This place is amazing. The atmosphere is great, the vibe is laid back, and the drinks are phenomenal. I have eaten at all the "latin" places in and around the Boston area and Bodega is definitely in my top 5. It's not cheap but its definitely worth it. Super cool date night spot. read more

What a gem! My wife and I just moved to East Watertown in the fall and have been here three times already. Every time, the food has been nothing short of exceptional. I still have dreams about the grilled provolone. The empanadas, charred carrots and grilled octopus are excellent too (as is everything else). Terrific friendly staff in a charming, hip environment. Awesome, thoughtful wine selection. Prices are mid-range and fair. Looking forward to going back again soon! read more

My mother mentioned this place to me a while back and since it is a bit of a drive for me I forgot about it. My family and I went here to celebrate my brother's college graduation; we were a large group and due to some dopey mistakes on our part, some confusion happened with the reservation, however Analia and her staff were extremely kind and accommodating! First off, the wines were excellent and there was an extensive selection of Uruguayan wines that I had never seen before. My brothers got cocktails that were imaginative and excellent as well. One thing worth noting is we had a minor in our group and the bartender/owner was very happy and eager to make a non alcoholic cocktail for him, which generally is rare for bartenders so I really appreciated that. Food...outstanding. Its all tapas style and honestly pretty good for a large group so you can try all kinds of stuff. The food was fresh, balanced, unique, and absolutely delicious. My favorites were the Fideos Paella, the Empanadas, and the Beef Tongue. Ribeye is certainly worth noting too! Banana bread pudding was an excellent finish. It was definitely one of the best meals I have had this year so far! Service was excellent; the owners were so kind and helpful. Being a large party with people kind of blasting orders out, they were at tentative and I did not feel as though we had to wait for anything. I regret I do not remember our servers name but he was awesome. Last, the atmosphere was great. Really cool funky place with the train car situation, greenhouse style windows, and awesome decor and design. All in all, amazing experience and I was really happy we got to spend the evening here. I will definitely be coming back for dinner with my girlfriend. read more

We had our first meal at this long waited restaurant and it did not disappoint! The food was absolutely fabulous. Primarily a small plate menu with so many great choices. We had a hard time deciding and can not wait to go back to try more. Had the roasted beet salad, empanadas, a delicious mushroom dish, potatoes leek soup, and the signature beef sandwich. Can not say what was the best- loved them all. Fresh, high quality ingredients, and wonderful flavor profiles. The space is cozy and inviting and music was perfect. The service was attentive and pleasant. Truly no complaints- which is unusual for a new restaurant. LaBodega clearly knows what it is doing! read more

Go while this still is in its "soft opening" phase: once it gets discovered you'll never get a seat. Delicious food, lovingly prepared and served with style...a warm welcome...and an inviting atmosphere where you actually can hear each other speak. All that and easy parking. Fabulous find! read more

Truly a gem! Amazing food,the menu is so well thought out and executed. The mussels and octopus were some of my favorites, a great combination of different flavors coming so well together. The drinks were also super yummy, Caipirinha was great. Most importantly amazing customer service and great ambience! read more

Love! The meat is perfectly cooked, the mushrooms are scrumptious, and the sangria is divine. Let Lisa make you a cocktail. You won't be disappointed. (Ask for the Complicated Orange.) read more

La Bodega - Wonderful food and wonderful staff. Welcome to Watertown! - Spanish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Just went tonight with a friend and thought this was great - atmosphere was great, shared some tapas - the picada, empanada, beet salad, and the budin (kind of like a banana, caramel awesome crispy bread pudding) (sp?) . The picada was good, beet salad was very different with goat cheese, almonds and mint and the empanadas were small but so flavorful. The salsa on them was delicious. Everything was great, the service was wonderful and welcoming and really cozy! (Glad we got there early because it filled up fast. I will definitely go again. read more

To put it simply. Eat here you will not regret it. But because this restaurant deserves more than something simple; from the second you walk up, this restaurant offers a one of a kind experience. It has claimed an old rail car as its home nestled in a quaint neighborhood in Watertown. Every part of the menu will have you wanting to lick your plate despite what everyone else in the restaurant will think. The mussels! Need I say more, and the family, and the off the menu duck (trust me call ahead and put in your order... we watched it come out and our jaws hit the floor), and watching the pastry chefs working their magic at the end of the bar, and the freshness... AND THE DESSERTS! To say we left happy isn't enough, we left feeling like we were invited to our best friends parents house for family dinner and were sent off with our leftovers wrapped special by mom. "This is the food we eat at home". Our stomachs are full and our hearts are happy. Do your soul a favor and stop by for an unforgettable experience. read more

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The food and atmosphere is fantastic here. I highly recommend going and trying the shortbread cookie desert, it's to die for!

