I love this cozy little place - I've discussed the fab tacos at lunch before. But I want to talk Tapas @ dinner! Tapas small plates are a preference for me - I enjoy many things so being able to have multiple small shareable plates is ideal. We started with olives & Serrano ham croquettes - followed by the Carne Brava ( perfect small bite tenderloin with an amazing sauce) And The lamb chops in a balsamic glaze atop roasted Brussels sprouts The cauliflower was also amazing You can taste love in every bite For dessert it was cheesecake with raspberry sauce & caramel flan Service- outstanding Wine pour - generous Vibe- cozy casual ( plan ahead make a reservation only 12 tables) read more

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My experience was with a group of adventurous world travelers with catholic tastes in food. We all looked forward to a great dinner at the Twin Cities' first tapas restaurant. It was not great. The problem? I think it was because owner/chef Rene Ruiz Olivar was acting as waiter, not chef. We gave Sr. Ruiz the freedom to choose our tapas, with one exception, the black ink pasta with scallops and shrimp (Tinta Negra) that reviewers have raved about. He said, no problema--he would serve it. Then he must have forgotten because we never got it. The first tapa served, almond-crusted manchego (Almendrado), was plated prettily and was delicious but oh-so-sweet. It was an odd choice for a starter, would have been better as the finale in case nobody ordered dessert. Soon came a lamb tapa (Cordero). The lamb chops' quality was uncertain as the meat was severely overcooked. El Bodegon's langoustines (Gambas al Ajillo) had given every bit of their sea flavor to the sauce, which was magnificent, we all agreed. But where were the dish's promised mussels, the rice? One shared plate, a beef tenderloin tapa (Carne Brava), had apparently lingered too long in the kitchen--the meat was nearly cold. I adore papas bravas (Patatas Bravas). I must have had the dish a dozen times or more during my last trip to Spain, in 2017, when I visited friends who live in Ronda. During my six-week stay, we toured Andalucia, staying at hotels in large cities and visiting small towns. I also spent time sola in Madrid and Barcelona. Unlike in Spain, El Bodegon's potatoes were diced to death. Never in Spain have I ever had patatas bravas that were not substantial in size. All in all, I found the vegetables accompanying the tapas unrecognizable except for the tiny Brussels sprouts. The rest seemed chopped up or stirred to pieces in the pan. Some of my friends had churros for their dessert. They deemed them appropriately hot and tasty. My dessert was cheesecake torte, decked out with a candle as it was my 90th birthday. The torte was a gold-star winner. It was absolutely delicious, its plating the most successful of the evening. It was so perfect it almost made up for the sub-par tapas that preceded it. One of us had a view of the kitchen from his seat at the table. He saw a man other than the chef/owner doing the cooking. Was he a trainee? Did Sr. Ruiz help with the plating? God knows he didn't have a lot patrons to contend with in his role as waiter. It was a slow weeknight, and there were never more than four tables occupied. I sincerely regret that our time at El Bodegon differs from so many reviewers. Like them, I want to see Sr. Ruiz's little restaurant succeed. He has a hard row to hoe, and I hope a disappointing dinner like ours does not befall anyone else going forward. read more

El Bodegon - Cheesecake torte. So pretty, so delicious! - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

We went in for dinner before seeing a show a week or so ago and really had no expectations. We gave ourselves about 90 minutes for dinner in total and unfortunately it turned out to not be enough time. The place is very small inside, but we had a reservation and were sat immediately. We ordered drinks super quickly and the food shortly thereafter. There were 2 of us so we got 4 tapas in total. I could tell things were going south pretty quickly as I watched how service was going for tables near to us. After over an hour of being sat there and still no food, we had to flag someone down to ask about it. They told us it was coming very soon, but we ultimately had to take the 4th plate to go because it was just taking too long. That's really too bad because it seemed like a cool place. The big thing we noticed was that the food on the plates didn't really match the price we needed to pay. I don't think 4 small plates and 2 sodas should cost $100 but that's just me. Especially considering some of the small plates really didn't have much food on them at all. It really depends on which one. For example, the cauliflower seemed to have about 4 actual pieces of cauliflower, but the paella was large enough for one person to have as an entree. Trust me I was confused. I'm really sad to write this because they were really very nice (and very busy too), but I just don't think I can recommend going here (at least not on a Friday night.) At other times and on other days, YMMV. I should say that most of the food I tried was tasty, but I don't think it was worth the price we paid or the time we waited. read more

