I reckon it’s an act of bravery to open a restaurant in these times. And Bodega has an interesting offering. That kicks off in the morning with a range of British breakfast items (which remain on offer till 4pm). From lunch, the menu expands to include a short list of sandwiches, wraps and salads. In the evening, the menu is given over to small plates of mainly Spanish inspired food. The name and the dishes might suggest a Spanish ownership but the two members of staff we overheard were speaking Turkish – so expect some Eastern Mediterranean dishes on the menu as well. Things like a mezze platter – halloumi, vine leaves, houmous and the like.
We went for breakfast. And going for breakfast to a new place means ordering the “Full English”. Well, that’s what it means to me. And it was a good choice. Two perfectly poached eggs (set white, runny yolk), two rashers of bacon, two sausages (good quality – not always a given in your greasy spoon places), hash brown, mushroom, tomato, baked beans and a thick slice of toasted bloomer bread. No, it’s not cheap at a tenner but this is a breakfast that you get what you pay for. A more restrained breakfast across the table – two thick American style pancakes (like the sort we buy in the supermarket and microwave), smeared thickly with Nutella and surrounded by sliced strawberries and blueberries.
Bodega only opened last month and you have to wish them well. If the quality of the breakfast is representative of the food more generally, then they should have a bright future. We’ll be back in the not too distant future for dinner – although “small plates” meals are not really a favourite meal for us but it’ll be about supporting a deserving local business in hard times.
