Brazen Open Kitchen | Bar

We had Saturday night dinner reservations mid-October that we had been looking forward to for a month. The dinner was simply amazing! We started with the leek fondue (so good), then had the orecchiette and the porchetta. We finished with the seasonal (apple) galette. Everything was perfect, staff was wonderful and we can't wait to go back!

Brazen Open Kitchen is hands down, THE best restaurant in Dubuque. (And in all of northern Illinois) We celebrated our anniversary on a weekend get away. The craft cocktails were amazing - the talent of the mixologists shone thru in every drink. The Lion’s Tail was my favorite. Our waitress was amazing - attentive but not over bearing, friendly and professional. She was also a talent. Food - wow! Carrot soup was amazing as was the harvest salad. We ordered the Pear pizza - now this does sound weird but we were blown away. The crust was cracker thin and perfect. The flavors of the pear and sausage were taste perfection. Our awesome waitress surprised us with a creme brûlée for desert in celebration of our 25th! Highly recommend.

We are from the suburbs of Chicago and this was our first time in Dubuque. It was a Friday night and we loved the artistic and rustic feel of the Mill district as we walked toward the restaurant. The restaurant is small but warm. Our server was spot on with her timing. Drinks were wonderfully crafted and the food was unique and delicious. The chef obviously takes pride in their selections of locally sourced fresh ingredients and presenting them with visually satisfying appeal. They tasted delicious as well albeit a touch on the salty side but that may be my personal aversion. Overall we really enjoyed our dinner and it put us in a great mood to enjoy the rest of our stay.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of the top restaurants I have been to in years. Everything is fresh they have no freezers. They are very busy though so make reservations. We did not know this but they still got us a spot to eat at the bar. We were there for girls weekend and dressed as Mrs. Roper. The staff had a lot of fun with us and even invited us out to the local pub after they were done with work of course. Looking forward to going back in October of 2026!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Superb experience!!
Lovely food… especially pork-belly appetizer… what a dish. We truly loved it, so nice! Big big kudos to the team 🤩🙌🏼

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We were blown away by our dinner last night at Brazen! Every dish was amazing but we particularly enjoyed the Amish chicken. Definitely a can't-miss spot in the area!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I’ve eaten steak at Jeff Ruby’s as well as Ruth Chris steakhouse and the Ribeye steak at Brazen Open Kitchen was better than either of those. The steak, shrimp, potatoes, and crispy pork belly burnt ends were all phenomenal. Five stars on everything including their service. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you’re looking for a dining experience that blends incredible food with attentive service, Brazan is the place to be. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and felt genuinely cared for throughout the evening.

The dinner itself was nothing short of amazing. We had the ribeye, which was cooked to absolute perfection—tender, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The ½ Amish chicken was equally impressive, so delectable that every bite left us wanting more. You could tell the kitchen takes pride in every detail, from the freshness of the ingredients to the balance of the menu.

What truly set the evening apart, though, was the staff. They were not only professional and efficient but also tentative in the best way—anticipating our needs without hovering and making sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our meal.

Brazan delivers the perfect mix of atmosphere, cuisine, and hospitality. Highly recommend it for anyone wanting a memorable dining experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Just go! This restaurant is amazing in every way possible! From the drinks, the service, the BOMB food the atmosphere and everything in between this is the best in DBQ!

I have never had a bad meal or bad service at Brazen. I brought two couple there last weekend for thier anniversary and now they want to make that thier annual anniversary dinner spot. Enough said!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Crab Cake, Soup, Wedge Salad, Crispy Pork Belly, Salads, Mashed Potatoes

Service was outstanding. All of the food was amazing. Drinks were also great. Highly recommend the Amish Chicken.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Stopped in during a college visit with my daughter. Didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar. Drinks were great and food was delicious. The decor and atmosphere are really fun.

Very happy with how everything turned out. Felt welcomed the moment I walked in.

Not great, and that particularly stands out at this price point.

The $19 pork belly was almost inedibly salty. Sans that, not a bad dish, even if it wouldn’t have dazzled either. $34 pasta w/ creole shrimp was quite good. Which it should have at that price point given the modest portion too. Very good bread & butter.

It was also unsettling having my name and phone number taken down at the hostess stand even though I wasn’t there for a reservation, and there wasn’t a wait for a table. Really can’t find any reason to come back here.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Awesome! Probably the best food in the area. As a vegetarian I was very pleased and corn pizza? Yes please!!! Sat at the bar- great experience. If I'm ever in the area again, I will definitely make it a point to go back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5