor! He wasn't driving so he got to have two. The young girl told us to try the cod patties and chicken patties.( I don't Remember the Portuguese name) with there homemade hot sauce! I coudldnt believe they had homemade hot sauce and it was amazing. We then had the fish and shrimp Muqueca and she told us its a must try with coconut milk in it so hey why not, and wow it was fantastic and I was able to pack up plenty for the next day too! My husband had the sirlion steak on the sizzling platter. It was sizzling alright and the meat was just right served on top these great salted French fries. We finished off with their flan and coffee. I wish I had room to have tried a dessert on my own cause the flan was so delicious. The service was very attentive and friendly.. The girl took time out to make suggestions and explain the menu to us..I noticed she was not only my server but also the hostess! Bouncing back and forth to greet people at the door and wait on the tables.I was very impressed watching the two girls be the hostesses and servers and do it very well mind you.( I waitressed a short time back in college years ago and it's not easy!) The other girl even made an appearance at our table. So overall ladies hats off to you! My husband and I will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Rodrigo N.

    Great Muquecas!! Will be coming back!

    (5)

  • Jacob M.

    Delectable and authentic Brazilian place, specializing in moqueca. Their staple Brazilian dishes are all very good, but try their Shrimp Bobo.

    (5)

  • Thaty S.

    Outstanding ! Been there many times and every time is so perfect !!! The food is absolutely delicious, I just want to eat everything on the menu. I recommend the shrimp on passion fruit sauce as an appetizer and the shrimp and fish moqueca as an entree. Or choose anything you want, it will be delicious still.

    (5)

  • Raul G.

    When people think of Brazilian food, they think steakhouse. While the steakhouses are great, Muqueca offers a different and refreshing perspective to Brazilian cuisine. There are no slabs of meat, mainly fish stews. My wife and I have tried the Muqueca Completa and Shrimp Bobo, both of which are delicious! You cannot go wrong with either. Make sure you get the chocolate flan for dessert. You will be very happy. The restaurant is fairly small but cozy. There's usually a nice mix of people there, too. Dinner service can get a little slow and you can expect to wait for a seat on the weekend. But overall, Muqueca is a hit with my wife and I. We've been 3 times already, and will certainly be back again.

    (4)

  • CW W.

    Live in the area so thought would give this place a try, something different as I've never had Brazilian food before. Went with my bf for lunch. There was only one other table when we arrived. The service was very friendly and cheerful with smiles on their faces but SLOW as molasses. Picture 2 servers and 2 tables, what kind of service would you expect? Water was brought to our table in a few minutes and taking our order was a few minutes but getting our food, took longer than what I expected. Ok the food. To be honest nothing really stood out to me. We tried for an appetizer the collard green and bacon fried balls which were really, really salty. My bf got the pork loin which he said had no flavor really except for the onions that were cooked with it but the black beans on the side were good. I got the chicken stroganoff which was ok except that the chicken tasted overcooked. If I could just rate the food I would probably give 3 to 3 1/2 stars but because of the service that's why I gave a 2. Again the waitstaff was very friendly but they were not very attentive. First our food took a while to come out. Remember there was only one other table so we can't imagine why it would take this long. Second after we got our food, yes the server checked on us but once we were done, no one came to clear our plates for a very long time. So long that we joked about walking out, in all fairness 3 -4 more tables had sat down but we were waiting far too long. We wont be going back. But if you're looking for a place with good food and aren't in any rush this might be for you. I strongly advise looking at the menu before going to make sure you find something you might like. As always never take my word and give it a try yourself.

    (2)

  • Nancy H.

    Flavors like fireworks in your mouth. Tastes so natural and light. Muqueca how do you do it so? I went with some girlfriends and we shared the fried yucca app, shrimp & mussels muqueca, and the chicken strogonoff. The strogonoff and muqueca came in cute pots, perfectly portioned with rice nicely plated. And oh my, was it so tasty yet simple. Lots of mussels and 7 or 8 pieces of shrimp in the muqueca; the tomato, cilantro, onions, and spices all cooked together with the seafood makes it awesome. While the chunks of chicken in the thick stew like strogonoff are cooked to perfection. Talk about sweet and simple, but filling and tasty. Come, see, and devour the tasties!

    (4)

  • Teresa M.

    Great service, and great food. I enjoyed both the juice bar and our muqueca. Between two of us, the muqueca, 2 juices, and a shared fried yucca was more than enough food. It was like all the good things in paiella, but tasted much fresher and really delicious- less grain/carb centered. We really enjoyed our meal. I liked the blueberry/mango/passion fruit juice a lot too. The fried yucca was a bit bland, but add hot sauce to the creamy sauce that comes with it and it's fun. The gravy with the muqueca is okay but it was really good without it so we mostly let it be.

    (5)

  • Jeff H.

    We were in town and looking for something different to try. Muqueca popped up and we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed! This is one of those "hole in the wall" gems you find that keeps you coming back. My wife had their Sirloin steak with the Vinaigrette dressing and it was really good. The flavors were very different from anything we have had before, but it was a very good flavor and she enjoyed it. I had one of their signature seafood dishes that was cooked in one of their special pots. It was excellent as well. The variety of flavors were wonderful as they passed through my mouth. Everything was nice and subtle with all of the flavors blending nicely. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to try something different but safe. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and were patient with our newbie questions.

    (4)

  • Jesse Z.

    Good paella in a pinch, but nothing to write home about. Taste of dishes reminds me a bit of a chain restaurant, as if the meal was mass-produced. I don't believe the restaurant is part of a chain, however.

    (3)

  • Sam L.

    I went here with my boyfriend and a friend and thought this was a great find! We ordered some of the traditional muqueca dishes and it was delicious; I love seafood so this was perfect for that. I didn't try anything form the juice/smoothie bar, but my friend did and was very pleased. I really love ethnic food especially since I don't feel that the Boston area does it all that well, with very few exceptions. Cambridge always has great spots, though, and this is one of them. My only advice would be that if you're driving, it might be hard to find parking because it's all street parking. We came right when it opened so it wasn't a big deal. I'll definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Numvuyo H.

    Outstanding! We requested to sit at the bar and were served immediately by two friendly servers. I asked for recommendations on everything and wasn't disappointed. Appetizer: Fried yucca (with delicious cream dipping sauce) Entrees: Lasagna de Banana (hearty, cheesy, reminded me of eggplant parm) and their signature dish Plantain and Tofu Muqueca (you can get either plantain or tofu, but I asked for both) Drinks: Classic Brazilian cocktail the Caipirinha, I got original flavor, but they have other options (e.g. blueberry). This drink is fabulous and an upgrade from the mojito. Fantastic and interesting spot, will definitely recommend to friends!

    (5)

  • Divya B.

    Fried plaintains, shrimp bobo , and mango mousse with some sparkling wine. Life is good! We were a group of 8-10 people and all our orders came through without any mix ups or confusions.

    (4)

  • Hilary B.

    Oh my goodness, I love the muqueca. Delicious. Service was fine.

    (5)

  • Ari H.

    Delicious! Yelpers recommended this restaurant for my birthday dinner, as I wanted a place that accepted reservations, had a liquor license, and amazing cuisine that wasn't standard American fare. Drinks: Some people ordered glasses of wine and beer. The rest of us shared a $19 pitcher (the menu called it a jar) of sangria, complete with pieces of fruit inside. Appetizers: One person ordered the black bean soup and he said it was very good. Someone else ordered the fried plantains and I tried one of them and it was very nice. I ordered the fried yucca with sausage and it was out if this world yummy! Entrees: Most of us ordered their signature dishes called muquecas which were essentially seafood stews. Some muquecas were fish only, others were fish with mussels, shrimp with mussels, fish with shrimp (I got this), etc. Someone got coconut shrimp. Another got lasagna with bananas (and he couldn't praise it enough). Service was attentive, artwork on the walls was for sale and added to the ambience. Thanks for the recommendation, Yelp!

    (5)

  • Charles M.

    Love the food here. The house special "muqueca", mariscada or fried snapper are all excellent. Great food for the price. Wait can be long so make a reservation. They won't give you a table unless all parties are present.

    (4)

  • Dan K.

    overall the food was delicious and very unique. if you come here, you have to try the fried plantains and the yucca, delicious! beware of coming with a large group, our orders were a little all over the place but we were patient and they were very nice.

    (4)

  • Blake G.

    As a vegetarian, I've avoided Brazilian restaurants because Brazilian cuisine is so meat-oriented, but I discovered Muqueca has three vegetarian main courses, plantain or tofu moqueca, plantain lasagna, and veggie strogonoff, and many sides that are vegetarian. I had plantain moqueca, a tomato-based stew. Moqueca is a signature Brazilian dish, normally made with seafood. The vegetarian version is made with plantains or tofu. I ordered the plantain version because it sounded more authentic (do Brazilians eat tofu?). They will also make the dish with a combination of plantains and tofu. The plantain moqueca was superb, one of the best vegetarian dishes I've ever eaten and I am not easily impressed. The plantains lent the stew a succulent sweetness that made it unlike anything I've ever tasted. But even bites without plantains were remarkably tasty. I'm not sure why it was so good, but I will go back here just for this dish. Some people on Yelp have complained about the service at Muqueca, but the service was fine when I went, though it was an early hour so only a handful of tables were occupied.

    (5)

  • Bobby C.

    Made reservations for 7:30PM on a Tuesday. Place was somewhat busy with 3-4 tables open. As others have mentioned, this place is pretty authentic including the waitstaff. Service was ok, nothing special. Our waters were always being filled. Appetizer/sides Plantains...can't go wrong with this. Fried Yucca...ok. Entrees Seafood Rice Casserole...good/reminded me of eating a seafood paella. Muqueca Completa...get one of the other ones...way too much seafood...a bit overpowering with the different seafoods.

    (3)

  • Zoe P.

    There are only a few reasons why you might take a pass on Muqueca, but they weigh heavy with us. We went only once, two years ago, and we've never been back. Why on earth is that? It's a little pricey for how filling it is (or isn't) and my husband left hungry. Oh dear. It's just tasty home cooking. I make a fish stew similar to these, and it tastes about as good. And the fish stew is the heart of their menu. (Do I make all those fun, fried and savory, but rather over-priced sides? I do not.) The vibe was a little uptight - as established by the clientele, not the staff. But what could they do with a bunch of anxious, after-work, Cantabrigians? Overcharge them for fun, fried and savory sides, I guess. So yes, it's delish, but they never really made it into the rotation. Pity.

    (4)

  • Simon L.

    Pretty sure Muqueca just moved into my top ten favorite restaurants. Casual, small tables, not particularly warm and cozy, but food? Seriously awesome. Excellent service, and friendly. Skip the appetizers, go straight for the Moqueca. We had an order of the coconut shrimp that was a little over fried and some cod patties that were good. Moqueca is a Brazilian style fish stew served in a searing hot black clay pot made specifically to accommodate this delicious stew made with out water and consisting of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic fish and urucum. You are about to try Brazilian food from the southeastern area of Brazil - and it's deliciously fishy. The specialty here is Moqueca Capixaba from the state of Espirito Santo. Although the Mariscada is the more traditional style made with coconut milk and it's on the menu, the Moqueca Completa ($23.95) was amazing and consisted of a giant filet of cod, shrimp and mussels in a wonderfully rich tomato broth. The intricacies of the spices, urucum and red pepper, garlic and some lime juice, were incredible. My sister had the Mariscada made with the similar spice combination but was sweeter and milky with the addition of coconut milk. Again, delicious. Her husband had the shrimp and mussels Moqueca, again, need I say it, superb. Brazilian wouldn't be Brazilian without some meat on the menu and of course there's steak and stroganoff. But the fish is why you want to try this spot - it was fresh, tender, stewed perfectly. Dessert was flan and passion fruit mousse. Both were excellent but unnecessary. Beverages were caipirinhas and sweet Brazilian wine. This place will quickly make it into your rotation, no questions asked.

    (5)

  • Anni S.

    Nice food! We had frog legs, fried yucca and shrimp muqueca with caipirinhas. The place is small and cozy with brightly colored paintings and decorations. Worth the visit.

    (4)

  • Susan L.

    And I thought Brazilian food would be just meat! This one turned out to be mostly a fish menu. I had a delicious stew with shrimp. The stew's name is eponymous (what a great term): muqueca. Also had fried yucca, which tasted like potatoes, as a table appetizer. Service was friendly, helpful. It's a small, colorful, inviting, fairly noisy restaurant that's on a main street, but on its own outside a square. Parking is typical for Cambridge--good luck!

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    Clearly, Muqueca's a popular and highly regarded spot with great tradiotional Brasilian cuisine. I tried the Fish and Calamari Moqueca which was quite tasty - softer flavors that came through nicely without any hint of blandness and well-cooked white fish and calamari. BUT...at $24, I have to say I can get considerably better for the same or less. It just boils down to personal preferences I suppose b/c it just didn't impress me enough to justify the cost. I did get to sample some fried chicken too and that was pretty terrible unfortunately, completely overdone with no hint of tenderness. All in all, good Brasilian fare as far as I can tell, just not worth the hefty prices.

    (3)

  • Jeremy K.

    Had a lovely dinner there with my parents after waiting in line for 45 long minutes (something that is apparently common at this establishment). I had never had Brazilian food before although I've had Portuguese and Spanish food before. I was familiar with linguiça and yucca but had never had muqueca - on the other hand I've had my fair share of caipirinhas. Muqueca is a dish which inspired the restaurants name and the specialty there; in a nutshell it's a stew, traditionally with seafood and herbs in it, with no water in it and cooked over a long period of time. Variations have since been created and I ordered the one with plantains and tofu as my entree. Before the entree I had linguiça and yucca as an appetizer, which came served with a side of a wonderful sauce of some sort. It was delicious. So was the caiparinha which was one of the best I've had since moving to Boston. The prices are perfect, the service friendly and prompt and despite the long lines, it was well worth it - a very enjoyable, flavorful and fun meal. I will definitely be having more muqueca at Muqueca in the future! My parents really enjoyed their meal as well, and especially my father who's been to Brazil many times for work and who said that this was pretty spot on. You can try to make reservations there but usually they'll still end up having you wait - they are victims of their success to be warned. Parking on Cambridge street usually isn't all that bad either but you can also walk from Lechmere fairly easily.

    (5)

  • Fereshteh A.

    I tried the fish stew and it was wonderful. I definitely recommend going with stews as they are authentic and delicious.

    (5)

  • Joel L.

    This place was awesome. The interior tries hard but is a little lacking; however everything else is great. The server was nice and patient. The food was fantastic.

    (4)

  • Manfred S.

    Cannot beat the best Brazilian food when Brazil beats Chile in a World Cup shootout with caipirinhas. Great atmosphere. Great food. Great service.

    (5)

  • Jason L.

    I ate some good things here: a bowl of beans and pig meat all spiced up and hearty, a simple, onion-y, fish-heavy seafood stew with a clear broth, and a similar one with coconut milk broth, fish, and mussels, and also a kind of crazy good crab cake. I also drank too many of those dangerously cheap caipirinhas. But so it goes. I had a bit of an altercation with the hostess, who was giving us a hard time for showing up at 6:30 on a Friday with a group of three. Someone had called ahead and been told that they wouldn't take reservations for less than four, but that 6:30 would be no problem. So we showed up and were told that we could only have a table for about an hour, at which point they'd move us to the rather small bar. We decided to just eat at the bar and had a funny conversation with the attentive and friendly bartender, so it worked out ok, but I was kind of disappointed to be treated that way at what ended up being a fairly expensive meal. The food was damn good so I guess they can afford to do it. Hell, despite all that complaining I'm still giving it four stars.

    (4)

  • Anonymous U.

    Loved this Brazilian restaurant. It was delicious ! It's a little pricey but worth every penny! I have nothing bad to say about this place. Street parking is the only parking and I watched a car get towed away at the gas station across the street, so take parking seriously around here. Overall, great experience.

    (4)

  • Marlana Y.

    Its a hole in the wall but the food is awesome. The shake is fresh, LIKE VERY FRESH. I don't think they include sugar in it so it may taste a bit plain.I like my drinks with sugar so most likely wont order that again. If you like Chinese Shabu Hot Pot or Korean's Tofu Chigae (that's how I would relate the stews here)- then you will love it HERE! They are already cooked and they bring it out in a big pot of stew and its so DELICIOUS. I rarely try new types of foods but it is so good. I will def be back if I was ever in the area.

    (4)

  • Guillermo M.

    It was my first time trying muqueca style food and loved it. This place was very authentic and actually the recommendation came from a brazilian friend. The juices bar is amazing. We had a couple of juices but the acai and guarana one was the best. We also tried the caipirinhas and that is a must. For main dish we had a shrimp and fish moqueca and it was extremely good. Felt very home made and the side with rice and a gravy for it were delicious. For me it lacked a bit of salt but nothing that couldn't be fixed. We closed with the tapioca dessert and it was also delicious. Would like to come back a try the fejoada.

    (4)

  • ali g.

    Such a cute place! Came for dinner and really loved the food. Wine is great at $5 a glass. We ordered crab cakes and it came in such a cute clay pot and was steaming hot. Delicious! My two friends and I shared the special fish dish thst comes in a big pot and with rice. So good. Only complaint is that is is lit up like a Christmas tree inside. For a dinner place, I would give it 5 stars if they dimmed the lights a small amount and put on ut a few candles on the table. I don't need to clearly see my neighbors nor the people across the room whole I am eating.

    (3)

  • Gabi R.

    Amazing meal! I went with a friend from Sao Paolo, who gave it her stamp of approval. Food: we got 3 types of muqueca and a stroganoff. The stroganoff looked delicious, but I was too busy with the muquecas to bother with it. The friend who got it loved it. -Fish & Shrimp Muquecas - I don't know the name of the fish in English. All that matters is that it was divine. The shrimp, particularly, was perfectly cooked, stewed but not overcooked or rubbery. Same savory onion and tomato broth but flavored by the seafood as well. -Yucca gravy - it came with the seafood muquecas - it was starchy and had a spicy flavor. I actually enjoyed it more than the broth of the muqueca itself. -the juice bar is also fascinating - try something that you wouldn't find on a menu else where. I dont even know what was in mine, just that it was fresh, tangy and well blended. Ambience: casual, classy and connected with the local culture. Features paintings by local artists for sale - and these are good artists. The focus is on food here, but the service and ambience are like sugar in milk - add to the experience covertly.

    (5)

  • Ryan P.

    Wicked good- different from the bras steak houses. Much more vegetarian and seafood friendly. Food tastes hand made and fresh- great selection, fair prices. I'd come here any day over one of the steak houses. I wish they had pao de queijo though.

    (4)

  • Kat B.

    My husband and I have gotten take-out a bunch of times from Muqueca and we dined here once with friends. A few of the times we got take-out via Seamless they were really confused/disorganized and couldn't figure out that we had already paid. I think another patron mentioned that in a review. So now I make sure to bring my cell phone so I can show them the invoice. I have not had any problems with regular call-in take-out orders, however. Our favorite dishes are their mariscada, shrimp bobo, fried yucca and Portuguese sausage appetizer, plantain lasagna, chicken stroganoff, and muqueca. We've enjoyed all the versions of their muqueca we've tried so far (shrimp, tofu+plantain, crabmeat, and fish). My only complaints are that sometimes their mussels aren't all debearded or could be fresher and their house special shrimp dish was a miss. There weren't many shrimp, maybe 4-5 pieces and the dish was kind of bland. Perhaps it would have had more flavor if they had packaged it better for takeout - a lot of sauce leaked out of the styrofoam clam shell container despite the fact we were careful about walking it back home. A closed plastic container would have been better. Also there were a couple times when the salt level was quite intense, specifically in their crabmeat moqueca and their tripe stew. I'm happy that Muqueca was the restaurant that introduced us to Brazilian cuisine. I also really enjoy their juices, especially their blue caju and brazilian summer.

    (4)

  • Suzanne G.

    They wound't let us use a coupon on Valentine's day even even though the voucher didn't say anything about holidays. If they were busy then I maybe would have understood, but there were two tables filled when we were there. The seafood muqueca was okay, but on the verge of being fishy. The only item I enjoyed was the fried plantains, but it's really not worth coming back in general.

    (2)

  • Crystal J.

    Its a very unique brazilian restaurant. Instead of grills, they serve seafood stew, and the food is really good.

    (5)

  • Noemi C.

    Have been here a couple of times and it surprised me to see that, after the place was featured on a TV show of neighborhood restaurants, it was packed last time I was there, so if you plan to hit this place on a Saturday night make sure to call ahead and reserve a space. Decorated with colorful paintings and fish nets to reflects some of the atmosphere of the Coastal Espirito Santo in Brasil. The wait was a little longer than we expected but, for me, as a Brasilian that I am, I didn't mind at all. Muqueca is a typical food of the South West of Brasil, and even back home, we are all aware that any good restaurant in the region will have a waiting line. So all was good. This time we started with mandioca frita and carne de sol (fried yucca and fried dried meat) a traditional appetizer in Brasil. Even tough none of the ones I have tasted here are even closer to what we really have have back home, they are still a fair sample of what the 'real' things is. For dinner we ordered Muqueca Completa which is a very simple yet delicious, light and healthy food made of a mix of seafood, cooked in its juices, with lots of cilantro, tomatoes, onions, a little of urucum or dende oil. In Bahia - Brasil differently from Espirito Santo, this dish receives a generous amount of coconut milk, so keep in mind that this restaurant is owned by a great cook from Espirito Santo, so, no cocnut milk here... The seafod is carefuly set on a special clay pot covered with all the seasonings and covered and left alone to cook over open fire. When it starts to boil we add the shrimp and let it cook for a few more minutes and voila....from the oven all goes straight to the table - on the same clay pot which was cooked. It is served with white rice and pirao - or a type of a 'gravy' if you will - made with the juices of the muqueca and yucca flour. For drinks they have Meia de Seda which is a mix of wine and condensed milk served on an apperitif side glass....sweet and different taste but very usuall in small town in Brasil, or, if you are feeling adventirous...the famous and traditional Caipirinha, the traditional Brasilian drink of course a Brazilian flan for desert. The place is located in Cambridge and parking can be a drag sometimes, but there is no doubt that it is worth the 'sacrifice'. If you are adventurous and loce seafood this is a place you must visit. Ideal for small groups, to enjoy friends and family on a intimate and relaxed conversation.

    (5)

  • Rachel W.

    Amazing Amazing night. We went on a Tuesday night around 7pm, no need for a reservation as we were seated immediately. However, as the night went on the restaurant became fully packed, as it should be for the food is absolutely out of this world! We started off with drinks, I'm not sure what we ordered, some Brazilian specialty, it was delicious. They do not have a hard liquor license but this drink was still really really good. We had the fried Yucca as our appetizer, delicious. If you can handle spice, ask for the hot sauce. We split the Muqueca Completa (shrimp, fish, and mussels). I've never had anything quite like this dish before, how cow amazing. I'm so glad this place is only a 5 minute walk from our house! We finished off dinner by splitting the flan, it wasn't that great, I've had better, maybe next time we'll try to passion fruit mousse! Totally affordable too, I think our bill for everything came out to ~$33/person with tip. For such great quality food, it was worth every penny. Yum!

    (4)

  • Marissa G.

    Everything they say about the place is true. Wonderful food, friendly atmosphere, authentic dishes. For starters we had the cod cakes and the crab cake. Both were delicious, but I especially loved the way it was spiced and stuffed into a wooden shell (Filipinos do this with a fresh crab shell). Very tasty. I know everyone here is praising the muqueca, but for me, the traditional Fejioada is the bomb. Black beans and pork over rice with a little of the perfect red hot sauce-- it is comfort food all the way. My friends preferred the fish muqueca, which meant more for me. The kale side dish is a refreshing twist on the veggie, too. This is a great place to take out of town guests who may have never tried Brazilian food before.

    (4)

  • Lee D.

    A second fryer dedicated for gluten free!! I was in fried plantain heaven!! The very knowledgeable staff were also quick to inform me that the muqueca, with it's accompanying rice and muqueca "gravy" (thickened with cassava flour), were all gluten free! It was a nice feast! Ready to go back and try more options on the menu!

    (4)

  • Sami W.

    You guys know that they moved down the street to a bigger place, right? This was my first time eating Brazilian food, So I don't know if it's authentic or not, but what I had was really good. We shared Fried Yucca as an appetizer and the Fish with Shrimp Moqueca for our main meal. I enjoyed every bite of it and I will definitely come to try other things off the menu.

    (4)

  • Kim V.

    My bf took me here for my birthday and we had to try the signature dish, the moqueca completa in addition to the seafood casserole. They were both delicious! We also had some cod cakes that were not bad either. We had the flan for dessert and we give it two thumbs up. If you have a craving for seafood stew, this is your place!

    (5)

  • Jay L.

    Never really had Brazilian seafood stews before, but they are quite tasty. Had the Mariscada and another of the Moqueca dishes. The food is reasonably priced, and the service was great.

    (4)

  • Julie S.

    Fabulous food, super service, and this month (August) they are displaying some of the most fascinating and unique art work I've ever seen.

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    Have been hearing good things about this place for years; finally went to try it out on a recent Sunday afternoon. Usually with Brazilian food it's meat meat and more meat, so it's a nice change of pace to go to a place that specializes in seafood! I think we went during shift change, so the service a little slow, but in general friendly. The food was really good! I had my eyes on the traditional muqueca, and it did not disappoint! The stew is so flavorful, the fish tasted really fresh, and the portion is very generous. We also had coxinhas and fried cod fritters for appetizer, you can never go wrong with coxinhas, but I actually liked the cod fritters more! Very light and not too salty! I'm super happy to have finally made my way to Muqueca and will definitely be back for more!

    (4)

  • Ellie W.

    Muqueca is seafood overload. It's a nice change from the Brazilian barbeque joints I'm accustomed to (and probably less of a pending heart attack). I started with a blueberry-pomegranate smoothie (b/c smoothies are like crack to my inner Whitney)--ooh that hit the spot. Awesome fruit concoction. While the fried yucca w/ garlic sauce was quite good, the crab cake was kind of...mushy. I guess I expected something fried, but instead we got something of a baked dish of somewhat mushy crab meat. It was missing that crispy flavor that FRIED crab cakes have..and tasted a little under-seasoned. I LOVED LOVED LOVED their seafood rice casserole. Oh, the seafood and yummy juices running through the rice...wahhh. I devoured that. We also got the shrimp with mussels moqueca and the mariscada--listed as a "MUST TRY" on their menu (it's not). While the moqueca and mariscada were both solid dishes, they kind of tasted the same and it felt like a waste ordering both. Muqueca is definitely in my top 10 list for seafood--just be sure not to order too much. Each main dish is HUGE and can probably feed 3 people...

    (4)

  • Oliver T.

    Good food!!! I would suggest The traditional Brazilian meal to get a good variety of what they have to offer.... Plan on going back to try the fried yucca

    (4)

  • Catherine W.

    Shared the cod patties for appetizer, and the Fejoada Completa and the Muqueca Completa (Bahian style). Both were delicious. The restaurant is very cute and casual inside. Comfortable with children; added bonus is their bathroom has a changing table. Service was very friendly. Street parking only, but we had no problem on an early weekend night.

    (4)

  • Ashley D.

    Muqueca gets the coveted 5 star spot from me. Everything is just so DELICIOUS there. Mind you, I have only tried a few things but I have never been disappointed. Throughout the years, I have frequented Inman Square on a pretty regular basis. For years, my boyfriend would point out Muqueca and and I would shake my head and say, 'no, I don't like fish, you know that. ' Boy was that a mistake. Thinking back on it, I could have consumed so many more fish muquecas and been in bliss all this time. Fortunately, I can now make up for missed time. I have only tried two main dishes there - the fried red snapper and the fish muqueca. The fried snapper is served whole - fins, eyes, teeth, are all included - so don't be thrown off. The fish tasted so fresh and tasty! It was served with a few sides (plantains, ground yucca, fries, salad) so come hungry or plan to share it. The fish muqueca is a delicious stew served with probably cod or haddock in a clay pot (that's what it is cooked in) and then mixed with really fresh cilantro, tomatoes, and onions. It comes with a side of rice which is perfectly cooked and seasoned. I personally like to add a little hot sauce but BEWARE...this hot sauce is serious stuff. My recommendation - try a little bit on the corner of your dish and then add more if you enjoy it. We usually order a side of plantains with our muqueca and they pair pretty well together. It's just so hard to try something new when I am literally salivating over the fish muqueca as I type. My boyfriend likes to be a little more adventurous and has never been disappointed. Unfortunately, I cannot eat shellfish so that limits the menu for me a bit but I have heard nothing but great things. My recommendation - go here. You won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Sarah T.

    After they moved to their new location, they had a bumpy time adjusting, and I held off going there for a while. I'm talking, waiting 45 minutes for a table and ordering appetizers so it would be ready by the time we had a table, then waiting 45 minutes after we got a table for our main dishes, when the appetizers never came. And we were starving. To be fair, we got a discount from the owners because of the excessive wait time, and we were literally about to pass out. However! Things are much improved. Wait times are normal after ordering again. Prices are higher (oh well). It's a surefire place to bring visitors to town if you have a sense that they like this kind of food (flavorful, seafood). I still think they should have an extra server or too, but at the current level it's acceptably part of the laid back feel, as opposed to feeling like they don't know what they're doing. Also, their smoothies are still hit and miss, but I really like the Brazilian Summer (pineapple and mint). Pro tip, which has been mentioned here before: You can get a 1.5 size muqueca, which is quite quite enough for two normal appetites.

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    I love any place where the people that work there actually represent the culture of the food. So A+ there, Muqueca. But I don't like paying way more money for food that really isn't as flavorful as I feel it should be, especially for all of the lovely stew/muqueca options that you have here! Even with our buywithme we still spent $40 of our money for just two of us eating and no alcohol (although Matt J. did get an acai per usual!!) . We started with their fried yucca that was labeled as coming with their "special" sauce but that sauce was pretty flavorless so maybe they forgot to put the special in it?? Good thing their hot sauce on the table was PLENTY hot which I love. One of the first spots in Boston to have true hot sauce and we weren't warned about it like other tables, so I bet they could sense I like it hot :-) Then I got their Mariscada which was shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk and it was definitely the coconut milk in my broth that beat the pants off the broth in Matt J's fish muqueca dish. That coconut milk came bubbling at the table and that made my dish the winner. But still we both were a little underwhelmed with the overall spice, but there was definitely more than enough food to go around since we could have split one of those things!

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Authentic Brazilian seafood with comfortable seating and fair prices. They also have a lot of dishes from the interior of Brazil. The servings are generous. If you're looking for Brazilian BBQ, this is not the place for you.

    (4)

  • Tater M.

    Their bacalhau (lightly fried salted codfish) balls has significantly higher mashed potato content than fish. But it was good. In a potatoey type of way. If you're looking for Bahia style moqueca stew- with coconut milk then oops wrong place. They serve Espirito Santo style (without coconut milk). Which is pretty good too. ~ $22 for a moqueca capixaba. One is only good for one person. Their mussels are shell-less if you get a moqueca..not sure why. But they cook their shrimp perfectly: still tender and juicy. Also, be prepared for automatic 15% tip added for your party of two.

    (3)

  • Paul M.

    Muqueca is a restaurant that I always knew I should have tried sooner but didn't and then once I had kicked myself for not doing so earlier. My parents had been raving about the place for years, but I finally went a few months ago....and have been back several times since. The fish Muqueca is quite simple amazing. It comes out sizzling hot in a clay pot for 1 or 2. The pot is filled with perfectly cooked haddock, fresh onions, cilantro, tomato, and yummy stew broth. If you get this meal follow these three instructions: 1) flatten out your rice pyramid on your dinner plate, 2) spoon your Muqueca over said rice, 3) try to remember your utensils and not just bury your face in this solution, it's rude though completely understandable. Side sweet plantains and collared greens are very note worthy. Fried red snapper good, but seriously the place is called Muqueca for a reason...order from that section. Also, the habenero hot sauce at each table is very, very good (but it's spicy, be careful!). They only have a beer & wine license so I don't think the caiparinhas are legit (i.e. no cachaca) so take caution if you order one. I'd give this place 5 stars on food alone. The price may seem a bit steep at about $20/person for entrees alone, but you're getting really fresh ingredients cooked to order and it's one heckuva tasty meal. Worth it.

    (5)

  • Darius K.

    Really nice little place: I love the blue and orange theme, and the menu is really well chosen although their "veggie dish" signifier applied to dishes with sausage, chicken, and fish in them. (I think it's a very Brazilian take on the term "veggie": it ain't beef.) I had the lasagna de banana--i.e., plantain lasagna. It was super heavy and not really lasagna so much as fried plantains drowned in cheese and baked, but it was certainly good with black beans and rice. My fellow diners had the flatiron steak and the cod capixaba. The steak was good, but, you know, just steak. And the cod capixaba (salt cod with hard boiled eggs, plantain, and coconut milk in a kind of stew) was, by my friend's account, amazing. My only problem with the meal was the fried calamari: the calamari was rubbery and the batter had the consistency of the onion rings they used to serve at my elementary school cafeteria (hint, Ravensworth Elementary School Cafeteria: 1 star). I give these guys 4 stars for food, 5 stars for service, but they get the full 5 because they were willing to seat us without a reservation on a busy night (another party was 15 minutes late and didn't call so we got their table!). They're very friendly people here.

    (5)

  • Rosane W.

    Really, really, really good. :) This place is a nice little restaurant with Brazilian food. The tables were a little too close to each other which made it a little uncomfortable for having private conversations. The moqueca was so great that it made the experience worth while and it was enough for two people.

    (4)

  • T I.

    interesting food! well I have only been here once and I think I really liked it. But my friend an I also ordered something we didn't like! the crab cake was awesome. it's a lot of food and you should probably consider sharing! not a good place for vegetarians. even the veggie options have some kind of meat!!! But overall, I will go there again..

    (4)

  • Melissa M.

