On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Loading...
La Bodega is located on Southwest Traffic-way, sitting on a little corner with a brick-front and buried in greenery.
Where do I begin? La Bodega is a gem of Kansas City. I have dined there twice and I plan on quadrupling my visits within the year. La Bodega is rich in culture, energy, and excellent tapas.
Tapas: The name of a variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. Ranging from cold to hot. Tapas are designed to encourage conversation and not focus on an entire meal.*
The concept is really very genius, and leave it to the Europeans to coin it. Instead of ordering appetizers, followed by a huge entree, and possibly dessert; your options are expanded here. Now you're able to order an appetizer, followed by an appetizer, and hey, I think I want another..appetizer. Everyone can share bites off the other that way you're trying a variety of their menu, and eating a proper portion size. Genius, again.
La Bodega's atmosphere is warm and inviting; with sunset-yellow walls, and brightly colored murals everywhere your eye can see. The lighting is low, but you wouldn't be able to tell because the walls are so bright. The energy this place exudes wraps you up and will make you want more, I guarantee. This place is always busy on Friday and Saturday nights. And if you do not make reservations you are looking at a two-hour wait, or eating at the bar. Which is not much fun when you keep getting ran into and you have to repeat everything said at least twice. La Bodega is small, which adds to its charm and character. You know every tapa that comes out of that kitchen has been specially prepared for you because there is not a 200 person capacity at this place.
I recommend the "Empanada de lomo embuchado" which is a hot tapa filled with pork, apples, pistachios, chilis, and manchego cheese. And probably my most favorite would be the crepe-style tapa; filled with feta, leeks, and basil-snug between thin layers of crepes. The tartness of the feta, balanced by the sweetness of the basil, with the onion-y taste of leeks. Oh my gosh. May I have another? or two? And ordering Bodega's sangria rojo is a must. Kansas City's best, using red wine, an assortment of fruit, brandy, and I'm sure other things. It is the drink that quenches the thirst and enhances every note of every bite taken.
La Bodega makes it to my list of top-five favorite restaurants because of the food, drinks, and overall appeal. I recommend this place for a date (due to the no-pressure atmosphere) or grabbing some good food with friends. The tapas range from $5-$11, which means you can eat here somewhat cheap; but let's be honest, if you want to experience a few items you might be spending a little more. (Think sushi: small menu items add up.)
*definition taken from Wikipedia
La Bodega. Happy hour. La Bodega. Happy hour. La Bodega. Happy hour. Ok, now that I've got that drilled into your head, you must go to La Bodega during happy hour. So good. So cheap.
Between three of us, we ended up ordering a pitcher of sangria, a beer, tortilla espanola, pimentos rellenos (tuna stuffed in peppers), queso de cabra, mushrooms, sauteed spinach and one other dish.
I've read that other people here said the sangria is the best they ever tasted. Maybe just in KC. I've tasted quite a few better. But for now, it's the best I've had in KC. The tortilla was good but nothing outstanding, especially after the queso de cabra which was absolutely out of this world. You'll end up asking for more bread to soak up every little bit of it. The mushrooms were also another outstanding dish, as was the spinach. The pimentos were pretty good and I'd eat them again and again, but comparatively, I liked the other tapas better.
With half off sangrias and tapas, it came out to just over $12 a person. When I saw the bill, I nearly fell out of my chair. The food was so amazing and so affordable! I'm just a bit shocked since last time I went for tapas as one of a party of three, it amounted to nearly $50 a person for about the same amount of food.
I think I would be well justified in giving La Bodega either 3 stars or 5 stars, I settled on 4.
The food here is 5 stars all the way. The blue cheese filet (don't know the names of these off the top of my head) and the albondigas (meatballs) are enough to bring me back time and time again. As long as you're not a picky eater, you could easily throw darts at the tapas menu and always end up with fantastic fare. Service is always top notch. The patio is great on a nice day. Not a huge sangria fan, but theirs is damn tasty.
My one and only complaint with this place is the "value", which is clearly 3 stars. Yes they have a happy hour that is great and the prices on tapas at this time cannot be beat. But the rest of the time I look at the small plates of food and wonder how they are getting away with the prices they charge. $8ish for the albondigas? Its five 1oz. meatballs, 2 tablespoons of delicious spicey cream sauce, and 3 small crustinis. This dish could not possibly cost more than $1.50 to make. I don't consider myself a cheap person, but I definitely appreciate good value; and outside of happy hour you won't find it here.
