My experience at Brighton Bodega delighted, impressed, and inspired. The restaurant (yes, restaurant, it's not actually a bodega) has an unassuming exterior, but once you're in, you realize it's much bigger on the inside. It has a cozy and warm feel. While the initial presentation is a bit scripted and stilted - it's fusion tapas, not rocket science - the staff here is great. Our server knew the menu well, and the host seated us quickly. The food blew me away, though. The Brussels sprouts were savory with a paneer-like cheese accompanying them, and the Mediterranean dips were unique and flavorful with crispy homemade bread to boot, but my favorite dish was the cauliflower au gratin. The cheese sauce was just salty enough, and the cauliflower maintained a great texture. I can't wait to bring my friends here. read more

Brighton Bodega - Meeeee (and BURRATA) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Great ambiance and attentive service. Impressed with the combinations in the menu! Items: Dragon drought Burrata Confit Duck Buns Smash burger read more

This place was such a great surprise. I booked reservations not knowing what to expect and I was overwhelmed by how good it was. First the service. Our waitress was so friendly and helpful. She gave us great information and made us feel so comfortable that we really enjoyed the whole experience. Next the food was so good!!! The duck buns, the noodles, and the dumplings were all so good! I also tried the oysters bodega style and kimchi style. It was so different than I'd had anywhere else and so good. I'm really glad I tried it! Their churros for dessert were made in house and fresh. Filled with caramel and with chocolate dipping sauce. Finally the drink options were fun and delicious. This is a definite stop if you are looking for delicious food and a comfortable setting. read more

Brighton Bodega - Oysters bodega style and kimchi style - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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Food was incredible- the flavors! The fries fried in duck fat were so crispy and delicious. I loved the bun and chicken fried rice was original and so flavorful. Atmosphere was romantic with creative lighting. Wait staff was attentive. Loved it and would go again. read more

Brighton Bodega - BODEGA FRIED RICE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

An ever changing menu with a few staple items that has quickly risen to the top of my favorite Boston restaurants list. Oysters: pricey but a must try if you love oysters. Buttermilk fried chicken: this was good and the skin was cooked perfectly, but I don't think it's a must get. Lomo saltado: delicious with great flavors! Peking ravioli pork dumpling: these could be a pass in my opinion. They were still good but in my head are just a dumpling. Korean fried cauliflower buns: oh my god these were the star of the show. Definitely must try! Even if you don't like cauliflower, I promise you these buns are out of this world. Our server was also amazing and so kind. Fun vibe overall and I can't wait to go back to try more things. read more

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Haven't had a chance to try this spot in person, but what I got delivered was great and will go out of my way to try more and especially in person. I had: Lobster "rolls" (really good) House fried rice (very unique, fantastic) read more

Brighton Bodega - HOUSE FRIED RICE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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I came to Brighton Bodega on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and it was moderately busy. We had a reservation and we were seated quickly. I ordered the sannø cocktail which was light and sweet. My favorite dish was the lobster roll starter - the lobster was delicious and more tender than I've had on Cape Cod, and I liked that the butter came on the side so we could customize how buttery it was. We shared the broccoli, which came over rice noodles with peanut sauce, and the fried rice. The two vegetable entrees were good and the portion sizes are very generous. The servers and staff were super friendly too! read more

Brighton Bodega - cocktails - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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A gem in Brighton mass -- super nice restaurant with an eclectic menu and something for everyone. Does get pricy because prices are in the $20-24 range and it's small plates so you're expected to order more than 1 per person. I loved how the menu is Asian, middle eastern, Mexican, American, all the above! Really loved the nashville hot chicken bao buns! The harissa tomatoes were fabulous! And the Vietnamese oysters were so great! They had so much flavor and were not like a standard oyster. read more

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Came in for dinner right at sunset, we sat on the patio and had a really wonderful time. Anna was our server, she was the best! Food was yummy, and I had a glass of wine which was perfect. Middle of September so the weather was just right. Thank you Anna and team at Brighton Bodega! read more

