Review: Lola's Restaurant

It's not everyday that a restaurant makes a name for itself through its mac & cheese, but even such a simple dish has people raving about Lola's Restaurant. From seafood to salad and steak, this is one restaurant that makes the most basic American cuisine seem almost gourmet.

With low lighting and warm colored walls, Lola's ambiance is surprisingly enchanting and romantic. Even the loud chatter from the conjoining bar and the poppy music streaming overhead doesn't deter from that feeling. Everyone, from the doorman to the hostess is friendly and attentive, making sure that you're seated immediately, that your food comes quickly and that your glass is always full.

Upon being seated, the waiter brought me a plate of beats, pickles and carrots and a brown paper box of potato chips. The presentation wasn't the most impressive and the choice of food seemed a bit random, but as soon as I tasted these finger foods I had no cause for complaint. The sweetness of the beets and carrots complimented the saltiness of the pickles and chips perfectly.

I ordered the baked artichoke ($11) as my appetizer. Four pastry shelled artichokes arrived on a plate, pointing outwards like the petals of a flower. It wasn't the most generous portion, but at least they didn't skimp on flavor. The emmental cheese which oozed from the sides of the flaky pastry almost dominated the taste of the artichoke, but it was so warm, melty and flavorful that it didn't really matter.

For the entrée I chose the freshly-made ravioli. The best thing about the ravioli was the sage brown butter sauce. The chicken-filled ravioli was decent, but without the sauce it was nothing special. The entire plate, which wasn't that large, was $19.50 which seemed a bit steep for ravioli.

Next I had the Asian Vegetable Stir-fry ($14) with chicken and brown rice. This dish included a smorgasbord of vegetables: bok choy, mushrooms, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, yellow, squash, and zucchini; you name it, it was in there. Not only was it incredibly tasty, but it was healthy and filling. 

Let us not forget dessert, which was the crowning event of the night. Almost every dessert item on the menu was around $8 and I had trouble picking just one.

Chocolate bread pudding ($8) won in the end and it could not have been a better choice. This cinnamon bread, soaked in rich chocolate sauce and topped with ice cream and strawberries was so good I may have to go back for more.

Although the portion size isn't always equal to the price, Lola's has so much to offer it's worth a few extra dollars. Overall the food is delectably fresh, hot and satisfying. Service is fast and friendly and they're open until 2 a.m. to take care of those late night cravings.