Yes I'll keep coming, happy hour or not; but that wont stop me from doing my fair share of bitchin.
I finally ate here after many, many recommendations to do so. Everyone was right! La Bodega is delicious and you cannot beat the Happy Hour. $12 pitchers of Sangria. My two favorite tapas we got were the feta crepe and the blue cheese beef tenderloin. Overall, everything was great and I recommend others to go here!
Came here for "lunch" with Susan and Dave as part of the continuing tour of KC.
Luckily, we were able to get here in time to take advantage of their great happy hour specials - pitchers of Sangria for $12 and 1/2 off selected tapas.
We came. We sat. We ate. We drank. And even picky Mr. Dave was able to enjoy the tapas and ended up eating some of ours.
All in all it was a good experience, a perfect counter to getting heat stroke.
Out. Of. This. World.
Packed every night, but well worth the wait. Happy Hour is the best time to go, for 11 dollar Sangria pitchers and can you say delish!? Best tapas I've ever had. Absolutely incredible. Charming and warm atmosphere. I can't explain in words how amazing this place really is!
They have the happiest hour! Great deals!!
Incredible. Absolutely nothing better in life than a pitcher of sangria on a patio at dusk.
Amazing and creative dishes. Lots stood out, but I am still craving another helping of the beets. Everything is a winner at this place. Creative space. Artsy restrooms. Perfect food. Funky little servers. Cool neighborhood. Kansas City--You have a Gem.
This was my first experience with tapas, I was not overwhelmed. My friends and I ordered alot, maybe like 10 dishes, all vegetarian. I think out of all of them I didn't like one, and it was a cold dish. I can't quite remember what it was but it was cold outside and I was definitely in a hot dish kind of mood.
Also, the sangria is magical. All the sangria I've had in the past was kind of gross, this sangria had me wanting more and more. I was a little tipsy when we left.
It was a little loud but it was a weekend night and restaurants tend to be louder or maybe I'm just getting old. The space was filled, the service was quick and very nicely paced.
Great food, can be extremely busy and is a very loud place.
FANTASTIC! The Tapas options can satisfy any taste at the table and the flan (though not as good as my grandma's) was delicious too. :) For sure you've got to try the coffee...it's worth it just for the show and it tastes great. Enjoy!
**I am Puerto Rican and I know rice...personally...anyway! I had the paella recently and it was so sad. The rice was so mushy and the chorizo was just so-so. I mean the shrimp was cooked well but I already knew that they made wonderful shrimp from their tapas. La Bodega shall retain the 5 star status for me because the coffee, tapas and sangria are all worth the visit.
omg where do i even start. We went here for my birthday and it was amazing. There was about 8 of us and we all ordered a different tapa and then had a little of each and passed it around so everyone could try. The atmosphere is cute and some of the seats are benches with pillows stacked up. I do recommend making a reservation though, as they are always busy and the place is a little on the small side.
The spanish omelet was so yummy, tasted sorta like quiche but way better. The goat cheese queso was also to die for and the scallops were AMAZING. I didn't think I would like them but they were oh so great. If I could I think I might go there everyday for happy hour...
oh and the sangria is the best ever. we were ordering it by the pitcher. best decision ever.
Love this place. Delicious sangria & tapas? Can't beat that. There are mixed opinions about the value, but I happen to think it's rather great.
LOVE La Bodega! I agree with Sarah W...KC has a gem in this restaurant. Just got back from Barcelona and this is the one place in the states that is even comparable to the tapas we had over there.
The beef tenderloin with cabrales (spanish blue cheese) is amazing as well as the warm goat cheese and patatas bravas. The red sangria is delicious!! And definitely not watered down or light on the alcohol as so many are.
The second week I moved to DC I was craving La Bodega tapas, so I tried Jaleo...doesn't even come close. Wish I would've skipped that place & saved my money.
happy hour on friday...the place is packed...wait is 45 minutes.
