La Bodeguita Del Medio

This spot is my favorite Cuban restaurant in South Bay! I've been going here for years and have never been disappointed. The ambience transports you when you walk in! It's a great lively restaurant for date nights, anniversaries, or even a post work dinner with coworkers.

Whether you're sitter by the bar or their more intimate dining room, the vibes are immaculate and the servers take good care of you!

We sat by the bar and went an hour after they opened on a Wednesday night- they weren't too busy quite yet, but soon picked up. They brought us house bread and we ordered the croquetas and shrimp ceviche to start. The ceviche is good balance of tanginess and spicy. It's served on bread soaked up with the sauce, but somehow not soggy, which they nail every time! The shrimp was cooked to perfection and had great flavor. The pollo croquetas were a special that night and absolutes melted in your mouth. The aoli was an excellent addition to this dish. All the flavors come through even without the sauce.

For our main course we ordered arroz con pollo served with my favorite, plantains! The chicken was tender and melted in your mouth. It was well seasoned and as always the flavors were dancing on my tongue haha. We got the plantain crusted goat cheese salad with delicious sherry vinaigrette! It was light and fresh and a great way to end our meal.

I absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone wanting to explore authentic Cuban food :)

Went with a couple of friends to La Bodeguita del Medio. We went on a Wednesday after work. When we first arrived, the place was pretty empty but as the evening continued more and more people started to show up. It got packed. Thank goodness that we got there early and we were able to get a great table for the five of us. From the moment that we arrived, the service was excellent. We told the staff that we were there to celebrate two occasions and they really made us feel special that we chose the establishment to celebrate. Staff offered to take pictures of our group. The ambiance was welcoming, comfortable and relaxing. It was the perfect place to celebrate and have conversation. The music was awesome... I love Orishas!!! Yet, the music was not super loud that you couldn't hear one another. Low lighting and candlelight really created the mood, especially on a rainy evening. I personally got the cubano sandwich, mmmmmmmm yummy. It was the perfect amount of cheese, a lot that is and toasted to perfection. No soggy sandwiches here! I also had the hibiscus honey bee (non alcoholic drink). Can I please have this drink everyday?!?? It was the right blend of sweetness where it was not overwhelming. The key lime tart is delightful. Not too sour and it was a great dessert right after my meal.
Please note that they add a 5 percent operational surcharge to all guest checks that is not gratuity. It's noted that it's to offset the rising cost and employer mandates.
For sure, I will be returning for an evening out, even if there is nothing special to celebrate. Everything about our evening was perfect.

Since the restaurant is on California Ave there is no street parking right in front. There is a parking lot behind the restaurant and also a parking garage nearby.

The most fantastic service by Georgie at the bar. Extremely friendly and laid back place with soft lighting and tasty food.

I don't come to Cuban food very frequently but I'd come back.

This was one of the best tapas I've been to. There is literally a lot of items which are delicious and you must try we loved the interiors and the Spanish style ambience it almost took us back to Spain. Dont miss in their popular seafood paella.

We loved the way we were treated there and we'd love to go back with a larger group to try more food.

My partner really wanted to try this place and a few weeks later and I'm still reveling at our meal. The food here is really really good and prepared with beautiful precision. The flavors, the service, it was all excellent!

We started with the pork empanadas and croquettes. The empanadas were very good, the meat was tender, but not outstanding. The croquettes however, were devine! I love croquettes and I order them in different countries and restaurants or wherever they're offered. These had an amazing flavor and the texture was perfection! I'm still thinking about them. Haha

For our entrees we ordered the Tierra y Mar skirt steak and the lamb chops. Both were cooked perfectly with strong, but not overbearing flavors. The sides on each dish complemented the meats well and we left with leftovers.

Dessert was key lime pie! Don't question it. Just order it. If you like key lime this dessert is for YOU!

Pricey date night, but this is expected in this area and I'm already looking forward to going back.

We love La Bodrguita del Medio. It is one of our go to places to take guests or just for special occasions. Usually can get a table last minute. The seating is also great for toddlers as the outdoor section is just open to California Street which is blocked off, no cars! Food portions are large, and fair value for price. Service is always on point, we usually don't need to wait long for food or bill or water, but they also aren't over bearing.

We have tried a bunch of different things on the menu. The croquettes are always good.. our toddler loved these so much that he made us get another portion. Hubby loves the yuccas with the white and red sauce. We usually get the bbq ribs which come with yuccas. The skirt steak is also good value in that it comes with coconut shrimp! We have tried the empanadas and those are quite tasty with a nice tiny spicy kick. One time we got the special fish and chips, which were pretty tasty, but I would prolly go for the other regular items over the fish. Drinks are decent, but nothing to write home about. The reason why I give this place 5 stars is that they're consistently solid, provide good food, good value. You know that it will always be a good experience here!

The ambiance is nice and swanky here with loads of folks at the bar, seated in the booths and even sitting outside on the patio. Lots of conversation but the service the night we went was really cold, indifferent and unhelpful. I made eye contact with staff multiple times to flag someone down to take our orders after sitting and waiting for maybe ~15-20 minutes and they just ignored me and our group...
They also charge a separate service charge...and ask for tip which was a little offsetting after receiving little to no service. The arroz con pollo flavor was yummy and hibiscus honey bee non alc drink was refreshing. Might be back with friends after we take a bit of time off from here

3.5 stars
Food was good and we enjoyed all the dishes we got - seafood ajiaco, ropa vieja, ribs, and crab cakes. Great flavor and not too heavy, though the ropa vieja was salty. We especially loved all the tomato based parts of our meal. They use cheap rice for all their dishes.
The shrimp ceviche was creamy and not tangy which I didn't expect. The key lime tart isn't worth it; it tasted like a Safeway cheesecake.
It's not too loud inside and only 2/3 full on a Friday night.

This is my #1 restaurant in the bay area, and its the only one I know of that also has an attached cigar lounge. The ambiance is good for conversation and the cool artwork from Cuban artists on the walls adds to the atmosphere. The waiters are polite and attentive.

Be sure to drink a mojito, that is their specialty drink.

I haven't tried many Cuban restaurants before, so I was very excited to dine at this restaurant. There was ample indoor seating with a cozy ambiance.

Ropa Vieja 'Cuban Classic': Absolutely delicious! The skirt steak was flavorful and prepared very well. The platanos maduros (plantains) were a sweet contrast to the savory dish.

Croquetas: The small bite-sized croquetas were the perfect crispy appetizer to share.

Calamari: Pretty average. I would recommend trying other Cuban dishes/appetizers that are unique to this cuisine.