I absolutely love the food, the place, cocktails are amazing and the staff are genuinely nice and friendly. I come to "La Bodega" as often as I can (and yes, I am eating here right now, I didn't want to forget to review them!) read more

This place is fabulous! Amazing food, great service, drinks are delicious! We have tried many tapas places in and around Boston and this one is the most amazing one! read more

Great dining experience! It was such a cozy spot to enjoy on a cold January evening. There are two sections - bar area with tables and a converted railway car - and both are nice. We were greeted warmly when we arrived and experienced great service from the entire staff throughout the evening. The menu is primarily tapas, but we had the roasted duck, which was tender and delicious, paired with a nice sourdough stuffing, roasted pear, carrots and potatoes - a truly great meal! We started off with the grilled provolone and kale salad appetizers, which were both exceptional, as well. We enjoyed a smooth Tannat wine from Uruguay and we wrapped up with a fabulous bread pudding for dessert. Warm, friendly and efficient service, top notch menu items and a nice atmosphere....we will definitely be making a return visit soon! read more

I was staying at the Residence Inn, Boston Watertown, and wanted to eat something small and tasty. I noticed there was a tapa place: La Bodega and walked to it. I ordered empanadas, white gazpacho and ended with alfajores (traditional cookies). In addition, I enjoyed a Rioja red wine. I was very happy with the flavors, texture and presentation. Definitively, a place to visit again. The music and decoration is relaxing and the service friendly and professional. A hidden piece of Spain. read more

Had a great time here this weekend! Wine selection was fun and food was great. Would definitely come back here for another night out with friends or the bf on a date! read more

Not only delicious and creative, but the staff are simply wonderful! I came here for a ladies dinner, and it certainly did not disappoint! I had the Spanish 75 (yum) as well as the Sangria, and they were both perfection. The octopus was delicious, very tender octopus and flavorful potatoes and sauce, the mushrooms with a perfectly poached egg was excellent, and the beet salad was one of our favorites! And we got 3 desserts to share and they were all simply delectable. I would definitely come back here. The ambience feels like being in Harvard Square, but it is WAY easier to park :) Highly recommended! read more

Don't eat here unless you want to watch the owners berate their employees and get ignored to the point that you consider leaving

The best meal I have had since COVID started! My wife and I were frequent visitors pre-virus, and this was the first time back. The food was even better than before, which is difficult since it was always great. The three specials were top shelf - corn soup, halibut, and sweetbreads. Followed up with rib eye and mushrooms. Great job! read more

Took my family here for my Dad's birthday. They were happy to have a place to get native/home flavors dishes. The ambience is clean, simple, but cozy. Plates are tapas style, made to share, and everything has such great flavor. If you want the duck, a specialty of the house, call ahead as much as possible as they are limited. Also the cocktails are definitely worth a try. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my 'date night' at La Bodega. The candle-lit tables and dim lighting helped to create a romantic and intimate atmosphere. Our server recited the multiple specials with ease from memory. She seemed very knowledgeable about every item, including wines, on the menu. Every dish we tried was delicious and attractively plated. A great value too. read more

I had such a great experience here! I love eating tapas style and La Bodega totally delivered on well-crafted and outstanding flavors with each dish we ordered. It was my first time trying Uruguayan wine, not only did I really enjoy it, it paired perfectly with the food. I will definitely be back! read more

We went here with whole family last weekend but everyone was disappointed! I chose this restaurant based on the review and photos on Yelp. The environment is good, most of food is good, waitresses are nice! BUT we were all disappointed because it does not worth the money. It is truest over priced and I don't see why. A six tinny carrot for $10, 2 tiny empanadas for $10 which were not delicious and really small. The only one worth the money was the Spanish ham: $17 but with reasonable quantity. Won't come back read more

First time and it was great! Atmosphere and food was amazing and the hostess was so nice and attentive...there was a big party next to us which we were told in advance and it was fine but she was so concerned about the party she apologized and brought us a free desert... which she did not need to do and so sweet! We will be back... read more

Amazing! The drinks, the food and the decor, always make this place a top choice for a Saturday night, it is also very romantic if you sit in the old subway car area... the owner is the sweetest and always makes sure you leave happy and the bartender makes the most delicious cocktails. Make sure you leave room for dessert! read more

They have the best food here. Chef is vey nice. Also waiters are great. Food is a little pricy but it is totally worth it. I love Bodega

Unbelievably delicious food and drinks!! Service is also wonderful! See the screenshot of my full review from their FB page. read more

La Bodega - This is my full review from their Facebook page... - Spanish Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Another exceptional dinner at La Bodega. Gabriel and Analia maintain their standards of excellence in food and service. Even with the long drive in from the 'burbs, La Bodega has become our favorite "go to" restaurant. Dinner last night with old friends who now join us with their accolades for La Bodega. On our way out we made a reservation to dine together in a few weeks and once again enjoy the food, the service, and the hospitality at La Bodega. Among our favorites dishes: the duck ham, ceviche, empanadas, devilled eggs, ... Hard to pick favorites when everything looks and tastes so great. read more

