Brasabana
841 Lane Allen Rd, Lexington, KY, 40504
Brasabana Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Lexington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
841 Lane Allen Rd
Lexington, KY, 40504 - Phone (859) 303-5573
- Website https://brasabana.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Brian W.
Service was quick and the server was very nice and accommodating being this was our first visit. We started with Mojitos and the Island Chips appetizer. This consisted of guacamole and thinly sliced/fried plantains and two other vegetables I do not recall. We were also brought a bowl of pico de gallo. Lightly salted "chips" we're great. She had blackened salmon and saffron mashed potatoes with Jalapeño/cilantro aioli. Salmon was cooked very well and the potatoes were excellent. I had the brisket, mashed potatoes and Diablo Mac and Cheese. The brisket was very tender cooked in a rich Guava/BBQ sauce. and the Mac and cheese was a little spicy. Then we had more Mojitos! Comfort food at its best. Can't wait to go back. Also they give you BanaBucks to spend the next time you visit. 1$ for every ten you spend.
(5)Ron W.
Had a late lunch with my daughter. We were seated on the patio. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed the music and atmosphere. My daughter got her favorite sandwich, the Cubano. It was served with plantain chips and dill pickle spear. It came out hot and fresh. The bread was really good. The pork was tender. Well proportioned cheese and mustard. Very tasty. My daughter loved the mango sweet tea. I ordered the Peruvian chicken on recommendation from the server. It was flavorful and unusual. The chicken was served over cilantro rice and covered in a mango salsa. Very good. I enjoyed the Nicaraguan beer. Service was great. Definitely would recommend Brasabana.
(4)Jeff R.
I was invited during the open house week, so whatever I experienced may have likely changed. And I hope so. Waitresses did not know the menu yet. Service was super eager.Apps were delicious. Steak was overdone. Frites were undercooked. Menu was nice and spoke to "greatest hits" type of Caribbean food. But with the price point and small portion, I wonder who the audience is? Not the local neighborhood. But who? Portions have to be bigger, or prices need to come down. The loud music was a turnoff. And the beer selection....it's 2014. Craft beer is all over Kentucky. Lexington alone has four breweries. Why Bud and Bud Light? Can't an upscale/semi-upscale place do better and highlight craft, and in particular, the local? Do you have to just let Eagle or whoever drop off the lowest common denominator beer? This is one reason why we are not Asheville yet. We still don't get how to pair food with the local.
(3)Renae A.
Brasabana is an awesome new local gem! The cocktails are tasty and the food is on point. I tried a rum drink with muddled fresh blackberries that was to die for! Ceviche was very flavorful, fresh and delicious. But my favorite is definitely the empanadas. Flaky pastry and awesome filling. I could have eaten another plate of them. Service was very attentive and friendly. Check this place out. You WON'T be disappointed.
(5)Matt C.
My wife and I were very excited to try this place, but the experience was sub-par. The first thing we noticed was the way the manger/owner treated his staff. He was very demeaning to the host. Next, we realized we could not hold a conversation for the terribly loud live music. Once our waitress arrived to take our drink/appetizer order, we noticed that she seemed overly rushed. We barely got our app order in before she left abruptly. When the time came to order our entrees, again, we were rushed, and the waitress was unable to answer any questions about the menu. We chose the empanadas for our app and, I must say, it was delicious. The entrees on the other hand, were not. The meat was over cooked and the portions were small. We thought the prices were fair until we saw how tightly controlled the portions were. Our waitress made herself unavailable the whole time. The atmosphere seemed to be upscale, though, the staff and the penny pinching killed that vibe. The atmosphere was sub-par, the service was sub-par, and the food was sub-par, hence the sub-par rating. This restaurant seems to put making money ahead of providing their customers with an enjoyable experience. They will need to find a balance in order to succeed. As I said, we were excited to try the new Cuban spot in Lex, but, the old Cuban spot is much better. I don't want to be accused of writing this review just to promote the other Cuban restaurant, so I'll leave out the review for them in this post. I will write a true review for them where it belongs.
(2)Elizabeth C.
The food, service, and drinks were spectacular! Me and my boyfriend ordered the empanadas app. and it was delicious and very flavorful. Our dinner was great, small portions but just enough to fill you up. I had a mojito to drink, best one I've had yet. I love the atmosphere and music. Will surely be back for more!
(5)Monica G.
This place is really happening! Fresh, New, Exciting! Food is phenomenal! Service is Excellent! The redheaded bartender is sooooooooooooooo Hot!
(5)Terry C.