(tick tock, tick tock)
host informs us there is now room to wait at the bar. we order some beers and then some tapas right before happy hour ends.
the host informs us that he can squeeze us ahead of some reservations. we stay at the bar instead. bartender gives us awesome service. impressed with the host's skills as well.
meat balls and skewers come out. delicious. filling. spicy.
2 beers, 2 plates = $13.
AY CARAMBA!
It's been a number of years since I've been back to Kansas City, but the last time I was there, the tapas Bodega were outstanding.
When I first got there, I was a little worried because the neighborhood didn't look very good. But when I entered the restaurant, all my fears were alayed. It's a beautiful restaurant. The ambiance captures the essence of chic Spain. La Bodega a best kept secret and an absolute gem.
You should read about the premise for the restaurant on their website. La Bodega is all about tapas and wine. Don't go there expecting to eat a traditional meal. Other than paella and a 3 or 4 fish dishes, they don't offer "meals." Go to La Bodega with friends to drink fine wine and graze, for hours! The tapas are unspeakably good. La Bodega has earned it's hot spot designation since it's opening in 2002.
Favorite Dish: While the portions are somewhat small, if you count on 3 plates per person, with everyone sharing, you can figure out approximately how much to order. We ordered the following (taken directly from the menu- nothing else needs to be said, except DELICIOUS!):
Jamon Iberico- Spanish serran ham with manchego cheese on tomato bread
Ensalada de Pollo con Curri- Chicken breast salad with curry, mayo and grapes (I would skip this next time)
Esparragos y Salmon Ahumado-Asparagus spears wrapped in smoked salmon.
Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo- Skewered chicken & chorizo with garlic cumin allioli.
Queso de Cabra al Horno- Goat cheese baked in tomato sauce with garlic bread (MY FAVORITE! YUMMY!!!)
Albondigas Caseras-Meatballs in a spicy garlic cream sauce.
Solomillo con Cabrales- Grilled beef tenderloin crusted with Spanish bleu cheese. (ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!)
Patatas Bravas- Potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce (I would skip these too, too spicy)
Croquetas de Jamon y Queso- Ham & cheese croquettes, with red pepper allioli (Gooood!)
Alcachofas y Jamon con Allioli- Breaded artichoke hearts wrapped with ham.
Oh what yummy goodness in my tummy. Everything we ordered was just...fantastic and the sangria (red) was just as scrumptious. What a great place to be social with good people.
Bravo.
I would give 4.5 if I could.
I went here for the first time tonight. They were out of the Irish stout that was on the menu, so I got the Boulevard Stout, which was good. However, my gf's orange Martini was not very good, it reminded me of eating an orange rind. Maybe it was just too sour for us. But if you like it sour, go for it!
We got the following tapas:
-Skewered chicken and chorizo w/ garlic aioli: The skewers also had cumin, which I love, and this just smelled and tasted awesome.
-Lamb Carpaccio: This was awesome as well. They had small pieces of bread like Bruschetta you could put the thin slices of lamb onto, with some mildly hot peppers (pepperoncinis?).
-Red Pepper Stuffed w/ Tuna and Rice: These were really good.
-Empanadas: These were not so great; I think they had apples, walnuts, some kind of cheese, and some other things. The stuffing reminded me of tuna or chicken salad, maybe just the consistency was a little strange, and one of the flavors was kind of overpowering everything else.
We split a Mango Cheesecake for the finale: This was awesome!
We went during happy hour so most of our order was 1/2 off. We got there a little after 5:30 and they were fairly busy, probably due to happy hour.
The atmosphere was pretty loud and vibrant and the interior had some interesting painting and decorations on the walls and ceilings.
I'll definitely go back, as there were many more tapas I wanted to try.
p.s. It was kind of funny seeing so many vegetarian dishes. I remember them being hard to find to non-existent when I was in Spain several years ago. This is definitely Spanish American fusion, but in this case that's a good thing; maybe less authentic, but better than what I had in Spain.
La Bodega is great. The ambiance is great, the service is great, and the food is great. We were a bit disappointed with the shrimp tapa that we got, but we had some fantastic vegetarian plates.
We will be going back for Paella Wednesday.
I am also a fan because they serve dinner relatively late for KC. A definite plus for this spoiled NYC girl.