    Oooh, Mu. Que. Ca. Your pina colada smoothie last night was made for me in a record 12 seconds instead of your normal waiting time of 3 minutes. Ooh. Ooh. Ooof. Mu. Que. Ca??? Something was amiss. It tasted sour and even Kenny (the poorest of teachers) couldn't even drink it. Aye aye aye! Dios Mio, Mu Quec, what happened? Mi no comprendo, but I will volver soon, because mi corazon will yearn for the sweet smoothie goodness that I know you can provide. Yes, I will return.

    (4)

  • Cecilia L.

    Muqueca is delish and cute as a button. It's tiny but our group of five was there on a Wednesday and had no trouble getting seated. The moquecas and plantains are amazing but the best thing by far is the seafood casserole. It has this unbelievable coconutty saffrony flavor and I was so sad I hadn't ordered it. There's no alcohol, but the fruit smoothies are awesome. I'm not sure what to say about the feijoada. It has the tastiest sausage and beans but also some nasty, gristly mystery meat.

    (4)

  • Orly M.

    I had been meaning to try out Muqueca for a long, long time, so I was excited when the opportunity arose to dine here with a lovely bunch of Yelpers. I didn't realize how small this place was -- it's TINY. The 10 or so of us took up about hald of the restaurant. I agree with Shawn W that the inside of this place is kind of meh, but I don't really care anyway, there is a certain charm in simple restaurants that serve delicious food. And this was delicious, that's for sure. I arrived ravenously hungry and the fish muqueca really hit the spot. It was warm, comforting, and VERY filling. Definitely 2 meals. I didn't order a smoothie but I sampled some. The mint pineapple one really stood out, and the mango was really good too. Trish, I will run on the beach with you with plantains, that sounds like a dream date.

    (4)

  • Diana L.

    One of these days, I'm going to hide in the restaurant until they close and then eat ALL THEIR FLAN and run away. Chocolate flan? Evil geniuses! Their fried yucca is pre-tty phenomenal, too. The only thing that I didn't dig was their steak tips with onions appetizer, cause the steak was overcooked. And I hate it when I have to leave little mashed up meat chunks on my plate. I tried, but I couldn't chew the meat. Other than that, everything was fantastic. We loved our fish soup (Caldo De Peixe), our collard green soup with potato and linguica (Caldo Verde). The fried cod patties were decent, too. Don't forget to leave room for dessert when you come here. The chocolate flan is excellent with a hot cup of espresso. I could eat it until I burst. Commence dancing around... NOW!

    (4)

  • Tyler C.

    i suspect this place has gained a cult following from both Brazilian expats and hungry students both, so this review might be superfluous. But yeah - brazilian/caribbean fish/seafood stews, as well as some brazilian dishes. Everything has pretty much been said in other reviews here, so i'll just chime in with my 2 cents - my favorite is actually the mariscada, which is big enough to feed 2 people...I think the only difference is that there's coconut milk in the sauce and maybe some differing spices than the standard muqueca stew. Also...this place makes mean smoothies...in particular the pineapple-mint which had me feverishly trying to duplicate it in my blender over the past summer...it was that tasty. on the To-Try list - something on the menu, "feljoada completa" if i recall correctly. I have no idea what it is but it sounds tasty....

    (4)

  • Andrea W.

    This place is great. They found a way to get us a table even though they were filled with reservations for the whole night. I had the moqueca with fish and it was fantastic - but I didn't love the sauce that went with it. Even better was the maranasca.... or something like that. YUM

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    I've been wanting to go to Muqueca for the longest time but it requires the stars to be aligned for a- me to be at Inman Square b- there not to be a long line or wait at Muqueca! Well the heavens finally answered me and I tried it out! It was indeed delicious. We started out with fried yucca, which were lightly fried and not too oily. Then came the main dishes: muqueca, the signature dish that consists of delicious mix of seafood, vegetables, and herbs (ie tons of cilantro!!!) with a rich sauce. I had the shrimp muqueca while my friend had the mariscada (Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca). The food was unbelievably vibrant and delicious. Although the pots appear to be small, the meal was very filling with the rice. In fact, I never got dessert! Call ahead for reservations or go on a weeknight. The restaurant is tiny: approximately 10 tables, but incredibly cozy and colorfully decorated. Like pho (Vietnamese noodles), great for the seemingly neverending Boston winter-time! Sidenote: my other two friends got the coconut shrimp and fried fish filet (ie fish mcnuggets) and were disappointed, but then again you don't go to a fabulous restaurant renown for steaks and get a McDonalds-like cheeseburger!

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    I've been here so many times and I have never once been disappointed. One of my favorite dishes is the steak that is served with rice, beans, and a fried egg. It is not super seasoned, but it is well done and is very tasty. The last time I was here, we started with fried yucca which was simple but tasty. It is a pretty sizeable portion for an appetizer. Two of us decided to share the mariscada as an entree (just ordering extra rice so that we both had our own portion). This dish was absolutely delicious. The sauce was good and there was a lot of seafood to share. Between two of us, these two dishes were definitely more than enough food for dinner. The restaurant is very small, so be prepared for a wait. We unfortunately went the same night as Harvard's graduation, so it was quite crowded and the parties tended to linger for a bit since they were generally larger groups with what appeared to be lots of family.

    (5)

  • Archana V.

    First time in a Brazilian restaurant and I liked everything I ate! Had the crabcake for appetizer, which was different from the regular crab cake patties. According to our waiter they are the best crabcakes ever! I beg to disagree. I reserve that spot for the crabcakes at the Bluenose Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine. Anyway coming back to Muqueca, the appetizer was delicious. We also had the fish and shrimp Moqueca which was chockfull of seafood and was served in broth that had lots of tomatoes and cilantro. Yum! I got the silk stocking cocktail which I didn't like very much. But the capirinha was awesome. If I had to complain about anything, it would be the distinct seafood odor as soon as you enter the restaurant. Otherwise this is a great restaurant and I'll be back to try more.

    (4)

  • Jennifer W.

    GREAT FOOD! I never had authentic Brazilian food and this was such a great experience!! I ordered the national Brazilian dish...they served a pretty big portion which I couldn't finish. It was really good!! I just want everyone to try the dessert! They are reasonably priced at $3 and they are fantastic....wow! LOL Try the Coconut and Tapioca and the Mango Mousse!!

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    One more restaurant to check off of my Must Eat At list! And it was almost as good as the Yelp hype. 4.5 stars. First off, I was worried about the wait on a Saturday night. I called ahead and while they didn't have any reservations available til 8pm, they said they'd put me on the "waiting list" and do their best to seat us. When we arrived at 6:30, they said it'd be 15 minutes, and in the end, we only waited 2. Totally reasonable! Good start, MuQu, I liked you already. Me and my friend started with Mango Nana smoothies, which were sooo tasty. They remind me of the Mango Tango Odwalla drinks, but a little less sweet and with a little pulp. For food, we split the Mariscada . A MUST TRY!..............................................­................... $15.95 Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. I agree it's a must try...it came all bubbly hot and you'll definitely have leftovers that you can't wait to eat. And the Feijoada Completa..........................................­............................... $11.95 Brazilian national dish. Black beans stew with fresh & dried meat, pork, sausage & bacon. Served with collard greens, fried plantain, farofa & orange. This was not as special/different, but okay nonetheless. Too bad, I'm still deducing 1/2 a point. The plaintains (ooooh how can you not love plaintains?) were good and the collard greens garlic-y. They serve you individual plates of rice and you spoon your sauce-y dishes right over it from the clay pots they cook them in. It came to like $20 a person total (yes fyi prices have gone up since those listings from their online menu) so all in all a great meal at a fine cost in a cute little restaurant. It inspired me to want to go back to Tu Y Yo, which is Spanish and not Brazilian, but equally tasty and slightly better ambiance.

    (4)

  • J L.

    This is, in my opinion, the best Brazilian place in the area. It's also one of the best restaurants in Boston in my view. I've been to Rio and I've only found a couple places that are better than Muqueca in Somerville. The muqueca dishes are classical favourites. The seafood casserole is also good. Be sure to try their fruit drinks - wonderful especially in the summer months. The only downside is parking on a weekend. But you'll find something if you're persistent. Make sure to reserve for weekends too.

    (5)

  • Luisa O.

    Delicious. i recommend the Muqueca- a fish stew from a region in Brazil. Its large enough to split with two. For me, the best sides are the kale and plantains (banana frita.) Some of the dishes are too much meat for me, but Muqueca's signature dish is the brilliant fish stew! Small place and sometimes there is a long wait.

    (4)

  • Heather H.

    Really, really delicious. I have been searching for Salgadinhos for years. 23 to be exact. I couldn't remember what they were called, but I've never seen them on a Brasilian restaurant menu. I remembered them as tasty tasty little patties filled with spiced ground meat and fried to perfection. And that is what Muquequa served me. That alone gives them 4 stars in my book. The feijoada was excellent. Top notch. The chorizo was absolutely perfect. The other dishes I was not as familiar with, as the cuisine is from a different region than I knew, but was all very tasty. I look forward to going back and trying them all. And the 5th star? Where does it come from? The pudim (flan). Seriously. This alone could make a meal. Their pudim was the best I've had since Brasil. Delicious.

    (5)

  • Ligaya T.

    Yes, it's worth the line. Give your name, go to Christina's and eat a small bit of dessert first. Then half an hour later, dive into one of their signature seafood dishes and revel in your brilliance. Collard greens, bomb. Plantains, scrumptious. Smoothies, spectacular. Do you see all the superlatives? Count the number in all these Yelp reviews. Need any more convincing? It will take one bite, I promise.

    (5)

  • Esther Z.

    Hello affordable mouth-watering seafood casserole! No joke this place is an experience - one that you won't regret. The traditional Brazilian food here is out of this world. I would vote for the dessert too! The drinks however, I won't recommend. I've never actual had them but I've seen the size of them and they are so comically small that they probably won't do any good.

    (5)

  • Karen H.

    Rainy day? Have some muqueca. Then go home and cozy up in bed to take a nappie. Perfect day. Deliciousness. The cod capixaba and the shrimp muqueca were very good. Wish there were more plaintain goodness in the capixaba. You may also refill on rice a few times in order to finish the stew (refill does cost extra). Not super cheap, but if you get a few and split between your group it's probably a better deal. But it's still worth it even if you eat one by yourself!

    (5)

  • Joshua C.

    My wife and I have driven by this place many a time on our way to church, and never really given it much thought. So one day, we decide to check it out. It was really cold outside...and upon walking into the restaurant, it was still cold! Talk about poor heating. Almost everyone in the restaurant was still wearing their jackets from outside! Not cool. Or should I say, really cool. Haha. Sorry. The food though made up for the chilly environment. We ordered a shrimp muqueca (a Brazilian soup/stew with lots of tomatoes, onions and other goodness) and a sirloin steak. Definitely forego the steak. It was good, but nothing special, and came with fries. I feel like you could get that at your average American restaurant. Okay, on to the muqueca. It was goood! It was hot, so that was nice, and you eat it with white rice. It wasn't extremely flavorful, but fresh and satisfying. They also give you a good amount of shrimp, which is always nice. They also provided some side dishes like black beans, a tortilla-like soup, some brown powder thing (no idea), and a lovely cool, refreshing salsa. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the muqueca and would definitely come back just for this. Prices are fair given what you get (seafood and meat), but don't expect a fancy restaurant. This place is like a pizza joint...except the food you get is quite another thing. Mmmmm...

    (4)

  • Jason H.

    The best Brazilian food in Boston. I've had a few of the entrees and the chicken stroganoff, which was very tasty. Not a great wine list, but the food is what will bring you back here anyways.

    (4)

  • Mihir P.

    I brought some friends here who were visiting from out of town. One of them is part Brazilian. I have had Brazilian food a ton of times but not at this restaurant and not specifically the muqueca dish. The place is tiny and cozy. Has seating for 20 people -tops. I don't think they serve alcohol but who cares? GO FOR THE FRESH JUICES. If you have a heart problem, avoid the guarana. For an appetizer, we had the cod balls (NOT cod's balls). I didn't think they were anything special. But the dipping sauce on the table was great; We all ordered muqueca in some form (muqueca is a a stew of seafood, onions, tomatoes, cilantro and other veggies). It arrived in a sizzling large iron bowl. It was excellent! Tasted wicked fresh and the cilantro gave it the perfect zing. The rice served with it was moist and naturally sweet. My part Brazilian compadre said it was the best muqueca he's ever had. Don't bother getting the non-Brazilian menu items like chicken parm, fried calamari etc. If you have a friends who don't like Brazilian food, leave them at home. Get there early!!!!! I cannot stress that enough. There will be a wait and parking is nearly impossible.

    (4)

  • Khalid S.

    Food was GREAT! Another vote for the vegetarian lasagna de banana. I also would reiterate that the place is TINY, still the staff is constantly running, so you may not have the fanciest service. Not good for BRINGING kids, but I'm sure they'd enjoy the takeout!

    (5)

  • Scott B.

    Hated this place. The specialty fish stew seemed like it was just some fish and some salsa put into a pot. It tasted really fishy...not fishy-suspicious but fishy-fishlike. We also tried the pork loin and it was dry and bland and served with very bland vegetables. For what we got, it was quite pricey. The place was empty at dinner time on a weeknight. I don't know why so many people recommended it to us...we'll never go back.

    (1)

  • t.T c.

    Granted this is the only Brazilian place I've tried, but I think it's really good. The location is great. The portions are pretty big for its price, and the Brazilian Crab Cake is to die for. The rest of the food is all so wonderful. I've had their smoothie drinks, but don't like it much, but the ingredient they use in the smoothie is fresh, you can see them putting it into the cup! The place gives you a home-style cooking feeling. And this place has a special place in my heart because its where I had my first "date" with someone I truly love. muquecarestaurant.com

    (5)

  • B P.

    New place...still very good...sometimes when restaurants upgrade service and food quality take a hit...one star off for the piece of paper I got from the fish ..may have been the wrapper(I sincerely hope it was) either way I think it was cooked :)!

    (4)

  • Eric O.

    Friends took me here for my birthday a few weeks back. I left a fan. First off, I'd strongly recommend forgoing lunch if you're stopping by here early - no one in our party cleaned plate. Of note, the smoothies (they don't serve alcohol), mariscada, shrimp moqueca & shrimp bobo were all warmly accepted. While they do offer vegetarian options, the Vegan of the group wasn't too impressed. The only issues detracting from the experience are relatively minor. On a cold night, be prepared for a wicked draft if you're in line of sight of the door. Though we had a reservation, we were forced to wait outside for over 15 minutes for them to clear a table. All in all, a welcome addition to my growing stable of good Boston restaurants. Not very suitable for larger gatherings of friends, but for a date or couples night, it fits the bill.

    (4)

  • kenley s.

    ...this was one of the first restaurants that I wandered into while exploring Boston for the first time years ago... was wonderful then, only been back a few times...the Muqueca, and Feijouda were absolutely delicious...in fact sorta craving it now all of a sudden...sadly I've moved to the west coast, dunno where I'm going to get my Muqueca fix now :(

    (5)

  • Colin N.

    Muqueca exists to set the standard for Brazilian food in Boston. Their signature dish, after which the restaurant is named rocked my world. It's a seafood stew served with rice and some other accompaniments. The taste is so rich and good - it's to die for. There does tend to be a wait on the weekends. I put my name down, got a tea at 1369 and came back in a while with my date. Muqueca will impress anyone who wants an authentic experience and wonderful food over a ambience and decor. Make sure you like who you're with because there's no booze there to break the ice!

    (5)

  • M K.

    Wasn't that impressed with my shrimp muqueca. In fact, it didn't seem like it was anything unique. The big plate of rice was disappointing, but more so was that my bf had the fish muquecue and was sick for a good 20 hrs afterwards. We won't be going back. Not worth the hype, sadly.

    (1)

  • Amanda W.

    Sweet heavens, my senses play off each other when I relive this meal. Mouth waters, palms to my cheeks, 'mmmm' guttural sounds, wide excited eyes. Maybe it was because I was hungover. Maybe it was because I planned the dinner 5 days in advance. No excuses- I enjoyed every bite here (and the leftovers today in the office - totally had to cover my mouth from moaning so my coworkers didn't question my internet etiquette). My friend was in town for the weekend and loves food blogging. And her boyfriend is allergic to seafood, and she was dying for seafood. The preview I gave her was that my friends referred to Muqueca as 'bangin.' We met up with another one of my friends and beat the Saturday dinner rush by a hair. Since I live a block away, we called ~6:50 before bracing the cold June rain to check if there was a wait. 'No, but we have some 7:30 reservations, so come soon.' We got there by 7:05 and though there were a few open tables, there were 2 parties ahead of us waiting for the hostess and manager to decide what to do with us. He briefly offered us seating at the bar but we reminded him that we were three. He turned his back for a moment and then offered us a big table. No harm done, pal. We had not a drop of desire for alcohol (though my eyes wandered to a drink resembling a mojito or caprihana and I thought, 'next time'). But we did want fruit fuel. We got the berry blue, the tropical, and the pineapple mint smoothies, the latter of which was my favorite (guess I had a craving for virgin mojitos?). They were all refreshing and you could pick out each of the ingredients. We actually determined what to order by browsing their online menu before leaving my apt. I was so lucky to be in the company of non-picky, cilantro-embracing, fish and spice-friendly individuals. No offense to the rest of you, but more often than not I dine with ppl who prefer to have and not share their own dishes. To be honest, if you are not a sharer and choose to come here, you should consider letting your guard and possibly hygiene standards down and sharing some saliva over a Moqueca pot because they are too big for just one! We split the Mariscada, Fish and Calamari Moqueca, and a side of fried plantains. The meal came with several sides that the busboy (man?) named off: plantain stew, a sweet sauce for the plantains, and yucca shavings, plus he cautioned against TOO much of the hot sauce on the table. We each got our own rice ($3 for the extra rice since we ordered 2 dishes for 3 ppl), which was garlicky and not a grain was spared. To be honest I was so engrossed in the flavors and the way they made me so so happy that I stopped talking to my friends and have no idea how they chose to eat the food. I took turns between the Moqueca (huge pieces of white fish + very flavorful calamari) and the Mariscada (shrimpy small shrimp, large split shrimp with the tails on, mussels out of the shell, more calamari), sneaking in some plantains and whatever that incredible plantain sauce was, pouring yucca shavings all over the plate, mixing in plantain stew. Every now and then I'd chomp down on an incredibly bright flavored onion or a bunch of cilantro. A few times I reminded myself to add more hot sauce. I think I kind of lost myself in the meal, to be honest. Anyway, at one point I looked up and my friends were experiencing similar revelations of joy. Then kind of at the same time, we agreed that we should save room for dessert since we spotted some yummy desserts before our dinner arrived. 5 extra bites later, we begged our server to wrap up what was 2 smaller meals worth of food. What started as 'Oh, only 1 dessert, we are sooo so full' turned into 2. The dessert menu was fun - whimsical English translations that were endearing enough to make us want to try them all. We ordered tapioca and coconut and the chocolate truffle. They came out quickly and were consumed almost as quickly. The truffle was like a creamy chocolate mousse but stickier and more congealed, coated in chocolate sprinkles. The tapioca and coconut was a combination of super sweet little tapioca pearls combined with mildly sweet coconut shavings as well as roasted coconut shavings. There was a fig on top. They were both under $4. Do not hesitate to order dessert here. All those expressions of pure joy for less than $30 a person. Plus we beat the dinner rush. And as an added bonus, they put all the sides in the takeout containers, separated in the smaller sections of the container. I appreciate that thoughtfulness! Our server clearly knew we had a great time and told us to come back. Yes, yes, I will be back. Hopefully that meal alone (plus the excited conversation to and from the restaurant to my apartment) was enough incentive for my friend to come visit again :)

    (5)

  • Little Miss M.

    Aside from the lack of alcohol, Muqueca is a fantastic find. As a seafood junkie, Muqueca is my seafood fix. The seafood is fresh, the service is pleasant, and the range of classic to exotic dish selections is aplenty. There are also a number of non-seafood dishes, but I would suggest non-seafoodies to visit their website to review the menu before a visit. The smoothies are also a great touch, but the true gem here is the food. Definitely no frills dining; the emphasis is on the food.

    (4)

  • Abdullah A.

    This is a little cozy brazilian restaurant has a colorful decoration that is reminiscent of its origins. The place itself may feel a little tight (there's only space enough for something like 7 tables, though I heard from the waiter that they are soon to be moved closeby to a bigger place), but this also helps to create an intimate environment. I've only gone to have lunches, it is packed during sunday at that time, full with brazilian people, which I always see as a sign that the restaurant is authentic. The plates you must not miss are: Picahna, which is a traditional brazilian steak cut, which they serve with beans and rice. The other good dish is the Muqueca, a fish and shrimp in a tomato, onion and cilantro sauce. While you are trying these delicious plates you can try different tropical juice mixes that are really good (passion blue is a must try!) For dessert, you can delight yourselves with a couple of desserts: the Tapioca and coconut, sweet small balls of coconut and tapioca with condensed milk, a very sweet dessert. The other one is the Flan, which is different to any other flan I've tried before, with a more dense texture and a richer flavor.

    (4)

  • F N.

    Wonderful place!!! Good food and great service. Please try the Fried Red Snapper for a main course and for an appetizer the fried yucca...you will not be dissapointed. Been to this place lots of times...always have a great time.

    (5)

  • Margarita V.

    Went there last weekend for lunch during an out-of-town trip. I've been on a South American food kick lately and this place looked promising. The place is small, colorful, and instantly made me feel like I was on vacation somewhere tropical. A giant plate of fried yucca was brought out as an appetizer, which was addictively good (especially whatever the hebal-creamy dipping sauce that accompanied it). I ordered the seafood pie and it was unlike anything I had ever tasted (and HUGE!). Almost like an omelet with tons of minced fish and shrimp, but so much better than it sounds (or looks). The hot sauce provided for the table gave the pie a great kick. Between that and the enormous helping of white rice, I was full pretty much all day from the meal. I had a bit of my companion's pork and rice and beans, which were also tasty, and stole his unwanted fried onions, which were sweet (I tasted some nutmeg) and added an even yummier flavor to my meal. I'm going to have to find a restaurant like this in New York, because there were tons of dishes on the menu I wanted to try, and I'd love to go back. Great place to go for hearty, exotic food!

    (5)

  • Edmon K.

    Great food. Different kind of Brazilian restaurant. Mariscada and Shrimp Muqueca is my favorite. Service can be slow so be patient. Food is worth it! Try Caipirinha with your meal.

    (4)

  • Emma D.

    Awesome Brazilian food. I've been to Muqueca twice now. I love the interior which is unassuming and painted in bright colors with photographs on the wall. The place is definitely small. Which is rough if you want to eat with 6 people, but I think sets a great atmosphere. The first time, my group of four had to wait around 20 min for a table. The second time my sister and I walked right in. Note that they do take reservations excluding Friday and Saturday nights I believe. Apparently you can even rent the whole place as the night I was there the waitress began to turn people away as they had a birthday party scheduled for 9pm. Servers are incredibly friendly and willing to help you learn to pronounce all of the Portugese words. Food is delicious - I've tried several of the muquecas and I really enjoy the camerones one (shrimp and lots of fresh cilantro thrown in!) The most recent visit, we also had the feijoada which is a traditional dish in many portugese speaking nations. Beans, beef, pork simmered for a long time and served over rice. Sides of wonderfully garlic collard greens and (always my favorite) fried plantains. At my sisters insistence, we split a piece of flan. I've never been a huge fan, but this was great - reminded me a bit of carmel cheesecake. The two meals ($12 each) that my sis and I split provided leftovers in plenty, which I might add are just as good reheated! Note that they have takeout AND delivery!! If you're on a date or just with one or two other people go to the restaurant. If you're in a group of eight either make a reservation or get take out. Either way definitely give it a try if your in the mood for something a little different.

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Solid. It is such a good feeling when you try a place on a whim and it turns out to be a great experience. Thats what happened last night at Muqueca. I acknowledge the comments of many regarding the potentially long wait for seating and slow service. This is a small place and it seemed like they only had a couple people working. We were able to sit down right away on a Tuesday night, but it took a while for our food to come out. We were getting a bit impatient, but the thing is, the food was well worth waiting for. And, I thought the waitress was quite attentive while we waited. So, what did we get? Seafood casserole and shrimp bobo. Both were so good, and so filling. After washing these down with a couple exotic (and affordable) fruit smoothies we were completely stuffed. There are several other things on the menu that I want to try, so I will be heading back here soon. (Vegetarians, they even have a couple good veggie options: banana lasagna, whoa sounds crazy huh?)

    (5)

  • Erika B.

    OMG So Good! Authenitic Brazilian food! I'm in love with their seafood stew, it's perfect. I've had to wait a while, the last two times I went there but it's always so worth, it... I just grab a Nova Schin from the bar (which has like, 4 seats) but I can't complain about this place at all. The food is awesome and so is the staff :)

    (5)

  • Zizzles A.

    I've never found the traditional "comfort food" staples of America all that comforting. Yes apple pie and fruit cobblers are warm and fuzzy, but fried chicken, meatloaf, Mac & Cheese? Meh. I feel less comforted and more bloated or lethargic after eating that stuff. Comfort food should be easy to eat, and not heavy. Moquecas fit the bill for me, and is up there among my favorite comfort foods. The fried Yucca is very crispy, and with the tangy creamy sauce, is quite difficult to stop eating. The crab cakes are straight up amazing. Lots of crab meat, some bread crumbs (?) and pure goodness. Their stews are gigantic, so my table only ordered 2, the mariscada and the cod capixaba. The mariscada came with a gelatinous gravy that was mostly unnecessary. The mussels had a fair amount of grit in them. The plantains were a nice, slightly sweet touch. The cod dish was mostly the same thing, with salted cod, which is delicious, and eggs. The stews themselves are sweet from coconut milk, seafood broth, onions and tomatoes. It's hearty with vegtables, but light because the broth is still a broth, and not gelatinous/starchy gunk. 1 stew is certainly good for two meals, as long as you provide some extra rice on your own. Some of the seafood choices may taste a little fishy the second day, but the salt cod keeps perfectly. To top it off, the juice bar is refreshing and interesting. I tried the pineapple mint and the blueberry/mango/passion fruit. Of the two, the blueberry one was tastier, and so very easy to drink. The pineapple mint drink was also great. It was a little frothy, and the mint is quite strong so it's not something you would gulp.

    (4)

  • Samantha G.

    I LOVE this restaurant! The main dishes are delicious, particularly the seafood stews. They also have great appetizers and absolutely delightful fruit smoothies. Basically, if you like South American food/seafood, you will be happy. The staff is friendly but there can be a very long wait on weekend nights. Overall I am always excited to eat there.

    (5)

  • Ashley J.

    Wow was this a good meal! My husband and I ventured out of our 'hood tonight for an anniversary treat and decided to head to Muqueca on our friend's recommendation. Absolutely everything we ate was flavorful and fresh, and overall the atmosphere was very friendly and authentic. Not the quickest service (I asked for water twice before getting any) but, on the flip side, we strolled in at 8 o'clock on a Friday with no ressie, and even though the place was packed, we still got a seat pretty quick. Definitely a must for anyone looking for something fun and different for dinner in Boston. For more info on the dishes we ate, visit here: SeeDanCook.com . Yes, it's a shameless plug for my hubby's blog, but he's described the food perfectly.

    (4)

  • Amy G.

    I was kind of underwhelmed by my experience. I arrived at their 'new' locations and got the standard fish muqueca (btw, they charge $1 PER shrimp, if you want to add shrimp) during lunch since I work nearby in the biotech valley. I thought the colors and smells of the food were quite vibrant, but when I took a bite, I felt that my meal was seriously lacking in flavor. Big disappointment after reading these rave reviews- I wanted to be blown away!

    (2)

  • Naomi U.

    This place has a tremendous Brazilian seafood menu. Rich, savory, and carefully prepared; the food is 5 stars. So why did I take off stars? We went very early on a weekend evening, without a reservation (Do Not Try To Dine at Muqueca Without A Reservation) this was not a good idea. We waited for over an hour (mind you we 'd been told ~30 minutes) in the sweltering heat, once I had actually become dizzy I went inside and ordered two beverages. It was hard to get acknowledged or served at the counter to make the order; without anyone in front of me this took about 10 minutes. The juice itself was made for us just as we were seated about 25 minutes later. To be clear; once seated we were given excellent service, but I felt it was cold (perhaps even mean-spirited on such a hot day: 98 and really really humid) not to water the stupid? loyal? stubborn? customers waiting patiently outside int he heat for such a long long long time. It was also a bit warm. It's a tiny joint, crammed to the gills, serving mostly bubbling clay bowls of steaming seafood, so it would also benefit a great deal from more air-conditioning capacity.

    (3)

  • Daniel D.

    "Muqueca" is one of the only restaurants in Boston that specializes in serving muqueca capixaba (not to be confused with the similar but distinctly different muqueca baiana), a traditional Brazilian seafood stew from the state of Espirito Santo. Delicious and authentically cooked & served in traditional handmade clay pots, go to Muqueca for their signature dish -- fish, shrimp, or mussel muqueca, a dish any seafood lover is sure to enjoy. Served with rice (almost similar to a curry). Start or finish a meal with a "vitamina", a fruit shake featuring a wide variety of tropical fruits. Or really surprise yourself with a bowl of açaí...it's like ice-cream from Mars (minus the dairy). Make sure you get there before crunch time as the restaurant is very small and fills up quickly on the weekends...

    (4)

  • Brandi S.

    Muqueca is one of those restaurants from which you'll crave a dish as fall sets in. Do not think "Brazilian BBQ". Here it's about the stews. The fish stews (although I was skeptical at first) are excellent. Warm, comfort food - I can't wait until a cool fall/winter night to enjoy Muqueca again. Drinks are affordable; food outweighs bright and cold-ish ambiance (convenience store like overhead lights, too bright for proper evening atmosphere) - but the food makes up for it. Service is friendly; prices are good. Even if you want not to like it on first impression, the main course will make you think twice! Skip the apps and desserts to enjoy your full course of fish stew!

    (4)

  • S S.

    The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the seafood casserole with rice! I highly recommend this dish. The place is a bit small, but we ended up waiting for just 10-15 minutes on a Friday night. So, all in all, I enjoyed the atmosphere and had a yummy dinner.

    (5)

  • Allisson G.

    Love the food from Muqueca! Can't wait to come back...the decor could be better yeahhhh fishes hanging on the wall it's just too much could be more classy! haha but I'll always stop by for more Muquecas anyways!

    (4)

  • Robby T.

    Tasty fejoada & muqueca...And moving to a bigger space soon 4 blks away, so less waiting...hopefully!

    (4)

  • Julie R.

    Another cute little gem. I just had an amazing meal at Muqueca. We decided to do something different for dinner and Brazilian sounded great. We were graciously welcomed in on a Saturday evening. The server we had asked us if it was our first time dining and said we would be very well taken care of. I immediately knew we were in good hands. Start your meal off with one of their smoothies. I tried the Tropical Breeze. It had banana, papaya, coconut milk, mango, orange juice, cashew and passion fruit. Super yummy and refreshing! My boyfriend had the Brazilian Summer with pineapple and mint. I tried a sip. It was very light and crisp. For an appetizer we had the shrimp saute with garlic and olive oil. It was great. The shrimp were tender and butterflied in the oil saute over greens. Generous amount of shrimp too! Entrees were fantastic!! We both ordered our own but ended up eating them family style. I was unsure what to order and was recommended to try the Muqueca stew. I got the version with the fish and coconut milk. WOW! It came out sizzling in a clay pot with a side a rice and other accompaniments. The dish was amazing. The presentation was so cool. The portion was generous and could easily be split for 2 people. If you go there definitely try it. You will not be disappointed! My boyfriend had the sirloin steak. It arrived sizzling on a cast iron skillet. It was very juicy with lots of flavor. A salad came with it too before the meal. The dining room is small so call ahead if its the weekend around dinner time. 5 stars for service and the food! We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Erik S.

    Muqueca is a great establishment with great service, good food and a nice spot. The waitstaff was very pleasant and my party of 4 never wanted for anything. The food options were varied, interesting and quite tasty. I opted for the fish and shrimp muqueca. They bring your food out in a clay pot where the broth is still cooking the ingredients. It makes for a pretty cool presentation. The food has a pretty powerful cilantro flavor, but it doesn't overpower the meat. The shrimp and the fish were quite good. I felt like the meal deserved a bit more rice because I still had lots of broth at the end and would have loved to use more of it as a sauce for my rice. If this place was $10 a plate, I'd eat here all the time. At $20 a plate, i'll come back, but probably not too often.

    (4)

  • Whytnee B.

    DO NOT COME HERE ON WEEKEND NIGHTS. That being said, I love this place. It's cheap and the food is unique and delightful. Not an ideal place for dieters, but who likes them anyway?? I highly highly recommend the plantain lasagna, which I am constantly forgetting to tell people that it is nothing like traditional lasagna. It is a plantain and creamy cheesy mess, baked and crispy top, and so so so so good. The muqueca is good too, of course. Also the calamari, particularly the sauce. And be sure to order Guarana to drink. I haven't had dessert here, but the cake with the prune atop looks.... appetizing?

    (5)

  • bean c.

    Best Brazilian place in town - or several towns and states even. The muqueca is the must try of the place alongside a side order of plantains. I favor the mariscada since I'm a big seafood fan. The maracuja mouse at the end is a nice finish as a dessert order. The smoothies are also quite fantastic to go with the meal. They put real fruit and juice in these things and they are so refreshing because of it. My husband is part Brazilian and he give this place the authenticity thumbs up. Only drawback is that there are about ~10 tables in the entire restaurant and the place is filled up every moment that it is opened. The wait could be as long as 30 minutes on one that we were there. There isn't much waiting room, either. So if you happen to come on a chilly day, be prepared to be squeezed out and waiting in the cold. With that being the case, I still would not hesitate the slightest giving it 5 stars.

    (5)

  • Loren B.

