4. Restaurants

La Brasa

124 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02145
  • (617) 764-1412
  • Store is closed

La Brasa Menu

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  • Linda R.

    I like that they have a menu that is on the smaller side. The fried rice and tacos were amazing! They are must gets. Skip the rib roast cart service...it turned out being rather expensive and their actual dishes are much much better. Get dessert else where...the tres leches and the other chocolate dessert we had was disappointing. Still I would come back here for the friend rice and tacos alone!

    (4)

  • Christina O.

    In one word, La Brasa is COOL. It's got a huge, open dining area with friendly, welcoming staff that are a bit on the hipster edge, but awesome to say the least. They've got a great list of drinks -- definitely something for everyone -- and the staff is really helpful at finding something to make you happy. The food is neat. It's delicious, edgy, and satisfying. Portions are good sized and fairly priced. I love how open the kitchen is. If you're at the bar you can pretty much watch a live demonstration. I've been for late night eats and for brunch and was really happy with both. I'll be back!

    (4)

  • Xuesong L.

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

    (5)

  • Ed M.

    Yelpers: if you haven't gone yet, you need to go soon. This restaurant is in the phase where word of mouth hasn't yet spread through the Greater Boston Area. Mark my words, this place will be as crowded as Highland Kitchen within the next year, so make a trip now before it becomes a hassle. My brother and I started off with chicken wings served with mole. The wings were more like southern fried chicken than traditional pub fare chicken wings. As a sucker for all things Popeye's, naturally I loved the wings and felt that the mole and additional spices really complemented the dish well. We then had the hock fried rice. This dish was OK, but I wouldn't order it again. It wasn't anything like an Asian fried rice, but it just wasn't that memorable. We ended our meal with the rib roast cart. A warning to Yelpers on a budget: this is not a cheap option. At $4 an ounce ($64 a pound!!!), you are not escaping this course without a hole in your pocket. Regardless, this was certainly the highlight of the experience. Steak and similar meats have never been my food forte, so I will spare you an inadequate description of what made this so good. But let me assure all, I've been to the Capital Grille and Grille 23, and this dish exceeded both experiences. If there are any caveats to the review, it's that the service wasn't quite up to snuff. However, I'm willing to let this slide because our server was training a new staff member on an off night. High recommend! Give a try if you're in the Somerville area; you probably won't even need a reservation for quick seating on a week night.

    (5)

  • Dave G.

    I can't help but feel like we got hosed. BIG TIME. The food was pretty good, but for a "family style" meal, the portions were tiny. The $18 cheese board had three ridiculously small wedges of cheese and a few slices of pickled carrots. The roast beef, brought to the table on a cart and cut in front of us, was really good, but is $4/ounce. Waitress weighed it, but didn't tell us how much each cut was, so the bill was a bit of a surprise. If you get the roast beef, I hope you have good eye-balling skills when it comes to meat cuts. The atmosphere was alright. Fairly loud, but they use cool raw wood tables, tractor seats at the bar and open rafter layout. At the entrance though, they have a beautiful, silver Honda cb450 cafe racer on display. This brought my review up to 3 stars. I like motorcycles.

    (3)

  • Traci K.

    Late on a Friday night, La Brasa is like a little oasis from all the crazy obnoxious crowds in the city. Off the beaten path a bit, I was thrilled for some low key drinks and snackies set to a nice array of hip hop. "The food menu is extremely limited," our server had warned. He told us there were only three options for snacking, but all were excellent. Crispy fried chicken wings with a mole sauce. House made pork tacos. Oysters. We opted for the first two. The wings were hot and crispy and while the accompany mole didn't look all too appetizing -- a bit on the thick side - the taste was great. There was a bit of crumbly cheese on top that added a nice salty kick. The pork tacos came 2 to the order in a double-corn tortilla. The tacos were crazy flavorful and well balanced. A nice meaty bite with a spicy kick - perfectly accompanying our cocktails, of which we had a few. The Tinder Date was sharp and acerbic. A pretty hilarious play on the name. (I can only assume that this was intentional.) The campari and grapefruit played well together, making the drink bitterly refreshing. The Ice Breaker (gin, yellow chartreuse, St. Germain and lemon) tasted like a delicious Popsicle. A bit on the sweeter side, but none of us seemed to mind. The Dutch Goodbye was a bit too cinnamon-y for my taste, but my companions seemed to enjoy it just fine. The drink came piled high with spice-dusted crushed ice. I had a bitter grapefruit boozy shaved iced which was refreshing, though not sure how boozy it was. All in all, La Brasa did not disappoint. I'm looking forward to being back for their dinner menu and I hear they have fantastic brunch.

    (4)

  • Aaron K.

    La Brasa's cuisine is hard to describe and that's a great thing. People are always looking for that new flavor or something they haven't tried before. La Brasa has these people covered. It almost seems as the chef has scoured the globe to find different influences for his cooking. There's definitely some Mexican and Middle Eastern influences here as well as others. We worked our way through a good amount of the menu and were wowed by most dishes we had. The pork tacos (2 for 10$) are truly outstanding. Super tender pork with the most delicious salsa verde I've ever had. If you like tacos, you must try these! The collard green and quinoa pie is has some great flavor combinations and shouldn't be missed here. The rib roast cart service captivated the entire room when they came to our table first. No question everyone around us was going to order it as they couldn't stop staring. And it should be ordered, a great rub surrounds the outside and the red wine jus and chimichurri sauce pair so well with the meat. The specials push boundaries such as the house made hot dog (amazing) with fried oysters and bacon, and the mushroom couscous featuring a tasty broth and pickled ramps. The food is good and every sauce with each dish makes them great. The atmosphere (featuring mostly recycled materials but still somehow looked really cool), drinks and service were all very good. Definitely worth a visit, and then a repeat. Can't wait to go back! Keep pushing the envelope La Brasa!

    (5)

  • Monique S.

    My friend from out of town and I went here for dinner on a Friday night. We were seated without a wait, and the staff was attentive and professional. We didn't know what to get to drink, and our waiter explained the menu and made suggestions. The drinks were delicious. I forgot what the name of my drink was, but it was Mezcal based, small, and potent. For food. I had the half lobster and roasted potatoes. It was well seasoned, and the lobster had plenty of meat. The ambiance, good food, and good drinks were all worth the money. Fun times.

    (4)

  • Jax A.

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

    (3)

  • Justina C.

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

    (5)

  • Collins F.

    I have walked by this place a bunch of times and always wanted to try it out. It is a great place for a good, different cocktail. Made with care and love the drinks are very tasty (a little expensive). I cannot comment on the food, but everything I saw come out looked good and hot. The menu had a full range of items and looks to have reasonable prices.

    (4)

  • Kent N.

    We loved all the small plates. The meats are great. Fried chicken is amazing and the flan completed a fun evening. The staff is friendly, the crowd is mixed and lively. Check this place out.

    (5)

  • Sheena B.

    First, let me state that the wait staff was great and the place had a pretty decent environment. No complaints whatsoever on that end. We came for brunch. I had the Ribeye hash and a Bloody Mary. Bloody Mary was pretty decent. It had a mild spice but no frills (or olives.) The ribeye was over cooked and a tad dry. The potatoes that accompanied were really flavorful and cooked perfectly. Overall, the food was okay, but I wouldn't come back for the same thing and I certainly would not pay what I paid had a known it was going to be subpar for the cost. I'd probably only come back for a cocktail at the bar, which looked really nice. Rating 3 stars because I walked away wishing I'd eaten at one of the many other great little restaurants in the neighborhood and paid a third of the price. After-which I'd have come here for a drink.

    (3)

  • J S.

    Love the space - open, rustic, relaxed - in a part of Somerville that is nice but not overly hip or overhyped. Easy parking. Great service this evening - though we were there early. Friendly waiter and bartender both at the table helping us choose our meals and our drinks. Bartender willingly accepted special requests and offered samples of wines to help us decide. Loved the Flora white. Warning - our bar tab was surprisingly expensive compared to the food. Whole flounder was outrageously good! Two of us shared it and let others sample - still more than enough. Really, all the food was fresh, creative, delicious. Five of us shared one tres leches dessert and did have to order a second since there wasn't enough to keep all of us happy. Heading back soon as I can justify another splurge!

    (4)

  • Grace M.

    Thank goodness for La Brasa coming to the neighborhood! It's a great spot for a date, drinks, brunch.. the ambiance is cool and trendy, I love how earthy and delicious it smells in there and really appreciate that it's drawing a whole new crowd of folks to the area (or maybe we're all just coming out of the woodwork!). Amazing cheese plates and super great drinks make for a winning combo. I've tried a few things here but have to comment especially on how good the Mexican fried rice is-! As I sadly don't eat meat, I can't comment except to say everything smells insanely good, so definitely give this place a try. For us vegetarian folks, there aren't too many options (I'm pescatarian, so I do believe they have one bass entree), but the pickings are still yummy. :) I highly recommend checking this place out- you'll enjoy it!