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OMG!!!! The food was absolutely amazing! We had mussels which were incredible! We had Miso grilled octopus, truffle stuffed gnocchi, and house fried rice and an order of Nashville chicken steamed buns. Each dish was unique in flavors. Great decor! And our waitress was very attentive! Don't pass this place up! read more

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I love the menu here and how it is always changing. The chefs really do an amazing job at bringing strong flavors using unique ingredients. read more

fun spot with lots of interesting dishes! we sat outside and the ambiance was very cute with the string lights and lanterns. dishes we tried - korean fried cauliflower buns: 10/10 I did not expect to ever enjoy cauliflower this much - ragu gnocchi: flavorful comfort food, nice pillowy texture - peking ravioli dumplings: nothing special but solid dumplings - scallion pancakes w/ figs: experimental combination, the flavors were very subtle; it was not great but not bad - may pass on this - churros: plentiful portions, delicious vanilla gelato service was excellent; attentive and friendly. they said the menu changes frequently so would definitely come another time to try different dishes. read more

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Went here on a weekday night with some friends. The outdoor seating area was great -- they had lantern lights and tasteful decor to set the vibe. The food was fantastic -- I ordered the Wagyu Ghost Pepper Tacos and curly fries to share with the table. The tacos were great -- would highly recommend! Curly fries were underwhelming but got the job done. Overall really solid experience and would go back! read more

I'm a little annoyed with Bodega after last night. Love the place. Love the food. Service always good. Last night we were seated at 5:30. At 6:35 we were told we were (paraphrasing) "on the clock" and needed to be done by 7 so they could flip the table. First time I've ever encountered this at any restaurant and was told "it's on our website" (as if I stopped to read someone one's website when I've been there a dozen times). This was all news to me. No one told us upon entering or during seating. So the last half hour was us rushing ourselves. We could have cleared out by 7:30. We weren't dawdling and were ordering food and drinks. It was a first date and had, we were having a great time then had to rush out. In retrospect, the attentive service at the outset of our night now feels like it was passive aggressive pushing. It probably wasn't but this is what happens when people feel rushed. Really unhappy with this and will reconsider dining here again. read more

Our dinner here was spectacular! We loved the food, ambiance and service. The dishes were so flavorful. Everyone who works here was so good to us and super helpful. They accommodated our request to sit at a corner table and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Even the hostess was so nice and helpful. Our server was Tess and she is amazing. She is the most compassionate server I have ever met and mind you, I eat out a lot. She is super patient and also very helpful with suggestions on the menu. She knows the menu very well and gives her honest opinion. When we ate here, it was our first time dining outside with our newborn and I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed. But Tess helped us so much without any judgement. She was very accommodating. We need more people like her in this world. Thank you Tess for making my first dinner outside with my baby a memorable one. read more

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Came for the drinks & food and stayed for the service and ambience. Roisin is the best! She's such a delight. We can't wait to come back! read more

Brighton Bodega - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

A few things.. 1. Amazing service. That's kinda what they do here; you'll see if you come! 2. Awesome global menu! Tapas and small dishes from all over, and more... it's an amazing menu! 3. Fun place. Not sure, it just is! You'll see, everyone's nice! Everyone's fun. An awesome spot. One of the best in Wash Square! read more

We came in early before the dinner rush! Was seated immediately. Our waitress Marissa was very helpful and friendly! She walked us thru the menu and mentioned what she would recommend to try! We had the waygu smash burger and mussels, clams and fish! Everything was very tasty. I would suggest next time to not put too much salt on the food! The restaurant was very nice and clean! There is also outside seating which would have been for nice take tonight! Prices are very reasonable! $$ Next time we partake at this restaurant we will try the smaller portions! read more

Brighton Bodega stop you're menu is too diverse your bartenders are too cool your amaro options are too niche and based I cant keep up please I'm begging you to stop read more

The food is pricey and the portions are small . However it's delicious . We appreciated the menu it has all food types from Mexican to Asian and everything in between it's amazing . The service is great. The vibe is warm and welcoming. We also enjoyed some cocktails . I really appreciated and enjoyed my time at this establishment. It lives up to the hype in my area . Parking is a bit of a pain but manageable. read more

