Bodega Tavern & Kitchen

Chef Adam does a super job. If you go here you will not be disappointed, the food is inspiring.

My work friend and I were in McAllen for a couple of days and we saw Bodega while driving by. It looked interesting form the outside so we checked it out on Unilocal.Good reviews drew us in but we were totally blown away by this place. The owner/​chef greeted us at the bar and we were introduced to their generous Happy Hour drink specials and clever menu. They allowed us to sample a few wines before we made our selections and we ordered the Deviled Eggs small plate and the flat bread of the day. Both were delicious. I ordered one of their hand crafted cocktails that was a spin on a Manhattan but made with house made beet liqueur. Amazing! They make their own ice blocks for craft cocktails and the presentation is very cool. Next we shared an heirloom tomato salad, a charcuterie platter that included some fine aged cheeses and some amazing chicken liver pâté. We ended with a small order of fish tacos.
What an absolute treat Bodega was to visit and it’s a real gem in McAllen!

I wanted to give this 3.5 stars but couldn’t, so 4 stars it is.
I recently dined here with some friends, the atmosphere was very relaxing and modern, and the staff was very welcoming and friendly.
Our dinner didn’t start that great because our drinks weren’t as good as the waitress told us. Two of us got the chupacabra cocktail and it was too smoky, kinda difficult to drink, not because it was strong but it felt like we were inhaling mesquite smoke.
The appetizers arrived and they were delicious, my favorite app was the fish tacos, and the beet dish, they were both full of flavor and tasted fresh!
For my entrée I ordered the hangar steak, which lacked a bit of salt, and the arugula salad that came with it was too salty, the fries were good but over seasoned with pepper, and I didn’t like the ketchup that much, it had a lot of cumin.
The burger was juicy, flavorful, and cooked the right way.
The red fish tasted fresh, but didn’t taste anything else on the plate.
We ordered 2 of the desserts, the pastry chef was nice enough to explain them to us, and also too kind to give us a taste of the bread pudding. They were all really good, but the fennel ice cream was tooooo gooooood! I would totally go back just for that!

Great chef and staff. Fun atmosphere. Super good menu. What more can one ask for?

I recently dined at Bodega for the third time and I finally thought it was time to review this really wonderful gem of a place. Here in the valley we are blessed with a handful of really brave and talented people trying to elevate the dining scene in the Valley. It really started a few years ago with House. Wine which showed that hard work, great ingredients, and faith in the Valley can lead to success.
Bodega carries on that tradition. While Bodega is located in a somewhat cursed locale, Bodega may have found the recipe to overcome any curse that lingers here. Bodega has a menu that changes constantly, at least as it relates to their main courses. Haven’t really notice much change with the starters or other parts of the menu but I could be mistaken.
On this evening, we started with drinks from their cocktail menu. They have a wide selection of cocktails and have put a lot of thought into their mixology cocktails. They got a grilled peach mule, daiquiri made in the traditional fashion, cocktails made with mezcal, and so many others. I got the peach mule and if Moscow mules are your thing, you won’t want to miss their spin on this classic.
The drink menu also features many Texas craft beers and a small but well curated wine list.
We started off with some cheese and selections from their cured meats menu. If you’re into charcuterie, then this is the best in the Valley to get your fix. They cure their meats in house. The chicken liver pâté was so smooth and had that great unctuous flavor you get from a great pâté. We had duck breast pastrami. Very good and not something you will find anywhere down here. And I love their mortadella. So many choices on this menu that you can make meal out of all the choices.
We also tried the guacamole sampler. This starter I think is a must every visit. You never know what they are going to put together. I’ve seen everything from watermelon and blueberries to chipotle and goat cheese. Always a fun surprise.
I tried the nights special of sirloin and parpedelle pasta with wild mushrooms. This dish was expertly prepared. Sirloin was prime beef. Cooked to the specified temp. And that pasta was perfect. I don’t remember if the pasta was handmade but it certainly tasted handmade and that is a testament to the chef and his crew in the kitchen.
Bodega is such a great restaurant, the service is great with knowledgeable waitstaff and servers. Bodega offers so much to those of us in the valley that crave great food and unique dining experiences. If you find yourself tired of franchise dining experiences, tacos and wing joints, Bodega may be what your looking for. It’s for those wanting to experience something new. So be adventurous. Go out and support the unordinary. You won’t be disappointed.