I went here with friends tonight for drinks and appetizers, ended up staying for dinner. For those reviewers who didn't like the mojitos here -- I've been to Cuba twice (legally), and for what it's worth, I didn't like the mojitos there either, even at the bar where they claimed to have invented the drink. I expected this great "something new" and got blah sweet minty rum instead. Maybe it's just me, but obviously, I didn't order a mojito tonight - instead I had a really good local beer - Country Boy's Cougar Bait - instead. Just right! We had fried plaintain and sweet potato chips for an appetizer, and they were excellent, especially with the Cuban-style guacamole served on the side. A second appetizer, chicken something or other, was a bit sweet for one but well-liked by the rest. For dinner I had the pork carnitas, very nice, crisp on the outside but tender underneath, served with nicely garnished white rice and a cup of black beans. The chef really nailed those beans, great flavor. Combine with the rice for authenticity! My plate looked a lot more upscale than I've seen in Cuba, and my portion was generous. I finished everything, but left the table feeling just a bit overfull, couldn't stop when I should have! Only one dish ordered didn't turn out as well as hoped for, the pork in that dish was a bit too fatty for the diner. Overall: A+ for my meal, probably a solid B+ for four of us and one C (6 diners). This would be a good place for a dinner date, nice ambience (only recorded Cuban music tonight, a Wednesday), good food and I liked being able to get a local beer. I plan on returning.
(4)Michael M.
We've eaten at Brasabana twice now so I thought I'd write a brief review. On our first visit we tried the Papas Rellenas along with the Peruvian Chicken. The Papas Rellenas are a crispy breaded mashed potato ball appetizer. They are stuffed with beef and served with a chili dipping sauce and we found them interesting and tasty. The only improvement might be more salt or seasoning in the potatoes that are used. The Peruvian chicken was perfectly grilled an nicely plated, and the cilantro pesto rice it was served with was delicious, a nice change of pace from the many boring rice dishes out there. On our second visit we decided to sample Sunday brunch . Upon arriving we were served plantain chips and pico de gallos as a complimentary appetizer. Don't know why we weren't served this dish the first time around but we enjoyed their take on "chips and salsa". The plaintain chips were crispy and delicate and the pico de gallos was the perfect compliment. Sunday brunch features $2 mimosas and bloody Mary's which come spicy, dirty, or regular. Nice taste and great value on both drinks! This visit we ordered the empanadas with a chipotle aioli and the Brasabana Benedict. Their version of eggs Benedict features mojo chicken over a Monterey Jack biscuit along with a fried egg and slice of bacon. It was delicious and honestly enough food for two people, so we split that dish. I have read from other yelpers that the flan is great and plan on ordering it next time around. Do yourself a favor and try Cuban done right!
(4)S R W.
I refrained from a (bad) review in January just after opening. A table of six, none were impressed - live music was way too loud for a conversation, the variety of entrées should have provided us with one hit but no. The worst was a shrimp entrée (not appetizer) had on it only TWO very medium sized shrimp on a heap of rice! All so mediocre. That night the chocolate cigar dessert was the only hit. I'm glad I returned in March, though I was skeptical. It was better, but note it gets only 3 stars. Not a fancy place (expect more of a Mexican cafe level of ambience) and the prices are fairly moderate. Stick with all appetizers and salads. I liked the tapas style of eating here. Make sure the server 'gets it' that you need small plates for sharing up front! I wasn't impressed with their mojito. A Cuban & Latin American influence place should have perfected this - even if expensive. Mine was small amount of rum. Couldn't taste the mint. And way too much simple syrup ( but they didn't make that fresh, it was probably horrible sweet mix). I asked for a second, and literally told my server how to make this, whatever they have to charge. It was still only a 7 rating. I have come to think our C Ky population accepts Latin American cuisine as nearly Tex Mex (my very disappointment with Coba restaurant here - it could've been so much more, what a waste!) and therefore this place may do well. If I go back, I'll stick with beer and tapas. This place does attempt to offer the right dishes; if you've never had any of this style cuisine you may think its fine. Execution just needs some work. And fix that music problem.
(3)Jeff J.
Brasabana is in the shopping center on Lane Allen across from the Big Lots area. It's upscale and a bit pricey, but the food was AMAZING! My partner got the Puerco Brasabana which had incredible flavor. I had the Argentinian Beef with chimichurri sauce. Mine was delicious but a tad overcooked. Nathan's was better. The calamari were decent by themselves but really sparkled in this dish where they are tossed with olives and red peppers and served with the restaurant's homemade habanero and avocado sauces. The mojitos were ok (could have used more lime and sugar) but are quite strong. The server was young and new. So the service needs work. He was very friendly though. Really great and flavorful food. The people who started Azur opened this place.
(5)Laurie A.
Food: I sampled a few appetizers and the empanadas and the croquettes were good. My main course was the mojo chicken sandwich by which I was largely unimpressed. The chicken was overwhelmed by the bun and it didn't really seem like anything special. The island chips are just not my thing. My pina colada, however, was quite amazing. I seriously thought about drinking my dinner. Atmosphere: I was unimpressed with the decor in the restaurant and the ambiance in general. It seemed very generic and definitely not upscale. I was actually quite glad that there was no live music the night I dined. I can't imagine we would have been able to have a conversation. (we were seated right next to the stage) Service: Despite waiting over 30 minutes to get our checks sorted out at the end of the meal, I would say the service was good. Our waitress had only been working there for 4 days and was obviously distressed at how long it was taking to sort things out. In the end they removed all of our appetizers from our bills and the manager came over and apologized for the confusion. Will I go back? Probably not. For the money there are several other restaurants in town that I'd rather go to.
