Brazo

Had dinner with my SO here last night, amazing! I lived in Portsmouth for years and had never been. I was missing out! The service was great, specials were fantastic and the dessert was unlike anything I had before! Banana guava empanadas… amazing.

This was my first time back to Brazo since it opened many years ago. Being a weeknight, it was not at all crowded which was nice. Our server was great although she did stumble over the very short draft beer selection so I’ll start with that. I realize that beer doesn’t always come to mind with fine food and the focus is often on the wine and cocktails, but to me it’s critical. I felt like I was settling for a Sierra Nevada I can get at any convenience store in America. Not the end of the world though as we came for the food.
My friend and I started with the empanadas. They were a fried version with Jamaican pulled beef filling. Just scrumtrulecent. Flaky and full of flavor.
I decided on the paella for dinner. It was a seafood based paella mostly but did include a chicken thigh as well. The flavors a were excellent with a fairly spicy chorizo being dominant. Here’s my gripe. Most of the seafood, cod, mussels etc, with the exception of the shrimp, was a bit over cooked. I suspect the serving vessel of choice was to blame. I have no doubt that the dish left the kitchen perfectly cooked, but the heavy cast iron dish turned the delicate seafood a tad rubbery. The flavor was still top notch though.
Overall we were both happy with our meals but they could have been better with a few tweaks. Improve the beer selection to add variety and more local options and ditch the heavy paella pan for something that won’t keep cooking that food. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could but 4 stars it is for the empanadas.

Always consistently great food. Great service, our waiter is always very pleasant and attentive to our table. Latin dance night is a blast, and even if you aren’t partaking, it’s a fun atmosphere to have dinner in.
The menu is well priced for the type of food cranked out what I have to imagine is a tiny kitchen, the Chef there has a great system and a really refined approach. It isn’t knock your socks off, amazing, «new aged» food… but it’s very good, very tasty, high quality food. The drink menu is equally as impressive, someone behind the bar knows there stuff.

Unique and fun with a latin flare. Food is awesome, staff is great. Valet parking is a nice bonus

Excellent place to dine. The appetizers were especially delicious. I highly recommend the fish taco. Absolutely fantastic. Others at our table had the green curry mussels and fried green tomato napoleon. All equally good. Entrees were all on point, but next time, I am going with an appetizer and 2 more appetizers as my main. That’s just me. This place is without a doubt, one of the best places to eat in Portsmouth. Enjoy.

I had been to Brazo once before, years ago and I thought back then it was delish.
This time around… It was «ok»
Ambience is nice, like the dimmed light warm colors.
Seating is not comfortable, it was a small table, seating for two, a hit or miss.
Waitress Danielle friendly but soooo nervous and unsure of things.
Food was ok– paella needed ore seafood– plain tasting

My wife took me there for my birthday last week. I was a bit skeptical because it is a little bit more adventurous than I typically would choose. But I was pleasantly surprised by he food and the service. The servers (multiple) were very quick to refill our wine glasses and see if we needed anything. The food was the star though. We had the meatball appetizers and holy cow are they good very tasty with a great kick in the sauce. I had the brazed pork rib and was in heaven. Juicy and just the right amount of seasoning in the bbq sauce. My wife had the seared tuna and lobster rice. Unreal. Perfectly seared and flavored. If how are thinking about something a little different in Portsmouth. Try Brazo.

Wow! I eat in Portsmouth monthly, and Brazo is awesome. We had chunky, sweet Lobster nachos, and Spanish pork meatballs for apps. Tasty, delicious.
For dinner, the fire grilled churrasco Steak, cooked medium, a really great cut, and delicious sides. And a chorizo lasagna, with fried eggplant and sweet potatoes.
The restaurant is Brazilian, and meals are infused with imported spices, rubs, and colorful displays. Staff was pleasant, not stuffy.

The best food I’ve had since the last time I was here. The corn on the cob app and the scallop entrée can’t be missed.

So I went to this place hoping to find great local food and a great atmosphere. Well I did! The waiter… Chris Caddy was amazing at describing all the dishes in detail and making the experience authentic and joyful! We did 3 apps and an entrée. Yucatan style fish taco the seafood Nachos and the Mussels. The entrée was the Mojo Pork. My girlfriend had the Margarita which was easily the best drink I have tasted in a long time. The food was outstanding and the service brilliant, so what are you waiting for… eat here today! Make sure you get a side of rice and beans. I really can’t believe something so simple can taste so complex!

Great food, great service! One of the best meals I’ve had I a long time! Fish tacos were outstanding! Scallops were great (very spicy), gaucho steak was over the top delicious! Thank you for staying open longer for us! We will return with our friends!

1^st visit was 5÷22÷15 evening, our waiter Chris was very helpful with his knowledge of the menu & pointed out some great plates to try, App was the Fish Taco & Buttermilk Fried Clams. Dinner my wife had the Mojo Pork 16-​hour slow roasted pork served with sofrito, almiba beans, white rice and guava barbeque sauce. I had the Crusted Salmon, Lobster & Crabmeat Croquets with Grilled Asparagus and ALL the plates were outstanding & delicious. Great job from the front of the house to the back. We’ll be back :)

Great food and ambience. Great for groups. We had 12 people dining. They have pitchers of mojitos. We got the mix plate of apps and each was delicious. I got the slow cooked ribs that had a nice smoked ancho flavor. The paella was great and not an incredibly large portion like it typically is. Definitely worth several return visits.

The ribs were tasteless and the service awful. The bar scene is dead and the prices sky high.

Love this place! Right in downtown Portsmouth! Excellent mojitos and caipirinhas, menu had changed since we were in last, and it was even better! The lighting and music make it very authentic and super savvy! Definitely will be back for sure, Rhiannon and Amanda were great behind the bar!

The salmon is delicious and the service is good. It is a bit expensive for what you get. The atmosphere is really cool. Laid back but classy. Great for a date night!

Quick service at the bar. Our waiter, Ryan, was amazing!!! The food was superb as well. I’ll come back!

My wife and I sat at the bar and the staff here are great. We decided to have a few apps and a cocktail or two. The apps where well proportioned and full of authentic flavor.
There drink menu is also full of flavor. Look forward to a return trip. Bön appetite

Easily one of the best cakes I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. The near perfect balance of moist flavor and execution of tres leches coupled with the superior service and beautiful atmosphere leaves little wonder to the restaurants name.

Outstanding food! The tapas sampler was amazing. We also enjoyed the pozole soup, and the grilled romain salad for staters. The mussels we also great! The broth was packed with flavor. The fish tacos were a favorite as well. The came presented as more of a tostada and the salsa verde was excellent on top! Overall amazing food and setting. Wanted to order the whole menu!