AndreaCogliati/Reviews/Bodhi's Cafe

274 N. Goodman Street
Rochester, NY 14607
(585) 473-2030
http://bodhiscafe.com/
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Visited on March 6, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Fine dining experience at café prices. Live music during the weekend, usually on Friday and Saturday nights.

Bodhi's Café is a lounge restaurant and café located in the Village Gate district. It's designed as an open-space loft, with high ceiling, concrete floor and bohemian furnishing: there are an antique piano, a country bench and an aquarium, several photos (for sale) on the walls. The atmosphere is soft and relaxed and invites to quietly enjoy the chef creations. Tables and chairs are neat; no tablecloth, revealing the café soul. Tumblers are used for water and wine, a modern choice I do not particularly fancy.

Fusion cuisine. The menu shows very good intentions of using common ingredients (like tuna, salmon, chicken, shrimp) or less common ones (like grouper or chuck loin) in an unusual and creative way. Results are first-class and tasty, without been excessive. A few choices for vegetarians are present as well. Appetizers ranges from $6 to $8, while entrees are in $10-$16.

Wine list is limited: a dozen wines, available per glass or per bottle, are listed, plus 3 house wines, available per carafe. You can chose among several grapes and world regions, though. A dozen beers and a selection of teas and infusions are available as well.

We chose to drink two glasses of wine:

Heron Hill Chardonnay (Finger Lakes, NY) $5

Medium body, good acidity, nice citrus and grapefruit flavors.

Fat Cat Merlot (California) $6

Medium body, clear varietal flavors with just a hint of oak.

Fresh shrimp, napa cabbage, carrots, green onion and sweet and spicy dipping sauce. $6

Basically a shrimp salad wrapped in a surprisingly transparent, somewhat jelly, wrap. The fresh basil leaves, the hazelnut relish and the dipping sauce create an interesting contrast. A good start.

Score: 13/20

Pan-seared grouper over jasmine rice cake, topped with a coconut curry lime sauce and a kimchee salad. $16

South-eastern asian influences in this light, simple but tasty delicacy, presented as a small pagoda in the dish. An amazing, meticulous culinary understatement.

Score: 16/20

Black peppercorn crusted chuck loin over roasted garlic and sour cream, smashed potatoes topped with horseradish cream sauce and braised spinach. $16

Strong flavors for a not-so-common beef cut, remarkably tender and marvelously cooked.

Score: 15/20

Fresh baked desserts and pastries are featured. All desserts, but a few, are homemade; the others come from a bakery.

Apple cheesecake. $6

Chocolate ganache cake. $6

Both desserts were delicious. The chocolate ganache was really decadent. A great finish!

Score: 16.5/20

Our server, Alicia, was impeccable. Very prepared on the menu and the specials, attentive and witty. The owner, whom I previously met once, was also very amiable: he greeted us when we arrived, he stopped by our table inquiring about the meal and exchanged a few words when we left.

The bill totaled to $61, before taxes. Absolutely reasonable.

Very relaxing atmosphere. Great food and desserts. Excellent service. Reasonable prices. Live music.

Very small wine selection. The kitchen is not completely isolated from the dining area and clothes can catch slight cooking odors.