Brasa is a smallish cafe-style restaurant located on East Hennepin. Entering the restaurant, I felt a bit claustrophobic. The seating is a bit cramped, and the overall space is modest. We chose a window spot a little off the beaten path, and were seated immediately.
Brasa's theme is simple. Southern style cuisine, with the focus being on roasted meats - rotisserie chicken, slow roasted pork, e.t.c. They offer sides mostly foreign to the Midwest. Rice and beans, pigeon peas, yuca, cornbread, greens and yams being among them. I would recommend this to any vacationing Southerner, and would be eager to hear the assessment of these Southern staples. Being the sandwich girl I am - I settled on the Slow Roasted Pork sandwich (ginger mayo, cilantro, and pickled vegetables - $9) because I appreciated the Southern bahn mi integration. Mr. C chose the special, which was the beef brisket. Also ordered were chips and guacamole (small - $2.95), and my curiosity couldn't be denied for a spicy masa corn cake with cheese.
As we waited, an older man and woman sat down at the table next to us, about 4 feet away. What slowly unfolded made us a little uncomfortable. When I dine out, I'm not faint hearted. Albeit the Midwest, it is the city after all. But when a grown man 4 feet away from you starts to display increasingly aggressive behavior in regards to his coffee not being hot enough (literally. He wasn't just being some spoiled d-bag. This guy had some sort of mental illness going on, where he obviously found it difficult to control his anger), your dining experience becomes a little uncomfortable. His companion kept trying to soothe and reassure him that everything was going to be ok. When the waitress came to ask if there was a problem, he loudly told her that the coffee was lukewarm and he wanted another pot made right away. He was visibly agitated. He knocked a fork on the floor once. Mr. C and I just sat quietly...
Until our chips came:
With chips that are warm, and guac that is creamy but punchy with salt, garlic and onion, all was well again.
Spicy Masa Corn Cake
While I didn't detect any hint of spice, this corn cake was satisfying. It was a little cheesy, and the corn flavor came through with a good touch of char. It's the size of a small pancake, and can't be beat at only $1.95.
Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich
The sandwich came, and I was admittedly skeptical about the plain jane in front of me. But after the first bite, I was a goner. Not only was the architecture spot on, the flavors and textures were extremely gratifying. In one bite, you get soft chewy bread along with tender clusters of shredded pork. In another, you get a pop of cilantro, along with the same savory pork, and then brightness and sweet pickle of the vegetables. For a place that focuses on comfort meats, this sandwich was refreshing. Not too heavy, but not too light, it hit almost all my sandwich benchmarks. This is the plain jane you take home to mom.
Special - Brisket and Slaw
A brisket savant, I am not. As a former Texan (is this even possible??), Mr. C knows brisket, and unfortunately this disappointed on many levels. Mr. C reported it was gristly and tough. Even the few bites I had seemed bland and dry. Mr. C even said..."When will I learn not to order brisket in Minnesota?"
I would definitely recommend Brasa to anyone who favors meat and southern style comfort foods, and also does not mind a somewhat claustrophobic setting when dining. I personally would not revisit for a dinner, but I can see a lovely obscure lunch in my future.
http://www.brasa.us/menus_eat.aspx
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