    I tried this place in large part because it got good yelp reviews and my expectations were certainly met. I went here with a large group and everyone seemed to be pretty happy with the offerings. I recommend ordering Tapas style assuming the people you're with people open to such things. Regardless, you must try something from the juice bar. A nice place to check out, but little pricey for what you get. Make sure you get a reservation early.

    (4)

  • Andrea M.

    The seafood muquecas (stews) offered at Muqueca are a warm, fuzzy blanket of food love on a cold day. It's totally worth the walk on a chilly night to pick up comfort food to go, if, like me, you're too cheap (and too close by) to pay Dining In to bring it to you. Truth be told, go to Muqueca anytime you're craving a yummy seafood fix. The stews are a beautiful balance of broth, veggies, and everything from fish to shrimp to muscles and even plantains/tofu for a vegetarian/non-seafood option. The Seafood Casserole was tastylish, with hints of the coconut milk that make it rich without overwhelming the dish overall. The fried yucca is tasty, and comes with or without slices of linguica (although it is a little dry on the outside... the dipping sauce may balance that, I didn't have any), and the fried plantains are of the sticky, sweet, yummy variety. Don't forget a smoothie from the juice bar, all sorts of fresh and fruity. For those who aren't into the fruits of the sea, check out the decidedly meat options, including steak tips, roast pork, diced chicken, and sirloin. They did a lovely job of splitting our large group's bill onto 4 separate credit cards, which was awesome considering how busy it was! If you're hungry, or with a group, get there on the early side of dinner, and you're more likely to get a seat faster. Worst case, you can get a smoothie and some candy snacks at the counter and hang out while you wait. ;)

    (4)

  • Alena D.

    So good. Stay, eat, have food coma. Delicious. I'd recommend the muqueca stews w/out fish (Cod can be a little dry) and eat over rice with their awesome sauces and powders. A little pricey for what it is, but it's rare to find a place were you leave and are completely satisfied, you can feel it in the warm glow of your tummy.

    (4)

  • kwala t.

    This place gets crowded on weekend nights, so plan for a potential wait, but if you are looking for affordable and well-prepared food around Inman or Central, this is the spot. While we didn't try the restaurant's namesake, the mariscada (in the northeast brazil style, with coconut milk, cilantro and served with farofa and stewed, sweet plantains) was wonderful - hearty and full of seafood, with just enough tomato and coconut flavor to make it really stand out. It was enough for two dinners, so order carefully - sharing is almost requisite. The feijoada (traditional brazilian black bean and meat stew) was also great, and so much bang for your buck! We started with the fried yucca and sausage, which was served with a rich, creamy sauce - a total heartstopper, but really yummy. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the caldo verde, a porridge-y kale soup that just didn't have enough flavor for my taste. But overall, I was very pleased to discover Muqueca and satisfy my saudade for Brazil. A great deal, and very nice staff to boot.

    (4)

  • Andy R.

    This place was fantastic. We went in the early afternoon, and I suspect we were lucky that there was a table just opening up; there is very little space. The service was friendly but inattentive. They actually forgot an appetizer we had ordered. But the entrees were so substantial they may have been doing us a favor. I couldn't finish even half of my dish. The food wasn't even very expensive for a Boston restaurant. This place is a real gem.

    (5)

  • Tom E.

    woooooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwieeeeee This was a good meal. Actually it felt like two meals. I'm prone to overdoing it, stuffing myself silly and then having to go for a run the next morning - but here is where I really overdid it. And who can blame me? Amazing Brazilian/Angolan fish stews, served with fried yucca and plantains. All in generous portions. Actually Yelp helped me here - after a thread 'ask your friend what their favourite restaurant is' - I asked my Portugese friends and we ended up here. A great place for a group dinner and I was obviously very lucky to be dining with people who knew what they were upto and knew the owner. ----Important Tips---- 1. It's very small so expect some elbow collisions and a wait for your table. 2. There is no license so order one of the Brazilian fruit drinks - they are seriously good. 3. You WILL need to wash all your clothes after leaving. Unless you want to smell of onions and fish.

    (5)

  • Joseluis A.

    oh muqueca bahiana! i fuckin love you. yelp reader, thats it. this is it. you want to eat here. thats it. do you have $20 on you? do it. the muqueca is excellent of course but you really gotto try everything on the menu. good appetizers. awesome fried frog legs. fried yucca, comes with an amazing diping garlic sauce. even the collard greens are awesome. just go for it kid. do it.

    (5)

  • Danny F.

    A very very solid 4 stars. I love Brazilian/Portuguese seafood, and this really hit the spot for me on a busy Friday night. Service was very friendly and knowledgeable, and food was even better. I had a huge hearts of palm salad and shrimp muqueca. Both were simple dishes done right, fresh and flavorful, and that's really the magic of this place.

    (4)

  • Tanvi D.

    Summary --- Intimate homely atmosphere, Awesome food, will go there again any day.. Main Write up -- Went there this past sunday for dinner with a friend. I'm semi vegeterian (will eat meat, but, like to have veg. options if the meat dishes are not appealing), so, I was a bit apprehensive about going to a brazilian restaurant. But, the food was exceptional and definitely worth the trip. We got there around 8:00 pm. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the pleasantness of the wait staff. The hostess / waitress (she looked like she was incharge) greeted us with a smile and asked us if we could wait for couple minutes while she got our table ready for us The place is kinda small with about 10 tables. When we came in there was a party of 5 people who were huddled rather uncomfortably around 2 tables, and another party was just leaving. The waitress *told* the party of 5 to move to the table that was just vacated. These people just picked up their dishes and moved. This was a good sign. The sign of locals. They cleaned up the tables and promptly seated us. She brought us the menu and gave us plenty of time to think about what we wanted to for dinner. I got a banana lasagna -- layers of plantains baked with cheese and my friend got their signature shrimp muqueca -- shrimp in a very savory seafood broth with onions, tomatoes and lots and lots of cilantro. We also ordered mango nana - mango, banana and papaya juice, for our drinks. We could hear the blender as she prepared our drinks.. They were yummy!! Next our food came out in 15 minutes, and both the dishes were served with rice. The muqueca was also served with a bland gravy thing. My dish, the banana lasagna, was very filling. The cheese was saltier than I am used to. I liked that. and the plantains were firm yet squishy and cooked to perfection. I sneaked a bite out of the muqueca it was simply out of the world. I loved how all the flavors came together and melted in my mouth. I think I am going to order this the next time that I am there.. Oh yeah there will definitely be a next time.. One of the other wonderful things about this establishment was that there was a constant flow of locals that were coming in chatting with the wait staff and picking up their dinner to go. They even let a mother and child in after they had closed the place. Even though they were officially closed for the night, we NEVER felt rushed. They let us eat our food in peace and took our plates away when both my friend and I put our napkins on the table. All in all, it was an amazing dinner..

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    We bumped into this wonderful restaurant as we wandered through Cambridge one warm spring evening. Locals spoke highly of it, so we dove right in! The fish Muqueca was outstanding! As fish lovers we were delighted. The flavors were distinct and distinctive, the service friendly and the ambiance pleasant.

    (5)

  • Olivia C.

    My first taste of Brazilian besides making-out with the blue-eyed dishwasher from Fire and Ice. Mo. Que? CAARREESS Deep fried calamaria with passionate fruit sauce Stew specialities served sizzling to your table to put over flavorful rice. Fish and Shrimp Moqueca. Tender Tender Cod. Collared Greens. Fried Red Snapper with Plaintains and French Fries and Marinated Tomatoes. Excellent black Brazillian coffee. And endless fruit shakes from fruits I never heard from the rainforest: Aa, Cupua, Graviola and Acerola. This place is beautiful. They make their own pots to cook in. Cozy small. And one of the best meals I've had in a long time. To top it off I got to meet Ligaya in real time!

    (5)

  • Alyssa F.

    Tonight was my third dinner at Muqueca and each visit has been as delicious as the last. The restaurant is small and usually crowded, so if you can, call ahead for reservations. We waited 35 minutes for seating last night, but the staff let us place our order beforehand and by the time we had our table, our appetizers were ready and the entrees were just minutes behind them. The plantains are sweet and gooey and irresistible and the fried yucca is delicious in the house dill and cream dipping sauce. The entrees are served in traditional clay cooking pots. I had not tried the signature stew until this visit, but one forkful of the shrimp and mussel moqueca made me a fan for life. You'll want to sop up every last bit of the savory broth with your rice and you might even consider asking for a straw. The banana lasagna was cheesy and sweet. I'm not a fan of thick drinks, but the fruit smoothies have gotten nothing but rave reviews from my friends. On previous visits, I'd ordered the house style shrimp and seafood rice casserole, both of which I'd recommend, but the muqueca is the star of the show.

    (5)

  • Don W.

    145 reviews is clearly not enough, so here's another paragraph of praise. We went to Muqueca at 2PM on Sunday, and it was packed. Fortunately we knew to call ahead and we only had to wait 5 minutes when we arrived. Wherever the recession is, it must have skipped over this restaurant. It's not a fancy place, or a big place, or a center of elegant dining. I'm not sure it would be a good first date place because it's not easy to have a conversation. But the food was delicious. I had the Muqueca with fish and shrimp, and my wife had the shrimp bobo. They were both delicious, and different from each other. It was spicy, but only if your definition of spice includes more than heat. It wasn't hot, but the hot sauce was right there if we wanted it. And we had the guarana soda. We had no room for dessert and left stuffed for $45, including tip. It makes me wish I lived closer.

    (5)

  • Francine W.

    SO GOOD. SO GOOD. SO GOOD. the mussel and shrimp muqueca is to die for. the rice mixes so well with the stew. YUM. the fried plantains are great as well. the place is small so be ready for a wait if you go during peak time!

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    My boyfriend and I went to Muqueca for dinner last week. I got the tofu/plantain muqueca, based on Yelp suggestions, and both my boyfriend and I were definitely not fans. It had a mushy consistency and was somewhat bland. The juice bar was very cool -- I would recommend trying something from there if you go.

    (3)

  • Irene F.

    I know this place gets crowded, so I came on a weekday. Yum! Despite all the hype, Muqueca didn't disappoint. The restaurant is named Muqueca for a reason -- try it! For some reason, even though the price difference is a dollar, the fish and shrimp muqueca is almost twice as big as the shrimp-only muqueca. Fish stew has never tasted so great. I really recommend it. Another great dish is the Feijoada Completa, a meat and black beans stew that comes with collard greens and fried plantains on the side. The food takes a while to come out, so get a smoothie while you wait. I tried the strawberry pina colada and I can't wait to go back and try the others!

    (5)

  • Sari C.

    Oh. My. Goodness. So awesome! I had the mussel and fish moqueca with a side of fried plaintains. The plantains were so delicious; the moqueca was totally ridiculous. I've never had moqueca before and I know I'll be going back as often as I can afford. It was in a tasty, but sort of thin, broth, chock full of mussels - I was expecting maybe 5-10 mussels in the shell, and I got maybe 20 shucked mussels along with a generous portion of white fish, plus delectable thick onion slices and veggies, and rice. The rest of my party had the squid & fish moqueca (good if you like squid), and the mariscada, which was a nice complement to the moqueca as the coconut milk made it sweeter and it had a wide variety of seafood in it. We got the crabcake appetizer, which was tasty but reading everyone else's reviews, next time I'm going to try the yucca fries. Also, the staff was VERY friendly and helpful; I asked how to pronounce things and the waiter laughed and taught me how to pronounce everything we ordered. A great experience! By the way, their kids menu is really tasty looking and cheap - $6 for kids sized portions of steak tips and more.

    (5)

  • Bevin C.

    If Muqueca is crowded, get take out. Don't sit down if Muqueca is crowded. I repeat, do not try to eat Muqueca when it is crowded. It doesn't matter how good the food tastes if you have to wait an hour and a half sitting at a table with no water and not a glance from the harried wait staff, future diners with their asses up against the edge of your table breathing all over you as they wait to get their own table and eagerly await the chance to be appalled at the way that restaurant falls apart on a Friday night. I hated it here. It was the worst. The food was really delicious though. Too bad I'm too traumatized by a Friday night spent waiting in misery to go back there for a long, long time.

    (4)

  • Sonny R.

    Delicious! Can't wait to be back in Boston!

    (5)

  • Ger T.

    Went here with two friends on a whim, because one of the said friends had a gift certificate. The first thing that strikes you is the fantastically multi-colored walls. It's like walking into a rainforest in the dead of Boston winter, and it was freezing (literally) when we were getting off the bus in Inman Square, so the colors hit me like a wake up call: WAKE UP AND EAT! The food: awesome. I am a big fan of homey comfort food, and this is comfort food to the max, Brazilian style. Definitely try their fried yucca, even if you're not a fan of fried food. It's starch-y, like a light potato, and just barely crispy on the outside, very delicate. For the main course, it's an almost endless menu selection of different clay pot fish dishes (the "muqueca" of the restaurant name). I had the fish and mussels, and it was delicious, basically like a really chunky seafood stew with tons of veggies. All the desserts sounded lovely, but I was way too full by the end to eat another bite. For cilantro haters: beware, their food is chock full of it. You could request a dish sans-cilantro, but as it seems such an integral part of the cuisine, I'm not sure that would be a good idea.

    (5)

  • Angela F.

    The food is delicious and the service is great! I never get disappointed when I come here. The Chicken Stroganoff is one of my favorites. It has a rich creamy taste but the richness is not too overbearing. I've also tried the Prime Cut Sirloin, Shrimp Moqueca, and Shrimp Bobo. These entrees are also quite delicious. However, I personally would choose the Shrimp Bobo and Prime Cut Sirloin over the Shrimp Moquenca. Appetizers I would recommend are the Fried Yucca and Plantains. The only negative thing about this restaurant would be its size. The restaurant has about 6 small tables...we had to wait for about an hour for a party of 8 on a busier day. Other than that, I definitely recommend this restaurant! You won't be disappointed!

    (5)

  • Adrian L.

    Quite possibly my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. I always bring my friends visiting from out-of-town here. Their food is amazing, their smoothies are great and it's a good deal for the quality of seafood they are serving.

    (5)

  • Roni E.

    How have I NOT written a review on this? It's been over a month since I came here for my b-day with Barbara Ann, Paul, Jessika, Miss Dishie, and Barbara Ann's children. I was advised by the most knowledgeable Miss Jessika that, "you don't come here for steak or chicken, you come here for the seafood". And so I ordered a Fish Moqueca but substituted the rice with collard greens instead. I kinda wish I stuck with the rice instead. The collards were bland and really could have used some sort of flavor. Put that aside 'cause the fish was really delicious! I also had the Strawberry Pina Colada which really doesn't need an explanation. But what really made this evening was the girls who worked here. Erik may be 5 but he's a sneaky lil sucker. He had gone to one of the girls and told them it was my birthday. They ended up bringing over this awesome chocolate mousse/flan cake with a candle in it for us. She even gave Erik his own flan. It's a tiny place, so beware that there may be a line, but it's worth it. If you have more than 2 - 3 people, I would suggest making a reservation.

    (5)

  • Maria V.

    I went into Muqueca knowing absolutely nothing about Brazilian food, and I left unable to stop raving about it! If you like seafood and cilantro, your tastebuds will dance and sing with the very first bite here. Got the fried yucca and crabcakes as an appetizer -- the yucca was so lightly fried, it didn't fill me up too much so I couldn't eat my main course, and the crab was so light, totally unlike the fried crabcakes we usually think of in the U.S., very meaty and light. For the main course I shared a moqueca (sizzling-hot clay pot!) of fish and mussels. It's so filling but not heavy on the stomach. Anyone who loves good seafood will really appreciate this, as it's kind of a hearty stew with loads of veggies, but not quite like any other fish dish I've ever had except maybe bakaliaro/bakalao (if you've had that). Definitely call ahead and reserve a seat, the place is tiny and always filled to capacity -- and given the portions here (just right, but they don't skimp!) it'll take patrons a while to finish. Don't miss out on the juice drinks either, they go fabulously with a moqueca. This place is cozy and warm, from the hearty dishes to the beautiful salmon-colored walls. It's like a mini-vacation, a pure delight in the middle of winter!

    (5)

  • Lindsay L.

    Inman Square has a good number of Brazilian and Portuguese restaurants, but this one has started to get a great buzz. We went on Saturday night at about 8 with a part of 4, and were surprised there wasn't an open table. I would definitely recommend making a reservation just to be sure because it's quite small. We started with the fried yucca. The yucca was pretty standard, but it came with a really nice sauce. We then all ordered varieties of the Moqueca, which is supposed to be their specialty. I had the shrimp, which was outstanding... great flavors. All of my friends liked theirs a lot as well. If you're hungry, the shrimp with fish or mussels and the the fish with shrimp and mussels are almost double the size of the just shrimp or just mussels moqueca and only a dollar or two more. They also have a smoothie/juice bar which looked really good but I didn't try.

    (4)

  • Andrew M.

    I chose Muqueca for my last meal in the Boston area (for a while, at least) because I was in the mood for plantains. This inspired me to order the "Lasagna de Banana", which, despite its name, wasn't bad at all--though the sheer quantity of cheese started to bog me down after a little while. I got to try a little bit of my mother's muqueca and it was wonderful.

    (4)

  • EJ S.

    Preface:: 1st time trying authentic Brazilian food. Reserved a week in advance for 6 on a Saturday. My hubby & I actually arrived ~15 min earlier and was seated promptly. (By the time we left 7:15ish, the place had picked up big time) Eats:: Fried Yucca for starters. It had similar consistency of fried potato but maybe a little lighter. The dipping sauce added a nice tart to the crispy squares. I got the Seafood Rice Casserole. A bit on the salty side but overall it was good with its rich, buttery and cilantro flavors. JD got the Feijoada. Enjoyed the black bean stew w/meats. Wasn't a fan of the collard greens (too salty). The generous portions left us with takeout. Drinks:: The strawberry pina cola smoothie was simple but fresh/tasty. Space:: Colorful, dining area is very small and could come across as dingy. Air-conditioned interior (complemented by the smoothies) beat the July heat. Service:: Efficient. Final Comments:: Check it out. Don't think you could really go wrong with this place. I'd like to go back and try lasagna de banana & fish moqueca.

    (3)

  • Jungmin L.

    I hate overcooked seafood. The seasoning is slightly salty. The flavor is acceptable, though.

    (2)

  • Joe R.

    I was very impressed to find a restaurant with a menu almost completely composed of items I had never heard of before. I mean, how many places can you say that about? I tried several dishes - all were quite intricate and tasty. The wait-staff was great, too. If you go, be sure to get one of the fresh juices. Also, Muqueca is BYOB.

    (4)

  • Daniel H.

    Great steak and seafood. I've been to Brazil, it's an authentic place.

    (5)

  • Mcslimj B.

    Authentic Bahian comfort food, notable for its namesake seafood stew, in a sunny, super-casual room. If Casa Portugal suggests Old World refinement, Muqueca is all homespun New World insouciance, with its brightly painted wooden furnishings and gruff service. A starter of mandioca frita com linguiça ($5) features crunchy cubes of deep-fried cassava, smoky sausage slices and a thin cucumber-dill dipping sauce, with Brazilian sodas ($1) and tropical-fruit smoothies ($3) to wash it all down. What we're here for, of course, is the moqueca, a seafood stew that, in Brazil, falls into two regional camps. The owners, from Espírito Santo, serve moqueca capixaba in traditional handcrafted clay pots, forgoing the palm oil and coconut milk of the heavier Bahian style. The bubbling-hot, oversized moqueca de peixe com camaro e sururu ($13) showcases haddock, shrimp and shelled mussels in olive oil, lemon and tomatoes; stained coral with annatto and showered with cilantro. Sides include white rice, piro (seafood stock and fish trimmings gelatinously thickened with cassava flour) and a hot sauce of pureed chiles. Finding our moqueca mild to the point of blandness, lacking the richness of a caldeirada, we liberally add piro and chile. Fresh, value-priced and a bit simple, this dish feels like the work of a rustic home cook. For the Brazilian expats who pack this storefront nightly, that's clearly a virtue.

    (3)

  • Josh F.

    I live in the area and I've heard a lot about this place, so I figure I would give it a try. It's def worth a trip there. Has a very loyal following. I tired the signature stew dish w fish and calamari and was impressed w the freshness and flavors. I have never really experienced Brazilian cuisine so I had nothing to compare it to, but I had a good experience here.

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    Mmmm... this place is absoutely amazing! I really liked the Plantain Lasagna as well as the fish and shrimp muqueca. Both are flavorfully rich but very different, good complements to each other. The lasagna was a suprising but well paired mixture of banana and (predominantly, it seemed) mozarella cheese - soo good! The fish is soooo amazing in the moqueca -- a great savory mixture of tomato, onions, cilantro and yumminess. Even the mussels moqeuca was very good, with tons of mussels! The national dish (feijoda completa?) was good, but I don't think I like it enough to want to order it again (the other two were so much better). I liked the strawberry pina colada, wasn't syrupy sweet or anything like that... the drinks are really good, light, natural tasting (which not everyone may appreciate).

    (5)

  • Arun C.

    Glad I read some reviews before going because I was willing to wait it out until my friends and I got a table on a Saturday night. It was worth it. Great flavors and portions for the main courses, and the blended juice drinks went well with it all. I'd recommend reservations. I read somewhere here that they don't take them on Friday's and Saturday's? I don't know about that since the guy asked me if I had reservations when I went on a Sat nite.

    (4)

  • Q S.

    Loved the cod dish with plantains and coconut milk!

    (4)

  • Tamar O.

    My husband and I were visiting Boston and found this place through Yelp (it was one of the best reviewed restaurants). This restaurant is in a little Brazilian/Portuguese neighborhood in Cambridge. The food was absolutely amazing. I will not come back to the Boston area without eating there again. I had the Seafood Rice Casserole. It was so flavorful (cilantro, coconut & turmeric (maybe)) and came hot in a clay pot. My husband had the Shrimp Moqueca, which was lighter and came with boiled rice. Oh, and that spicy red sauce was awesome too. I will have to do research and figure out what it might have been. Our first Brazilian food-experience was so great, I feel we might be disappointed if we try it again elsewhere. Maybe we should take a trip to Bahia to avoid that!

    (5)

  • Jamie F.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Boston! I adore their fish muqueca and fruit smoothies. The amazing food, brightly-colored dining room, and friendly owners make this place worth the wait.

    (5)

  • stacey l.

    Food is great.. The dishes are so interesting, its hard to decide what to order. The menu isn't huge, but in a specialized joint it's not necessary. The prices are great, very few dishes over $10-11. Only minus on the stars comes from the awful service I have experienced there for sit down service. They are tiny and have 15 or so tables in a crowded corner store front. We ordered an appetizer and after 35 minutes our meal shows up. She then remembers that we never got the app, but at that point there was no use. We never got attended to for refills on drink and then we finally got the bill we had an issue and she never came back to the table to fix it. Because there was a line of people waiting to be seated, I went up to the station and told her what was wrong and she said hold on because she was busy! I was just trying to pay and get out of there so they could flip the table and get the people in line seated. I will never go back on a weekend night. But will go back for sit down service because I feel some of the dishes would not do well for take out.

    (3)

  • Caitlin B.

    YUM! I have tried to replicate the seafood muquecas at home and failed! They are so flavorful and delicious, one of my favorite places in Cambridge. I wish the place was bigger because it is a bit cramped, but the food is SO worth it! Lovely with a side of plaintains. The fruit drinks are really good too. The best part is there is always enough left over to take home and eat for breakfast!

    (4)

  • Ryuji S.

    I know this place since 2001. At that time, food was just as perfect as today, and at much lower price, but I never had to wait for a table. I started writing good reviews about them online, and a few years later, I regretted writing good reviews. I can't even get a table even in a slow day! If you like light but tasty codfish stew, this is the place to go. They cook rice just perfectly even by the Japanese standard.

    (5)

  • Zee S.

    Not what one thinks of when thinking of Brazilian food! This area of Innman Sq. is littered with BBQ houses serving up meaty portions, but Muqueca is different. This northern Brazilian restaurant offers hearty seafood stews, whole fried fish and bean and pork stews. The house salad includes apples and hearts of palm with thin cut sweet onions and green olives. The house made balsamic is light and refreshing. The seafood Muqueca cooked in a clay pot with delicate tomato, cilantro and citrus flavors is a must try on a a first visit. The Mariscada and the Cod Capixaba are also excellent. The fried yucca makes a great appetizer in addition to the salad. The fried whole fish is excellent but a challenge to eat especially for young kids since it's complete with bones. The Fejuada Completa (touted as the Brazillian national dish) is a hearty bean stew with pork and sausage, delicious but a little intense for some. The collard greens, yucca powder and oranges that accompany the Fejuada are also great. With all this great food, it might be tempting to eat too much and not save room for desert. This would be a mistake. The chocolate flan, tapioca cake, passion fruit custard and little truffles are all amazing. This is an amazing place and highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Huan z.

    Very Yummy! I would give it a 3 and half star. My fish soup need little bit more salt but it is very delicious. Plantain Lasagna is very sweet. We also had coconut shrimp as appetizer. It was bit oily but very crispy and tasted good with the sauce. My favorite dish there was the rice. Their rice was very well cooked, soft with wonderful taste. Two thumbs up!

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    We ordered the calamari, mariscada, fish muqueca, and chicken vegetable broth for delivery. The calamari had the ratio of breading to calamari that we like a lot and the sauce was very nice. The Mariscada sauce was also amazing with a great assortment of seafood. Fish muqueca was also delicious although I find it interesting to cook fish in so much sauce. I would say that hte chicken vegetable broth was the least favorite, although still delicious with lots of chicken and vegetables. I would say it's a thicker soup that is full of flavor. Since it was delivered, I think that we probably would have enjoyed it more at the restaurant since this was the first time we had some of these dishes and didn't know what some of the condiments were. Food probably would've been even better if fresh at restaurant, opposed to delivered, where it was excellent even delivered!

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    This place was as good the second time as the first, and deserves an upgrade to five stars. I got the vegetarian muqueca (with plantains and tofu), and I didn't care that it was missing meat. That to me is the mark of a good vegetarian dish. The service is good, the price is acceptable, and the stews are awesome.

    (5)

  • Al A.

    Bad food. Surprisingly bad service given such a small restaurant. Most of the food came out over cooked.

    (1)

  • laura w.

    I love this place. My fav is the Muqueca and plantains. I'm sad it moved a couple blocks further from me but I'm happy they are expanding and their new place looks beautiful. I have to check it out!

    (5)

  • Zing G.

    This place probably does really deserve 5 stars, but I'm sticking with 4 only because the Fried Yuka was a let down; especially after other reviewers got my expectations so high. The fried yuka was just too hard - like eating an uncooked potato. That said, everything else we had was absolutely fantastic. The signature dishes (the seafood stews) are out of this world and really set this place apart from any other seafood or Brazilian restaurant I've been to. The atmosphere is small and cozy and the server was excellent. We got in just time, as shortly after we were seated a mob formed outside the door waiting to get a table. I'd suggest getting their at 6:30 or earlier for prompt seating. This is a great date spot... though a warning: like all "soup" restaurants, be it Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian or Brazilian - you will leave there with your hair and cloths smelling like food; delicious food none the less.

    (4)

  • A H.

    I went here about 2 months ago, and have been meaning ever since to warn people about this place. Food was fine, albeit overpriced (-1 star), but the service is what is making them get a bad review (-3 stars). My party of 4 came in around 6 on a weeknight and were seated pretty quick. The place had maybe 3 other parties serviced by 3 waitstaff. It should have been a knockout for service, but instead we found ourselves having to ask for every little thing ("Hello Miss? All 4 of us have been out of water for 20 minutes...do you think we can get a refill?"). As dinner wrapped up, they asked if we wanted to see the desert menu. We figured why not, and it took legitimately 15 minutes for them to just come back with menus -- no thanks! When we got the bill, we found additional items they tried to sneak on, and had to call them out on it. My wife was so infuriated with the service, especially trying to add on items we never ordered, that she suggested I leave less than 10%. Unfortunately that wasn't possible -- Muqueca thinks so highly of its service that it adds 18% to all checks. Bravo! Now I know why your waitstaff is so lazy -- regardless of how bad the service they provide, they know they get paid. Well Muqueca, let me ask you a math riddle. How much is 18% of $0? Good, because that is exactly how much you'll be earning off of me from now on.

    (1)

  • Jackie S.

    YES! Muqueca! This is what I'm talking about. Scrumptious food, a cute and eclectic dining area, and friendly servers. Wonderful! I stumbled upon this place after my boyfriend and I were looking for a place to grab dinner after a long move-in day. We were exhausted, starving, and losing hope when we turned the corner and saw this adorable little restaurant. We walked in, were greeted warmly by a server, and sat immediately on a Monday night. The server explained everything on the menu to us, which was a relief because we'd never eaten Brazilian food before. We ordered the Fried Yucca appetizer, which was crispy golden-fried Yucca root. It had a potato-like texture with the sweetness of jicama or squash. SO delicious! We also ordered the Feijoada Completa, which was a black bean strew with dried beef and pork sausage. This dish was executed immaculately. It came with an orange slice, rice, collard greens, and a sweet sprinkling of yellow (corn?) powder over the dish. We also ordered a juice from their juice bar, which was made with pineapple/cashew/guava amazingness. The whole meal was under $30 and we ate like kings (and queens, of course). Check Muqueca out for a fun date place or a new ethnic experience. It's a culinary treat to remember!

    (4)

  • Layla P.

    Hmmm soooo good! We tried the chicken Brazilian patties to start and they were so delicious, we actually cut up the last one with a little knife so that everyone got exactly equal amounts. We also tried the Fish Muqueca, the Feijoada and the Cod Capixaba - they were all amazing, but I especially like the Cod Capixaba because it had coconut milk and that's a favorite for me. We also tried several desserts which were equally fantastic. I highly recommend this place. And it is a Brazilian place that is actually vegetarian friendly, imagine that? So go for it! The service is friendly and attentive, the prices good, and they take credit cards. Limited seating, so be prepared to wait if it's peak dinner time.

    (5)

  • Francis W.

    We had to wait FOREVER for a table and the place is pretty small, but it is worth it. The coconut milk seafood stew was AMAZING!!!! I highly recommend the seafood dishes place.

    (5)

  • Hannah L.

    i had been trying to get here for a while and am so happy i did. the food was SO SO good and served in these awesome heavy hot bowls. it's like foreign comfort food. also, for 3 people, bill was only $43.00. cheap and yummy!

    (5)

  • Reena B.

    Went out there for a dinner with a large group. The food was excellent. And as a vegetarian, the Muqueca with tofu was very yummy...its rare to find a place with that much good seafood (according to our friends) and have fantastic vegetarian food.

    (5)

  • jeremy k.

    I have to say the service was fine and perfectly friendly, and the food was not bad for the money. But seeing all the wildly positive reviews, I must say I went in with high expectations and left slighly disappointed.. 1) the place gets really noisy. 2) the shrimp in my muqueca bowl tasted much better than the fish did. On the plus side, it was light on the wallet, dinner for two, with drinks was less than $50 including a 20% tip. All in all, I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid the place, but it's nothing to write home about either.

    (3)

  • Jennifer D.

    This got high reviews on Yelp, so my coworker and I decided to check this place out. I was mildly disappointed. The food was decent, but I didn't see what all the hype was about. I actually enjoyed Bossa Nova's food (in SF) more. We ordered some coconut rice dish and the fried yucca.

    (3)

  • Dave J.

    Yelp was right. It's tasty and worth the walk to Inman and the price. We got there around 8:00 and it was pretty empty, but by 8:30 on a Thursday night, there was probably a 15 min wait. Solid 4 stars.

    (4)

  • Julia S.

    My all-time favorite hearty, feel-good, unpretentious neighborhood restaurant. The seafood casserole is fabulous and made a believer out of my sister (who never eats seafood).

    (4)

  • Shuan L.

    One of the bf's best high school friends was in town, so we arranged to meet her plus two other people at Muqueca for a late lunch. We were a chatty group. The bf and his friend had a lot to catch up on. Plus, when you get a cluster of medical students together, they inevitably nerd out and start talking nonstop about bodily functions and medical procedures that gross out other restaurant patrons. Then the food arrived, and we literally fell silent for the entire meal. It was glorious. The sight of our small table crowded with steaming clay pots of seafood stew was so beautiful I kind of wanted to cry. Portions are generous, and the staff is friendly. This place is a true gem.

    (5)

  • Katherine I.

    While you're reading this review, wondering if you should try it, the line is lengthening. So, I'll keep it short. You'll love anything that includes a mix of seafoods served in an old-country pot. Bye.

    (4)

  • Yuko I.

    The food was not something to say so loud, I experienced a lot better muqueca. So, I was disappointed with this place first of all. When I tried to pay me and my friend's bill with half cash half credit card, I was told to put more tips as I tipped on the credit card and the server did not see it. I fond this was rather rude, but I got patient and explained, the server still did not understand I paid tips on credit card and insisted I should pay more. Finally, I called a manager as the server was making the scene, the guy did not even apologize but he simply said "it is up to you if you want to pay or not pay for the service..." I felt I should not have paid tips. Rude and horrible service. Never come back.

    (1)

  • Andrew D.

    I'll just pile on. Great food, and good prices. It is popular and small, so there is sometimes a wait. I recommend going early.

    (5)

  • Madeleine Q.

    i brings my out of town guests here all the time. this is my all-time favorite eatery in boston. i do miss the old hole in the wall joint but the new remodeled place has more tables and spaces for people so less waiting time to be seated!! you must try one of the muquecas and the brazilian national dish (beef stew in black bean soup). soooo good!!! they don't have good calamari or pork chops so don't get american friendly dishes when you go there.

    (5)

  • I D.

    This place was really good. I love seafood and the menu is perfect for a seafood lover. I got the Mariscada and it was delicious. BF got the steak and it was good, but not great. I'd stick to their seafood options 'cause it seems that they know what they're doing with that. The place is small so reservations are recommended...even on a weeknight.

    (4)

  • Chinwe N.

    This place is awesome. Very intimate and authentic food. Definitely a good meal at a great price!

    (5)

  • Jade H.