    (4)

  • Simon L.

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

    (5)

  • Brandi M.

    Everything was right. We were seated right away on a Saturday night on a nice patio, service was fast but with a casual feel, like the server has plenty of time to answer all our questions and pay attention to our table. The food was amazing!!! Uh. May. Zing. Yum!

    (5)

  • Michael E.

    I was very impressed with La Brasa. The meal started with excellent service provided by William, A great server always makes the meal more enjoyable. His recommendations of the Thai fried chicken and the white asparagus were right on. I have to say the chicken is one of the best dishes that I have had in a long time. There was a simplicity to it but yet it was bursting with flavor. The brussels sprouts were excellent. Be sure and leave room for desserts because the flan and The butterscotch putting were superb. The restaurant is also very reasonably priced. La Brasa is a winner!

    (5)

  • Michael W.

    La Brasa is a great place to have a nice meal. The atmosphere is modern and rustic, centered around a beautiful wood fired grill. This is particularly pleasant in the Winter, when a hint of the smoke lingers in the air. The menu changes often, and is inspired by several different culinary traditions. The cocktails are delicious, the food is great and the service was pleasant. Sure, the portion sizes are small plates and I wouldn't define this place as a value, but all in all it's a definite recommend, especially for date night.

    (4)

  • Winnie C.

    Let's start with the overall sense from our group, after having eaten there: The staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the dishes, but the food was not worth the price. With family-style ordering, their small plates just didn't have enough substance to go around a group of friends. For the atmosphere and the price, we expected something tastier than what we got. We tried the eggplant, barley, and hibiscus --- and frankly thought they substituted the last two ingredients with onion and cilantro. I didn't try the quinoa empanada, but my friends didn't seem too excited about it. Now, the most upsetting part was the rib-roast cart. It was delicious, but after getting the bill, we thought the flavors did not justify the price. Note: they list the price as $4/oz. We all got the normal slice they offered, which apparently turned out to be 12-13 ounces each (we discussed between each other whether that was actually 12-13 ounces of rib-roast, but backed off after considering they do measure that in front of you -- we should have paid more attention). This equated to a whopping $48-$52 dollars per person for just the cut of rib roast. Don't get me wrong, it was good....... it just wasn't worth this amount of money. The 3 stars I give are for the good service, the nice atmosphere, and for the delicious drinks. Other than that, the food and the price just don't warrant going back there for a meal. Another reviewer had mentioned going elsewhere for food first, and then drinks at La Brasa -- wish we had read that before going!

    (3)

  • Diane F.

    Personality plus is how I would describe our server last night at La Brasa. Attentive, fun, informative. He was very tall so he came down to our level table side. Nice touch. Order the Mexican fried rice. Awesome dish. Also had the special--a ramp crepe--look it up. Veggie resembling spinach with some cheese. Oh and the cheese plate. I felt as if I were in an episode if Portlandia with the cheese descriptions. But it was delicious. We also ordered the " bread service" just because we wanted to say " bread service" So all the food has a charred black material either sprinkled on it or naturally occurring--as the veggies in the fried mexican rice dish. This is fine until one of our dinner mates started discussing carcinogens. Dessert, the flan, was not my thing but I did try the foamy white accompanying the flan--it was topped with char and was not a bit sweet--disappointing, but that was truly the only disappointing aspect of our meal. The cocktails were divine! Try all if them.

    (5)

  • Rev B.

    I won't be returning. The food was too salty. Sent it back, came back still too salty. We were told it would be taken off the bill. It wasn't. Bad experience. Quite frankly everything about this place seemed like it was prepared with fashion and current trends in mind. This is not food by or for people who actually care about food. Plus the place is a good size, yet the tables were so close together that the girl behind me kept slamming her chair into mine and there was no room to excuse myself without asking someone at the next table to get up and let me through. In short this place from food to decor is set up to be trendy IMO. Unfinished driftwood-style walls and tables. Exposed ventilation shafts and pipes. Warehouse-style windows and lighting. Food over-salted, over-sugared, over-pureed, over-cheesed. Small portions. Basically this is a hipster trap to charge way too much for not good enough. The wait staff were nice. If you're reading this sorry for the shitty review.

    (2)

  • Rachel R.

    La Brasa: glowy, seasonal, hipster, southernplayalisticadilla. In fact, my favorite thing about La B is its dirty Southern subtleties. ATL gangster rap wafted down from the high ceilings as we ordered hot chick'n, I mean, spicy Thai fried chicken. Our server described this dish by putting both hands up, closing his eyes, and taking a brief moment of silence... sure enough, soul, spice, heat, and farm-next-door quality. The swiss chard pie and "chorizo & potato quesadilla & squid" were less notable, but fun to eat, nonetheless. Onto the drinkables: the Paloma, Horchata, and some other things - consistently enjoyable, thoughtfully crafted, not distinctive. 'Twas the after-dinner cappuccino with sea salt + ash + molten pit of caramel that stuck. The tapioca pudding was not-too-sweet, properly portioned, simple, and gingery. And yes, we drank it. Overall, go for the vibe (service + music + ambiance), the fried chicken, and a memorable cappuccino full of salt & ash. Yes, there are other places with those things, but why should you choose La B? Quite frankly, because there's a drink called the Oaxaca Flocka Flame. Keep the Southern flame alive, B.

    (4)

  • Annie S.

    Good food, good drinks!!!! Huge space in East Somerville. Tried a few dishes- tacos, fried chicken, salmon, falafel, and the rib roast. The tacos (plate comes with 2) were the best- the meat was so tender and juicy. The rib roast was also delicious- this dude comes around with a meat cart- he calls it an interactive meat experience- and then cuts pieces for everyone. He puts this cilantro sauce on it, and though I don't usually like cilantro, the sauce worked. The only thing was that the pieces ended up being really big and really expensive, so when the bill came we were all taken aback with how expensive it was. But oh well, what can you do! Hope to go back soon

    (5)

  • Rajan G.

    Love this place. Food is always creative, fresh, and yummy (been there twice so I have tried a total of 8-9 dishes). Oh and their cappuccino plus flan was sooo good. They are super friendly. They gave my dog water. We will be back soon.

    (5)

  • Kim K.

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

    (3)

  • Yuko I.

    Maybe I expected too much. But this was a very much of trying too hard. The food was ok, not outrageously tasty, it is tasty. Everything was kind of sour, we ate lentil hummus, eggplant, kale, fried rice, romaine lettuce and prime ribs. And dessert. None of them I felt like I can just eat this until I die. It is all ok. Not sure if I recommend or come back.

    (3)

  • Kanika S.

    Excellent drinks! Try the Somerville sour next time you are there. Food portions are small, but that's the intent (they warned us beforehand) all the dishes were yumm! Very friendly staff!

    (4)

  • Sarah C.

    It's an automatic 5 star review when every first bite of food you have from each dish makes both you & your dining partner's eyes bug out of your heads. Literally - every single time. There is no denying that this place is hipster central in terms of ambience & service. The service is not bad - on the contrary, it's quite good. It's just...hipstery. From the jean-material full body aprons to the explanation of the "mission" behind the restaurant, it was self-indulgent and well done. The decor is undeniably beautiful. My friend who has lived in the east village for close to 10 years said she instantly felt like she was in Brooklyn. Many dishes simply sound weird. Like - really? I'm going to like that? But trust me - you will. And DO NOT skip the bread service. Ugh the bread was SO GOOD. The portions are perfect for sharing - we (2 people) got 1 snack, 1 vegetable, 1 medium plate, and 1 entree plate + bread service and two desserts, and I was stuffed by the end. That + 3 drinks = $110. Pretty damn reasonable for this quality and amount of food if you ask me. We ate, and completely devoured and loved every bite of: -La Brasa fried dough (I wish I was eating more of this right now) -Ceviche arctic char with buttermilk mustard seed dressing, vin & fennel (whaaaaaat) -Roasted carrots with mole & sesame (mole sauce on the spicy side, second best I've ever had - the first was in mexico) -Fire roasted hangar steak with diff root veggie chunks & purees spread around the plate, and bone marrow bread. BONE MARROW BREAD. It was like the best little butter savory cake...BONE MARROW CAKE...my head is spinning trying to translate the deliciousness of that little circle of food into words. Desserts - coconut tapioca w. ginger, and THE BEST FUCKING FLAN IN THE UNIVERSE. If you leave this place without eating it, you're an idiot, and I'm not sorry for saying so. If I had to criticize anything it would be that the location is a little out of the way, the bathrooms are about a half mile outside of the restaurant, and I thought the tapioca could have been more coconutty. Yes, those were my only issues, and I really don't give a crap about them. I will absolutely be back here (they say the menu changes ~weekly) and will be recommending it to many. Way to go Daniel & Frank. Now, gotta try L'Espalier...

