Bodega on Central

What a Gem! This incredible local restaurant has the best cuban sandwich in Tampa/St. Pete's! I absolutely love their food, my wife loves their vegetarian sandwich and plantains. My Cuban sandwich was on point every meat in there was so tender and flavorful perfect! The bread is out this world the bread was traditional Cuban style and amazing! The girl at The counter was awesome she was patient and explain how the menu worked. It made the experience easier and that much better. Seating is very limited. Make sure you Check in Yelp I got a free Cuban coffee amazing! 100% recommend!!

Delicious Cuban comfort food! We loved the maduros, pollo asado, and the lechón sandwich, everything came out fresh, flavorful, and in huge portions. Service was friendly and fast, and it was easy to find street parking within a short walk. A great casual spot on Central for a satisfying meal.

The lechón plate was massive, flavorful, and shareable. My wife and I split one and left full. You order at the counter outside and can wait about 10 minutes for your food. The inside can get a little bit noise since the servers call out the names on the orders, so if you can, grab a seat outside.

The staff here are always super friendly and the place is always spotless. Great atmosphere and they have solid vegetarian options and fresh squeezed juices paired with other fresh ingredients and NO ADDED SUGAR! 🙌🙏 The pictures are of one of the juices and the tempeh plate. 5 stars highly recommend been coming here for years and absolutely love it!

I've been here before, but spur of the moment with my grandson decided to grab a Cuban sandwich. At 6 years old his first one ever. The server taking orders from outside was terrific and offered us glasses of water with our order. When the order came out, the sandwich was cut nicely in half for us to share. Even without the mayo, and the pickles on the side (he is the no-condiment kid), The Cuban was outstanding! We really enjoyed the experience 😁

I got the Pollo Asado and while it was very tasty, it was also more spice than I normally like, and it didn’t reference being spicy in the description. The others in my party got the traditional Cuban sandwich and they were tasty too. All in all though, I highly recommend this place for its great food and atmosphere.

Food is fantastic. We got the Lechon Plate and the Lechon Sandwich to-go and ate at a nearby brewery. Many reviews include wonderful photos of the meals so I'm including a single "after" photo. My sandwich was loaded with so much meat that some of it actually fell out. The bread was toasted to a perfect, slight crispness. The sandwich was huge. Get extra spicy mayo (not really spicy) for the sandwich. Heaven!.

Absolutely delicious food. I had to come back to try their Frita sandwich again. I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a good savory sandwich. The meat is perfectly cooked, moist, flavorful, and filling. The avocado is smooth and helps with the filling. The little fritas and spicy mayo come hand in hand, giving a good crunch & spice to the sandwich.

Been eating too much but I won't be back soon so. I got the sandwich versus the plate. Rice beans and plantains is good except not enough to pay for and I guess Cuban sandwiches specifically are a thing so. They have them at Porto's near me. Got pollo asado cuz it said coconut and spicy mango I think or something. Its for sure different I'll say that. I've had spicy mango before but it's taking a while for me to process this combo. Its not bad just interesting. Chill vibe and cool interior. A bit empty on a weekday yet very popular online clearly. Good service good area. Affordable. It's chill.

Cuban was solid, good portion size, good amount of meat. The beef pork Burger was delish, but the portion was tiny. Really small sandwich for $14ish is a bummer. Service good, to go packaging was solid. Ambiance looked cool, I'd try it again.

As a Cuban, I always arrive with certain expectations, my husband and I came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. It was not too. Busy and we found plenty of seating. We ordered the Lechón Platter, Frita and I got a Hibiscus Soda Fresca ( Agua de Jamaica with bubbles lol) The Lechón left something to be desired but the beans were on point. The Lechón felt dry, and that it was relying on the Mojo for flavor. Ultimately a solid size portion. The Frita, I have mixed reviews on, the flavor profile was right, the size of the patty and the moisture was off. A Frita is the equivalent of a Cuban Smash Burger and the patty here was too dense , and a little dry. I think two smash patties with more "sauce" with the flavor they've already accomplished? It would have been a smash.... Pun intended. Overall good experience and would try again.

Oh the things I could do with this restaurant, coming from a Cuban woman. First of all ambiance is super cute, but....at night the lights need to be dim and add better seating. The back bar area is stellar, cozy and great vibe.. As far as the food...add olive oil to the black beans, don't give someone a chicken breast for pollo asado, period. Sauces are on point. Rice and beans are so cheap to make, elevate it. No excuse for that breast. Lechon was on the dry side. Staff lacked personality. They were not rude in any way just didn't make you feel that they were happy to be there. Why order at a counter just to be brought the food to your table? That person should take order and serve. They would make extra money for themselves. And nobody is inconvenienced..

