Last week, I had the immense pleasure of paying a visit to Brazen BBQ! Located right in the heart of Hillcrest, Brazen is a welcome addition to the culinary mecca of this lively neighborhood. The atmosphere is an open air bar serving delicious roasted meats!!!
The relaxed atmosphere is very inviting to sit down and sip one of their signature cocktails, and seriously, who doesn't like meat? I know it's typically "guy food," but I eat like a guy, so it's perfect for me!
The menu contains all sorts of delicious dishes made over a grill -- roasted chicken, beef, ribs, pulled pork, and all the yummy sides to match. After much deliberation, we decided to go with Bolt's Platter for Two, which includes a choice of three meats, three sides, and cornbread or toast. For the three meats, we chose the beef brisket (yum!!!!), pulled pork, and the babyback ribs. For the sides, a caesar salad, and the Brazen fries. 
Check out that spread!!! I can't say what was my favorite, because each thing was so delicious. I'm usually a huge fan of brisket and always get that at barbeque places, but the babyback ribs were so tender and flavorful, that I think they made me a believer. The pulled pork was so tender and sweet, that I couldn't stop eating it!!!
The sides definitely held their own. The mac and cheese was incredibly creamy with a nice crust on the top. The caesar salad was a perfect specimen of crisp romaine lettuce, creamy dressing, and black pepper. The fries were crispy and mealy on the inside, and the seasoning was an almost sweet blend of paprika and pepper.
Brazen also supplies a selection of extra sauces on the side for experimenting, but the meat was so good on its own, I didn't need it!!!
To finish out an excellent meal, we shared the bread pudding. Bread pudding seems to be appearing on every restaurant menu lately, with tons of modifications like espresso sauces and pistachio nuts. This bread pudding, however, was a classic with raisins and pecan, smothered in the classic bourbon cream sauce. Sometimes, they are classics for a reason.
I can't wait to go back!!!
