Another catch up session with my awesome eating companion sees us at the door step of La Bodequita del Medio, in the heart of the city on York Street, opposite the QVB. My friend’s sister raved on about the place so it was only nautral for us to see for ourselves what it was all about.
I have to admit before going to dinner I did my research and visited the LBDM website to see what food was on offer. There’s a bar menu and a restaurant menu. Initially we had agreed on the bar menu as we felt like we could just have a greater selection of dishes to share since so many of them sounded great. Upon arrival, the bar was completely packed out and so we took a seat at the restaurant.
Please note that the menus are subject to change. I dined here in late June and seems the menu has been updated since. (I’m kicking myself because I completely forgot the name of one of the dishes we ordered.)
L to R: Mojito $14 and Nojito $6.50
We begin the evening with some drinks. LBDM are known for their mojitos so my friend couldn’t go passed ordering one (check our their extensive cocktail list here). I didn’t want to miss out just because I was driving so I went for the mocktail version – the nojito ;)
LBDM is apparently the “home of the mojito” and I don’t doubt that. It is definitely one of the better mojitos I’ve had (yes, I couldnt’ help but have a sip). Everything was in perfect balance – the lime, the mint, the sugar, the soda and the rum. Absolutely delicious. I can so totally see myself going back for another when I’m not a designated driver…. or go for two.. or maybe three. Even the nojito was a delight to drink.
Sadly this is the dish I cannot recall the name of. It was the first of 3 entrees we decided to share. It was deep fried squid that had a crumb like batter, served with a thick tomatoe-y sauce and baby carrots. The squid itself was a little bit tougher than I usually would like but was still a treat to eat. The sauce on the tile looks ordinary but definitely packed a punch with flavour. The baby carrots had a flavour which niether of us could pin point what it was. It was a flavour we were familar with but it was just stuck on the tip of our tongue.
Taquitos $16.00
We were most excited to try the taquitos which were highly recommended. I don’t even know what a taquito is but I just kept saying the word because it sounds awesome. A deep fried tortilla basket is filled with green tomatillos, bell peppers and mantecoso cheese. The spicy mayo sauce on top was delicious. Eaten together it is amazing, eaten seperate is amazing. It’s a win win situation. A favourite amongst us both, and would be happy to return to just eat the taquitossss! (Had a look and its not on the current menu – oh how sad!)
Panceta de Cerdo $17
Our third and final entree is the roasted pork belly with compressed watermelon and white balsamic foam. It was one plump and juicy piece of pork belly which was going to be an issue sharing amongst two. Thankfully for us, there were scores on the skin which helped us to break it into two portions. The skin makes a cracking sound as I cut into it and thats when my friend and I look up to each other and smile. The pork belly itself was super juicy and tender, with a perfect skin crackling on top (we both saved that bit for last). The heavy meat paired well with the watermelon which provided freshness, and the balsamic foam which gave acidity.
Pollito Picante $32
We order the special for the evening which is a spiced spatchcock with chargrilled corn and fresh mango salsa. Looks like it has now made the regular dinner menu. It is a dry spice rub on the spatchcock which I initially thought was charcoal (oops). It gave the spatchcock so much flavour whilst the flesh itself was still tender and moist. The fresh mango salsa was simply amazing. It was so good that we started scraping off every little bit on the board.
Dessert time! We put in an order of the Sweet Spring dessert which at the time should have included red velvet cake, rose marshmellows and a fruity sorbet, similar to the one on Love My Foods & Sugar, however we received the above. We were both confused as we were trying to figure out what component was what as compared to what was on the menu. There were fresh fruits, passionfruit jelly and a rice pudding – a combination that just didn’t work for me, but we ate it anyway. I asked the waiter what we got exactly and even then there was a bit of confusion. I let her know that the dessert we received was not what we ordered but she came back to say that the dessert we wanted was currently unavailable. I wasn’t impressed at all. It would have been nice if the staff had let us know that the dessert we chose was not available so we could have chosen something else, instead of not being advised and being given something we did not order.
Overall it was good feed (pre dessert). I would definitely return to try some of the dishes on the bar menu. Looks like it would be great sharing plates over a mojito or two.
La Bodeguita del Medio
125 York Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 9264 4224
http://www.lbdm.com.au/
a bit odd that they would swap your dessert without telling you! but everything else looks incredible and lol i like saying taquito too :P
I definitely was suprised by the service.. but other than that it was pretty good i must admit. TAQUITOOOO! hehe
Wow cuban dishes? I’ve never had it before hehe it looks amazing i love that pork belly dish the most! I really like the dessert too hehe looks so complicated but I’m sure it’ll taste perfect! YUMM
I guess it’s a little similar to tapas? It’s definitely sharing worthy.. Except that pork belly! Hahah
you need to go with more people so you can try more food. or you can just get fat. that works too
I know. Hate being so limited on what to order because there aren’t enough stomachs available to try everything!
the Taquitos look sooo good! id want more than one :P
as for the dessert, luckily the one that came out still looks good :)
Looked good, not sure on the taste lol
at least the taquitos were good :)
i wish they were still on the menu :(
I know I’m devastated that they’re not. Quite surprised actually
I’m with Suze – that’s unacceptable. It sounds to me like they stuffed up and tried to cover it… badly. Aside from that, I’m loving the look of the pork and especially the spatchcock! I’ll have to go as so many people have been talking about it recently.
If you do go make sure you get yourself a drinkity drink ;)
Ooh good to see what the bar menu is like! We had the dinner menu when we were here.
We ended up eating the dinner menu. Must return to try the bar food
how strange that they would swap it without notice :/ i mean what if you were allergic to something that they picked out! anyway ive been meaning to check this place out for their food, their mojito is a killer :D
Yeah that’s my point. They didn’t tell us which is my issue… Definitely one of the better mojitos I’ve had ;)
I love a mojito too. Didn’t know you could get a mocktail version. Love the look of the pork belly but yes, a difficult dish to share! xx
The mock tail version is just as good! They tell you what’s in it on the drinks menu, which is always helpful
‘Nojito’ – lol!
Hahaha my friend and I kept saying nojitooooo and taquitooooo all night!
This place looks awesome. I want some taquito’s now! instead, I will just say it over and over!
It’s fun saying nojitooooo as well ;)
ooooo that spatchcock looks delicious!
It was! With the mango salsa. Amazing’
this place looks amazing! must try their taquitos…i’m also guilty of doing research on restaurant menus before i go sometimes too ;)
Nothing wrong with looking at menu beforehand right? Helps figure out what to eat hehe
Mojitos!! My favourite! And that spatchcock looks AMAZING!
If you love mojitos you will need to try it at LBDM! :) I promise they will deliver!
boo that they messed up the dessert order! :( at least everything else sounded pretty good!
Yeah we definitely weren’t expecting that. Didn’t ruin the experience because everything else we ate was pretty top notch
Your food pics look great! I wasn’t overly impressed with the food on the few times I’ve eaten there. The mojitos on the other hand…they are the best!
What a shame your experience wasn’t as good. Glad the mojitos are consistently good though!