Best Brazilian/Portuguese seafood place I have ever had. Lived in Boston for 15years and it is the go to place for me read more

While you're reading this review, wondering if you should try it, the line is lengthening. So, I'll keep it short. You'll love anything that includes a mix of seafoods served in an old-country pot. Bye. read more

I was very impressed to find a restaurant with a menu almost completely composed of items I had never heard of before. I mean, how many places can you say that about? I tried several dishes - all were quite intricate and tasty. The wait-staff was great, too. If you go, be sure to get one of the fresh juices. Also, Muqueca is BYOB. read more

I can not BELIEVE I lived minutes away from this place forever and never even considered going in. After seeing it pop up on the main page the other day it was my first choice for dinner with my out of town visitor -- a foodie fish-head, often unsatisfied with the places I (a vegetarian) typically haunt. Quickly seated, quickly served, but slow to leave without being given any nudges from the waitress. What more could a gal want? I was really psyched on my tofu + plantain moqueca (which also made an amazing cold leftover the next morning), and my friend cleaned her plate of technicolor house salad with some amazingly cloud-like creamy Brazilian bread. She did say that her fish soup was "just ok", but I think she was a little colored by moqueca envy. It must be hard to sit by and watch someone ladle their bubbling cauldron of deliciousness onto their garlicky rice while you're snoozing over same-old soup. I can't wait to go back for fried plantains and a smoothie. Pee Ess, I highly recommend splitting a moqueca with at least 1 other person. And bring your camera -- this food begs to be photographed. read more

Muequeca gets two stars for being a unique restaurant that has a fun vibe and atmosphere. The food was okay - the yucca flour you get to put on the top of your dish, though, gets a 10/10 five stars plus fireworks. Amazing. The service was the worst. I went here when there were maybe two other tables, and we had three different waiters, had to constantly ask for water refills, and at the end of my meal (which otherwise was meh) I honestly just wanted to leave and not come back. We were in the restaurant for about two hours, having ordered an appetizer and two entrees, 70% of which was sitting waiting for a waiter to come back. Like, if they don't pay better attention to their tables then it's appropriate customer etiquette to bust into the kitchen and ask to pay so you can PLEASE LEAVE NOW, JEEZ. read more

This place doesn't deserve to have visitors. The service is very slow and they are not gentle at all. THE FOOD IS NOT EVEN BRAZILIAN FOOD. I am part Brazilian and the foods had no taste...It was quite offensive to Brazilian culture. Even my six year old cousin who could do so much better with preparing the food. And what about the FEIJOADA? GUYS GO TO BRAZIL AND TRY REAL FEIJOADA, THEN BUY A BRAZILIAN CULINARY MAGAZINE AND THEN START AGAIN!!! read more

Amazing! Their service, spices and food are absolutely amazing. The calamari was really good, very crunchy. The crab cake was to die for, like nothing I have ever had. Then we had Feijoada which was a little salty but went well with the rice. Most of the things are family style. I would suggest making reservations or arriving early because this place is always busy and very small. I love Antoine, our waiter. He was funny and good-spirited. I was asking what was in the crab cake because it was so good. He explained and showed me a certain seed that they use to give it a bright orange color. If I could I would eat here every night. That's how good it was. read more

Great portions and super fresh food! The service was attentive and nice. Ambiance of the place is busy but toned down. read more

Muqueca Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I went into Muqueca knowing absolutely nothing about Brazilian food, and I left unable to stop raving about it! If you like seafood and cilantro, your tastebuds will dance and sing with the very first bite here. Got the fried yucca and crabcakes as an appetizer -- the yucca was so lightly fried, it didn't fill me up too much so I couldn't eat my main course, and the crab was so light, totally unlike the fried crabcakes we usually think of in the U.S., very meaty and light. For the main course I shared a moqueca (sizzling-hot clay pot!) of fish and mussels. It's so filling but not heavy on the stomach. Anyone who loves good seafood will really appreciate this, as it's kind of a hearty stew with loads of veggies, but not quite like any other fish dish I've ever had except maybe bakaliaro/bakalao (if you've had that). Definitely call ahead and reserve a seat, the place is tiny and always filled to capacity -- and given the portions here (just right, but they don't skimp!) it'll take patrons a while to finish. Don't miss out on the juice drinks either, they go fabulously with a moqueca. This place is cozy and warm, from the hearty dishes to the beautiful salmon-colored walls. It's like a mini-vacation, a pure delight in the middle of winter! read more

