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I love everything about La Bodega! The seemingly little "hole in the wall" is a culinary delight and a total gem! The ambiance is perfectly understated and authentic. No frills, no fuss, just perfectly Dominican meets NY. Our server was a lovely young lady who was so accommodating and helpful, and not that it matters...but she was adorable and her makeup was on point! We wtf a table of 4 ladies so of course we complimented her - it was international women's day after all! This has to be the best cocktail bargain in town. $10 each and we all had cocktails - one had a Michelada and the rest of us had an amazing Caparena with fresh lime and a punch of booze that stuck with us. Delicious! I had the pineapple pork and it was sweet yet savory and a huge portion. Shareable for 2-3 easily! Served over rice & beans, it is one to try and repeat. 2 Cubanos were ordered and they were delicious. Topped with ham, Swiss, and an ample amount of pulled pork on pressed bread, this was heavenly. 1 carne asada taco meal was ordered and it was ok. It was definitely upstaged by the other 2 dishes! Definitely try La Bodega. It's best for groups of 1-4. Small but mighty...might good! We cannot wait to go back when we're in Richmond.
Such a yummy place to stop on a road trip! Friday afternoon about 1pm and the place wasn't too busy. It's not a very big spot on the corner and be prepared to park on the street and pay like 3-4 dollars depending on how long you will stay. The workers are very friendly. And the food came pretty quick. This is such a cool place if you want to take nice photos. The walls are covered in "Brooklyn" decor. I've only been to NY like once for a day and it definitely matches what you think NY would look like in your head haha. There is Latin music playing and it makes everyone in the room want to dance. The menu is overwhelming with options and they serve breakfast all day. The portion sizes here are awesome! Enough food to have left overs but I wish it came with more veggies. The flavor was delicious, no salt pepper etc really needed. I liked the plantains more than the tostones. I wish I would have tried one of their frozen drinks. Everything is relatively priced decently. I would try this place again. I would say 4/5 because I like my food really hot but it came out barely warm. I also saw an employee come out the bathroom in her apron and that isn't sanitary in my opinion.
I had never had Latin American food before and this was such an amazing first time experience. The ambiance is fun, colorful, and inviting - definitely feels very homey and comfortable. Our server (there was only 1 server working a weekday at lunch) was quick and kind to accommodate requests for extra sauce on the side, water with no ice, etc. We started with the Pupusas (stuffed with cheese and served with cabbage slaw), which were pretty good but nothing mind-blowing as the cheese started to get tough as it cooled down. For mains we shared the Papas Chorreadas (potatoes, rice, and beans covered in a cheese sauce served with sweet plantains) and the Veggie Mofongo. Both dishes were superrr delicious! The Papas portion was huge, and the savory umami cheese sauce was so good with the rice, beans, and a sweet note from the plantains. I liked these plantains better than some others I've had - they were soft and not sugary sweet. The Mofongo was chewy and tasty as well, served with a tangy garlic parmesan sauce that we liked so much we asked for some on the side. Overall really enjoyed this meal and will happily come back to La Bodega especially for the Papas Chorreadas!
AMAZING! Food was sooooo good & nostalgic. Service was normal. The spot is small but the ambiance was nostalgic as well. Great place to go if you need a snack or if you need a heavy meal.
Stopped by on our way through Richmond. The reviews and rating, so we had to check it out. This cozy stop had about 5 tables inside and about the same outside. Nice Latin music playing, too. We were greeted with a friendly hello. The server answered all our questions and helpful with some recommendations. The chicken and rice dish was classic and delicious. It came with a side of black beans and plantains. We also had the Notorious P.I.G. sandwich. It was OUTRAGEOUS! The picture of the sandwich doesn't do it justice. Food was quick and hot. We will be back.
