Original posting was made April 9th, 2009.
Overall it wasn't quite at where I would call it excellent, but it was a nice change from the usual appetizer, entree and desert.
The Mushroom Strudel was rich and creamy inside yet crispy on the outside, and had just the right mushroom flavour to satisfy the mushroom lover. The balsamic vinegar reduction they drizzled over the top added a slight hint of sweetness and acidity to balance the richness of the filling, however I found it an unnecessary addition.
The Calamari was one of the most tender I've ever had, with the ancho chili aioli making the dish better than it would have been with a traditional tzatziki sauce and elevated it to a fine dining level.
The Foi Gras with truffles was quite heavy with truffle, which overpowered the delicate flavour of the foi gras itself. I think they could have substituted some of the truffle with a lighter krimini or even portabello flavour to reduce the intensity of the truffle.
The Tiger Prawns in Chipotle Tequila butter had a nice selection of vegetables which accompanied them, and the prawns themselves were very well cooked and tender. The chipotle tequila butter was a bit of a let down however, the only real addition I noticed was the heat of the Chipotle which overpowered any tequila flavour. I also found the compound butter's flavour very one dimensional, and I think that reducing the amount of chipotle and adding a complimentary flavour such as Lime would have given the sauce a much more balanced and palatable flavour rather than just adding the heat of the chipotles.
Lastly we had the Chorizo and Mushroom Tostada. This is a "pizza" type of meal made on tortillas to have a very thin crust. The house made chorizo was definitely an interesting twist to the dish, and it took a bit to get used to the foreign smell of the sausage.
Overall I would have to say that most of the food was trying a bit too hard to be ... Read Moremore than it was through over seasoning with specialty products (like truffles, chipotles and very strong chorizo). Not that it wasn't an enjoyable meal, but the menu gave the impression of up scale dining, and that really wasn't quite fulfilled in the completion of the dishes.
I should make mention of the atmosphere to give a complete review. La Bodega is located right downtown, in what I believe is a large classic home. The dining areas are quite cramped, and some of the tables are just barely large enough to hold 2 tapas plates and the small plates you use to eat off of. The clientele we saw were incredible diverse, making the dining experience slightly less enjoyable by the rowdiness of some of the restaurants patrons (I should mention however that this could have been a result of expectations arising from the preview of the menu, which seemed to promise a more upscale cuisine.)
Overall I give La Bodega a 7 out of 10, and that is simply because the pretentiousness of the menu was not lived up to in either the atmosphere or the execution of the dishes.
May all your meals be dine-o-mite.
Bob
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