Bodega has been on my "must-try" list for ages and I'm so glad that I was finally able to make my…read moreway there. Most people in the city are familiar with Sabor, Edmonton's legendary Spanish and Portuguese restaurant. But have you ever wished that there was a more casual, more low-key version of Sabor? Maybe with multiple conveniently located spots around town? Well you're in luck because that's exactly what Bodega is! You'll find Bodega's flagship restaurant in the lower street level part of Sabor itself, however there are now five other locations. It's almost a guarantee that there is a Bodega near you, no matter where you are. People have loved this place for years. Voted as #1 Best Tapas 2018, #1 Best Spanish 2018, and #1 Best Wine Bar 2018 in VUE Weekly. CBC Edmonton's Best Restaurants 2019 listed them as Best of Downtown. And you'll find them as a Favourite Communal (Sharing) spot on the Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2022 list.
It turns out that the people of Edmonton love a laid-back tapas moment and getting some sangria into the mix doesn't hurt either. I was excited to visit Bodega's original location in the heart of Downtown on a Saturday evening and to finally experience their flavours.
The first thing to note about the OG Bodega restaurant is that they don't take reservations, however all of the other ones do. As previously mentioned, you will find the flagship location right inside of Sabor. Parking can sometimes be tricky in this area and that's the only downside. If you've been to Sabor before you already know how impressive the space is. The huge building is one of those places that doesn't need to pretend to be old because it actually is. Instead of heading up the stairs into Sabor's dining space, Bodega is found to the left of the entrance in the lower street-facing area. It's actually a wonderful use of space which otherwise might not have served much of a purpose. Less dressed up and grand than Sabor (but still bearing a similar decor), Bodega harnesses the Spanish modern-day watering hole vibe by featuring a simple but beautiful bar area and bistro-style al fresco dining in the warmer months. The dining space is small and because there are no reservations taken it might be necessary to prepare for a wait. When my group arrived it took about 15 minutes to be seated which seemed entirely reasonable. We were pleased to be situated at a beautiful little table outdoors, in the warm summer breeze. Unfortunately, there were a lot of bugs flying around that kept landing on our table and we had to ask to be moved to one of the more interior tables. Thankfully the staff was able to accommodate this! We really didn't want the bugs to land in our food. The servers who visited our table were all extraordinarily friendly and gracious.
Of course there were going to be drinks! The wine list is plentiful and extensive. However, I was more drawn to the interesting Iberico gin & tonics, caipirinhas, sangria, and the signature cocktails. These are the types of drinks that I picture myself holding on a patio in the summer. From the cocktail list, the De Puta Madre (Mezcal, dry Sherry, pineapple, lemon, orgeat, cocoa powder - $16) sounded like the most special one to me. Out of curiosity, I put the name of this drink into a Spanish to English translator and had a pretty good laugh when I learned that it means Fucking Awesome. Well. Sounds like I made the correct beverage choice! And I really did enjoy sipping on this perfectly crafted cocktail. I was slightly worried that the mezcal would be very strong and boozy, but the balance of the ingredients was lovely. I felt that I was able to taste and appreciate the flavour of the mezcal without it being too overpowering. The fruity and sweet flavours from the pineapple, lemon, and almond syrup made the drink fun, but again it wasn't too sweet either. I loved this cocktail and it paired perfectly with the rest of the meal.
The food menu is packed full of options and every single thing sounds enticing. The good news is that the plates are small and part of the experience is to order a lot of them. There's a whole long list of tapas, but also breads, spreads, charcutaria, and cheese if you are in the mood to create an exciting board (I always am!). There are also some larger plates if you are truly looking for one big meal of food. On this visit I was aiming to remain in the tapas realm since that is what this restaurant is actually all about. As such, we proceeded to barrage our server with a long list of items, eager to sample as many dishes as reasonably possible. We were asked if we would prefer to have every dish all at once, but opted for a slow and staggered method. No need to hurry though! It wasn't long before our parade of plates began to arrive.
First was the Brushchetta (Grape tomato and fromage blanc - $14.00). I wouldn't have chosen this dish on my own accord but I saw it pass by on its way to a different table and it caught my eye. The tomatoes looked