This was a good spot for a last minute reservation. The inside was nice and our service was standard. It's a tapas style menu said the server but the plates we got were bigger than what we expected which is always good. I loved the Tom yum fried rice except the peppers didn't taste cooked so I put them to the side. The duck bao was really dry if you didn't get a bit with sauce. The beef and broccoli was super tasty. And the lava cake was fantastic and gooey. Will be back for sure read more

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This is a great hangout spot with unique mix of cocktails and delicious food! We brought a friend who was visiting from out of town and absolutely enjoy our time there. For someone who is very particular about her drinks, I was amazed by the taste of Empress Endless Vacation (highly recommend!). The appetizers, main course and desserts were fabulous too! My waitress was friendly and provided us with food recommendations from the menu. This place gets crowded quickly at night (we waited 30 minutes on a Thursday night) so make sure to make reservation! read more

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My first ever Lobstah roll and it was DELICIOUS!! The bread was so soft and it is served with a good portion of butter. Enough to split between two people! The chips were good but we also had a side of curly fries that were phenomenal! The dipping sauces for the curly fries were so tasty! The outside patio area was so cute and very boho vibes. Our waitress was so sweet! We were her first large party and she did an amazing job! LOVED this place!!! read more

A 3.5. Typical I don't round up but the innovation and service enthusiasm tipped the scale upwards. I love the old building and the motif. A group of 4, we started with the Burrato. 4 tasty pieces of bread like pancakes with figs. The portion was small, as were all the dishes, offering only a taste when shared. We got 4 shareable. The scallops, short ribs, gnocchi and a cheeseburger ( which was tough to quarter). All were tasty, innovative in style and presentation, and small. The scallops dish offered one per person. The short ribs in a kimci with broth was so tasty the broth could not be wasted. We were still hungry and had room for the Irish sticky pudding and the caramel apple crumble. I liked the Irish pudding a lot, a fluffy cake much lighter then it looked. With cocktails (2 each) the tab was about $280 with tip, $140 per couple. read more

Brighton Bodega - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Several standouts that make Brighton Bodega a regular in our restaurant rotation: 1. The menu has something for everyone, from seafood to meat/cheese to veggies. Lots of creative pairings and combos, plus a sizable drink menu. 2. For a tapas restaurant, the portions were pretty generous. I can see how if you come with a larger group, you should order a lot more but as between me and my husband, we got around 5 dishes and were more than satisfied. 3. Don't sleep on the oysters! These were a good mouthful, really juicy, and they were generous with the sauces. 4. Everything we ordered was delicious. The tuna ceviche was well-balanced with just the right amount of acidity and a touch of heat. The thing that impressed me most of all was the attention of detail paid to the fine cubes of tuna - no tendon or stringy bits. Beautiful knife work in a dish that otherwise could have relied on everything else going on to hide sloppy cuts. The salad of mozz, figs, arugula, and summer heirloom tomatoes was beautifully presented and generous on all of the ingredients. The only thing I might not order again was the quesadilla - the cheetos did not add much. It's really obvious from all these dishes that someone is paying attention in the kitchen and sending out quality. 5. Definitely get the fried cauliflower and duck buns. These were not the traditional fully enclosed buns that I grew up eating but the Momofuku-style ones. Though the cauliflower one wowed on the first bite, I preferred the duck for how the flavors and textures grew as you kept eating. Our waiter was awesome! When we considered whether to add a burger to the meal, he told us we had ordered enough food. Appreciate the honesty, instead of trying to upsell us with more dishes. Parking: there's a muni lot just across the street (think it's marked as #2 on the map) with a two-hour limit during the weekdays and no limit on the weekends. Be careful about the crosswalk though. There's no yield sign and cars will just plow right through. read more

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One of the best things I've eaten in MA. Flavors were spot on everywhere. Textures were spot on. Mussels were awesome. Tacos were amazing. Bao's were impressive. The ambiance is nice. Staff super nice. Will definitely come back. P.S. make reservations. read more

