The caramelized onions in the mac and cheese is ...off-putting. Makes it sweet, and the onion totally overpowers the cheese. The croque monsieur/madame could be perfect if it was open-face. I'd add a bit of mustard as well. Coffee was weak and tasted reheated. Come here for the ambiance and the company, but reign in your expectations when it comes to the food. read more

Well the food has been great and the service was always professional, until this last visit in October of 2025, when I looked closely at my bill. They had run the credit card in "authorize" mode with an estimated total plus tip amount in tiny print, then took that amount and printed it in bold as the actual receipt Total *without tip*, and then put a line below that to add MORE tip, effectively doubling the expected tip. When I noticed this and asked a manager about it, she gave an answer that was "yes we know this is happening but don't know how to stop it from doing that, golly gosh technology is hard" and we specifically marked on our receipt we were fine with the first estimated tip amount but did not agree to doubling that, completely scratched out the prior written amounts before we understood what was going on, and left feeling not so great but hopeful we would only be charged for one tip. Days later the statement comes in, we were double charged for the tip even though we signed a receipt with only one tip amount. That's not legal guys, that's fraud. Look I understand, tech is hard, running a business is hard, running a restaurant these days is really tough. But you can't let your credit cards get charged incorrectly, and I'm pretty sure you know this and are doing it anyway. read more

Wow! Outstanding food in this cool bistro. Don't let the location fool you - just because it's in a strip center doesn't mean the experience is low brow. Ate in the bar area because the main dining room was closed for a private event. About 10 tables dot the room, plus 8 at the bar. The vibe and decor is French bistro. Started with burrata and prosciutto cheese board. A creamy ball of fresh burrata is served with slices of prosciutto, crackers, crisps and basil. Everything is bright and fresh, the contrast of the sweet cheese and the salty meat with the crunch of the bread. And the presentation is as mouthwatering as the food. Next, tried the ahi tuna. A nice portion of tuna, cooked perfectly (seared on the edge and raw in the center), and then adorned with sesame seeds. The tuna is topped with sliced avocado and scallions and drizzled with a sweet teriyaki sauce. Plus a scoop of sticky rice. An excellent rendition. Lastly, a chocolate souffle. It takes 15 minutes to cook, but it's well worth the wait. The thin souffle rises in the ramekin as it cooks. Tableside, you puncture the souffle to add the scoop of vanilla ice cream to the molten chocolate inside. One of my favorites, and this was really really good. This place is a must try. Go! read more

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We liked the ambience here and the service was awesome. My friends and I had a great time but I did not like my dish. I got Ahi tuna which came to be too basic for 25$ meal. If there is more crunch & veggies or other topping, it would be great. The rice was also cold and was too little. It felt more like a basic appetizer than a dish. If it was about 7-8$, i would have not cared. And the sauce was very basic. teriyaki and mayo. I recommend adding more crunch to it like wonton crisps or pita. Or even some nacho chips. Sangria was great. Really enjoyed the wine flavor of the drink. My other friends enjoyed their meal. We got curry, mushrooms & toast, sandwiches and pizza. read more

Cafe Lola - New American Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

I'm not generally an individual who writes a lot of reviews. When I do it's because I have thoroughly enjoyed the service that was provided. Reviews are very crucial to continued success and longevity of a business. Unfortunately, today is not one of those days. It hurts my heart to give a poor review. As a former server and someone who still works with the public, I felt compelled to provide some feedback. My intention in this review is to share my experience in hopes that positive changes can be made. I understand that not every meal can be unforgettable and not everyone who serves can deliver a perfect dining experience. Restaurants can be short staffed, ingredients can lose their quality over time, and honestly sometimes we can all just miss the mark. That being said, I was still surprised by the lack of friendliness, the lack of attention from our server, and the lack of flavor from all of our dishes during our visit last Friday evening. I made a reservation a month ago for 4. My boyfriend and I were planning a lovely evening with two of our closest friends. When I suggested Cafe Lola I truly thought our friends would have a remarkable experience since this was their first time visiting the restaurant. We were greeted after standing at the door for a few minutes. I explained we had a reservation, and we were shown to a table in the corner. The hostess was not pleasant at all. She simply put down our menus and walked away. There was no explanation that our server would be with us. She did not smile. She was cold and aloof. We dismissed it figuring she was just busy. It was some time before our server approached our table. Consistent with the hostess, she was equally unfriendly and frankly seemed very unenthusiastic to have us in her section, which seemed to be the entire restaurant. So, we tried to be accommodating and understanding at first. She took our drink orders and left. The men each asked for a Guinness. She came back and explained they only had 1 left. Our friend let my boyfriend have it, but he said it tasted old and stale and wished he had of just ordered something else. He decided not to say anything as he didn't want to be an imposition. My drink came out much later. I realized our server was making the drinks herself. This was a surprise considering it was Valentine's weekend. I asked for An Old Fashioned made with Crown, but it was very bland. I couldn't taste the bitters or any orange in it. I wound up asking for a diet soda to mix into it myself so it wouldn't go to waste. Our server eventually came back to take our orders but wrote nothing down. We were a bit concerned, but all agreed our orders weren't all that complex. We did ask for 2 substitutions, but she didn't seem phased by our requests. Again, we assumed it would take some time for our meals to come out, and we were prepared for that. When our entrees were delivered, she had forgotten one of our substitutions. She did seem regretful and asked if she could take my meal back to have it corrected but made sure to make it clear "it would take some time". We had already waited so long I decided to keep what I had. I really didn't want to make a fuss. I will say that all of our dishes looked absolutely beautiful. But the food had zero flavor. I'm not one that cooks with a lot of salt, but not only did the restaurant not have enough staff for such a large occasion, they also didn't appear to have any salt either. In fact, there weren't even salt or pepper shakers on the tables. We all did our best to enjoy the evening despite the lack of hospitality and the lack of flavor. We did try to ask our server if they were short staffed after she ignored refilling our waters. She didn't even look at any of us when she replied. We tried to tell her we appreciated her being there, but we didn't receive much of a response. She left and later returned with our checks. Honestly, we as patrons would have been content with the overall experience if the service itself had of been at the very least pleasant. Our server looked like she was in agony. I have to say I don't think I've ever had a server look so downright miserable to be there. A reservation was required and considering the high cost of just one dish, the expectation would be that the service would be just as high. I'm disappointed not only in the cost of a flavorless meal, but more so in the overall attitude of the service. I certainly hope that other patrons last weekend had a much better experience than we did. Again, I'm sad I must share our time at Cafe Lola was such a disappointment. I do hope that the ownership take my review seriously and will have productive conversations to ensure that this is not a typical way of operating. Cafe Lola has a lovely atmosphere, and their food presentation is beautiful on the outside. It would be a shame to see it lose business when these kinds of changes can be made so easily. read more

