Brighton Bodega — Restaurant in Boston

WOW! I was genuinely blown away by this restaurant!!

We stopped in for a late dinner on July 2nd, and the place was nearly empty, just two regulars chillin at the bar. Since it was the week of the 4th, the kitchen was closing early, which is totally understandable in Boston. But despite the timing, the staff welcomed us warmly. They didn’t rush us or make us feel like a bother, even with only 25 minutes left before the kitchen closed.

Our waitress was incredibly kind and upbeat and matched our energy perfectly without being over the top. As someone who worked in the food industry for years before starting my own business, I’m super picky and notice everything. But honestly, there wasn’t a single thing about this experience that left me annoyed or underwhelmed.

Another big plus: I’m really sensitive to the smell of bleach that often takes over restaurants as they clean up for the night. Thankfully, that wasn't the case here. The atmosphere remained calm and relaxed and non-toxic the whole time, making it a truly enjoyable experience. And, let’s face it, we all need more experiences like this, these days!

Now, the food was AMAZING! I’m not easily impressed, but when I am, I tell everyone about it. The menu was creative, the ingredients were clearly high quality, and best of all, we left feeling so good without that heavy, uncomfortable post-meal feeling so common at other places.

We really stumbled upon a gem that night. Everything else nearby had closed early for the holiday week, and this spot was still open, and amazing. We felt so lucky to find it and can’t...

This is the jewel of Brighton Center in my opinion, and a place I love to be in away from home. I’ve spent most of lockdown/covid here when I could, because it just made things feel better. Everything is top notch for what they are trying to do, and the staff are just so great, I love everyone that works there.

Food varies often, so I love coming back and trying whatever is new on the menu. It ranges from new-american takes on Asian and Hispanic cuisine, as well as New England-standard seafood and raw bar items. The staff behind the bar are always experimenting with new cocktail recipes and a new rotating tap of beers, and because I probably torture them more than I should, I ask for them to try off menu items on me all the time.

Good for dates, group dinners, and miss their brunch options to watch soccer games in relative peace with amazing food (compared to your tacky sports bars). A few TVs scattered about the restaurant provide visual spice without dominating the aesthetic of the restaurant, and usually will play VH1/MTV Classic that are always fun to talk about after a few drinks.

Do I need to say more? They are providing a “Cambridge” experience on an Allston/Brighton budget, and for that I will forever...

I wish I could leave 1000 5 star reviews. Drinks within 5 minutes, food within 10. Fabulous ambiance, amazing flavors. Vegetarian options that are actually interesting?? It's rare that I order dessert, but I'm so glad I did. We sat at the bar, Joe was clearly an experienced bartender and it was a lot of fun to watch him make drinks.

The Vodka Drink - I've had a LOT of spicy drinks, this one takes the cake. What a flavor. The Red Right Hand - I'm not a scotch drinker. My fiance ordered this. I took a sip and was legitimately questioning whether I actually like scotch because it was so good.

Beyond Nashville Hot Chicken Buns - I get to eat steamed buns in Public?? That I didn't make?? These were DELICIOUS. I'm almost in tears. Duck confit buns - fiance had these, loved them. "might've been a little overcooked, if I have to be honest" Peking ravioli - he also got these "really good, better than most Chinese food restaurants."

Sticky Toffee Pudding - omg. I wish I had more room in my stomach to eat 5 more of these. I never order dessert because it's so heavy at the end of a meal. This was...