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Have enjoyed coming here multiple times already. I think they do switch up their menus so sometimes when you go back looking to get something you ate/enjoyed last time, you might get disappointed. But the good thing is, it's always interesting at least! I've had a really good meal here one night (I think it was a pork bone dish and the lobster roll) and then the next visit not as good (I don't particularly love their buns... because of the texture of the bun and the filling). But I'm returning because they're still enjoyable. Staff is also friendly and the restaurant is big enough where it's not much a wait. read more

I came to Brighton Bodega for a friend's birthday dinner. We made a reservation for a Thursday night, which was a good idea as the restaurant was packed. This was my first time dining in at the restaurant rather than ordering takeout and I was so impressed by the decor and ambiance. It is impeccably decorated and super trendy inside. The menu was expansive both in terms of food and drink options - it was hard to pick what to order since there were so many great options to choose from. You can either go for more full-sized entrees like the burger or for a tapas experience. I opted to go with smaller dishes to share so that I could try more - we ordered the wagyu tacos, the fish tacos, and the peking ravioli dumplings. All were super tasty, but the fish tacos were a standout dish in my opinion. During my time here, I also tried the Bodega G+T and La Cura cocktails. The G+T was light and refreshing and on the complete other end of the scale, La Cura was smoky and deep. I would recommend either one depending on your taste - I personally enjoyed both. I look forward to stopping back in at some point in the near future to try out even more dishes! read more

The food is amazing. The shared plate experience gave us a chance to try multiple dishes and each was fantastic. I specifically recommend the Korean Chicken and Waffles. The deserts were just as good too! read more

Such a great spot in Brighton for some delicious food! It's kind of a weird restaurant concept- food from all different cuisines brought to you whenever it's ready. But we love it. Everything I have eaten here has been absolutely delicious, from Indian to Mexican to Italian. The menu changes regularly, which is nice so you don't end up always eating the same things. Cocktails are also delicious. My one complaint is that the two tops are not quite big enough for all the food you end up with at once. I could use a little more space. But otherwise a wonderful meal. read more

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Had a great experience at Brighton Bodega! Came here on a weeknight with a friend for dinner. The ambiance was cool and the food was even better. We were seated right away around 6:30. We started off with drinks; I ordered the La Cura cocktail. I was hoping for a sweet drink which this was not really~ however I still enjoyed it. My friend got one of the drink specials for taco Tuesday and it looked so pretty! I just forget what it was called unfortunately. The food was surprisingly very delicious! I wasn't sure what to expect for a casual spot like this, and was also a little confused about whether this was an Asian or Mexican place but I was pleasantly surprised with this fusion. The cauliflower steam buns were so yummy, the korean fried cauliflower was crunchy and the sauce was a great touch. Highly recommend this dish. I also would recommend the gnocchi~ the texture and flavoring were so on point. The teriyaki dish was yummy too just wasn't my favorite of the three. These filled the two of us up and were just right. Overall, I had a great experience at this place and would certainly go back! read more

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Favorite restaurant in boston. This is where my boyfriend and I frequent. Creative menu that never gets old! read more

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Pleasant surprise!! Food was great, service was on par. I highly recommend a visit. Really enjoyed my visit. read more

I had visited Brighton Bodega before and had enjoyed their brunch and drinks. Went in with a girlfriend this time: wine was good, ambience was fine. I ordered the tuna ceviche and after taking one bite didn't like the taste of tuna which really didn't seem fresh. When I asked our server to take the dish away and bring back the menu to order an alternative dish, she immediately said: yes I can do that but because you tasted it, I can't take it off your bill. How else am I supposed to know whether I like the dish or not? It ended up being a rather unnecessarily big bill. Disappointed. read more

Had dinner at Brighton Bodega based on a friends recommendation and I am glad I did! They have a lot of seating both indoor and outdoor. Service was slow in the beginning as I guess there was confusion with the servers on whether or not we were already being waited on, but as soon as that cleared up service was smooth and fast. I enjoyed everything I ate - and that sticky toffee pudding is to die for! 100% recommend coming here and may be best to have a reservation as it can be a long wait on the weekends. read more