    The food was very well cooked. Sauces were tasty and I even liked the Beans of the National dish. Everything everyone has said about this restaurant's food is true. The reason why I don't give it a full five stars is because they added the tip right into our check! What? That was a little tricky. What makes them think that four people should have tip inclusive? What makes them think that we were that enthusiastic about their service? Indeed! I never like having choices taken away from me.

    (4)

  • Iris M.

    Let me start off by saying that I've been to Muqueca numerous times, before it moved to its new location. The previous restaurant was small, but had this really warm, amazing atmosphere. Eating meals there always felt as if I stumbled on a great secret. It was always packed, but accommodating. Now, I don't harbor those same fuzzy feelings for this restaurant, especially with all the other Brazilian restaurants in the area. The food has really taken a turn for the worse (compared to what is used to be) in the last year and a half. It's just not as flavorful. I don't know if management has shifted, but it's not the same. I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because of how good it USED to be, and I'm hoping that it will get better one day sooner rather than later. I will say that the smoothies are good there, so I don't feel as bad now about giving it 3 stars. Casa Portugal down the street has better food, though.

    (3)

  • Vanessa C.

    this is some of the tastiest food I have ever had in boston. after having been a few times now I can tell you what I found to be good and what to avoid. Excellent: THE SEAFOOD RICE CASSEROLE. this is one of my favorite dishes I have ever had in my entire life. frealz. Good: the muquecas - honestly the casserole is twice as good! stay away: dont bother with the shakes. I havent tried the meat menus here but if you go for the seafood rice casserole I can pretty much guarantee you will not be disappointed!

    (4)

  • Rooster L.

    This place is fantastic! The food is excellent and reasonably priced. We didn't have a reservation at got there about 6:15 on a Saturday night. We had no trouble getting a table but by 7 you would have had to wait (you can make reservations) The staff was very friendly although they didn't speak a lot of english. I ask what was in one of the sauces and they actually told me love was one of the main ingredients!! We got the fried yucca and portugese sausage appetizers and I got the mussels muqueca (house specialty). If you like seafood the muqueca is the way to go. If not, my boyfriend got the Prime cut sirlon and it was fantastic. The portions are on the large size - I think two ladies could split a muqueca and app and be full. Or there are always leftovers!! Desert and coffee are a must here. The deserts are small, rich, and cheap! The most expensive desert is $3!! I got a cafezinho (brazilian espresso) and it was $0.75! I didn't think you could get normal coffee anywhere for $0.75! So for 1 app, 2 entrees, 2 desserts and one coffee the bill was $45! If I had to criticize, the decor is ok, its a little crowded in there and don't serve alcohol. But honestly they don't need to change anything!

    (5)

  • Judy P.

    I love Muqueca. Shrimp muqueca and Fish muqueca are very addictive. Friend plantain was okay for me and their shakes are not that great.

    (4)

  • Christine V.

    Just loved this place! This place was small and cozy. We ordered a bunch of things I can't remember but I enoyed every bite! Be ready for the richness of each dish! Even the rice was buttered! mmmm

    (5)

  • Maridel S.

    Came here for dinner with some friends and I'm glad we did! We found parking just steps from the entrance and were seated right away once everyone in our party arrived. Make reservations ahead of time coz the place is pretty small and gets packed quickly. The staff was great, very friendly and attentive. We split the Coconut Shrimp (delish- not too coconut-ty), Moqueca Completa (perfectly cooked seafood, very rich), Plantains (needed a bit more seasoning), and 2 pitchers of Sangria (one of the best I've ever had). Dinner/drinks came out to about $25pp (there was 7 of us). We will definitely come back for more!

    (4)

  • Darren T.

    The place was indeed small -- when we first got in we weren't sure where to stand while waiting to be seated. It was a busy night, too. Thankfully, the hostess was fair and let us take the table reserved for a party that was a no-show (more than 15 minutes late without calling). The menu was full of great-sounding stuff. I was going to try the Strawberry Pina Colada that many on Yelp raved about, but the Blueberry Papaya smoothie called to me and I couldn't resist (I love blueberries and am quite partial to papaya as well). The drink had a great smoothie texture, consistency, and color. I wish the blueberry flavor had been more pronounced, but overall the drink was quite satisfying. We ordered the calamari appetizer, which comes with a passion fruit dipping sauce. I *love* passion fruit and I tend to enjoy a little sweetness with just about any savory item, so I really enjoyed this appetizer. The calamari was a bit tougher than I'm used to, but not too tough as to be unpleasant. My main dish was the "Lasagna de banana", which I ordered mostly out of curiosity and the knowledge that anything drowned in cheese (as lasagna usually is) couldn't be bad. It amounted to a bowl of plantains drowned in a wonderful, cheesy sauce with a great mix of textures and consistencies. The plantains were perfectly cooked and the whole dish melted in the mouth and was a joy to eat. I really loved this dish and it made wonderful leftovers! I also liked the interior decoration and the relative simplicity of the menu, which is especially good given how appealing the items themselves are. My experience was so good that I know I'll be going back. I'd like to try other items on the menu because they sound good, but the lasagna was so good it'll be hard to resist getting it again. =P

    (5)

  • Butters B.

    This place is charming with great service. Not the cheapest (fish muqueca is $23) but the quality of the ingredients is very good. We always get the fried yucca with the yummy garlic dipping sauce and the fish muqueca. Love the juices too!

    (4)

  • Joe B.

    Delicious and novel (to me). IMHO, most Cambridge churascarias (sp?) border on disgusting (low quality of meat) and overpriced (all you can eat for low quality meat, @ $25 = waste). Muqueca, however, features a substantial volume of very freshly prepared seafood served in a delicious variety of sauces. But for the price and management's inability to timely fulfill reservation, I would rate at 5 stars.

    (4)

  • grey b.

    AWESOME. DELICIOUS. AWESOME. I want to go to Brazil now. Also, the fired plantains side dish is a MUST. make sure to get a blended fruit drink.

    (5)

  • MaryTyler M.

    I can not BELIEVE I lived minutes away from this place forever and never even considered going in. After seeing it pop up on the main page the other day it was my first choice for dinner with my out of town visitor -- a foodie fish-head, often unsatisfied with the places I (a vegetarian) typically haunt. Quickly seated, quickly served, but slow to leave without being given any nudges from the waitress. What more could a gal want? I was really psyched on my tofu + plantain moqueca (which also made an amazing cold leftover the next morning), and my friend cleaned her plate of technicolor house salad with some amazingly cloud-like creamy Brazilian bread. She did say that her fish soup was "just ok", but I think she was a little colored by moqueca envy. It must be hard to sit by and watch someone ladle their bubbling cauldron of deliciousness onto their garlicky rice while you're snoozing over same-old soup. I can't wait to go back for fried plantains and a smoothie. Pee Ess, I highly recommend splitting a moqueca with at least 1 other person. And bring your camera -- this food begs to be photographed.

    (4)

  • Dave B.

    I really wanted to love this place. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was really disappointed in the food. The seafood dish just wasn't very flavorful. I think it might have been a dish I didn't like, or just a bad night, so I'm giving them another try.

    (2)

  • Joanna S.

    I used to live a block from here and often stop by to pick up flan on my way home. I miss those days. Aside from the flan, try the fried yucca and the best Muqueca is the one with the seafood and coconut milk. The portions are big and you always leave happy, with leftovers.

    (4)

  • Jia H.

    This place was truly fantastic! even in a neighborhood with lots of other great Portuguese/Brazilian restaurants. We ordered the muqueca (stew) with clam since they're the specialty of the restaurant. The clams, while not fresh were plentiful especially for the price. The shrimp entree was also flavorful although the veggie sides were lacking. They also have great smoothies for less than $3 and a lively and friendly crowd. There was no wait at 7pm on a weekend. Next time I'll definitely need to save room for fried snapper and passion fruit flan!

    (5)

  • Leo S.

    For constantly great homy style brazilian food, I recommend Muqueca. It's ideally located close to Inman square and to Christina's Ice cream shop. Food is served in a hot stone bowl and contains cilantro, lemon, tomato flavors. Their seafood dishes are probably the most popular and are close to spanish paella. For $10-$20 per entree, there's nothing you can beat. It's a very popular place, often cramped with local students. Great comfort food and a must try if you're in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • kim d.

    It's hard for me to give a less-than-average review, since I'm generally easy to please when it comes to going out to eat... and so many people had SO many great things to say about Muqueca here on Yelp. A friend of mine is subletting a place in Cambridge from a native Brazilian, and Muqueca's menu was the only Brazilian food menu in his apartment - we thought for sure we were headed to the right place. First - we made a reservation after hearing the stories of the long waits. No need really, they made us wait 30 minutes to be seated anyway. We showed up 5 minutes before our reservation time just to be safe. It's a tight space, so there's really nowhere to wait but to stand hovering over other people. Not so fun - especially for me since I'm 8 months pregnant. We then make it to our table. It takes 15 minutes for someone to take our order. At this point, we're starving - 45 minutes after our reservation time we FINALLY get to order. Maybe they sat is in some in-between table and no one was sure who was in charge of taking our order... We had long decided on the two dishes we wanted to split. One shows up before the other - we actually thought they did this on purpose because they understood we wanted to split the meal. Nope - they just never put in our order for the fried fish. After we finished eating that first dish, someone tried to take away our silverware. We tried to explain to her that we had another dish coming. Blank stare. My friend speaks great Portuguese and so then proceeded to tell the woman that we had in fact also ordered a fried fish dish. The woman then went to the counter and placed our order. At least we only had to wait 10 minutes for that to come out. The food really wasn't anything to write home about. Maybe it was our menu choices (though my friend spent time in Bahia and picked things off the menu that she thought were representative of good Bahia food), or maybe Muqueca is just so well-loved because it's a unique offering of Brazilian food (every other place in the area seems to go quite a bit heavier on the meat options). To make up for the order mix-up, a couple of chocolates for dessert were given to us "on the house." A kind gesture, but the order mix-up was not as big a problem as making a quite obviously pregnant woman stand for 30 minutes when she had made a reservation and there were open tables. I'm not going back and I actually discourage my friends who have asked me about it. Food won't make you sick - but you might find a better way to spend ~$15 for dinner.

    (2)

  • P M.

    Wow - this place is exceptional. Must try the yucca appetizer, the calamari and the mariscada. The service was pretty friendly - and we were there on a very crowded saturday night. Don't bother if you don't have reservations. We stood waiting for an hour. But it was worth it. For dessert, we had the passion fruit something which was deelish - very sweet and sour. But I think the chocolate mousse dessert was the best. Would definitely come back here again. Portions are huge. One entree is enough for 2 people. It's really great comfort food.

    (5)

  • Rafixo S.

    I'm Brazilian and I love to take friends from other countries to try a good Brazilian food, but until now, I've been embarrassed by some cheap taste food that some brazilians are offering, but after I try Muqueca, I felt proud again for being Brazilian... The best...

    (5)

  • Jacob W.

    This place is amazing. Went recently on weekend night, the only downside was the wait...it's a very small place, i would highly suggest reservations...but it is more than worth the wait. The service was great and the staff was very accommodating,they even took our order while we waited so our food was almost ready as soon as we were set. We split the fried yucca (mmmm) and Mariscada.(simply amazing.) I still can't get over how good it was!! Those two dishes were also more than enough for two. First Brazilian experience in/around Boston and it was a great one. I cannot wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Jesse A.

    The last time I had feijoada was during an impromptu samba party at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa in Rio de Janeiro... That was one of the great dining experiences of my life, so you know Muqueca is doing something right that I've given it five stars... I'm not brasilian, but as far I can tell, Muqueca is the genuine artifact... The feijoada is sublime and their signature dish, muqueca, was equally perfect...So much flavor. I liked the hot, cozy ambience of the old location better than the marble and modern new digs, but they serve alcohol now, so what's lost in ambiance is made up for with a cool beer to wash down the smokiness of the fall-of-the-bone short ribs and intense richness of the blood sausage... I will go back to muqueca again and again

    (5)

  • Peter P.

    Unique excellent food that you can't find anywhere. The price has gone up as the restaurant became more popular though.

    (5)

  • Catherine S.

    I love this place. I first went there when I worked down the street and was very small. I recently returned to the new bigger and better location, and not only are the new digs great - but the food was even better than I remember. Nice and light and packed with flavor. Wonderful menu, wonderful service. Clean bathroom too - bonus!

    (5)

  • vincent j.

    Very tasty food, very special drink.

    (4)

  • Melissa B.

    I love this place. Great neighborhood spot for Brazilan food and the owners are absolutely delightful. Bright, colorful, small and informal dining space with Brazilian TV going in the background. The restaurant is named for the fish stew that is from that part of Brazil. A big stone pot will come to your table overflowing with fish or mixed seafood, brightly flavored with lots of cilantro IIRC. Their entrees are great and don't miss the wonderful black beans - so good over rice. They also have a small steam/buffet table for food by-the-pound. Love the traditional potato salad, but don't miss their specials. Once it was a couscous with ground chicken and vegetables. Not typical but wonderful. This is also a great place to stop in for a to go snack - wonderful juice bar and a variety of salgadinhos (croquettes) like ham and cheese or beef and taro, plus cheese bread.

    (4)

  • Amy L.

    This place is tiny, so get there early, or you'll be waiting out in the cold for a table. Once you're seated, it's definitely worth the wait. I had the Chicken and Shrimp Moqueca, and it was perfect. The sauce was flavorful, the rice was fluffy, and the portions were enormous. The food itself is worth five stars, but I took one off for slow service. And although our server was extremely friendly, I'm pretty sure she understood less than half of what we said.

    (4)

  • Gaelle D.

    Maybe it's because I went there on a Thursday night but I had a great experience at Muqueca! Unlike the weekend Yelpers I was very happy with service: fast, courteous, and genuine. Needless to say, the food was totally amazing! I tried two appetizers. I highly recommend the Brazilian "crab cake", which is much finer than the inaccurate translation suggests. It's actually an oven dish, not deep-fried or anything. The fried yucca was very good for such a simple treat. As for the main dish, I especially enjoyed the Mariscada: shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk, served with sides of rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. It was very flavorful and could probably feed two people per order! The house special Fish Moqueca was also a great dish, although less big. Same with the Shrimp Moqueca that had some extra salt to it but was still pretty good, although more average than the other two. Will definitely go again! (But certainly not on a weekend night!)

    (5)

  • M T.

    Awesome clay pot cookery of fresh seafood and vegetables served with enchanting, searing habanero sauce. Reasonably priced, parking around back, and nice decor. A winner!

    (5)

  • Zach S.

    Definitely the best Brazilian food I've had in the Boston area. Try the mariscada and have as much seafood as possible.

    (5)

  • Lydia S.

    All I can say is EXCELLENT! Some of the BEST Brazilian food I have eaten. The seafood meals are wonderful and fresh. It's a cozy atmosphere and the people are friendly. Get there early becauase the line is always out the door. The only thing it lacks is wine. I would love a glass with my meal.

    (5)

  • Delince and Tishia L.

    We have done our share of Brazilian food and I have to say this place was pretty good. Of course you must try the Muqueca it's amazing. The staff was OK but we really enjoyed our meal.

    (3)

  • Alyssa N.

    Too bad I think I'm allergic to something here (post-dinner hives are no fun), because the food was yummy. Coconut shrimp are some of the best I've had. Lots of fresh juices (try a true pina colada here) and fresh fish. Good prices. Tiny space, few tables. Don't let that stop you.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    Dinner at Muqueca was the perfect thing to cheer me up on a rainy, grumpy day. We had the fried yucca, shrimp muqueca, and feijoada, all hearty flavor and deliciousness. The portions were larger than I remembered them being (we probably could have shared a single stew), but that is my only complaint (hardly a complaint) about this small, inviting place run by a very nice couple.

    (5)

  • M. Deloris D.

    Ahhh...Muqueca. While in university, I would frequent a place in Santa Cruz called Cafe Brazil. Since leaving the land of sea and surf, I have been jonesing for a good feijoada and acai bowl. Muqueca delivers on both fronts. Problem is, I've had mixed experiences at this estabilishment. Twice I've had rapid service and twice I've waited more than an hour to be seated so today, I'm giving Muqueca three stars. Great food. Mediocre service. Just about everything I've had a Muqueca has been delicious. Do give the acai bowl, couve, plantains and feijoada a try, they're my favorites.

    (3)

  • hilary c.

    Order the Muqueca, the dish for which the restaurant is named. Buttery rice and a hotpot of fresh, flakey fish, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and if you want, shrimp and/or mussels. Enough for two meals....

    (4)

  • Nupur L.

    We ate lunch here for the first time today, happily ate the leftovers tonight and loved it so much that we're going back for dinner tomorrow. Robust seafood flavors and perfect spicing make this the kind of place that you'll look back on if you move out of the area, remembering the good old days when you could just go to Muqueca. I'm already nostalgic for it and it's not due to my overly sentimental nature. It's just that good.

    (5)

  • Jill S.

    Charming, small & cozy with great people-watching windows onto Inman Square. I went on my first day in Cambridge and it was my first taste of Brazilian food and I loved it! We had the seafood rice casserole (yummy! and HUGE - leftovers for lunch the next day) and the "Feijoada Completa" which is slow cooked meat and beans, fried plaintains and a couple of other things. The latter is apparently Brazil's national dish and it was slow-cooked and tender and oh so delicious. They actually make their own clay pots used to prepare it and served on your plate. The waiter was awesome - he sensed our unfamiliarity and took the time to explain dishes, and the lady who delivered the food to our table cheerfully explained what each item was and how one goes about eating it. We'll be back!

    (5)

  • Shirley Y.

    fish stew?!@#@!? that's usually the response i get when i describe to my coworkers about this colorful and amazing little brazilian restaurant across the street from the well known midwest grille in east cambridge. however, i love going this establishment with the homemade clay pots full of fish, shrimp and vegetables that comprise the muqueca, the signature brazilian dish and the rice and fish sauce on the side. the fish is fresh, possibly from the fernandes fish market next door, or any of the fish markets in the neighborhood. the muquecas are plenty to share with another person and the appetizers are equally filling. muqueca has no liquor license but highly recommended are the fresh fruit juices, some of them with the amazonian fruit that you cannot pronounce and will not find anywhere else. the place is small but not too small. there are various tables scattered about with an open kitchen behind the fruit juice bar. there is usually not a wait if you go with one other person on a weeknight for dinner.

    (5)

  • Sherie J.

    Finally! Something I bookmarked and actually got to try! Love the neighborhood in Cambridge. This was a wonderful way to celebrate my 3rd month in MA. Cute little joint I think my friend Marie and I met the owner/chef. She was wonderful. She took us on a tour of the menu and it's everything other Yelpers have been barking about but better when you get to eat the food. Everything was fresh from the fruit smoothie to the tapioca/coconut dessert . We both love seafood so we decided to share the fish Muqueca and also the seafood stew made with coconut milk. Both came with rice and a fresh plaintain salsa that was killer! The hot sauce on the table was also very, very creamy and spicy hot just how I like it! I know my review isn't doing this amazing tiny restaurant justice. You must go. Especially if you love seafood and something adventurous. We were advised that the restaurant is moving to a new location (still on Cambridge St.) with more tables and a liquor license! Good for them. They deserve all the success in the world! I am hoping to become a regular!

    (5)

  • Keith C.

    Great restaurant, went there with my girlfriend on a drizzly Friday night at around 6:45 and got seated right away, but heed the warnings about reservations, everyone else coming through the door had booked, and by 7:15 there was a line outside. The waitstaff is friendly and the decor is comfortable. They don't serve booze there, but they do have delicious smoothies. Our meal: Fried yucca with Portuguese sausage Seafood mariscada side of plantain muqueca tropical freeze smoothie Everything was delicious, but the fried yucca left a little to be desired, it was rather bland, but the side sauce helped. The portions are big, we shared a main course and left with half of it to take home. Great casual dining destination.

    (4)

  • Chance X.

    This is a very small business. Very cozy, cute interrier and friendly staff. It makes you feel like u r eating at a kichen in a brazillian family. It makes you feel warm. The portion here is huge. We, 4 of us, each ordered a main course and we packed half of the meal home. It is delicious but each main course taste some what the same. However, the fried fish is HUGE. I've already said their portion is big, did I. But it is huge, I am really shocked. I don't think brazilian food is really my thing after this first try. But I'd recommand if you want a different experience. They are lovly.

    (4)

  • Doris K.

    Amazing! Their service, spices and food are absolutely amazing. The calamari was really good, very crunchy. The crab cake was to die for, like nothing I have ever had. Then we had Feijoada which was a little salty but went well with the rice. Most of the things are family style. I would suggest making reservations or arriving early because this place is always busy and very small. I love Antoine, our waiter. He was funny and good-spirited. I was asking what was in the crab cake because it was so good. He explained and showed me a certain seed that they use to give it a bright orange color. If I could I would eat here every night. That's how good it was.

    (5)

  • Lidya T.

    I felt compelled to write a review on Muqueca even though there are already so many good reviews out there about this place. Been to this place twice and following is what we ordered at both times: -Fried Frog Legs - for the adventurous only but really...they are delish. -Fried Yuca - Very crispy. -Brazilian style crab cakes - i must say this is the best crab cakes i've ever had. The crab cake is served in the earthen mold shaped like a crab, at first i really thought that it was the real crab shell... -Seafood Stew (I can't remember the exact name - it's the one without coconut milk) - I actually like this one better than the one with coconut milk. - Seafood Stew (With Coconut Milk) - just as good. -Black Bean, Pork and Sausage Stew - this is actually the least favorite of mine. This is supposedly the brazillian national dish. I am sure it is not because of the food being bad but it just simply does not sit right in my pallate. I am not used to the big bowl of pure blackbean with pork and sausage, i find all i can taste is the blackbean itself. But hey, to each his own i'm sure Brazillian does love this dish for it is their national dish. Overall, I have not had bad experience with the food nor the service so i will keep coming back. I agree with the boyfriend's comment this is actually a good place to bring visiting friends for a good ethnic lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Miss H.

    Funny that we haven't been here before, because my husband is Brazilian and I love their food. The food e muito bom! Fried Yucca - one of the best I've had here or Brazil! Golden and crisp on the outside, moist and soft on the inside (not dry at all). Delicious dipping sauce too. Frango passarinho was really good - crisp and dark golden and moist and lots of garlic flavor/aroma! Mmmm. My husband got a mixed moqueca with plenty of shrimp and mussels. The rice and beans really hit the comfort food spot, though the beans are very salty for my taste. Though I know most people like it that way. While we like our caipirinhas stronger, they were well made for our standards, which is hard to get in the states. The only weird thing that baffled us was that we arrived at 6pm with no reservation, and only 3 of the tables were occupied and the hostess looked at the reservation book for a minute, humming in worry, not sure if there was room for us. We looked at each other and laughed wondering how it would be a challenge to seat a 2-top before the dinner rush in an empty restaurant. The restaurant wasn't even completely full by the time we left. Not a typical for Brazilian hospitality, but we'd go back for more good food.

    (4)

  • buckminster f.

    if you have not tasted fafa's muqueca you have yet another thing to live for. because words cannot convey the delectable splendor that is fafa's muqueca, i will stop here and invite you to try it yourself. too bad they don't have a liquor license. lord knows they tried but the grumpy neighbors stopped them in their tracks.

    (5)

  • Alyson L.

    Very authentic Brazilian food. The service is personable and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. You feel like you're at someone's house and they're cooking you a homemade meal.

    (5)

  • Leroy t.

    I'll spare the rhetoric: IT DOESNT GET BETTER THAN MUQUECA. Go to Muqueca, now. It is very delicious. Every item on the menu is fresh and tasty, but you MUST get the muqueca. Shrimp is bomb, as are the mussels, and everything else. Must get a smoothie! You won't think of smoothies the same way again.

    (5)

  • Kimberly P.

    So.... maybe Brazilian is just not for me? I mean, it's not the impossibly tiny dining room, I've dined in way smaller places back in Philly. It is not the staff, the owner (?) was incredibly friendly and came out to talk with my party when it was obvious that we wouldn't be seated at our reservation time. It was a cute place really... but the food was blah and I have one bone to pick about the service. I had the pork dish served with white rice, black beans and fries or salad. Now, when I ordered the dish, the waitress asked if I wanted the fries or salad. I requested salad. When the dish arrived, it came with fries and I just asked for the salad. The server comes over with attitude saying that next time I should request salad when I order.... um... excuse me? I did. When I told her that, she denied it and kind of stormed off in a huff. Excuse me? Everyone at the table heard you ask me if I wanted a freakin' salad please do NOT catch an attitude. Even if I was mistaken (which I wasn't) there was NO need for the attitude. That aside the pork was incredibly dry. I am by no means a pro chef but my pork never comes out dry so I am having a hard time understanding how a restaurant could serve something so dry it was probably related to the Sahara. My compadres had the shrimp bobo and the plantain lasagna and they both liked the dishes. Me on the other hand... meh. I came, I tried and I just don't think it is for me.

    (3)

  • Kathy T.

    This place was really good! Very tiny place - there is absolutely no waiting area what so ever. I felt like I was eating dinner at someone's home - the waitstaff all spoke Portuguese and were very friendly. The Brazilian food was very good - the moquecas, plantains and rice were extremely filling and very reasonably priced. For about $20 a person we practically had to roll ourselves out the door at the end of the evening.

    (4)

  • Paul Y.

    First time having Brazilian food - so I don't have much to compare it to, but as far as a meal is concerned, this is as good as it gets. The restaurant was clean and nicely decorated, the wait staff was very friendly (kid-friendly too) and willing to explain the unfamiliar dishes. From the juice bar, I had the Blue Cazu, which the waitress explained had a very Brazilian taste and included cashew juice (I learned that the cashew nut is really the stem of a fruit that can be juiced). For an entree I had the Feijoada Completa which was a bean and meat stew served with rice, fried plantains, and collards. It was extremely flavorful. I also sampled the Mussels Moqueca and Shrimp Moqueca, both of which were wonderful dishes flavored with cilantro, light spices, and a tomato base. For dessert I had the flan and needless to say, the restaurant passed that test with flying colors. Especially noteworthy about the flan was the sauce, which had a very clear "unprocessed" flavor.

    (5)

  • D S.

    I would recommend take out as the restaurant itself is not particularly nice, but the food is ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, and the servers are very efficient and polite. It'd be better if they had more seating, and could serve caipirinhas and beer. Juices were delicious, the mariscada really is delicious.

    (4)

  • Tim S.

    Friendly service. Reasonable portions. Average to slightly below average food. Definitely overpriced. Amusing/stupid descriptions on the menu (especially the dessert menu - worth looking at just to laugh.). Wouldn't go back.

    (2)

  • Mouhsin S.

    Got back from Brazil a few weeks ago ... I was jittery, cold, difficulty staying awake ... yup, definite diagnosis of Brazil withdrawal syndrome. My friend prescribed dinner at Muqueca. We experimented with the fried frog legs ... tasted like chicken to my unsophisticated palate. The seafood muqueca was excellent, full of bubbly goodness, great spices, and lotsa seafood. But what really fixed my jonesing was the Acai ... I don't know exactly whats in that bowl of magic purple goodness, but I do know that whatever it was, it quickly found a new home in my happy stomach. Brazil withdrawal syndrome, happily resolved :) ... at least until the next craving strikes!!!

    (5)

  • Erin F.

    Maybe because I live up the street from Muqueca is the reason I eat there so often(once a week). Almost always my husband and I get takeout because it is usually packed (good for muqueca). Yes it can take up to a half hour for even take out, SO WORTH IT!!! The food is consistantly exellent and so reasonably priced. I am a fan....

    (5)

  • Lea G.

    it's delicious. we had fried snapper, sweet plantain, brazilian summer, ... and the mango mousse was so rich. the shrimp muqueca was the least favorite. the waitresses were friendly. the place is tiny and packed, so be prepared to wait and get rushed out. i guess that's part of the experience, and it's well worth it.

    (4)

  • Sophie R.

    Went here for the first time a few weeks ago and was very happy to find somewhere new and tasty. If you're seated near the counter in winter wear layers, both on top and bottom. The heating vent/radiator will scald your legs if you're not too careful, but simultaneously your torso may get chilly from the door opening onto the street. That said, try the Mariscada that my friend recommended ("Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca"), totally incredible, and enough for two to share (so the $18 price tag isn't so bad). We also had the frogs legs (crispy, fried, with a squeeze of lime, good for something different) and the Brazilian Summer fresh juice (Pineapple & Mint, very refreshing). Friendly service, not a long wait, but very small so there's likely a significant wait on weekends.

    (4)

  • Holly A.

    hubs and i dined here as part of our east coast extravaganza 2010 vacation. hands down one of my fave joints in the boston area (this includes overpriced back bay eateries). delicious, fresh food that's great for vegetarians - LOVED it. the yucca and plantains were fabulous!

    (5)

  • Jess P.

    I'm going to have to echo the chorus of DELICIOUS. Small place, casual with what I want to describe as a kind of homey, family feeling, but I think that was mostly thanks to the several groups with young children who were there on a Tuesday night. The moqueca was delicious and perfect winter food, warm, filling and hearty but not too heavy. The fish is a mild white fish, cod?, and the flavors of the stew itself are good but not that intense (beware if you dislike cilantro though). There's some sort of spicy red sauce though if you want a bit of a kick. We finished with the chocolate flan, which was tasty enough, but nothing too exciting. Maybe the other options would be more interesting, but considering that's not the main attraction, not a big deal in my opinion.

    (5)

  • KoreanSoup S.

    pretty good brazilian seafood in clay pots

    (4)

  • patti t.

    This is the only place I've have Brazilian cuisine and have fallen in love with it. Aside from that this place serves food fresh and made to order. The staff is extremely nice and very accommodating.

    (5)

  • Abby H.

    I'd read the online reviews recommending this place. I'd read that one order of the fish stew (muqueca) can feed two. Since we went for lunch, I was sure that we'd ordered enough food- and we weren't that hungry. The waitress disagreed and REPEATEDLY insisted that we needed to order more food for our group. As a result, we ordered more than we needed and spent more than we wanted to. With high pressure sales like this, I felt like I was at a used car lot. Despite an excellent signature dish, we won't be going back.

    (2)

  • BD D.

    The best. You must try the Muqueca here- either the fish or the fish with shrimp. Its just wonderful, simple and healthy food. I have also had the special house fried fish and the house steak- both are excellent. Its always crowded, but worth the wait and you can always meet interesting people in line. Order a blender drink- the acerola and orange combo is delicious.

    (5)

  • Jessie H.

    My favorite Brazilian restaurant in Boston. Amazing food and good for vegetarians too.

    (5)

  • John F.

    I had never experienced Brazilian food before eating here, but afterwards I was totally taken by it. The food all smelled amazing, and tasted the part as well! The various dishes are interesting, filling, and most importantly, mighty delicious. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so you can expect to wait on a weekend night.

    (4)

  • Anonymous P.

    This food is adventurous and great. Perfect for seafood lovers. Go when it's not crowded. If you think the prices for the entrees are somewhat high ($10-$20 an entree), please realize that you can easily split them. Indeed, they seem intended for splitting. And c'mon people, live without the booze, get some exotic fresh fruit juice, and go to Bukowski's or somewhere for drinks after. Perhaps my favorite restaurant in Cambridge.

    (5)

  • Matthias J.

    I went to Muqueca with my family last week-end and the adults shared 3 dishes: the Feijoada, their Plantain Lasagna and a "Muqueca Completa". Of the three, the only one I was familiar with was the Faijoada, and I must say this was the best I have had so far. The Muqueca was also very good while the Plantain Lasagna, although a bit heavy with all the cheese, was "interesting" (but in a good way). I was happy with the choice. The kids had some grilled chicken with rice and beans and fries which were clearly not frozen and microwaved as other places do. We were lucky to find a parking spot on the street right next to the restaurant, which was a huge plus, as I would say parking is the biggest negative of this place. The restaurant is nice, clean but nothing fancy. The only negative aspect from our visit (but not enough to cost the review a star) was that we asked to have a baby food container heated for our 15 month old daughter (who was not quite ready for black bean stew) and were told they couldn't do it for "liability reasons". The logic being that they cook with seafood and could "contaminate" the container and if the baby was allergic it would be their fault... Sounds a bit bogus to me.

    (5)

  • Elana B.

    Really cute restaurant, food is delicious and very flavorful! We had the fried yucca, shrimp bobo, and feijoada. All were wonderful with exciting new flavors. Lots of food, at times a bit rich for us. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Pat M.

    If you don't mind waiting (the place is very small and only has about 15 tables) the food is excellent as well as the service. Everything was extremely fresh and well prepared, but it is a small kitchen so be prepared to wait a little while for the food to get to you table. Also, the portions are quite large, so plan to have enough to take home with you! If you like Brazilian food this is definately a place to stop in and try!!!

    (4)

  • Tanya S.

    The namesake Muqueca is wonderful, so are some of the other variations like the seafood rice. The flavors are delicate and complex and the dishes are both colorful and fragrant. It's not so salty and meaty like most of the other Brazilian food I've had (even though I do like that type of food too). Nice place.

    (4)

  • Kiki B.

    ooh, i almost hate to write this review and give it away, but it's just sooo good. i don't eat pork or shellfish, so a lot of menu items were off-limits, but what we did have was phenomenal, especially the plantain lasagna - incredibly rich and dense, but incredible. the smoothies are a great accompaniment. you have to wait for a table (weekends muchh longer), but it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Eunice C.

    this place is delicious! i ordered the seafood moqueca, and, like my fellow yelpers, was not disappointed. flavorful, filling-but-not-too-heavy, perfect. service was prompt and friendly. i don't recommend going in large groups, though, as seating is tight.

    (5)

  • itay i.

    Great food. Cheap. Very small space.

    (4)

  • Kai L.

    i really like this place. the food is very yummy, mostly fish (duh, it's fish stew), which is rather different from many of the brazilian restaurants i have been too. the place is very tiny, but feels cozy and friendly. definitely get a few people to go so that you can try different dishes. Any muqueca dishes are definitely signature dishes, but also try other non-stew dishes. the wait staff is usually helpful in explaining and recommending dishes.

