La Bodega - Ithaca

The tortilla served on baguette with a side of gazpacho may be the best lunch I’ve ever had. The incredible ingredients, artistry, and clear love of food is apparent in all offerings at La Bodega. I’m only sorry I didn’t discover this gem earlier! Thank you!

The hype is real!! Pedro is the embodiment of hospitality and passion for food. His sandwich philosophy (less is more) bears out in practice, and this is coming from someone who typically checks every topping and add on for a sandwich.Pedro sadly leaving for Chicago sometime in July (will ask for the exact date next time). I am reluctant to leave a review because La Bodega still feels like a medium level secret, and I don’t like lines. But every non-vegan in town deserves the special experience of visiting the store and relearning to savor food. I doubted anyone could “recreate Spain” in the basement of Dewitt, but Pedro’s warmth lights up the space!

We are so lucky to have Pedro's La Bodega in Ithaca. I'm not sure people realize the expertise involved in his work. The entire experience of ordering in his shop is unique to our town the jamon is carved in front of you, and he's more than happy to offer samples and explain the flavor profile. The environment feels intimate, due to it's size but also the quality of the interaction you'll have with both Pedro and the food itself. The sandwiches are fantastic, and you truly can't go wrong. Pedro shared that his personal favorite is the chorizo vela, and that this is the sandwich that he makes for himself every day. Obviously, this is then what I ordered. The jamon, cheese, and tumaca sauce culminated into the perfect simple sandwich with a touch of spice, and the bread was fresh and toasted to the ideal degree. The Spanish tortilla is also excellent, and I'm looking forward to trying the gazpacho next time! Highly, highly recommend. This is the type of small, high quality, independent shop I'd love to see folks support!

I can't say enough good things about La Bodega. You don't need to be a foodie to appreciate to artistry that Pedro displays with each slice of the lucious (and healthy) Jamon Iberico a/k/a olives with legs! Grab lunch, and then do a little grocery shopping among the authentic Spanish favorites. You've never had Manchego this good.

We were delighted to discover a master Iberico ham cutter in Ithaca's Dewitt Mall. The owner, Pedro, is beyond passionate about Spanish food, and his store is somewhere between a cafe and gourmet Spanish grocery. (The shop sells the best chorizo we've ever had.)It was amazing to watch Pedro skillfully slice the Iberico ham in front of us. The professional hand-cut really does enhance the flavor of the ham. The ham is sliced in such a way, you can taste the distinct flavors of the different parts of the ham leg. It's an amazing experience that you must try.