La Bodega

I recently went to La Bodega for a date night, and despite not having a reservation, they kindly accommodated us at the bar, which we really appreciated. The place was full, and the front-of-house staff were exceptionally friendly.We started with empanadas, which were absolutely delicious. We also tried the carrot dish, which was fresh. For our mains, we had the flounder plate--the skin was crispy while the inside was incredibly soft and tasty. We also had the steak with chimichurri, which is an absolute must-have.I enjoyed a delicious drink (I forgot the name) that had a unique garnish of cheese and guava paste. For dessert, we had a sweet and satisfying treat to end the meal.I love this place and thoroughly enjoyed trying authentic Uruguayan food, which is hard to find in Boston. I highly recommend La Bodega for a unique dining experience!

Fine dining tapas style. I thought some dishes were incredible, but most were average. There was little to explanation as the dishes came out, and the waitstaff (although very professional) seemed cold. We also ordered the duck whole (needs two day advance) and it was dry. The meat plate (sausage, ribeye, and chicken) were great though. Most juicy chicken and loved the Chimichurri over it all. Some sides were average like the grilled shishito, mushrooms. Some sides were incredible like the corn soup, the cheese, and tomato with bread (lovely fresh tomatoes). Overall it was fine but overpriced

Nice cocktails and an aesthetic bar area inside a greenhouse structure right as you enter La Bodega. The other half of the restaurant is in a re-purposed train car with a partially low ceiling and dim lighting which makes for a uniquely intimate date spot. Service was top-notch, even wiping crumbs off the table for you between tapas plates.I enjoyed the cocktails:The "Caipirinha" was very lime-forward and fun. The drink glass comes topped with cotton candy that melts away as they pour the cocktail in.The Passion Fruit cocktail was deliciously sweet.Unfortunately, the food was just OK and not worth the prices. It does appear that their menu has downsized from the past and feels limited.

What a lovely surprise in Watertown! If you have a chance, I highly recommend making reservations for dinner here. The structure is super interesting and you will be dining in either a part of a converted greenhouse or train. It's worth a visit to see how they converted the spaces into a restaurant. The menu is not too extensive nor crazy, but they have a nice assortment of small eats and mains.We ordered the duck, which needs to be reserved in advance and a few small plates of carrots, squash, and octopus. The octopus was absolutely delightful and soft!The duck was delicious and came with stuffing, which reminded me of Thanksgiving! Overall, it was a great experience dining at La Bodega, and I hope to return!

Loved pretty much everything I had, but my favorite dish was the the flounder with hazelnuts and the chocolate tart with raspberries. Service was also spot on. Can't wait to go back!

Fabulous experience here. One of our dinner mates said it was the best meal he's had in Boston. I was really excited that some of our dinner mates had thought ahead enough to order the duck (which needs to be ordered 48 hrs in advance). The skin was crispy, the meat had a delicious sweetness to it... just great. It reminded my boyfriend of Thanksgiving the way it was presented, with bread stuffing. A South American meal doesn't feel complete without an empanada for me- so I had to order that (I love that it comes with the hard boiled egg inside). The apps we enjoyed the most were the beet salad and the mushrooms. The service was seamless- no cup was left empty, and everything was quickly switched out throughout the meal- no small feat for such a large group. What shined the most in the desserts for me was the basque cheesecake, and the dulce de leche on the side of various desserts. What a perfect dessert garnish. Finally, you should definitely order a cocktail, because they are show stopping. The caipirinha is poured through cotton candy. Gives it an extra sweetness and cool sugary texture when you sip it.

Walking into the lush greenhouse, with the steel train car visible through the wall of glass, is the first time you'll get knocked out. The second time is when the food arrives. The tapas are clever, putting things like chimichurri in places you wouldn't expect, but not so clever that you need to ask Siri about ten dollar words. Every time I've gone with people who range from militant carnivores to vegetarians it's been fun to explore the menu. All the high reviews are well deserved.

This is one of the best restaurants in the Boston/Cambridge area. They are run by a couple that cares about their cultural representation through wine and food. They are so talented that each little tapas-like dish is an experience.My wife & I come here for two reasons: first, to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and second, to impress our friends. We get an Ecuadorian wine that they recommend that goes perfectly with the appetizers and the meal. This is after an ideal little cocktail from their specialty list. For us, it's a neighborhood place, but it is always special.The service is run by the owners, and everything runs like clockwork. This is a very good restaurant that we sometimes just come have an app and a drink at. I feel so privileged that it's located in my neighborhood. We often order the duck two days before required, and it is so worth the wait and the effort. For my birthday I love sitting in the train car! Though I'm a barfly usually, anyplace here is lovely. Treat yourself and come have a dining experience.

Good were petty good, would like to go back again. This place is cute. Has lot of staffs however the service is little slow. Overall had good time there.

Been wanting to try this place. Came on a Friday night without reservations and we got lucky. Very cool concept. There are 2 sides to the restaurant. The bar side is more open, the camper side has lower ceilings and can get very loud. But once inside, you do not feel like you're in Watertown. They are short on staff (as is most places), so be patient. Our server was very attentive and friendly. Despite being busy, he kept a smile on his face. We were torn between the meat sampler plate and the whole duck. But then realized the duck needs to be ordered at least 48 hours in advance. But our server told us they had 1 reservation of the duck canceled so we got lucky! We ordered it right away. It takes about 30-40 minutes to prepare. They de- bone it as well. The skin was perfectly crisp and the meat was very tender and not dry. The whole duck can serve 3-4 people. The corn soup was surprisingly very flavorful and light. The wood grilled octopus was light, flavorful and not too chewy. The wild mushrooms had a variety of mushrooms and was a bit salty. The basque cheesecake was different than the standard. Not what we expected, wasn't too heavy and not too sweet. Will definitely be back and try other things on the menu.