(2)James R.
I wanted to write this while it was still fresh in my mind, if you look at any of my other reviews you will see I am very critical when paying someone for food. That being said I was blown away with Brasabana! We started off with "Island Chips" which consisted of a healthy portion of plantain, sweet potato and yuca chips served with guacamole. I could have eaten this all night and prob made myself sick, every chip was awesome and the guacamole was ridiculous! SO FREAKING GOOD! Then for our entree we had Pork Carnitas - this is where they blew me away with not only the food which was off the charts yummy! But the fact that I told our server that we were going to split the plate. Most of the places now charge you to split a plate, which is a horrid policy and will sour me to any place. Not only did this place not charge but they SPLIT THE PLATE FOR US!! They served the entree on 2 separate plates that we plated perfectly! I wish that more place would realize that it is the little things that bring people back to your place! Brasabana nailed the big and the little things. Can't wait to come back to try their brunch!
(5)Natalie W.
This was our third visit and we held off for a review until this visit. Our appetizers were the island chips (best guacamole in town), croquettas (the table favorite) and chicharones-which were my husband and my personal favorites with a great layering of flavors. Our mains were the Cuban sandwiches, carnitas and chimiburger. All very well done, especially the carnitas which were both crisp and tender! The condiments and bread on the burger were well paired. We finished the meal with a table shared chocolate smokeless Cuban cigar which was dark, rich and scrumptious! Our server Kristin did a great job and was first rate!
(4)Anne S.
Great food and really good service. It was actually a bit more upscale than I had thought it would be. Everything was delicious and the bill was very reasonable.
(5)Jenny L.
My husband and i have been here a couple of times in the past and absolutely love this place! A group of us went to brasabana during restaurant week. The Peruvian chicken is so flavorful! The tres leche desert was really good. The mojito is delicious.
(5)Jim N.
First, the good notes; this is a beautiful restaurant, decorated in soft earth tones and attractive paintings, giving a nice island vibe. The service is great; the menu is varied; the appetizers were great ( we had the plantain chips & a sampler). The drinks were very good. Good beans & rice and a great pork dish (puerco brassabana). The disappointments: the arroz con pollo was adequate but not great. The Peruvian chicken lacked the flavors we had last time : it was dry, as was the Cuban sandwich. Either there's a new chef or someone precooked & zapped or the food just didn't get the sauces and attention needed.
(3)David S.
Miguel has got this right!!! The food is perfect and the atmosphere allows you to actually talk to you dinner companion! We had the croquette appetizer as well as the island chips, both were incredible. As entrees we ordered the Guabalu brisket and the Puerco Brasabana, the salsa is so fresh and the brisket is a do not miss!!! The pork was Also great, the mojo awesome is the only way I can describe it. Our server was kind and listened to our questions and also asked questions before making a recommendation to from the menu. As a last note all I can add is go and try this place out!!!!
(5)Suzan D.
I really enjoyed this place. It's a hidden little gem off of Lane Allen Way. The food was spectacular!! I would love to come back soon.
(5)Kate S.
I have nothing but great things to say about Brasabana! My guy and I ate here mid-week, sans kids, and were wowed by everything we tried. Now, my guy is a scientist, a man of few words, who almost never compliments the elements of a meal (that I didn't cook) unless it's beyond outstanding. I'm not sure mmmmmm, or mmMMMMMMmmmmm are actually words, but I do know they were compliments. We started with plantain chips and a bright, fresh salsa (HE said "I could eat these every day"). HE chose the Plantain Crusted Whitefish, and I tried the Havana Nueva; both were outstanding and were something I would order again and again. The fish coating was crispy and light and the fish itself was moist, tender and flavorful. The mashed plantains served with the fish were outstanding, and HE mmmmmmmmmmmd his way through the entire dish. My pork, cooked in a garlic citrus marinade, was beyond delicious...tender, fabulous flavor, complimented by sides that were equally well-balanced and executed. I hadn't had Cuban food this good since I was in Miami...and I'm not even sure it WAS this good. We went against our better judgment and ordered a dessert - a smokeless cuban cigar. I'm not even going to describe this for you. If you like chocolate, you will LOVE this. Just go. Order this. Trust me. Kudos to the bartender, who made (several) mojitos worth drinking...excellent tequila, a house-made simple syrup, and real mint. Mojitos should NEVER be made with a mixer! Try Brasabana!!
(5)KT C.
Excellent food and beautiful presentation. Went for a work lunch and we were seated immediately and served plantain chip and salsa- amazing and a nice authentic touch. Lunch menu had plenty of reasonably priced options and food was prepared quickly. I had tamales that were served with pulled pork and were topped with onions and peppers. The dish looked amazing and the ingredients were fresh, delicious, and healthier than other Cuban options I've tried. Definitely want to go back and try drinks with dinner!