I had never experienced Brazilian food before eating here, but afterwards I was totally taken by it. The food all smelled amazing, and tasted the part as well! The various dishes are interesting, filling, and most importantly, mighty delicious. The restaurant itself is pretty small, so you can expect to wait on a weekend night. read more

This place was truly fantastic! even in a neighborhood with lots of other great Portuguese/Brazilian restaurants. We ordered the muqueca (stew) with clam since they're the specialty of the restaurant. The clams, while not fresh were plentiful especially for the price. The shrimp entree was also flavorful although the veggie sides were lacking. They also have great smoothies for less than $3 and a lively and friendly crowd. There was no wait at 7pm on a weekend. Next time I'll definitely need to save room for fried snapper and passion fruit flan! read more

I was so excited to come here after reading all the reviews. I was wildly disappointed. We really should have known better than to eat here - when we walked in on a thursday evening, we were hit with a wall of old fish smell. It smelled like an outdoor fish market in a hot country at night, after all the fishmongers have gone and only the runoff liquids and scraps from cut fish that have been slowly pooling on the hot ground all day are left. Undaunted, we sat down and ordered four apps (fried coconut shrimp, regular fried shrimp, fried calamari, and brazilian crab cake) and three main course dishes, including Feijoada Completa (Brazilian national dish) and two Moquecas. The fried apps were fried in old dirty oil. They came out blackened and dried, with a horrible old oil smell. You couldn't taste the first couple bites of seafood under the disgusting shell of burnt breading. The seafood itself was rubbery. We were the only people in the restaurant until about halfway through our meal, which leaves me stunned that the waitress or kitchen did not look at what they were serving us and take issue with it. For the price we paid for the apps (approximately $9 each), we expected FAR better. We could not taste or detect any coconut on the coconut shrimp - it tasted exactly the same as the regular shrimp. The crab cake was surprisingly flavourless. The yucca flour was a nice touch, but the crabcake itself was so dry that the dusting of flour stuck to the roof of my mouth and coated the back of my throat like a cinnamon challenge gone wrong. All of the appetizers were inadequately salted, which was disappointing, but better than them being over salted, I suppose. We didn't bother finishing the appetizers (unusual for us because we generally are opposed to food waste), but were holding out hope for the main course. Everything served in the main course was over salted (exact opposite of the apps - and we hadn't said anything to the waitress about salting). The Feijoada Completa was so salty that I could not taste it after about five bites. The black bean stew was flavorless (besides the strong taste of salt) and had a really unpleasant texture. The top had dried as if it'd been sitting out for a while, leaving a weird pseudo-crust over the otherwise sloppy stew. The dried meat was surprisingly gristly and the collard greens were greasy. The fried plantains were the only passable thing on the plate, and even they had been fried in that gross old oil, which really took away from what is usually one of my favorite foods. The moquecas were also incredibly salty and stunk of old fish. This must have been partly where the smell of the restaurant came from. The fish stench was so strong, that I felt uncomfortable eating it and worried that I would be sick later from food poisoning. The old fish and salt flavours overpowered the rest of the stew, which otherwise would have been an interesting dish (the tomato was cool). None of us finished any part of our meals and none of us wanted to take the leftovers home (again, extremely unusual). Honestly, the meal was pretty nauseating. Although none of us had eaten a real meal at Muqueca and were still hungry, our stomachs had turned so severely that none of us were able to eat again until the next day. Of the three waters that came with our meal, one came in a dirty glass. Two sets of silverware had to be sent back because they were dirty as well. I don't understand how at a restaurant that has no other patrons besides our table of three, that they could serve us dirty tableware. It's not as if they were too busy with other patrons to notice. Our waters were also not regularly filled - which is inexcusable when the restaurant is virtually empty and there are two waitresses on hand. Overall, poor service and horrible food. It blew my mind that this horrible meal, where not a single dish had been edible, cost us over $100. I've eaten far better food for three for $30. I don't know where they get their pricing scheme, because none of the food was fresh. I expect to pay $15-$30 per entree for FRESH seafood - not old seafood. If I wanted old seafood, I'd buy it at BJs for a couple dollars a piece and leave it out on my patio all day for it to stink up, then eat it. I wouldn't go out to a two dollar sign ($$) restaurant for it. I'm very confused as to where these positive reviews are coming from. (I noticed another reviewer said this as well, perhaps the food is truly hit or miss.) None of us will ever return. I really want to be able to say one nice thing about this restaurant. The waitress was nice. But she wasn't attentive. We didn't finish a single item - our main courses had a few bites taken out of them. She never questioned this or asked how we enjoyed the food. It's a shame, I was really excited about this place. read more