MMMMMM! After living in Europe and growing accustomed to eating Tapas both in Spain and in Spanish restaurants throughout Europe I was a bit unsure of how La Bodega would fare but whenever we're visiting family in KC it's the top place on my list!
They have a great menu and a great vibe....but it does get super-crowded!
Speaking of realistic dining, if you want to know what's so great about tapas, try La Bodega. This isn't another Southwest Boulevard Mexican restaurant; La Bodega takes its inspiration from the Spanish side of Latino cuisine.
The Tapas del dia changes daily. You can try one or two of these dishes as appetizers, or make an entire meal out of deliciously different meats, vegetables, soups, breads and cheeses.
The La Bodega menu describes everything well, so don't be afraid to try something new. Add some sangria or a mojito to your culinary adventure and you can almost pretend the rumbling outside is the ocean, instead of I-35.
You need to head to La Bodega during their happy hour. Monday through Friday from 2-6 p.m., all tapas and sangria are half price. And definitely make a reservation a few days before, because it gets packed quickly, especially on Fridays.
I went on a Friday: took a half day and then headed to La Bodega to meet the boyfriend. I made reservations for 4 p.m. much too far in advance (a week and a half), but that guaranteed us the best table (the back corner). By 4:15, it was already nearly full.
First thing we did was order a pitcher of red sangria... And that's probably some of the tastiest sangria I've had yet. Later, I did order a glass of the white sangria just to try -- it's sweet and light, but I prefer the red. We ordered five tapas:
My faves
- Tortilla Espanola: Spanish omelet of potato and onion with red pepper allioli. I LOVE potatoes, and it reminded me of quiche. Yeah, I pretty much scarfed that down without sharing.
- Queso de Cabra al Horno: goat cheese baked in tomato sauce with baguettes. Good, but a huge portion. I don't think we ever finished that off.
The boyfriend's fave
- Brotxeta: shrimp wrapped with pancetta served with horseradish cream sauce. This was apparently a favorite of others, too, because we saw a lot of them being served.
So-so dishes
- Pan con Espinacas y Champinones: olives and sundried tomato tapenade, sauteed spinach and mushroom with cheese.
- Albondigas Caseras: meatballs in spicy garlic cream sauce. This was the last dish we ordered, and while it was good, we were just too full to finish it off.
Another thing I love about this restaurant is the atmosphere. There's a lot of natural light and no booths, which really opens up the restaurant. The hand-painted murals brighten walls (the ceiling is painted too!). Staff is courteous and knowledgeable. The tables are simple, but the benches give La Bodega a comfortable, trendy look. Even the bathrooms are beautiful. I can't wait to go back with a big group of friends.
The service here is just too amazing to not give them 5 stars. I am a water chugger when i eat, and my glass never goes empty at La Bodega. That goes for both my water glass AND my sangria glass. And they always pre-bus all of your used plates and utensils, without you ever being the least bit bothered. These people know what they're doing!
A few things about this place:
1) In my opinion, it is absolutely the best place in KC to take a…
Read more »
Happy Hour at La Bodega may become a regular event for me. First off, for those that like the day drinking, Happy Hour starts at 2. I went at 4:30, and it wasn't particularly busy. The staff was very helpful, and the decor adorable. Parking in the area can be a challenge, but at that point was remarkable easy. I've tried both varieties of sangria, and they were both phenomenal. And a pitcher at $11? Who can refuse that? The tapas are also good- the goat cheese, as others have mentioned, was probably my favorite. We also had roasted red peppers wrapped around ahi tuna salad, which was tasty. The spinach had some good flavors, with golden raisins and pine nuts, but a little too much salt. We also had pork and apple skewers. The pork was a little overdone and dry for my taste, but the apples were delicious. I may have to grill apples on my own now. The red currant sauce that accompanied them was also very tasty. All in all, they were good. The menu beyond Happy Hour gets somewhat more experimental, and I definitely want to go back to sample some things. However, I'd be more than happy to go back... maybe in the next week or so.
