It's ok, I s'ppose. It has a small interior; I got a spot at the bar, but I'm sure this place must be slammed right before or right after a show at any of the local theaters. But that's just my guesswork. But also beware the odd hours of this place. Â Bars get sparse on this stretch of Michigan Ave., so stop by if you're in the area, and if you have lots of money, 'cause Bodega V ain't cheap. I would like to sample Bodegas I-IV though; maybe they have drink specials.
Review Source:I work a few doors down from here and have grown to really love this place for lunch. So much so that I am going to redeem my second (Buy five and get one) free sandwich. The guys who work there are super nice and funny and make everyone feel like a regular - even the convention folks.
I love their Zetas empenada which is supposedly going to be on their regular menu soon. Â I'm not a huge fan of the other 2 empendadas but I still get them sometimes. Their sandwich of the week is usually VERY good and their daily specials (which are a great price) are also solid. I heard them tell a customer the other day that they bake their muffins in-house which also impressed me. Another Yelper mentioned the chips and I agree, get them!!
Great patio outside on Michigan Ave. While waiting for a friend, we hung out here on a pretty nice day. La Sagrada Empanada is a brilliant name. The Butifarra is one of the most important meats in Catalan cuisine and it's in an empanada form. Good precursor to dinner upstairs at the Mercat
Review Source:Delicious lunch spot.  The menu isn't huge but you won't have a hard time finding something  to eat.  Make sure that you get the chips (as a side with your sandwich or buy a bag) which are coated in cheese.  Beer, coffee and sodas are available, too. Â
Not much seating space so be prepared to share a table with strangers or do take out. Â Either way it'll be a good meal.
I have to say. Â There really wasn't anything I didn't like about this place. Â My friend and I went in there just for a little meal. Â We didn't go up to the restaurant, just the bistro area. Â
Right away the staff was extremely friendly. Â They recommended lunch items to us, let us know about specials and said they'd even bring out our food. Â They were so friendly!
Not to mention the food was great. Â I had a vegetarian sandwich and it was delightful. Â If you're strolling around Michigan, try to check this place out. Â I'll definitely be going there for brunch again! :)
The prices are great for the area. Try to go between 11-11:30; otherwise it can be reeeeaally crowded.
The bread that they use for the sandwiches is fabulous; it's got some herbs in it. I like their 1/2 soup and 1/2 salad and Monday sandwich, which is like a fancy bacon, egg and cheese! Really I haven't been disappointed with any of the sandwiches. It's one of the best options around Michigan and Harrison.
Came here around lunch time and it was relatively empty. I can't remember what exactly I got, but I got a sandwich (ham I believe) and it was pretty salty for my tastes. So salty that it dominated the rest of the sandwich. I didn't finish it and it was fairly forgettable. Maybe I got the wrong thing? Bad day? Willing to give a shot again. If anything, the dude seemed nice.
Review Source:I wish this place was totally amazing, but its not. Â Which is sad. Â Tried the chicken salad today - the best part was the arugula. The chicken was dry and tasted left over, the almonds were weird, the grapes are few and far between. Â I just don't get it. Â It was the $5 special today - is that it? Â I don't know. Â I just wish it was awesome.
Review Source:So I came here today after throwing away an inedible tuna salad sandwich from another place. I had a serious hankering for tuna salad, so I ordered theirs. It comes with caper aioli and heirloom tomatoes. It's toasted on a ciabatta style roll. It's not too big, and not too small. It's delicious. And totally worth the price, unlike that sandwich I threw away.
Review Source:The $1.99 sangrias are now all day, every day. You just need to check in on four square to qualify (or don't and say you did lol). Â I came at night and had to order off the expensive mercat menu, will return for the $5 daytime bodega specials that I've heard so much about. Â Super chill and private, perfect for a mid-week rendezvous with my hubby. Â Ask for the complimentary tomato bread, it's amaaaaazing!
Review Source:Awful experience. Painfully slow and disorganized, for starters. Tiny tiny sandwich that was all grease and a little bit burnt (I went to get another one at Cafecito afterward because I was still hungry). They tried to overcharge (I ordered their daily special and then had to point out it says $5 for it just behind them). They were hygienic gloves but then also open doors and touch cleaning rags with them - so what's the point? I also think the space itself is not very pleasant. I'm sorry, I don't get this one at all.
Review Source:So, I was very excited to see Bodega N. 5 open over the summer. I was happy to forgive their inconsistencies at first, I mean, every place needs to be given some slack while they go through their growing pains. However, they have been open long enough to develop some consistency--something I greatly value in a workday lunch spot. At first, I fell in love with their tuna sandwich, the El Ravel/Raval (depending on which menu you are using) and it is the only menu item I have had in my handful of trips there. Though it is not $5.00 (as they so heavily marketed their price prior to and even after opening), but you are forced to get a side, which raises the price to $6.50.
