Family Owned, Real Home Cooking
Written: Jul 06 '07
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Pros: Authentic home style El Salvadorian cooking.
Nice, homey atmosphere. Honest and unpretentious.
Cons: Crowded at lunchtime - but I think that speaks for the food.
The Bottom Line: Great place for lunch, or for an informal dinner. Less formal than most restaurants, which gives it a more homey atmosphere.
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| Spiderider's Full Review: La Brasa |
La Brasa is a small establishment that has a homey atmosphere, and great home-style El Salvadorian cooking. The dishes are varied, and although a new restaurant, the menu seems to grow larger and more varied all the time. Owned and operated by a family that cooks all the food fresh, the dishes really please the taste buds.
The specialty might be their roasted chicken made in charcoal fired ovens. It's tender, juicy and VERY flavorful, with zesty spices that really perk, but don't overwhelm.
There are a limited number of tables in the restaurant, and in nice weather, a few more outside on a small patio in front. So, at lunch time, the restaurant can get crowded, but worth a visit for a great lunch.
Dinner time is less crowded, and much more relaxed. They have wine and beer to compliment your meal, or the usual soft drinks. Try a Negra Modello - a dark Mexican beer that is refreshing and has a wonderful flavor with an almost chocolaty undertone.
There are a number of traditional El Salvadorian dishes, like the Pupusas (tiny stuffed tortillas filled with chicken), and soups like the beef soup, or the tripe soup (Sopa de mondongo)-with generous hunks of potato, pepper, corn on the cob, and cassava- that are hearty and filling. In fact, either could be a meal in itself.
The menu has some standouts, like the roasted chicken, of course. But also some of the best chicken enchiladas in town! In the fish department, the salmon is good, and they also have trout, or shrimp dishes (like the shrimp in garlic and oil).
There are a few beef dishes, including Lomo Saltado, which has strips of beef in a tasty, tangy tomato-based sauce with green and red peppers. and a couple of grilled steak options.
Most dishes come with 2 sides - such as a small salad, fried cassava (Mmmm!), black beans (also really good), french fries, etc.
The atmosphere is definitely informal, but the service is good, and the food is wonderful. The decor is festive and colorful, with burnt umber tones, and original artworks on the walls. Get there at the right time, and the coals are aglow beneath the chickens roasting in the ovens., and the air is fragrant with the aroma of the cooking.
As small as the restaurant is, and with what seems like a brisk take-out business at lunchtime, the owners have given the place some classy touches. Soft music, softer lighting, and a warmth that pervades the decor.
If you're going for lunch, it's best to beat the rush by 11:30 am, or try to arrive after it crests after 1:30 or so. But for dinner, the place seems quiet and calm, and offers a really nice selection of very tasty food with an authentic flavor of home cooked Central American cuisine that comes with the feel of eating at someone's home - because the cooking is all done by hand, with real ingredients, and the service just as homey as the food.
Prices are reasonable, in the low to moderate range.
The restaurant is somewhat hidden away on Parklawn Drive, a mostly commercial area next to the Federal Office Building in a nicely renovated space. There is off-street parking at the rear of the restaurant.
It is somewhat hidden away, but it is definitely "a find."
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The roasted chicken is really moist and delicious. But don''t miss the other menu options!
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
Spiderider
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Member: Richard
Reviews written: 18
Trusted by: 3 members
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