Hello my darlings! I realize it has been many months since I have written a blog post. Rest assured, it wasn’t because of anything bad! I got married, went on a fabulous honeymoon, that I promise to tell you all about, then it was the holiday season, and I am in the process of finishing my cookbook. I will spill all later on these many months of married life, but for now, I have a review to give!

Bodega Bar and Kitchen is a brand-new Latin themed restaurant in Philadelphia’s Midtown Village section. The food is beyond perfect, the cocktails are deliciously balanced, and the overall ambiance is warm, calming and exciting! Stavros and Alex Vasiliadis have created a beautiful gem in this intimate space.

The décor was amazing with dark colors, glass and brick walls, up lighting that didn’t distract, and a welcoming warmth that I can still feel. Alex said he wanted a romantic vibe at the restaurant, and he nailed it.

The food that was featured included crispy Brussel sprouts, that I never got to try because they were demolished in two seconds. There was a lovely beet gazpacho that was acidic, refreshing, and very well balanced. It paired very well with the featured cocktails. There were also these absolutely delicious pork croquettes! It had a lovely hoisin sauce, dried katsuobushi, and a spicy mustard.

Tasso y corn beignets were also featured this night. It came with Red Eye ice cream, and bacon fat powder.  The piece de resistance was the Pretzel Fried Pastrami Chicken. Think chicken and waffles but with an amazing selection of sauces, and house pickles n ferments. It was one of my favorite foods.

Now onto the drinks! All the bartenders did a fantastic job. Despite the crowd, or maybe because of it, they handled everything perfectly. I honestly couldn’t decide which drink was my favorite! The featured cocktails included the Especial Margarita with Campo Azul Blanco, lime juice, Luxardo triple sec and a lavender-honey syrup. The Diplomat featured Conniption Gin, Rosolio di 12 Bergamotto liqueur, lime juice and a dash of Peychaud. The Ginger Rodriguez was made with Orendain Reposado Tequila, 10 ginger syrup, lemon-lime juice, and bar spoon Mezcal. And finally, The Gypsy’s Ramblas, featured Appleton Estate Jamaican 10 rum, lemon juice, simple syrup, and a dash of bitters.

I can’t wait to go back for dinner and try more food from their menu. Everything I tried was fantastic. I have zero complaints. Please be sure to visit Bodega. You’ll love the decor, the super friendly staff, the cocktails, and the food!