It's like the Bronx, Medellin, Santo Domingo and San Juan dropped into the middle of Richmond. Best Bandeja Paisa I've ever had outside of Colombia!

Amazing, food and atmosphere among delicious drinks that represent the culture.

+1

I love this place. The food is amazing. The portions are incredible. The service is definitely 5 star.

Had the bacaloito Fritos. Delicious! Loved the decor! Chef came and personally told me he was making money fresh!💯

Food is great! Authentic Domincan and Puerto Rican food. They offer breakfast, lunch, dinner options. I ordered the Cuban sandwich and Pernil entree with an extra side of sweet plantains and it was yummy!!! The portion sizes were huge! Atmosphere is very cool with a New York vibe. It’s a small space and seating is limited but the service and food are great.

Very small hole in the wall but HUGE portions. I had to restrain myself from wanting to inhale my food. I had ordered the Ropa Vieja, so good😋

The food was delicious and the customer service was great! Highly recommended. 🤗

+1

Amazing food, great people. Definitely will be back

The service - excellent and personal. The food, come on, just so good. Can I tell you what thrilled me? They gave me a bowl of melted, salted butter. I dipped my plantains, my toast, my biscuits, heck I’d dip my body in it. Why doesn’t every restaurant do this?!

Man, I wasn't expecting this little spot to be so good 😋! I went in for the sweet plantains, but hot dang! I was surprised by how much my taste buds had to play with, lol 😁. Highly recommended!

Truly delicious. The pernil (pulled pork) might be the best I’ve ever had

The Bandejo paisa was to die for, the pork belly was so crispy and delicious! Great price!

Food was amazing and so was the customer service! I felt right back in N.Y.

Food was excellent, atmosphere was authentic and the staff were helpful and so nice!

Food was awesome. Service was great. Huge portions.

My wife & I ate here for the first time tonight. Fantastic! I'm looking forward to having the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Great service, reasonable prices, plenty of outside seating, excellent people watching spot. July 2023: Was unpleasantly surprised by 15% "service charge" & 3% "credit card surcharge." Review your receipt carefully. The tip amounts (15%, 20%, etc.) were much higher than tipping on the food & beverage total. I don't know what management is doing but it's definitely not fostering customer loyalty.

The freshest empanadas in the city by far!!! The customer service is to live for. The venue is small and tight but the food is out of this world. If you miss New york style food. This bodega is just for you. Decor New york based.

Somebody recommended this place for my birthday and OH MY GOSH! I'm so glad I went. The food was delicious, beautiful presentation, great service, and chill vibes. I'm going again to take my family.

Excellent food, friendly service, charming place. If I’m ever having dinner in Richmond again, I’ll be happy to return.

Omg I found the best restaurant in Richmond, yupp I said it! I have been wanting to come here since they opened and I can honestly say I'm sad I didn't come sooner. We had amazing service, amazing food, and atmosphere. It is super cozy in there and the portions are big so bring your appetite!! We will be back and if you live within the city, take advantage of their delivery!!!

The biggest Cubano I have ever ate! However, the size was matched in flavor! The pernil was cooked to perfection and the price was worth every penny. I save some and made a little arroz con gandules. Like any good Boricua would! Just when I was trying to focus on my figure. Perfect meal for these chilly days.

1st time here and let me just say OMG!! I had the 'Notorious P.I.G.' and it was SUPER YUMMY!! (The pernil was tender & flavorful) My girl had the Cuban & then we both had a shot of 'Mama Juana' 😋. This is most definitely in my faves now and oh how it makes me think of my birth place (CMD) and of course ❤NYC!! 💯🍹🎉 $$

Food is amazing. Two of my favorite dishes are their pineapple pork and the mojarra frita! They are a small spot but they have decent amount of indoor/outdoor seating.

Always a great experience here. I highly recommend the horchata and the bandeja paisa. I've been there twice this week. The staff is very friendly, and the food is excellent 👌

Drinks are amazing. Food was delicious. It’s my second time there. The presentation of the food was good.

Seriously amazon Latin food! A little bit of everything, but everything you could possibly want! 3 of us just shared appetizers but they were amazing and I can’t wait to go back to try more! We got pupusas, tostones with guacamole, empanadas, and arepas. They were all fantastic!