Bodega has been a St. Pete go to for years. My experience is, it is a staple for a reason. They make delicious food consistently well and the menu is not overwhelmingly long. They hit the high notes on just the right things. I love their sandwiches and writing about them makes me hungry. The soace is amazing. Simple, bright, inviting. The staff is terrific as well. This is such an iconic spot. It is a must visit.

Stopped by to grab a quick bite for lunch and we shared the Cuban Sandwich. We ordered at the window and ate outside at one of the few tables. There's also a large inside seating area which was very clean. I made a mistake of already having some food prior, however even being not entirely hungry, the Cuban sandwich was damn good. The roast pork was so juicy and tender! The juices helps moisten the whole sandwich. I would love to come back to try everything else on the menu!

Delicious Cuban comfort food! We loved the maduros, pollo asado, and the lechón sandwich, everything came out fresh, flavorful, and in huge portions. Service was friendly and fast, and it was easy to find street parking within a short walk. A great casual spot on Central for a satisfying meal.

Another great stop at Bodega. Absolutely great Cuban sandwich. Fast , Friendly service , great St Pete vibe .... Will keep coming back

Great options & yummy sandwiches. The chicken sandwich was perfectly pressed and the sauce was delicious. Service was a bit chaotic but it was fairly busy at the time. Plenty of seating available inside.

Always delicious! We went late night on a Saturday & split a pork sandwich (lechon). It's really tasty & a good portion. It's counter service so easy.

I was initially captivated by the name, and just the exterior of the building. Plus my friend assured me that we must go here to grab a drink! we both had been walking around and in typically Florida fashion, it was hot. During these times, you need reinforcement because water sometimes not enough. So we entered into the lovely bodega and it was such a beautiful open space. Also apparently they have a speakeasy in the back, but it was daytime so nothing to see! When we go to order, the staff were just so nice and sweet. We talked about wanting a juice, and one of the workers whispers, "Piña Feliz," and so of course we took him up on that option! I must return to try some of that yummy Cuban food.

Staff very friendly. Location is fun and convenient, downtown and near shops. They were out of pollo the day we went so ordered the tofu sandwich and a pork Cuban. Cuban was good; tofu was "ok". Flavorless except for a hint of lemon and or tahini. Will try it again, maybe this day things were off...

To say this place is highly rated doesn't do justice to their sandwiches! Service is nice. Real food takes time, so don't expect fast food here. The bread is out of this world. Pork was super tender and flavorful. Bring your appetite or share! Oh yeah, the swanky speakeasy in the back opens after 7pm!

I highly recommend The Lechon!!! Very good meal & good way to get to know The Bodega.

Cuban sandwiches a must get it with fries thank me later. Staff is super nice and attentive you have to go. Ambiance is so cute and well done.

Not a good start. 2 stars I walked in and sat at counter for 10mins and nobody asked if i was being serviced, nor could I gain their attention. There were (3) servers, but they were so disconnected. This place needs more servers to attend to ppl at tables and a better system when bringing out food instead of shouting someone name across the restaurant. Food 3.5 stars I ordered a Cuban sandwich that took for ever to come out, as they was barely anyone in the restaurant. .Pretty decent Sandwich and the position was generous. I had to flag down server to get a drink Another missed opportunity. The favors are there and sandwich was good. Also, I must say my server was very polite.

This place has something for everyone, food, coffee, cocktails and juice bar. I was amaze at the citrus delicious pernil and the generous amount of the Cuban sandwich. Not to mentioned it was perfectly pressed and toasted. I also had a cortadito and it was delicious. It's a spacious set up, you order and then sit for staff to shout your name and bring you your meal. Staff were friendly. Definitely recommend!

Really cool spot with great food. The lechon plate and salad were both plentiful and full of flavor Decor was bright and cheery and so were the staff. Only negative is the overuse of spicy chilies in both dishes. Despite my best attempts to take it all out including the seeds, It upset my stomach. The smoothie was great.

Casual atmosphere, good service, and quality food. Come hungry - the platters are filling. We got a lechón plato and a pollo asado plato, which comes with a very large portion of rice and beans. Added on a jicama slaw on the slide which was delicious and paired perfectly.

This casual vibrant Cuban restaurant located on Central Ave. in St. Petersburg has Vegan and Vegetarian options. We ordered at the counter outside. The open airy indoor dining has tables and bar seating. They also have outdoor sidewalk patio seating. I had the Temph vegan Cuban sandwich with spicy slaw and avocado $12. It was large and delicious. Open for lunch and dinner every day.

