Peep show, anyone? This sheep in wolf’s clothing, on the south-east corner of Soho, has been attracting and confusing wary diners, unsure if they’ve found the right, place since 2011. That’s the gleeful attraction of La Bodega Negra.
The screaming neon signage out front promises adult video, peep shows and girls, girls, girls; but what you’ll actually find behind those deceiving doors is tacos, tacos, tacos (with a side of tequila, of course).
Stepping through the front door offers little in the way of reassurance, as the front desk looks rather untoward too. Check in with the hostess, though, and you’ll be invited to follow the throbbing pink arrow until you arrive, reassuringly, at La Bodega Negra‘s brilliant basement restaurant.
The ever-so slightly sleazy ground-floor thematics give way to lusciously, low-lit Mexican vibes in the dining room. You’ll (hopefully) be pleased to know that there’s barely a nipple in sight; just lots of flickering candles and distressed surfaces. Far more exciting, meanwhile, is the array of mouth-watering menu options. Their take on modern Mexican cuisine has resulted in dishes such as taco al pastor, with pineapple pico de gallo and salsa verde, or scallop tiradito with serrano, aguachile and kolrhabi.
Whilst hanging out in the low-lit basement is an excellent dining experience, you also have the option of taking a table upstairs. The restaurant dubbed ‘Upstairs at La Bodega‘ offers a smaller selection of downstairs’ dishes, along with more experimental creations. This is also the place to find an outdoor terrace and ceviche bar, where you can watch the chefs in action as you sip on mezcal and tequila cocktails.
Speaking of which, a long cocktail list offers multiple margaritas (hibiscus and jalapeno riffs on the classic are particularly intriguing), agave concoctions and other recipes inspired by Latin America. Behind the bar there are no fewer than forty tequilas and fifteen mezcals, including the luxurious Tapatio Excelencia Gran Reserva at just £37 a measure (?!). Certainly not one to knock back with a lick of salt and mouthful of lemon then.
With killer cocktails and crowd-pleasing cooking, La Bodegra Negra is a one-of-a-kind offering. And look, even if it’s not quite the Mexican restaurant you expected when you first walked through the door; it’s a show most definitely worth peeping.