Great food, wonderful service and enormous portions. Both the indoor and outdoor seating is inviting.

+5

The place is small and inviting. Everywhere you look there is something New York which makes it feel like home away from home. The food was amazing. I had a badeja paisa and my wife the pernil. They serve a lot of food so come hungry or leave with a to go box. The empanadas were on point. The food is comforting especially when there aren't a lot of latin American restaurants that offer a variety of dishes like this. Definitely going back.

Such a treat to find a Colombian eatery in downtown Richmond! The atmosphere has a lively energy, great music, and cool decor. The food was delicious, bountiful, and prepared quickly. Our waitress was very sweet and helpful despite serving 7 or 8 parties at once all by herself! Will definitely be coming back!

Empanadas were great. The fried pork ribs were amazing. Service was expedient. drink menu was stellar

My friend introduced this place to me when I did travel nursing in Richmond. Omg, I would HAPPILY travel to Richmond from SC just to get a plate(s)of their food. The people are friendly, they give so much food for the prices. This place is a must to try if you’re ever in Richmond 😍😍

IN LOVE ! I am from Queens and it’s really hard to find a place that has a mix of Colombian / Cuban / Puerto Rican food and executed beautifully . The atmosphere here is not only urban but warm as is Queens . I have to shout out the ladies in the kitchen for putting there all in every dish . This is will now be my go to place not to mention it’s 5 minutes from my job .

Second time visiting La Bodega! This is my favorite spot now. The first time we came here and got two dishes under “Latin Soul Food” (Bandeja Paisa & Ropa Vieja) which was amazing! Very large portions! Then today we finally tried El Cubano & The Chimichurri Steak Sandwich! Very yummy and lots of flavor. The Miami Vice is my favorite go to drink and the Empanadas were delicious. 💕

I ordered from here on Uber Eats… I did not expect this EXTREME high quality food!!! I’m actually at a loss for words and if you ask my wife, that’s impossible! I really don’t know what to say. Amazing food!

Their mojitos has me giving them a 5 star review in itself. The portion size and flavor were great! Many different drink options and the food that they had coming out of the kitchen looked great with huge portions as well. I was surprised with the very limited seating that was available inside so it can get cramped up fairly fast, few different outside seating tables available outside as well. We did try the Tres Leches Cake which was wonderful as well! Will be back again!!

Me and my wife went in tonight, 1 hr drive was worth it!!! Best Cubano I've had w/ tostones and the FLAN was on point!! The service was great, being from NYC, felt like home out here!!

Great times at restaurants in any downtown city is fun and exciting. The food and ambiance are the bonus when you're out with friends. Check out the menu, authentic and perdy darn good. Enjoy!

Best plating, best tasting, big menu. Opulent cocktails. Graffiti is an interesting theme, decent job with the execution. I love lady pink. However, it’s odd you have photos of blasted out potties but only 1 tag and 2 stickers in the restroom

Let's talk about exceptional service, and exceptional food. The authenticity of this place is absolutely there - delicious melding of Columbian, Puerto Rican, and Latin American cuisines. There was a mixup regarding our order, and the kitchen staff/owner took it in stride and made it more than right, almost immediately. I can see this place becoming the #1 spot on a busy stretch of 17th street. Just call ahead, seating is limited but it's worth it!

I was working close by and I saw this place had some good reviews so I had to try it. I met with a fellow worker for lunch and we were both real pleased with our lunch. I had the Notorious PIG and my friend had the Cubano. Their breakfast looks good and I can’t wait to go back.

I gave La Bodega 5 Stars mainly due to the customer service. The food was delicious don't get me wrong. The rice and beans and the chicharrón was to die for. The morcilla and Dominican sausage did not taste authentic to the respective culture's but were good. The horchata and margaritas were very good. The customer services was amazing that always improves the experience. The decor although kichy very reminiscent of the City. Go check them out you you won't regret it!💖

+1

We stopped in for my Mom’s birthday and wanted to try a few items. The cuban sandwich was AMAZZZZZING! The drinks were really creative and the vibe/decor brings a NY girl back to NY. Side note…that one lady who commented ya’ll didn’t have puerto rican food should have actually read the menu where it CLEARLY has dishes from other latin kitchen’s. Even my Mom knew this wasn’t all PR food..we are from PR and had 0 complaints. And keyboard warrior would be right..as she gives a lot of reviews it seems lol.