Cute, Quaint, Authentic. This eatery is giving all the New York Bodega vibes and serving up authentic cuisine. Our first visit to Richmond was interrupted by an official downpour so we ran into La Bodega after finding close street parking. The music was cranked all the way up and the service was fast and friendly. To start Guac and Tostones (Green Plantain chips.) I've never had Guac with fried plantains, soooo good y'all! The crispy texture of the plantain, slightly creamy in the middle and salted ever so lightly paired with the Guac, chef's kiss. For our mains, Bae ordered Ropa Vieja (Cuban Braised Beef with onions and peppers) , she liked it. She reports that although the beef was nice and tender she hoped it would be a little more flavorful. For me, Carne Asada (Grilled Steak, sautéed onions, with rice and beans) I loved it! I washed it down with a Presidente Plisner. La Bodega, was a really cool experience. Seems like the locals typically order to go. The dining room is small but so cozy. Worth a visit if you're in the area.
1. Super cute on the inside and outside 2. Limited seating; inside has about 2-3 tables that seat four and 3 tables that seat two; there is some outside seating 3. Horchata - 10/10 4. Empanadas - flavor was amazing, breading was outstanding. I do wish they had more filling inside 5. Pineapple pork - simple but tasty and huge portion
I just love this cute little cafe! It has a few tables for dining in, which I have done once, but typically I order delivery. I'm hooked on their NYC extra large chopped cheese sandwich, with no tomatoes or ketchup, but with extra mayo. So freaking good with buttered bread and it lasts at least 3 (sometimes 4) meals. The fries that come with it are great too! I can't place an order with La Bodega without ordering that phenomenal dish. I also love the queso frito. It's white cheese with honey on delicious bread. It's a decadent appetizer. I've also ordered their two hot dogs with mustard dish once, which was good as well. La Bodega also has a full breakfast menu, all of which sounds delicious, and so many other items that I want to try. Just can't get past that chopped cheese!!
I honestly loved the decorations and the vibe of the place more than the food. All the wall decor and little details in the decorations is what really makes the difference. Service was excellent too. To me, food is pretty mediocre. Not the bes quality, pretty meh flavors, not too much effort on plate garnishing. Edible, but not memorable. Now, take this from a Latin American person, who lived in NYC for five years, and also happens to be a chef. I would go there for brunch and enjoy the cool vibe of the place, maybe drink a nice fruit juice but have my meal somewhere else.
i've never stopped in between my meal to post a review but the el cubano has to be the best Cuban i've ever had. xl fantastic. and the taste of chicharro mofongo i had was the closest to mofongo puerto rico i've had in awhile ...wow
Went here for lunch with family on a whim when we were in RVA for the day. Definitely a good last minute choice! Everyone enjoyed what they got - I ordered the chorizo biscuits and gravy. Huge portions and pretty good for the $$. The coffee was good, as well.
La Bodega is such a hidden gem in Richmond. It wasn't too busy on a Thursday night, but we're so glad we stopped in. The vibe is so fun and the waitress is absolutely electric!! The portions are HUGE so be prepared and maybe split, but the food is amazing. We will definitely be back to try more dishes!
Lovely decor inside and outside. Portions are so huge!! We ordered different dishes and all of them are good.
3 years ago
4 years ago
The food is incredible! I had the Chicken Empanadas and the Chopped Cheese and it was massive. The staff was very welcoming and created a great atmosphere. I can't wait to go back. read more
Man this is the spot!!! I honestly cannot get over how amazing the food is here! I have been dying to go since they opened. To start off we ordered the queso frito that was fried cheese on toast which was out of this world the honey gave it hint if sweetness that made that cheese extra delicious! For drinks we ordered the aqua fresca watermelon edition which i literally could not stop drinking. I felt like thor slammin down a mug saying "ANOTHER". Then i decided to order me a big boy drink and got the adults koolaid which had the perfect mix of liquor and fruity deliciousness! For the entree i ordered the biggest thing on the menu cuz im a big dude and i gotta eat! I ordered the bandeja paisa which is just a smorgasburg of food the amazing pork belly, delicious carne asada, colombian chorizo, rice, beans, arepa with an egg and my all time favorite sweet plantains. Lord i was in food heaven!!! My wife ordered the ropa vieja which had the perfect notes of tomatoes and onion. The plates were massive and you will get your money worth!! Go there now! Why are you reading! By the time you get to this part you should've already ordered and eaten the appetizer!! read more