Nice little place with colourful decoration. When I was there, I figured there were quite some Brazilians dining at that place wich is always a good sign. Service was very friendly and my special wish was no problem. I tried the Moqueca and it was excellent. read more

This food is adventurous and great. Perfect for seafood lovers. Go when it's not crowded. If you think the prices for the entrees are somewhat high ($10-$20 an entree), please realize that you can easily split them. Indeed, they seem intended for splitting. And c'mon people, live without the booze, get some exotic fresh fruit juice, and go to Bukowski's or somewhere for drinks after. Perhaps my favorite restaurant in Cambridge. read more

We ordered one thing, they delivered a different dish. It took so long to get what we wanted. By the time they put foods on the table, they were cold and real messy. This was my 2nd trial due to many great comments. How could people rated them 4-5 stars......they must be a family member. read more

Tonight was my third dinner at Muqueca and each visit has been as delicious as the last. The restaurant is small and usually crowded, so if you can, call ahead for reservations. We waited 35 minutes for seating last night, but the staff let us place our order beforehand and by the time we had our table, our appetizers were ready and the entrees were just minutes behind them. The plantains are sweet and gooey and irresistible and the fried yucca is delicious in the house dill and cream dipping sauce. The entrees are served in traditional clay cooking pots. I had not tried the signature stew until this visit, but one forkful of the shrimp and mussel moqueca made me a fan for life. You'll want to sop up every last bit of the savory broth with your rice and you might even consider asking for a straw. The banana lasagna was cheesy and sweet. I'm not a fan of thick drinks, but the fruit smoothies have gotten nothing but rave reviews from my friends. On previous visits, I'd ordered the house style shrimp and seafood rice casserole, both of which I'd recommend, but the muqueca is the star of the show. read more

...this was one of the first restaurants that I wandered into while exploring Boston for the first time years ago... was wonderful then, only been back a few times...the Muqueca, and Feijouda were absolutely delicious...in fact sorta craving it now all of a sudden...sadly I've moved to the west coast, dunno where I'm going to get my Muqueca fix now :( read more

SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN Simply put-I wish I could take this dreadful experience back! I walked in with high hopes for this little Brazilian nook, little did I know this would be the last time I would step foot in that miserable hell hole. We sat down and the waiter was immediately discourteous. I felt uncomfortable and rushed ordering and asking questions about the authentic dishes. I will admit the calamari and the stroganof were quite tasty although the consistency left me feeling a bit queezy. There is no way I can put into words how miserable the staff were, even if the meal itself was 5 star the horrendous staff knock it quickly down to 1. They charged us $6 extra for extra sauces and when I mentioned it to the owner his response was astonishingly inhospitable. Never have I ever witnessed such a scene, I seriously think his pants were a little too tight to breathe maybe thats why he exploded on 3 lovely ladies looking for nothing more then a pleasant afternoon. Your biggest mistake would be to come here, its overpriced and a disgracefully cold, awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere. read more

