The first time I tried this place the Cuban sandwich was pretty decent. When they relocated, the quality of the food went down the drain in my humble opinion. I noticed that the meat on the sandwich's were dryer than dryer sheets for laundry. I remember tasting the bread and it had a soggy texture which wasn't doing it for me (I cannot stand soggy bread). I noticed that the prices went up and the portions seemed like a rip off when it came to ordering sides. The sweet plantains also taste burnt and over-cooked every single time I've been here. If you're looking for a better solution I would take yourself to The Floridian. In my humble opinion, this place is basic and there are plenty of other spots in town that carry better quality latin food. Trust me, I'm a foodie. You will thank me after you get one of Tampa Bae's best Cuban sandwiches at The Floridian. Put your money where your mouth is and ditch this place. I know what I'm talking about. I do not approve this place if you're expecting tasty Latin style food. The only thing I would recommend is the mango smoothie they have here. read more

This was not a good place. Everything in the building smelled like dead rats they have fans going. The ACs were not working too much and the employees were so busy with their phones that they were not paying the customers any mind unless they need to be seated, but if they were there like me for a DoorDash, forget about it read more

We tried this place on a Sunday afternoon. It was easy to place our order and grab a table inside. It took about 20 or so minutes for our order to come out but the server apologize for the wait. I enjoyed my tempeh plate. The Maduros were not as sweet or soft as I normally like, but they were still tasty. I also enjoyed the black beans and rice. The tempeh was cooked to perfection. I also asked for an extra creamy and sweet café con Leche, and this establishment delivered on that. My husband got the Pollo plate he was moderately satisfied. Overall the food, servers and service was pretty good. read more

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Get ready for one of the best Cuban sandwiches you'll EVER have. We came here post-Christmas to treat my family to one of the many great Cuban places in the St Pete / Tampa area, and Bodega did not disappoint. We all got Cafecitos (espresso shots with sugar) and Cuban Sandwiches with sides of maduro (fried plantains). There was a wait & longer line but it moves quickly and the service was great. The restaurant is order at window and then sit down. The sides of Maduros were enough for 2 people to share and sandwiches are very large. YUM!! read more

Bodega - Cafecito - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

I was desperate to find a Cuban sandwich to eat while I was in Florida, and my friend found this place and took me here on the way to the airport. Even though I just went through some food poisoning issues, I was determined to get my hands on this sandwich. Bodega did not disappoint. My friend also really enjoyed her sandwich and bought another sandwich to take home to her fiancé. I'm so glad we found this place to eat at before I flew out! Will be back here the next time I'm back in Florida! read more

Bodega - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

It was my first time here. The service was great. Food was delicious. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was one of the best ones I've had in town. read more

This may be the closest place to bring me back to good Cuban food after leaving Miami. You order outside at the ventana and then you can go inside and find a seat and your name will be called for your food. The interior is spacious and combination of bar stools, booths, and tables. The pollo asado was pretty darn good. It was seasoned/marinated well. Touch of lime (or maybe mojo). The beans could've had a little more seasoning and the rice was a little mushy, but that didn't hinder the experience. Having a side of plantain is always a must!! It just balances out the dish so well. Will definitely be back! read more

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I came here for the first time not long ago. They have indoor and outdoor seating and you typically order from the window outside. I ordered the Cubano sandwich and got the hibiscus drink, and it was all super tasty. The sandwich was so big I had to take half home. A couple things that keep me from giving a full 5 stars are that my order actually went to someone else by accident. They remade it after I realized I'd been waiting a little longer than usual, and it was ready in minutes. But I did observe that names were only called a couple times, and the server would breeze through the restaurant so quickly that you really needed to pay attention. It didn't help that the music was louder than it should have been. I still like the spot because of the food, but I think they just need to focus a little more on the general ambience. read more

Bodega - At the bar - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Amazing place to get my Latin "completa" fix!! Ever since we moved here from Miami I have been looking for good Latin food nearby, and this place definitely cures my cravings! Plus there is a really cool speakeasy hidden in the back, perfect place to grab some drinks!! read more

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I still love this place! It never disappoints! I went back again when visiting and they expanded their menu a bit, but I still got my old faithful's! read more

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Yummmmm this was some tasty food! This was one of the few places open after we hit a few bars and we really lucked out. We had a Cuban sandwich and rice and beans and really enjoyed everything! The service was fast and very friendly and just a nice experience overall. The interior is cute and the outdoor dining area is nice too! read more

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Bodega is one of my top restaurants in St. Pete. I don't think i've ever had a bad dining experience here. They semi-recently moved into a bigger space and you order at an outside window (weather permitting). They have a selection of indoor and outdoor seating w/ a really cute interior. When it comes to ordering, I usually recommend the plato over the sandwiches, namely because i feel it's a better value. My absolute favorite at bodega is the lechon plato which comes with pork alongside rice, beans, and plantains (as all platos do). The pollo asado plato is also great and i enjoy their cuban sandwich. A plato with tip usually runs about $15 which is fair considering the portion size and restaurant location. The plantains are always cooked amazingly and make the plate for me. I cannot recommend this place enough and as a st pete native i absolutely love the place. It has the ratings it does for a reason read more

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Meal came with rice and beans. Super salty. Food looked good (the juice was good) but looked better than it tasted.

