La Bodeguita del Medio
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: (650) 326-7762
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- El Camino Real
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm, Fri 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10pm, Sat 5pm-10pm
Editorial Description for La Bodeguita del Medio
Cuban is king at this California Avenue mojito and empanadilla joint.
User Reviews for La Bodeguita del Medio
01/27/2007 Posted by cari723
If you are looking for authentic Cuban cuisine, this is definitely NOT the place! This restaurant that prides itself on its history and association with Cuba really comes off as some Cuban/American fusion. I don't know if it's just indicative of Palo Alto, but I found the cuisine inauthentic and extremely pricey. I believe this may be the only restaurant in the world where "Arroz con Pollo" costs $16.00. Speaking of "Arroz con Pollo," their rendition of this dish left a great deal to be desired. I found the food very bland, the rice and plaintain were dry and hard. Oh, the most disgusting part was that my plate was served to me "lukewarm." I was so put out that, in lieu of dinner, I ended up ordering a $9.00 appetizer plate of 3 empanadas which were actually quite tasty. The plating of the food was beautiful; I just wish equal effort had been put into the preparation of the dish. The service was mediocre. If you want REAL, reasonably priced Cuban cuisine, go to the city--your stomach and wallet will be pleased.
01/03/2007 Posted by fatcat568
We had gone as a group for a friend's birthday. Initially there were four of us, then two more added 20 minutes later, then two more 20 min after that. (We had informed them that there would be 8 total.) On a Tuesday night, we were seated promptedly as I would expect and a table for 8 was ready. Most of us ordered mojitos immediately and my husband and I personally thought they could have been sweeter. It was as if there was little or no sugar used to muddle the mint leaves; otherwise, drinkable. We all shared appetizers of crab cakes, fried potatoes and the spinach salad with goat cheese. All we delicious. My spicy pork with rice could have been a little spicier for my taste, but still great. My husband loved his tierra y mar. The birthday girl and husband were quickly informed that their snapper was out but they were glad to get mahi mahi in place of it and prepared the same way. Honestly we don't recall receiving bad service. Our main waitress was attentive and the water fillers came often. Decor was lively and warm. For 8 people the bill came to almost $3XX and we figured even for the two of us, it was about $90! Definitely something saved for special occasions like this. Would probably return again.
Pros: Flavor, atmosphere
Cons: Price