(5)Humberto A.
No words can describe the joy this food brought me the servise 1st class the cheif knows what he was doing the bartender made the perfect Cuba Libre wow
(5)Ernie D.
Went on a Sunday for a relaxed dinner. A fancy-looking place that doesn't require that you yourself dress up to go. We showed up and were seated immediately. The service was pretty fantastic. Our server Kyle was very kind and attentive, knowing a lot about the menu and giving recommendations. The food itself was also great. I had the ropa vieja, which I liked as much as I did the same at Havana Rumba. We had two appetizers, two entrees and a drink for around $55, which is more than reasonable for a place with food and service of such good quality. I'll definitely be back for more.
(4)Christopher H.
We didn't realize we needed to have reservations when we arrived at the host stand. When we responded that we didn't have reservations, the man was rude and snotty. We won't be going back after the kind of service we received just inside the door! Can't imagine what it's actually like through a meal.
(1)Jon G.
I ate here one time. The food was so bad we sent it back. When seafood is bad you never go back and I wont.
(1)Beth C.
Everything was delicious. I can't wait to go back! It's a little bit on the pricey side, but I think this will be a place that I'll return to treat myself. It looks like lunch is a little bit more in my price range. I loved the plantain chips and pico de gallo (WAY better than chips/salsa), and I could've consumed three baskets of those. My mojito was tasty! Our meals were flavorful. The atmosphere is nice, but not too stuffy. Our server was informative and quite attentive. There was live music in the back corner, and it wasn't intrusive or distracting. I recommend the Pollo y Pina El Dominicanito. My mouth is watering thinking about this place. The only thing that I wished they would've had is flan on their dessert menu.
(4)Music City M.
Bottom line as the first line: My mother in law is Cuban. She couldn't get enough of this place! My fave was the tamale ... And the sweet potato, plantain and yucca fries ... And the milk cake ... And the black beans ... And the potato-meat pie ... Okay, everything was perfect. Delicious. Not too spicy but with a great little kick. Best of all, I didn't feel bloated or uncomfortable the next day, which is unfortunately common for me the morning after I have dinner out. That means this place is fresh and (as far as I can tell) preservative-free. My hungry husband ordered one of nearly everything on the menu for take out and was met with rave reviews by everyone, adults and kids alike!
(5)Tracy K.
Awesome food and great service. The plantain chips and pico are especially delicious. The lunch menu includes lots of dishes at great prices.
(5)Brian J.
The atmosphere is very nice. We have ate a few times and love the pork dishes. If you never had Cuban food you should try. If you like Mexican food you will enjoy Cuban food. Plus on Saturday during happy hour, yes happy hour on Saturday! Half price drinks, very good deal!
(5)Charles F.
We were going to see the Eagles at Rupp and I always keep my ears open for a Cuban resaurant in the city I am going to so I thought I would check out Brasabana. Now I grew up in a Cuban family with a Cuban mother who cooked constantly so I am kind of picky. My wife & I started with appetizer, the empanada which was very good. My wife had the paella and I had picadillo. Although it wasn't how mama used to make, it was good. The best part of the entire meal though was the flan we had for desert, It was the best flan I think I have ever had. The service was friendly and prompt and although I was hoping for authentic Cuban food it was good non the less.
(4)Chef Margaret E.
I only give this a 3 star not because of the food, the food was excellent. A wheelchair bound person would have great difficulty getting into the bathroom itself. I myself have used wheelchairs many times in the past and look for easy accessible entries. There was no way a person in a wheelchair could have gotten into this restroom. A person on a walker would have had great difficulty. The bathroom itself was huge and could accommodate a wheelchair had one been able to enter it. If you use a wheelchair call ahead and check if they have another restroom to accommodate. I did not see one but I did not ask.
(3)Olwen C.
Brasabana is pretty good. I've been here several times, usually for lunch. The lunch menu is more reasonably priced. Dinner is a bit too expensive for my tastes. I like the cuban sandwich, peruvian chicken, and some of the salads. Last time I was here, they served plantain chips and pico to us when we sat down, for no charge. In the past they have not done this, and I think it is a nice gesture that will make me return more often. I always thought they should serve that complimentary.
(4)Risey P.
An amazing Cuban/Latin meal, one of the best I've had, ever! My friends and I enjoyed the tamales appetizer, which was a very generous portion, and absolutely delicious, with tender shredded meat filling, sautéed peppers and onions, enrobed in masa (cornmeal) which was the perfect texture. We shared a selection of dishes for our main course: two delicious salads: a Latin twist on the classic wedge with ground beef, cheese, chipotle cream dressing; a delectable spinach salad with hearts of palm, red onions, citrus dressing, with an addition of lime sautéed shrimp on the side; and a mouth-watering pork dish with rice, beans, vegetables, perfectly spiced. Great drinks too! The capirhina and jalapeño cocktail were sublime. Even the mango iced tea was a special treat. Excellent service throughout.