FIRE!!!! Excellent Cuban food, finger lickin good!!! Get the lechon plate you will not regret it. Platanos are perfect every single time. Squeeze a little lime on top of the plate for added flavor. The rice and beans are amazing every time. Consistent flavor that will blow you away. I cannot recommend this place enough, one my favorite st pete restaurants. Order at the window and they will call your name when it's ready. They have indoor and outdoor seating. If you come late night, they have a speak easy at the back of the bar, just slide the door open for more fun. read more

Bodega - Lechon Plato - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

I was going to give this 4/5 stars, but it's just not right to not grant this place a 5/5 rating. It's cheap ($11-$12), relatively quick (10-15mins), extremely flavorful, and consistent! For me, what bumped it up to the 5/5 status is the consistency. I've been here twice now and that's no record, I know, but both times have been outstanding. The sandwiches are good portions and quality ingredients with inventive twists. My picture features the "Pollo Asado" sandwich and I highly recommend it! It includes slices of coconut and mango along with a light mango mayo, plus avocado and chicken. Very tasty and unique. I've also had the "Lechón" sandwich..you really can't go wrong with either. If you're in st Pete and craving a quick, reasonable, filling and tasty option - you gotta swing by this spot! read more

Bodega - Pollo Asado - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

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Food is delicious, the sandwiches especially because of the crispy bread. FYI the sandwiches should be eaten asap because it stops being crispy if saved for a while. I won't make that mistake again read more

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Very cute sandwich shop! We arrived and it was raining, so we opted to go inside. The inside was very clean and nice and bright. The staff was extremely friendly and very helpful to order anything on the menu. We ordered the chicken sandwich and the jicama salad as well as Maduros. The girl that was helping us, Tracy, was extremely friendly, and a shout out to making sure that you check in so you can get a free Cortadito! She warned us that the portions were very big so we shared one sandwich. Unfortunately, the spicy sandwich was too much for me. My husband had to scrape off the sauce from the bread for me LOL. The maduro's were very nice, they were on the dryer side with flecks of salt on it. It was delicious. The jicama salad was a little too spicy for me, so I didn't really enjoy that either. However, the pastry, oh Em Gee, the pastry! They get it from the bakery from Ybor city and it was spectacular! I was trying to behave myself where I would have ordered another. Overall, would definitely go back and try some different things. The staff was wonderful and the girls that came around to the table to make sure that you were OK, they were absolutely amazing as well. We enjoyed our time there and they also have fresh juices. I could not find the menu for that, so I just got another Cortadito. Will visit again when we are in the area. read more

Bodega - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

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In town passing through and wanted a Cuban, Bodega did not disappoint! Everything about the Cuban was dialed in to perfection. It was an explosion of flavors nested between a perfectly crunchy yet fluffy Cuban bread! Also great customer service, ambiance, and all around very good experience! Highly recommend! read more

Bodega - The Cuban is a must! Everything about it was FANTASTIC! - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Had one experience at the hidden bar and one experience getting food. The back bar was fun, but small. My boyfriend and I came in for lunch on a Saturday. We sat at the bar inside (barstools) and we're greeted right away. We got menus and waters quickly. I tried to order a Paloma, but they were out of grapefruit juice so I opted for a margarita. It was good. For food, I chose the Pollo Asado plate and boyfriend ordered Cuban Sandwich with Black Beans and Rice. After we ordered we were pretty much ignored and watched (and listened) as order after order came out. After waiting quite a while I had to ask for someone to check on our order. We then watched some scrambling in the kitchen and was told it would be 5 minutes. I'm thinking we were forgotten about. The food saved them. The chicken was seasoned and cooked wonderfully and the beans and rice were deliciously flavorful. The Cuban was also delicious. We had enough to take home and have for dinner. read more

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I like Bodega a lot! The service is fast and efficient, and there's typically plenty of seating space. Prices are good for the quantity and quality of food that you get. I've personally had the tofu and tempeh platos, and I really enjoy both. My friends eat meat and have said that you should skip the chicken (never had a friend really enjoy it) and go for the pork. Definitely a great spot for a delicious meal! read more