Overall, good food, good service… place is nice and great ambience! I’ll try it again one of these days…

A menu with farm to table food and unique craft drinks is usually a winner in my book and Bodega did not disappoint. The overall ambiance is very relaxed. Shared oysters, guacamole sampler, Yukon gold potatoes (w/​Valley Lemon!) and shishito peppers. All fantastic!

Great experience. Menu is different and fun. Servers were awesome. They gave us enough attention without hovering. Bartender came over to give information about tequila. The beets are to die for. Definitely going back.

I think it’s ok. They have very interesting options for drinks that have me wanting to go back. I haven’t tried much of their food but it looks like they are more attentive than the typical valley restaurant
The prices are very steep tho. And their menu isn’t reader friendly. Some of the food titles are unclear and have odd list of ingredients that just have me so confused.
Still… Beautiful patio and good vibes overall

The Bodega is amazing. The food, the staff and the wine are just perfect. Try the chicharones a s bean dip. It will change your life!

Went to Bodega to celebrate my birthday. Everything was so good! My husband, who doesn’t like guacamole, ate the 3 guacamole dish they have and loved it. The drinks are wonderful, too. Highly recommend this place!

Chef Adam on point. Charcuterie in house out of this world. Great vibe. Late night kitchen service.

This was my first visit to the restaurant and ordered the pork chops. They were cooked to perfection presented on sweet potatoes, bone in, with creamed spinach on top. My wife ordered the oysters as a meal rather than an appetizer. They were lightly grilled with a presentation with a tasteful hint of acidity. We were impressed with the wait staff and plan on being repeat customers.

1. Found gnats in my friend’s beer glass. 2. Service at the bar is amazing. 3. Service at the tables is disappointing. Grab a seat at the bar.

Adam is one of the best Chefs in town. I have never been disappointed with his unique style of plates. Highly recommend BODEGA!!!

I gave 2 stars because the food was good & it’s an attractive place, but awful AWFUL service. To get a drink, it took over 30 minutes.

Four of us went for dinner on their second weekend in business. When I called to make a reservation I spoke to Adam (chef) who got caught up and forgot to record it. When we arrived to find our reservation lost he came to apologize in person and bought us drinks as an apology (which were FABULOUS)! Loved the drinks, food, and customer service.
Doesn’t matter if you make mistakes when you make it right so quickly. Thanks, Adam and staff! We’ll be back.

Adam and his crew are AMAZING!!! The attention to detail and care is seldom seen here. SUCH a great atmosphere and FUN people. We always have a great time and the food is beyond description… Yummalicious will have to do!
My personal favourite is the arroz con pollo, but actually you can’t go wrong on this menu!!! Just come and have fun!

This place is somewhat new, from what I’ve been told, about a month. This location has been used for various other concepts and I think so far this one has gotten it right. The décor is on point, it’s simple and fancy without being pretentious. It gives a very «San Francisco» vibe with the low lighting and retro fixtures. The meat curing room ugh hello awesome, and there’s also an outdoor area which is nice. As far as the food, and drinks, I went with their recommendation of pork belly and a tiki specialty drink. The drink was fresh and well made. The food was reasonably priced. As far as my pork belly it was well cooked but a bit bland. However I am giving it 5 stars because it’s a standout by valley standards and because the service was great. Will definitely be checking out this place a lot more.

Bodega takes the farm-​to-​table concept to another level, sourcing much of their décor and menu items locally. The highlight of the restaurant is its meat curing room. This is the only restaurant South of San Antonio doing this, but don’t take them for rookies… try the 3 meat charcuterie board. Drink Recommendation: El Jimador, Bodega’s tequila-​take on a traditional Old Fashioned.