By Abhishikta Mallick
The trendy Aztec staircase leading up to one of the prettiest restaurants in Khan market really sets the tone for what's coming. Run by two super hospitable sisters, La Bodega is lively, relaxing and warm, all at once. Set across two levels, the restaurant is spacious and thoughtfully decorated, with quirky artifacts and murals to keep the diner amused and engaged while waiting on the bebidas and aperitivos.
The tequila sour {margarita + whiskey sour} was a dream come true. However, the voluptuous Berry Margarita, whose spirit ought to have been captured in a ginormous salt rimmed glass, was instead served in a small martini glass.
A hearty serving of guacamole should be an essential part of your meal; here, it easily outshone all other appetizers. Served with homemade chips, the fresh avocado sings a Cuban melody, and though pricey, it is a constant reminder of the character of the eatery. We also tried the Atún {tuna} Tostadas and El Cabezon de Cochinita Pibil Taquitos {pulled pork tacos with an artichoke marinade}. Both had decent toppings, but completely missed the bread mark. That said, the simplicity and portion size of some of the dishes just did not justify the cost.
The slight slump in our excitement was more than made up for with the duck leg {pato en mole negro} and red snapper {lomo de huachinango con salsa veracruzana}. Perfectly cooked, delicately spiced and a well balanced dish standalone, the mains were definitely the highlight of our meal at La Bodega.
These were followed up by two great desserts – the unique tres leches {which is essentially a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk} and the crowd pleasing churros. Everything is tiny and dainty, including the churros, which takes away from the magic of the soft chewy centre, as the crispy finger-licking oiliness is more prominent.
Like all new kids on the block, La Bodega is still trying and testing the perfect fit, so we can only imagine the food getting better, as the service, decor and music is pretty perfect.
Notes in our Little Black Book |
An ideal place to chill with a girl friend – however, a guacamole, a drink and main each with dessert will set you back approx INR 2,000 each, so you must love each other and really savour the priceful moments together.
Where: La Bodega, 1st Floor, 29 B Middle Lane, Khan Market {Opposite Mamagoto}
Contact: 011 43105777
Price: INR 3500 for two {for a hearty meal}
Featured image courtesy: La Bodega