Order the Muqueca, the dish for which the restaurant is named. Buttery rice and a hotpot of fresh, flakey fish, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and if you want, shrimp and/or mussels. Enough for two meals.... read more

Six of us had a great meal here last night, including seafood an fiejoada. Staff was helpful and friendly. One of the best choices in the neighborhood. read more

145 reviews is clearly not enough, so here's another paragraph of praise. We went to Muqueca at 2PM on Sunday, and it was packed. Fortunately we knew to call ahead and we only had to wait 5 minutes when we arrived. Wherever the recession is, it must have skipped over this restaurant. It's not a fancy place, or a big place, or a center of elegant dining. I'm not sure it would be a good first date place because it's not easy to have a conversation. But the food was delicious. I had the Muqueca with fish and shrimp, and my wife had the shrimp bobo. They were both delicious, and different from each other. It was spicy, but only if your definition of spice includes more than heat. It wasn't hot, but the hot sauce was right there if we wanted it. And we had the guarana soda. We had no room for dessert and left stuffed for $45, including tip. It makes me wish I lived closer. read more

First time here and definitely the last. There are many other Brazilian restaurants in the area that will largely surpass this place in both service and food. To begin with a waited at the front for 5 minutes before even being acknowledged by two staff members who were more interested in having a conversation of their own than actually doing their job. I ordered the sirloin steak which was too salty. When the waiter brought my food he dropped a few fries on me and didnt even acknowledge it. He didnt even bother taking the plates from the appetizer off the table. No one ever came to ask if we needed anything else until it was time to bring me the bill. 2 stars because the setting was nice nothing else. If you want ok food and horrible service this is the spot. read more

Maybe it's because I went there on a Thursday night but I had a great experience at Muqueca! Unlike the weekend Yelpers I was very happy with service: fast, courteous, and genuine. Needless to say, the food was totally amazing! I tried two appetizers. I highly recommend the Brazilian "crab cake", which is much finer than the inaccurate translation suggests. It's actually an oven dish, not deep-fried or anything. The fried yucca was very good for such a simple treat. As for the main dish, I especially enjoyed the Mariscada: shrimp, crabmeat, mussels & squid with cilantro, tomato, onion & coconut milk, served with sides of rice, farofa & plantain moqueca. It was very flavorful and could probably feed two people per order! The house special Fish Moqueca was also a great dish, although less big. Same with the Shrimp Moqueca that had some extra salt to it but was still pretty good, although more average than the other two. Will definitely go again! (But certainly not on a weekend night!) read more

