Bodega de Pintxos Wednesday 24 April

Present Jim, Ron, Andrew, John, Kim, Megan.

We chose Bodega  because my cousin Sally had eaten there and talked about how yummy it was and I managed to convince all that we could change our style, for once.

Wow, the moment I walked into Bodega I knew the experience was going to be a challenge.  The noise was absolutely overwhelming, could hardly hear myself talk let alone anyone else.

When I arrived Ron was chatting to a waitress who was giving him the low down on what to eat, how much, what order etc.  It was a lengthy discussion which I didn't even bother to try to follow.

We ended up with far too much food, but what we had was pretty good.

• Roasted chicken with spicy dressing on a croute (great)
• grilled beef, crispy potato and wine sauce (flavoursome)
• paella balls, (tasty but filling)
• suckling pit, crispy onion and balamic escabeche (something a bit different, "to die for')
• tossed mushrooms with garlic chilly oil (fabulous)
• manchego cheese with nuts and quince paste. (not really a main or an entree, more an after dinner think).
• AND to finish, two types of paella, which even Ron could not finish.

The food was great, well presented tasty, we chose a nice variety of dishes, though in retrospect we should have chosen some more green vegetable.  All of the food was really good, the sevice quick although at times a bit chaotic (which missed out one one dish but that didn't matter, and nearly got some extras).  The wait staff were knowledgeable and helpful, which made it easy to order.

I don't know what we talked about because I could only hear Kim and John who were sitting next to me, the rest of the conversation got lost in the overwhelming NOISE!!

Still, it is a very popular place, with people waiting for table to be vacated.  Maybe we are just getting a bit old (older??) to be able to enjoy such noise levels.