Great atmosphere, tasty tapas. Went for happy hour on a rainy tuesday and the place was packed. Service in the past has been very variable, but today was quite good; food is always consistent. Not for the carb-phobic. We were greeted with a basket of delicious bread to dip in oil & vinegar and each of our 3 appetizers were paired with toasts. Both red and white sangria are delish (and priced to drink during happy hour!) I'd recommend this for a ladies happy hour or maybe for a late date. I've never been other than for happy hour, but reservations are probably highly recommended
I've lived in in the KC almost all my life and have no idea why I've never been to La Bodega. After meeting friends for tapas and sangria last night, it's a new favie!
We tried to make it before 6:00 for at least half off our pitcher of sangria, but sadly, parking made us late. That's ok. The hostess informed us there'd be about a 20 minute wait, which in reality was about 7 minutes. Fine by me!
2 of my 3 friends and I split a pitcher of the red sangria (Annie doesn't drink. Loser! JOKES.) and it was delicious. The tapas I got a share of were the tortilla espanola (so flavorful, but could have gone a little lighter with the red pepper aioli...next time I might order it on the side) and the baked goat cheese and tomato sauce with garlic toasts ("Queso de Cabra al Horno"...sure!). The free bread that came before our food was tasty as well. Our food came out quickly and we were happy campers.
Minus a star for:
-The cramped dining room (I can see why it's so crowded though)
-The dimmed light--a little too dimmed, and the constant flickering got a little annoying.
-Our server being a little too uppity. Service was good until I could tell he almost puked in his mouth when we asked him to take a picture of our table. Come on man! You could at least try to hide it!
All in all, I had a lot of time and enjoyed great food with great friends. A date would score huge points if he took me here. Of course, I'd have to get asked on a date first...*angry fist to god*
This place is fun, and great for get togethers after work, dates, parties, lunch, dinner, and any days that end in y. Did I mention that this place is fun? And after you have a pitcher of Sangria (choices of white or red), you'll agree. The atmosphere is relaxing, yet visually stimulating. There is definitely an ethnic vibe. I've never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music...and I love the small plate concept. If there is one thing that I love is to try many different dishes/courses. And if you're gonna indulge, my friend, I say Happy Hour is where it's at. Happy Hour is Monday - Friday 2 -6. Saturday 2-4. During this window of opportunity, you can choose from their tapas menu for 1/2 price, that includes the Sangrias (regularly priced $5.75 glass/ $25.00 for pitchers). Yeah Baby! My husband and I got "happy" for $18.75, before tax and tip. The fun included: 4 different tapas plates,the pork skewers, goat cheese and tomato sauce with crostini, Spanish tortilla, albondigas with garlic aioli, and 2 red Sangrias. The 2 Sangrias were for me, my husband, the love of my life, had Diet Coke...every party has a pooper...gotta love him, he's the Hubby! Ya gotta go. Go now. Take a friend. Spread the word. There's a party a La Bodega, just waiting for you.
LOVE LOVE it! We always like to try out places during happy hour to get a feel before going full price. We have always wanted to try a tapas resturant and now we are hooked. La Bodega is our new go to for drinks and tapas. We went there around 3 to beat the maddness of a weekend night. The atmosphere is fun and the staff is very friendly. Since we were there mainly for the drinks my husband ordered Dos Equis and I had sangrias. Along with our drinks we ordered the Pincho de Pollo y Chorizo(chicken and chorizo skewers) and Queso deCabra alHorno.(like bruscetta only better) We loved both and can't wait to try more. 5 stars all the way!
This place is awesome! Great happy hour - half price tapas, sangria and wine by the glass from 4-6 p.m. Delicious tapas - love the sauteed mushrooms and goat cheese spread. Also a fan of the chicken salad and meatballs, too. I've never eaten an entree at this place, though. It's really a favorite happy hour destination of mine.
I'm really big on the atmosphere, too. Here's a short description I wrote while waiting for my friend. Al frescoed walls covered in sumptuous nudes; tiled tabletops; whitewashed chairs and a long wooden bench against the wall with jewel-toned plush velvet pillows lining the length of it; a strategically placed fern, palm and cactus; old pitted hardwood floors; metal cutouts along the top of the windows with light streaming in; intimate groups of two or three huddled over wine and tapas.
The only drawback: parking on the street is the best, and it's scarce. If you park under the overpass, be prepared to have your car pooped on by pigeons.