Sweet heavens, my senses play off each other when I relive this meal. Mouth waters, palms to my cheeks, 'mmmm' guttural sounds, wide excited eyes. Maybe it was because I was hungover. Maybe it was because I planned the dinner 5 days in advance. No excuses- I enjoyed every bite here (and the leftovers today in the office - totally had to cover my mouth from moaning so my coworkers didn't question my internet etiquette). My friend was in town for the weekend and loves food blogging. And her boyfriend is allergic to seafood, and she was dying for seafood. The preview I gave her was that my friends referred to Muqueca as 'bangin.' We met up with another one of my friends and beat the Saturday dinner rush by a hair. Since I live a block away, we called ~6:50 before bracing the cold June rain to check if there was a wait. 'No, but we have some 7:30 reservations, so come soon.' We got there by 7:05 and though there were a few open tables, there were 2 parties ahead of us waiting for the hostess and manager to decide what to do with us. He briefly offered us seating at the bar but we reminded him that we were three. He turned his back for a moment and then offered us a big table. No harm done, pal. We had not a drop of desire for alcohol (though my eyes wandered to a drink resembling a mojito or caprihana and I thought, 'next time'). But we did want fruit fuel. We got the berry blue, the tropical, and the pineapple mint smoothies, the latter of which was my favorite (guess I had a craving for virgin mojitos?). They were all refreshing and you could pick out each of the ingredients. We actually determined what to order by browsing their online menu before leaving my apt. I was so lucky to be in the company of non-picky, cilantro-embracing, fish and spice-friendly individuals. No offense to the rest of you, but more often than not I dine with ppl who prefer to have and not share their own dishes. To be honest, if you are not a sharer and choose to come here, you should consider letting your guard and possibly hygiene standards down and sharing some saliva over a Moqueca pot because they are too big for just one! We split the Mariscada, Fish and Calamari Moqueca, and a side of fried plantains. The meal came with several sides that the busboy (man?) named off: plantain stew, a sweet sauce for the plantains, and yucca shavings, plus he cautioned against TOO much of the hot sauce on the table. We each got our own rice ($3 for the extra rice since we ordered 2 dishes for 3 ppl), which was garlicky and not a grain was spared. To be honest I was so engrossed in the flavors and the way they made me so so happy that I stopped talking to my friends and have no idea how they chose to eat the food. I took turns between the Moqueca (huge pieces of white fish + very flavorful calamari) and the Mariscada (shrimpy small shrimp, large split shrimp with the tails on, mussels out of the shell, more calamari), sneaking in some plantains and whatever that incredible plantain sauce was, pouring yucca shavings all over the plate, mixing in plantain stew. Every now and then I'd chomp down on an incredibly bright flavored onion or a bunch of cilantro. A few times I reminded myself to add more hot sauce. I think I kind of lost myself in the meal, to be honest. Anyway, at one point I looked up and my friends were experiencing similar revelations of joy. Then kind of at the same time, we agreed that we should save room for dessert since we spotted some yummy desserts before our dinner arrived. 5 extra bites later, we begged our server to wrap up what was 2 smaller meals worth of food. What started as 'Oh, only 1 dessert, we are sooo so full' turned into 2. The dessert menu was fun - whimsical English translations that were endearing enough to make us want to try them all. We ordered tapioca and coconut and the chocolate truffle. They came out quickly and were consumed almost as quickly. The truffle was like a creamy chocolate mousse but stickier and more congealed, coated in chocolate sprinkles. The tapioca and coconut was a combination of super sweet little tapioca pearls combined with mildly sweet coconut shavings as well as roasted coconut shavings. There was a fig on top. They were both under $4. Do not hesitate to order dessert here. All those expressions of pure joy for less than $30 a person. Plus we beat the dinner rush. And as an added bonus, they put all the sides in the takeout containers, separated in the smaller sections of the container. I appreciate that thoughtfulness! Our server clearly knew we had a great time and told us to come back. Yes, yes, I will be back. Hopefully that meal alone (plus the excited conversation to and from the restaurant to my apartment) was enough incentive for my friend to come visit again :) read more

We had red snapper and fish moqueca. Red snapper was fried so that everything was totally dry. Fish moqueca was not tasty at all, toilets was also not clean. Only good thing about the place is smiling staff. That is all. I don't recommend this place. read more

The food is very good. I was here to celebrate my father's birthday. The server we had was great, he made us laugh and he helped us with the menu. The place is fairly small so come early. You will be full when you leave here. read more

A comida e boa, mais e muito caro o atendimento nao e dos melhores, mas isso e bem normal de locais brasileiros...