    (5)

  • Chloe S.

    Went here for my boyfriends birthday awhile back and it was a terrific experience. It has a very hipster/fancy atmosphere. The waiters are all very friendly and the service was excellent. Our waiter gave us a drink (for my bf's birthday) and a dessert (flan) on the house! We ordered the spicy Mexican rice, a pulled pork sandwich, and another side dish (since we went the menu has changed). It seems like the menu changes pretty often which is refreshing although some dishes I would like to have again...

    (4)

  • Onny C.

    Great cocktails. Inventive menu. Delicious food. Great atmosphere. My favorite place in Somerville. Could use more desert choices though--I'd love to see what they do with chocolate.

    (5)

  • Chad G.

    Full review by "Chad's Eats" La Brasa Cuisine: American New, Spanish influence Location: Somerville, MA Parking: Street parking, was a bit of a challenge. Took us 10 minutes or less to find a spot. Metered parking free after 8:00 Decor / Ambiance: Open, high ceilings, rustic décor. Has a nice open kitchen. Lots of unfinished wood. There are plenty of large tables for big groups. Nice energy when you come in. Greeting: Prompt and gracious, we were sat at a great table where I had the perfect view of the kitchen. Menu mix: Not an enormous menu but plenty of creative choices. Lots of snacks and small plates so you can go tapas style if you wish. There are also entrees and a cart that wheels around slicing prime rib to order. You pay by the ounce. We did a blend of small plates and finished with a slab of the prime rib. Water / Bread service: Water from the tap served in empty wine bottles was good. Just a subtle hint of chlorine but barley detectable. Drink pour: Cheap wine pour. In my opinion, few sips too light. I reluctantly asked for a second glass thinking the first might have just been the end of the bottle but nope! Second glass came out just as light. (See the picture) Food quality: I think the quality is great. It's not a foo foo fancy presentation place, it's all about great food. No tweezer chef stuff here. We got the crispy ribs ($6 ea), roasted Brussels sprouts with mole sauce, a pickled egg and pork tacos. My prime rib was the last end piece. It was a 10.5 ounce slab (at 3.80 an oz) which was a bit too lean and not as tender or warm and juicy as I had hoped for. Keeping this rib warm while parading it around the restaurant is a great visual but must be challenging to the integrity of the meat. The chimichurri sauce was fine. It does not come with sides. We split a dessert. It was a grilled coffee cake with a funky flavored ice cream. This was quite unique with the smokiness of it. A first for me. Service: Great! Extremely well taken care of. We had a primary server but it seems all team members look after each other. Running food and clearing plates from all tables. Value: For all we got with the service, ambience and not having to pay for parking I think the value is there (borderline). I just think the wine pour needs to be looked at. 15 bucks a glass! If we added a second entrée we would have exceeded 200. But with the several small plates we felt we didn't need to get a second entrée. We split the dessert. With generous tip we were out well under 200. Wifey did get a nice crafted cocktail too. Bathrooms: Clean, it's like stepping into another world. You have to leave the dining room and step into a rather brightly lit industrial looking hallway. Seemed like a long jaunt but we were in the furthest reaches of the dinning room. Would I return? I would, I would be reluctant to try the rib again unless it looked steaming and juicy. I won't get wine here as well. There were other items on the menu that caught my eye but you can't buy everything! Comments & Tips: If drinking wine, I think you should get a bottle. I'm thinking at 15 bucks a glass the price point might be higher on bottles as well. I can't recall. In reality I wish I had the option to do 3 1/2 stars.

    (4)

  • Vivian C.

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

    (4)

  • Ted D.

    My wife and I had an early dinner at La Brasa on a Friday in July. We had a very fun dinner. La Brasa is located on Broadway in East Somerville. That stretch of Broadway has been recently redone by the city and has an invigorated feeling. There is ample street parking. The space is big (very high ceilings), with lots of windows. It can get a little loud, but not crazy. We enjoyed the lively atmosphere. We started off with cocktails and then went with various beers and glasses of wine throughout dinner. We started with the oysters, then moved on to the bread with several of the accompaniments. Our main course was the rib roast to order with the burnt vegetables and brasified radishes. We ended sharing desert. Service was attentive and our server was very fun and interactive. We had a bit of a wait to get our cocktails ordered after we were seated, but we were very well attended for the rest of the meal. The cocktails are fantastic -- creative and very well mixed. The wines and beers are a nice selection -- mostly bottled/canned beer, but they pick their beers well (and don't let cans throw you off -- modern craft beer canning is just as good as bottles). The oysters were very nice -- fresh, slightly earthy, clean taste (perhaps Duxbury). Their bread is fantastic, and the accompaniments are very tasty and creative. The cooking style focuses a fair amount on charring -- somewhat unique in our experience, but we enjoyed it. We thoroughly enjoyed the rib roast, and the to-order aspect was a nice touch. Desert was a chocolate delight of some kind that we devoured. We'll be returning with friends.

    (4)

  • Mansi M.

    Love the ambiance of this place. Great list of drinks. Mexican fried rice is a must here. Even if you are just here for drinks and not hungry do try the mexican fried rice it's that good. I would love to get my hands on that recepie:)

    (4)

  • Leo L.

    I live right around the corner from La Brasa and I was so hoping they would do well as its a great place to have around East Somerville. I been here many times and I always leave here with the feeling of something missing... lack of flavor tends to be the number one issue, the beer list isnt the best either, the chef is always walking around but it doesnt seem to care to come to the tables to ask if the food is ok or to just say hello. I keep on giving them another try - every 2 months or so - but at this point I should just give up. Please if you enjoy it please keep on coming to support this local place. But if you are looking for amazing food go where else, like Commonwealth in Cambridge or Sarma in Somerville.

    (2)

  • Helia Z.

    Just tried out La Brasa for the first time to celebrate a friend's birthday party. The waiter was very accommodating as our party kept growing with people showing up late. As frustrating as it must have been to have to split the check 10+ ways, he never had an attitude. The female hostess was a bit snarky towards us and the waiter because we had to keep adding seats for people, but everything else was great. When I first looked at the menu, I was surprised at how limited it was, but I can say after trying half of their dishes that what they do serve is prepared amazingly well. The Mexican fried rice and fried dough filled with eggplant were especially tasty. Drinks were overpriced and underwhelming, though. I'd go again - cool atmosphere and yummy food.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    In Spanish, la brasa means ember. It could be said that from this dying fire comes to life a light that shines in the emotions present on one's face in trying the dishes being served at La Brasa in Somerville, MA. The food has influences rooted in some of the countries of many of the residents of the area: Mexico, Peru, and the Middle East to name a few. ATMOSPHERE: Impressed with the grandeur nature of the restaurant; it was so spacious. The high ceilings really added to this notion. Being walked to our table, we were impressed by the bar which runs the length of the restaurant. Drinks for days. FOOD: Every night, Chef cooks onions, tomatoes, and peppers in the wood fire oven. Come morning, all the vegetables are blended and the ash is paired into a variety of dishes. To start, we saw it beautifully incorporated onto the Vermont cultured jersey cow butter, the accompaniment to the bread service. We ate: 1) Hamachi crudo 2) Tacos de carnitas - My most favorite (yes the redundancy emphasizes my obsession) dish of the meal was the tacos de carnitas. How something of such few number of ingredients could provide so many flavors was astounding. Upon first bite, it was true love. The profiles of the slow roasted pork shoulder, salsa verde & chile de arbol mixed together made me want to order another round, but we had so much more food to come! 3) Spicy Thai Fried Chicken. Typically, when menus say spicy, I'm like alright, uh huh, ok no big deal. Here, they were not messin' around. The chicken was spisaaay. But in a "nose dripping, I cannot stop eating" way. The secret behind their chicken is that it is marinated in tumeric and cinnamon before being fried and adding spice. It goes from hot to sweet in a short time. MARVELOUS. 4) Fire­roasted hanger steak with celery root­ espresso puree, charred ASF turnips & bone marrow bread. To make the puree, celery root is boiled and mashed. Next up, splash of espresso. The salinity of celery with acidity of espresso makes it * smooth*. So you eat a lot and you're like I can't fit anymore. Well make it fit. Dessert was pretty fab: the dulce de leche flan is paired with unsweetened homemade whip cream. Once again, the ash made a guest appearance. The pairing of the whip cream, sea salt and flan was superb. You know it's good when I leave a clean plate..come dessert. MUST TRY: If things couldn't get more bubbly at dinner, they could. Judson, the barista, recommended trying the Espresso Tonic. In having been out in SF, Judson experienced an E&T at Saint Frank. Chemically coffee has high levels of citric acid and quinic acid similar to tonic water. This brought out the flavors of both in the drink. I could not say no to a new experience. The best way to describe it was that it was interesting to the point that you couldn't stop drinking. La Brasa sure left a warm spot in our hearts. That ember will never die.