(5)Sarah P.
First off, if you don't have the brisket, you have missed out on a dining experience. But maybe I should say the first thing to the table was pico de gallo so fresh I wanted to use the plantain chip as a spoon. Having Country Boy on tap didn't hurt the start of this meal, either. So, from the beginning, I know this place values local and fresh. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu. Things appeared on the table HOT. Gotta say the service was really good. Should I rave some more about the brisket? Braised, flavorful, topped with a mild sauce of cilantro, onion and jalapeno, fork tender, accompanied by great mashed potatoes and sassy jalapeno mac n cheese. Vegetarians would repent with one bite. I ordered Peruvian chicken. I liked the mango salsa over it and I LOVED the pesto rice beneath it. The location an unassuming spot, but the chef's magic transforms into a place you need to taste to believe how great it is.
(5)Terry M.
The food was great. The band was great. But the service was as bad as we've ever had anywhere!!
(3)Michelle R.
I had been looking forward to eating here for quite some time and finally got the chance. Unfortunately, I was not that impressed. We started with the Sweet Corn Tamale for an appetizer. The flavors in the dish were great, but it was barely even warm (temperature-wise). For my entree, I had the Fricasse de Pollo. I was torn between that and Pollo y Piña and I made my decision based on the fact the Fricasse was served with sweet plantains, which I absolutely love. The Fricasse was bland and not that good. The plantains, which sold me on my selection were very good, but there were only 2 small ones served. 2 plantains is a garnish, not a serving! The one really good item was the mango tea. I do recommend ordering it. We were disappointed with our overall experience and I really hope we just caught them on a bad night.
(3)David H.
GREAT!! I'm not exaggerating. It was easily the best meal our family has had since moving back to Lexington. There was enough flavor from the seasoning without being too hot. (To be fair, the Diablo mac & cheese was a bit spicy for my pre-teen daughter.) My wife and I each had a pork dish so tender that knives weren't needed. My son had the Cuban sandwich and raved about it. I was shocked to see my daughter order the brisket, but she loved it. The Ultimate Mojito was the best Mojito I've ever had. The service was very good. I will absolutely go back!
(5)Hollie S.
Started with the Papas Rellenas and soup of the day (some sort of chicken and rice)...soup was not my favorite, but the husband said it grew on him...interesting flavor with a bit of heat. However, the papas rellenas, out of this world! Loved the mango salsa that accompanied it and the cheese sauce was so soft and creamy! The best part of our meal was definitely the carnitas. Can be dry in places like others mention, but the fatty parts are crazy good. Don't be afraid to try it, you will be pleasantly suprised with the sweetness and touch of lime. So happy a new, unique place is outside of Short and Jefferson Streets.
(5)Ron B.
Everything was good. Grilled shrimp dish was solid, my friend had a carnitas and was absolutely happy with it. Really solid meal, the real sell for me was the fact that both the GM and the chef on a busy night made the rounds to make sure everyone was happy with their meal. They were completely packed inside and had a bunch of us outside also eating because it was so full inside and preferred not to wait. Was impressed with that. Service was enthusiastic, too.
(4)Emily B.
The best thing about Brasabana is that their pork is great, which counts for a lot at a Cuban restaurant! Sadly, my husband was the one who ordered the pork, so I only had a couple of (stolen) bites. My beef was alright, but nowhere near as good as the pork, and all of our sides were incredibly bland. Cuban food typically has strong and distinct flavors, so I was really hoping for more flavor in the sides. Our server was somewhat awkward, but certainly competent and likable. The atmosphere is reasonably comfortable, but not terribly unique. Prices at lunch were alright, but I can definitely think of restaurants I'd rather go to for the same amount of money. My husband liked this place a lot, so I'm sure we'll be back. When we do return, I now know not to order anything other than a pork dish!
(3)Patricia O.
Amazing food, good service and just a nice place to a have a long dinner with friends. Their Havana nueva is really good, tender pork and delicious plantains!
(5)Nick B.
I really liked this place when I tried it for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I ordered the Peruvian chicken at lunch time. It was so tender and tasted great. It was a huge plate of food, with rice and some mango salsa topping. I also enjoyed the plantain chips and pico they brought to the table when we were seated. Yum!
(4)Jenn E.
Had a fabulous dinner with wonderful service last night! We had special menu requests and Chef Miguel came out and spoke with us and worked through the menu with us. We had eaten there several times previously and this was the best experience of them all. Highly recommend!
(5)W L.
