La Bodega Restaurant/Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

We stumbled upon La Bodega through The Fork and it was a very welcome surprise!

The food was amazing - one of the best meals I have had on a long time.

Amazing flavours that are well balanced;

Great combination of ingredients and textures which make for enjoyable dishes where everything fits together well; and

Very friendly and attentive service. Peter, the owner, has very interesting stories, imparts great knowledge and is clearly passionate about what they are delivering to customers

Highly recommend going to La Bodega and trying the food. We had: The Tostones - a must have. Amazing combination of flavours and textures. Homemade chorizo had great flavour and heat. Wish they made them for commercial sale. Habanero sauce very well balanced - the habanero flavour was not overpowering as it is in most sauces I have had. Went perfectly with every meal we had. It should be bottled and sold separately. Beef cheeks were perfectly cooked, very spicy and matched well with the plantains, which were very crunchy to offset the softness of the beef cheek. Pork Quesadilla with the pico de gallo and avocado worked perfectly together. Dominican Bonuelos - sweet potato donuts were to do for. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, beautiful cinnamon and cardomom sauce and a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream. Loved it and could have done with a very large cup of extra sauce!

We are looking forward to going back soon. A great evening and nice place to go with...

I recently had the pleasure of attending the New Year's Eve Dinner Dance at La Bodega, and I can confidently say it was an unforgettable experience. The set menu for the evening was exceptional, starting with a delicious Seafood Cocktail that was fresh and flavorful. For the main course, the Braised Marinated Chicken paired perfectly with the tostones and a refreshing salad, delivering a comforting and satisfying dish. To top it all off, the Tres Leches dessert— a traditional Dominican cake— was the perfect sweet ending to the night.

The ambiance at La Bodega made the evening even more special. The event was well-organized, and the staff were incredibly attentive, making sure everyone had a great time. The dinner was followed by a lively dance floor, ensuring a fun and festive atmosphere to ring in the New Year.

The price of $55 per person was a great value for the quality of food and entertainment provided, and I really appreciated the smooth booking process. Overall, I highly recommend La Bodega for their New Year's Eve celebration and look forward to returning for...

La bodega is the definition of effort. From the 24+ hour marinated chicken to driving the distance to Dandenong market specifically for the best seafood, the owner and chef painstakingly endeavour to make the best food; and it shows.

Our party was greeted by the friendly owner, Peter, who gave some suggestions about what to order. He caringly went into detail about each dish and explained how the dishes were painstakingly crafted by the chef to ensure a perfect flavour.

I ordered the Paella ($28.00), Jerk Chicken ($28.00), and Coco Loco (cocktail: $17.00). The Paella was fresh with the most enjoyable and freshest large king prawns. The Jerk Chicken was succulent and coated in the most flavoursome Tajin (lime chilli flakes). The Coco Loco cocktail was an impeccably made smooth cocktail that is a must when visiting.

We felt like family and it was one of the most hospitable restaurant I have been to. Can't wait to try everything...