I am writing this to make a bold claim... Opinions vary but this is our favorite Cuban sandwich in the greater Tampa Bay area! West Tampa Sandwich Shop is our historical sentimental second favorite but Bodega blew us away. We've tried dozens of local, hidden and famous Cuban sandwich spots in Tampa, Clearwater and St Pete and Bodega is our winner! I called ahead and ordered for pickup. Parking at noon on Sunday afternoon on Central Ave was a major challenge but I like challenges! I parked on a side street off of 1st Ave S and had a nice stroll to Bodega. It's next to Bacon Bitch which was slammed and happening but we've never thought the food there is worthy of a return trip. Bodega was busy also but the great gentleman behind the counter had the order for Dave ready and waiting! Thanks man for reminding me to take my credit card from the machine thingy! Our Cuban sandwiches were generous, crunchy, flavorful with plenty of tasty roast pork. Ok my gosh they were awesome even though we didn't eat them 'til we got home. I still have some leftovers for today! Yea! Life is great with fabulous Cuban sandwiches! read more

Wow!! Genuinely surprised with how delicious the food was. As a Cuban, I am skeptical to try Cuban places outside of Miami and Ybor. However, Bodega exceeded my expectations. Something that stood out to me was the fresh plantains. Most places, even "authentic" restaurants, will use frozen plantains. These were so delicious, they reminded me of home. Moreover the serving size was huge! I always expect a generous amount of food at Hispanic restaurants, but I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that this much food (easily 2 servings) was only $13. My fiancé also tried a margarita from the bar area, which was fantastic. I am very excited to return to try more stuff on the menu! read more

Bodega - Pork Platter - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Always have loved their sandwiches from their first location with the window and small seats. Their new concept with the bar in the back is cool and the food is still great. I will say recently their service has declined . It seems like you're always bothering the staff even when just ordering your food . read more

Wow 30 -40 min! Was strange to watch others that arrived way after us get food quick but they must have mixed up order! The is good but serve is bad read more

I ordered the Cuban sandwich yesterday. It was outstanding!! The wife ordered the Lechon sandwich. Hers was excellent too!! I would say that the only issue was that it took 20 minutes to get it versus 10. Our friends ordered after we did and got their meals before us. Not sure what was the issue but we didn't complain we had good company. Area was clean and very open. When you come back to St Pete, we definitely will eat here again. read more

The Cuban sandwich was fantastic but the black beans were too tangy for my taste. I like a more mellow flavor in my black beans so that was disappointing but the Cuban was good. read more

Bodega is a great spot that can serve a variety of needs: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc I've gotten their tofu sandwich but it was pretty dry and bland, so after discovering the tempeh Plato that's a go-to. The dish balances nicely with the rice and beans, refreshing slaw, slightly pickled jalapeño, and platanos. But the tempeh is next level - probably one of my favorite preparations at a restaurant! I don't know what spice mixture they use but it's so delicious. Their Cuba libres are strong and definitely worth it! I'm giving 4 stars for the food, and while everyone who works there is really nice, there has been an error on someone's order every time I've been. Sometimes they're out of ingredients but didn't tell us, another time my friend ordered a Cuban sandwich and they came out with two, and the person who took our order insisted my friend ordered two when all 3 of us knew that wasn't the case. We accepted it because we know how difficult the industry is, especially under Covid! So just a warning but it wouldn't ever dissuade me from going. The atmosphere is nice too, a large indoor space and a good amount of outdoor seating on the sidewalk too. read more

Bodega - Tempeh Plato and Cuba libre - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Amazing, just amazing. I was not really a Cuban sandwich kinda guy, but then along came Bodega, or I finally came along. Anyways go, go now. Get the plantains with the spicy aioli, sweet spicy yes! Service was fast. Cool spot on Central. read more

Honestly the sandwich are good everything else even the drinks are terrible. The service is not that great. If you want something quick fine but don't dwell on it. I don't usually do a review unless it wasn't great so here you go read more

Super disappointed the last two times I've visited. I've also noticed the line hasn't been as bad as it used to be... So maybe other people are having similar experiences. This sandwich was dry and lacking all flavor. read more

Bodega - So very very dry... This is not the sandwich I used to Crave. Probably won't be back after this. - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

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Just moved to Florida so I was excited to try Cuban sandwiches. Got the Cuban here and I must say...it was the best thing ever! Holy smokes....Im so happy I came here and I will def be back. Everyone who worked here was really nice as well. read more