We tried El Bodegon's evening tapas menu for the first time and absolutely loved it. El Bodegon is a small place, maybe 12 tables, with a casual atmosphere. Service was GREAT and they explained each dish when it was served. We ordered a couple glasses of wine, the Conchas, Tinta Negra, and Paella Marinera. I can wholeheartedly recommend all three but the Tinta Negra was the can't miss - I seriously considered drinking the garlic cream sauce at the bottom of the bowl. We finished off with a slice of cheesecake and checked out the menu again to plan out what we're going to try next time. This was the best meal I have had in a while and will definitely be back for tapas. Looks like they also have a lunch menu of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and tortas. We may have to check that out too. read more

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Popped in for a tapa and some sangria. El B is a small space hidden behind a Holiday Station. Don't be fooled....its extremely cute. During the day they serve kicked up Mexican fare, but at night the menu changes and out come the Spanish tapas. I could hear the 3 or 4 tables raving about their selections. I was in a meat mood so I treated myself to the Plato Iberico, a delicious assortment of Serrano ham, soria sausage, basque olives, chorizo iberico, salchicbon, truffle oil, Red wine manchego cheese, sea salt, and balsamic glaze. I loved it all. Still somewhat hungry, I had a lovely piece of fresh flan with assorted berries and cream. Yum. Great service was provided by Chris, and just about everyone in the very small kitchen came out to chat and ask how I was enjoying the food. El B is a hidden gem. I can't wait to go back with friends and try several other tapa dishes. read more

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Had a lovely experience at El Bodegon! It's a cute little Tapas spot with beautiful dishes and we found it offered a wonderful variety of Spanish flavors. We ate the Almendrado (pictured) the Cocretas de Jamon(pictured) as well as the Tinta Negra (forgot to take a picture as we were literally too lost in the sauce), Pescado and Churros. Our favorite was the Tinta Negra which is squid ink pasta. To some it may some odd and quirky, but trust me and try it! It was so buttery and savory and the baby scallops were to die for. Additionally they had a great variety of Spanish wines. This was very exciting as my wife and I had our honeymoon in Spain so there were many varieties we recognized and loved. The service was very personable, I believe it was the owner who was serving us, he didn't say such, but just a hunch. He took time to ask about our Spanish honeymoon and related with his own time spent in the area we visited. Highly recommend this spot if you want to try to some unique Spanish foods. You won't find food like this elsewhere in the area, and I'll truly consider this to be a gem of Minnetonka. read more

El Bodegon - ALMENDRADO - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

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This was my first time for lunch and ordered tacos. Friendly service just like at dinner. Ordered the pastor and barbacoa tacos which are super flavorful, authentic and downright amazing! Authentic means they have onion and cilantro. It does not mean lettuce, tomato, sour cream. That is American. I think this may be my go-to lunch! I love their tapas at night for dinner and am so excited I finally got to have the tacos! read more

El Bodegon - Tacos barbacoa - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

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excellent spot for tacos, quesadillas and a quick lunch. Tapas are amazing and great for a quiet date night.

This cozy, family-owned and operated tapas restaurant is a wonderful addition to the southwest suburbs. The decor is somewhat unusual for a Spanish tapas restaurant, yet the friendliness of the staff, the menu offerings, and the quality of the food are superb and worth a visit. The portions of the tapas we sampled are almost large enough to be considered an entrée. But tapas are all about sharing, and that's exactly what we did. First, we shared the Tinta Negra, a dish consisting of black ink pasta, baby spinach, roasted peppers, Brussels sprouts, shrimp, scallops, and garlic cream sauce. Next came the Paella Marinera. Paellas are filled with a variety of seafood, and this version is no exception. Unlike other paellas we've had, the seafood was enveloped in a thick, delicious tomato sauce, accompanied by rice. El Bodegon also offers a traditional meat paella, known as Paella Sevillana. We'll try that one on our next visit. Lastly, since we are fond of Manchego cheese, we finished off with Almendrado, a beautifully presented dish of chunks of almond-encrusted Manchego cheese soaked in a red wine compote, drizzled with thick balsamic vinegar. All in all, the attentive staff, great variety of tapas items, presentation, and delicious food make El Bodegon our new go-to restaurant. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Delicious tapas with warm attentive service and good suggestions. Will definitely return!

