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| - Our experience at Bodega was so conflicting that it averages out to 3 stars.
Bodega looks like a cozy home from the outside and it was very quiet when we entered. Our server was friendly but didn't know anything about the menu. Never have I had such clueless service; it was actually quite shocking. We asked him what main dish he would recommend and he responds with two first course dishes. Okay, maybe this was a mistake. Then we ask again, which ENTREE is popular. He rambles off saying that the paella is wonderful. Um, paella is not even on the menu. Right. Then I ask about the cioppino dish, which is described as a fish stew. He says that cioppino is a kind of tasty fish (wrong) and then when we mentioned a fish stew, he said, "Oh yes! That one is very popular!" although we were just talking about that same dish. Altogether we were not impressed by how unknowledgeable the server was; he actually knew nothing about the menu.
After all of that and learning nothing new about the menu, boyfriend and I decided to go with one Prix Fixe dinner ($35), because we could order the blue crab cakes, cod and a dessert, in addition to steak tartare, terrine de foie gras and pan-roasted branzino.
The food was really a hit and miss.
- blue crab cakes (prix fixe): absolutely delicious, full of crab meat and the herbs really highlight the crab taste
- steak tartare: not memorable, boyfriend thought the meat wasn't cut correctly
- terrine de foie gras: it had a weird lingering alcoholic taste after each bite and we couldn't even force ourselves to finish this dish; the fat along the edges should've been removed
- cod (prix fixe) and branzino: these mains were delicious and much better than the first course dishes
- lemon tart (prix fixe): good tart lemon curd and shortbread crust
Complimentary bread was good; it was grainy and hearty.
All in all, a disappointing experience and I still cannot get over how aloof the server was (and I never am affected by service!). He also messed up our bill by charging an extra cod dish.
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