To summarize in two words: overpriced and uninspiring (Honestly, I can think of other expressions but they might lead to deletion of my post.) The only good thing of the dinner is my dinner companion. Period. Where to begin? The live band was loud and mediocre at best. The so-called chili dip in the appetizer did not even have a hint of chili. The Latino salad dressing (Guava vinegrette) was way too sweet. (And I usually prefer sweet dressing.) The dressing tastes like liquid caramel. Worse yet, I asked for dressing on the side and it was mixed in the green. I did not return the dish because we just wanted to finish dinner quickly to get away from the noise from the band. The salad priced at $11.50 after adding some WAY overbooked and bone-dry chicken on top is not nearly as disastrous as the very bland Paella, the evening special priced at $20.95. The rice in the paella was terrible: hard and bland. Rice in Chinese leftover would taste better than that. The dish included three shrimps, a few mussels, a few small pieces of fish that looks brown and maybe a lobster tail (?) I did not see the Lobstertail, but based on the description, it should be in the dish. The wine was spoiled. It is probably a sign that either they should find a better wine distributor, or have had trouble storing he wine properly. Epic failure.
(1)Karen K.
Love that Lexington has a really good Latin fusion restaurant however, the mojitos and caipirinhas are lacking. Caipirinhas should knock your socks off. Secondly, I LOVE the Argentinian Steak Chimichurri. It is phenomenal! The queso fresco is awesome and I crave it sometimes. Definitely one of my favs. Lastly, the Cuban Sandwich. Please please please order some REAL traditional Cuban bread. I'm from Tampa and I grew up on Cuban sandwiches in Ybor City. This is what makes the sandwich complete! Other than that...great new place and I know they are still fine tuning things. We will visit often. Oh and where's the Key Lime Pie??? ;-)
(4)Brooke M.
I wanted to like this place because I love Azur. I felt like if they wanted to be an upscale dining Cuban place they probably should work on their decor a little. The staff was excellent but the food was just decent. I had the Yucca Frita for an appetizer and it had no taste whatsover. For my meal I had the white fish sandwich. The fish was good but this is supposed to be cuban food. It should have a little more spice and lots more flavor! Hopefully they work out their kinks.
(2)Chester T.
Resturant week participant, 2 for $25.00 Excellent bargain.. Service was excellent. 3 course meal outstanding.
(5)Kayla W.
Great food and excellent service. Our waiter was Troy and he was extremely friendly and efficient. One of the best waiters I've ever had. I had the Peruvian chicken (among lots of other things) and it was DELICIOUS. I am usually not even a fan of chicken but decided to try it and so glad I did. It was extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. Plus the manager (or owner?) stopped by our table and was also very nice and helpful. Great restaurant.
(5)Starr P.
This was my first time there after hearing rave reviews. The space is gorgeous! Comfy seating. Art on the walls. Loved the cucumber infused water. We all ordered different dishes and shared. Highlights: perfectly cooked calamari (NOT easy to find!), huge crispy empanadas with luscious beef filling and a creamy but not too spicy dipping sauce, gorgeous tamales bursting with flavor and a zesty, juicy chimi burger. Don't miss the plaintain chips. They are awesome. Salty and crunchy and divine. Misses: An extremely watered down, unsweet mojito that was EIGHT dollars. (So sad!) The grilled whitefish sandwich was terribly bland and needed salt. Smokeless chocolate cigar dessert - something that rich and delicious needs real whipped cream not fake whip topping. And finally, while I appreciate being a new eatery and wanting your staff to be friendly - walking through a gauntlet of eight staff members all issuing chirpy "thank you's and good night's" just to get to the door is total overkill and overwhelm. Just be friendly, the over the top stuff just seems like you're scared to death no one will ever come back! Buck up, Brasabana! You have lots of good food and wonderful ambiance. Make those drinks stiffer and sweeter and back off the mic a little with your chipper cheerfulness and you've got the makings of a long term Lexington eatery. I will be back!!
(3)Marsha C.
So far having Valentines dinner was very tasty, nice atmosphere, ambiance and a band. Dancing for those who can stay a while later. I'm going to have to check this out again!
(4)Keith W.
Very good food, but the portions for the money spent were lacking. I don't mind to pay, but when I'm going to venture over to the Gardenside area and spend $60 to $100, I shouldn't want for food. They're going to have a tough time staying in business if they're going to charge $7 for a dollop of guacamole and a few plantain chips.
(3)Alan M.
Very friendly service the owner came to our table and introduced herself they also own Azur came here on recommendation to try Cuban sandwich it was best Cuban I've had since a little local stand in Orlando
(4)Andrea W.
I've been twice since it opened, and the food was consistently very good. It's upscale Cuban cuisine, so if you're looking for large portions and cheap prices, this isn't it. The dinner special paella was very good. The empanadas are wonderful, as is the shrimp ceviche. The pineapple and shrimp is delicious, but one skewer of three shrimp for $16 is a little disappointing no matter how delicious it is. The atmosphere is lovely, and everyone is very friendly. As others have pointed out, there are some kinks to work out with the wait staff, particularly in seating. But, give them a break -- they've only been doing it for less than two weeks. (Oh my goodness, how dare they ask you to wait for a table at the bar like the rest of the plebeians.) One thing I do hope they'll rethink is their menu. It is a hot mess text-wise, quite the eye sore. Makes it very difficult to concentrate. A little money spent with a graphic designer would go a long way. Overall, I look forward to them working out their kinks and expect we'll visit them again in the near future.
