Bodega Ellerslie — Restaurant in Heritage Valley

It was a gal's night out and we ordered garlic shrimp, scallops, seafood cake, cod fritters, bacon wrapped dates, spanish meatballs and had the Tiramisu for dessert. The tapas aren't big, but they must use quality ingredients. You don't think you have eaten much, but all of a sudden, you feel comfortably satisfied without having overdone it. My favorites were the garlic shrimp, the cod fritters - OMG - so tasty, with no fillers and the bacon wrapped dates. The shrimp was cooked to perfection. The delicious fragrance from them when they first hit the table was enough to make you start salivating. The cod fritters were so tasty. The bacon wrapped dates were the perfect blend of sweet, savory, baconey goodness. Yum! The two dishes that were okay were the scallops and the seafood cake. The scallops were cooked right, but the flavors were bland in comparison with everything else that we ordered. I think they were going for light and fresh. They did succeed with that, but it couldn't compete with the other dishes that packed great flavor punches. The scallops need to be upped in their game. The same can be said for the seafood cake. After having the cod fritters the seafood cake seemed very bland and the fact that it only comes as one cake was a bit disappointing. Maybe a bit more creativity with them both as menu items would lift them up from being satisfactory dishes to meet the other great dishes on your menu.

For dessert, I opted for their tiramisu. It was fantastic. I think it was made in house. It was the perfect amount of moist coffee soaked flavor without being mushy or too wet, and definitely not dry. Not too sweet like store bought attempts at tiramisu. It was light and tasty with a perfect blend of flavors and a little drizzle of caramel sauce and whipped cream. Service was excellent. Our server checked in often to make sure we had everything we needed. I would definitely recommend Bodega. It is a delightful hidden treasure for a perfect night out. Their menu has a lot of variety to suit everyone's tastebuds. Will definitely be back to try more...

Service 3.5/5 Food 3/5

I wrote a huge review and accidentally refreshed my page and lost it all so here's a summary now. Please, read it all.

Calamari was not "grilled", most likely cooked in a pan. Nice and tender though just not grilled as described.

Jamon serano was nostalgic and delicious. However the restaurant cannot take credit for the meat itself, I doubt they cure it in house lol.

Duck mousse 5/5, amazing. Flavor 100% and the bread is nice and crispy and soft inside, great baguette.

Paella was absolutely wrong. The rice portion was TINY compared to the meats. Paella is a RICE dish, i repeat, RICE.... and the complete lack saffron in the rice as well..sad. The dish has chorizo in it which is a spicy sausage and delicious however paella should not be spicy in every single bite. You cannot appreciate the flavor of mussels and clams with that much spice ... and the portion of clams in the paella was sad and small as well. 2 or 3 clams? Pretty sad. The meats were very good though I must say...... but then.... carrots and peas in the paella.... please.... please stop, you are hurting me and my ancestors....

Then I ordered tiramisu, again, delicious... espresso was pretty good as well. However..... I ordered 2, doubles of cognac, neat. And recieved 2, single Oz SHOT glasses of cognac.... now.... for anyone who appreciates a nice cognac you just cannot, can not serve cognac in a shot glass, in a restaurant. Not at this level of class this place is praised to be at. They did not even have snifter glasses to serve cognac in, its absolutely insulting to cognac itself.

So overall you have my rating above. And I must add, the waitress we had was an absolute wonder.flower tattoo, 20/10 , beautiful , polite, professional. If I were to go back, I would recommend having her as my waitress again. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I would still recommend this place 100%, management needs to take their heads outta their ..... other than that, over time, I believe this place will achieve the status its...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the newly opened Bodega restaurant in South Edmonton, and I must say, it exceeded all my expectations! Having been a regular at their Sherwood Park and Downtown locations for years, I was thrilled to have a branch closer to home. From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted with warm smiles and exceptional service.

The staff at Bodega is truly remarkable. They were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. They made sure to cater to all our needs throughout the evening, which enhanced the overall dining experience. The attention to detail and genuine care for customer satisfaction really stood out.

Now, let's talk about the highlight of Bodega - the tapas menu. As a fan of Mediterranean cuisine, I was thrilled to see an extensive selection of delectable tapas dishes. Each dish was prepared with precision and presented beautifully. The flavors were bold, authentic, and made my taste buds dance with joy. Whether it was the piquillo peppers, the melt-in-your-mouth boar cheeks, or the perfectly grilled Piri Piri Chicken Skewers, every bite was a delightful explosion of flavors.

The ambiance of the restaurant is warm and inviting, with a stylish and contemporary décor. It's evident that the owners have put a lot of thought into creating a welcoming environment that complements the exceptional culinary experience.

Overall, my experience at Bodega in South Edmonton was nothing short of fantastic. The combination of outstanding service, an impressive tapas menu, and a cozy ambiance makes this new location a true gem in the city. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Bodega like me or someone looking for an extraordinary dining experience, I highly recommend visiting this establishment. I can't wait to return and savor more of their delightful...