Great Service, Elite Food are Obvious at Brazen Open Kitchen + Bar

Chef Kevin Scharpf caught my attention back in December when it was announced he would be representing Dubuque on the TODAY show. Seeing the praise heaped on Brazen Open Kitchen + Bar, Chef Scharpf's restaurant, located in the Millwork District, I made a mental note to try it on the next special occasion I could think of.

Valentine's Day with my lovely girlfriend proved to be the perfect time to try one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Dubuque.

The highly rated restaurant run by its decorated Head Chef is a must for anyone seeking a cozy, inviting eatery, a romantic dinner, or just a truly exceptional meal in one of the fastest-growing enclaves in Dubuque.

Brazen Open Kitchen has a few goals in mind. They succeed at all of them. For one, their menu, which rotates seasonally, intends to highlight locally harvested food. "Good food depends on good ingredients," according to their website:

Our team works with local farmers, growers, and suppliers to bring the highest quality, seasonal ingredients to our kitchen. We have no freezers at Brazen, so our food is always delivered fresh. There is no alternative. - Brazen Open Kitchen, "Our Food"

Chef Scharpf has gone above and beyond in cultivating an atmosphere that's warm, inviting, and homey. It's part of his ethos:

People are drawn to things that are authentic and genuine, the things that are made in small batches. Everyone wants that thing. And behind that thing is a person, not a machine, and it is warm and inviting and we support that. - Chef Kevin Scharpf, Brazen Open Kitchen

My girlfriend and I settled in, ordered a couple cocktails, and dove into the winter menu of Brazen, which boasted squash soup, a winter salad, and a short rib dinner, just to name a few things. While sipping on my old fashioned, and her on her mezcal cocktail, we both opted for the Brussel Sprouts for an appetizer. They were the best we'd both ever eaten.

In addition to the most tender and flavorful sprouts I'd ever eaten, the dish was enhanced ten-fold thanks to the following ingredients: gochujang, squash, pork jowl, sweety drops, kimchi, and Korean Chile cornflakes. Every bite burst with flavor, no two alike. Give me one more old fashioned and I could've made a meal out of the sprouts alone.

After one look at our fried chicken entrees, both my girlfriend and I knew that we made the right choice. One constant on Brazen's menu, regardless of the season, is fried chicken. This chicken is melt-in-your-mouth level good, complemented by cornbread drizzled with spicy honey. I can confirm: it even reheats well too.

From top to bottom, Brazen Open Kitchen is an immaculate operation. Every decision feels cognizant of the customer, from the attractively lit interiors, the plush chairs, to the simultaneously romantic yet casual atmosphere. The food itself is among the best I've yet to have since moving to Dubuque. I'll be back for another special occasion sometime soon.

Read more about Brazen Open Kitchen + Bar and Chef Kevin Scharpf here.