DC Food - Spanish Paella in the Heart of Georgetown

Traveling with the whole family is different from solo trips—your priorities change. Satisfying your taste buds and curiosity isn’t always top of the list anymore, so I often end my trips sadly deleting saved food posts one by one. 😅 I’d been wanting to try Bodega in DC. Over the weekend, a table for five wasn’t available until after 7:30 PM—too late for us. I thought we’d miss out. But on Monday, I made a same-day reservation with plenty of time slots available. Turns out, it’s not that packed on weekdays! You can book via OpenTable. On weekends, the phone line was busy (probably slammed), but on Monday, someone picked up right away. 📞 As soon as we sat down, we immediately ordered the large seafood paella, then slowly picked our tapas. The paella takes about 30 minutes to prepare. ⏳ From the first photo, here’s what we tried: 1️⃣ Paella Marinera con Bogavante ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One of the better paellas I’ve had recently—loaded with shrimp, squid, mussels, and a whole lobster on top! Flavor was solid, though I wish it was a bit more seasoned. Personally, I feel lobster doesn’t absorb flavors as well in paella; I’d prefer shrimp throughout. My all-time favorite paella is still from Boca in Saratoga Springs—just haven’t had a reason to go back lately. What’s your go-to paella ingredient? Lobster or something else? 2️⃣ Grilled Lamb Chops (Chuletillas de Cordero con Vino Tinto) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The first bite was amazing—I almost ordered another plate! But then I noticed some charred bits, which tempered my excitement. Still, the waiter said it’s a crowd favorite. Are you a lamb person? How do you like it cooked? 3️⃣ Grilled Mushrooms (Setas a la Plancha) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pretty good! My younger one refused the paella, so these mushrooms (and anchovies) saved the meal for him. 🍄 4️⃣ Cured Marinated Anchovies with Basque Pepper ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ My older kids only agreed to a Spanish place because of the anchovies—and they finished two plates! 🐟 Have you ever tried cured anchovies? Love ’em or hate ’em? 5️⃣ Salad with Pear and Walnuts ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Met my dad’s “must-have-veggies” rule. Simple but fresh. 6️⃣ Spanish Fries (Patatas Bravas) with mayo and spicy sauce 7️⃣ Fried Calamari (Calamares Fritos con Ali-Oli) Both ⭐️⭐️⭐️—decent, but mostly ordered to keep the kids happy. 😄 Overall, I’d recommend Bodega to friends visiting DC! Great location right on Georgetown’s bustling shopping street. After a satisfying meal, it’s lovely to take a stroll in the cool evening breeze. We even grabbed next-day breakfast pastries from Levain Bakery across the street. 🥖 Have you been to Georgetown? What’s your favorite spot there? #RestaurantRecommendation #DC #GeorgetownFood #SpanishCuisine #Paella #FamilyFriendlyDining #DCEats #TapasLover #GeorgetownDC #FoodTravel #DCFoodGuide #TravelWithKids