Food is good, but overpriced for the quality.
I had two problems with the check at this place. The first time I brought a friend from out of town, the waitress imprinted his credit card for 20 dollars more than the bill. I guess that was her version of a good tip. When he called the "manager" claimed this was standard practice to place a hold for the tip. A 20 dollar hold? Well fine, I ignored the experience and then went back with a different friend and the same thing happened, except to me for 16 dollars over the check and tip amount.
Well I didn't call because of the hold story, after a week still there. I called back and was told it was "an error".
Well that's fine. I can eat at places with less mistakes.
Went here for a company Christmas party and had a blast eating tapas, drinking sangria and enjoying the atmosphere. The menu has a great variety on it, with something for everybody. Nothing stuck out to me as outstanding but nothing was bad either.
In the middle of a sea of Mexican restaurants that all seem to be the same thing, La Bodega is a nice change from the ordinary. Great atmosphere for a date or for hanging with friends.
Everytime I make a trip back home to KC I always stop in to La Bodega, my favorite tapas restaurant. The food and drinks never disappoint and service is always good. They will occasionally forget a plate you order but I am always so full I never really care. The red sangria is always a good choice as are the meatballs. I always leave with a belly full of goodness and a good buzz.
i have been going to this place for about 9 years or so. it was a regular desination when i lived in kansas city, and i am excited to go back when i am visiting. i want to say that, with the exception of my most recent visit, every time i've been to la bodega, i've massively enjoyed the ambiance, beautiful decor, the service, the food and - most of all - the drinks. this is one of those unique spots in the city that is exceptional not only for what it offers, but because there is is nothing else of the sort in the area. even if there were another tapas bar/restaurant in KC (which there might be and i'm simply unaware), la bodega would probably be the better choice.
there are many options: tapas de caliente y frio o carne y vegetariano, sangria rojo y blanco, paellas, etc., as well as an extensive drink menu with mojitos and coffee drinks.
most recent experience: i return to find sangria pitchers half the size they used to be, but still at $25 a pop. the potatas bravas were served room temperatre. the server was rather homely looking (i'm not superficial.... sorry). and the mojito - THE GREATEST MOJITO YOU WILL EVER FIND OUTSIDE OF HAVANA - is now served with................ sierra mist! i took one sip of it and almost spit it out onto the boulevard. shocked and in a state of disbelief, i told the waitress that the drink was made wrong and asked if i could have another. she apologized and suggested that "maybe there was too much sierra mist in it." sierra mist... in a mojito!
anyway, i do not know if it was just a bad night at la bodega or if they've seriously taken a turn for the worst in my absence. but honestly, if this was just a bad night for them, it's the first i've ever seen. i emphatically suggest trying them out if you've never been. if my last visit was just a fluke, then you'll likely have highly satisfying dining experience and feel your expense was worth it.... even though the city's department of health did once report roaches in the kitchen.
One of my favorite places to eat in the city. Love the food and staff!
hands down..
I've been here twice, once by myself for lunch and again last night with someone from work (she hates Yelp, and would be sooo annoyed if I mentioned her name).
The first time I went I was told about the Tapas plate of the day- built for one person, full of mini-versions of their chilled and hot tapas, mine came with 6 (see pics) and I thought it was PERFECT! It has a rice, hummus, meet, spanish omelet, salad....literally everything you'd need to complete a perfect meal. I definitely recommend this for anyone going by yourself or with someone else who has completely different tapas preferences as you.
I also got the berry-filled churros with whip cream (I was not watching what I ate at this point hahaha) and they were SOOOOO good, almost better than Disneyland's ;). And a mojito, which wasn't memorable but was't crappy either.
Last night we tried 5 different Tapas starting with the goat cheese baked in tomato sauce (great flavors, not the best goat cheese I've ever had). Then we had the grilled beef tenderloin with bleu cheese- AMAZING! It came with tiny strings of onion rings and salad and the flavors were so perfect together.
Next we got the skewered chicken with chorizo and garlic aioli. I love aioli. This dish had a big Indian influence to it (cumin I presume). Then we had potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce, which were just a great filler- nothing to write home about thought. We also got the scallops, but I HATE fish so....they weren't really delish in my opinion.
