Bodega Tavern & Kitchen

My goodness, where do I even begin with this place? We try to visit at least twice a month because it’s the perfect spot to unwind with dinner and drinks after a long day at work. We’ve been coming here for the past 2–3 years, and every visit has been amazing. Whenever we have friends or family in town, this is our go-to spot to bring them. The staff are always friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. As you can probably tell, I love their burgers. The only downside is that the menu and drink options change from time to time. It can be a bit of a letdown when you fall in love with something and it disappears, but I’ve come to appreciate the rotation—it gives me an excuse to try new things, and I usually end up loving those too. I still miss the Sweet Escape cocktail with the little flame on top—it was one of my all-time favorites, but it’s been off the menu for a while now. I highly recommend this place to any burger lover, but there’s so much more to enjoy. The meatloaf is superb, the chicken avocado Caesar salad is amazing, the fish sandwich is fantastic, and the calamari is super tasty. I’ll definitely keep coming back and recommending this gem to everyone I know!

Even the simplest burger is amazing bc of the amazing bread and bc the beef tastes asada. The one with wasabi sauce was especially amazing and was not hot. Fries are solid. I did have to flag not staff multiple times both of the times i’ve been, they love to chat loudly with their coworkers and patrons rather than coming back on pending customers. Food is still worth coming for, but this food does deserve better service. Also, both times staff did not know what to recommend based on a specific question, they just said what they like, which was not my question. No training obviously not their fault. Third visit -The taste of the pizza was great, the texture of the bread was interesting…not the best. The burger with the goat cheese was alright. We tried the strawberry mojito and the pina/coconut drink, wouldn’t recommend either. The coconut didnt taste like coconut, the other one was really sour. Our server Alex was fantastic.

Spent my birthday here & it was wonderful! I had an amazing time with my friends! I wish I could remember our servers name because he was so attentive & did everything he could to make sure we were all happy and taken care of! 100% recommend you eat here! The food was also great!

The creative touches on familiar cuisine are very much appreciated at this place. The pricing leans towards the unfair side of the equation, but at least the ingredient quality is not poor, so that this is not a deal breaker. Service can be somewhat disconnected, but still polite.

The place is nice. Staff is friendly. But omg the food is expensive lol 7-8 pieces of cauliflower $11. A plate of French fries $10! Drinks are $12+ unless you go during happy hour $7. Won’t be back because it’s too expensive for what you are given. It’s only worth it for drinks during happy hour

Food is different….not complaining, simply pointing out that they have several yummy food options available. The customer service was great!

What an experiance. The cocktails were so delish and not overbearing of alcohol. The food was great and very tasteful. The ambiance was very upscale and relaxing. Our waiter was very knowledgeable with the menu and very attentative. I have to say this is must try for everyone! I will be going back!

Food: The food was absolutely delicious. We tried their charcuterie board and it was served aesthetic and great tasting. The salmon meal was phenomenal. I was very impressed with the food. Service: Poor. We arrived and I asked to be seated in the booth. They had 2 visible tables but he refused to seat us there because he was saving them for a big party. The table where 2 tables that were brought together to make it larger. 10m later another party showed up and they were seated in the booth. I thought this action was unprofessional, disrespectful, and discriminatory. It left a very poor experience for our first time going. I reside in Houston and we enjoy going to fine dining and upscale restaurants. I was looking for this experience to be the same, which was not and it made it feel inferior. Atmosphere: It was actually very charming ambiance. Music wasn't too loud so you could hold a conversation. It's a great place for a first date based on atmosphere. However, if you wanna impress I'd reconsider based on the service we received.

Went on the recommendation of a friend and was not disappointed. Staff were friendly and prompt. The wait wasn't bad for lunch service and the food was really good. The restaurant had a more upscale vibe than what I was expecting but it was good. I would recommend it.

I got the Bodega Burger and unfortunately I did not care for it. It was pretty flavorless to me including the patty and it was pricey, so I definitely won't be getting it again. Maybe I'd be willing to try something else on the menu next time.

Great service from Ruben and a nice dining room. Food was a solid 4/5. The cauliflower wings were the best part.

Service was bad. No smile, I waited ten minutes to be greeted after sitting down. I kept having to get other servers to help me and even then it was a chore. Definitely felt neglected as a customer. Also, they severely reduced portion sizes in the food. Doesn't seem worth the money.