7 years ago
love the people, and the food... THE FOOD!! When I tell you I stuffed my face so hard, but it was okay because whenever I thought I couldn't eat more I just drank some of their refreshing horchata and kept going. Ate so much I barely made it to my car. Had to wait 30mins to start driving to make sure the other people on the road got home safe. read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
I don't venture downtown much at all however I went to this little shop for breakfast. I will say it's a small little shop with large plates of food. I was not disappointed on this visit at all. There's no way you're walking out the door hungry after eating here! The quality of the food was excellent! The staff was very friendly and engaging. It has a Spanish NY theme decor. Some really cool artwork on the walls. Now onto the important stuff, I really like the variety on the menu. The dishes cover columbian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran and NY. After having reviewed the menu I chose the churro French toast, which came with eggs, bacon, sausage, ham and potatoes. Everything about this breakfast was great! The food was served very quickly. Now I came here for breakfast but after seeing some other options like Pernil on the menu I will definitely be back! I am really looking forward to trying some other options on the menu. This places makes going downtown and fighting the parking worth it! Honestly I can't wait to go back and try some other dishes! read more
7 years ago
I went to this place on a whim bc LuLus was packed. So my friend and I sit down. First thing off rip you'll notice is that is smells stale in there. Like they need to open a window and let some fresh air in. I HATE when a restaurant smells like that bc it makes me think it's dirty and then I get kinda grossed out. But whatevs, we stayed. We both were in awe of the menu because literally EVERYTHING sounds yummy. So we decided we wanted breakfast so we both went with the colombiano which is pictured below. It was good, but nothing I'd rave about. The eggs were cooked v well, the rice and beans were good although I feel could have used a little bit of salt and I am not the type of person who adds salt to everything, but I resolved that myself by adding some. The sausage was crispy and bordered the line of too crispy, but the arepa was good. All in all, I'd recommend and I hope to come back soon! OH WAIT - DONT wanna leave this out... I am from Brooklyn NY and the entire aesthetic here is NY bodega - AND THEY NAILED IT. You almost need to go just for the cool vibe. read more
3 years ago
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7 years ago
The place is small and inviting. Everywhere you look there is something New York which makes it feel like home away from home. The food was amazing. I had a badeja paisa and my wife the pernil. They serve a lot of food so come hungry or leave with a to go box. The empanadas were on point. The food is comforting especially when there aren't a lot of latin American restaurants that offer a variety of dishes like this. Definitely going back. read more
5 years ago
Wonderful food that's served in a vibrant setting. The music will make you want to dance off the calories! Large portions and a friendly staff will definitely bring me back! read more
6 years ago
Delicioso and wonderful customer service. Will definitely return. The chicken was very tasty juicy and the sautéed onions picked up all the flavors. The staff very friendly and attentive. Fast service and the food fairly priced. read more
5 years ago
We were looking for a good Latin restaurant and we tried this place. They have amazing service and great food. They also have outdoor seating and everything is just good vibes from the time you walk in. Highly recommend read more
7 years ago
Wow! Where do I begin....we found this gem of Latin cuisine in downtown Richmond, VA on our way home to Florida. All because we needed a Latin fix after days of traveling and eating food on the go. As soon as you walk in is where your senses are hit with the smell of that Latin 'sazón (seasoning)' and then you are transported to New York City 90's vintage memorabilia, grafiti wall art, caricatures, and you even get the Statue of Liberty to join you for dinner. The nostalgia in this place is heartwarming. Ok, so let's get to the food. We ordered an elote, ribs, rice & chicken on the grill and flan. The chicken breast was perfectly seasoned. But the highlight was the ribs. These ribs will be talked about for a while in my books. They were crispy on the outside but they came apart when you eat them. They had a hint of sweet on the outside that balanced the flavor with the salty taste of the meat. If in La Bodega, the ribs are a must. We decided to compliment the Chef for the great food. So keep cooking great food Chef Carlos & Chef Jose . PS If you have to wait to be seated, it's worth the wait! read more