The food was amazing! My husband got breakfast which is served all day so he was a super excited! I had a mojito and he had a breakfast margarita in the drinks were strong and delicious. Also the restaurant has a very authentic taste and vibe.

Food is phenomenal! Full of flavor and amazing portions! The menu has so many options it’s so hard to pick because they’re all so wonderful had the ropa vieja and empanadas! Now one of my favorite places hands down THANK YOU CARLOS 🙏🏽

Hannah Lee

Absolute best Latin food I’ve ever had. Carlos was phenomenal and doubled as our server and chef as it was snowing and the rest of the staff had left. Everything was phenomenal and the cheese cake from Brooklyn can’t even be put into words. Will 100% be back

The seasoned Traveler

Anyone who says anything bad about this place is just unpleased with themselves. And the fact the management has the cajonés to defend thselves against the hate people spew is inspiring. Now the food? Fantastic . Absolutely wonderful. Big drinks. Big portions. It was HOT food that I couldn't finish it all. My lady and I loved it. I 10/10 would recommend comming here. The only downfall is it isn't bigger. I bet this place gets absolutely slammed in peak hours for anyone that recognizes it's worth. I'd leave more stars if I could. Photo-Ropa viejas

URENDA21

Visiting from Texas and stopped by this location. The building itself draws your attention. The food was amazing. The hero was delicious from the first bite through to the end. Very good service and friendly. I'm really excited I got the chance to eat here.

+1

Fred Wells

My wife and I split the Cuban sandwich with fries which had delicious roasted pork, Swiss cheese, ham and pickles on toasted Cuban bread. We had crispy fried yuca as an appetizer and fried sweet plantains as a side. To top it off we had tres leches, a sweet moist cake sitting in sweetened condensed topped with whipped cream. We ate all we could, then took the rest home for our next meal. My wife’s Cuban and said it was good authentic Cuban! The Latin music was fun and the decor is festive! Indoor and outdoor seating as well.

Willie Broyles

I had the Chopped Cheese,huge as heck lol. My daughter Angel enjoyed her tasty Carnitas tacos,granddaughter enjoyed her cheese pupusa eggs n home fries. Nice spot New York style all the way 💯Maria took our orders and was nice

+6

Stephen Nicholas

Hope to be back here soon to try more dishes. I was in town for a concert and a local girl recommended this place. I had the Colombian Breakfast 🇨🇴 - desayuno calentado - but subbed out the chorizo for platanos maduros. Everything tasted authentic and reminded me of my time in Colombia 🇨🇴. The arepa seemed pre-made, however, which just isn't anywhere near the same as a fresh arepa made by hand. Still had the proper flavor, though, but the texture was off. Service was fine and the atmosphere is great. Totally recommend

Mitch Headen

We were visiting from NC. Joanna our waitress was the bomb. Doing it all by herself. It's a tiny place. Maybe 6 tables inside. 4 outside. Service was fast. We had the grilled chicken,rice, beans and plantains. Plus the Miami Vice and the NY Trashcan cocktails.

James Reil

Great find in downtown Richmond to eat and visit the nearby Poe museum! Excellent variety of Latín American dishes on the menu. (Had a hard time choosing but the waitress gave us some suggestions). We enjoyed the stewed beef and the Pineapple pork. They were huge portions you can easily get two meals from. Would definitely come back to try more items!

It’s a tiny place, but huge flavors in the dish. We had a great time. The kids opted for burgers, they were inedible. Fortunately the entrees we ordered were huge and were able to share as well as bring home for lunch the next day. The mojito was served in a giant martini glass maybe six inches across. Will go again.

Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Even if the the food sucked, this place deserves a visit simply for the gorgeous color palette and IG worthy photo opps.

Food was very tasty. Atmosphere was really cool.

Excellent food.Good representation of the New York Latin food staples and they have alcapurias!!The sweet plantains we’re on point.The vibe is cool and hip with the eclectic vibrancy of the city and a hint of old school new yorican flare.This will be my new favorite hang!!All around such a fun experience!Highly recommend!!