Great place. Enjoyed the food and service. Food is reasonably priced. Check it out asap

Excellent food and service, great place for lunch or dinner, pork belly was delicious, and cured meats exceptional

Great food, great service, great atmosphere, and prompt attention to our needs. (Party of 16), all handled by one server. He was well versed on the menu, making recommendations, or answering our questions on flavor, and taste. If he wasn't sure about an ingredient, he made no guesses, and excused himself to quickly ask the chef. I ordered the Bodega Burger medium well, which was cooked to order, and absolutely delicious. The bacon, and toppings were perfect, as were the caramelized onions. The fries were light, fluffy, yet crispy, not wilted. I don't know if they used an air-fryer, or were deep fried, but no matter, they were cooked to perfection, all served upright in a stainless steel cup. I actually split shared my order, and it was still enough to satisfy two people. No worries about having to compete with obnoxiously loud thumping teen party dance music, or flashy laser lights while trying to converse. This place has an air of quiet, high class ambience, and subtle mood lighting, perfect for a couple on a date, or a business meeting, and yet appropriate for family gatherings as well. It was a great evening. We were even allowed to bring in our own birthday cake. My only question to the owner is if some items have MSG seasoning, as drowsiness hit me rather quickly afterwards, giving me a good night's sleep at home. Of course, it could have just been the natural beef protein reaction to my great meal. Side note: Antelope Burger is on the menu, so that will be my next conquest, as the server said it is not gamey in taste, but lean.

Comida : rica todos sus platillos ofrecen un toque diferente y a tu paladar Servicio : buena atención al cliente Ambiente : bonito y limpio

I've loved Bodega since they opened. It never disappoints. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The pork belly tacos are beyond !!! Great place for martinis and craft cocktails. The atmosphere is casual chic, great spot to take out of town friends or just a nice spot to dine.

I had a great lunch here! Ordered the Beetlejuice drink for the mezcal and was not disappointed. The beer battered fish tacos were tasty, but so puffy they barely fit in the tortilla (not always a bad thing) but I'd try ordering them grilled instead next time. Service was also great and we were seated right away on a Saturday afternoon.

Food was phenomenal. I enjoyed having to be able to choose from several selections that were unique and not the same as many restaurants have in the area. Service was top of the line. Ambiance is wonderful, unique, beautiful, and there is covered outdoor seating. Dinner was with my cousin and we agreed we have to return with our husbands. The bar has many selections as well as beers, craft, and IPA's. We didn't have room for dessert, but they looked really good. Can't wait to return and try more entrees. A server explained to us the menu changes with the seasons, just an FYI. Even another reason to return.

Great good especially for brunch Service is slow at times but an overall good eating experience Ambiance is comfortable setting especially not crowded on Sundays after church

Don't come! Service from start to finish was Awful. Initially, walking into the premises and standing at the hostess podium to be seated my date and me were welcomed with a rude attitude from the hostess. When I had suggested to the hostess, that I wanted to be seated at a vacant table that had four chairs she had stated in a rude manner that due to my date and me only being a party of two she was not able to seat us there. Taking a glance at the half empty restaurant, we pointed out to the hostess that there were "Four" other tables with 4 chairs, and only 2 people sitting down on each of those other 4 tables. She just said, nope, you can't sit there. The hostess then proceeded and sat us at the very end of the restaurant, near the back wall. It was a place all the way to the back where lighting was very obscure and murky. 7 minutes had passed and not a single waiter that kept passing by offered to come to take our drink order. Due to being ignored and feeling isolated, my date and I decided to sit at the vacant table, which had no reservation sign, that was closer to the entrance and with more lighting. Continuing on, as soon as we sat, we could see the hostess giving us a very nasty facial expression from across the restaurant. The hostess then rushed over to inform us that the table had been reserved. None of this information was disclosed to my date and me in the beginning when we asked if we could sit at that table. She just said it was for a party of 4 people and not 2. Again, the info disclosed to us when we entered the restaurant was, we could not sit there because there was only 2 of us and not 4. We again said to her, "look, there are 4 other tables with 4 chairs, but only 2 people sitting", thus her reply was you can't sit here. Hostess was simply very hostile and bad-mannered overall. Furthermore, we asked to speak to the manager, Joshua, and when he came over, his response and attitude did not fall short of the hostess. He was smiling and smirking while we explain the situation about the ill-tempered hostess, but he made NO effort whatsoever to correct it and try to make it better. He just pretty much brushed us off like he didn't care at all. Finally, I took it upon myself to look up the owner of Bodega Tavern & Kitchen, Adam Cavazos, on Instagram to try and inform him of the situation and let him know how his employees were treating his customers. As a business owner myself, I felt he should be aware of how his establishment was being run. I saw that Adam Cavazos read my message on Instagram DM, but up to this day, he simply ignored it and has not replied to me at all. Zero effort on his behalf to accommodate his regular customers, or even offer an apology for what had transpired that evening. I can now see why his establishment is being run like that, by people who don't care. Adam is Cleary leading by example here. The disrespect, lack of professionalism, and "don't care attitude" in this restaurant is simply not worth anybody's time. Apparently, Bodega Tavern & Kitchen has no issues with regular customers walking off dissatisfied and unhappy.