    (4)

  • julia r.

    the food is filling and delish; definitely authentic. the muqueca is indeed quite tasty. the menu begs to be sampled widely, but factoring in the small dining space, i would say that a group of 3-4 is optimal here.

    (4)

  • Sania T.

    great food but poor serviceee....

    (4)

  • M C.

    I started going here a few years ago but never get to go as much as I'd like. I have tried the fish stews and the yuca and they are amazing! Such great food and home cooking for the price. Highly recommended!

    (5)

  • Fred C.

    This is probably one of my favorite restaurants in the Boston area. If you like seafood of any sort, you should give Muqueca a whirl... and when you go, you or someone who's willing to share with you absolutely need to try one of the "muqueca" dishes and/or the mariscada. Beyond that, the fried plantains are good as are their various fresh fruit smoothies... mmmm. As some other yelpers have pointed out, the food will take a little bit of time so go before you think you'll get hungry ;)...and then prepare to feast.

    (5)

  • Zachary F.

    You know those restaurants that you've come to time and time again that have never disappointed you? Muqueca, to me, is one of those restaurants. As a result I know that when I peruse the menu, everything is potentially delicious. Highlights: Capirinhas! The Fried Snapper! Any of the Muqueca! Book a table on weekend nights.

    (5)

  • Vivian C.

    It's been a while since I've dined at Muqueca. In fact, at my last visit, they were still located on the older smaller corner spot just a bit aways. I loved the food as always though. I couldn't resist getting my usual - the Mariscada $24.95 - which was still chock full of mussels and shrimp when we were starting to scrape the bottom, and was great with the rice, farofa, and plantain that came with it. We also tried the chicken strogonoff $13.95, which was tasty, but super creamy, and a tad salty - I couldn't do an entire meal of it, so it was a good thing we were sharing the two dishes. We enjoyed the humor of the dessert menu... while we doubted that we were born for the flan, we ordered it anyhow, as well as the yummy sounding manjar coco n tapioca. Each was $4.50 for a good sized slice. The flan was creamy dense and tasty. The tapioca dessert had textures going for it and a sweetness that was cut by the tapioca balls. I think I preferred the latter a tad. ***10/2012 visit*** So, they don't seat reservations till the whole party has arrived, but on the Sunday we went, that wasn't an issue since they never filled up completely. Four of us shared the following and found ourselves quite full, even though we were trying to save room for dessert: Brazilian Patties (Portion of six) - Chicken and Shrimp I think (3 of each) $7.95 House Salad $8.95 Palm heart, lettuce, tomatoes, apple, olives & corn MARISCADA * A MUST TRY! 24.95 Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. Fish with Mussels Moqueca $22.95 We also added two orders of rice ($2.95 each), so we'd each have a plate from which to eat from. I had a failure in my memory - I seemed to remember that the Mariscada came in this huge bowl... nope, it was the same size as the Moqueca, but still it was all plenty for the four of us. Everything was yummy. The salad was fresh. The patties hot and crisp though small. I think I've helped Muqueca to recruit three new fans.

    (4)

  • Alee G.

    Fried Yucca Perfection, Moqueca Completa Deliciousness, and Passion Fruit Mousse Fantabulous. AMAZING restaurant. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Elaine L.

    Tasty food and good portions. We ordered the fish moqueca and shrimp moqueca. Both had tender seafood and flavorful stews.

    (4)

  • Restie c.

    Average food. Nothing memorable. Actually over priced for what you get. I paid $30 for a main dish. I'm expecting something that i could say, that was pretty good. Lousy service if you're not Spanish/Portuguese speaking. Won't refill my water but the Spanish (?) speaking people on the table beside us were waited on head and foot.

    (2)

  • Alex S.

    A conversation I could imagine having about this place: Me- It is really really good Brazilian restaurant. Fictional Friend- Oh, I LOVE Brazilian BBQ Me- Well I do too, but this place isn't a BBQ place it is more of a seafood place and their namesake specialty dish is a stew like dish with all types of veggies and seafood that comes out boiling in these hot pot like bowls. Fictional friend- I love spicy Latin seafood stews. Me- Again I agree, but the meals I had are actually more rich and savory than spicy. Fictional friend- Well, I will go but I know what to expect; this place is going to be really expensive with that low lighting and rich earthy colored walls and furniture that attempt to justify the exorbitant prices. Me- Oh imaginary friend, I would really expect you to be right about more things since you are just a figment of my own imagination but the place is actually bright and a little tacky with fake fish and fishing nets nailed into the wall and all together it is quite affordable. This place is AMAZING. Reasonably priced delicious seafood served in a unique and tasty fashion that complements the freshness of the seafood without covering up its natural flavor. The biggest negatives: No full bar which means no traditional Brazilian drinks and as I mentioned the ambiance could be a little nicer (not to say that it was horrible, just that it did not match the high level of the rest of the dining experience.)

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    After a year on my list I finally got to Muqueca. Working with a guy from Brazil prompted me to come here for lunch. I've never had moqueca before, so don't use this review as a basis for comparison. The moqueca and mariscadas were very nice. The hot sauce on the side, ounce for ounce, was probably some of the hottest sauce I've had. The heat hit differently than any Indian, Thai or Mexican spice I've had before. Be careful with it! Also make sure to order something from the juice bar. I'll be back, hopefully regularly.

    (4)

  • Derek B.

    We went to Mueque for the first time tonight. To be honest, the service was really slow (and it took a long time for the wait staff to even decide where we should sit, and the place wasn't crowded). I said to my friend, "the food had better be great." It was. Really, really great. Tender, delicious cuts of meat, huge portions, delicious sauces. Well worth a visit. Their focus seems to be more on seafood, but the steak was equally delicious and I would highly recommend either.

    (4)

  • James A.

    Really good. I'm not going to try to remember the brazillian names of the dishes - I'll just butcher them - but they were meat and seafood stews. They were great, the fruit frappé was too (not too sweet, lots of passionfruit) and finished with possibly the best flan ever. And the service was informal and friendly, just the way it should be. I want to give it 4.5 - there was just a certain something missing from the mains that stop it from maxing out. It is highly recommended, however!

    (4)

  • Nancy Z.

    You know when you find something on sale for a REALLY cheap price but you don't love it as much as you would like to? You're so tempted to get it, but you know you'll never wear/use it. Muqueca was kind of like that for me. This place gets so many five stars! The menu also seems like it's entirely oriented around the authenticity of Brazilian food. I really wanted to like it because I lovee homey authentic dishes, but dammit! I just couldn't get into it! The staff was wonderful. It was my first time at the restaurant and our waitress made really good suggestions. I decided to follow through by ordering the Mariscada, which is a variety of seafood with cilantro, tomato, onions, and coconut milk. I think the dish was good, but I feel like the coconut milk kind of dulled down the potential of a cleaner and much brighter flavor. The dish came with farofa, which is ground yucca that tasted kind of oniony (really good) and plantain moqueca, which was pretty good too. Maybe I just don't have the tongue for the Brazilian authenticity, but I thought it was just okay. To me, it was just a stew that's served with rice. For an appetizer, I ordered the fried yucca, which is chunks of yucca served with a special sauce. The special sauce tasted almost identical to zesty ranch and the fried yucca was kind of plain. It was like eating big steak fries with ranch almost. I've had yucca prepared differently multiple times and loved it, but this one was probably the most boring one I've had it. If you love stews and all that hearty good stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy this place. It's size is small, but bright in colors. It has almost a cute tropical feel to it. Ugh. I feel like an ass for giving this place 3 stars, but I'm just being honest... Muqueca was okay, but just not for me.

    (3)

  • Daniel M.

    It is an absolute failure on my part that I have lived less than a 10 minute walk from this place for three years and I am just now experiencing it. Stupid Daniel. Stupid, stupid, Daniel. Luckily I have great friends who say things like "what?!? You've never been?!? We're going!" and so I finally popped in and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. First off there's nothing like being greeted by smiling faces and delicious aromas upon entering a restaurant. The homey feel immediately washes over you and puts you at ease. It's more like eating at a relative's house (one you like) than going out and I appreciate that. But the food. Oh man the food. Trish ordered the Mariscada and out came a glorious bubbling cauldron of amazingness. I was instantly jealous until they brought out my plaintain and tofu stew which was equally glorious as it bubbled angrily in front of me. It's a chore to stay away just long enough to not scald yourself with the dish but I managed. Just barely. OH. MY. GOD. This is the part where the clouds part and and chorus of angels sings. I don't think I could properly sum up how amazing the food is. Beyond anything I've ever had there's such a complexity of flavors wrapped up in a simple one-pot dish. Un-effing-believable. With that said stop reading and go. No, really...go. NOW. You're welcome.

    (5)

  • Mily G.

    This restaurant almost falls on my way home from work and for close to 5 years now I have been looking at its signboard skeptically from a distance. Muqueca - didn't ring any bells (turns out, it's Brazilian and pretty well known actually!). Then one day I noticed that the restaurant had relocated a few blocks and now fell directly on my route. Since Anjali was asleep in her stroller it seemed like a good time to try out the place. It was superb. Moqueca is a traditional style of cooking fish in a clay pot. I tried out the Fish Moqueca and Mihir, rather tamely I thought, took a Steak and fries. Everything was delicious. The fish stew was light and fragrant, flavored with cilantro. It tastes very similar to Bengali preparations of fish and I was hooked and homesick. We had ordered fried plantains on the side and it was among the best I have ever had. Mihir's steak was pretty good too, at least he loved it. It came with an unusual sauce and a small bowl of delicious beans. I have noticed many South American restaurants have this side of stewed canary beans that contrary to their appearance, taste heavenly. One more reason to not order those ubiquitous fries. The wait was a bit long, enough that we started to get antsy, and I sent Mihir off to the kitchen to see if he could rustle up some appetizers or even dessert for us to start with. The staff, very sweetly, suggested that we wait for our meal as it would be substantial. How often does anyone say that? So we waited, and it was good that we did because after we stuffed ourselves we still had enough to pack for another meal. A lot of the people there seemed to be regulars, always a good sign, and all the plates around me looked good. A couple next to me wanted to play it safe and ordered everything that looked deep-fried. But in a place like this playing it safe seems unnecessary. The decor strikes a fine balance between a cozy, laid-back atmosphere and an ethnic aesthetic that does not overpower you with souvenirs and artifacts. It's the kind of place that invites you try it out once as it looks exotic and different but once in you realize that it's everyday enough for you to keep coming back. The restroom was spotless and roomy (always the sign of a good restaurant), though it smelled faintly of fish. Maybe the cook had just passed through...

    (5)

  • Tani S.

    The hostess was kind to seat us even though we didn't have a reservation, just cautioned that we needed to quickly order since our table was reserved in 1 hr and 15 minutes... This fortunately was more than enough time to have a wonderful meal... We tried both the muqueca completa and the seafood casserole. The seafood casserole puts the paella to shame, all the paellas that we've had here in the US haven't been as delicious and luxurious as this seafood casserole. The muqueca was simply fabulous, I loved the abundance of vegetables in this seafood dish. The waitress was so sweet making conversation with our 2 year old (she has a little one as well) and perhaps because of the pleasant interactions, I have never seen our daughter eat so much! She loved the coconut shrimp as well as her fish dinner with mashed potatoes and rice. We have one month left in Cambridge and quite tempted to stop cooking and eat out every day with such wonderful restaurants in the area...!

    (5)

  • here t.

    Not to be a killjoy but.... It seems that everyone has been drinking the caiprinhas a bit too fast to realize that the food here is not great. It good and its "A-OK" but that's about it. Sure its whooo-hoo Brazilian and its very busy but, uh, excuse me- I don't get the flavors. Shrimp- lovely to look at, but frozen and near zero in the actual flavor department. Nicely breaded, or in the stew pot with lots of sauce etc. But the fish, which isn't frozen, has way more flavor. I recommend the fish stew over the mussel or shrimp dishes. Mussels were small and tender but again not much to them in the mussel-like flavor dept. Hearts of Palm salad- lovely little presentation. Again, dull as dishwater. Very odd banana or sweet plantain dish- sweet , weird, out of place. Desert was a couple of the round truffle like things... gooey, sort of chocolaty condensed milk. Again with little identity. I think the buzz here is waaay bigger than the actual food. Its good, not bad but the dishes lack any delicacy or distinct character in the three visits Ive had. The above was the most recent. But in the interest of balanced and fair reporting, I had to check in with all y'all.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    What can I say that hasn't already been described here? I'll just comment that. First off, come a bit early. I met some friends here on a Thursday at 7pm. I walked in at 6:50 and it was EMPTY. But by 7:15, it was TOTALLY PACKED. Literally not 1 seat left except the bar. Luckily we squeezed in to the last table. So come early, and don't be put off if you're the only one, the food is great! Also, the portions are bigger than their waitresses suggest---which is a good thing--- if you're aware. The signature Muqueca dishes definitely serve 2. We ordered 4 dishes for 3 guys 2 girls and had enough leftover for 3 more meals. So just under $20 for 2 meals of flavors that are not easy to find in America? Good deal by my estimation. So that's it, for other input read others' reviews! I'm coming back!

    (5)

  • Raquel T.

    The food here was very good, but I think my expectations were set too high because of the reviews here. Nothing really blew me away, and the service was so-so. I had the shrimp and fish moqueca bahia style (with coconut milk, but you couldn't really taste it). My boyfriend had the whole fried red snapper, which I thought was better than my dish. The rice was delicious. My complaint is more with the fact that we were asked to vacate our table immediately after paying our bill because others were waiting. It's not like we were lingering for hours, and we still had a little sangria left. It just felt pretty rude.

    (3)

  • Kathleen F.

    Walked over here from Harvard Square. First time eating Brazilian. I had the mussel muqueca and my friend had fish muqueca. We finished off the meal with some flan and fried plantains. Yum! I left feeling satisfied/full, but not in that uncomfortable/gross way. Thanks Yelp for a great recommendation!

    (5)

  • Daniel S.

    This instantly became my favorite restaurant. When you've been living in the city for a while, it's a rare and exciting occurrence when you find something totally new and totally amazing. Be sure the make a reservation!

    (5)

  • Eunice B.

    Initially, I was a little worried as the waitress would not seat us until our whole party arrived (3 out of 4 were there!). Our friend just arrived as she said she was going to give our table away if another complete party arrived ... So my tip #1 is make sure you all arrive on-time if you have a booking :-) But despite that initial hick-up - it was definitely worth it. So fantastic to eat Brazilian food other than BBQ!!! Further, the service throughout the meal made up for it. They were super nice to bubs (always helps), recommended dishes, kept us informed on wait time for food etc. As other yelpers have said - fried yucca and cod cakes to start were fantastic.We then ate the fried red snapper (my favourite dish), fish muqueca and black bean and pig stew! All were yummy. Tip no 2: We went on a Tuesday night - relatively easy to get a table if you are a smallish group.

    (4)

  • Rehan W.

    eh not bad we made reservations for 8 but one of our party members was late and they wouldnt seat us...restaurant was not busy. anyway we waited 15 min and finally seated. they refused to let the baby sit anywhere but on an upside down chair and then were upset we didnt count the 4 week old as a seated member of our party when we made the reservation. overall the manager was quite rude. she also threatened to have us pay for empty plates if we wanted to share dessert. BAD! as for the food, the moquecas were soupy, not terrrible, the tofu one as well as the fish shrimp were our picks. also the plantain lasagna was pretty on point if u like cheesey plantainy gooey goodness unfortunately, the juices were not cold, kind of like warm fruity mixes. i got the strawberry pina colada, nothing to really brag about, so i was kinda let down after reading other reviews all in all a different experience, look for parking on the street and prepare to walk a few blocks if needed. food just okay and the service was def not pleasant.

    (3)

  • David M.

    The food was pretty good, though overly rich with very fresh and tasty seafood mixed in. I would actually have given the place 5 stars if only for the food, since its a cute small place, that is very unique... ...but: The prices are a bit higher than a small cafe style dining should be. This would have been ok, except for the ridiculous sercice: We were seated at a table that was just below the counter where the waitresses stand. They couldn't see us... they forgot us. First they didn't come to take our order, after a wait, they finally came. My meal was brought out, but Charlotte's was forgotten. Turns out they gave it to another table. After a longer wait, her food was brought out. This was repeated waiting for the check, geting left overs wrapped, getting the credit cards back. The waitress apologized profusely every time... but nothing changed. We did, however, get offered a free desert and a free entre, so I will give them props for that. My final review: Great food, but probably not too healthy. Questionable service (I saw other people go through less extreme, but similar frustrations around me), but friendly. Mostly, the price is just too much for a small cafe style dining experience.

    (3)

  • Ina C.

    I was so drunk on this stuff (figuratively) that I really don't remember what we ordered! We got five or six dishes to share for the 8 to 10 of us (I told you I can't remember the details), but I just had to add my four stars to these reviews. First, the cilantro isn't too overpowering. Even those to whom cilantro tastes like soap didn't mind. Was that grammatically correct? Seriously, Muqueca is a wonderful wonderful place.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    Got the fried yucca and the shrimp moqueca. Both were very good. The yucca is like fries with ranch. Moqueca had a lot of the tomato mixture in it, could use more rice. The food is a tad bland but a little salt and pepper helped. Not spicy but I did see some kind of spice on the table. Pina colada was good. My group of ten all really liked the food. Nice atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Megan S.

    I had no idea what to expect from Brazilian food. Every other Brazilian restaurant I've been to was a meat-filled buffet in Framingham. This place is thankfully, not that. Tons of vegetarian and pescatarian options. My fish stew was excellent - more than enough for two people and I need to figure out how they do their fried yucca! I'll echo others in that service was super, super slow, so minus one star for that.

    (4)

  • Tiffany Z.

    Delicious shrimp & fish moqueca -- a must try! That in combination with the feijoada (a black bean + meat stew and the country's national dish!) would be a terrific taste of Brazil for three people. Plus, I think it's nice to balance out the seafood with a heavier meat dish. I prefered the moqueca to the mariscada (coconut milk broth), but others at my table had the opposite opinion -- so, it's really a matter of preference. And, all very moderate prices. I wasn't a huge fan of the fresh juices or the desserts (and we tried 5 of them; the passion fruit mousse was the best of the ones I sampled). The service could be a tad friendlier :) But despite the negative points, I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in the mood for moqueca!

    (4)

  • Lala I.

    went there with two friends last sunday. had to wait in line. entrees were ok. ordered moqueca completa and seafood rice casserole and some appetitzers. relatively small portions. i love flan and i was so excited to get it, but it wasnt good there. i was extremely disappointed. come on how can u mess up on that. i dun think i would go back.

    (2)

  • D. M.

    Came here because a friend of mine had a coupon. Didn't know what to expect but didn't come away disappointed. We started of with the house salad which was a little unusual but very good. It had corn and hearts of palm on top of the usual lettuce, tomato and etc. For main entree I had the steak which came in the cast iron skillet with fries and black beans and rice on the side. The steak was nice and tender but was too salty. My friend had a seafood dish which she really enjoyed. We finished off with dessert. I had the flan which was amazing and my friend had the tapioca & coconut which was also very good. This place is definitely worth checking out.

    (4)

  • Daniel B.

    Maybe it's because I grew up in Miami, and I am used to small ethnic restaurants that are charming and make good food. I really really liked this place. But I'm not in love with it. The Muqueca is delicious. Cilantro, onion and tomato have a great way of making a stew very bright and fresh tasting. Personally, I could have gone with a broth with more intensity. And I really wanted nothing to do with the gummy sauce that came on the side. Their fried foods were wonderfully greaseless and the cod fritters had a great crispy crust. The black beans were tasty and the greens were shredded and had a good tooth. All very simple, very rustic, very comforting. But, for me, there wasn't anything that pushed it up into the 4* category. Maybe when I go back, I will find it.

    (3)

  • George T.

    I've been to Muqueca a couple of times in their old location, and just went in their new location. Unfortunately, the wait for a table is just as a slow, so make a reservation. The fried yucca appetizer is ok, nothing special. I am unimpressed by their namesake seafood platters, their vibrantly colored fish is covered in herbs, so one would expect it to be very flavorful, but it just isn't. So why am I giving them 4 stars? It's because of the feijoada completa. It is a black bean soup with sausage and some other meat in it. And it is so good, if you've ever been disappointed by Muqueca, come back and order the feijoada completa and you will love Muqueca.

    (4)

  • Gordon C.

    If I could give this place 6/5 stars, I would. This place is one of the saving graces for the terrible food scene that poor Cambridge has to offer. We came here for Sunday lunch, and as soon as the doors opened at noon, five other groups came in. The decor was really nice - did they recently remodel? We started off with fried yucca served with ranch, which was well-prepared - not overly greasy, good crunch, and lightly salted to taste. Good opener. Their fresh juice bar is a MUST. Unlike regular smoothies, their juices don't have excessive ice and are perfectly balanced in flavor - not too sweet or thick, perfect to quench your thirst and delightfully cool. I had the pina colada, and if I had more money in my wallet at the time, I would've ordered another. The specialty of this place is, as per the name, their moqueca, which is a seafood stew plus onions, garlic, tomatoes, and topped with some cilantro. It was served with some rice and this sorta fish-sauce thing, as well as a hot sauce on the side. I ordered the moqueca completa, which came with fish, mussels, and prawns. The moqueca was absolutely perfect on its own - the stew was clearly not rushed, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, and the flavors balanced very well with the rice. I'm not sure that the sauce it came with on the side added all that much flavor. The thing that really put this meal over the top, however, was the hot sauce. It was really creamy, thick, and had a really pleasing punch of flavor that wasn't just a generic "hot;" it really enhanced the garlic and saltiness of the stew. Mix that all up with the rice, and it became one of the best meals I've ever had in my life. If you ever are in Boston and have a free morning, make the trip over the Charles to eat here. It's worth every single penny.

    (5)

  • Thiago G.

    Sooo Good!! Amazing Dishes!! Good Luck trying to figure out the MENU, But what ever you choose its ganna be the best!! Waiting staff is great and responsive very quick, Dim Lighting, A great evening setting Food is well worth the expensive price! Portions are Huge and Fish is Fresh!

    (5)

  • Dan F.

    I was blown away by how good the food was. I had the Moqueca Completa, which is a brilliant fish stew that has a delicious sofrito-based broth. To hell with my Irish heritage, this to me is perfect comfort food. I could eat this in any weather and feel like it hit the spot. The kids had fish and chips. The batter had a great flavor, and while I'm not sure what they used for the fish, it was perfectly cooked, still retaining firmness while flaking nicely. When the kids meal rocks your world, you know you've found a good spot. Fried plantains were a nice side. Only downside was a minor complaint about the service. The food wasn't served all at once so the kids were done before we even got our plates. But I know that next time I'll just ask to make sure we all get served at the same time.

    (5)

  • Angie C.

    My husband and I went to Muqueca for the first time intending to use our Groupon, but we were in a hurry at the end of our meal because I had an appointment to get to and we forgot to use the coupon... Whomp, whomp. Oh well, at least the food was good enough that we won't mind going back! We started out with some juice (more like smoothies), which I recommend - or an appetizer if you prefer - because it seemed like the main dishes took a little while to prepare and bring out hot and begging to be eaten. We got the fish and shrimp moqueca, and the shrimp was particularly good. In addition to the seafood and flavorful sauce, the dish was very fresh with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro or something or other in the mix. We also got the feijoada completa, and it was yummy. I lived in Brazil for a year and a half, granted in a different part of the country than the kind of food this was, but I've had feijoada before and this was good. My husband's favorite thing about the meal was probably his fried plantains. :) The waitstaff was prompt and attentive without hovering, and I think several of them were Brazilian (which to me always enhances the experience of ethnic cuisine, you know, to have someone who really knows what they're talking about take care of you). We went for an early dinner (well, 6pm is early for us) and it got busy not long after, so I suggest calling to make a reservation - especially for weekend dining.

    (4)

  • Mr. Met s.

    Yucca - a must try.Crispy exterior delicious mouth warming interior. We added sausage, but it's not necessary. Lasagana with sweet banana - WOW mouth melting 3 different kinds of cheese, with perfectly made sweet, soft platians. Though the cheese wasn't the best cheese on the earth - still a great dish. Now for the Muqueca - we ordered the fish/shrimp one. Nothing really special - but just excellent and probably authentic home style Brazillian food. The fish is of low quality, and mediocre shrimp. Decent broth, that mixed well with rice. It wasn't amazing amazing, but something a Brazillian mommy would make for you/ Anyway, a must try place. Small place, seats about 20 max, good service, and plentiful meter parking. We went during 3:30pm on a Friday, and there was barely anyone there.

    (4)

  • Stephanie M.

    We decided to try this place out since everything was packed in Inman for lunch this Saturday -seated immediately, great. -took about 10mins for someone to come by to take our order. -ordered just apps (calamari and the coconut shrimp). . .and drinks from the JUiCE BAR. -TOOK FOREVER 25+ mins for food to arrive (we had only ordered appetizers). . .ANNND they accidentally gave our food to the people seated next to us and they were a bit confused and we were like umM I think that's ours, but whatevs...They also brought us the wrong check. . . I'm not sure if it's just the south american culture seeping in of EVERYTHiNG taking forever. . . the calamari were nothing special...the coconut shrimp was good though! same with the fRESH juices...very good. OH! and the MUSiC was truly awfuL. I will be back again to give it a second chance. Some of the dishes smelled REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLy good! k bai

    (2)

  • Cristina S.

    The food is really tasty and BIG. I go with a girlfriend of mine, and we get the plaintains side, yucca side (with yummy aioli type dipping sauce). Then we usually share one of their seafood dishes, the mariscada. It's in a coconut milk broth and has mussels, calimari, kinda like a yellow version of cioppino. We followed this up with coconut tapica. The chocolate flan is also really good. The only reason I don't give 5 stars is that the service can range from excellent, to mediocre, but you never have water there.

    (4)

  • Heidi B.

    The dining space was clean. Waitstaff was attentive. Food was good - generous portions and timely arrival of dishes. Plus, the caprinha's was tasty. If you've got a few extra bucks and want a good meal in a great environment, give these guys a shot.

    (4)

  • Nicholas S.

    The food here is absolutely delicious. I had the fish muqueca (kind of a seafood stew that you can choose which main ingredient(s) you want) and my friend had the fried fish fillets. They were both made with haddock, and both were incredibly tasty--in different ways. Even the rice was flavorful. It's steamed with garlic and possibly other things. I want to go back here again to try other main dishes as well as their appetizers and desserts. Tip: A muqueca dish can serve two people, especially if you want appetizers or dessert. This makes it an even better deal that it already is, for the quality of food you're getting!

    (5)

  • Betty P.

    It's probably not fair to write a review of a restaurant without trying its food, but I must give an enthusiastic thumbs-up to the service at Muqueca. I went to buy a gift certificate on a Sunday afternoon and although the place was surprisingly bustling, the two women who greeted me and processed my purchase were so friendly! I have been to many other places just to get a gift certificate and am often greeted with a scowl or lack of interest. Not here. The woman who gave me the gift certificate asked me how I was and thanked me for coming. Sounds silly and basic, but trust me, good service is often hard to find. I look forward to coming into this restaurant myself to try their food. As I was waiting for the gift certificate, the smells wafting from the kitchen were wonderful. BTW, you can purchase gift certificates either over the phone or in person in any denomination. The website also allows you to place food orders online.

    (5)

  • Ukyo T.

    I really enjoyed this place. First off, you have to try their fresh fruit juice; Their pina colada and Tropical Freeze (Banana, Pineapple, Orange Juice, Cashew & Passion Fruit) is REALLY fresh & well worth the money. Their seafood is really fresh - their fish was delicious! We ordered a fish/rice plate and a tripe stew. Overall, everything was really well made -- perfect seasoning and everything. I just wished I had room for dessert.

    (5)

  • Ellen C.

    I was having a wickedly craptastic day last week. Tearing into the fried whole red snapper at Muqueca *totally* fixed my mood. The place was packed, and a little cramped, with a line that formed seconds after we walked in and snagged the only open table. But the service was excellent - really friendly waitress - and the food was amazing. Lots of great flavor, and despite being deep fried the fish was light and delicious. The whole experience was like hanging out in a Brazilian grandmother's kitchen. Friendly, homey, and comfortable.

    (5)

  • Jamila L.

    Best Brazilian place I've been to in New England. I went there yesterday with a couple of friends for dinner and the food was AMAZING. We arrived there around 6:30pm on a Tuesday night and the restaurant was practically empty. There is a small bar directly ahead when you walk in and there are some bench seating and small tables to the left. This restaurant is not big by any means and the decor is not top notch. There was some fish nets and and fake sea animals hung on a couple walls and that's about it, but what they lack in decor they certainly make up for in service and food. We were seated promptly and our server was very friendly. My friend and I ordered the Caiparinha for our drinks which is just sugar cane rum, raw sugar and lime. So refreshing! If you haven't had one before, you should it will change you life. One of my friends already knew what she wanted to have before we even walked into the restaurant. She has been to Brazil before and was craving fish Moqueca. It is a brothy mixture with big hunks of haddock served to you in a clay pot. Looked delicious and she said it was. I had the Mariscada. Which had shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. Served with rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. It was delicious, plain and simple. Its also served to in a clay pot. My other friend ordered a simple chicken breast dish, with caramelized onions and rice with a side salad. I didn't try it but she said it was yummy as well. All in all it was a great experience and I will definitely be going back again!

    (4)

  • Deanna D.

    Great food and wonderful service!! Very cute little restaurant and good variety of choices on the menu. The dishes were a little pricey but good portion sizes. We had the MARISCADA (mixed seafood curry) and the FEIJOADA COMPLETA (mixed meat stew) which were both tasty and unique. The service was great-- she was very helpful and made good suggestions. Overall good experience. Its not a cheap eats place but a cute date spot.

    (3)

  • Lee C.

    Amazing, authentic and earthy food. A must for any seafood lover who enjoys traditional ethnic fare unlike anything served elsewhere. This is NOT your typical Brazilian buffet/BBQ restaurant. A regional cuisine from coastal southern Brazil. Don't be afraid to ask what everything is. The flavors are just wonderful and the staff is friendly and welcoming. It's as if you've been invited into their home. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Marcos R.

    Just to give you an idea, I was sitting next to a Brazilian guy who came all the way from Cape Cod and described this place as the "best Brazilian restaurant in the Northern Hemisphere [..] and I've been to Panama and other countries." Every patron in the restaurant seemed to be so happy to be eating this food, be it they were in groups, a date, or even just alone like our friendly nordestino. Concededly, I am not the greatest connoisseur of Brazilian cuisine, but I've had the food before, and have learned how in most cases it is supposed to be hearty, tasty (not necessarily spicy) and the combination of Iberian, African and American Aboriginal elements, just like the food of my country, the Dominican Republic. We shared an amazingly generous order of yucca with a dip sauce made of garlic and probably mayo. Excellent appetizer! For her: shrimp moqueca, one of the house's signature dishes, shrimp in a red stew with a masterful seasoning of cilantro... to die for. And I ordered the seasonal fried red snapper, a humongous fish to be eaten with pommes frites and yucca flour and some sauce to dip with. Oh, and both of our orders came with a generous and delicious portion of white rice seasoned with cilantro. While it was difficult to eat this dish, I should have asked for something that would make me be less self-aware, especially meeting someone for dinner for the first time. Overall, despite the small size of the venue (BTW, they're planning on moving to a new larger place also on Cambridge St.) and the fact that the kitchen's smells can permeate into your clothes, I give this place five stars for the deliciousness of its dishes, the warm and friendly service, authenticy and reasonable prices.

    (5)

  • Jessica H.

    Husband and I enjoyed Muqueca for dinner. Our server was very friendly. I had the beef stroganoff. Not what I expected at all, but very good. Not being very familiar with Brazilian fare, it surprised me that it had little french fry crunchy things on it. Is that a traditional thing? Doesn't seem like it, but it worked. Husband had the seafood casserole and it also had great flavor. Great presentation of the food in stone bowls. One warning, I had a second sprite, thinking it was from a fountain machine, but when we got our bill we were charged for 2 sprites. Wish the server would have told us, because I didn't need that second sprite that bad.

    (4)

  • Jon S.

    My favorite restaurant in Inman square. Often times I take my out of visitors here as it is tough to recreate this coastal Brazillian flavor profile elsewhere. I order the moqueca or the deep-fried red snapper and ignore the rest of the menu. I'm impressed by the consistency of the moqueca. It tastes the same every time (major kudos from me). The fruit drinks are nice and natural tasting (if that's your thing).

    (4)

  • Jane N.

    Based on all the glowing reviews here I tried Muqueca last night and yep, the word on the street is for real! I had the amazing caipirinha (well 2 actually) and my beau had a couple rounds from the juice bar: excellent. The cocktail was a perfect balance of sour lime and booze... mmmmm. This drink often gets the syrupy-sweet treatment but the bar keep here knows what she's doing! We shared the yucca appetizer and then each had a plate. The shrimp bobo was so creamy and the perfect comfort food for a cold New England night. We had a reservation and I'm glad we did: the place was jumpin at 7:30 on a Sat. Service was friendly and prompt. What more can I say? I highly recommend this place!

    (4)

  • Jennifer N.