My wife and I stopped in to this spot last night, it opened about 2 weeks ago, being adventurous foodies we took a chance. Small space, clean, staff is very attentive. We tried the sangria, my wife said it was the best she had had state side. We ordered Gambas Alajillo ( langostin), Paella Marinera (full of fresh sea food, shrimp, scallops, calamari). I will be going back! read more

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This little restaurant is fantastic; a true gem in the Minnetonka area! There is something "off" about the way they advertise with big stickers on the outside of the restaurant using big loud font compared to the quality and authenticity and love of each dish. They focus on tapas and every dish is truly worth the price. The atmosphere is so-so compared to the delicious and curated food. Whoever the chef is, truly knows what they are doing! read more

We had an incredible experience at El Bodegon! From the moment we walked in, the staff was warm, welcoming, and attentive. The atmosphere was cozy yet modern -- perfect for a date night or a special dinner with friends and family. Every dish was made fresh, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious.The service was prompt without feeling rushed, and the attention to detail really stood out. Our server Rene took time to explained every dish that came out. You can tell the team takes pride in what they do. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending El Bodegon to everyone we know! read more

This is a special owner operator little piece of culinary heaven! Tapas have levels of flavors that are top notch and that doesn't come close to the excellent service! This is a special family that creates exactly what we have been missing in the west end read more

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We're visiting from the Phoenix area and decided to give this place a try tonight. We both thought it was delicious! We had the fideos, the carne brava and the paella marinara. My favorite by far was the fideos, however my bf liked the carne brava better. We think we'll go back before we go back home. Sure wish we had a place like this in Arizona! The service was really good as well and the owner came out and chatted with us. We also loved the flan for dessert. read more

My father and I tried El Bodegón for the first time tonight, and it was absolutely incredible. We ordered the Pescado, Carne Brava, and La Torta Basque, and each dish was bursting with vibrant, layered flavors. The fish was perfectly tender and delicate, while the beef had a rich, smoky depth that was unforgettable. To top it off, the Basque cake was the perfect sweet finish. Reneé, the owner, was so welcoming and attentive, which made the experience even more special. He has excellent wine suggestions. Between the hospitality and the outstanding food, El Bodegón has quickly become a new favorite--we can't wait to come back! read more

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My dad brought me to this place because he really enjoys it, so I decided to try a tortas, which I had never heard of before. I don't really like tomatoes so I was anticipating needing to take them out, but when I tried it with the tomatoes still in it was actually great! I barely noticed them. The flavors of everything else together was also really good! I got the one with pulled pork, which I feel was the best choice for me. I've had it a second time today and it's still as good as the first time! Next time I'll have to go back to try tapas. That also sounds amazing! read more

El Bodegon - Axo-torta with pulled pork - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

The food was fantastic, and the presentation was first class. Excellent sangria. Service was also top notch. Will be back to try meat items. read more

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I was looking for something fun and different for dinner, and discovered El Bodegon. It was fabulous. The service was outstanding, the food absolutely delicious, and a very reasonable in price. The Fideos was the consensus favorite, but the Paella Marinera was a close second. I did not share the Conchas. It was beautifully plated and really delicious. The last of our four choices was the Pipirrana. The goat cheese croquet and carmelized shallots were to die for. I can't wait to go back, and am excited to try the lunch menu there. read more

El Bodegon - Conchas - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

Second visit to El Bodegon. Food is excellent and owner is passionate about delivering authentic Spanish inspired dishes. Unfortunately they were under staffed with a full restaurant the second time resulting in 3 hours to get two tapas dishes and could not find anyone to order more food for a table of two. Finally gave up, paid up front and left. Have never experienced such slow service and cannot recommend going again if there are more than a couple of tables. read more

Now this place is AMAZING! The food was to die for and the little space looks great! We will DEFINITELY be back to eat again and will tell our friends about it too! Very exciting for the neighborhood and in Minnesota cuz there's nothing like it! read more

Don't let the location or size of the restaurant fool you. Renee and his family are serving some of the best Spanish/Mexican food on the west side of Minneapolis. The tapas portions are larger than you would think and taste fantastic. Look at the yelp photos or from their online menu, looks exactly like the photos. Give El Bodegon a shot for lunch or dinner and you won't be disappointed. read more

Absolutely fabulous tapas in Minnesota! Friendly, efficient, creative! I highly recommend! read more

Lovely new tapas spot! We enjoyed every dish and excellent service from Rene. This is a cozy new spot with a nice selection of classic Spanish tapas. We enjoyed the Carne Brava, Paella Marinera, and Coliflor especially! The Almendrado and Conchas were very good as well. Beer and wine list is very nice; Rene recommended Tempranillo that was really quite good. Overall, a wonderful experience! We'll be back soon! read more

