La Bodega - Kansas City

I've been to Spain so I'm kind of biased when it comes to paella and sangria. So overall I would say I would try this restaurant again. The food was good. I did have a problem with the sangria because a traditional sangria in Spain does not have Sprite in it. But all of the tapas were really good. The chicken kabobs and potatoes were my favorite. The seafood and the paella was drastically overcooked, clams hard and chewy. But the flavor was really delicious. We made a reservation but ended up at a table where it was super cold and asked the hostess if we could move. They moved us to a different table but gave us a timeline on when we had to be done because the table was reserved for another party. Which I thought was a little bit rude because we had also made reservations. In the end they didn't end up making us move. Overall it was a good vibe and I will return.

Great atmosphere and area. I liked the potato artichoke creamy soup in a cup portion, just the right amount for appetizer, a bit sour artichoke and salty jamon to balance out the creaminess. The calamari tapas (and olives) were too salty for me, there were tomatoes and lemons but more of them would have been better (even tomatoes were salty in this case).

If there's one thing to do, it's try something new. For an anniversary dinner, my wife and I wanted to go someplace she loved, but I had never been. We went to La Bodega for dinner, and then we went and saw a show at T-Mobile Center (review for that will be found elsewhere). We walked in without a reservation, so we didn't fully expect to get seated immediately. This is the risk one takes when going someplace as popular as this without planning ahead. Fully expecting to hear "Yes, we can seat you, in 45 minutes" we asked for a table, or bar spot, for two. After a few moments, the hostess looked at us and said "I have a table for you, but I need it back in 1 hour 15 minutes, is that alright?" My wife and I looked at each other and nodded simultaneously and in a "one of us" moment both said "Absolutely no problem!". A note here about atmosphere. I only gave four stars because it was loud. Loud can be a good thing, as it means the restaurant is popular. Lots of people happily chatting with their friends, loved ones, even with the table next to them on occasion. But, I have issues with auditory over exertion. I would recommend bringing a pair of earplugs with you if you have this same problem. This isn't the fault of the restaurant, it's a me issue, and if it's a you issue to, don't let the opportunity to go here slip by. A pair of light weight ear plugs will do you wonders here. I put my stomach in my wife's hands so to speak as she was going to order all of what we ate. I knew that La Bodega's "bread and butter" was small plates that could be shared. I loved this idea and was super excited! We aren't drinking, drinking, right now, but the drinks we had were excellent. A spiced Lemonade for her, and Mineral water for me. Both where excellent, refreshing (even on a 45 degree day) and light. I am going to save you some time, it's all really damn good. All of it. But here are a few highlights: We had the Tortilla Espanola to start, which was a delicious frittata like dish. I kept going back for the aioli even after done with the egg itself. The Elotes (with manchego of course) where like little pops of flavor. The best bite being a fair amount of corn drenched in the dressing, with a single shaving of the manchego on top! Queso de Cabra al Horno. The name is a mouthful, but so is this dish. The acid from the tomato fresco balances so freaking well with the rich fatty goat cheese that is baked in with the sauce. My only complaint was there wasn't enough of it. Finally: Lardo Iberico. Our "desert" before getting to the show. As I'm sure you know, Iberico ham is like champagne in that if it doesn't come from the right kind of pig, in the right region of spain, eating the right things (and so on), it isn't Iberico Ham. This dish was "simple". Cured back fat from Iberico pigs on sliced warm grilled baguette. Simple isn't the right word. I tasted the nutty diet of the pig, the fat dribbling a bit down my chin (which came back to me when watching someone ride a 3 story tall unicycle at the circus later that night when I covered my mouth and inhaled deeply, I tasted a hint of the fat again). The dish was multi layered, even there where only 2 things on it! I tasted the animal's diet. Salt, fat, heat, umami, it was all there! To sum up: go here, eat here, but probably get a reservation (or be better at general time management than I am).

It was our first time visiting this Restaurant. It was a great experience. Liam took of us. We were there for my wife birthday. Everything was just right. We had Mariscos Paella 🥘 Thank you

I’ve been dining here since before it was called La Bodega, so naturally it’s an enduring favorite for me. I always get a combination of tapas, so I don’t have much experience with entrees or salads. The small plates are outstanding. Almost everything I’ve gotten here has been an excellent combination of good basic cuisine and delicious sauce. I’m a big garlic fan, and they do an especially good job with garlic-intensive flavors. I just about always get the brotxeta and the papas fritas con ajo. From there it depends on what’s on special, what my companions want to try and what happens to catch my eye. As I said, I’ve almost never gone wrong. They also do a good job with cocktails. On my most recent visit I got an allspice daiquiri that was quite good. The service here is excellent. I recommend going during happy hour for the cheaper tapas and reduced noise level. Getting lots of small things can add up to a big bill at the end of the meal, and parking can be a little weird. But really this is one of KC's best dining experiences.