I love the ambiance it's so great, my son in law Robert Neeley took us there and we've been back many times since. The food is so good and their drinks are new refreshing and oh so tasty!!!! The service crew are friendly and right on time!!!!!!

First time eating here but the food was great! From the fresh chicharrónes with green chile sauce, to the truffle braised short rib beef stroganoff, to the carrot cake with rosemary ice cream my friend and I shared. I'm also a Old Fashioned connoisseur and the Fall Fashioned I tried was one of the best I've had. Our server Josh was a polite and nice young man who also did a great job taking care of us. Will definitely be back when in town.

Bodega has become like family. Owning my business next door has made me a frequent customer for the past 4 years, and lets just say the food is good, the drinks are good, servers are friendly. Definitely give them a try.

Bring extra cash or an additional credit card because the prices will get you. The steak was good and the drinks pretty good. $130 for two people did surprise me but we had a good time

My husband and I absolutely love bodega! It's our favorite place for brunch. The margaritas are great and the mimosas as well! For a American restaurant they have some great chilaquiles

Such a nice place to go for different cuisine instead of the usual burgers, pizza, tacos, etc. Both times were excellent here. A little pricey but worth the food/service experience!

My gf and I came here for the private 6 course Valentines dinner and it blew me away with how amazing the food was. I am not being hyperbolic when I say that it was one of the best dinners I've had in my entire life! Bodega is one of the few places in McAllen that actually tries with their menu. Besides that, the ambiance is also warm and inviting here. It's just an all around amazing place to come get some delicious food and feel good while eating it.

1st time here on a Saturday evening. Made reservations for 8 pm, got sat quickly by friendly hostess. Here comes the wait. It was loud inside n no one came to greet us for at least 5/7 minutes. The hostess noticed this and thank God she came over to inquire because we were getting ready to pop smoke. Plenty of servers noticed us but none stopped by. Shortly afterwards, we were greeted by a young man and he was apologetic, good. Drink orders n appetizers were ordered. The pork belly was exceptional, some sort of sauce made is stand out- recommended! Cheese/meat board- meehhh, nothing to write mom about. Our main entrees arrived shortly, I ordered the beef stroganoff w/noodles. Oooh boy, you might wanna pick up a chick fil a before coming here! Portions were mediocre at best. The beef was in a long square, I'm presuming 3 oz's, maybe 4 & a pound of noodles, literally. Salmon was good; we just couldn't help but think of the prices, hang on to yer shorts babeee!!! Sakelow dispacio!! Had a couple drinks n dessert, bill was over $144, not including tip (I think we received the tip-not money either). At least we tried this place but don't expect us to go back anytime soon. There were moments where we were talking loudly just to communicate with one another. For the price n quantity, this might be right up your alley; we are more value, setting, and noise conscious. Bon appetite fooders!!

My friend paid $15 for 2 slices of bread with some syrup. I paid $3 for black coffee and $3 for each subsequent refill. The worst part is I'm still hungry while writing this review.

From the moment we walked in we were greeted by the the staff. As we were shown to our reserved table, other staff members greeted us and thanked us for coming in. Needless to say, the staff was very friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy our presence. Our waitress gave great recommendations for the drinks as well as the food. I'll definitely be back.

Bodega has been always been consistent on their food and service, however last night it was an absolute nightmare. The A/C was NOT working. When I spoke to an employee I was told there is nothing they could do. Yesterday at 7:00 pm it was 104F in my car. I think they should spring for fans in cases like these. The later it got, more people arrived and the hotter it was. Towards the end of the meal we just wanted to pay and get out. The outside dining area was COOLER than inside. The restrooms had NO A/C At all. We did have delicious Sangrias, great appetizers and our food was on point, but no dessert as we just wanted to leave. Shame as we would have loved to had more drinks!

Horrifically disappointed. Got the Paloma and it tasted like Jose Cuervo with the cheapest grapefruit juice you could find. Waitress was not attentive. Burger was dry and disappointing despite how amazing it sounded on the menu. (Got the strawberry jam burger). It had no flavor, barely any strawberry jam as you can see, overcooked burger. Very sad because the menu sounded amazing

Let me say for weekend football this is the place!! The French toast and mimosas were really awesome! Couldn't get pics but will definitely be back to try some new items!!

Food was really good. Service was good, even though we had 8 people. Enjoyed the vibe. Would definitely go back there again.

