The Dish: Brasa Barbecue Chicken

A new restaurant with a new name at an old location, takes the place of Piri Piri offering Portuguese cuisine along Herricks Road. Brasa is Portuguese for charcoal that is hot and ready for cooking.

The Dish: Barbecued chicken, Portuguese style

What’s In It: The chicken – two-and-one-half pound fryer – is seasoned with and other ingredients and basted as it cooks over the hot charcoal fire.

How’s It Taste: The skin is crispy and a bit spicy. The meat, particularly the leg and thigh, is tender.

Sides: Meals at Brasa start with a vinegary salad of lettuce, tomato and lots of onions. Served with the barbecued meat, family style, are an abundance of starches: white rice, French fries, boiled potato, delicious homemade potato chips, plus steamed vegetables.

“This is typical of a barbecue place,” co-owner Paul Batista said. “This way everyone chooses what they like.”

Cost: Whole barbecued chicken – $14; Half barbecued chicken – $9

About this column: A great dish from your favorite restaurants in Mineola.