Most Stone Ridge students shopping and enjoying a frosty winter day in Georgetown don’t usually think of eating Spanish tapas. The places that often come to mind may include Pizzeria Paradiso right on M Street, the Georgetown University students’ go-to, the Tombs, or Baked and Wired, nooked along a quiet side street. Gillian Tobias, ‘17, for instance, says she usually eats at either “Pizzeria Paradiso, Sweet Green, or Clyde’s” when in Georgetown. According to Gillian, Stone Ridge students typically think of some kind of American cuisine- not Bodega’s Paella de Pollo.
Bodega is located along central M Street, Georgetown’s main retail hub lined with vogue stores and posh boutiques. You can shop at Urban Outfitters and then walk right across to the other side of that same block to eat at Bodega. To passersby, Bodega’s black exterior may not seem especially inviting. Despite the restaurant’s somber external appearance, once inside, scintillating red accented décor and striking flavors promise an unforgettable culinary experience.
Bodega staff members seem to do their job satisfactorily, but they are not especially amiable. A lack of light reverberates against the restaurant’s black brick walls and prompts Bodega’s waiters to pay little attention to details such as drink refills. My drink was never refilled or replaced upon being finished. However, red chandeliers and half-red booths do serve to brighten the underlit space’s ebony aura a bit.
But what makes Bodega truly exceptional is its Spanish food. Spanish cuisine typically uses olive oil instead of butter. Good quality extra virgin olive oil with warm bread is brought out to customers. Small plates are brought to the table at different times so you can enjoy a few tapas at a time. Bodega is a great place for a group of friends, as you can try a few bites of various Spanish cuisine. Two tapas per person is a good number to order.
Some incredibly flavorful vegetarian tapas are Espinacas a la Catalana ($9), Setas a la Plancha ($9), and Patatas Bravas ($7). Espinacas a la Catalana is a Catalonian-style spinach. There’s nothing worse than overcooked spinach. Bodega’s spinach is perfectly wilted, and has just a few pine nuts, apples, and raisins for texture and added flavor. The Setas a la Plancha consists of grilled oyster and cremini mushrooms, coated lightly in the perfect amount of olive oil, parsley, and sea salt. Patatas Bravas are a Spanish staple. Walk into any tapas restaurant in Madrid and you will undoubtedly see Patatas Bravas on the menu. Bodega’s version of the native Spanish dish does the original one in Spain justice. Often served with red sauce and aioli, Bodega’s Patatas Bravas are topped with slightly spicy red bell pepper purée and light garlic aioli, which beautifully complement each other.
Bodega’s Calamares Fritos ($9) are airy, with an especially lightweight outer fried coating. They are served with the same whipped garlic aioli as the Patatas Bravas. The Brocheta de Solomillo de Ternera ($11) might be the most flavorful beef tenderloin around. Chunks of beef are skewered and grilled with red peppers, green peppers, onions, and cherry tomatoes. Make sure to move the chunks around in the extra flavorful jus at the bottom of the plate!
Definitely don’t order so many tapas plates that you don’t have room to share Bodega’s Paella de Pollo ($36). Pieces of chicken breast are engulfed by hot, steamy saffron rice in a typical large, shallow paella pan. If you are a rice or risotto fan, paella serves as a medium–it is not dry like regular rice, but not as heavy and creamy as risotto. Bodega’s paella transports you to a beachside restaurant in Barcelona, where you can simultaneously inhale the sea air and the saffron of the paella. The paella may seem pricy, so keep in mind that one order of paella comes in its own large, shallow pan and can easily serve up to four.
Bodega’s trademark black brick walls and bold flavors are most impressive. Make sure to order dessert; take some churros to go and dip them in melted chocolate as you make your way along M street and its alleyways!
Check out Bodega’s website: http://www.bodegadc.com/.
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