Since they force you to get a side, let's start there: I wouldn't normally mind paying a little more since it comes with a side but at first the only option was chips. At first they were prepackaged (Jays, I think?), which was fine I don't generally eat chips so I could take them home to my husband for a later snack. But the next time, I was given housemade chips. "Awesome," I thought since I do like freshly made chips, when they are made well. Â However, these tasted a little weird and stale. The third time, I got Jays again. Then the fourth time, back to the stale strangely flavored chips, which is when I discovered bacon bits in the bottom of the bag. Now, some of you may feel it is heresy to say anything bad about bacon. I occasionally enjoy it, but if you're putting it in my food, Â you better tell me. Bacon in the chips was not indicated on any version of the menu. Since complaining they have offered fruit or pastry as alternative side choices. I do not know if they now say there is bacon in their chips or not, but at least I know and getting fruit or pastry is an option.
On that same trip, I also discovered a pepper in the sandwich, a change that, again, was not included in the description on any of the menus. I asked about this the next time I went and let them know they really need to add these details to the menu, especially if they are going to change the ingredients from time to time. (Given their menu is on a dry erase banner, this should not be too difficult to manage).
They've been open for a while now and I hadn't been back in a couple months because I had given up, always having to guess at what could happen. Â Today I went back because I am always willing to give it another shot. Got my tuna and pastry. The tuna sandwich was inedible because it was so salty. I could not taste any of the other flavors. And what is so salty? This sandwich never tasted salty before. When something is that salty, it makes me suspect some ingredient is not so fresh and needs to be covered up.
I think I am done with them for good this time. It feels too much like a lottery and I've never been much of a gambler.
I really need to go back here. A friend and I stopped in before an event at Mercat A La Planxa. I both live & work north of here so I never wander this far south on Michigan Ave. We both got drinks and not only were the drinks good but OMG the were like $5 each. Everyday. After work. They also had fun frozen treats & good food deals. I dislike most of the places in the Loop to grab a drink but I will not forget about this one! I SHALL BE BACK
Review Source:This place is great for a cheap, quick lunch. I met my friend here on a Friday afternoon and it was totally empty when I walked in. We ordered two flat breads (La Marbella Coca for me and La Bogatell Coca for my friend) and a Spanish Fly cocktail. If I'm ever back in Chicago, I'd like to try one of their sandwiches.
Review Source:I would give this place 4 stars in general, but kicked it up an extra star because if its location.
Mercat A La Planxa has always been a "to do" for me. Upon arrival I had a quick change of heart and decided to try their downstairs section - Bodega N.5
The food was inexpensive and very good quality. The portion sizes were also just right. I had a steamed egg sandwich with garlic aioli. It is a "basic" sandwich, but it was perfectly executed. The egg was so soft that it reminded me of japanese style omlettes except more savory than sweet. Of course, there was the garlic aioli, I'm sure I don't have to explain myself here.
My only concern is coming in when it's busy, especially when I want to drink - the space looks pretty tight with only 4-5 tables that could sit groups up to 5.
The reason I gave this an extra star for it's location is because it is literally right next to my campus and there is little to be desired in that area when it comes to food. I can imagine B5 being my spot while on campus.
Apparently the upstairs and the much smaller downstairs have different menus so I can only attest to the upstairs only which had a very nice layout. The food was OK and very small in portions. Perhaps i had high expectations due to my time in Spain and the high reviews. The waiter was pushy... From the beginning going against what we wanted to order and recommending something more expensive, really? And you don't serve manchego cheese because its only for grating? Again, really? Â I had to correct him in a subject he should be more knowledgeable in. He was obnoxious until the very end as he looked over the balcony as we decided on the tip. I won't go there again but I'll check out the downstairs next time I'm in town.
Review Source:Ok, so Mercat A La Planxa is still on my to-do list, but at least I was able to check out Chef Garces' quick-service Bodega N.5. Â
I stopped in for a quick lunch before a meeting in the are. Â There is a sandwich of the day for $5, with the rest at $6.50. Â I Â decided to go with the El Born, which consisted of delicious turkey and bacon. Â The flavors were awesome and the value was there.
I would certainly return the next time in the area. Â Well done!
Friends and I were enjoying an el cheapo fabuloso afternoon on the town strolling Michigan Ave., visiting The Art Institute on the free day, and falling into this little spot for lunch. Basically, it's the downstairs bar of Mercat, which was cleverly adapted to a small self-serve breakfast, Lunch and dinner spot, where all the menu items are $5. There are salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and small empananda-like offferings. You can also order Sangria or lemonade or other bar drinks. Small indoor dining space, but really nice outdoor tables, too. We had no trouble getting one around 1:30 on a weekday. It is enough off the beaten Loop business path that it isn't crowded.
The menu choices are varied and flavorful with Spanish cheeses and meats and vegetarian offerings. And the two guys behind the bar couldn't have been more hlepful, inviting or friendly. You can make a nice meal of a salad (try the Russian one) and a sandwich or flatbread for a mere (or should I say "Mer?" )$10.00. Great south Loop option for any time of day or night, really. Still need to get myself upstairs to Mercat one of these days.
So, on the hottest day of the year, I decided to make the 8-block walk to check out Bodega N.5. I came back with a delicious lunch and a sweat-soaked shirt.
As mentioned in prior reviews, everything on the menu is $5, so I figured the portions would be small. I ordered the Bocadillo de Pavo, which is smoked turkey, bacon, honey-dijon aioli, and mahon cheese on bread similar to ciabatta. It comes with a side of kettle chips sprinkled with cheddar cheese and bacon. Also ordered the Ensalada Rusa aka Russian Potato Salad. It's prepared in a huge cardboard box over a bed of lettuce and diced carrots and peas. This would be a good side to split with someone, but the sandwich and chips are plenty for lunch.
Looking forward to going back and trying an empanada - they were enormous...and maybe one of the flatbreads.
There were only a couple people in here - just a few tables and a small bar where drinks and food is prepared. It sounded like there were plenty of people at Mercat, but if you're looking for an inexpensive, quality lunch in the South Loop, this is the place. I think once word gets out, there will be lines at Bodega. (Why am I writing a review?!)
$5.00.
Everything is $5.00. OK, the awful jingle from Subway comes to mind. But this definitely ain't Subway.
I had the Bocadillo de Pavo (aka Turkey Sandwich) which contains smoked turkey, north country bacon, honey dijon aioli and mahon cheese. (Honestly, I don't know what north country bacon or mahon cheese are but they were tasty). The sandwiches are served with a side of homemade potato chips. Don't feel guilty eating the chips because they are paper thin and really light.
I ordered a "Frezzy Pop" thinking it would be a drink but it was a popsicle in a plastic wrapper. OK, so maybe its a typo and should be freezy pop. Â I got the raspberry and fig flavored one - what a pleasant surprise on a hot day!
I was there during lunch time and things can get a little bogged down but its well worth the wait. Limited seating inside but outside seating is great if the weather allows.
Bottom line: limited menu at budget prices with high quality ingredients in combinations that work.
And, oh, sorry for putting the Subway jingle into your head...
Being the foundational first floor of Mercat A La Planxa, man, my expectations were high...
Interior was very cute with the Bodega name plastered everywhere, but the seats were awkwardly much higher than the tables...
The empanada was comparable to a ham and cheese hot pocket. Lucky for me, I'm a die hard fan of those! ...I guess we should have taken the hint when we saw a couple of those guys hanging out underneath a heat lamp behind the bar. Boooo
The ham and cheese flatbread was ooozing with oil - it glistened underneath the lights. Not just greasy, but suuper salty too.
Great reviews from coworkers and hilarious bartenders save Bodega from getting 2 stars from me. I've heard great things about the egg salad sandwich and turkey sandwich, maybe we just picked the wrong things. = I'll have to give it another shot, hopefully my next stop through Bodega will be much better than this one.
I' m not sure what the hype is about this place. I get that Mercat is awesome, but this is no Mercat. Everything is $5, but it's also small. So, if you just want a bite, then it's fine. Personally, Cafecito delivers way more taste, variety and bang for your buck.
Interestingly, I asked if the egg salad was vegetarian, and the counter guy said yes. I then looked at the menu, and the second ingredient for the egg salad was anchovies. Ok, so I got the flatbread, which was pretty good, but nothing to return to. I munched on my fiance's potato chips, and as we got the bottom of the bag, he said there was bacon everywhere.
I realize this is a spanish place. I realize people like bacon. But, really?!!?!? There was no where on the menu that said there was bacon in the potato chips. I usually ask about questionable items (see above with the potato salad) but it never crossed my mind to ask if the potato chips were vegetarian. So, thanks, Bodega, I just had bacon for the first time in over a decade.
So, three stars. It's A-OK. But, as my bacon loving fiance said, we won't go out of our way to be back.
A little bit of egg salad sandwich in my life
A little bit of chips by its side
A little bit of a five dollar meal is what I need
A little bit of return trips is what I see
A little bit of patio dining in the sun
A little bit of Mercat A La Planxa all night long
A little bit of lunch here I am
A little bit of you makes me your woman
Bodega Number Five!
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