Brasa Rotisserie

Closer to a 4.5 in terms of rating: All the stars go to the entrées which are some of the best I have had anywhere in the Twin Cities, while the sides can be a hit or miss depending on what one chooses to get. But because the entrées are just too good, I will give a 5 regardless since I can't do a 4.5 here. I have been coming to Brasa for more than 7 years, and I think they are excellent in every way. This is the first time I have returned since the pandemic and unfortunately the quality of the side dishes have decreased, along with some of the desserts. I have tried rotisserie chicken, smothered chicken, and pulled pork before. They are all simply amazing. The meat is tender, flavorful, and juicy. No matter what you pair the meat up with, it is always a hit. My personal favorite is yellow rice and black beans, along with a piece of cornbread on the side. I must say, the cornbread I had this time was tiny, as opposed to 5 years ago when it was much bigger and more buttery. What used to look as large as my fist now looks like almost just a quarter of my fist, and it tasted very plain. Nowadays they also have bowl options, which is amazing! The smothered chicken bowl was very tasty, and in some ways even more flavorful than the plate since all flavors were combined together. As for the side, the fried plantains tasted good. The greens were a bit bland even if I tried digging from the bottom, the part that had the most juice. The grits were good but not spectacular and I think more cheese melted inside instead of just on the top would help. The mac & cheese was solid, but maybe more cheese on the top would be better. The candied yam was still as amazing as I remembered, as I dipped the yam in the juice at the bottom. Overall the sides were a hit or miss depending on what I had gotten, but at least the prices were still decent. I forgot to take a photo of the coconut-vanilla pudding but that was a pretty good dessert. Not too sweet, and contained all the flavors I was expecting. The chocolate devil's food cake was very basic and tasted like it came from a box from a grocery store. It was hard and old, unfortunately. I am hoping this was an exception and not representative of the general trend of how it tastes like. Generally, still a solid establishment after this many years and I still give a 5 even if I normally would have given a 4 due since I round down my .5 ratings. But based on the quality decrease I have observed, I would love to see Brasa step up again to position itself as an even more extraordinary food spot.

Vibes is good. It's comfy and nice to talk with friends while grab some food here. The food is yummy as well.

The food was so simple yet so good. It has a hearty home cooked vibe to it but also super flavorful. The green sauce was good on everything. For a $15 plate with no tip expected, it's got to be some of the best value anywhere. Definitely will be back

The service was fast and friendly. We came during the lunch rush on a Friday and were able to be seated immediately. It’s a smaller space and it was busy. The “garage doors” open during the summer and give more outdoor seating. They also have a cozy fire pit to hang around outside. The food was delicious. The fried plantains were well made and tasted great. The chicken has amazing flavor and sauces pair very nicely. The grits were very good. It is a bit spendy for the portion size.

Probably my favorite spot for a family style dinner. Every dish on their menu is great to share! We usually order several small sides and the a la carte rotisserie chicken! I recommend this for a family dinner or a simple date night!