    (5)

  • Ozer B.

    Great food, casual but nice ambiance with a character. Not just tasty food, but unique too. So... If you want to enjoy great food and their special food n beer pairings, La Brasa is a must.

    (4)

  • MJ S.

    The style is like tapas...sharing plates, smaller portions. Most of the dishes were tasty and well done..the red meats, chicken, vegetable small plates were especially good. We also ordered a lobster dish that was totally ordinary compared to all the rest. The dessert (cheesecake) was a real disappointment..it may not be a dessert place. The staff is young, trendier. Our waiter was very good, maybe actually a bit too much of a salesman for my taste. What freaked me out was how expensive the restaurant can get. Because some items are priced by the ounce since they slice it at your table (prime rib) the price can sneak up quickly. We spent $240 for 4 people. I felt that the restaurant was good, but if I knew it would cost us that much I can think of many other places I'd have prefered to eat at.

    (3)

  • Emerson W.

    The three key parameters of friendship: proximity, similarity, reliability. Apparently, La Brasa and I are besties. Most offerings come and go, and thus it's difficult to recommend anything specific. Typically, restaurants that rely on an ever changing menu seem to exploit their patrons' intrigue of what might be next, which is perhaps a crutch. I like experimentation, but sometimes it becomes frivolous and novel. La Brasa does change it up a lot, but it is not confused as to its identity. Variations are more pertinent to the details rather than their offerings as a whole. I've tried multiple fried chicken dishes here, and consistently they have been excellent. Fried chicken is a staple that La Brasa has down - whether it's with a greek yogurt and olive oil base, a tangy Thai crispy exterior, or a broccolini accompaniment. The details will fluctuate, however the staple itself remains consistant, and consistently excellent at that. Drinks are fun. Well crafted cocktails incorporate creative and unorthodox elements of bitterness, creaminess, smokey flavors, and of course, egg whites. Smokiness seems to be their overarching style. Also, smokey beer is a thing? Other oddities include squid pancakes, persimmon-pear salsa, celery root espresso puree, "hoTchada", and common use of ash as a burnt / charcoal flavor note that can be found in select dishes as well as in their scrumptious caffeinated aperitifs. Due to the hip AF decor, large spacious layout, eclectic playlists, and friendly service, the vibes are always on point. La Brasa is one redeeming quality to an under-appreciated strip of Somerville. EMERSON&LABRASA4LYF.

    (5)

  • Elle W.

    I tried this place for dinner Friday night with the BF... The Food: SMALL portions. Don't get me wrong the food was delicious, but the entrees were the size of appetizers and didn't come with any sides. The beef on the rollaway cart was the only savior, and why we didn't leave starving, only hungry... Also, we got the "steak" and then tried the cart "roast" and both seemed to be served with the EXACT same sauces.... kinda boring. The salmon tartar was a highlight and the burnt veggies, were not what we were expecting... more like a beet and taro salad. The service: Fantastic, friendly, everything you look for (attentive without overbearing). Overall: I get what they're trying to do here. The vibe and atmosphere are great. But we both agreed that we got pretty poor value for the $$$. Perhaps the servers should have told us that an appetizer and entree each was not enough.. (even with the beef on the rollaway cart) Price for 2 semi hungry diners $115.

    (3)

  • Joanna F.

    Eh. If i hadn't been to so many restaurants that are similar to this one in the last few months,maybe I would be more enthusiastic. But this is a hipster servered, "small plate", modern interior, local food place just like the bunches of others that have popped up lately. We went in with friends and tried several small plates. The cheese plate was good and pretty large, the beets were fine, I really enjoyed the fried rice. We also tried the pig tails which were a daily special and shockingly good. My husband and I split the sriracha chicken entree which was fine, although I do feel like I could make it at home. We also tried the affogato for dessert. The espresso was great but the ice cream had weird bits of something in it... maybe licorice or seeds of some kind. Either way - NO! Our server also seemed ridiculously pretentious, but the service wasn't bad. Pretty sure I won't be back.

    (3)

  • D P.

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

    (5)

  • Hannah C.

    Overall great experience! Seems like the menu changes often, but I will write out what we got anyway. Salmon sashimi. My husband thought this was maybe the best or second best item we got. I thought it was pretty small for $14, but yes it was good. Brussels sprouts. Delicious! The herb aioli was really yummy. Nothing extraordinary but really solid dish. Pickled beet egg. First time having a pickled egg - flavor was great, but texture wasn't really for me. Skirt steak. I didn't think it was all that great. Steak was cooked well, but the other flavors didn't do it for me. Husband liked it. Fried chicken. So delicious! One of my favorite parts of the meal. The spicy thai sauce was delicious. Flan for dessert. Oh. My. God. So freaking amazing. Best part of the meal for sure. Affogato - espresso poured on top of ice cream. Would have been better if we are it separately. The atmosphere was great. We were able to get a reservation easily. Service was great. Price was okay. The kitchen is open which was really cool. One of the chef owners was there so it was fun to watch him in the kitchen. We will definitely be back. I would order the Brussels sprouts, chicken, and flan again for sure with everything else that we order being something new to try. We are happy to have a foodie type place near us so that we don't have to go into Boston for nice food. If this place were on the other side of Broadway, I'm sure we wouldn't have been able to get a reservation the same night. Can't wait to come back!

    (4)

  • Joel S.

    Some of the food was really good (pig tail and pork belly, Mexican rice) and some was okay (hanger steak, squid pancake). Also, I was a little disappointed when someone turned off the light while I was still in the bathroom, leaving me in a tricky situation.

    (3)

  • Victor Y.

    Pleasant well-designed environment with simplicity in mind. Eclectic innovative menu. A party of 4 to 6 is ideal so many different dishes can be tried family style. Multiple appetizers are better than a few entrees. Mexican fried rice and collard green pie are superb. (Although fried chicken has been recommended by many reviewers, despite its excellence , I recommend trying other more unique appetizers.) Flan dessert is excellent. A return visit seems obligatory so as to sample the full complement of their diverse menu

    (5)

  • Drew B.

    As someone who frequents La Brasa with the regularity I do, I'm a little embarrassed to have taken this long to write a proper review. My only explanation is that the consistent quality both of the market and restaurant make it all too easy to prioritize indulging in the experience over writing about it on the internet. But in the spirit of being better late than never, let me enumerate what keeps drawing me back to what I feel is one of the coolest new spots to have opened in Somerville this past year. Let's start with the market, a distinguishing feature of La Brasa. Though a little modest in selection - something I attribute to it being an emerging concept - the things they do carry I no longer pick up from the traditional grocery store. Why? Well for one, they do an excellent job of offering food that is locally sourced. Two, they are sometimes able to offer fresh and unique features crafted by the kitchen brigade, such as the made-in-house sausages. But moreover, by coupling a market with a restaurant, inventory is less likely to be wasted making it a fitful choice for the sustainability-minded. The market doesn't end here though, as they also feature some of the best coffee I've had in Boston. I roast and brew my own coffee at home and take the craft very seriously, all I can say is between the exclusive use of the beans from local roaster, Gracenote Coffee, and the highly capable team of baristas, La Brasa has me beat and I gladly accept the defeat. As for the food, all I can say is that I eat here for lunch all the time and they consistently hit the high mark. The carnitas tacos are a thing of culinary bliss. The potato and chorizo quesadilla topped with egg, exquisite. As for the dinner options and cocktail features of the restaurant, all I can say is that when I'm looking to share an impressive meal and experience with friends, La Brasa is a no-brainer destination. Every meal I've had has been of an impressive quality and it's not uncommon for friends of mine to pester me about going back after they've had their first meal here. They do a solid job of keeping the menu fresh while always staying true to classics. The roasted carrots in the mole sauce is a classic and the fire roasted steak, when available, always finds its way onto my plate. But what ties everything together for La Brasa, in my opinion, are the excellent people and the tasteful ambience. The staff is genuine, fun, and vested in your experience. The atmosphere is relaxed, open, and classy. In short, a progressive establishment that's not afraid to think outside the box and which excels in bridging together a variety of traits with creativity and poise.

    (5)

  • Gitta M.

    We had an amazing experience at brunch! The decor is super cool..you can feel the attention to detail and love and care in everything; high ceilings, unfinished wood, interesting design pieces. The service is wonderful. Everybody is courteous, approachable and patient and can offer great advice. And now to the food. It's inventive and unique but still approachable and just delicious and not at all too cerebral. The brisket benedict was a highlight! The coffee is some of the best I've had in the Boston area! Can't wait to try dinner!

    (5)

  • Duncan L.

    Must try?: They change their menu often enough that it's hard for me to suggest something you would definitely find there. Be confident that whatever you order will be delicious. Do you need a reservation?: When I have gone it hasn't been full, but I would make a recommendation, just in case. Recommended party size: 2-4 is good. Any larger and you may have difficulty catching up with everyone. Would I return?: I have returned, and try to take all of our out-of-town guests. It's that good. La Brasa is a wonderful restaurant in east Somerville. There are massive windows and beautiful tables that make you feel at home as soon as you sit down. No matter how busy they are, we always feel like we are treated well and that they are excited to see us. One warning: a delicious cut of meat comes around, stopping at each table, offering slices and selling by the ounce. It is truly delicious. But it's not cheap, and it's easy to go overboard. Don't buy all of it. Your wallet won't quickly forgive you.

    (5)

  • Cate N.

    Food was alright, drinks were alright, service was alright. Nothing memorable, nothing to write home about.

    (3)

  • Lala I.

    the food was excellent: incredibly fresh and great choices of ingredients, unique, creative and pleasant flavors, precise executions, oh and beautiful ceramics. we enjoyed everything we had. drinks were unique and delicious. yay for mezcal!! the operation was smooth especially for a restaurant's only been opened for a few days. our waiter was extremely friendly, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. la brasa might be the best one we've tried in boston this year. yes, even better than alden and harlow. here's for a full review and food porn: bunnyandporkbelly.com/20…

    (5)

  • Aaron K.

    This was our second visit. The first was a little bumpy, as we found we were restricted to a valentine's day prix fixe menu that neither my wife nor I were into. The manager made it a point to invite us back to give it another shot, and i am glad he did. The staff was gracious and the food was awesome. The menu was filled with lots of interesting dishes with fresh meats, veggies and cheeses. My wife lived the ceviche, and we were both blown away by the tableside rib roast cart service. We will definitely be back. This place serves up delicious high end fare hidden away in east somerville.

    (5)

  • Danielle F.

    Since learning of the arrival of this restaurant, I felt like there was a ton of anticipation (and expectations) that came along with it. Not only by me, but within the Boston dining community. Kind of like when Jackie Bradley Jr was coming up for his first year with the Sox. Hype that is hard to live up to. So, in stepping in on its first Friday night in existence, I walked in with those expectations for a late meal (~10 PM) to see if it could live up to the hype. I am happy to report that it indeed does live up to the hype and then some. You can smell the wood-fired goodness from outside as you approach the restaurant on Broadway. It is about a 10 minute walk from the Sullivan Square T stop, though some street parking is available as well. At the time of this review, there is a lot of road construction on Broadway, so I'd probably suggest walking from Sullivan or taking the bus. Enter the restaurant via the brightly colored mosaic of wood which frames the entrance. For a later dining hour, the place was still about 1/2 full and the bar area, which is quite sizable, was completely occupied. The hostess seated us with the drink menus and informed us that the server would follow up with the dinner menus. While we were seated, you couldn't help but notice the abundance of wood to create the space. The second extremely notable characteristic is the open kitchen, a bold move which I always appreciate. Given the grilled nature of the menu, I must commend them on the excellent ventilation, as the dining area gets merely a waft of it. The drink list included a handful of cocktails, a few wines by the glass, and a few beers. While a smaller drink selection, there is definitely something for everyone. I chose an Italian white wine that I rarely see on menus, Verdicchio. My dining companion chose one of the cocktails, settling on the Malmsey Cobbler. He raved about it and upon sampling it, the easiest way to describe it is a sangria made with Madeira wine. After getting a chance to review the menu, we asked about how the sizing of the plates worked, as the pricing suggested that they might be small plates. Our friendly server suggested that we each order and entree with the idea of sharing them and each order a side. We had already decided on one of their "snacks", so we ended up ordering two entrees, a vegetable side, and a snack. For us that was the perfect amount of food. For a snack, we started with the Benton's ham which came with a ginger chutney and toasts. The sweet and salty combination was divine. If you've never had a Benton's pig product, do yourself a favor and order it. The place puts out ridiculous stuff. For a vegetable side, we chose the Mexican fried rice, which came with spring beans, charred scallions, and radishes. Our server mentioned that our entrees and side may come out shotgun style --- when it is ready you will get it. Our rice came out first, but we saw both of our entrees arrive together a few minutes later. The Mexican fried rice, in a night of standouts, was for me my favorite item. The rice had a rich taste to it, the radishes had been mellowed out by cooking and the charred scallions added a nice smoky taste. For our mains, we both loved what we ordered. We sampled each others, but since we each liked our own dishes so much, the small plates they give you for sharing weren't really used. I ordered the harissa grilled chicken with Greek yogurt and broccolini. It was moist grilled chicken paired with a cool Greek yogurt that was spiked with mint. My fellow diner ordered the grilled black bass. It was a large piece of fish (head included), but again perfectly cooked and the skin had a great flavor to it. We left thinking what a wonderful addition to the neighborhood this was. I am certain that this place will be quite popular as people are aware it has opened. They do allow for reservations via their website. I suspect that will be the only way to secure a table. Either that or show up for a later meal as we did. Thank you for living up to the hype! I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • H N.

    Ok food. Doesn't live up to the hype. We had two of the chicken dishes. Pretty much dead bird. All entrees came out at different times so my food was cold by the time I ate it while waiting for my friends dish to arrive. Our friends has steak and seemed to like it, hence the 3 stars. Valet guy was on phone outside, sign was in dark pink chalk On black so can't see from the street, the restaurant phone won't pick up so we circled 20 mins before I got out and figured out the parking. Seems to be a sketchy neighborhood so wouldn't park on street here.

    (3)

  • Nina W.

    Fun food, hip decor, hilariously named cocktails, respectable beer list, relaxed vibe, and friendly and attentive staff. What more do you want? Nothing. I love it and I'll be back. A lot.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Very hip restaurant. I came here with a group of 4 on a Friday night. Great spot to socialize with friends or dates. The ambiance was nice and trendy. We'll start with the awesome dishes: 1. Fire roasted steak. A server comes around with a cart and you decide how much you want. $3.85 per oz. I could eat this for the rest of my life. The outer layer was crispy and the puree sauce was perfect. We devoured 10 ounces within seconds. 2. Spicy thai chicken. Right amount of crispy skin and moist chicken meat. The lemongrass and basil were great compliments. 3. The pickled quail eggs. This was the first time I ever tried pickled eggs and it was amazing. Pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Other dishes: 1. The bass. La Brasa knows how to make crispy skin but they forgot about the fish scales!! It also was pretty bland. Could've used some more herbs or sauce. 2. Chorizo & potato quesadilla with squid. Kinda weird flavoring. 3. Mexican fried rice. Hyped up on yelp. I thought it tasted average. Didn't blow away my taste buds. 4. Roasted carrots in mole sauce. It was sweet and I personally didn't notice any spiciness. I would say this was an okay dish because I preferred the protein that La Brasa offered. =) I'd recommend this restaurant to foodies and people looking for a trendy atmosphere. It is pricey. The bill for a group of 4 was around $240. The service was good. All the staff were friendly. Parking wasn't too bad either.

    (4)

  • Des Y.

    More restaurants should do what La Brasa are doing very well. Fewer items on the menu, make them every single one of them insanely good - that way, there's a good chance you may end up ordering everything on the menu. Which is almost what we did. Terrific, spacious decor; terrific staff, by the way. Anyway, we started with a bang. Bread with chicken liver mousse and ashed butter. Yes, butter with ash on it - I asked, and the ash was made from charred vegetables. The flavor was subtle but you could definitely taste the definition of the ash. The chicken liver was wondefully balanced - not overpowering, not wimpy either. Then came a pair of carnitas tacos. Flavorful, but a tad too runny/soggy - it was fine, but I've probably had better. Then we had fried chicken wings with a mole sauce. This was probably the highlight of my entire meal. The wings were fried to perfection - with a good crunch and good flavor on its own. But when you topped it with the mole sauce with chopped raw onions and Mexican cheese, it was practically euphoric. Great, great stuff. And that hock fried rice that everyone's talking about? Believe the hype. Then we shared a whole flounder topped with tomatillos and mint. Again, just perfect in every way - we cleaned the bones. This was just a great experience overall. Can't wait for them to rotate that menu so we can try even more good stuff from La Brasa

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    Great Food, great service and would recommend highly.

    (5)

  • Bob S.

    This restaurant just charged my group a $5 "cake fee" to bring out a birthday cake that we purchased elsewhere. Food is very overpriced. We got a pork appetizer that was around $10 that amounted to moist room-temperature prosciutto. For about $18 we got a cheese plate with very small portions of cheese. As someone else put it, this place is a hipster trap. The salmon dish I got was delicious, but between the cake fee and lackluster starters I can't recommend the place. Seriously, a cake fee.

    (2)

  • S C.