+2

Just updated this review because this establishment charges a 15% gratuity even on 1 guest but does not let the patron know. So yes I double tipped not the end of the world but still not cool. One of the best places in Richmond everything is delicious. I love their empanadas!

Wanted monfongo but they didnt have the green ones. Ordered to skirt steak, but service was solid, food was just ok!

Ordered Chicharron Mofongo and arepas throught ubereats. The mofongo was delicious and the arepas were good and cheesy.

Super cute place with such amazing, authentic latin food. The empanadas are so flakey and buttery, I would definitely recommend. Prices are pretty reasonable, they do add an automatic gratuity onto the check as an FYI! I’ve been here many times and will continue to come!

This place is like my marriage Puerto Rican and Colombian. I had a bandeja paisa but switch for arroz con gandulez instead the arroz con frijoles. It was very delicious and full of flavor. The place it's very colorfully decorated you will not get bored looking around but it's on the small side. It was also a little hot but I ordered a coquito that combat the heat. Very nice.

I enjoyed lunch with 2 other of my friends here last week. Two of us had the Cuban sandwich and the other a "vegetarian dish". Our sandwiches were HUGE. Not authentically Cuban but very good nonetheless. The pulled pork on these sammy's was amazing, thus making them thicker than a Cuban. These sandwiches were so large that I took half home and the next day my wife and I split the half and it was plenty enough for us both. I would like to give a 4.5 stars but that is not an option. The only disappointment was the veggie dish which consisted of beans, rice, and potatoes. Again, a large serving but WOW, that's a lot off carbs! They may have something with actual vegetables in it but our friend went with this at the server's recommendation. There are three persons that operate this establishment and they do a helluva job! Can you say "multi-task"? Oh, and it is quite small inside so getting a seat when it's busy could be a challenge.

The place is amazing it brings you back to the 90's New York city. Me being a foodie and Hispanic i have tried 100's of Spanish food places, to me food was ok. Service was really good.

+2

Terri Woolridge

First time here . Drinks were on point not to weak not overly strong.. mango margarita and Coquito. as you can see half done. 🍹..order the Chicharion Cuchifrito very good. My drinks were 12.50 a piece and meal was 18.00 meal was enough to share or left overs if your like me single person.

Mila

I visited this Latin restaurant that serves a mix of Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Dominican dishes, and overall had a really good experience. I started with the guacamole and tostones. The tostones were cooked to perfection: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The guacamole was decent, maybe a little on the bland side, but still fresh and enjoyable. For my main dishes, I tried the pollo guisado and pernil. While the plating wasn’t traditional, the flavor definitely made up for it and both dishes were well-seasoned and satisfying. I also had a glass of guava juice, which tasted super fresh and refreshing. Looking forward to going back and trying more from the menu. Solid spot if you're craving Caribbean comfort food with good flavor!

+2

Erica Young

I enjoyed this place. Lots of choices on their menu to choose from. The rice for me was missing flavor, the texture was on point and the color was great but no flavor. We will be back as I'm interested in trying more out of their menu, we did not have a lot of time for dessert and I want to try it. Felt like home I was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Brooklyn NY. It's a must try.

Liana Walker

This was a good small gathering spot for lunch/brunch. Not a lot of seating, but it’s a nice intimate atmosphere, small bar space area to eat as well. I loved the atmosphere and decor. As for food I ordered Eloté and carne asada tacos with rice and beans. I believe the flavor was alright, it felt like a bodega taco, simple and fulfilling. I personally didn’t like the cheese choice, but overall the tacos were alright. The rice did lack flavor unfortunately. I also ordered a pitcher of pineapple mimosas, accidentally spilled some of it, I do think it was slightly heavy on the ice. I found myself spilling the pitcher due to the amount of ice, but $24 for a pitcher isn’t too bad.

+2

Marloncito Moodie

Great lil spot to enjoy good Latin food. Some foods like pupusas you can see its not really hand made like Salvadorans would make it, but it's cool to have several options. Prices are a lil high for my liking, but no biggie. I recommend it.

Shaketa Stepney-Mays

The food was delicious! It reminds me of home...The decor and the vibe is very welcoming. Johanna (waitress) was very patient. Our party was all over the place with orders and drinks. Oh! The DRINKS!...Whoa....One of the BEST Mojitos I've had. Ever!

