A Slice of Cuban Fare
by Monalisa Tailor, MD
NuLu has changed a lot since I first started coming to this area. Previously, this was Creation Gardens, and behind it was Ghyslain when they had a store front. Since that time, La Bodeguita de Mima has taken over the Creation Garden space. The brightly yellow painted house on Market Street makes you feel like you’ ve just come into an old friend’ s home. The restaurant is named after the owner’ s mother and there’ s a portrait of her in the restaurant. The space is lovely and expansive. There’ s a well-appointed bar to your left as you come in and there are multiple seating areas on both levels, and if it’ s a good day, a gorgeous outdoors as well. The bar is cozy and you can find great options as you wait for a table. I highly recommend making a reservation if you can, given how busy they are! OpenTable makes it easy. The walls are lined with pictures from Cuba and other memorabilia. You’ ll have plenty to look at while you are waiting for your table. When you do get seated, you might be upstairs or downstairs. Word of warning if you are someone who has difficulty with mobility, I would recommend asking for a table downstairs. The stairs to go upstairs are a bit narrow.
So, I’ ve been there quite a few times for various reasons, and each time has been an experience because of the ambience; do take in the interior and the memorabilia on the walls and the items on the mantles.
The last time I went, we were celebrating a friend’ s birthday and the staff at La Bodeguita made sure that our friend felt very special. You may feel a little bougie in NuLu as this restaurant does not have a separate lunch menu. That’ s ok, I just want my locals to be aware. If you are into cocktails, they have some really cool tropical options. Obviously, mojitos are on the menu as well as margaritas, sangria, coffee or non-alcoholic fruit juices. On my most recent visit, I tried a watermelon mojito. It was such a pleasant surprise to have such a tropical drink in Louisville. My friend got a specialty – canchanchara – containing a special liquor, ginger, honey and lime juice which she enjoyed as well. Additionally, while you’ re waiting for your meal, they will bring you out Cuban bread with two different types of butter. One butter is a cilantro garlic, and the other is actually a guava butter. It’ s on the sweeter side, but it is surprisingly tasty.
28 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE