"Intro: I was doing a little research on restaurants in St. Pete and Bodega has the most reviews in the city. Located in downtown St. Pete, this Cuban restaurant was within walking distance from my hotel. I stopped by on a Thursday evening for dinner with my friend. Service (3/5 : Even if you're dining in, as we were doing, you have to order at the outdoor kiosk. This is a bit of an awkward setup. Ordering from outside when you're dining in inside. I understand it adds some hype for the restaurant (as a line forms outside but not the best for the customer experience. They will then bring your food to your table. The lady taking my order was friendly so at least there's that. After we ordered, we sat at the bar. Ambiance (4/5 : Bodega has a modern feel to it with several booths and tables to sit at as well as a bar area with bar stools (without back support . It's a casual spot. Food (4.5/5 : Bodega is known for its Cuban sandwiches so that's what I went with. Fun fact: The Cuban Sandwich was invented right here in the States, in Tampa, rather than Cuba. If you've ever had a Cuban Sandwich, Bodega's take on the classic sandwich is a little different. Rather than having ham and mustard in it, Bodega's version has Mojo (a Cuban sauce . The pork was tendered and the Mojo sauce made for a flavorful sandwich. The bread was crisp, which is what you want. They have two sizes for the sandwich, but the small one is large enough to fill you up. We also got a side of fries. Drinks (4.5/5 : They have soft drinks and a full bar. Naturally, I went with the Cuba Libre (basically a rum and coke with lime . Nice touch on their end: they give you the rest of the Coca-Cola bottle in addition to your alcoholic beverage. Overall: If you're looking for a quick meal, and some solid Cuban food (which you should always do when you're in Florida! , check out Bodega. Insider's tip: They have a speakeasy called Bar Chica that is attached to the restaurant. Check it out after your meal!"