I went here with high expectations from the reviews. We sat at the bar and instead of a bartender tending to us a waitress would come behind us and take our order. However behind the bar were at least 5 people, not sure what they were doing but not tending bar. Had to flag our waitress down to order another drink because there was no bartender and no one asking us if we wanted another drink. The wine servings are one of the least amount in a glass I have ever seen - they spend so much time in the corner pouring it and making sure it's not too much - really disappointed with the pour. We ordered the short rib special and it was very small and so fatty and tough we returned it - they did comp which was appreciated. The prices are high for what you get. read more

Fantastic food and drinks. Super accommodating and welcoming. Wait staff very professional. Will certainly return.

Excellent food! The milanesa and the budín de pan were like back in my country. The service very nice. however it was a little chaotic as the waiters were inexperienced (coffee came before desert for instance). Decoration is nice. The place was quite noisy. They really need some soundproof. Another possibility is to reduce the number of tables and extend the open hours to more "normal" (till midnight) as in Montevideo read more

This will be my first and only dining experience here.My companion and I were greeted by the hostess who refused to acknowledge our reservation by saying we did not call her back to acknowledge that she received our request earlier in the day. When shown the restaurant number on our phone to prove the call was made she told us all she had was seating at the bar. No problem, until we got into the bar seats which are extremely small and uncomfortable. The service was slow, the food unremarkable and watching the prep staff put dishes together with bare hands while touching handles, knobs and other non food items behind the bar was an eye-opener. For small plates we'll stick with Barcelona, Cuchi Cuchi and Dali. I really wanted to love this place. read more

I wanted to LOVE this restaurant-- it's in my neighborhood, I generally love small plates, the decor and atmosphere are fabulous, and the management is extremely friendly. However, these small plates are ridiculously small for the prices charged ($14 for one prawn or a cup--not bowl-- of 9 mussels). And the preparations were quite hit or miss (the prawn tasted simply fishy, the beet salad was quite good). The menu is also extremely limited , unless you are a huge ham fan. Definitely not for vegetarians. With some tweaking, this could be a great restaurant, but I would not return until changes are made. read more

This place is NOT kid friendly! We had reservations for 830 and were seated at almost 9. When we got to our table the owner realized we had a kid with us. He was watching movies on his phone and you didn't even know he was there. She told us the volume was to loud before we even sat down. When i asked the other tables if they can hear the phone people said NO all you here is people talking. So we were asked to leave. Very RUDE service and people read more

Really bland food. We had the rudest server. Nice ambience overall. The hostess was very nice. But everything else was disappointing.

We had our company Xmas party the other night as part of their preopening. Everyone commented on how good the food, ambience, and personnel were. Gabriel is a superb chef and Analia was a great hostess. read more

An amazing experience! First of all the building itself is gorgeous, and with the dim lights and classy European music it would be a perfect spot for a romantic first date. The staff was extremely welcoming, kind, and attentive. Delicious and creative cocktails. There was a wide selection of tapas that were all reasonably priced. Every dish had incredible flavor--we ordered the charcuterie/cheese/olive board, the wild mushroom plate, the quail, and the beef empanadas. Wow. One of my favorite restaurants in Boston, hands down! read more

I went here with a date for drinks and got their beet salad (they were able to make it vegan for me). It has a romantic and modern vibe to it. I would definitely go again! read more

I came here last night with a friend visiting from California. This place is amazing. Not only its set up and fine art work. It is astoundingly great. All the food was amazing. The owner and Chef are Artists. They are meticulous with everything they do. I had some plates and every plate was delicious. The desserts were mind blowing. I had a crafted cocktail and it was beyond any thing I can say. The ambience and even the bathrooms were so cool I am just astounded. I was happy to be one of the first to be here. I am almost emotional about how good this place is. I can not say enough. I wish I could go here everyday. People staff all are super genuine and nice. I am at a loss for words. Do yourself a favor and go to this place and thank me later. I have been around the world from London to Spain to Australia to Hawaii and I have never met a place with such character and also delicious crafted menu items. Unfrickin real. read more

Our first time visiting, and we loved it ! All orders were great, the salmon and ribeye were cooked to perfection, the provolone cheese was amazing too,and if you like mushrooms- their artichoke mushroom dish had such a pleasant taste- our waitress- Kristy? Was amazing! She was like super Kristy! She was everywhere and was fast and accommodating to our requests! I don't know how she does it,but she made our visit all the more enjoyable.portion sizes are smaller but matches the price I guess ? Great place ! read more

Still soft open to you have to take that into account. The food was very good. The service was slow and spotty. Love the atmosphere. Will will definitely be back. They have to hire more waitstaff and servers. Lots more! And put them through some serious training classes! read more