After thirteen years in Cambridge, we decided to finally check out Muqueca. The new space (note: they have moved a block away from their original location) is colorful enough, though the room lacks any real kind of ambience or coziness (think of it this way -- Casa Portugal has more ambience than Muqueca -- and I don't think Casa Portugal is notable for its ambience). I ordered the muqueca, which was not nearly as rich as I thought it would be -- it's a thin, mild broth with tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and tons of shrimp served with a bowl of rice and a watery, but thankfully quite flavorful, seafood stock. Admittedly, I was picturing a thick, rich stew of coconut milk and fish, so this was far lighter and milder (and, frankly, blander) than I expected. I also ordered a side of fried plaintains, likely the best part of the meal --fried to (unhealthy) perfection, these were absolutely delicious. Our friends also ordered muqueca (one had fish, one had fish and shrimp) and my husband had the sirloin, which was pretty tough (note: no steak knives at Muqueca, or at least none were presented after we requested one), served with a fried egg and onions. The dessert choices might warrant a trip down Cambridge Street to Christina's -- we had the chocolate flan, which was more mousse than flan. Dense and heavy, it wasn't exactly what I expected. There are other options though, including a tiramisu (they were all out of tiramisu tonight) and a chocolate cupcake which looked promising. Where Muqueca is less impressive is with its service. The oddness started when we walked in and the waitress told us she wouldn't seat our incomplete party (we were waiting for our two friends). Ordinarily I'm fine with this kind of policy, but the waitress was surprisingly rude, and it seems to me that any kind of policy should be communicated in a friendly-- rather than a punitive-- way. Once we were seated, it took a long time to get our waitress' attention, but when she arrived she was very helpful with menu suggestions. However -- and here I echo Kim P.'s review-- when my husband ordered the sirloin steak, he asked for salad instead of fries. When the dish arrived with a heap of fries, he said "I actually asked for salad." The waitress said "no you didn't," and he said, "Well, yes, I did." She walked away and returned with a small salad and an unhappy face. Finally, a small service no-no: Muqueca was guilty of my all time restaurant pet peeve! The waiter started clearing plates before we were all finished. Folks absolutely love Muqueca (it was packed when we were there, and any time I've passed by, it's been crowded) and I suspect the crowds appreciate the casual atmosphere, the affordable prices, and the comfort food. If you want something relatively simple -- like a fish stew -- Muqueca is a great, relatively cheap option. I wouldn't, however, recommend it if you want a nice evening out- the service is a bit too prickly, and the food is a bit too bland. read more

Just to give you an idea, I was sitting next to a Brazilian guy who came all the way from Cape Cod and described this place as the "best Brazilian restaurant in the Northern Hemisphere [..] and I've been to Panama and other countries." Every patron in the restaurant seemed to be so happy to be eating this food, be it they were in groups, a date, or even just alone like our friendly nordestino. Concededly, I am not the greatest connoisseur of Brazilian cuisine, but I've had the food before, and have learned how in most cases it is supposed to be hearty, tasty (not necessarily spicy) and the combination of Iberian, African and American Aboriginal elements, just like the food of my country, the Dominican Republic. We shared an amazingly generous order of yucca with a dip sauce made of garlic and probably mayo. Excellent appetizer! For her: shrimp moqueca, one of the house's signature dishes, shrimp in a red stew with a masterful seasoning of cilantro... to die for. And I ordered the seasonal fried red snapper, a humongous fish to be eaten with pommes frites and yucca flour and some sauce to dip with. Oh, and both of our orders came with a generous and delicious portion of white rice seasoned with cilantro. While it was difficult to eat this dish, I should have asked for something that would make me be less self-aware, especially meeting someone for dinner for the first time. Overall, despite the small size of the venue (BTW, they're planning on moving to a new larger place also on Cambridge St.) and the fact that the kitchen's smells can permeate into your clothes, I give this place five stars for the deliciousness of its dishes, the warm and friendly service, authenticy and reasonable prices. read more

Charming, small & cozy with great people-watching windows onto Inman Square. I went on my first day in Cambridge and it was my first taste of Brazilian food and I loved it! We had the seafood rice casserole (yummy! and HUGE - leftovers for lunch the next day) and the "Feijoada Completa" which is slow cooked meat and beans, fried plaintains and a couple of other things. The latter is apparently Brazil's national dish and it was slow-cooked and tender and oh so delicious. They actually make their own clay pots used to prepare it and served on your plate. The waiter was awesome - he sensed our unfamiliarity and took the time to explain dishes, and the lady who delivered the food to our table cheerfully explained what each item was and how one goes about eating it. We'll be back! read more

Very authentic Brazilian food. The service is personable and the atmosphere is cozy and inviting. You feel like you're at someone's house and they're cooking you a homemade meal. read more