One star for delicious cocktails ... one star for our server. We walked in on a Friday close to 7:00 PM. I tried to make a reservation online prior but was not able to find a way to do so. We were told they were fully booked with about 6 empty tables around ... told we could sit outside which was fine. We had a pleasant waiter that participated in our silly banter and made good drinks recommendations. We ordered a few appetizers and a pizza. We ordered a side of French fries after seeing a nearby table with some and they were delicious. Calamari was surprisingly good. Beet fries were ok. Chimichurri wings were flavorless. The pizza was terrible ... crust reminded us of refrigerated canned pizza dough.

Overpriced brunch menu, not very flexible staff regarding options. Atmosphere was nice. Drinks were the main attraction

Good environment and vibe. Food is tasty and fun. Price is reasonable. Excellent to entertain a small group of people.

Every item we have tried from the menu has been excellent! Very good kitchen and chef. Pleasant ambience ... love the 'warmth' of the Mexican brick wall and 'candle' lighting. Looking forward to our next meal here!

I absolutely love this place! It's a "go-to" staple of McAllen! Check it out for dinner or the best brunch in the area! Anna is such an amazing server- ask for her! Cheers! Musts: Deviled eggs Chilaquiles Eggs Benedict Steak and migas Bloody Mary

Visiting from Cali, saw this spot on here and decided to try it out. It's awesome!! Eve was very cool, friendly, and attentive. I'll definitely be revisiting the next time I'm in Texas! Also, the lunch box option was perfect!!

Food was very expensive. No service. You had to get your own food and then they want a tip. Ambiance is in a warehouse. No ambiance with picnic tables.

I live the food and the place is very clean. Customer service is exceptional. The drinks are also affordable and very good.

Great food,Hospitality unlike u never experienced

This place is definition of 4 star. You'll leave satisfied every time. Never left here not satisfied. Good cocktails. Good ambiance. Good enough food. Knowledgeable staff. An absolute gem in the RGV, but what's best about this place, you can see this place thriving in a big city as well.

Staff is exceptional. Had the calamari and ribeye. Excellent presentation on drinks and food. Will be back.

The staff were so nice and the food was so good! I ordered the fish tacos and the chocolate cake and they were very good! The ambiance was nice overall, great vibes in there. I want to go back here again but they're 3 hours away. Wish we have one in my town.

I must when you want to enjoy a delicious brunch. The food is delicious and the drinks are exquisite. I recommend 100%.

As someone who lives in Austin but grew up in the Valley, I was shocked to find a place like tucked in the corner of a strip mall on 10th Street. The hip and cool decor and ambiance immediately hit you when you walk in. I sat at the bar and their terrific staff was attentive and friendly. I explained my taste in drinks and was served a great "off the menu" beverage that definitely hit the spot. When it came time for food, they offer some of the most unique offerings in the Valley. Per my friend's recommendation, I went with the burger and subbed for the beet fries. I could literally devour a giant plate of just those beets, as they were the best I've had, especially with the flavorful aioli. The burger was nothing short of great either, cooked perfectly and juicy with a nice salty, smoky kick of bacon. This is definitely one of the best dining experiences I've had in south Texas, and I look forward to checking out more of their menu.

Good presentation, but food and all the sauces lacks flavor and also tasted like burnt reused oil, avocado on my meal that was used had already gone bad seamed they tried to cover it with the egg. definitely needs a lot of improvement.

Over priced and over hyped brunch food. Cold chorizo gravy and biscuits. Black beans and potatoes barely warm. Maybe they were having a bad day or maybe I just expected too much. Brunch used to be good. Today not so much.

Pork belly tacos were great and so were the cocktails. Blue Hawaiian was on point! Service was great as well. The only thing is, they close early.

Absolutely delicious! Can't wait to try the whole menu! Staff and waitstaff were polite and restaurant was super clean.

Mediocre service. They didn't have our reservation, I had to flag our server. He had to go print menus. Seemed really inconvenienced from the start, was quick to reprimand but underwhelming social skills - didn't even pitch the menu. I'll pass.

Food is good, but the menu and the options from jt are limited. Drinks are good! Would come back definetly but would love a change of menu!

As soon as you as walk in, you see that they have a very nice outdoor patio someone could possibly host a private party at. Love the ambiance of it, felt as if I was at a restaurant in Austin or bigger city vibe. Very friendly staff including our waitress Ashley that had a great knowledge of exactly what the ingredients of our choices of food were, where they bought it from, and had such a laid back cool vibe to her. I almost asked her to sit down to have a drink with us! Ha. Most of their food is locally purchased, fresh ingredients, and even some beer is purchased from a brewery that's in town! The food was great, so many flavors I had never tasted and I'm glad I did. For the price, I am not complaining at all. They have live music at night and set the mood with candles and dim lighting which I must go back for more! It's a must try.

Great brunch. Anna was our waitress and gave us the best service. Thank you Anna! We will defiantly be back!