    After thirteen years in Cambridge, we decided to finally check out Muqueca. The new space (note: they have moved a block away from their original location) is colorful enough, though the room lacks any real kind of ambience or coziness (think of it this way -- Casa Portugal has more ambience than Muqueca -- and I don't think Casa Portugal is notable for its ambience). I ordered the muqueca, which was not nearly as rich as I thought it would be -- it's a thin, mild broth with tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and tons of shrimp served with a bowl of rice and a watery, but thankfully quite flavorful, seafood stock. Admittedly, I was picturing a thick, rich stew of coconut milk and fish, so this was far lighter and milder (and, frankly, blander) than I expected. I also ordered a side of fried plaintains, likely the best part of the meal --fried to (unhealthy) perfection, these were absolutely delicious. Our friends also ordered muqueca (one had fish, one had fish and shrimp) and my husband had the sirloin, which was pretty tough (note: no steak knives at Muqueca, or at least none were presented after we requested one), served with a fried egg and onions. The dessert choices might warrant a trip down Cambridge Street to Christina's -- we had the chocolate flan, which was more mousse than flan. Dense and heavy, it wasn't exactly what I expected. There are other options though, including a tiramisu (they were all out of tiramisu tonight) and a chocolate cupcake which looked promising. Where Muqueca is less impressive is with its service. The oddness started when we walked in and the waitress told us she wouldn't seat our incomplete party (we were waiting for our two friends). Ordinarily I'm fine with this kind of policy, but the waitress was surprisingly rude, and it seems to me that any kind of policy should be communicated in a friendly-- rather than a punitive-- way. Once we were seated, it took a long time to get our waitress' attention, but when she arrived she was very helpful with menu suggestions. However -- and here I echo Kim P.'s review-- when my husband ordered the sirloin steak, he asked for salad instead of fries. When the dish arrived with a heap of fries, he said "I actually asked for salad." The waitress said "no you didn't," and he said, "Well, yes, I did." She walked away and returned with a small salad and an unhappy face. Finally, a small service no-no: Muqueca was guilty of my all time restaurant pet peeve! The waiter started clearing plates before we were all finished. Folks absolutely love Muqueca (it was packed when we were there, and any time I've passed by, it's been crowded) and I suspect the crowds appreciate the casual atmosphere, the affordable prices, and the comfort food. If you want something relatively simple -- like a fish stew -- Muqueca is a great, relatively cheap option. I wouldn't, however, recommend it if you want a nice evening out- the service is a bit too prickly, and the food is a bit too bland.

    (3)

  • Jim W.

    Awesome Brazilian food and very reasonable. I have to agree with previous reviews-get here early or go on a weeknight if possible. The food is worth a wait, but the place is tight and you don't want to be pressed against other folks waiting in this place, unless it is bitter cold and you just need to be squeezed into a tight space with a passel of other hungry people and sweat like crazy from the heat rolling out of the kitchen. There were 5 in our group and we probably ordered 6-7 different items and shared around the table. Great way to go. Fried Plantains I had here may have been the best I've had.

    (4)

  • Judy W.

    Completely great experience on a rainy early Tuesday evening - 6:30 is a good time to go: meters are done, so free parking right outside and a prime window seat. Airy blue ocean colors, complementary artwork, and soothing Brazilian music at just the right level. Service was quick and attentive. Caipirinha was ok, but not freshly made. Crispy coconut shrimp apps were good if not particularly coconuty. My tofu/plantain muqueca was hot and fresh but slightly bland; companion's shrimp/mussel muqueca was better, with a fish sauce to pour over the rice. Good espresso and super sweet truffle for dessert at reasonable cost made even more so by a coupon. Made me wish I could go to Brazil!

    (4)

  • S. M. S.

    Mall food court Brazilian food served in a balmy (and sorta dirty) restaurant that I wouldn't go back to.

    (2)

  • Marlee S.

    The mariscada is delicious, and I'm not even big on seafood. It's got lots of big and little shrimp, mussels, and squid, and comes in a yummy coconutty/tomato-y broth. The plain moqueca that it comes with is too salty for my taste. If you get this dish, I'd suggest splitting it with someone because it's a lot of food. Coconut shrimp = yum, calamari wasn't anything special. Moqueca completa had a spicier broth, and is for avid lovers of seafood. Picanha was amazing. Good cut of meat, and I couldn't stop smelling the bowl long after it was eaten. We had reservations on Friday for 8:30 or 9pm, and we still had to wait for a table to clear out.

    (4)

  • May N.

    Yum! Small Brazilian restaurant with emphasis on seafood. Prices are not too bad, most expensive entree is under $18, but that doesn't count the market prices for some of the seafood. Our group of 7 had to wait ~30 min for a large enough table, but it was worth it! It is probably best for groups of 5 or less. We started with the fried Yucca appetizer which was lightly fried with a creamy "secret" sauce. Then the food came and all looked delicious. I got the seafood rice casserole (which I really liked, hit the spot for seafood and a cool night), a few got the mariscadas, and the vegetarians got the banana lasagnas. The food could be served family style or for individuals. Portions were generous and my partner and I took home doggie bags perfect for leftovers. Intimate place, great service. Only bad things - if you don't like cilantro (ugh!) watch out, and no alcohol. But the next day, I learned about how hard and expensive it is to get liquor licenses in Boston, so I forgave them.

    (4)

  • Samantha C.

    Just OK. There were some good, but also some bad. I ended up leaving feeling underwhelmed... PROS: * Yuca as an appetizer -- definitely recommended! * Pineapple/Mint smoothie -- ah-mazing! CONS: * the calamari -- obviously frozen (all same-sized rings with a think breading that couldn't have been fresh). although the owner was kind enough to take it away & let us get something new, I was shocked that such an item was served at a place where the seafood should be fresh!! * the service -- food came out way too quickly. I'm not too picky about it, but our main courses came out so fast that we barely had time to finish our apps! OVERALL: Portions were good & reasonably priced. Cool decor & friendly staff. Food could be stepped up a bit so the meal was just OK. I probably won't be back.

    (3)

  • Natalia T.

    My hubby and I went there yesterday for dinner. We had 1.5 muqueca completa, fried calamari for appetizer and he had soup. We also got 2 mixed juices from the juice bar. The food is delicious, needless to say, I love this place, but in the end we were left with $75 bill. For a dinner for 2 that is quite expensive...

    (4)

  • Debra L.

    The downside to going to a place that has been reviewed 91 times and has an average star rating of 4.5 is that your expectations are set really high. Maybe a little too high. Based on everything I have read and heard, I could not wait to get to Muqueca! I knew that it would be crowded, so my husband made a reservation. It was pointless. We got there about 10 minutes before the reservation time but weren't seated for close to 40 minutes after that. So really, there was no point in making a reservation, which made me wonder why they even accept reservations? They'd be better off with a no reservation policy. Now, for the food. We got an order of half shrimp & half cod Brazilian patties to start with. They were decent. Not to die for, but a good starter. The cod ones weren't really hot enough. When the Muqueca (we got the combo, shrimp, mussels and fish) arrived, it was visually appealing, sizzling and colorful. Aaaah, finally! This is what we came here for. Okay, it was good. The seafood was tender, but a little mild. As another reviewer mentioned, I too thought the broth was a bit too mild. I think it could have been more spicy or more flavorful in general. It was good, but not 5 star out of this world, in my opinion. Enjoyable, but there was just something missing about it. We also had a side order of plantains that were incredible - maybe even the best plantains I've ever had? Service was polite and efficient. Muqueca was solid but not a place I'd go out of my way to get to again.

    (3)

  • Janet C.

    We went to the restaurant with a couple who wanted to try it and the food was great, great service, friendly atmosphere. I'm very happy to say that the quality and service we grew to love is back again!

    (5)

  • Jon H.

    God, this place is so damn good. Parking sucks, but if you get to this place, the service, the owner (and chef), atmosphere, and FOOD is sooo good. I always get the same thing, which is the stroganoff. I know what you're thinking - is that Brazilian? Doesn't matter because this is the best plate you'll ever taste. I've taken four or five people here just to get it, and they all agree - its the perfect dish, with the perfect ingredients and perfect portions. Yes, I just used perfect describing food in Boston. The smoothies, appetizers, and most of the other broths and stews are all great as well. Everything here is GREAT. Downsides: Parking around Inman, and its a small place. But usually if you have to wait, just walk around Inman.

    (5)

  • ivy L.

    Came here on a whim and had to sit at the bar cuz they were all booked. Make reservations ahead of time! Ordered the Mariscada and Fish with Shrimp Moqueca. Both were very good, full of flavor. Out of the two I think the Mariscada was better.

    (4)

  • ana l.

    There are not enough stars for this place. The restaurant might not like reservations for 17 people on a Friday at 630pm, but they will do it. The small place gets packed around 7pm..didn't really see many people having to wait because it seemed to have a good turn around rate with customers coming and going. Appetizers: Calamari not a fan of their breading, but the passion fruit dipping sauce is wonderful! The yucca was a bit drier then I would have liked but the dipping sauce complemented it well. My main course: Seafood rice casserole. This IS the dish for seafood lovers. Plenty of shrimp, calamari, and mussels in each bite (and you will get seafood in each forkful). The rice is moist and seasoned so well I could not stop talking about how good it was. Side note: Two of us ordered this dish and were sitting on the same side so our orders were combined and served on a larger platter. Also tried the Cod Capixba: Delicious! The rice, eggs, and plantains are served on top of the cod. Very nice presentation. The dishes are plentiful, the staff is pleasant and the food is ready in no time!

    (5)

  • Beril B.

    Very good service. Good food. Friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend the mixed Seafood dish with cilantro, onions and coconut milk.

    (4)

  • jen m.

    My boyfriend decided that this is where he wanted to go for his birthday dinner and i'm SO glad he did. I was skeptical after a quick glance at the online menu, not having any experience with Brazilian food and not being a huge seafood lover. We went on a sunday evening with a group of 10 and we had a 5pm reservation. we were seated very promptly despite the restaurant being busy. the waitress took our drink orders and we all became immersed in the menu. there were so many choices - heavy on the fish. the muqueca with tofu and plantains called to me and that's what i ended up with. we started with the fried yucca appetizer, which was very good with the ranch dip that came on the side. they were lightly salted and nicely crisp. the hot sauce on the table was a great addition to the ranch for a spicy dipping sauce. the hot sauce was unique - creamy and thick with a really good mouth numbing burn but good flavor as well. our meals arrived within a reasonable amount of time (people were just finishing apps) and the servings were quite large! the muquecas are served boiling hot in cool stone bowls along with a side of rice. if two people get the same one, they get a larger bowl to share (although the waiter made sure to ask if this was ok, which was a nice touch). my stew was delicious!! it was full of cilantro and tomatoes and onions...everything blended together so well. I got it spicy and it was the pefect level of heat. there were chunks of tofu and plantains to soak up the yummy flavors. i was very impressed but was only able to eat half of the bowl - it was that big! for those of you who hate cilantro, my boyfriend was able to order his stew without cilantro or onions and the waitress explained that they make everything to order (likely why it's not super fast to get your food) so they can customize as you wish. i mentioned to the waitress that we had a birthday and they came over with a slice of the coconut tapioca cake with a candle and sang, which was cute and appreciated. overall, i loved our experience here and will definitely be going back and bringing others. by the time we left (around 7pm) there was a wait at the door, so plan to spend some time - get a glass of wine (very reasonable $5 for house glasses), bring good company, and enjoy the food!

    (4)

  • Josh K.

    I tried the Lasagna de Banana, and it was good but not what I expected from a Plantain Lasagna. I thought either the noodles would be made out of plantains similar to the way gnocchi is made from potatoes and/or there would be plantains mixed in with a traditional lasagna tomato sauce and cheese. The lasagna consisted of plantains cover with cheese, and there were no noodles or tomato sauce in the dish. It resembled lasagna about as much as cheese fries resembles macaroni and cheese. With that being said, the dish was still good. The cheese was delicious, and the plantains were cooked nicely. It just was a little too cheese heavy for my taste. The menu looked so good, so I'll definitely go back to try another dish.

    (3)

  • Marcelo C.

    Better than the food you get in Brazil!

    (5)

  • Alisa K.

    This restaurant has great food but the service was so terrible I can't in good conscience give it a good review. Judging from the other reviews, our experience was not an aberration. Our server made a big fuss that we were a party of 7, not 6, as one our friends has a four week old baby. I asked for an extra glass three times to three different servers and finally gave up and walked over to the bar to get one. Finally, I asked for an extra plate for the dessert a few of us were sharing and our server told us they would have to charge us for an extra plate. The food was quite good - I had the vegetarian muqueca with yucca and tofu, which was one of the best vegetarian dishes I've had. The banana lasagna was a really unique blend of sweet and savory. The pineapple mint drink was refreshing and they have a great selection of nonalcoholic cocktails. The food is great but this place really needs to work on its service.

    (1)

  • B D.

    Being from Brazil and having experienced a muqueca back there, I should not give this place five stars. Very good food there, nice ambiance. Update: Twice I've been to this place and was seated and not acknowledged for over 15 minutes. The first time I stayed because my friend really wanted to try the food. The second, I left. Will not be back.

    (3)

  • Heather G.

    Fried plantains were OK but the star was the passion fruit dipping sauce they provided upon my request. The plantains were too dry to eat as a stand-alone, and the taste was more grease than anything. tried both the Fish Moqueca and the Mariscada. The mariscada was by-far the superior option if you had to get one. The broth is more coconut-y than the moqueca, and the dish comes chock-full of delicious seafood. A lot of the seafood in the dish is a bit overcooked and rubbery, but then again, when you serve a soup in a piping hot stone bowl, I bet it is tricky to keep the seafood the right consistency, as it continues to cook in the bowl throughout the meal. This soup was hearty and filling without feeling heavy. It had a very fresh flavor and hit the spot on a cold night. The moqueca was also good, but a bit heavier-tasting than the mariscada. The broth was spicier and heavier, and the fish itself was unremarkable. Still, the dish was tasty, and provided a lot of leftovers for the next day. Going back, I would have the mariscada again 100 times over. A MUST-HAVE.

    (4)

  • F A.

    My Brazilian friend introduced me to this restaurant and I am a big fan of this place. Their prices are reasonable and the seafood is always fresh. Nice to try something different once in a while, and all of their muqueca is great. Very friendly staff as well.

    (4)

  • Corey G.

    This place is great. I was in Boston for two separate trips during the summer of 2007. During my first stay is when I found Muqueca. I don't know they name of the name of the neighborhood, but there's lots of Portuguese & Brazilian influences. Muqueca was my first Brazilian food experience, and they didn't disappoint. I went w/ a Brazilian smoothie. I can't remember the flavor but it had Brazilian fruits & it was yummy! I had some plantains as a side and had Shrimp Muqueca for the main course. All the food was off the fresh (sorry for going 80s, but it was yumm!). I wish I had a belly big enough to gulp it all up! :) I wish I had a fridge and microwave at the hotel, cuz I had a little food leftover and it woulda been great for lunch the next day. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone wanting to try some great Brazilian food.

    (5)

  • Tara G.

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!! YUM YUM YUM! Fish in a pot!

    (5)

  • Jeff R.

    I've been in Boston for almost 3 months now, and this is the first place I've been to that compelled me to write a review. Our dinner at Muqueca was the best I've had in Boston. We arrived on a Saturday night around 8 and waited about 15 min for a two person table, but I'd recommend a reservation because it's a very small space. We ordered the coconut shrimp, the shrimp muqueca, and the fish muqueca. It was A LOT of food. The coconut shrimp was tasty but not terribly memorable. But the muqueca's were so good. The seafood was perfect and the vegetables tasted so fresh. And the best part about it was that it was loaded with cilantro! The bill came to $40, which is pretty good for 3 seafood dishes. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is that they don't serve alcohol. I would have loved some sangria or a caipirinha to go along with the meal, but no such luck. Unfortunately I'm not interested in ordering a $5 smoothie or glass of fresh fruit juice for dinner, no matter how delicious it may be. But...drinks can always wait. The food is certainly worth it.

    (4)

  • Janine A.

    The place is small and very crowded. I believe we waited about 20 mins for a table. The service was ok, and there was a really long wait for the food. I take it the food is made to order because everyone seemed to be waiting a long time for food. The food was absolutely worth the wait. Fresh, amazing, and large portions. We could have shared one order between the two of us instead of ordering individual meals. This is not a place to go to if you are in a hurry or on a schedule because of the wait for food. The pace of the staff is really slow too. We waited for to go containers, and waited for the bill. The food was absolutely worth it. Next time we hope to leave room for dessert.

    (4)

  • Aditi R.

    Right when you walk in you're immediately hit with a fishy smell - except this time around it's a good kind. Seafood enthusiasts would love this place for it has the perfect balance of intense flavor and incredibly well cooked seafood. It's a small restaurant with an incredibly eclectic patronage. At any given time I have seen people of all nationalities sitting at this place and it makes it that much more fun to come and dine here. The staff is incredibly nice as well and the decor of the place lends itself to a cheery atmosphere fit to be right out of a finding nemo set (the giant wall art with marine life and a net around it being the focal point). They have a great juice bar for people who want something refreshing to start off with. However we decided to forgo that and get right into pigging out. So the appetizer order was the fried yucca. Oh how delicious - when served it doesn't look all that appetizing for it doesn't have much color nor does it have anything in terms of presentation, but the taste makes up for all of that and much more. The dipping sauce provides a great way to add to the taste of the crispy fried yucca and we had soon devoured the entire thing within 5 minutes of it being served. On to the next! You cannot come here and not try their signature moquecas. Unfortunately, I am allergic to shellfish and cannot try most of their moquecas. Fortunately they cater to one and everyone, so they have a fish, fish and calamari, and even a vegetarian moqueca. PERFECT! So we went ahead with the Fish and Calamari one and it certainly did not disappoint. The sizzling clay pot that is brought out (after a good waiting period of about 20 minutes) to show that there was a reason for the waiting we had to endure, the colors are immediately eye catching, as is the aroma and the sizzle of it all. This dish is amazing. The fish was cooked to perfection (they change the fish each time you order this dish) and melted in my mouth and the calamari was equally amazing. My only gripe with this dish is that of the two times I've been here and ordered this dish, it seems to lack a little bit of salt and thus doesn't have that punch - but no worries, we add some salt and pepper and the incredibly spicy side they have at the table and voila, we're set! Oh is it delicious... The second entree we ended up ordering was the Lansanha de Banana which is made with plantain, 3 cheese sauce & oregano. Brought along with it is a plate of rice. I don't even want to THINK about how many calories are in this dish, simply because I just don't want to ruin it for me ever ordering it. The three types of cheeses melted on the sweet plantains are incredible. Though you have to be hungry for a day or so to finish this dish - it's simply too rich to finish al in one go, especially when there's another entree on the table...even with two people. But man is it good! After we were sufficiently stuffed, we looked over our shoulders to see our neighbors being served flan. Suddenly (and magically) there was more room created in our stomachs for more food! So we continue our culinary journey through Brazil to end our night with some flan. Nothing spectacular, but certainly satisfying and a good way to put a close to a wonderful meal. This place is quite far from where I live. I have to catch two different trains and walk an extra 15-20 minutes to get to this place, but I'm willing to do it over and over again simply because their food and everything about their restaurant is amazing. DEF give it a try if you haven't!

    (4)

  • Katrina G.

    So Good. I love Indian, Thai, Mexican and Caribbean food and I have several go to places, however yesterday I wanted to try something new. This place hit the spot! Best food I've had in a Boston restaurant in years. The plantain Moqueca and the "must try" Mariscada (shrimp, mussels, tomato and onions in a spicy coconut milk reduction) was amazing. I cannot wait to go back and sample the rest of the menu and desserts. Tip: Call in advance to secure a table. Plan to wait 10-15 minutes past your reservation time as people like to linger over dessert at this very popular little spice heaven. Don't worry, it is well worth the wait!

    (5)

  • Sara G.

    Wow! Really great food--and the price is right. Business is definitely doing well after their move to the new place. Even with the liquor license, their mixed juices are the way to go. The staff is friendly, and the food is just really, really tasty. And, you will have enough left over for lunch the next day.

    (4)

  • Gina G.

    Muqueca is a must for those who have never tried Brazilian food. Its dishes are representative of some of the most popular foods in Brazil (I'm Brazilian), and it's cheap! I recommend 1) The fried yucca (mandioca in Portuguese) but think they should be eaten without the sauce and with extra salt. That way you can actually taste it! 2) Rice and beans - it's not like Mexican rice and beans and is a staple in Brazil, you gotta have it. 3) The steak - yes it's "just a steak" but it comes sizzling on a tiny grill to the table ad is great quality. Plus it comes with vinaigrette sauce (typical), farofa, rice and beans 4) The strogonoff: i didn't think it was wonderful but my boyfriend LOVED it. It's quite good, also a typical dish (though its origins are Russian). 5) Dessert: acai bowl or pudim de leite! YUM. Clearly I'm not into muquecas or fishy dishes, so I'm not one to recommend those. Also, the owner, whose face is plastered on many awards/reviews on the wall - is super sweet, loves what she does, is a chef, cook, and waitress at the place. And everything is made FRESH to order, they don't reheat (from what I saw). The only reason why I gave it 4 and not 5 stars is that the atmosphere is blah.. its a great place to go with friends or just for yummy food, but for a romantic date or special occasion you might want to pick something else.

    (4)

  • Bobby P.

    This place is fantastic! I was lucky enough to dine here the last two times I visited my sister and brother-in-law in Cambridge. I don't know if its even worth the trip now that they've moved to a different neighborhood (just kidding, just kidding!). I can't list specifics from memory, but the seafood stews we ordered were like a slice of Portuguese home cooking heaven (or so I imagine). The combination of exotic new flavors and fresh ingredients are enough to inspire me to write this review several months since the last time we went. After a few bites it becomes very obvious that a lot of effort goes into the preparation of these dishes, and the proprietors take a lot of pride in what they serve. Now if only I could convince them to move to Philly...

    (5)

  • Michael C.

    Muqueca is on the outskirts of Inman Square but certainly worth the short walk, I got the Mariscada which inconspicuously says on the menu "Must Try". It was basically some kind of seafood stew with mussels, shrimp, squid, and crab meat. It came with a good side of rice, some kind of warm plantain soup that you are supposed to put on top of the Mariscada, I did and it was delicious! We got a side order pf fried sweet plantains and for dessert some flan. All were excellent.

    (5)

  • Terry C.

    The food at Muqueca was good. But not THAT great. Appetizer - crab cake (served in a crab shell) fried Yucca - they're both good. For entree, we ordered the House Special Fish, Shrimp and Mussels Moqueca (good) Seafood Rice casserole (the best out of the three) Cod Capixaba (the taste of this dish was not bold enough. All i tasted was the coconut milk) Considering the size of the restaurant, I'm glad they take reservations. However, this place lacks ventilation and the service was not that great. There was a party of 2 waiting for a table and our server asked if we were done, we said No, we're still working and he repeats as if he's surprised, "you're still working on it?" and we said yes. I just felt too rushed, they wanted us to order, eat and get out.

    (3)

  • Jamie M.

    What a find,the food is amazing here. Reasonably priced great food, and your going to leave stuffed. Brazilian food is out of this world.

    (5)

  • Rebecca S.

    SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN Simply put-I wish I could take this dreadful experience back! I walked in with high hopes for this little Brazilian nook, little did I know this would be the last time I would step foot in that miserable hell hole. We sat down and the waiter was immediately discourteous. I felt uncomfortable and rushed ordering and asking questions about the authentic dishes. I will admit the calamari and the stroganof were quite tasty although the consistency left me feeling a bit queezy. There is no way I can put into words how miserable the staff were, even if the meal itself was 5 star the horrendous staff knock it quickly down to 1. They charged us $6 extra for extra sauces and when I mentioned it to the owner his response was astonishingly inhospitable. Never have I ever witnessed such a scene, I seriously think his pants were a little too tight to breathe maybe thats why he exploded on 3 lovely ladies looking for nothing more then a pleasant afternoon. Your biggest mistake would be to come here, its overpriced and a disgracefully cold, awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere.

    (1)

  • Ruben L.

    I love this place!!! You need to go a few times to try the muquecas, the feijoada, the steak and the strogonof... and also make sure you try the fresh fruit juices while you are there. This is true authentic Brazilian food, not like the Midwest Grill that has a fake churrascaria set-up (that used to be across the street, but now muqueca moved further away). By the way, I really like the new location. There is a lot more space so we don't need to wait an hour to get a table anymore.

    (5)

  • samatha r.

    Well.. We went to the restaurant only to find "Coming soon" board on it's window. Shoking, ain't it ? Especially so when you go during snowy rain that's boston's gods special weather. Thankfully, the staff who are working at the restaurant directed us to a little establishment which is mother of this one which is going to come soon. So, we walked a block further to enter the grey building to real restaurant. We had fried calamari, crab cake as apetizers, and for entres, we had seafood casserole, fish moqueca, cod copoxia and a fried redsnapper. For starters, The picture doesn't lie --- So, a red snapper comes exactly as they said in the menu.. Fried in it's entire form. Casserole is very good. Rest are done right, smell right and taste right. Unfortunately, we are not as used to fish are most bostonians are. Still, food is good. Ambience is friendly. Things to take note of - You can't have both apetizers and entres. It's either one, so it's like one dish per person. So, keep that in mind when you are ordering. that's it, I guees.

    (4)

  • Kelly P.

    I just ate at this restaurant with my husband. We are still trying to decide if what we actually put in our mouth was food because it was so bland. Both of us had fish stew with shrimp and mussels. You could definitely split the dish because it has a lot of fish and shrimp. It just tastes like a mound of nothing.

    (2)

  • Jon O.

    To be fair this place had good service and had a nice environment. But this spot is not worthy of a 4.5 / 5 star rating. The fried Yucca was pretty good and had a good crispy texture and nice sauce to accompany it, and the smoothie was pretty tasty as well as fresh. However, the Muquecass didn't seem to have the burst of flavor which I really had anticipated. Perhaps, I am wrong in my expectations for it to be relatively similar to its cousin the molcajete, an famous Mayan dish you can find a some Mexican restaurants, but it didn't have nearly the appetizing taste, texture, spicy bite, nor creativity that previous molcajetes I've encountered have included. I found myself searching for sauces to spice it up a little bit. Overall it was okay, but nothing I would Yelp! about to other friends. My search for decent South American food continues...

    (3)

  • Rogelio M.

    They didn't serve me well, ( I guess is because I'm a Brazilian ) the price is really high the food quality is poor, and they rush you to leave the table. I was very Disappointed. I'll never come back !!!

    (1)

  • Blair H.

    Mmmm...one of those places that makes me happy. Cozy, little hole in the wall serving good Brazilian fare. I can nom Muqueca. Even though this place is a hole, it's very clean and warm. It doesn't feel sketchy. It's also pretty cheap, I think the seafood Muqueca (a stew made of seafood, vegetables, coconut milk, and palm oil), smoothy (super good), crab cakes (meh), and dessert (super meh, get more muqueca) was $28. I'll definitely go again knowing what's better on the menu.

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    This is the best Brazilian restaurant in MA! I have been going for many years and am happy they moved to their larger location. The service is great and everything on the menu is delicious, especially all the sides!!

    (5)

  • Jess L.

    This little nook in the wall restaurant probably has a maximum capacity of 30 seats and even that may be stretching it. On the freezing cold night that we went to this hole in the wall, we had to be seated next to the door (which was pretty cold) bc we didnt have reservations and our other friend didnt show up yet. They were pretty strict about where we can sit. The waitstaff and service was actually fabulous. No complaints here! They come to your table in good timing intervals and makes certain that you have everything you need. The best part is that all the waitstaff is Brazilian and was able to explain the food to us very well. At least they wanted to explain the food to us and seemed very proud to do so. Very enthusiastic waitstaff, which you seldom encounter. In regards to the food....hmmm...here I have mixed feelings. The fried yuca was definitely delicious. However i got the mocaque de camerro (not sure if i spelled that correct). It was the shrimp stew. It was definitely hearty and filling. I had a dozen big shrimps in that stew. But what I found was that most of my food lack some savory taste to it. It needed some additional salt or something. It wasnt a palate popper. However, the waiter did give us this good fish gravy which i found helped to bring the flavors out of my mocaque a bit more. It defintiely helped to put some of the tableside homemade hot sauce into my food for more flavoring. My other friend order the veggie tofu mocaque and it was also lacking in savory flavor. We did order the fruit smoothies and that was absolutely fabulous. Definitely try the Blue Caju (with cashew juice)..so yummy! Eventho the food wasnt all that exciting, i did get a great experience and enjoyed the atmoshere. With appetizer, a stew dish, and a smoothie my entire meal only costs me $25 including tip and tax. Not bad at all! I would say definitely give this place a try and experience it, but dont expect fantastic popping flavors.

    (3)

  • Amy S.

    Who doesn't love Muqueca's food, friendly service, warm decor, and authenticity? I won't bother to say much about those well established joys. I found out last night that they take reservations... Even for two people. How did I find out? When I walked in the door at 7 with my bf, the staff got panicky. They had several empty tables ,but they were reserved. They were unsure if they should give them to us or wait for the parties with the reservation. There was a big hullabaloo, and I started to freak (since i was low blood sugar AND dehydrated). Then, right at my nervous breaking point, they sat us at small table in the corner. Whew. Shortly after, the place got slammed by the reservation folk and a bunch of walk-ins. Even though we had been sat first, they took our orders last. The reservation couple who came in two parties after us seemed to have pre-ordered or something. They were sat, watered, and fed well before us. This kind of bummed me out, but then our food ended up coming promptly. So, I calmed down and focused on enjoying the place. The lady servers were just so nice, I couldn't stay irritated. Next time, maybe I'll make a reservation. My suggestions for a two person order... split a sizzling bowl of seafood yumminess - either a muqueca or bobo or capixaba... Order an extra rice and then supplement it with sides and apps. Our supplements were the brazilian crabcake (delish), plantains (yum), beans (nothing special), greens (way too salty). No room for desert in our case.

    (4)

  • Sean E.

    I ated too much at Muqueca... I skipped breakfast this morning, mostly due to the decadently delicious chocolate flan that topped off my meal here last night. I had the FEIJOADA COMPLETA which contains a few of my favor-ite things - including black beans, various types of meats, collard greens, rice and plantains. The beans and meats come as a stew in a hot pot that stands proud at your table. Ladle it out on the rice and you've got a small piece of heaven going for you. The Brazilian meat patties, or Salgadinhos, were a delicious appetizer and hit a sweat spot for my gf who had been looking for years for the perfect Salgadinho. They don't serve beer or wine here but the delicious Brazilian soda they have makes up for that. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere is very warm and inviting even you end up with a seat by the door on a cold winter night. A perfect date spot to watch the huddled masses shuffle down Cambridge Street. And when you can get two diners, two deserts and split an app, all of high quality, for under 50 dollars, you know you'll be coming back.

    (4)

  • Amzers B.

    I went with my boyfriend and a friend on a Thursday night, and about half of the tables were full. Seated right away. The interior is well decorated but not super fancy, which I liked. It was all very colorful! For apps, we got fried shrimp with passion fruit dipping sauce (the fruit taste came along afterwards, which was neat. I was expecting something like super sweet sauce but it wasn't sweet at all.) and black bean soup. The soup came with some warm bread, and it was puree'd with no whole beans in it, which made it a little sloppy to eat but it was delicious. For entrees, my boyfriend got the picanha. It was butter soft and delicious. He finished the plate, though he didn't like the farofa. I'm going to chalk that up to him being a boring white guy though and not knowing how to eat it. You're supposed to put it ON food, not take mouthfuls of it alone. Or maybe native Brazilians eat it straight, but I couldn't. My friend and I split the feijoada. Our waitress asked if we wanted two plates of sides (rice, plantains, farofa, collards, orange) which was nice. The meat (beef and chorizo) and beans came mixed in a still-sizzling crockpot and was so delicious. My friend and I finished the meat, but we still had a plate's worth of sides between us, since they load you up. Consider getting only one if you split it. For drinks, we were all driving, so sadly we couldn't test the capirinhas. We got different mixes of fruit juices which were thick and tasty. I'm definitely going back!

    (4)

  • Marilyn T.

    If you're lucky enough to grab a seat, go for it! Otherwise, there's not much room to wait. We finally made it in on our 2nd attempt. The space is tiny, but it creates a fun, authentic atmosphere. We tried a couple of the muqueqas, the signature dishes, which were wonderful for a cold winter night. The stews stay warm and are pretty filling without being overly heavy. The smoothies are interesting but a little weird for my taste. I loved the banana lasagna - a cast iron skillet of cheese and plantains, which was so satisfying with the combination of sweet and savory. Like I said, if you happen to walk in at the right time and can avoid a painful wait, definitely try it!

    (4)

  • Yvonne W.

    This place is perfect for a cold autumn or winter day when you need something hot and hearty to warm you up. I've been here twice, and both times thought that the food was really good and the ambiance bright and tropical (very unlike the Cambridge/Boston area). The stews that seemed to be the most memorable are the tripe/bean/bacon stew and another black bean/meat stew (the latter was over a year ago, so it's fuzzy in my head now). The tripe stew is really rich and warms you up. It was well seasoned and particularly appealing because of the pork fat (how can one say no to pork fat?!). Their classic fish stew is surprisingly a bit lacking, especially compared to their meat stews. My lovely said that he felt that there was an aromatic or a spice lacking, as though they forgot to add garlic or something else to add another dimension? The fish itself was good, though, yet nothing to get too excited about. The juices here are also worth mentioning. Last weekend I had the mango/blueberry/passion fruit juice, and it was so refreshing! The juices here are fresh squeezed, and you can definitely taste that they are fresh squeezed. A little pricey, but then again fresh-squeezed juice everywhere is, and the combinations here are a bit different than what you would normally expect. One downside is that the place is a little on the small side, and the floors tend to be uneven (when the waitress would walk by my table to get through an aisle, I always felt like my chair was sinking just a little deeper into the ground). But I think they are actually moving to a larger space a few blocks away, which could be promising (and maybe they will get a liquor license? Maybe?).

    (4)

  • Nancy K.

    I went to this place with a few friends. We were lucky to get seated right away, since this place is tiny. However, they are soon moving to a larger place down the street. Good thing, since they seem busy. The man that took our order was really friendly and nice. We ordered the frog leg appetizer, just to be adventurous. I wasn't impressed with the frog. And maybe it's just that I don't care too much for frog. It's a good thing we also ordered a plate of fried plantains. The menu had a lot more seafood than we expected. Good for me, bad for one of my friends. My anti-seafood friend had a hard time ordering. He ended up with some chicken thing that looked a bit dry, and much less appetizing. I ordered the clam muqueca, which was absolutely delicious. I thought it was much more flavorful than the shrimp one that another friend ordered. I've only eaten Brazilian barbeque, so the muqueca is definitely a refreshing change. This place is great if you like seafood. Otherwise, you're better off going to a churrascaria.

