Bodega – Washington DC
3116 M St NW
Washington , D.C. 20007
(202) 333-4733
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VdV Rating: 3
Food: Spanish/tapas
Ambiance: Casual
PRO: Great food, good vibe
CON: Waits can be long
So we were desperately seeking a place to duck into during a recent torrential monsoon (I guess that’s about the only kind of monsoon…) in Georgetown. Something like 3″ of rain in 24 hours. Yeah yeah, we’re those wussies from SF who whine if it gets below 65 degrees or rains for more than 15 minutes. Nice to meet ya!
It was Saturday night in G-town so even with the rain, or maybe because of it, it was super quiet on the streets but almost impossible to get a seat inside anywhere. So we dodged into this cute little Tapas place, and put our names in for what looked to be a long wait. Bodega was packed, people. This place is narrow, with a bar on the right side that seats about 14-16 people. Or 8-10 fat asses (that’s approximately 1.6-1.75
fat asses to one normal ass, if you wondered about the conversion rate). There are small 2-top tables down the left side, then the space eventually opens up a bit in the back after the bar ends, and is pretty decent sized. Still feels cozy though. And they definitely had a good vibe going, a nice attractive crowd, everybody having fun and hunkerin’ in the bunker away from the crappy weather.
We caught the bartender’s attention, I can’t remember her name but she definitely appeared a tad bit frustrated by having to pour so many drinks. Waaahhh! Drinks = tips, woman. Or she just despises precipitation. We didn’t ask. We figured we’d save our precious breath to order a couple Sangrias. Which we did. It was about that time that we spied it…yes, a couple at the BAR just reviewing their bill and ready to sign and split. Better than dine and dash. Jackpot! So like a Rottweiler drooling over a raw steak, we positioned ourselves strategically to pounce when the time was right. And at that point entered the time-honored, silent dance of ‘Bar Seat Tango’ (AKA: ‘That seat’s mine bitch, get back’). Yes there were other contestants lurking around. But not really. Seriously. Not true competition, let’s just leave it at that. VdV are true pros. We crouched, we pounced, I think the other J hissed at a pathetic competitor or two, and we scored two beloved bar seats. And knocked about 30-45 minutes off our wait to boot. Bonus!
So moral to that story? Don’t F with VdV, bitches! Woo Hoo! Anyway, the food, you ask? Well, like I mentioned previously, Bodega is a Spanish Tapas place. I did say that, right? So, small plates, people. They have a very nice menu that ranges from the traditional/typical tapas to some more on the creative side of life. And all reasonably priced as well! Hey those Hoya punks might not get Daddy’s trust fund check in time, so might need some relief. Anyways. we got into it and ordered a slew. Here it goes!
Pan con Tomate y Jamón Serrano ($8), translation of which is Tomato Bread with Jamón Serrano. “Tomato bread, you say?” “Yes, I dare say.” “No you mustn’t.” “Yes I must.” “OK I’m gonna knock you out if you keep this up.” “You ignorant beast!” OK, enough. Sorry about that. Hey, what stupid fool doesn’t like ham on toast? This stupid fool does. Next, we savored the Pimientos del Piquillo a la Plancha ($7), which are Seared Piquillo Peppers with Sea Salt. This is a nice basic appy in most Tapas joints and these guys did it up right. The peppers mellow a lot after being seared, and these were tender yet still a teensy bit of crunch left to them. And the big chunks of sea salt balance the heat of the peppers perfectly. I mean, nothing to get weak in the knees about, but still damn good. Feel me?
Round 3? Champiñones al Ajillo ($7), Sautéed Button Mushrooms with Garlic. Yeah I know, we’re being pretty basic. Got a problem with that? I didn’t think so. These were pretty so-so. I dunno, the ‘shrooms were just a little wimpy soft and too garlicky. Next! Fancy this name: Vieras a la Plancha con Salsa Cremosa de Alcaparras y Salteado de Habitas Tiernas ($11). Say what? That dish uses every f’ing letter in the alphabet! What is it, really? Basically Seared Scallops in a caper Sauce with Fava Beans. Here’s where they got us – we both love seared scallops, those dirty little scavengers of the sea, I love Fava (or just loving saying the word ‘Fava’ over and over until the other J is tempted to hit me square in the face with a dinner plate), and the other J loves capers. No not like Scooby Doo capers, the salty little veggie. Or is it a legume, more specifically? Who knows, and WTF cares. TMI. Anyway, we dig this meal! The creamy caper sauce was surprisingly subtle, not too caper-ish or salty and the fava beans made a nice little bed of love that it all rested on. Awww.
OK, more. Damn we are pigs! Gonna cut to the chase here, kittens, my fingers (at least the two I use to type) are getting fatigued. We wrapped it up with two go-to dishes, the Croquetas de Pollo ($8), AKA Chicken Croquettes and the Patatas Bravas ($6), AKA IYNATYRAI (as in, If You Need A Translation You Are An Imbicile). These two dishes are staples for any Tapas joint, and in some ways the litmus test whether a Tapas place rocks or sucks. Both dishes were ‘pretty good’. Not great, but tasty ‘cuz unless you really screw them up they’ll taste dandy. The croquettes were good, the filling could have been a little more flavorful, but still good. The Patatas (OK, imbecile, Potatoes), were perfectly crisp and tender, we woulda liked a little more of that spicy tasty Aoili with them though.
The Sangria? I’m not really a Sangria bitch. Unless it sucks, for some reason I’m fairly happy. And this Sangria passed the test. I’m sure I’ve had better, but it definitely did the trick. That said, as opposed to other places we only had 2 rounds before switching to vino. Or was it Vodka?
VdV Rating: 3
Hours:
Sat – Sun: 11a – 3:00p
Mon – Fri: 11:30a – 3:00p
Sun – Thu: 3:00p – 11:00p
Fri – Sat: 3:00p – 12:00a
Bodega
3116 M St NW (between N 31st St & N Wisconsin Ave)
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-4733
