La Bodega Negra – Cosily Seductive

La Bodega Negra is a great example of the Diversity Of Cuisines In London.

To be honest, there is a fair chance you’ve already seen this place if you are a London citizen. The reason why you’ve only seen and not tried it is that on the entrance all that the signs say is ‘’Sex Shop’’, ‘’Adult Video’’ and ‘’Peep Show’’. So most people who are utterly tainted by the sole sight of these neon signs rush to pass it by quickly. But there are others who already know what the fuss is all about or rather want to loosen up a bit and respond very well to what they see – those are the pleased clientele of La Bodega Negra. I you are a tourist and would rather spend your time in symbolic for London venues rather than buying sex toys – you’re lucky to be reading about this place.

As you enter the mock sex shop before your eyes appears a mannequin with a PVC gimp suit – gets more interesting with every step, right? Don’t worry, immediately after someone decides to check out the shop, a supposed ‘sex-worker’ shows up to ask  whether they have a reservation so as to hint that the venue is actually a restaurant, just in case the visitor is not yet aware of that tiny detail.
After it is established you can satisfy only some of your drives (and not others) in this place and you are still up or staying – you are kindly lead down the stairs into the real deal. The restaurant resembles much more a nightclub than a snobby diner, the music is loud (and very nicely picked I might add), the lights are almost non-existent and

the atmosphere is just what you expect – comfortable, intriguing and naughty at the same time.

La Bodega Negra

So that is pretty much the picture of La Bodega Negra’s atmosphere – nightclub, BUT with food service, nicer music than most places, facetiously alluring outside but kind of family-friendly on the inside (or at least a-group-of-friends-friendly). The service is also quite satisfying, you can encounter a dancing waiter who will gracefully manage to take you to your table, take our order and serve it properly. And there is always an option just to sit for a few drinks without the dinner experience.

Here come the dishes – what the restaurant is actually about. The quality of the meals is very high, not many people have left unimpressed with La Bodega Negra’s food. Traditional tacos – a wide variety of them – served in a specially constructed for the purpose wooden board; quesadillas, seafood and much more. Still, we shouldn’t overlook the fact the portions are rather small. A normal meal would cost you around £10-£12 but virtually it is likely this normal meal wouldn’t suffice for a proper dinner.

You can have a look at La Bodega Negra’s menu here – Menu

Another disadvantage of La Bodega Negra is the table limit – you can occupy a table for maximum 2 hours and then your option is to migrate to thee bar where you could stay as long as you wish and take over the ‘spicy’ dancefloor. But still, who wants to keep track of how long their dinner lasts and meet deadlines with the last bite…

La Bodega Negra Tacos

As a whole, some might say that the food is a tiny bit pricey for its nature and some conditions are not very welcoming, but the venue is commonly considered as a must-try mainly because of its creatively built vibe, the friendly service and the satisfying meals and cocktails. If it sounds like your type of place, just look for the sex shop on Old Compton Street and prepare to…go grab a bite.