    Really love that there's a great new restaurant in this neighborhood. The food was so delicious. For the most part I think the prices were pretty decent on the main dishes. I'm not sure why another reviewer went on and on about the décor. I thought the interior was warm, cozy, but also felt like a place that you could have a night out with friends. Me and 3 of my girlfriends went for a birthday celebration and the restaurant felt very appropriate for that. We shared the fried dough app which wasn't at all what I was expecting in a good way. It was a thin fried dough topped with yummy sauce and veggies. We also ordered the pork belly and soba noodles, chicken and dumplings, hanger steak with grilled eggplant and celery root puree, and a side of the Mexican fried rice. Everyone was very happy with the meal. We wanted a dessert but the ones on the menu weren't quite enticing us so our server brought out a little piece of ducle de leche flan with a birthday candle. It was absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be going back here.

    (5)

  • Anju P.

    A solid restaurant to try once. Everything was delicious but nothing was memorable. Combined with the inconvenience of getting there, I don't think it's worth a repeat trip. Cocktail wise: the newgroni and southern gentlemen were quite good. The hot Brazil cocktail was not a favorite. Dish wise: if chile rellenos are on the menu as the special, get it. Aside from that the Swiss chard pie and tacos were runner-ups. I would pass on the fried dough as they had a confusing mix of flavors and were overwhelmed by feta cheese. The per oz rib roast was OK, but a little steep on price and not mind blowing enough to warrant it.

    (4)

  • Eva B.

    My boyfriend and I had been dying to try this new spot since it first opened just down the street from his apartment. He surprised me on my birthday and brought me here for what we both expected would be a fabulous meal. The staff was kind enough to honor his request of a nice table, and they sat us in the corner with a nice view out the windows and of the kitchen. Our waitress was warm, sociable and easy to talk to. We ordered a bottle of wine and then proceeded to order a few plates before deciding on our main courses. There was a special of pork belly with soba noodles and charred cabbage so we ordered that along with the Mexican fried rice and pork tacos. Everything came out almost too fast and when we got down to eating it, everything was bland and under seasoned. None of the food had any distinct flavors that I can remember, and the rice was on the greasy side. The pork tacos had that bad "pork-y" sort of taste to them - the flavor pork should not actually have. The brisket was just okay, the sauce it was smothered in tasted like Chef Boyardee sauce and the best part of the pork sandwich was the bread. They gave us a free cheesecake to celebrate my birthday but that was also not very good. Overall, we were extremely disappointed and underwhelmed. We were hoping to love it here and become regulars. The food was just awful and had no flavor. The restaurant is nice inside and has potential, but the food will need major improvements.

    (2)

  • Cathy T.

    We were very disappointed with La Brasa. We recently moved to the neighborhood and eagerly awaited La Brasa's opening. We waited a couple of months after their opening to give them time to work out new restaurant difficulties, and while the service was excellent the food was just kind of meh. I ordered the Harissa chicken and for my $15 I received 1/2 of a dry, bland, room-temperature chicken breast and a few leaves of very tasty kale. If the chicken had been tasty (or bigger) I might have felt less ripped-off. The kale was very tasty, though, and I would have happily eaten an entire plate of it. We also ordered their mixed greens salad which was quite nice. We also had the fried rice which was tasty but quite oily (there was a pool of oil in the dish). My husband ordered the cheese plate, which was also over priced for how teensy the cheese slices was. The cheese were nothing special--we've had basically the same cheeses from Whole Foods for a fraction of the price. I had the affogato for desert, and that was the best thing we had that evening. The service was good but a bit fussy. Our waitress told us that their food was presented as small plates for sharing, but our other neighborhood haunt, Sarma, does a much better job of small plates at about 1/2 the price. We spend $100 for 4 small plates, 1 glass of wine, 1 beer and an affogato for desert. The only reason we weren't hungry when we left is that we weren't too hungry to begin with. At $50 per person I expect much better food, and I also expect to have enough food served to me that I don't leave hungry. Despite being one of two nice restaurants in our neighborhood we don't plan to eat at La Brasa again. It's just not worth the money.

    (2)

  • D M.

    How have I not reviewed La Brasa yet? It's certainly become my a neighborhood favorite. And if I didn't live close by, I'd still make my way here, because it's awesome. We've been for dinner a number of times, and also for brunch too. I love a good brunch, and this is hands down the best brunch in the area in my book. Let's start with that. Lots of good brunch cocktail options, featuring my favorite: the bloody Maria! Also, amazing coffee. They take coffee seriously, and I appreciate it because you can't get REALLY good coffee at most breakfast places. I love that it's not just an afterthought. My go to is the eggs benedict, and the eggs benny with bentons ham is pretty perfect. Creamy light hollandaise sauce, runny eggs, chewy english muffin and thinned sliced salty cured ham. I think I'll have a hard time ordering anything else. I ordered a side of potatoes last week, and it was enough to share, but I opted not to share with my husband because I'm a jerk. They were perfectly crunchy/salty home fries, and came with a little jar of ketchup. If you like sweet brunch treat, or if you're easily swayed to order them for a brunch dessert like we are (good tip, Shyne!) get the brioche french toast with ricotta & bourbon-vanilla oranges. They are hands down the best french toast, sweet without being overwhelming. Also delicious things we're tried: the local oysters are huge and fresh, and I love a good mignonette, which La Brasa delivers. I ordered the barbecued beef brisket with charred green tomatillo barbeque sauce and enjoyed it. The brisket is also on the dinner menu. It was a large portion, and was great as leftovers in tacos. Jesse got the corned beef hash last week, and it was enjoyed thoroughly. The side of bacon is thick sliced decadence, and it's got a deliciously smoky flavor. Pro tip: buy some from the market and you can make your whole house smell that delicious for days, so much so that you'll walk in after work and wonder why your house smells like a camp fire. Maybe that's just me. The ambiance for bunch is great with some live music, and really, if you're waiting in line somewhere else, you're wasting your life on a (most likely) substandard brunch. Do yourself a favor and head here. There's no other brunch that will be better. Prices are reasonable, with eggs benny being $9, and you're getting something you can't make easily at home, which I can't say about a lot of the other brunches in Somerville. Onward to dinner! Appetizers I've tried were all good, I've enjoyed the artisanal cheese plate, the pickled eggs (both quail and chicken) and the pork shoulder tacos, and need to get on ordering the Benton ham. I've been twice, and both times we went sort of family style. Highlights were the la brasa fried chicken with escargot- brown butter vinaigrette, parsley & fresh horseradish, a hanger steak special (this was my favorite so far!), and the skirt steak marinated in soy with snap peas, baby lettuces, with salmon roe. Sides I've shared have all been great-the Mexican fried rice was really different and fun, if you love root veggies, the turnip special was delicious, the carrots in mole sauce are a fun option. Drinks are always changing and everything I've tried as been tasty and interesting. Desserts are fun and simple, and everything I've tried as been tasty. I've tried some chocolate pudding that was a special when they first opened, and look forward to trying the butterscotch pudding. I often go for the affogato, since I'm a sucker for both ice cream and espresso. I tried a bite of the three cheese cheesecake featured right now and it was smooth and delicious, with delicious stone fruit on top. The atmosphere is great, and I love the open kitchen and being able to see the grill. I love the details (tractor seats for bar stools, reclaimed wood on the walls and benches) is the service. The service is truly top notch, and the waitstaff is really focused on making sure you have a great dining experience. I can't think of a time when I've had nicer experiences, and the experiences on the same level are at places that are much more expensive and those generally tend to be less fun. I also love the use of local farms and products that they love, many of which you can buy at the market. Also, I love the market in general. There's great stuff you can buy that will help supplement if you don't want to go to the grocery store, like that amazing bacon, local milk products and cheeses, and fresh fruit. La Brasa: Welcome to East Somerville, we're so happy to have you!

    (5)

  • Alexandra M.

    Came here during the East Broadway Foodie Crawl and tried the corn...soup? Not sure, it was corn, and had some liquid, mayo?, cilantro and was pretty good. Some of the corn still had the rind on the side of it, which I couldn't eat and wasn't nice.

    (3)

  • Torrie D.

    My boyfriend and I had a wonderful first impression of La Brasa. The place itself has an awesome atmosphere. I want to live in there! The drinks were really good, as was all the food. I don't eat beef or pork so there wasn't all that much I could eat on the entree front, but the oysters, Mexican fried rice, and the beets were all to die for. As an entree I had the lobster and HOLY CRAP it was so good. My boyfriend had all sorts of beefy things that I couldn't try, but he said everything was very, very tasty. Last- our waiter, Shyne, was great. Super personable and friendly. I hope he is our server next time we go! Only downside- it's a bit pricey for the amount of food and the neighborhood, but worth it!

    (5)

  • Natalya B.