Much like Batman, millionaire by day and super hero by night, this restaurant serves Mexican food for lunch and Spanish Tapas in evening. Both the Mexican and Spanish food is wonderful. Spanish restaurants do not the last too long in the Minneapolis area so don't waste too much time before trying this out. read more

El Bodegon - Mexican tacos - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

This is an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall from the outside. But the evening menu of tapas is is extensive and the 4 we ordered were excellent and beautifully presented. We topped our meal off with tres leches cake which was large enough to share with a neighboring table. Newly opened and the staff was attentive. We were there on a cold night - I only wish the space had been a little warmer. We'll be back to work our way down the rest of the menu! read more

El Bodegon - Tres Leches - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Wayzata, Minnesota

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Fantastic experience...unique plates with wonderful variety, fabulous flavors and presentation, all around fun date If you are looking to go beyond cookie cutter. read more

The food and service are wonderful. We tried 8 different dishes, all were excellent. The cauliflower and grouper really stood out. Amazing flavors! read more

Good food. Unfortunately sometimes only one person is working the tables, kitchen and cash counter and then it gets extremely slow. I hope they can figure it out, the food is good. read more

I don't normally leave a review but this place more than anywhere warrants one. Boyfriend and I went in for a late/ quick lunch. We didn't realize we would leave being obsessed with the food. As we were eating, we talked about coming back the next day for more! The Tacos Arabe (mini burrito) is absolutely phenomenal. Flavor, size, meat portion, and quality is PERFECT. We also got the traditional mexicanos tacos which were packed with flavor and fresh ingredients. I loved all the meat portions! And great prices. Thank you El Bodegon delicious!! read more

This place is phenomenal We saw the high reviews online and are always happy to try a new place, but this one is no joke!! Terrific food, family owned, great vibe, and quick service. You went authentic Spanish cuisine at a reasonable price. This is your spot! read more

My friend and I shared the cauliflower, brussel sprouts and Pincho De Pollo (chicken skewers with smashed potatoes). It was all fantastic. Brussel sprouts weren't quite as crispy as we would like but the sauce and accompaniments were fantastic. We thought we might add one more item but that was plenty. The food presentation was beautiful. Our server was very knowledgeable about which menu items contained gluten. The staff was all friendly and helpful. If I had a complaint, it would be the strong fragrance of cleaning product in the air. I'm excited to go back for lunch to try their Mexican menu (dinner menu is Spanish food). read more

The tapas at El Bodegon are inventive, fresh, and flavorful. Our server was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back.

Quality slipped since last time. Pre cooked beef tenderloin dry and overcooked, croquettes were cold in center good service clearly trying to do a good job but cutting corners that appear in meal. read more

We came here on a whim last night. The food was absolutely outstanding. It far exceeded my expectations. Imagine tapas taken up a notch with super fresh ingredients, delicious sauces and beautiful presentation. We have eaten tapas in Spain many times and while the recipes are based on traditional tapas recipes, Rene makes them fresh and new again with his own creativity and skill. The wines he has curated on the wine list are unique and very good quality. I had the Tempranillo Reserva and my wife had a Rioja Rose. Both were excellent and better quality than I am used to finding in restaurants by-the-glass. Finally, Rene and his son were extremely attentive and friendly to us. We will definitely be going back and have already recommended this restaurant to family. read more

What a great place. The food is absolutely amazing. The tapas are top class in flavor and presentation.

This is a new, family-run restaurant. Both the Mexican food (lunch) and Spanish Tapas (dinner) are fantastic. The staff is very friendly and attentive. A hidden gem! read more

We stopped for dinner on a Friday night. We were seated right away and ordered off the evening tapas menu: crispy, delicate croquetas, fish, and chicken skewers. The presentation was beautiful, all perfectly cooked and beautifully plated. We finished with the churros, which were crispy and served with chocolate and whipped cream. The ambiance isn't fancy but the food made up for it. We will be back! read more

Top notch preparation in a casual spot! We love Tapas and prefer to eat and share small plates more and more. El Bodegon is one of our new favorite places! As a former Chef, most of what we see on the local restaurant menus are all the same, and I can make it at home vs. going out and ending up disappointed by inconsistent and over-priced food/drinks. Like most of the dining spots in Wayzata these days. The Chef/Owner of El Bodegon is a master at his art! We can't wait to try their lunch menu next time. We had the 4 suggested favorites and a great Pinot Rose that paired perfectly with our selections. We've only begun working our way through the extensive variety on the Tapas menu and can't wait to get back there soon! read more

The food was excellent. We normally order takeout but ate in tonight. The service was fantastic and the meals exceeded our expectations. We order at least 2 times a month. read more