(4)Bill H.
Waited to go after hearing stories of a rough opening. Took my parents and kids and everyone enjoyed everything. The chips and guacamole are fantastic as were almost all the apps we ordered. All the pork entrees were great, wife got the chicken thought it was fantastic. Cucumber water was a nice touch of class. Located in a strip mall this little gem is nicely decorated but also has a casual feel. Definitely cheaper than its sister restaurant AZUR, and less stuffy. Feels like a great neighborhood restaurant you could go to twice a week. Only thing they need to do is watch the salt level in some of the meals, (little too much, especially in the beans) other than that, I have had two very good meals. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Joanna S.
Well I did it again, I went to a place when it had just opened. Though I'm sure they are working some kinks out, I was really not impressed with the food. It's super expensive for lunch considering what you get. Everything was overcooked, and kind of bland. I would say I'll go back and try again once they have been open for a bit, but at these prices I'm just not sure.
(2)Chuck B.
First visit was quite enjoyable. Everyone liked what they ordered. Delicious, authentic entrees with creative presentation. Mojitos were a surprising delight. Thinking about dessert now....
(4)John N.
Great food and service. My wife had the Carne Asada. It was melt in your mouth with a crunchy outside. I had the open face ropa vieja sandwich, also very good. Would go back to eat there.
(4)Mary H.
Awesome food and service. I love the plantain appetizer and shredded pork dish! Friendly atmosphere and easy parking. What more can you ask for? Great experience, thanks!
(5)Paulette A.
A wonderful night out in Lexington away from the chain restaurants. We had the paella and the pollo y piña. The paella was particularly good. We also had some very nice deserts. The smokeless Cuban cigar was really good in flavor, but rather small and the hardened chocolate on the outside made it hard to eat. The tres leches was a large enough piece to share and wonderfully moist and sweet without being overly sweet. Great menu and worth a trip back to try some other things.
(4)Betty H.
Started with the papa rellenas and calamari and both were really good. The calamari came with two sauces and were perfectly cooked. We also shared the carnitas which had nice pieces of tender meat. The place was packed on a Friday night and there was live music. My cocktail (coconut with strawberry) was a little sweeter than I liked and it could be a little stronger but I enjoyed the combination of flavors. We will be back to check out the rest of the menu.
(4)Brent H.
We ate lunch recently and all three of us tried something different. The Peruvian chicken and Cuban sandwich were very good. The plantain chips were a perfect start. The black beans were so well cooked and the presentation was very nice for lunch. Our waiter Jason was very attentive and offered good suggestions and followed up to make sure everything was to our liking. What a nice change this was from the typical chain restaurants. We will definitely be back.
(5)William G E.
To Andrea W. I've waited at many bars, no problem. But when lots of empty tables are there, you seat customers. He was rude and not professional. They poor hostess looked at him with a "we have tables look". He blew it and you go if you like. I won't go again and will tell folks. I am not a complainer because stuff happens. He screwed up.
(1)Elaine D.
Once again, a restaurant trying to offer regional cuisine outside of the region, which, as I've indicated before, rarely works. I lived in South Florida for many years, so I know Cuban food and the unmistakeable flavors of it. Brasabana fell short in every way. I ordered the Havana Nueva (New Havana) entree. The pork was tender enough, but was missing any flavor whatsoever, as was the congri (a rice with beans). Sweet plaintains -- there was one the size of my pinky,. Yuca (a starchy vegetable much like a potato) --the size of an egg. Avocado salad -- actually a toothpaste size squiggle of an avocado cream. Seriously? I asked for some lime, very tradiionally used on food, hoping it would impart some flaror to my dinner. Of the 6 other diners with me, there were varying complaints about food and beverage. Neither the waiter, nor the manager gave appropriate responses to our concerns, There was a gentleman with a guitar whose music was quite nice, however, far too loud for us to have proper conversation at the table. I cannot find any redeeming qualities to Brasabana and see no reason to return, not with all the fine restaurants in Lexington. This is not one of them.
(1)Jen C.
My husband and I were looking forward to the new restaurant by the owners of Azur-we recently had an excellent meal which was catered by that restaurant. Our visit to Brasabana left us disappointed. The restaurant lacks ambiance, although the bright lights were dimmed at one point during our meal, which helped some. There are tables directly next to the front door, and on this 20 somethjng degree evening, that would not have been an enjoyable spot to sit. My meal of paella, I will assume, was a Cuban version of the dish, as it was most certainly not a Spanish paella in any sense. For a $16 meal, the portion was not generous, but I could not have eaten more than I did. The taste was fair. My partner had a pork dish. He said it was OK. The yucca was quite hard, and not flavorful. The beans and rice were dry (this should be a simple dish). Our desserts, however, were quite tasty. We will only return if we hear that the food has improved.