    (5)

  • Keywon C.

    It won't be too romantic: Always crowded, tables were moved and shuffled more than once I ate here. Family and casual atmosphere, not too different from what you'd see in Sao Paolo, according to those who've been there. But the food is great. I always get Lasagna de Banana (plantain lasagna in cheese) and something else. The tropical drinks are good too, and I am a fan of the hot sauce sitting on the table. I'll buy a bottle before I graduate and move back to CA. Like what others said, if you're walking by and they have a table, go for it. You want to have a plan B though, because if you're too hungry it might be a torture to stare at other diners for 30 minutes.

    (5)

  • Ashley G.

    Not an everyday meal, but the food was delicious and interesting. The waitstaff is super sweet and you know you're in a good place when you're surrounded by a bunch of Portuguese speakers at a Brazilian restaurant. If they're there, it must be authentic. The fried Plantains were amazing as is the "soda" in the green can.

    (3)

  • Anastasia C.

    Wow. Delicious. We decided to pick a new restaurant for dinner last night so we headed to Cambridge St., drove by some places, parked the car and walked to Muqueca. We made a fantastic decision. We got shrimp patties as an appetizer and they were great, very flavorful. For dinner we got a side of fried plantains, I ordered shrimp bobo and my fiance got the mariscada and we each got a fresh made juice. Both entrees came with a good portion of rice, too. So, so good. We barely spoke throughout dinner because our mouths were full of delicious food the whole time! There are a couple of things that make this a four instead of five star (the food is a five and above). It would be nice if we could have gotten a beer with our dinners or at least brought our own. Also, its super tiny and we got seated near the door, which was a bit cold last night. However, I heard they are moving their restaurant soon, so hopefully there'll be more seating because we are definitely going again and I don't want to have to wait for a seat!

    (4)

  • Kris M.

    Literally, as good as it gets. Came here with my Brazilian friend, who claims that this is the best Brazilian restaurant in Boston she's found. High praise, indeed. Four of us descended on the restaurant on Friday night around 7. Having called ahead, we had a reservation in place, but it was not really needed as there were two tables open. Having said that, I'm sure that by Murphy's Law if we hadn't made the call, they would have been full. Appetizers were fried yucca with sausage and Brazilian patties with chicken (salgadinhos ou frango). Yucca was tasty, if a bit dry, but with a good dipping sauce, while the patties were little fried dumplings of delicious chicken and some cream sauce. For dinner, we ordered shrimp bobo, mariscada, plaintain and tofu moqueca (for the vegitarian), and chicken strogonoff. Everything came out piping hot, happily simmering and bubbling away in black-glazed pottery bowls. Everything was also delicious, even the strogonoff (which I wouldn't have expected). Full of flavor, not quite spicy but not quite sweet, and packed with vegetables, fish, and shellfish of all kinds. For dessert we split the chocolate and the regular flan; the regular flan was a bit tastier. All told, our meal set us back about $80 before tip, and it was well worth every last penny. Bonus: at least one of the servers is a Yelper! They do deserve their "Yelp loves us!" sticker in their window.

    (5)

  • Fawn Q.

    What a disappointment. The seafood muqueca that we got was very bland, it is also quite small. The Brazilian national dish, Feijoada Completa, was really tasty, it had a good combination of sausages, pork, and pork belly (nom nom)

    (2)

  • Bonita Y.

    Introduced to this place by MIT grad student (proves that this place is a GENIUS choice!) Scene: Entered in on a chilly-October night with few flakes of snow Item to order: MARISCADA...for $18.95, you get a bowl of: - Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid - cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. - Served wi th rice, farofa & plantain moqueca Three words: I'll be back :D

    (4)

  • Ash D.

    We were out for dinner to this place on a freaking cold Winter Friday and were welcomed with a warm blow of heat from the space heaters hanging from the wall as soon as we entered the place. It's exactly what we expected. A small, packed, foodie, hole in a wall joint with very friendly waitresses and good looking food. We tried everything recommended by the waitress and we liked what we got. I would say that the shrimp bobo was our best closely followed by Cod Capixaba and of course, fish Moqueca. If you are a foodie you would love this place. If you are not, it's still worth going.

    (5)

  • Esther W.

    Heard awesome things about this place so went with a few friends to check it out. This was my first non-bbq exposure to Brazilian food and I LOVE seafood so I was excited. We shared several appetizers and dishes among us to get a good sampling. The Brazilian crab cakes and fried Yuca with some kind of yummy sauce -- both awesome. The calamari was not special at all (kind of like the frozen kind you get out of a box) and wouldn't get it again (but the passion fruit sauce that came with it was quite good). For entrees, we had the plantain lasagna which was really good for the first few bites, especially when it was piping hot, but then the overload of cheese and cream sauce got overwhelming. The seafood muqueca was great, especially the fish. We also got the mariscada, which was like a seafood casserole (included coconut milk I think, so it was almost curry like) which I thought was really tasty. I think we all liked it for the most part, although the food took a really really long time and we were starving. And, I had one major problem through the dinner which I should have realized beforehand -- I don't like cilantro. Unfortunately, the crabcakes, the muqueca and the mariscada all were loaded with cilantro. That was the hard part for me. So, cilantro-haters, make sure you take note.

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    Given that I'd spent a month in Brazil's northeast, I thought I would give Muqueca's muquecas a try. Especially to compare with the muquecas I had on the beach in Morro de Sao Paulo. I chose the fish muqueca while a friend had the shrimp. All in all, very good, and what lacked in flavor (don't get me wrong, there was a fair amount of it) was more than made up for in the portion size. I have never had more fish in a stew. Just FYI, this place doesn't have booze. For a taste of Brazil, this is unfair.

    (4)

  • Sarah G.

    Knocking off a star because prices have gone up enough to make us not eat here as often. Still yummy though.

    (4)

  • Brian G.

    So three stars is A-OK according to the rating system. So I don't feel guilty. I thought it was great that they accommodated all 10 of us Yelpers, but sadly, there really wasn't much selection for the vegans/vegetarians. I'm not always in the mood for tofu, geez... I got 4 vegetarian platter which consisted of 4 of the 6 sides and was a little depressed at my portion size. Rice and beans were fine, nothing special, but tasty. Plantains were AWESOME. Goddamn I love me some plantains. My all fruit smoothie was pretty tasty and well priced too.... I highly recommend trying one of those if you go. Once again, not incredibly impressed, but I had fun and left full.

    (3)

  • Jenn T.

    We came here today because the boyfriend has been wanting to try it. The place is a tiny mom & pop type of restaurant but we were lucky and got a table right away at around 8:30 (the place was packed though). I've been to plenty of small restaurants but I definitely felt claustrophobic in there although our order was taken not long after we sat down, we waited for a REALLY long time for our appetizer. Normally we wouldn't have cared but because the party that sat down roughly 20 minutes after us got their appetizer AND entree before ours, we were definitely a bit ticked off. Not only that, in the middle of our meal, the male waiter (possibly the manager or even the owner) came and asked the table to the right AND the left of us if everything was good and whether they're enjoying the meal...and completely skipped us. not sure what that was about. Service: 1.5 star We ordered a fried garlic chicken dish to start (not on their online menu), fish moqueca and fried plantains. I enjoyed the chicken dish, which came on bones so the waitress gave us an empty bowl to keep the bones (they don't give you plates to eat on), and when I was still working on my last piece of chicken, the waitress came and took away the empty dish and bowl, leaving me with nothing to put my bone on. fish moqueca was good but i certainly don't feel that it was so good that i must go back there again, or that i should bring someone there. it seemed like a simple enough dish that we could just make at home. plus, because we only ordered one entree, we were charged $2.95 for an extra bowl of rice. Overall, I wouldn't recommend against trying the restaurant but I don't recommend going back there after your first try.

    (3)

  • Jessica B.

    I made a mistake. I made a mis-steak. I ordered the steak. Which was tasty, but just a steak, really. My friend got the plantain lasagna, which was huge and tasted good but also, overall, sort of boring. Maybe we made the worst two choices on the menu. And considering the amount of intense love for this place, maybe I will have to go back. But for right now, I don't get it. Or maybe the big problem is that I don't like seafood stews, so I stayed away from them and that seems to be the single item that one must get at Muqueca. In which case, I'm sure the place is quite good, but not for me. Oh well.

    (3)

  • Lys W.

    I have been here a few times now, and I feel finally qualified to give my opinion on this establishment. It is a small place, and I believe that is partly what give Muqueca its charm. You feel like you are eating in some back street in Brazil, like you have found that coveted unknown restaurant that you can brag about to you friends for having eaten "so ethnically and local." I have a new favorite smoothie, the Brazilian Summer. It is made with pineapple juice, mint and ice. I was never much of a fruit or smoothie person, but this drink gave me the cool down I needed to approach my entree. There are not a whole lot of vegetarian items on their menu, but what they do have is well made, and usually cheaper than the other entrees. Score! I had the plantain and tofu moqueca and as always it was delectable. I can't eat a lot of it, because it is very sweet, so I ended up pawning some off to my friends around the table. Overall, very good, and I believe that I have a new favorite restaurant to take my family and friends out to when they come and visit me.

    (4)

  • Arthur M.

    The Brazilian style fish stew is fantastic, as is the yuca, and the smoothies.

    (5)

  • Kenny L.

    Bookmarked 1/16/08 So apparently I craved this all the way from Taiwan after my recent surgery! For whatever reason, I kept thinking this was the Brazilian BBQ place in Inman. Thanks to Melissa for coming here for her "favorite" pina colada here after our Christina's Ice Cream run (by favorite I mean we threw it away after drinking half. There's this unusual sour taste to it...but I realized it now it's the pineapple that they added. Apparently I needed to try their real dishes though and since the next day was my Sunday brunch date with Jenny and Calvin, I decided to come here instead of Metropolis (need to try those supposed killer banana pancakes soon). Perfect too such they open at noon on Sundays and there wasn't much people when we went in. First of all, all the dishes are HUGE and really tasty so don't feel bad if you need to take half home for dunch. I had the signature Fish Moqueca (I'm not sure why it's spelled with an "o"). Again, large portions of fish in the nice hot flavorful stew with all types of additions that company it. Calvin had the Picanha - Prime Cut Sirloin, medium rare. Served on a cast iron skillet with vinaigrette sauce & farofa. This looked REALLY good! Jenny had the Feijoada Completa - Brazilian national dish. Black beans stew with fresh & dried meat, pork, sausage & bacon. Served with collard greens, fried plantain, farofa & orange. HUGE amount of black beans (separate for you to add as much as you need) to be taken home. JD had the Lasagna de banana - Made with plantain, 3 cheeses sauce & oregano. Served with rice. This sounded really good but looked too carb heavy when presented. Paul had the Chicken Strogonoff - Mushrooms, palm heart, corn, milk Served with rice & potato sticks. Apparently this kid loves his fungus (Paul, let's not make the mushroom rice again at your place, okay? :) For drinks, I got the Tropical Freeze - Banana, Pineapple, Orange Juice, Cashew & Passion Fruit and Jenny got the Brazilian Summer - Pineapple & Mint. Mmm...perfect for keeping my stomach full for my hell layover at Logan. We can all forget about the fork flinging across the table now, right?! :P

    (5)

  • Jennifer D.

    PheNOMenal! I didn't know how I would feel about a fish stew since I'm not used to that kind of dish, but the Mariscada was absolutely outstanding. It had shrimp, crabmeat, mussels and squid in a broth with tomato, onion and coconut milk. The flavors were incredible. I also tried one of the meat dishes, but I far preferred the seafood. The place itself is super cute-- it's a pretty small dining room and it has all sorts of ocean-related decorations on the walls. Kind of reminds me of a cheesy Florida hotel. But in a charming way.

    (4)

  • Austin T.

    i came here as a brazilian food noob. so... read my review knowing that i probably have no idea what i'm talking about. :D um, so i had no idea what was going on. i ordered "Brazil's national dish" and i got 4 plates. was i supposed to mix it all together? eat it with my hands? drink the stew? snort the powdered flower ... parts? i was so confused. the server was kind enough to ask if i'd been there before and then tried to explain the dish to me. but she just pointed and muttered. not helpful, dude. i left here full but i'm still a brazilian food noob.

    (3)

  • Charoline D.

    Finding parking in Inman was not too bad, but it seems imperative to make reservations if you're as impatient as I am. I, late as usual, arrived to find friends had ordered two plates of friend yucca and fried yucca with steak as appetizers. How tasty, I'm not even sure I had ever tasted yucca (knowingly) up until this point. It was served with a dipping sauce that for me, was fairly reminiscent of somewhere between tartar sauce without the chunks and cucumber raita. For a beverage, I took yelpers recommendation and got a juicebar drink of blueberries, mango, and passion fruit. SO tasty and naturally sweet. None of that added sugar hogwash you get from adding stuff like sugar or apple juice. I kept eying our neighbors meals, trying to decipher what they had from the menu descriptions. I assumed one was Shrimp Moqueca, spicy shrimp stewed in diced tomatoes, onions, and cilantro served with a nice pile of rice and went for it. Very tasty, but a little too salty for my taste and was definitely not what they ordered ;(. I preferred my cohort's Shrimp Bobo in it's yucca and onion cream sauce. I'll definitely be back to try the mussels and the crabcake at a later date. Everything here seemed to be on point. Except for the service, even though we had reservations we had to wait a bit for a table and seem to have been forgotten and parked ourselves at a nearby 4 seater. Only it wasn't cleaned, and our waitress failed to notice that and proceeded to plop down menus and silverware. double ;(

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    This will be brief since a lot of reviewers have done the work for me in terms of more specific descriptions. This place is amazing in a way I don't usually hoot and holler about. Like, if you were in front of me right now, I'd grab you on both shoulders firmly and look right into your eye and tell you that you NEED to experience this restaurant. Like, if you don't, the world will come to an end in a hideous apocalypse or something. Seriously. Amazing. Don't wait.

    (5)

  • Lorraine L.

    I'm so happy that Muqueca moved to the larger space and is now only 2 blocks from my apt! After multiple visits, I prefer to order family style so I can have a bit of everything. The plantain lasagna is a sweet cheesy counterpoint to any muqeuca, but is way too rich for me to eat as my main dish. Definitely get a fresh squeezed juice from the juice bar and an appetizer because the moquecas take a while to stew to bubbly perfection. My only disappointment is the chicken stroganoff mainly due to the thick heavy bland cream sauce that covered the dish.

    (5)

  • Lesley A.

    Excellent seafood! Very friendly service.

    (5)

  • G H.

    Love this place. Pretty much everything that you order is very tasty. It is a bit on the pricier end, but it's worth it on a cold evening. Small downside is that the service is very slow since there seems to be only 2 people serving. How can a place that serves banana lasagna be anything other then fun times? :)

    (4)

  • Shawn W.

    I came here a few days ago with a wonderful group of yelpers, and was very pleasantly suprised. The exterior and interior of the place aren't terribly inspiring, and it's an extremely tiny place, but that's all I really have to say about Muqueca negatively. They don't serve alcohol, but they make up for it with their large smoothie selection. Now, the main attraction, the moqueca, is amazing. I hadn't heard of moqueca before going here, but it's definitely something that I wont be forgetting anytime soon! I ordered the shrimp, mussels, and squid moqueca. It was absolutely fantastic, especially considering the price. The various seafoods were mixed in with rice, a yellow sauce(saffron?), and bits of veggies. It reminded me of a japanese curry dish. I had a ton of leftovers at the end of dinner. I'll be returning soon.

    (4)

  • Amanda L.

    So I didn't realize how small this place was until I walked in with my posse of 12 by my side. Whoops. However, I had made reservations a week beforehand and they were willing, so extra points for them!! Being of straight Portuguese decent, I hadn't really tried Brazilian food (well, except for when my mom's cousin made it for us) so I was excited to see if I could spot the differences. Let me tell you, there are differences. First, we all got a couple of smoothies. I went with a traditional Strawberry Pina Colada. It was delicious, and I could taste the chunks of fruit. We ordered some Yucca with grilled linguica. The linguica was cooked perfectly, it was crispy and juicy, just the way I like it. I am now a huge fan of Yucca. They were delicious, and the dill sauce that it came with was cool and refreshing. So of course, we tried the traditional Muqueca dish. Joe and I decided to share since we were told they were big portions. We ordered the shrimp and mussels. However, we got shrimp and fish instead. I didn't mind much, however, I really wanted to try the mussels, but I ended up stealing some from Jess instead =D So, the first thing I notice is that Brazilian food uses a lot more spices than Portuguese food. Portuguese food is very simple, since there usually isn't a lot of ingredients involved. I thought the dish was excellent, and it was such a huge portion that it was a steal at $17.95 for the both of us. I could have used a little more rice, but it's probably better for my diet =D I will definitely be returning here in no time, and it was a perfect venue for me to spend quality time with my favorite Yelpers celebrating my birthday =D

    (4)

  • Adam R.

    A quaint, family-run place. We went here for Valentine's Day and thoroughly enjoyed our meal! The only reason they get four rather than five stars is because we weren't seated for our 7pm reservation until 7:30. The place was packed, barely enough room for their tables, I'm not even sure why they take reservations. I was a little annoyed that they didn't do any crowd control, knowing they had people with dinner reservations lined up out the door. Other than that, our food came out surprisingly fast. We had the crab cake appetizer which was fabulous and not nearly big enough for two. Get your own, you'll be happier! We shared the Mariscada entree, which is a typical seafood-based stew served like the rest of their typical dishes in a sizzling pot. Delicious. Spicy, flavorful, nothing overwhelming...great seafood. Had the Tapioca for dessert which was good if you like tapioca. Nothing to rave about, but tasty. Fairly priced, great atmosphere, friendly staff, always packed. Worth the wait!

    (4)

  • Lily L.

    Really ought to be 4.5. Their muqueca dishes are worth 5 stars, but other's didn't impress me as much. Ambiance: Muqueca is a small restaurant with only about 10 tables. The kitchen is open so you can see all of the chefs (mostly female) working in the back with their white hats bopping around. In front of the kitchen is a counter where they have some of their desserts and cash register. I think they can accomodate one large party (10+ people) at a time. Luckily, I think you can more or less make a reservation. Food: If you love seafood, fresh tomato, and cilantro, Muqueca is the place to go. For appetizer, I had their fried yucca. It was not anything super special. Smoothies: We oroder the pina colada and blue caju. The pina colada is definitely the better of the two. The blue caju was good but not out of this world. Muqueca: This is the specialty of their restaurant and this is why you should come to this restaurant. Served with a plate of rice, the muqueca comes in a small iron(?) pot of sorts. The main ingredients are the seafood of your choice, fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. The flavor is fresh and the dishes are well seasoned. There's also a smaller bowl of sauce that's for your rice. The flavor is similar to the muqueca but the sauce is definitely thicker. Mariscada: A hearty portion of shrimp, mussels, crab meat, calamari, the mariscada has a very similar flavor to the muqueca. I think it tastes more like muqueca with more variety of seafood. It also comes with a plate of rice and a side of plantain muqueca. The plaintain muqueca was good but not as good as the seafood muqueca. You also get fried yucca flour with this dish and you can put the yucca flour on top of your mariscada. I was pretty full when I came to the restaurant but I just could NOT stop eating. Luckily, I was able to share this dish with 2 other people (we were all pretty full). I think you can definitely break this meal into two, so the $18.95 price tag isn't too bad. Fried Plantains: Sweet plantains that are deep fried to perfection. Delicious but I don't think you can really mess up fried plantains though. Service: The service was good but nothing too special. Allowing for reservations always makes it a plus for me at any restaurant.

    (4)

  • Kelly C.

    So good. So crowded. but So good. MMMM I need to try this banana lasagna people are talking about! I've been here several times, always with new people, and so excited to show them my hidden jewel! The fish stew is just lovely, especially on a cold rainy Boston day. They also make fresh juices. Ahhh.. Brazil

    (4)

  • Ashley R.

    Came here awhile ago just never got around to writing a review. I don't remember the exact dishes that were served but it was delicious! Such an unpretentious wonderful dining experience. I will say that maybe this isn't the food everyone...but for those who it strikes a chord with it is amazing! Also, a Brazilian friend of mine who has gone here loves it too and says it's authentic so in my opinion that's always a good sign. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Sue H.

    My experience at Muqueca is perfectly described as A-OK. I've actually been wanting to check out Muqueca for quite awhile now, especially after reading great reviews on Yelp and elsewhere. I'm also a huge fan of Brazilian BBQ, so I figured why not try other traditional dishes? I really wanted to love Muqueca... Perhaps my expectations were just a tad bit too high to begin with. Food was tasty, but nothing mind-blowingly special about anything I ordered. Service was also just A-OK -- courteous but spotty throughout the night, probably due to a Wednesday dinner rush. I'll admit I was a little piqued about the longer than average waiting times to get entrees on the table though... So what did I order? My dining companion and I shared the Fried Yucca for an appetizer, which was a great way to start off dinner. Loved the accompanying dipping sauce that came with it. For entrees, we shared the Fish with Mussels Muqueca and the Deep Fried Red Snapper. While presentation was great, I was a little let down by the muqueca, which tasted a bit under-seasoned to me. Maybe it was a fluke? Sigh, isn't this what people come here for? Oh, high expectations -- darn you. On the other hand, the red snapper was pretty good! Hey, I LOVE fried fish (especially when it's whole with bones and all), so maybe I'm a little biased. The plantains that came with the dish were awesome. Normally not a fan, but this time around I couldn't stop eating them; had to refrain from ordering an extra side! Wasn't too keen on sharing them either... (Sorry friend!) At the end of the day, Muqueca was alright... I probably won't be back, but if you're curious about Brazilian cuisines, you should consider checking out Muqueca. They've got a pretty big menu, so lots to choose from.

    (3)

  • Di Yin L.

    Shrimp muqueca is the best thing I've had anywhere. Fantstic kale. Great fried plantains. Don't order the Brazilian national dish - it's not great. The gravy is useless to me. Always good to make reservations if it's an evening meal.

    (5)

  • George S.

    Nice little find on this place. Couldn't get into Oleana so we went on Yelp and found this place. Great food, good service not the best looking room but it works. Good alternative. gs

    (4)

  • Jenny H.

    This place is a fantastic little authentically Brazilian restaurant with a great variety of everything Brazilian you would want!! I got their fried yucca for an appetizer which came with a good dipping sauce and their shrimp and fish muqueca was a generous portion of steaming, hot seafood-filled soup which always bubbles on your table due to the sterno below it. It was full of great flavor- they top it off with tons of cilantro which I don't like but it was really good still. Their fresh fruit smoothies and dessert were especially delicious. I got their mango coconut smoothie (made all with fresh fruit so super delicious!). Their passion fruit mousse was one of the best things I ever ate- cold, sweet, full of flavor with the PERFECT melty, pudding texture- you have to get this if you can!!! Their pudim and tapioca cake (Manjar Coco n Tapico) were also great desserts!!

    (4)

  • Phil C.

    So I guess Brazilian food isn't all about bbq, though that wouldn't have been a problem for me. :-P The decor reminds me of a little seafood shack somewhere like Rockport. The walls are blue, and at least one wall is lined with sea animals and objects. Muqueca is a tiny place, so the wait may be long at times. The seafood rice casserole is very much like a paella, though it had coconut flavor to it. There was an abundance of squid, shrimp, and mussels. All of them were cooked well and didn't taste like hard rubber bullets. There was enough coriander to give the casserole a fresh taste, yet not make it intrusive. It definitely wasn't too salty, though it wouldn't have hurt to have a little more salt. The service was a bit shaky early on, though the mistakes weren't fatal flaws. Plus it recovered towards the end of dinner. The service was, admittedly, a bit disorganized. The waitress dropped some flatware in the beginning but promptly replaced them later. There were some communication issues too, which also led to the disorganization.

    (3)

  • Cecilia T.

    Second time here for brunch and second amazing brunch!!! Delicious food, brunch menu changing weekly! Definitely will come back!

    (5)

  • Kathleen F.

    A little pricey but worth it for the awesome food. This is a very unique eating experience for Cambridge and it's nice to be able to get some quailty brazillian food. I loved the seafood stew it was such an incredible dish. I also like the shaved collard greens that come on the side with it they are cut and cooked perfectly! The fried Yucca was also amazing as were their cocktails which were suprisingly affordable, the caipirinha was excellent!! I highly recommend this place it really is a hidden gem and you can't get food like this anywhere else in the area!

    (5)

  • Bethany W.

    I stopped in to try one of their "world famous" juices, but I got distracted by the appetizer menu. I couldn't pass up the steak tips with onions and fries. The steak tips had great flavor, but lose a star for being a bit on the tough side. The restaurant was clean and comfortable. The staff was friendly and the service was great.

    (4)

  • Dorothy W.

    Hadn't been to the new location but finally made it twice in one week. The new place has a friendly bar and a waiting area. It's much larger than the old spot but still intimate enough. Each time we have been, every table was taken. We continue to enjoy the various seafood stews, for the most part. They are full of rich, hearty flavor and very satisfying. Large portions make it easy to share. Our hearts of palm and tomato salad was sadly drab and uninspired, however, with very little flavor. A morose looking little scoop of white rice arrived five minutes before the muqueca. Everything is been achingly slow. Our drinks sit on the end of the bar for ten minutes as our server walks right past them. Finally we had to point out that they were there. It took her another five minutes to bring them over. Our pitcher of sangria was very welcome but a bit too Hawaiian punch-like for my taste. The fruit smoothies are extremely satisfying, however. The best time to go is at lunch when you virtually have the place to yourselves. The menu is the same and the service is a lot quicker. Dinner can be a true test of your patience. We waited over an hour after ordering one night to get any food whatsoever. The other night it was forty five minutes. The people who work here are really nice and we do like the food. Hopefully, they can iron out the wrinkles and we can leave not feeling as irritated. We keep trying.

    (3)

  • Jackelyn V.

    Awesome Food :D

    (5)

  • Eva K.

    This was my first time at Muqueca, and first time at a Brazilian restaurant of this kind. They just moved to a bigger place down the street in Inman, and were packed on a Sunday night, which I think speaks for itself. "Brazilian fish stew" just doesn't have much of a ring to it, but man, it was the most awesome thing I've eaten in a long time. We also had a traditional bean and meat stew, which I thought was good, but not as awesome as the muqueca, which is a cilantromatic smelling heaven. It's definitely one of the best restaurants in Inman in terms of pure enjoyment. Plus, the atmosphere was fun, and the waitress was super nice and helpful despite the fact that they were really busy. If they ever have a groupon, I'm buying five! FYI - they're closed on Mondays!

    (5)

  • NN R.

    I love the Muquecas! I usually order the Muqueca Completa, which has almost everything. Although it might seem pricy at first, it is so sharable because I cannot possibly eat one Muqueca by myself, so I always share with my boyfriend. In the end, still a great value. The Shrimp Saute Garlic Olive Oil & Cilantro is a TASTY appetizer, GET IT. :) Brazilian Crab Cakes are a close second. Oh my god, so yummy just thinking about it! Do not try the desserts and always reserve a table especially on weekends.

    (4)

  • Raj S.

    They just moved to a new location, right across from where they were before. I think a bit of the charm is lost but they have a lot more tables and there is more space. No more jostling to get in and out! They also now have a beer and wine license which is AWESOME! They also have bar seating and waiting area where they serve food. A friend and I shared a tasty shrimp appetizer, (not as great as before but still really good) fried red snapper and super delicious shrimp & mussels muqueca. We tried the sweet (red and white) wine from Brazil but it was bit too sweet! I didn't really like the red Chilean wine either. All in all, this is good comfort food! And I'm headed back soon...

    (4)

  • Lydia W.

    The service here is weird. We came in and the two servers continued to converse and giggle for a few minutes before they paid any attention to us. Once we were seated, service was again kind of spotty for a while. After we ordered, everything was fine. I loved my caipirinha. How can you not get the official drink of Brazil when here? It was strong, infused with lime flavor, and not too sweet. For appetizers we got the fried plantains (so good but really cannot be shared between only two people...don't get unless you're in a bigger party) We also got the fried frog legs (sadly there were only two but they were quite delicious!) and it comes with some greens. And the hearts of palm salad...oye. I did not expect it to be straight up chunks of hearts of palm and slices of tomato. It was a bit overkill, and again, a dish that requires more than 2 people to eat. We got the Muqueca Completa which comes with fish, mussels, clams, and scallops. I think. There was so much fish I had a really difficult time towards the end. I love how hot the seafood is and there is a lot of cilantro on top of the stew. It's a great dish to share and the flavor is very unique. I really wanted to try the Bahian style one (with coconut milk amongst other ingredients), but because I had never had a traditional Muqueca, I figured this was the more rational option. The hot sauce is VERY hot. It's fun but use it in very tiny increments :) I think I had very high expectations for Muqueca, but it was only okay to me. Not mind-blowingly good, but a nice and inexpensive dining experience.

    (3)

  • Dessa R.

    I never thought I would start a review with such a cliche, but what can I say? Sometimes the glove fits. Here we go: I wanted to love Muqueca, I really did. It just fell a little flat for me. I see all these five star reviews, and I wish I could ride that train with y'all, but I just can't. The space was completely forgettable, other than the fact that we had people seated less than foot from us. Any closer, and we would have been eating off each other's plates. One of the diners next to us was a native Brazilian, so I suppose that must say something about the authenticity of the food. He seemed very happy. If only I could have shared that enthusiasm. I ordered the acai juice, which was probably the saving grace of my meal. It was so unbelievably yummy. I was tempted to order other juices from their fresh fruit juice menu, but my nectar was already very filling. Perhaps next time I will try a different one. I shared the Brazilian crabcake appetizer, which was all right, with an interesting texture. I ordered the Lasagna de Banana, which is exactly what it sounds like. Yup. Banana (well, plantain) lasagna, baked with cheeses. The portion was enormous-- even after sharing, I could not finish the dish alone. It also was all right. I remember it being extraordinarily cheesy, which normally would score EXTRA points from a cheese lover like myself, but not this time. The cheese was almost overwhelming-- yes friends, reread that. I wrote it. Hell hath frozen over when Dessa feels something contains too much cheese. The service was just awful. Really. Houdini had nothing on these waitresses. I'd probably go back to try a different entree and another juice, with some trepidation.

    (3)

  • Dominic Z.

    With unbelievably delicious Brazilian food and a colorful atmosphere, Muqueca is a fantastic restaurant for any occasion. Great for dinners with friends, family, significant others... heck, find any excuse to eat here! The Best Dish: Seafood Casserole. As long as you like seafood, you'll have dreams about this clay pot bowl of rice, shrimp, mussels and other goodies. It looks small, but it's surprisingly dense and filling, so much so that you won't be able to finish it if you eat... The Best Appetizer: Frog Legs. Squeeze a little lime on these tender bad boys and you've got a fiesta for your taste-buds. And the presentation will try to steal the show. Dessert: The Tantalizing Truffle. This little guy is so rich, he makes Bill Gates look middle-class. If you have a sweet tooth, save some room for this perfect finale.

    (5)

  • Vanessa K.

    Not your typical Brazillan fare. It isn't an all you can eat buffet, and it isn't predominantly meat - it's another side of Brazillan food. A little bit pricey, but lots of flavors. Yucca with sausage - it's ok. yucca was tender, but nothing special, I could have made it at home. Feijoada Completa - that was good. lots of flavor. lots of sauce. the meat was really tender, and it was great over rice Fish and Calamari Moqueca - this was soooo good. never had anything like it. it's like a stew, but the sauce was thin and fragrant. a lot of fish and calamari. definitely to share, not for yourself, unless you feel like a fatty :P

    (4)

  • Vivian C.

    Food is average. Service is poor, there is minimal interaction from service. I felt like I wasn't welcome by the server here.

    (2)

  • Anne W.

    This place is way overhyped. I don't know if it's because I had high expectations but I seriously doubt it's authentic. It's clean and bright and reminds me of a chain.. the place is packed. So obviously it caters to somebody's tastes. Ordered their famous moqueca with shrimp and mussels as well as coconut shrimp. I think I have had better coconut shrimp in Outback. The moqueca was okay.... the mussels were not fresh but frozen and tiny. The shrimp is the exact same shrimp they use in the coconut shrimp. Deveined but flavorless. The Brazilian drink was probably the highlight of the meal and I swear.. it's better at Fogo De Chao. I'll give it one more try.. but I am not having high hopes for this place.

    (2)

  • Aboud Y.

    Beautiful, charming little restaurant with fantastic service and delicious food. The claypot seafood selections (Muqueca) are truly not to be missed...the fish comes out so moist and delicious! And if you like heat, ask for some of their housemade hot sauce which is also outstanding (great flavor and some serious kick). The waitstaff is also very friendly and informative. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Josephine L.

    Muqueca is a hearty Brazilian seafood stew, often served with rice. I was delighted to find a restaurant in the Boston area that served this after having devoured many delicious muquecas in other cities. The fish and shrimp muqueca is a must-try. Rich, tomato-y broth, fresh seafood, all combine to give incredible flavors, especially when eaten with farofa, the delicious toasted flour they serve as an accompaniment. (I was inhaling the farofa like cocaine by the end.) I adore the mariscada, a stew consisting of shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk. There's something about the combination of tomatoes, onions and coconut milk that is absolutely divine. If you hate cilantro, the muquecas might not be for you. We specifically asked for the removal of cilantro for one of our party, and they either didn't remember or couldn't do that as I think the broth is prepared with cilantro already in it. For a cilantro-free alternative, try the Feijoada Completal, Brazil's national dish, which is diced meat cooked with black beans and served with collard greens, farofa, fried plantains and of all things, orange slices. Our cilantro-hater loved it. The service is spotty, however, and the reason for docking one star. This is not a place to grab a quick bite, nor do they really go out of their way to perform anything more than perfunctory service. Nothing bad--no attitude or anything. Just rather brusque and cold service, with extended periods of wait time. Plus, they had a tendency to forget our requests like more water. All in all, definitely worth a stop if you're in Inman Square on a cold night.

