5/5 Timothy D. 4 months ago on Google • 35 reviews
If
there's
one
thing
to
do,
it's
try
something
new.
For
an
anniversary
dinner,
my
wife
and
I
wanted
to
go
someplace
she
loved,
but
I
had
never
been.
We
went
to
La
Bodega
for
dinner,
and
then
we
went
and
saw
a
show
at
T-Mobile
Center
(review
for
that
will
be
found
elsewhere).
We
walked
in
without
a
reservation,
so
we
didn't
fully
expect
to
get
seated
immediately.
This
is
the
risk
one
takes
when
going
someplace
as
popular
as
this
without
planning
ahead.
Fully
expecting
to
hear
"Yes,
we
can
seat
you,
in
45
minutes"
we
asked
for
a
table,
or
bar
spot,
for
two.
After
a
few
moments,
the
hostess
looked
at
us
and
said
"I
have
a
table
for
you,
but
I
need
it
back
in
1
hour
15
minutes,
is
that
alright?"
My
wife
and
I
looked
at
each
other
and
nodded
simultaneously
and
in
a
"one
of
us"
moment
both
said
"Absolutely
no
problem!".
A
note
here
about
atmosphere.
I
only
gave
four
stars
because
it
was
loud.
Loud
can
be
a
good
thing,
as
it
means
the
restaurant
is
popular.
Lots
of
people
happily
chatting
with
their
friends,
loved
ones,
even
with
the
table
next
to
them
on
occasion.
But,
I
have
issues
with
auditory
over
exertion.
I
would
recommend
bringing
a
pair
of
earplugs
with
you
if
you
have
this
same
problem.
This
isn't
the
fault
of
the
restaurant,
it's
a
me
issue,
and
if
it's
a
you
issue
to,
don't
let
the
opportunity
to
go
here
slip
by.
A
pair
of
light
weight
ear
plugs
will
do
you
wonders
here.
I
put
my
stomach
in
my
wife's
hands
so
to
speak
as
she
was
going
to
order
all
of
what
we
ate.
I
knew
that
La
Bodega's
"bread
and
butter"
was
small
plates
that
could
be
shared.
I
loved
this
idea
and
was
super
excited!
We
aren't
drinking,
drinking,
right
now,
but
the
drinks
we
had
were
excellent.
A
spiced
Lemonade
for
her,
and
Mineral
water
for
me.
Both
where
excellent,
refreshing
(even
on
a
45
degree
day)
and
light.
I
am
going
to
save
you
some
time,
it's
all
really
damn
good.
All
of
it.
But
here
are
a
few
highlights:
We
had
the
Tortilla
Espanola
to
start,
which
was
a
delicious
frittata
like
dish.
I
kept
going
back
for
the
aioli
even
after
done
with
the
egg
itself.
The
Elotes
(with
manchego
of
course)
where
like
little
pops
of
flavor.
The
best
bite
being
a
fair
amount
of
corn
drenched
in
the
dressing,
with
a
single
shaving
of
the
manchego
on
top!
Queso
de
Cabra
al
Horno.
The
name
is
a
mouthful,
but
so
is
this
dish.
The
acid
from
the
tomato
fresco
balances
so
freaking
well
with
the
rich
fatty
goat
cheese
that
is
baked
in
with
the
sauce.
My
only
complaint
was
there
wasn't
enough
of
it.
Finally:
Lardo
Iberico.
Our
"desert"
before
getting
to
the
show.
As
I'm
sure
you
know,
Iberico
ham
is
like
champagne
in
that
if
it
doesn't
come
from
the
right
kind
of
pig,
in
the
right
region
of
spain,
eating
the
right
things
(and
so
on),
it
isn't
Iberico
Ham.
This
dish
was
"simple".
Cured
back
fat
from
Iberico
pigs
on
sliced
warm
grilled
baguette.
Simple
isn't
the
right
word.
I
tasted
the
nutty
diet
of
the
pig,
the
fat
dribbling
a
bit
down
my
chin
(which
came
back
to
me
when
watching
someone
ride
a
3
story
tall
unicycle
at
the
circus
later
that
night
when
I
covered
my
mouth
and
inhaled
deeply,
I
tasted
a
hint
of
the
fat
again).
The
dish
was
multi
layered,
even
there
where
only
2
things
on
it!
I
tasted
the
animal's
diet.
Salt,
fat,
heat,
umami,
it
was
all
there!
To
sum
up:
go
here,
eat
here,
but
probably
get
a
reservation
(or
be
better
at
general
time
management
than
I
am).
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