    This place is a fabulous addition to the neighborhood! Loved the trendy ambiance and decor. We took our friend here for his birthday on a Thursday night and it was full but no wait. We got the cool wooden table by the piano, which made us feel very special. The food was yummy and unique. Keep in mind it's kind of like tapas-style serving. Food comes out as it's done and it's good to share. We ended up ordering all entrees, but would recommend varying it a bit so you get some veggie dishes in there. The drinks were a bit pricey but very tasty . Will definitely be back! Also excited about their cafe/market opening soon!

    (5)

  • David X.

    Epic fail on so many levels that it isn't even worth writing about. I will say this. I take issue with restaurants that force their waitstaff to perform. That should be left to the chefs. Here, if you want steak, you buy it by the ounce and the waiter has to wheel a cart with a roast loin across the restaurant - presumably to make people go ooh and ahh so they order it too (the idea being that it is so absurdly expensive you need to motivate them somehow). But since it has been resting for a while, waiting for people to order it, it is probably luke warm, rolled around uncovered, flies everywhere and it looks unappealing. Worse, when we asked for medium rare, the waiter cut into it, hands shaking probably from the nerves of everyone in the restaurant watching him, and he cut three separate times into it and it was brown everywhere - clearly well done and overcooked. Embarrassed, he rolled it back and came back 10 minutes later with another one - this time, essentially raw. The waiter turned bright red and looked completely humiliated. We took it anyway. But you're supposed to watch him and tell him the size you want him to slice it - and then he weighs it - all without touching it with his hands which they probably do back in the kitchen but not in front of 30 people - and it took him five minutes to put the plate together as we lost our appetites. It was inedible. Also cost $40. Keep in mind, they had brought the other person's dinner plate before they rolled out the cart the first time, so we ate at separate times. The menu is filled with baffling hipster nonsense. Everything else we ordered was mediocre and overpriced at best. And they have a bad fly problem. Just put up some fly paper rather than have the waitstaff running around with fly swatters. Sheesh. It was just like an SNL skit of all that is trendy, fashionable and wrong in hipster dining right now. Just, no thank you. I liked the design/decoration of the restaurant itself though. Let's hope the current owners sell it to someone who can make and execute a better, more reasonable, less trendy menu.

    (1)

  • Sean S.

    This place is the best, we don't eat meat but the fish here is the bomb. We had a waiter Shyne he explained exactly what was in the food we ordered that's huge. The drinks and the menu are super inventive. I have not had a cocktail here I haven't loved.

    (5)

  • Sharon C.

    Had drinks and apps here on a Sunday evening. I was very impressed with everything about the restaurant. We had an excellent waiter who we asked to pick a drink for us. He choose a Somerville sour, a take on a whiskey sour. It was delish! We choose the bread service with chicken liver pate and radish butter along with the cheese plate. Everything was fresh and done very well. We finished with Pork tacos which were fantastic. All of the interactions with staff, from the hostess to the chef were very pleasant. Everyone is very knowledgeable and take time to make sure you are having a great dining experience. We will definitely be back to try the entrees next time.

    (5)

  • Julie C.

    Just walking into this place will blow you away! I could spend hours in here. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is really nothing bad I can say. I love the location, too. Although maybe not convenient for some, it is super convenient for me hehe :D

    (5)

  • Kyle D.

    I've gone here 5+ times now and have never been disappointed. The staff is always super friendly and the owners seem to really be focused on providing the best available food. This means that they often change the menu to present what is in season and to try out new combinations. For us, this means a different experience each time we visit. And each time we visit, there is a new dish that blows us away. While we do have favorites that we look for each time we come in--tiradito w/shaved fennel, Mexican fried rice, fried chicken, butterscotch pudding, flan--we are always most excited to try the new additions to the menu. From lamb tongue to Southern chicken n dumplings, these are always a treat and given proper attention (chicken 'n' dumplings were pretty close to the way my grandma used to make them). And, while every dish may not be for everyone, there is enough variety that no one I have brought here has left unsatisfied. I strongly recommend trying La Brasa (and trying as many dishes as possible) and hope that the restaurant will become a staple in the area.

    (5)

  • Anna L.

    The food is SOOOOOO good and the place is funky and comfortable. So glad it opened in Somerville!!

    (5)

  • Robert T.

    So good across the board. Service, cocktails, and food were all fantastic. Reminded em a bit of the Girl and the Goat in Chicago.

    (5)

  • Kekito G.

    Great ambiance, solid food, but way too expensive. I don't mind going to a nice restaurant and dropping a good pile of cash when it is worth it, but here it really isn't worth it. The menu has small plates and medium plates. The medium plates are in the $20's but one medium plate isn't enough for one person and there are no sides. You have to pay extra for the sides. Oh, and bread is an extra $3 too. So basically you need to spend almost $40 in food per person. You add in a couple of drinks and you are paying L'Espalier prices for a night out in East Somerville for good but not amazing food.

    (2)

  • Shane W.

    Pretty good food; hip decor. Only knock is that the mole sauce was definitely missing an ingredient or two, as it was bland. Was hoping the cook would fix it or something, or at least tell me that's the way its supposed to be, but the waiter was defensive and just said that's how it was.

    (4)

  • Anne P.

    We had a fantastic early Valentine's Day dinner here and I have only good things to say about it. We ordered two small plates, two medium plates, and dessert, and we fought over the last bite of almost everything. The tacos carnitas were only okay, but everything else on the table was exceptional. I think my date's favorite was a citrus salad/sashimi small plate, and I loved the lamb tart (tasted like the most delicious pot pie you've ever had). Dessert was great, cocktails were fun, even the bread and butter was perfect (truly). I wish I'd caught our waiter's name because he was great fun, and really helpful. The atmosphere was upscale casual, and our half of the restaurant was comfortable, but the tables nearer the door seemed cold. Not the place for fussy or tradition-bound folks, but a great restaurant for the rest of us - awesome food and fun menu

    (5)

  • M B.

    Excellent meal. Excellent service. Five people at the table, all were very pleased with our dinner. Would have liked to try the carrots with mole but it wasn't on the menu last night. This is a "small plates" restaurant. The plates really are tasting plates and are best shared with the table. To her credit, this is one of the first things our waitress told us before ordering. These are not "entree" portions, don't expect it to be so. The prices are slightly above moderate but not outrageous. When asked, our waitress described every dish on the menu in detail (without being pretentious and telling us the names of the chickens and pigs we were about to eat) and described the portion size as well. We ordered two portions of some of the dishes because there were five of us and some of the plates we ordered come with two or three of the offerings. Everything we ordered was remarkable with the exception of the Mexican fried rice....which was OK but not what I had been led to expect given other reviews here and in the Globe. Just uninteresting. The rib eye steak, sliced and weighed at your table from a large roast, you are charged by the ounce. At first blush I thought that was gimmicky.......but it's smart. Dining with vegetarians? (we were) just cut us a little....good idea. It was one of the best pieces of beef I've ever had. Really. And I've been treated to exquisite Wagu beef at a friends house a few times. This isn't Wagu beef, but when I tell you it melted in my mouth, please believe me. I won't describe every dish we ordered; we had eight. The pork loin sandwich was very dry. But order anything or everything and you will likely be very pleased. A word about the room: it's cavernous and very loud. And if one more new restaurant in Somerville (or anywhere in town) uses reclaimed pine pallets and barn wood for their tables, bar and walls, floor to 20 foot ceiling....there won't be any wood left to reclaim and they're going to have to use new materials. Enough already guys. Go there.

    (4)

  • Megan K.

    After dining here a few more times, I have to say that this is the place to get delicious steak in the area. Also 5 stars for the recent lunch options! So delicious. The coffee is phenomenal too, and the vibes in the cafe area are very nice. The service has always been really great when I've gone to get coffee or lunch. I'm glad this place is in East Somerville!

    (4)

  • Zac M.

    I had no idea I was on a search, but alas I was. La Brasa is my new favorite restaurant in the Boston area. The entrees (meat) are out of this world. Just go. As soon as you can.

    (5)

  • James F.

    I have to say I really enjoy the market at La Brassa. The cheese, the meat, eggs, and those awesome stone and skillet English muffins! It's a once stop breakfast shopping spot. Lunch here is really cool, it's in the market very casual and comfortable. The brisket sandwich is pretty amazing, and for the price you can beat it. Also they have probably the best ice coffee I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Shaun L.