(2)Laura M.
My husband and I have visited this restaurant 3 times now. Each time we order something different and EVERYTHING has been delicious. Portion sizes are perfect. Flavorful and fresh food. Great service too! Our bartender, Sean, made the best mojitos! I highly recommend this restaurant. Oh and dessert is a MUST!
(4)Jennifer M.
I went their this evening for dinner upon the recommendation of a friend. It is safe to say we do not have similar taste. The décor is generic - not intimate, not fancy, not swank - not even really themed. And, the food . . . it was okay. We had the shrimp ceviche to start. This was pretty good but messy and difficult to eat and to share (no side plates; no spoons and no waitress to check on us).. Also, I have had much better ceviche off the back of a truck. Then, I had the avocado salad and we shared the pork carnitas. The salad was good because the ingredients were tasty but nothing remarkable. The carnitas lacked flavor - except for in places. It was randomly full of seasoning in spots and then not in others. It was very well cooked - moist and tender. The staff was pleasant but not particularly attentive. Perhaps, my expectations were too much but I probably wouldn't go back. There are so many delicious choices around town.
(3)Eliza T.
Really glad to have some food diversity in Lexington. The evening we went with a group of friends the place was packed. Our service was attentive and prompt. I will say bar service was a little slow but the restaurant was full and when we went it had only been open a week or so. I had the Whitefish Veracruz and it was delicious! The sauce was very flavorful. We shared several apps and all were good. For dessert my husband had Tres Leches cake, it's not my thing but he loved it. We look forward to returning.
(5)Megan W.
I really wanted to like this restaurant. I am always excited when a new ethnic cuisine enters the Lexington dining scene and with Jeremy Ashby at the helm I had particularly high hopes for this place. I gave them over a month to work out some of the issues so I was hoping when we went they would have it figured out. Unfortunately, nothing was figured out. First, we went on a Saturday with no reservation and couldn't get a table. No big deal, should have had a reservation. But the hostess wasn't particularly friendly about that. We sat at the bar and despite what looked like about four bartenders working behind the bar, we were somewhat ignored. Actually, it was even more odd, because they would ask us if we wanted something, we would say yes and THEN we would be ignored. Eventually we got drinks, we tried the house and premium margaritas. Both were REALLY sweet and not at all traditional to the Cuban style (which would be heavier on the lime and alcohol instead of sweet mixer and juice.) We ordered four of the appetizers. The bartender had a really rude response when we ordered food and then shouted at us from the cash register about reminding him again what our order was (he made it a practice of never writing things down all night, just shouting at us periodically when he couldn't remember.) Our drink glasses were empty at this point but we weren't asked about another drink for quite sometime. I will say this... the food came out very quickly. That about all I can say about the food. I expect Cuban, if nothing else, to be seasoned. But this was seriously the blandest food I have had in awhile. The Empanadas had no noticeable flavor, the dipping sauce was their best feature just because it tasted like SOMETHING. The Yucca fries were texturally odd and tasted like nothing and we didn't even eat a whole one of the fries. The plantain chips and guacamole were decent, but not terribly interesting and the tamales were again just really bland and seemed inside out (all the meat was on the top, could not really find any filling inside them.) So we actually didn't eat very much of our food at all, but our server/bartender was very unconcerned about that. He never asked us how it was or if we liked it. He didn't even bring us flatware or napkins until we asked for them, then he complained about having to roll them for us. While we were eating, he had a tantrum right in front of us about another couple (who could also see him) who had decided to move their check to their table instead of paying at the bar. He actually threw the receipt across the bar right in front of us and let out some explatives. We also hear him loudly complaining and cussing with another equally unhappy bartender about other customers and servers. We finished our food and were finishing another drink (which we had to work hard to order) when he told us he was leaving to watch the UK game, so could we please pay. The restaurant wasn't even close to closing and was full of people, but it seems he wanted to leave so we needed to get out. He had complained several times earlier about how he didn't think it was supposed to be crowded and how he should be home watching the game. So were pretty clear on where he stood about being there. So we did what he clearly wanted, we paid, we left, and we won't be back. The atmosphere is just ok, the service is awful and if those things are true, the food had better be outstanding but it just wasn't. Seriously the worst dining experience I have had in a long time and I include dining in airports and fast food in that categorization. Too bad.
(1)Jenna H.
Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance for very reasonable prices! Will definitely come again!
(5)Jon W.
The food was good. We're not big eaters and they let us share one entree with two plates. The drinks were generous and good. We had an appetizer and salad. The server was welcoming and attentive during the meal. I almost canceled our reservation after reading some of the Yelp reviews and am glad I didn't because we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. There was no loud music while we were there. Minor criticisms: the decor was fine but nothing special; the menu was pretty ugly; the website worked well on our desktop Mac, but not well on either the iPad or iPhone. I'd go again.
(4)