It was very mid food. The fries are great, they are like five guys fries. The Cuban was bland and the rice was not good at all, when we picked up in the Togo window we purchased water bottles and they ran out... the service was friendly and the location clean. It's not the best place ever, but it's decent

Visiting from out of town and our friends brought us here. We ordered out of the window outside and sat on the patio with the dogs. VERY big and spacious inside. Everyone got the cuban and I got a lechon sandwich. We also got micheladas which really hit the spot in the heat. The cuban didn't really feel anything special.... The lechon was honestly pretty dry for a "fatty" meat and I really didn't see enough of the green garlic mojo sauce. The interesting thing was that it took a really long time. We came out of peak lunch hour so it didn't really make sense.

Food and service was excellent. We went into the speakeasy "Bar Chica" at the rear of the restaurant for a drink afterwardsi. It was a very cool vibe with top shelf cocktails. The bartenders craft excellent drinks and are very friendly!

Been here 4-5 times now. The Cubano is the only thing you need to order and for a fair price. I've tried several cubanos in st pete and this one is the best yet. I've tried the Lechon 2 times now and every time it's a dry disappointment. Stick with the Cubano. Must order it with a michelada. Your tongue will twerk. We try to visit this place once a month and is also a part of the itinerary for out-of-town friends visiting. It's a no-fuss, good Cubano, and casual business.

Incredible food, incredible fresh juices, such a cool vibe and friendly people. Love the little window, you can just walk up and order outside!

Great Cuban flavor spot on Central Ave in St Pete. Had a large group of 8. Took a bit for food because they seem to have a lot of carry out orders, but we had drinks so it was fine. Really enjoyed the Cuban sandwich and the pollo asado sandwich.

This little spot is one of my favorite lunch places in the Edge District in St. Pete. Absolutely the best lechon I've ever had. And the lechon and Cuban sandwiches are enormous. But my favorite order at Bodega is the chopped romaine salad. The romaine is topped with so many different fruits and vegetables. There's mango, pineapple, red peppers, jicama, cucumbers, and much more. They have a fresh spicy lime dressing that's awesome. The service is friendly. I plan to eat there again and again.

We got the regular cuban sandwich and lechón sandwich. Both were very good in taste, but I'd say the lechón was more on the dry side. Adding some hot sauce helped with the dryness. Hibiscus drink something different and we're glad to tried it! Service was great, the woman in the front let us know how to order, and what she thought was best. Space is clean, spacious, and there's a patio as well

All in all, the food was nice. The food came out quick but would have to say that I was underwhelmed with the portion of the "basket" of fries. For $8, it was the probably the amount of a medium fries at McDonalds. Service was quick and restaurant was spacious and clean.

I ate there this evening, and the food was good, but they are so petty with charges that they don't tell you about, that it makes you not want to dine there, and shows a total disrespect for the customer. I ordered three Cuban sandwiches, among other items. Last time I ate there the Cuban sandwiches did not have mustard, which by definition they always do. So this time I asked to make sure there was mustard on the sandwiches. When I got home I saw the receipt (which was emailed to me) and saw that they charged me $1.50 for the mustard, without even telling me. That's petty at best, but certainly insulting to the customer and a complete rip off. Not to mention $0.50 for a tiny dollop of spicy mayo. Although the food is good, it is hard to enjoy dining at a place that is so petty and cheap and disrespects the customer.

NOPE I used to come to this restaurant when it was just a walk up and go style place and always loved it, sometimes we would wait for 15-20min for a small single order but didn't mind too much, because the food was usually super fresh and not over processed. I've been back since they've expanded and it was pretty much the same, maybe the wait was a little longer. However the other day I went back again and this time we waited 40 minutes for Togo food-if it were just me I may have just hung out and read but I had my three small kids with me which sucked so bad when having to listen to hard core electronic music at a volume that impeded my ability to talk across my tiny table (outside). This alone wasn't going to drive my bad review but getting violently ill from one particular box of food was. I almost had to take my daughter to the ER then I ate her food the next day at lunch and I was in the same boat-we both had pollo asado plate. So short story-NOT WORTH IT to eat here!! In addition I got French fries and tempeh that were literally room temp when I opened the bag 5 seconds after it being given to me. Not cool on multiple factors. Also a week later those who at the chicken and black beans ended up needing abx so that's cool too.

Best freaking Cuban sandwich I have ever had. Super fresh ingredients and fresh Cuban bread. Pair that with Green Bench Brewing that right across the street and you can not go wrong!

Consistently good Cuban pork platters. Easy walk up with outside or inside eating. The staff is spot on and attentive.

After a Rays game we were hungry so we decided to check out Bodega. The ambiance is great, made me feel like I went back in time to an old school diner. It reminded me of a great restaurant in Miami called El Rey de La Frita in Miami which has the same vibe. I ordered the Frita, while my fiancée ordered Lecho. Both of our meals were tasty but I can't help myself compare this Frita to the Frita from El Rey de La Frita. This Frita was more expensive and personally I don't think it's worth the price. The Lechón on the other hand was worth the price, but I believe it could have used a bit more seasoning Our server brought us waters as soon as we sat down which was thoughtful, but after taking our order we did not hear from our server again. We had to pay with another server

Always a great experience, quality food, vegan/vegetarian options. Friendly staff!!! The coffee is amazing too.