    So the evening did not start off well as we had a 8pm reservation on Saturday night and we didn't get seated until 9:30! To simply put it, they overbooked. The host was a little agitated as we were not the only party waiting and upset at the wait. We were not given any complimentary drinks or appetizers as we waited over an hour. One of my friends and I split the small plate of taco's at the bar because we were starving. The carnitas were delicious, I enjoyed the salsa, and didn't give the tortilla much thought (room temperature from a bag it looked like). My friend liked it as well, but the salsa was definitely acidic, they put lots of lime in it, but I actually liked that part. Now on to the food. Interesting was probably the best way to described it. First we tried the prime rib meat cart. They carve it table side and charge 3.95 per oz. The prime rib was perfectly cooked, but they put it on top of this green sauce that didn't elevate the beef, but actually made it less tasty. Our server was very quirky, not sure if he was a jerk or very complacent and weird. He didn't take our drink orders down, so obviously we had to ask another waiter for our drinks. Also their soda isn't your typical cola/sodas. First they don't have sprite, and second they were all flat. I got a ginger ale, and it tasted like pure ginger, which surprised me but definitely was not what i expected. I think it took about 25 minutes for us to order our appetizers and our meals. We split the Mexican Fried Rice, Spicy Thai Fried Chicken, and the Steak. The Mexican fried rice was good, it wasn't very interesting as it was rice stir fried with some peppers and threw on some tortilla chips that got soggy immediately. The Steak was cooked perfectly, but it was the first time I ate a steak served with smoked salmon. They both were good but they didn't complement each other to give me a foodgasm. Although the Steak and Salmon were good, they were on top of their monstrosity of a "housemade A1 sauce" that comprised of mostly Dates and a mess of ingredients. I was glad it didn't cover my steak, otherwise I would've sent it back. The Spicy Thai Fried Chicken was the champion of the evening. Perfectly cooked, with 3 leg quarters (it was the largest portion they had on the menu it seemed). It came with a nice little honey glaze I believe with thai basil and peppers. I wish they brush the sauce on it and not on the plate. The decor was nice, it had character. I liked the high exposed ceiling and the wood aesthetics. Although it was strange during the middle of dinner they started blasting hard hip-hop and rap.

    (3)

  • Ashley F.

    I do feel a little guilty writing what will be a not-so-great review because La Brasa was kind enough to not charge us a penny for what was a terrible meal. I realize they didnt have to do this and it was very much appreciated. Let's start with the positives. First, the decor is beautiful. I love the earthy, organic feel of the space. I got the impression that the tables were made of reclaimed wood, which is both aesthetically pleasing, but also great for the environment. All in all its a really relaxing, comfortable, yet cool vibe. Another positive was the service. I thought it was fair and I could forgive our waitress for a few shortcomings given the fact the place is brand new. What really bothered me most, however, was the food. This was an overwhelmingly bad experience, I'm talking like half of a star quality. The only saving grace was the shaved ham and chutney plate that we had as an appetizer. The ham was incredibly salty, but the flavor was well balanced by the sweet notes of the chutney. My only request for this dish would be more crostini. After this appetizer the meal steadily declined in quality. We tried the special of the night, which was listed as "Wild Boar Sandwich." There was no description on the menu and the waitress didn't offer any details either. When the plate arrived it was a huge piece of greasy fried boar on a bun. The meat was so chewy that you had to gnaw on it just to get a bite. To add to that, the meat itself was completely void of flavor. I could not belive that this was the special of the night. The next dish we ordered was the lamb saddle. Oh wow. Just a horrific mess. There was one tiny piece of lamb tenderloin encased by a huge strip of grizzle, and I mean pure lamb fat. It was served over grains which were actually quite tasty, but for a 20 dollar dish? It just wasnt worth it. I think the presentation was creative, but the dish was sadly overwhelmed by poor preparation of what seems to be a difficult cut of meat. Just bad. I hope La Brasa gets its menu together and refines its dishes as I do love the atmosphere and would want to come back. I have read rave reviews about the drinks, but did not try any while at dinner. I think the food is just as important, if not more, than the beverages and man does it need some work.

    (1)

  • Amanda L.

    So good!! Great decor and atmosphere. Friendly, welcoming staff. Great service. And the food!..well... This was the best meal I've had in a while. I was very pleasantly surprised. The dishes were fresh, creative, and mouth watering. I savored every bite. I will be dreaming of the Swiss chard pie for a while... Until next time. Cocktails were delicious. 5 stars all around without hesitation.

    (5)

  • Jules P.

    Stopped by on a quiet night around the holidays and the service here was so warm and so welcoming -- even though the night was clearly winding down. A great space, great cocktails, noteworthy espresso, and quite an amazing flan!

    (5)

  • Renée P.

    This is my favorite, love the people the food and I wish I could live in here the vibe is amazing. GREAT date spot. Brunch is a hidden gem I try to get here every Sunday - I often fly solo and just read the kindle and enjoy the moyete and a bloody :)

    (5)

  • Diane Y.

    This was a great experience. The ambiance was more than we expected in this location. An easy place to settle in for hours with friends. We went in thinking we would spend an hour eating with friends after a movie and when we looked around, it was 2.5 hours later. Not only was the food perfectly prepared and presented, our conversation with our waiter and others working there was intellectually stimulating. I agree with another reviewer that the hot Brazil cocktail is not one I would recommend, but others were quite good. This restaurant creates an unusual blend of flavors that mostly work together. We especially liked the fried dough, whole sea bass, and chicken, with mixed reviews on the swiss chard pie. The flan was the best - better than mine. On the whole, the food was fresh and delicious, but not enough variety for non-pork and shellfish eaters to come back to with regularity.

    (4)

  • Jason W.

    You are paying high prices for entries that are small as hell... this is not worth the money to eat BUT the drinks were strong... I liked that

    (2)

  • Layla S.

    This just became my fav place to eat locally. Incredible ambiance, awesome servers -- great food! I would recommend the grilled escarole and redfish coconut ceviche.

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    (deep breath) I am about to, and with a regret I wish I could conjure up in my blackened heart, about to say, not very nice things about La Brasa. It really pains me to do so, because the chefs behind the venture, are excellent. It's in my favorite part of all of Boston, the one part that when I moved to the great state of Massachusetts from New York City, I felt I could relate to the most. I moved here 5 years ago, and being in the East Somerville/Winter Hill/Union Square area of Somerville, reminded me, in spirit, of home, minimally in spirit. When I heard this place was moving in, I was excited to try it. I asked my peeps. Some LOVED it. Some HATED it. Still, I decided, I had to try it. Everything that went down tonight, is not okay, most of all, not okay in my soul. The first thing I really want to say, is that my favorite places to dine, to drink, to be, are the ones that do not pretend to be something trend, something expected to exist there for a very specific clientele, they are created organically in their own space and pretend to be nothing else but THEIR own personal culture, and Somerville DOES have these things, whether we're talking about gems like Highland Kitchen, Neighborhood Restaurant, Journeyman/Backbar, Bergamot and/or newcomers like Kirkland Tap and Trotter. That Trina's Starlite Lounge a place I'm embarrassed to admit to how many times I've "wound up there"offers a Monday Brunch, is one of those things I just get the warm fuzzies about, that...and that the cocktails are solid. Redbones, is still the first place I take out of town friends to when they come visit, and Neighborhood Restaurant is a must have tour stop as well. Somerville, is super cool, it's tiny, but it has gems that are always going to to be able to say "I am purely Somerville," not a small city trying to chase Portland, or Williamsburg. It does so in a way that speaks not to anyone else's particular style or brand or way of doing, but stays true to itself. Food memories are often made most, when the thing you are eating, tastes a little like the place you are eating it. With that, I will now criticize just about every choice La Brasa has made, from the exposed rough hewn wood laden-hipster mess hall decor, clipboard menu, anti table setting homey "warehouse" look that they chose, the one they think says "foodie centric, Brooklyn the Brand. The well trained staff that have, like exceptional actor robot people, been taught about the menu, to look effusive and excited about it, only to find, that when you match their excitement, and their effusiveness, they have absolutely no idea what the hell they're serving you, I really resent being pandered to. I hate it all the more when the food, isn't good. The first tip off I should have gotten was seeing the pop up coffee shop inside of the restaurant, like it thinks...it's the Stumptown Coffee pop up in the Ace Hotel. You can rep for brands/growers/producers you love...in a way that doesn't feel so obtrusive and "market-y." The second tip off, was the menu itself, a parody, along the lines of this eater.com/archives/2014/… The third was this new trend, where there is no table setting, and you extract your own utensils. I'm over this. OVER IT. I understand places where the focus is the food, not the table settings, or the decor, but minimally, if it's not a greasy spoon, set the damn table. Sorry, I'm over that. But the thing that made me all but furious? The food. It's execution isn't there. La Brasa with it's "grilled" food of cross cultures with a leaning towards Mexican, but not really, lacks identity. My chicken and dumplings tasted like one thing, cumin. and the dumplings were the texture of paste and in short supply. It's accompanying vegetables of Brussel Sprouts and Parsnips were on point for their seasonality, but the pinto beans that were dispersed throughout the dish felt like an afterthought. The side dish I'd ordered,

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :8:00 am - 1:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Accepts Bitcoin : No
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street, Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

La Brasa

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