7 years ago
7 years ago
Omg I found the best restaurant in Richmond, yupp I said it! My boyfriend and I have been wanting to come here since they opened and I can honestly say I'm sad we didn't come sooner. We had amazing service, amazing food, and atmosphere. It is super cozy in there and the portions are big so bring your appetite!! We will be back and if you live within the city, take advantage of their delivery!!! read more
7 years ago
Wow just got empanadas and pernil(roast pork) and they were delicious full of flavor like Latin food should be! Forget about the fake 'Kuba Kuba & Havanah 59 cause for food this is the only place where you need to go for authentic Puerto Rican/ Dominican / Cuban food. They also make Coquito! About time Richmond has a restaurant that has FLAVOR. read more
7 years ago
Honestly felt like home , the food is authentic ! The flavors are on point , I'm so picky when it comes to Hispanic but this place hit the mark ! read more
7 years ago
Great find; one of 3 restaurants in their group. We enjoyed EXCELLENT empanadas - chicken and cheese; plenty good. All four of us had GIGANTIC sandwiches - 3 Hermanos, Chimichuri, and the Cuban. We each left with half sandwiches and extra salsa. Craft beers lacking, but completely non issue, when it comes to cocktails. Really good drinks from a bartender who just started. She was our server as well and we really enjoyed the service. Food came out promptly; if you don't want your apps at the same time as dinner; order one first, get it then order the main. (We were the only ones in the restaurant, so maybe with a bigger crowd things would slow down.) we are coming back. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
7 years ago
7 years ago
La Bodega is a NYC experience in RVA. It's 6 table, full bar, Latino-fusion (e.g., Puerto Rican, Dominican, Colombian) restaurant. The portions were massive and the food was pretty good. The design was eclectic with a street art influence. The service was badass. When I asked the server to make me a drink that was not too sweet, she made a citrus one and made it a double. She said, "Not too sweet? Just add alcohol!" She also took a shot with us. They only had two tables of 4 and a handful of 2-tops. Overall, I enjoyed my experience; it's was really fun and yummy, but not devastatingly delicious. read more
4 years ago
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Great service bartender was quick to seat us even though she was busy. We started out across the street at Margaritas Catina and the bartender there didn't greet us. I'm glad we walked across the street. Love the atmosphere here! read more
7 years ago
We found our way to La Bodega when LuLu's offered us a table after a TWO HOUR wait. Wow, the worst part of our meal was when we'd wiped the plates clean. I was so sorry that our brunch had run its course but I was happy, full, and deeply satisfied. The bloody mary was spicy, just like I asked, and didn't have that cheap mix taste that is the norm at so many brunch locations. My wife had a rum cocktail that she adored. Walking in, another satisfied patron on his way out enthusiastically recommended the Brooklyn Biscuits with Charizo gravy. I was tempted by a half dozen other options -- that I'll need to return to try -- but went with the recommendation. I was not disappointed in the least. WOW, that was amazing. My wife had the four egg, tomato and onion omelet and loved it. The portions were huge and presented beautifully. Carlos, the owner, came out to chat and was a delightful addition to an already stellar experience. The servers were kind, prompt, cheerful, and helpful. I have nothing - nothing - to criticize about our dining experience at La Bodega. Wait, there is one thing. We were so impressed that we asked to purchase gift certificates for others. They didn't sell them. How about getting that fixed, Carlos! Awesome. We'll be back. read more
7 years ago
Chicken was very good - rice and beans and tostones also very tasty, yucca fries were not that great, but all in all: I'd co back. Pretty small inside so no tables that allow you to avoid being nxt to the bathroom read more
7 years ago
Delicious brunch with friends from Colombia. The biscuit and gravy plate was fantastic; tender biscuits smothered with chorizo spiced pork gravy, soft scrambled eggs (perfectly cooked), home fries with onions and red peppers. The plate was more than I could eat in one sitting. I normally season my eggs with Tabasco sauce, but with the chorizo gravy, there was no need for any additional condiments. I would have liked my cafe "bien negro" as I have experienced in Colombia. Overall, an amazing experience! read more
More info about La Bodega
104 N 18th St
Richmond, VA 23223
Shockoe Bottom
Directions
(804) 267-3801
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