+13

Atmosphere was great, food was great, but the service was extremely slow. Server never checked back in on us until food was ready. Seemed to be pre-occupied with another table of regulars.

A little tight on space but meal was good. Did not have some of the dishes I really wanted to get. Would go back for another try.

I like the restaurant because it had a nice ambiance, colorful and fun. Great service, good music and okay drinks. I ordered carne asada with rice, beans and tostones…to be honest the rice tasted like Minute rice (I’m not trying to be mean but this is my honest opinion) I went with someone else and he thought the same. The beans tasted like can beans and the carne asada was just okay. They serve good portions…I’m not saying it tasted bad but not very authentic. My friend ordered bandeja Paisa XL. Chorizo was good, chicharrón was not crispy as it should be…well seasoned yes but I feel like it had been there for a while and that’s the reason it wasn’t crispy. We ordered queso frito and it was served on a bread with maple syrup…hmm I don’t know about that…We didn’t really like it. Again I’m not saying it was bad but just not very authentic. Overall I would say it was okay. We had drinks and I liked my friend’s cocktail. I am Colombian and my friend is Puerto Rican.

Mike Kaestner

We had a disappointing experience today: even though it was slow, we waited 30min for one meal, 15min more for the second that we got packed up, but got charged for $15 of sides they didn't pack up. I guess we could ask for a partial refund, but easier to just not come back. Shame because it's a cute place and the food is pretty good.

Lobster Fest

Add $3+ to every menu price. The food is good, but they add a mandatory 15% gratuity to every order (even if you're just doing take out/pickup), so the $13 2-hot dog deal comes out to nearly $19, which is absolutely ridiculous for 2 hot dogs and a hand full of fries. When I tried to use my debit card, they needed a pin but had no way for me to input it personally, and I really don't feel like telling someone else my pin. Just janky all around. Owners should just pay their employees a proper wage and list real prices on the menu rather than hiding it in small print on the menu.

I have to say I absolutely love the food coming out this small kitchen and the service is very pleasant, but there is a reason for the low rating and that is all the extra charges on your bill. 7.5% City and 6% State Sales taxes I can almost except, but the additional (15.0%) Service Charge is ridiculous. Service charge for what? I pay in cash. I would probably visit a lot more often it it wasn't for the feeling of being robbed. Do better...

Cute place! I love Cuban and Puerto Rican food so figured this is a good spot. The food was good, but did lack a little flavor. I had full intention, eating it later, as the portions are huge! I took it to go plate. 24 hours after eating at this place, I have horrible stomach pain and have been on the toilet for two hours! I had the pernil, and my only guess is that because it has to be slow cooked for hours that the reheating process or storage was not sufficient enough and has caused food poisoning. Miserable! Sucks because I would go back if I hadnt been sick after

i was hesitant to write this because the girl who took my order was kinda fine, but i cant let anyone else make this mistake.. DO NOT get the chopped cheese... it is NOT pressed... there is hardly any cheese and the fries arent good. it was $17 too which is not cheap as a chopped cheese should be! UPDATED: I updated the review to add a picture so the owner knows my complaints arent frivolous. I also moved my rating from 1 star to 2 stars because i feel 1 is a bit harsh. I did end up throwing half of my food away though. :-(

We've been here a couple times and it's been really good, but today it seems like a totally different experience. First, the bandeja paisa was a bit cramped in a smaller plate, nothing wrong with that but the flavor of the food was not great, it was mostly plain... The beef, which before had shined for its delicious seasoning, was very plain. My egg had to be cooked again (sunny side up but the white was uncooked around the yolk). The amount of beans was small, under the proteins it was almost entirely rice. We ordered some hot tea... It was nothing I expected. In general this place looks great but quality has been diminishing. Oh I forgot, they have a 15% gratuity for "parties of 1 or more", and also 3% charge for credit card use.

Been here in the past and had such a great experience, but has gone so down hill since then. Tried to order 3 separate items on the menu and the said they weren't available. Then my sister ended up ordering the "ropa vejia" and everything on the plate was reheated/ nothing was fresh. Litteraly came out 3 min after we ordered it. Just really disappointed in how far this place has fallen. Used to be so good but not anymore.