During the meal I also tried both the white and red sangria, both fabulous in freshness and flavor (alliteration much?). To end, my "date" ordered the flourless chocolate cake and tres leches. I tried a spoon of each...meh...not really that good (I'm not really a tres leches fan-but I've DEF had better). I'd recommend getting the churros over these two dishes.
Either way, both were great experiences, and I was sooooo impressed with their timing of the tapas, especially the second time around...in fact...everything seemed better the second time around, maybe cause I wasn't buyin'? ;)
Come on, we all know a meal tastes better when you're not buyin'!
5 stars again and again! i went to la bodega this past friday. this time tried the mushrooms, spinach and roasted potatoes. along with a pitcher of sangria. this is one of kansas city's finest treasures
i had the pleasure of going to la bodega on one of my visits to kansas city. i was amazed at the… Read more »
La Bodega is definitely a unique dining experience, its hard to find an atmosphere like it in KC. I've never had food there that I didn't like and the sangria is the best in the city. It's not necessarily a place you go to get full, but is great for a light meal and great conversation. The decor is fun and they have a cute patio with just a few tables outside. The service is good and waiters and bartenders are friendly. It can get a little pricey since nothing is overly filling and you just want to keep ordering, but its a fun experience.
Definitely get there during Happy Hour for half price tapas and sangria! I love the goat cheese and tomato sauce with baguettes and I think we had beef tenderloin the other night, which was tasty for sure. The only thing that bugged me was the flickering lights, which I had forgotten about until reading someone else's review and was really annoying. But get over it and enjoy some nice time with friends. Definitely a good place for a large group, especially in the corner.
I don't think it's possible for me to go to La Bodega without having Sangria. I have a Sangria obsession and theirs is fabulous.
Alcohol aside, this is a fun place to go eat. On the weekends there is a live band, which just helps the Spanish vibe that's going on. I really don't think there are any other places comparable to this one.
This place is small and fills up quickly on the weekend, so definitely make reservations. Also, the tapas are small and can get rather pricey, but it's worth going to at least once.
For a group of 4 or more, I'm not sure anywhere in KC can beat this place. As mentioned, this place is mainly known for their Tapas, and that's good, because they have a huge selection of them and they are all very tasty. I've been here several times with a larger group with at least 12 kinds of food and pitchers of sangria going around and had an absolute blast.
The decor is nothing out of the ordinary, but it has a sort of chic Mediterranean feel to it. I'm not anything even close to an interior decorator, so I take no liability if you walk in thinking I have no idea what I am talking about. You would probably be right.
Sitting outside here is nice, but it is literally just outside the underneath of I-35, so don't expect quiet.
The price is a tad on the high side. That is also why large groups tend to work better. If you just go with two people, getting 4-5 tapas and a few drinks will take you to $60 plus in a hurry.
Overall though, this place is great.
God bless my sister-in-law for taking us to this amazing restaurant! We do not have a tapas restaurant in Reno--apparently all of the Spaniards who move here open Basque places--so possibly my perception was a bit skewed by the fact that I was just so happy to be eating tapas. Still, this place is AWESOME! And did I mention the fact that they have an amazing happy hour with half-price tapas and sangria? I'm starting to drool just thinking about it again. There is not one negative thing I can say about this restaurant, so let me just go through the positives:
1) Tapas--SO good, SO cheap, and with seven people in our party, we were able to order tons and share them all. This is definitely the kind of place to hit with a larger group.
2) Sangria--Pitcher after pitcher. They have both red and white wine sangria, but we only had red. Really delicious and so refreshing. It is a great drink to just sit back and relax.
3) Atmosphere--Beautiful artwork everywhere and an airy, open space makes for one really cool restaurant!
4) Service--with the amount of food and sangria we were trying to put away before happy hour ended, we really put our server to the test. He remained gracious and friendly the entire time, though.
I can't recommend this place highly enough. Just go.
Neighborhood: Rivermarket
Category: French
Neighborhood: Volker
Category: Mongolian
Kansas City, MO
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Westport
Category: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Kansas City, MO
Category: Japanese
I lived here for 7 months...here's my take on…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in Boston…
Some of the pitstops on my many adventures…
Thank you, in-laws, for living in such a cool…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