    (4)

  • T T.

    After returning to Boston after two years, I was excited to go to Muqueca again, which I fondly remembered for serving delicious seafood stews. Unfortunately, after trying the restaurant again recently, I was disappointed. The smoothies are merely okay and are pretty expensive. I had the fried yucca, which was surprisingly dry. It really needed to be eaten with the dipping sauce to add moisture. The rice that came with our muquecas was overcooked and mushy. The stews were pretty good but not quite as good as I remembered. Service was slow despite the larger space (and, I'm assuming, larger staff). Overall, I was disappointed given that I was really looking forward to eating here again, and the food wasn't as good as I remembered.

    (2)

  • Christopher G.

    This is a temporary review. One of a bad experience, but not necessarily so bad that I've given up on this place. The food was fantastic, just what the doctor ordered. Fresh seafood, Plantains, all kinds of latin goodness. The waiters seemed friendly enough . . The problem was, death by Labor day, perhaps. I was there Sunday night the place was packed. They acted like they were totally off-guard. Surprised that this many customers would attack them past 8pm (we arrived around 7:30). We didn't finish until past 9, the food taking over an hour. The place was still packed at 9, and people were waiting in line to be seated. So okay Muqueca, you get a pass. Keep it up though, and i'm afraid great quality food and a friendly smile can't save ya.

    (3)

  • Amanda Y.

    yum yum yum!! lovely waitresses, and a flan to die for!! My friends and I are faithful customers, they even know by heart what we order everytime!! when they knew that my friend is traveling, they offered a complementary flan after lunch which they know is our favorite!!

    (5)

  • Bryan B.

    I had a longer review of this place all lined up, but then I got bored of it becaus my writing style is pretty poor. So here is the expedited version of it. I went to Muqueca with 7 other people, and pretty much everyone enjoyed their food. $20 a dish enjoyment? Not quite, not really that close actually, more like $12 a dish enjoyment. That is not the most disappointing aspect either,my wife found a hair in her food... We were offered a replacement of the dish which we did take, but that arrived while everyone was nearly finished with their own food. I've had two other similar issues before and each time the plate with the problem was replaced and did not show up on the final bill, not the case here. On a $200 bill, feel free to not charge us for the dish that was replaced right around the time that everyone else was finishing their food... Just saying. Glasses went unfilled, condiments went unoffered, "how is everything?" went unasked. Anything we wanted to have happen, we had to request. To wrap up, yes food was pretty good for the most part, not superb though. Service was spotty and that is being generous. I really wish I could have better things to say about Muqueca, and to be honest most everyone was happy with their dish, but the poor service with the hefty price and a hair kind of killed the whole experience. And no it was not a busy Saturday night, it was Sunday with service winding down and the place less than half full.

    (2)

  • Shaina P.

    As a rule of thumb, people should try restaurants whose names are difficult to pronounce just by reading the sign on the outside. I'm so glad I finally tried Muqueca. It's the kind of ethnic cuisine that people travel far and wide to try; not just because you're "in the neighborhood." It's also the kind of cuisine that you're not sure whether to order for yourself or if you should share one dish. But, as I was assured, you gotta order for yourself and just share taste amongst friends if you must. As a note, you could probably share your dish with one other ... it is quite large ... and in the high teens price-wise one may opt to share. Very sadly I was unable to order more than my one (cast iron pot) of Shrimp & Fish Moqueca. My tummy was full from a large meatball sub from lunch. It was a large sizzling bowl with the flavors of the sea in a lovely form -- not over-cooked and a hint of tang from large cuts of onion and a sizable sprinkle of coriander. Trish ordered Mariscada the "Must Try" which to Trish is a "Must Order Always." I will order this for next time indeed -- loaded with more perfectly simmered sea creatures and flavored with subtle spice (not spicy) and coconut milk. And I realized due to the lengthy wait for the slow cooked concoction I should always opt for an app (most likely, the fried yucca). Because if you enter slightly filled, by the time your wait begins, the aromas will release your stomach into hunger quite quickly. Love.

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    Unique twist on comfort food for a cold winter night! This was both our first visit and our first exposure to moqueca, and unfortunately we didn't have much time (though service was quick enough to get us to the concert without seeming at all rushed). We thoroughly enjoyed the rice stew and the mixed fish moqueca, and we agreed we have to put aside time to try appetizers and dessert next time. A wonderful, savory oasis amidst the frosty grey Boston winter!

    (4)

  • Calli C.

    Pete and I and another couple stopped in for dinner on a Friday night; we had made a reservation and when we came in and were led straight to our table, it wasn't full at all. However over the length of the meal the room filled up rapidly with groups of people laughing and talking and enjoying their amazing food. We ordered up a variety of drinks, and mine was the fresh pineapple-mint juice, which was phenomenal. We also shared the fried shrimp, which came with a tasty spicy-sweet sauce that was devoured rapidly. We each ordered our own clay pot dish: the moqueca completa, the mariscada, the tripe stew, and the feijoada completa for me. Be prepared for a boatload of food! Everything came out piping hot and unbelievably tasty; my dish was rich and meaty, with a few bones lurking about. Since I am allergic to bivalves, I didn't try anyone else's dish, but they all exclaimed about how amazing and tasty it was. Only one person in our group actually finished his entire dish, with most of us having plenty of tasty leftovers to bring home. Unfortunately, at the end of the night I was feeling extremely nauseous and sick to my stomach. Even though I had ordered a meat-only dish, I assume there might have been some cross contamination, as a lot of the dishes they prepare have mussels in them. My fault for not thinking I needed to tell them about my allergy. Still, totally worth the trip and hoping to make it back soon!

    (4)

  • Susanne H.

    The restaurant is pretty small and normally packed even late night however it is well worth the wait! This place is absolutely authentic since everybody seems to speak Portuguese. We ordered the seafood muqueca de paixe plus the cod capixaba. The fish, shrimp, mussel muqueca had generous servings of seafood. My favorite having said that, was the cod capixaba. It's created from salt cod, and stewed in coconut milk. The stew also consists of plantains, olives, and boiled eggs. A strange combination but SCRUMPTIOUS. It tasted even much better following adding the hot sauce served at every single table. Reminded me somewhat of Thai food, but not really. This is some thing you might have to attempt...

    (5)

  • Fernando P.

    As a brazilian living abroad is always nice to find a brazilian restaurant when missing home. One of the problems I usually find is to reproduce the quality, richness and variety of a brazilian restaurant abroad, due to the difficulty to fine products. This place may not be as good as a brazilian restaurant set in Brazil, but for a place trying to bring some of the brazilian taste to abroad it is making it an excellent job. TURN ONs: To try some of the brazilian food Farofa Fried yuca Guarana soft drink TURN OFFs: Eventually food may seem a little blend lacking some seasoning No cheese bread/cheese rolls, one of the brazilian most wanted treats RECOMMEND: Fried yuca I'm a vegetarian, but I would recommend the shrimp since is something usually known in Brazil to constitute a dish with a rich flavor

    (3)

  • Karan A.

    Place is deff over-hyped. Came here after reading the Yelp reviews. So the ambiance and atmosphere is VERY casual - almost like a dinner, which is unexpected for the premium prices they charge. Our waitress kept trying to upsell us on drinks and appetizers and was disappointed when I just stuck with an entree and water and my gf with an entree and a juice. The food took forever to come, we waited a good 25-30 mins even tho it was a Sunday and the restaurant was operating at less than 50% capacity. The food was nothing special either, I got the fish moqueca. It wasn't that great as over-hyped by other Yelpers especially for $19. Will probably not come back again,way too many better restaurants in the area that compete better.

    (2)

  • Jean B.

    A comida e boa, mais e muito caro o atendimento nao e dos melhores, mas isso e bem normal de locais brasileiros...

    (1)

  • Corey L.

    I've been here a lot over the years. Muqueca is great Brazilian seafood. Everything on the menu is flavorful and incredible. My favorite is the mariscada - incredible. I often add in a fish and shrimp moqueca - which I don't find as tasty, but is still really good. I've also had crab cakes, yucca, coconut shrimp, steak tips with onions and fries, and plantains. Seriously, all have been great. I've never been disappointed. Portions are quite solid too. I've also had the flan and chocolate flan (like the original better) and Cupuaco (traditional Brazilian drink) - all great! Try this place!

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    I was really excited to try Muqueca, because I LOVE Bom Cafe, and they're under the same ownership. I had Feijoada Completa, the Brazillion National dish. The collard greens and plantains were good. I found the black bean stew to be just okay. It had a very strong black bean taste...so much that I couldn't really enjoy the other flavors in the stew (the meat, specifically.) The beer I ordered ended up being non-alcoholic. This was not listed on the menu. My friends muqueca was quite good. We both enjoyed it. So, I'd give it a 3.5, because it didn't meet my expectations that I had from going to Bom Cafe.

    (3)

  • DONNA R.

    So Mom said "surprise me"when I asked her what she wanted for dinner.Great! So as I sat in traffic,were can i find a place on the way to her house? Hi ho off to the internet I go...Muqueca- Brazilian -hum....that might work. So after I finally find a parking space, and feed theher meter,in I go. I was greeted with a smile by every staff person in the place ( to the people who said they weren't friendly /needed attitude adjustments seriously? If they were any nicer the would have cartoon bluebird flying around their heads! ). 2 of the ladies helped me with my decision on menu items that would be give Mom and I an overall "taste" of the menu. while I waited for my food to come out they staff chatted with me ,while getting work done at the same time, imagine not just leaving me to stare at the walls-which by the way have some colorful cheery artwork-my food came out quickly ,was tasty ,reasonably priced and good size servings.I gave them 4 stars because cilantro was a little heavy for my taste ,but Mom loved it ! I would definitely eat here again. Thanks for a great dinner ladies

    (4)

  • Larry K.

    Outstanding flavors. Do yourself a favor and stop-in!

    (5)

  • H. G.

    I went here with a real live Brazilian and let him do the ordering... I was a little disappointed by the appetizer selection, because almost everything was fried. But if that's how they do it in Brazil.... So we tried the cod patties ($6.95) and the fried yucca ($4.95). The fried yucca was pretty good, but I more liked the cod patties, especially because of the spicy sauce that accompanied it. As for drinks, if you're ordering wine, go by the glass. Their pours are substantial, so you're not going to save any money ordering a bottle. And you might get stuck with a whole bottle of thin white wine, like the one we ordered, that almost tasted like half wine/half water. A different glass of wine I tried later tasted much better. As for entrees, there were four of us, so we tried three. I didn't particularly love the feijoada completa ($18.95), which is a black bean stew with pork, sausage and bacon. The fish moqueca ($16) was pretty good, but next time, I would try the mariscada ($22.95) instead, which is listed on the restaurant's website as a "must try." But the star was the shrimp bobo ($16.95), which was a stew of shrimp, tomato, cilantro, yucca cream & onion. It was incredible, and totally justified the hype of this place and will ensure that I return soon. Overall, for a hole-in-the-wall type place, I was a little surprised by the prices. The apps and drinks were reasonable, but the entrees were all a couple of dollars more than I expected. But, like I said, I'm coming back for that shrimp bobo and the mariscada (and maybe next time I'll have a few caipirinhas too).

    (3)

  • Mabel N.

    I have been to this place a few times now. Fried Yucca - Deliciousssssss MARISCADA Shrimp, crabmeat, mussels, squid and a touch of coconut milk - Mouth Watering (My favorite) Picanha - Prime Cut Sirloin - Delicious but LOADED with salt!!! Flan - Best flan I've ever had! Service was great!!!!!!

    (4)

  • B. P.

    Best Brazilian/Portuguese seafood place I have ever had. Lived in Boston for 15years and it is the go to place for me

    (5)

  • Katie H.

    So good. I got the lasagna made with plantains and my boyfriend got the tofu and plantain muqueca. The lasagna tasted very rich (mmm cheese...) and the muqueca was really unique and delicious. I was expecting the lasagna to be a noodle lasagna with plantains in it, but the plantains in essence WERE the noodles. And that was perfect, because who wants to fill up on noodles when you can eat more plantains and cheese?

    (4)

  • Maria C.

    I had the feijoada and it was absolutely delicious and the portion was very very generous. It came with some farofa, rice and some fried plantains. My fiancee had the chicken stroganoff and it was absolutely delicious, I stole a lot of his food off the plate! :) For dessert I had the passion fruit mousse which was even better than most of the mousses that I have had in Rio de Janeiro. Definitely a must try. Highly recommend this place for delicious Brazilian food.

    (5)

  • Helen M.

    I had a Travelzoo voucher for this restaurant and was so excited to try Muqueca with the boy after reading these reviews. Apps: fried yucca and sausage, and the fried frog legs. The yucca was amazing! Nice and crispy and dense. I picked at it all night! The sausage was good but a little salty to eat by itself (the boy had no problem finishing the sausage without my help). The frog legs were good. We generally have these chinese-style (stir-fried) but the Brazilian style was good (although I think they may have been frozen and not fresh.) Entrees: I got the Moqueca Completa without shrimp and the boy got the deep fried red snapper. The Moqueca Completa was good but a little too salty. Generous portions so I was able to doggy bag half of it home. The red snapper was delish! A good size fish and good seasoning/flavor. I would definitely order this again. Desserts: passion fruit mousse and a truffle. The mousse was nice and light and perfectly sweet. I really liked this. The truffle was pathetic so don't even bother ordering this! It was literally a ball of dense, overly sweet chocolate rolled in chocolate sprinkles. Sounds good on paper but not in real life. We only ordered two desserts because it was included in our voucher. Service/Ambiance: Service was super friendly when I made reservations and when we got to the restaurant, they had a mix-up, saying we couldn't use our voucher on Sundays even though only Friday and Saturdays were listed on the voucher. When we showed the information on our phone, they had a problem because they needed us to write everything down like our name, voucher #s, etc. I have to remove one star from this review for their unorganized and slightly rude service. Would I come back? Yes! The food was fresh with generous portions and the ambiance was romantic. I just hope they treat future customers who purchased deals a little better.

    (4)

  • Linda C.

    I was so excited to try this place after buying their deal on Travelzoo: $39 for two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. However, I was pretty sad when I left the restaurant. Here's why. Not only were we treated poorly for using their "deal", they wanted to hurry us out without even having dessert! The portions were way smaller than their usual offerings. I tried their "infamous Mariscada" dish which was more like a heavy cilantro soup with only two shrimps floating around in the whole thing! The plate looked NOTHING like what others had photographed on here. I felt so cheated. A delicious cioppino at Neptune's ($25) carried way more quality seafood than what I got from Muqueca -- 3rd-rate seafood served out of a frozen bag. So, their Mariscada had two shrimps, a handful of mushy mussels, and less than a spoonful of tiny salad shrimp. No fish. My husband tried the Shrimp Bobo. The sauce was GREAT; however the contents were not. If the restaurant's true intention with these discounts is to attract new customers, they are actually forcing the opposite. Now that they've already collected your cash, they feel no reason to please you. The tip is already added in the bill! That's the sad truth. I understand seafood very well, and consider myself an expert on fresh fish because I grew up on the Mediterranean. Both dishes we ordered were not worth more than $5 each. I love fish stews, but what Muqueca poses as stews are actually watered-down cilantro soups piled high with onions and tomatoes as fillers -- with hardly any seafood in them (plus its the frozen kind from China). If you must go here because you've already purchased their deal on Travelzoo, get the shrimp house salad. It's the tastiest thing on the entire menu.

    (2)

  • Linda P.

    I don't know how this place has four stars. My three friends and I came in around 9:30pm and their kitchen closed at 10:45pm. We ended up ordering the Moqueca Completa (fish, shrimp, and mussels), Fried Yucca, and Shrimp Brazilian Patties. The waiter kept hinting that we hadn't ordered enough food and was not very pleasant. He seemed like he was tired from the day and just wanted us to hurry up and finish. Normally, I'd understand but they did not treat the table next to us like that. They kept ordering even while we were paying the bill. So, only three of us ate. What we ordered was more than enough and we got plenty of drinks. The shrimp patties were delicious. There were six of them. The fried yucca was not warm enough. The texture was not right. The dipping sauce was bland. The Moqueca Completa was mediocre, nothing fantastic. My sangria was bland too! What a disappointment. I guess their fruit smoothies are good, though. Overall, a little upset with the service and mediocre food. They do have amazing hot sauce in a jar on the table though.

    (2)

  • Jill Q.

    The husband and I went for an impromptu dinner/movie date last night, and we are really happy we wandered in here. We've lived in this neighborhood for 5 years and have always wanted to try it. There were plenty of parties eating but there was no wait in getting a table. The menu is almost all seafood, which was fine with us, I think the only items were a couple chicken and sirloin dishes, and a roasted pork loin...most everything else had shrimp, fish, calamari or mussels. We both had a glass of malbec (we're not really wine people so don't expect much of a detailed review) but it was great wine. We both got seafood stews, mine had shrimp, calamari and mussels and his had fish. Both of us had plantains on the side. Everything came out really fast (we told the waitress we had to catch the bus to Harvard to see a movie, and they were SO accommodating!), but the quality was so great. Our stews came out sizzling in these cast iron pots on their own trivets, and came with a side of rice. Both were unbelievably good-fresh, great seafood, well-cooked veggies and awesome sauce. Even the rice was yummy. We had time to enjoy our meals and our wine and still made the bus in the nick of time, in a little less than an hour. Would definitely recommend this place! Am considering taking the parents and the in-laws here for dinner next time they visit. It's that good.

    (5)

  • Sasha B.

    Delicious!! If you are a seafood/shellfish lover, this is the place for you! Definitely get a starter, the moqueca takes a while so you'll want some munchies. We got the fried yucca, they come with a delicious garlic sauce. For entrees we shared the fish and shrimp moqueca and the black beans and pork "brazilian national dish". The moqueca was TO DIE FOR! The fish was super tender, it just fell apart in your mouth. The national dish comes with a whole host of sides, which is fun. The pork meat is more of a pork belly, yum yum. I also had the caphriana, definitely well made at Muqueca! Lots of fresh lime, just the way I like it!

    (5)

  • Leah M.

    Went here for a birthday dinner with 6 friends and we had a 8:30 Reservation. Most of the group was late and did not arrive until 9, but Muqueca was very accomadating and understanding! The group was late because parking was an issue; this is not the best location for parking! On to the food... Started off with the fried yucca..so good! I have never had this dish before, but will def be ordering again! The dipping sauce was also on point! We had a good assortment of meals at the table...muqueca completa, Feijão Tropeiro, coconut shrimp, plaintains... Everyone seemed happy with their choices! I had the Feijão Tropeiro which was a mixup of collard greens, beans, egg, and chorizo...this went really well with a side of rice! They also gave me tons; I had enough for dinner that night and 2 more leftover meals at home...for only $14! I would go back again!

    (4)

  • moosh k.

    I come here primarily for the muqueca - seafood stewed with generous portions of tomatoes and onions. I have had all the different combinations of mussel, shrimp, fish and I was never disappointed. This is an absolute must-have comfort food for the long cold winter days of Boston. The stew is served piping hot in a clay(?) pot, and is very yummy eaten with the rice. The stew is meant for 1 person, but I think it's enough to feed 2 if you are planning to save room for dessert at Christina's down the street. If you want more food, you can order the 1.5 - ask the server, which is larger than the 1 person share but less than the two. Boyfriend and I have done that a couple of times. We love the appetizers too- fried yucca and crabcake are our favorites. Also love the juice mixes (eg. cashew + banana + other fruits) - very wholesome and hearty. I would have given this place 5 stars if the service was a tad faster.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    I've eaten at my fair share of Brazilian places (ok, ok. mostly AYCE bbq style places) and I have to say this place is amongst the best I've had. it also helps that their hot sauce is crazy, crazy spicy...be prepared to pay for it now (and later at twice the intensity) if you overdo it with the hot sauce! that, of course, didnt happen to me. no really, it didnt! =P Dishes we had at the table that i tried: Apps: - Fried Yucca with Dried Beef (4 stars - this was a pleasant surprise. the fried yucca was really good....imagine fried cut up potatoes, but the potatoes weren't as dense. the beef was a salted, fried beef. yummy with their "secret sauce".) - Coconut Shrimp (3 stars - twas ok, nothing spectacular) Entrees: - Shrimp Muqueca (5 stars - think of it as a Brazilian version of Paella. Super good, super flavorful). - Fish Muqueca (N/A - I'm not a fan of cooked fish, so I passed on this....although my "i dont eat that much" mom ate the whole thing...'nuff said) - Mariscada (5 stars - it's kinda like muqueca with squid, shimp and crabmeat....with a hint of coconut added. the flavor was very unique). Desserts: - passion fruit mouse (4 stars - good, light, and not too sweet). - Tapioca & Coconut (5 stars - soooooooo good. a tapioca cake with coconut drizzled with a bit of caramel -- brown sugar, rum, and water -- and condensed milk) - a must try! - flan (5 stars - flan wasn't too think....was actually very light. had the caramel drizzled). **extra 1/2 star for their service. the wait staff is very friendly and the owner/manager was very accommodating!

    (5)

  • H T.

    In short: I loved their plantains, I loved their fried yuccas I loved everything, except for a misunderstanding. I wanted a vegetarian muqueca- Green Leafy TOFU symbol. Not an ALL veggie muqueca! That night, for me, was very plantainy. Plantains in my muqueca, And more fried plantains, on a separate plate. Ahh... well, what's good is this is right near Christina's!

    (4)

  • Lynne S.

    If you're ever in Inman Square, I'd definitely recommend this Brazilian gem of a restaurant. The place was packed for lunch at 1pm on a Saturday afternoon, which is always a good sign. After enviously eyeing the drinks at everyone else's table, we decided to try something from the fresh juice bar. I highly highly recommend the "Brazilian Summer" made with pineapple and mint - seriously, does it get any better than that? It did. We started with the fried yucca, which was served with a secret sauce of what tasted like something mixed with horseradish and dill - YUM! We were already pretty full by the time we got our Fish, Shrimp & Mussel moqueca, so it was a good thing we decided to just split one! A moqueca is a Brazilian style seafood stew with cilantro, tomatos and onions. It was honestly one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten. I walked out of this restaurant very full and very happy - the sign of a succesful meal!

    (5)

  • Liz B.

    My home away from home is Vila Velha, Espirito Santo, Brasil, where I had my first taste of Moqueca. Watching my sister-in-law make it in one of those clay pots, the smell coming from the kitchen was like heaven. This place has the best authentic Moqueca in the area. I'm glad I found this place, it brings me home, even for a short while. Favorites: Moqueca Completa, Brazilian patties, Fried Yucca, and Mousse de Maracuja (Passion Fruit Mousse)

    (5)

  • Helen H.

    I went there twice - in 2010 and recently, in 2011. Both times the food was very good and very unusual for me. I had a seafood muqueca and really enjoyed the variety of fish in it: shrimp, fish, and mussels. The waiter from the second visit was Russian, so we got to chat a bit :) The only "bad" thing about this place - both times we had to wait about 20 for our food if not more. Granted, the first time I was with a large party, but the second time I was with a friend and the restaurant barely had other customers at that time (around 4:30 pm).

    (4)

  • Guilio Ñ.

    4.5 stars really. Mommy says the service was very fast. Jon says it was good. Eliza says the seafood casserole was excellent. And Jules says, muito obrigado for a very memorable Brazilian dinner!

    (4)

  • Alexis C.

    I love the moquecas here. For some reason, I usually come here with large parties, but I need to get around here with smaller groups, too, because it's amazing. I like the colorful decor and the cozy/snug atmosphere, but you kind of want a reservation because the wait can be long at prime times.

    (5)

  • Shawn S.

    Found this place through Yelp when looking for a place to grab lunch. Was in a hurry and the one waitress was extremely slow so when she finally came by I ordered the fish and chips since I didnt have time to ask questions about what the menu items were. They were ok..nothing special. The other 3 people I was with ordered the chicken salad and 2 other fishy foods that were more ethnic. They said they weren't bad either. Overall not anything great and service could use some work.

    (2)

  • Sara M.

    I used to live in this area and always walked by wondering what this restaurant was all about. It always looked busy and we tried to go once but the wait was too long. I moved to Brighton and forgot all about it until I saw something that reminded me. We hopped in the car on a random week day and went to dinner. It is quite small with maybe 12 -15 tables. I ordered an acai drink, which was a bit grainy but they make all their smoothies/fruit drinks right after you order them. I got seafood muqueca that came in a hot pot and it was pretty delicious. The flavours worked well together but I have to say I like the arroz mariscos better at Casa Portugal. My fiance ordered some meat stew, which was pretty good too. There were some condiments that we weren't really sure how to use, since our server was slow and hardly came around. All in all, good food with ehhh service. I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but I might try it again if I was in the area.

    (3)

  • jazzy l.

    Muqueca means stew or food slow cooked in a claypot. It was a rainy night and I was dropped off here (thankfully) to have dinner with my friend who lives in the Inman Square area. PARKING - street only. SMALL tables but I saw a party of 9. RESERVATIONS - We didn't make reservations but the waitress was able to accommodate us after a 15 minute wait on a Friday evening at 730pm. SERVICE - Really good and not overbearing. DRINKS - Brazilian summer (pineapple and mint). Who knew it can be this good? FOOD - We shared the Fried Yucca With Portuguese Sausage. I've never had Yucca (in big chunks) before so it was too starchy for me. Fish Moqueca $13.95 - I got the signature dish. I was surprised at how mild this dish tasted. I thought it would be brimming with bold flavor, spices, and infused goodness. I was wrong. See my photos.

    (3)

  • Jason W.

    Yucca!!! Soooo good... You better get you some of that Muqueca too. What exactly are you doing at this place if you dont? Good desserts too! P.S. This review is an understatement... I'm feeling kind of lazy after going review crazy today, so give me a fricken break -- I'm out of steam. Why don't you just go here, eat the damn good food, and write a better review if you have a fricken problem with my brevity. P.P.S Ok, maybe that was a little out of line. I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope we can still be friends.

    (5)

  • Trish F.

    I had a dream last night I was running on a beach towards a bowl of their plantains. Hmmmm.. true wuv. It was the total opposite of the serial killer raptors dream.. but that's neither here nor there. I came here a couple days ago and still love love love this place. I shared in a bowl of plaintains, Brazilian crab cake, mariscada, and shrimp&mussels moqueca. The crab cake was great, but I prefer the "breading" of traditional crab cakes. The mariscada, marked "A Must Try" on the menu was HEAVEN. Oh.. definitely my current favorite dish at Muqueca. I took some of the shrimp&mussels moqueca home and ate it cold for dinner last night.. still flavorful and still delicious the day after.. ::this is me wishing my Quaker Oats rice cakes could magically turn into Brazilian food:: Only thing to worry about here is reservations. If you don't show up on time.. you're outtta theerree! It's too small for them to hold empty tables. Surprisingly enough.. our party of 10 showed up on time! Who would have thought. haha

    (5)

  • Su-Yee L.

    Came here on a late Saturday afternoon. The food was delicious but the service is what knocked off the last two stars. The waitress was rather surly to us because she didn't think we'd ordered enough and we got our food later than people who sat down after us. My friend had gone here the week before and she mentioned that she and her dad definitely were not treated as badly last time. Then we found an 18% gratuity tacked onto the bill which we thought was odd since we were a group of 3. C'mon, we're not high school kids! We know how to tip! The fish muqueca ($16) was really good though, as were the chicken brazilian patties ($7). Fried plantains are always delicious. So the food was great, although a bit pricey. But the waitress seriously had an attitude problem and wouldn't pay any attention to us at all. So, 3 stars.

    (3)

  • Alex C.

    I haven't been to Brazil, but the foods good. They get really busy, so it's ideal to come early. We got the muqueca and it was delicious. It's not cheap, but not super expensive either. And as an added bonus, also don't skimp on the seafood. I definitely would like to come back and check out the rest of the menu.

    (4)

  • Jacqueline S.

    If you're looking for fresh, flavorful, Latin American inspired seafood, this is the place to go. We had reservations for 8pm on a Thursday and were promptly seated even though we arrived late and the place was fairly crowded. Cute colorful decor, an atmosphere and waitstaff that are warm and inviting. Now let's cut to the chase. We ordered the Fish Muqueca, Feijoada Completa, fried yucca, and collard greens. And a pitcher of sangria, of course. The yucca came out first; it was the perfect level of crispiness and I loved the garlic sauce served with it. Next the Feijoada, Muqueca and collard greens- all quite delicious but I favored the Muqueca as it was light yet satisfying and extremely fresh. Also, the fried plantains on the side were AMAZING. Definitely order a side of these if they don't come with your entree. All together, a wonderful meal. I definitely suggest checking this place out.

    (4)

  • Annie W.

    i can't believe i haven't reviewed these guys yet. their muqueca is amazing, their seafood casserole is amazing, their shakes are amazing, the prices aren't cheap (~20 an entree) but the quality is top-notch and the portions are huge. i'm a big eater and i leave stuffed to the brim, sometimes with a doggy bag if there was an appetizer beforehand. there is nothing that i haven't loved on this menu, and i've been back many times. it's a big restaurant, but it gets packed on the weekends, because it's a secret everyone knows about.

    (5)

  • Angela C.

    YUM. My boyfriend and I came on on a cold, snowy Thursday night and our meal managed to both bring us to warmer climates, and give us the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from eating something hot, delicious, and totally soul soothing on a winter's night. We got the mariscada which is flavorful, vibrant, and comes with great sides. The plantains that come with it are delicious and pair really nicely with it. The seafood pie is delicious, but perhaps not as easy to like as the mariscada. There's quite a bit of bacalhau used - salt cod, so it's not necessarily for the faint of heart. If you like strong, funky flavor though, you'll love this. The caipirinhas are good and cheap, and the wait staff was extremely friendly. If you go, go early and order an appetizer as this place gets crowded AND the muquecas and mariscada can take awhile to come out.

    (4)

  • Michelle K.

    My review, as relayed to me by my boyfriend in the car on the way home from dinner (imagine high girlie voice and crazy hand motions): "Oh my gosh, I can't believe this restaurant. It was soooooo good. I mean, I read on Yelp that it would be good, but it was soooooo good. I had the Shrimp Moqueca, and my boooyfriend had the Mariscada. Mine was a little spicier and his was a little more coco-nutty. Both were deeee-licious. I can't wait to come back for another really romantic meal." That's pretty dead on. ;)

    (5)

  • Andrew R.

    Get the frog legs!!

    (4)

  • Noa P.

    Great food. We will come back.

    (5)

  • Jen M.

    I like Brazilian food but was very disappointed with Muqueca. First, I inquired about a vegetarian dish, and when the waitress listed tofu, I stopped her. I told I didn't like tofu, so she suggested another dish. When it arrived, surprise! Tofu! I was starving & just didn't eat the tofu. But there wasn't much to this dish anyway. Boring, and at $14, way too expensive for what it was. My friends thought theirs was just OK -- but for the prices, we all agreed that they were way overpriced. These meals came w/ nothing except for blah white rice. You get nothing "free" at this restaurant: no bread, olives, breadsticks, etc. I'm surprised they even gave us water (chase down the waitress for refills, though).

    (1)

  • Michelle L.

    I had been wanting to try out Muqueca for over a year. I'd heard good things. I'd never tried Brazilian food but loved seafood and paella, so it seemed appetizing. But from where I lived in Mission Hill, it was quite a trek to Inman Square. I kept thinking about it, but it never quite worked out. This past May I moved to Inman Square. Suddenly Muqueca was down the street. But I couldn't quite justify going to a restaurant above my usual price range for anything less than a special occasion-- not just on a whim. Then my parents came to visit. Perfect. I would show them the neighborhood and we would head to Muqueca for a nice dinner out. Now, you would think a place couldn't live up to the hype of over a year's worth of anticipation. But Muqueca did. True, the wait was long and service was slow. But we should have expected that showing up at 8 pm to a popular restaurant without reservations. And I don't mind slow service so long as the wait is worth it. I ordered the Mariscada-- I couldn't resist the chance to have crab, calamari, mussels, shrimp, and fish all in one. My mom ordered the Fish Muqueca, and my dad ordered the Shrimp and Fish Muqueca. Every bite was an eye-opener: we couldn't believe how much flavor was concentrated in every spoonful. My chunks of crabmeat, especially, were fresh and succulent. We tried the fish gravy over our rice and enjoyed it. It reminded us a little of chutney, both hot and sweet. But we were astounded by how good our rice was even by itself, or with a little broth spooned over it. We're whole-grain aficionados and not typically fans of white rice, but we found ourselves enjoying it in a way we never have before. My mariscada came with a side dish of plantains. I'm used to fried plantains that come with Caribbean food and was surprised to find that these plantains were different, arriving sauteed in a sweet tomato-based sauce rather than fried until almost caramelized. I still enjoyed the plaintains but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Next time I might try the fried yucca instead. We also enjoyed the juice bar. Ordering juice also ameliorated the wait for our entrees. My parents split an orange-mango-papaya drink and I had the blueberry-mango-passionfruit. Mine was good, but a little tart for my tastes, and I wished I had ordered the wonderfully sweet orange-mango-papaya juice. Which is one reason I'll have to come back. Even though our food took a long time to appear, service was very courteous and attentive. We never wanted for water and several different servers-- and I believe even the owner/manager-- checked in on us multiple times during our meal. The food was beyond delicious and left us too full to contemplate dessert, as delicious as the desserts must be.

    (5)

  • Solomon C.

    first off, don't expect to be in and out of here within an hour. the food takes time to prepare so you'll be sitting around watching other people eat before you get the chance to. If you're starving, go next door for a bag of chips to hold you over. You'll need it. This place did not disappoint. I had the Fish and Shrimp Muqueca. It's a seafood stew served with a side of rice and fish gravy. Think Manhattan Clam Chowder with chunks of fish in it, except better. They were generous with the shrimp and fish chunks. It's savory and a good hearty meal. Definitely recommend going.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : No
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Muqueca Restaurant

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