With unbelievably delicious Brazilian food and a colorful atmosphere, Muqueca is a fantastic restaurant for any occasion. Great for dinners with friends, family, significant others... heck, find any excuse to eat here! The Best Dish: Seafood Casserole. As long as you like seafood, you'll have dreams about this clay pot bowl of rice, shrimp, mussels and other goodies. It looks small, but it's surprisingly dense and filling, so much so that you won't be able to finish it if you eat... The Best Appetizer: Frog Legs. Squeeze a little lime on these tender bad boys and you've got a fiesta for your taste-buds. And the presentation will try to steal the show. Dessert: The Tantalizing Truffle. This little guy is so rich, he makes Bill Gates look middle-class. If you have a sweet tooth, save some room for this perfect finale. read more

Came here awhile ago just never got around to writing a review. I don't remember the exact dishes that were served but it was delicious! Such an unpretentious wonderful dining experience. I will say that maybe this isn't the food everyone...but for those who it strikes a chord with it is amazing! Also, a Brazilian friend of mine who has gone here loves it too and says it's authentic so in my opinion that's always a good sign. Enjoy! read more

We always start up with the order of yuka and the special sauce, that is always good. The specialty is the muquecas ( seafood stews). it comes sizzling and tasty. It comes with a side of rice so you can mix with the the muqueca. it is a very typical Brazilian seafood place. While you are there don't forget to order the Brazilian Guarana soda, cashew juice or the caipirinha(Strong drink). read more

This place is so good ! I cant believe I just find it . I ordered too much since they give large portion. Definitely will come again.

I love this place and every single person I've ever brought here for a meal - and I always bring out-of-town guests who visit - love this place. They've just moved to larger and swankier digs, but the homey and comforting atmosphere remains the same, as do the outstanding muqueca dishes which are tasty, tasty, tasty. The ingredients are nothing unusual - shrimp, mussels, white fish, even a tofu/plaintain one now which is out of this world - but are prepared in a way that is just unusual enough to excite the tastebuds. And Their coconut cake (topped with a prune of all things) is sweetness through and through. The staff have always been extraordinarily personable and friendly. They don't rush to clear you out of the table. That being said - it is not a place to go if you are in a rush. But if you enjoy sitting and talking with friends over a luxurious dinner, this is the place to go. read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE! We came here for my friend's birthday. We were a party of 6 and my friend had made a reservation. When we arrived, they had no record of our reservation and said there was nothing they could do. We had to wait almost an hour. It would have been common courtesy to provide us with free drinks or appetizers or SOMETHING but we barely even got an apology. The food isn't bad but definitely not good enough to forget about the horrible experience. read more

I was too full from a previous engagement (dinner) so I barely tasted the food, but it was pretty delicious. Love the serving bowls and the atmosphere of the restaurant! I'm giving them a 5 star review because Muqueca was GREAT in accommodating our party of about 20 people... Their service was great, and they were super kind and friendly the whole time. Everyone else loved the food, and their drinks were given a thumbs up. :) I had no idea what "muqueca" meant, but according to wikipedia "it's a Brazilian seafood stew based on fish, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and cilantro. It is cooked slowly, with no water added." So voila! Maybe I'll try it again when I'm back in Boston. read more

Loved the cod dish with plantains and coconut milk!

Muqueca was full of hits and misses for me. The flavors were excellent. I had the mariscada which they label as a must try. It lives up to the hype, spiced well, and thickened/sweetened a bit with coconut milk. It was loaded with good seafood, including shrimp and crab meat. The shrimp were huge and juicy, cooked perfectly. The dish also featured mussels, but these were horrible. They were extremely large but also very fishy (tasted spoiled) and chewy seeming over cooked. Also tried to the shrimp muqueca which featured several of those large excellent shrimp and a lighter sauce where the spice was more prominent. All of these stew dishes come with a plate of rice that you can eat with your dish. You can also spoon your stew over the rice which I recommend. We also had an order of yucca but this was also chewy and hard. My favorite orders of yucca are crisp on the outside and softer on the inside. This was hard throughout. Dessert special was excellent. Fried plantains with ice cream and cinnamon. If it weren't for a couple of execution mistakes (mussels and yucca) I would easily give Muqueca 4 stars. Their flavors are great and something I never had before. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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