I ordered through Uber eats. Was looking forward to some Latin Caribbean food ... I got my order. Discovered that my chuletas can can was spoiled... There is no way whoever cooked this did not notice the meat past... The smell was horrible on it. Took a few bites before it made contact with my nose. Luckily no food poisoning. Very disappointed. Was looking forward to my experience at this place

Nope! Huge NO! As soon as we arrived, we waited over 15 minutes for a waitress, even though there weren't many people. We ordered 2 plates (arepas) 1 horchata, water without ice, although the waitress brought it with ice. The food was weak, as if reheated, stuffed with meat and cheese, but there was almost no meat at all. The best part of all the food and drink was the flower on the plate. When the waitress brought the bill it was $30 for 2 arepas, horciate. Shocking price! When I looked at the bill, I noticed that a tip of 15% of the final amount was automatically added. It should not be like that! There was no such information anywhere before the order. Plus, they charged $3 for card payments and wanted an extra tip! I do not recommend!

The food is of poor quality compared to the prices. The meat is tough, overcooked, everything is mixed together and tasteless. It leaves a lot to be desired.

I ordered a chicken fried empanada. Instead I got some expired beef. When I asked for another to be made they said these were "pre made and preheated". I don't know about you but when I pay to eat a resteraunt. I want fresh food. Not expired reheated bs They wouldn't give me a refund or credit. Won't be going back.

I was excited to check this place out, but it was no bueno. Every single thing my two friends and I ordered was terribly dry, hard to cut into, and lacked any "restaurant-style" taste (I could have made it at home). I also was shocked to see that the chicken empanadas had not a shred of chicken- there was only shredded cheese that wasn't even melted. The empanada crust was good, though. I was highly disappointed. I wouldn't recommend this place, but you be the judge.

Was over charged by 40$ my food was made wrong and under cooked. When I tried to get it corrected I was told the cook left to the strip club across the street and won't be back for awhile. I am still waiting for a refund. They do not answer the phone nor have a website or any other point of contact. Suspicious in my opinion.

We waited over 50 minutes for food despite being the only people there. Dining area was cold, music was played far too loud, and they straight up didn't have half the menu. Waiter never stopped by in the 50 minutes to refill beverages. They had to be prompted to bring silverware. I am befuddled as to how this place has any good reviews

Very disappointed. I have been here a few of times in the past but the quality of food has extremely downgraded. It used to be more authentic, homemade food but now it taste like what you would order from an after hours kitchen. I was left with bubble guts. For the prices they charge, food should not taste like this.

Mirna Rivas

I went there a couple of years back and had the chuletas and arroz con gandules and it was delicious. Today a couple of years later I ordered for delivery the same thing. There’s absolutely no kind of flavor inThe chuletas and the rice had no taste. There was a so call salad which was lettuce with pico de gallo and it was very oily. The plátanos had no taste and had a nasty after taste. I’m very disappointed because I really did loved their food. Maybe they changed their cook?

Daniel

Insede the restaurant very cold , food took forever to come out. We ordered a bandeja paisa, and a bistec encebollado. When food came out the food was cold, we had to ask to get the bistec encebollado heated up twice, also the rice on this plate was bad it tasted sour. The bandeja paisa was cold. At the end we got our food for free but im not looking to get free food.

Dena Flowers

I just ordered a el Cubana sandwich and it was disgusting the meat was completely burnt only thing on the dam sandwich was pickles. Very upset cause the other reviews were positive. Don't get anything from here my son ordered the steak and eggs and the steak was so burnt as well he couldn't eat it

Madilene Torres

As a Puertrican I was looking for a Puerto Rican restaurant in the Richmond VA area and as I walked in it appeared to be a Puerto rican restaurant but as soon as you interact with the server you'll realize there's not a drop of Puerto Rican blood there. As I was going through there menu I got more skeptical. I ordered Chicharrones de Pollo, arroz con gandules, tostones and what was supposed to be a lettuce and tomato salad. The chicharrones had no chicharon the rice was more red and green peppers than anything else and what was supposed to be a lettuce and tomato salad was lettuce and Pico de gallo. And that mofongo my husband ordered he also told me definitely not made by the hands of a Puerto Rican. I request you stop claiming to be Puerto Rican because you are not. By your accent and cooking I realize you are Venezuelan with Mexican. If you want I can teach you how to cook real Puerto Rican food.