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Dining method: Dine-in Item(s) ordered: Cauliflower Bao, Noodles, Ceviche, Asparagus, Empress's Endless Vacation cocktail Speed: Food on the table in about 15 minutes! The short answer: An Asian-Tapas fusion, Brighton Bodega is a unique and fun spot to grab a bite (or a big meal!) with friends. The long answer: With plenty of vegetarian options and lots of vegan and gluten-free modifications, Brighton Bodega has something for everyone. The vibes of the place were dim and modern, while the staff were lovely and extremely accommodating, with an in-depth knowledge of the menu. The bao were simultaneously soft and crunch and umami and salty. The noodles were wonderfully stir fried with a little bit of spice. Though vegetarian, I was intrigued by the ceviche and went for a taste. Pretty good! And the accompanying plantain chips and guac were a hit. The Empress was probably one of the best cocktails I've had. Bubbly, lots of gentle flavor, and not too sweet! Will definitely be returning! read more

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Very cute place for a date or outing with friends. I ordered a salad and the duck bao but the the meat was a little too fried for me and hard to chew. Otherwise cool place but a bit loud, so not the best for a quiet evening read more

If you're looking for a restaurant with a variety of options, this is the place to go. They mostly serve tapa style dishes, except for a few which were more individual entrees. My friends and I ended up getting a bunch of dishes to share. Here are the standouts for me: Confit Duck Steam Buns ($16) Comes with 3 buns per order. The duck was the star - it was crispy and extremely flavorful. The pickled cucumber cut the richness of the duck and added some freshness and the hoi sin sauce added some sweetness. Dijon and Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb ($36) The lamb was absolutely delicious, especially when paired with the mint jelly. It was well seasoned and very tender. The Au Gratin Potato was an outstanding side dish. It was creamy, rich and velvety. Double Bacon Cheeseburger ($16) One of my friends got this for himself and as a burger guy, he'd rate this 10 out of 10. The portion is huge and it comes with a bowl of curly fries on the side. Overall, we enjoyed most of the dishes we got. The only dishes we probably wouldn't get again were Nashville Chicken Steam Buns (the buttermilk ranch on top of the chicken tasted more like mayo so it was an odd combination) and A Couple Of Lobster Rolls (small portion for $27 - comes with 2 rolls but each roll is half the size of a regular roll so you're basically only getting 1 lobster roll). Other than that, all the other dishes were great. I love that their menu has a mix of everything so everyone is bound to find something that they'd enjoy. read more

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I went here over the summer and haven't stopped thinking about this meal since so... here is my belated review. WOW. Everything here was SO GOOD. It's rare for me to go to a restaurant and feel so good about each dish we got. We ordered oysters, two with Vietnamese dressing, steak tacos, a salmon ceviche dish, duck tacos, scallops with beans (not pictured), and tres leches. The fact that we ordered so much and I couldn't think of a flaw for a single dish should say a lot. My absolute favorite was the tres leches... best tres leches in my life. It looks like they've changed their menu a bit since the last time I came, so you know where to find me once I go back. I've lived in Boston for most of my life, and the fact that this is probably one of my favorite restaurants, if not my favorite, should say a lot. Run, don't walk, to Brighton Bodega! read more

Brighton Bodega - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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Brighton Bodega is one of the spots that's great for meeting up with friends, share an appy or two with drinks! The around-the-world-influenced menu consists of raw bar, charcuterie, steam buns, and creative small plates selections from meat, seafood, or vegetables. It's a nice-looking industrial-style space, bar in the front, followed by the dining room and outdoor seatings. Street parking around here is tricky but there are side streets. Foie Gras Wild Mushroom Fondue- Truffle cream served with grilled bread on an iron skillet. It was rich, cheesy, and oily. I liked it and it's good as an appetizer to share. There were mushroom slices and the foie gras was identifiable. And they were nice enough to bring out more bread! Old Fashioned- Unfortunately, this tasted watered down to the point where the whisky flavor was not present. Overall Service: The hostess was excellent and welcoming! Everyone here was busy including our bartender and he checked in when he can. I wouldn't mind coming back to try their other plates! read more

Brighton Bodega - Foie Gras Wild Mushroom Fondue - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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