I find the foodie title to be something of a misnomer. Does the word denote someone who knows what they're talking about? Someone who simply likes food? In my definition, a foodie is one who tries a variety of delicious dishes, who is rarely satisfied with the same restaurant or same meal. Their palate is excited by the chance of new flavors at new destinations. I Like this description. I abide by it most of the time. Especially when I am on a work trip to a new city. So many places and things to try, right? But Bodega. My goodness. This place was so good, I had to go twice. Both times I said I should not eat all that was on the plate. And both times, I ate it all. Every last bite. The service was friendly and chill, the drinks tasty. If I know someone going to St Pete, I am always going to tell them to eat here.

Had an incredible lunch here with my friends friends. The coffee here is incredible. Sandwich is rocked. And the salad was great. Definitely a place to stop if you're hungry. Nothing but great food and a great atmosphere.

Have had multiple occasions where without warning they take over 45 minutes to get your food out. While some things are out of their control they could warn people if they are having troubles getting certain dishes out. They do minimal, if anything at all, to compensate for the delays and offer no updates unless you ask them directly where your food is. They food is yummy but if you're crunched for time or starving this is place not the move.

One of the best Cuban sandwiches I've ever tried and definitely worth traveling outside of Tampa for it. The sandwich is packed with flavor. There's lots of parking and separate area for pick up.

One of the best meals I had in Florida this trip. Simply outstanding Cuban food, with excellent vegan options. I stopped by around 6pm on a Tuesday to grab some dinner. I got their tempeh plate ($13.50 plus tax, which is vegan), which comes with a very generous portion of tempeh, spiced and cooked to perfection, with rice, beans, maduros (plantains), as well as sweet & spicy cabbage slaw. The food came out in about 15 minutes with a huge plate of food. Everything was simply outstanding. The tempeh was impeccably marinated, spiced and cooked -- I don't know what they to it, but damn. The rice and beans were well-flavoured, the plantains cooked wonderfully, and the slaw was incredible, smothered in this acidic and lightly sweet marinade. Hard to say enough good things about this plate. Friendly service and very comfortable interior (despite the shitty, obnoxious pop blaring). Highly recommended.

Average Cuban. Generous portion sizes and made in house but missing some flavor in my opinion. Very greasy roast pork. Service was good and not too long of a wait, but it really didn't seem like they enjoyed interacting with the customers. Cool counter seating but inside is pretty bare. Overall solid spot but I was a bit underwhelmed by the experience.

Really good burger usually hate avocado, but tastes good on this fritta enjoyed the food

Run to this amazing place!!! The food is delicious. The atmosphere is chic and clean! Can't wait to come again!

Didn't even try it. They tried to charge me $9 for a side of beans and rice. They have a whole meal that comes with beans and rice for $13. So you're telling me you serve a portion of tempeh worth $4? No thank you. It's cute inside though.

This place has the worst service of any restaurant in Tampa Bay. I went there a year ago where the staff knew I was sitting there waiting for menu. The staff eyeballed me but never said hello or I'll be with you in sec. I made a mistake by trying this place again Saturday at 1100. Six people working, knowing that we we sitting at counter, but kept diverting their eye. A hot woman in yago pants came in and the Dark haired guy in the mullet Fell over himself in serving her. Two other guys came in and he rushed to give them menus. These people clearly hate their jobs and do not want to serve certain people.

I was in the mood for a Cuban sandwich so figured, why not?! My sandwich was loaded with fresh ingredients and it was so big I needed to take the other half to go and enjoyed that for dinner. You order at the window and food is brought out. We scored seats on the sidewalk and had fun people watching.

Love this place! Great Cuban mix, great sandwiches, and great salads. Everything was super fresh and flavorful. The service is great and the ambiance is lovely, with your choice of indoor seating in booths or outdoors on the sidewalk.

Overpriced - typical for the area. They forgot half the order which was sad because it was only two items. Upon calling they asked me to take it up with door dash who could not resolve the issue. Very sad they could not just make the $8 side.

Right when you walk inside this place you know it's going to be good. The free smells were amazing. It's big, open, lots of light - great atmosphere. I loved that they had vegetarian options! My husband got the tofu plato and I got the tempeh plato and we shared so we could try both. We both liked the tempeh more but the tofu was still excellent and seasoned amazingly. The portions were great. I loved they gave you so many rice and beans. The maduros were just as good too. Would totally recommend!! Great food for the price!