I would rate this place a 3 star if it weren't for the fire Cuban sandwich. Guest service was a bit off, woman at the front wasn't the nicest and the man running the side order window was a bit too sarcastic to be taking customers orders. Other than that, best Cuban sandwich I've had ever!! read more

Bodega - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Quite possible the best Cuban food on Central. They have a cool pick up/order window, well decorated inside, and even a speakeasy in the back. The service is always very friendly and quick and never disappoints. Whenever I'm in the area and hungry I end up getting Bodega. 10/10 would check them out. read more

Came here with a friend who was visiting and we ordered the Pollo Azado Sandwitch, the plantains, jicama , cortadito coffee, regular iced coffee, a smoothie and everything was soo GOOD! Services was fast! Cute place.. we really enjoyed ourselves here! If you sit outside.. make sure it's shaded but it's fun to people watch. Also you get to see so many fury friends read more

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Everyone in St Pete is already in line here so if you're reading this, you are not a St Pete resident. Well go get in line, I don't think you need to hear it from me. Ok you're still here. Well. Lots of vegan options and they don't mind you customizing. I recommend the tempeh Cuban. The maduros (fried overripe plantains) are delicious. I would say the tempeh dish that comes in a basket is sort of boring, not very flavorful - that's the one dish I'd skip. They don't have much seating so your best bet is to park away a bit and just enjoy walking the area (the neighborhood is called the Edge District, because it's a weird federal loophole zone where you can drink alcohol outside if you're near a stadium and a river - and it is that). Maybe get a drink or whatever and then wander here, get some handheld foods and wander on to the next bar - like the Independent, Green Bench, Overflow, McAuley's, Avid, etc. read more

A casual quick spot to grab sandwiches, juice and coffee. Stopped by and grabbed the Lechon sandwich which was AMAZING. had a strong garlic/onion flavor and the bread was perfectly crisp on the exterior yet still soft on the interior with pulled pork. Ordered by the side window then self seated on the inside to eat, but also had a few tables for sidewalk seating as well. Looking forward to returning to grab a snack when I'm in the St. Petersburg area. read more

Bodega - Interior - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

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Always fun to visit Central Ave in St. Pete, have to wonder how all of the places stay busy! Bodega has that almost perfected and the constant stream of business is proof! Walk up window to order my new fav tempeh platter , tasty with slaw, maduros, and rice and beans! Even the lime and onions are included without having to ask! Hubby and I split the platter and one tempeh pressed sandwich, sat outside and enjoyed our lunch! Only improvement would be to add more fruit or let it sit longer for the agua fresca... now it is more of agua linda , no flavor , just pretty colored water... so skip it! Have not tried a smoothie from their place next store, will have to try and save room next time! read more

Bodega - Enjoying lunch out on the town again! - Latin American Near Me - St Petersburg, Florida

Great Food, any time you have a bad mood just come here, people are super nice, my favorite restaurant so far. come and check it out read more

I've had a two visits to Bodega. Last Spring it was a late night with friends after drinks. I recalled I loved my dish and the bar service was fun and efficient. When moving to a table however the service was not as good thus a four star. Bodega is known for their Cuban sandwiches and they are phenomenal! The location is in downtown and they now have a few stores, but keep in mind same owner and they are local. Parking is off street. They are touristy in that everyone recommends, so expect busy! I was dropped off in an uber on a Saturday night around 1045 and they were packed! The line was to the street. Seating up front is not big, a few tables were occupied. The bar had one seat that I grabbed. There is a larger area to sit in the rear. The vibe was cool with elevated music from hot rod cars and loud motor cycles. Service was immediate and friendly by female staff. I looked over a menu provided and ordered a café con Leche which is a Spanish beverage consisting of strong coffee and scalded milk. I adore the drink as it reminds me of days in Little Havana when I lived in Miami. Friends pulled me to a table in front for dinner so I cashed out. Service at the table was slow to get orders, but the young male was nice. I ordered a Lechon which is pork, black beans and plantains. Prices are fair for basically Latin street food. My dish arrived around 15 minutes later and was hot. The pork was plentiful and super! The beans alright. The plantains scrumptious and too few of them. The meal was a little skimpy for my appetite but nonetheless great! A prior visit I had the Cuban sandwich and it's hype!!! A must try for a first timer. I recall the spicy slaw that gets raves was a miss for me. I have them on my list for a return trip and you know it will be the Cuban sandwich again. 4.5 rounding down. Use a yelp check-in for a FREE Cuban coffee. read more

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Best Cuban food we've had! Service was great, price for the plates seemed high at first but the portion sizes were huge, gonna have 2 full meals if you order one of them. Cuban sandwich was stacked with pork and flavorful. Will be back! read more