OK, I tried it again. I am from out of town. We went on A SATURDAY NIGHT. May I repeat, a Saturday night. We were visiting from out of town, and had driven around for an hour. Place after place was packed. East Tennessee loves to eat. Just as lame as it ever has been. NOBODY was in this place, but they still have an attitude. It was EMPTY. Hey, folks, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING THERE ANYMORE. Look around. Stop with the attitude. IT ISN'T WORKING. You are no longer "special." You are a has-been joke. read more

What a great little place. Cute and cozy inside and has several outside tables (although they are adjacent to the parking lot). Food was excellent! Wife and I came for lunch. I had French dip sandwich with a Cesar salad and wife had warm chicken salad sandwich with butternut squash soup. Service was very friendly so we sampled the warm brown butter cake for dessert. Liked everything so much we perused the dinner and brunch menus. Definitely a lot of enticing options on both. We will definitely be back. FYI, they also have a wine tasting menu from our those that are interested. read more

Great food, wonderful service, and a great atmosphere for any kind of dinner. When we want something special, we end up at Café Lola, knowing that it's going to be great. read more

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DoorDash orders are not typically excellent. Cafe Lola sent amazing food. Short ribs over mashed potatoes were very tender and not fatty. Tomato soup was delicious. Goat cheese salad so yummy! Order the large. Crème brule was beyond delicious. I will definitely visit the cafe. My complements to the chef. read more

Food was wonderful, went before a show and had no problems. Wait staff was responsive to requests and friendly.

Food was fantastic as always! Both plates were left completely cleaned! Staff is very friendly. Also, there was a party of about 12 people that ordered before us, yet I felt like our food came out fairly quickly! read more

Cafe Lola - Chorizo Avocado Benedict & Breakfast Tacos with Chorizo - New American Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

My wife and I went to see a show in Johnson City. Cafe Lola appeared in my search, and we decided to give it a try. Everything from cocktails and appetizers through dinner was excellent. Service was great, and it's a lovely decor for a restaurant in a strip center. read more

This place has kept up the quality AND service! What restaurant has done this! None! This is a shining star in Johnson City!!!!! Sunday mimosas $3! Lots of fruity options. My favorite is cranberry with a splash of pineapple....recommend by the server, thank you! Biscuits and Gravy....homemade and hot and delicious! Croque Madam....hot and delicious and cheesy as I always remember it! We can't wait to go back and try the dinner menu!!!!! read more

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I travel to Johnson City about 6-8 times a year and always have either dinner or lunch at Lola's. Last evening my daughter and I had dinner there. I was excited to introduce her to the restaurant. We were so disappointed! The food was mediocre at best. The appetizer of peppers wrapped in bacon was nice but everything else terrible. The pasta sauce was an oily mess. The roasted brussel sprouts were a soggy, sweet, mushy concoction. The chocolate soufflé was more like a microwave teacup cake, the outside dried up and the center raw batter and it had an awful sour taste. I'm told there is new kitchen staff. I won't go back. read more

My wife and I had an excellent lunch here today, we split two different sandwiches one was a panini on sourdough and the other was avocado toast on sourdough. Wow both were delicious. Then we tried their French toast with pecans. Everything was excellent. Our waiter name was Elliot, super nice and a great waiter, we will definitely be back. read more

The ambiance is very interesting, service was great. The food was exceptional, with items you find anywhere else.

Boutique dining experience with in-house recipes that truly elevate the Tri-Cities food scene. Hands down, the most unique menu and delicious, scratch food, combined with a personal touch and customer-centered service, which creates an ambiance unrivaled in Johnson City. This cafe is definitely worthy of 5 stars. If you're new to the area, highly recommend you make a reservation and check them out...absolutely fantastic place to enjoy great food and fellowship. read more

My wife and I just had a disappointing dinner at Cafe Lola. The toasted Brie appetizer was served with white bread and crispy seeded wafers. Fairly tasteless and poorly accompanied was this to start. 5/10 For entre we split the goat cheese salad and steak frites. Goat cheese was smeared over similar bread from the appetizer, greens were fresh and a small portion of a raspberry vinaigrette was placed on the side. Fairly plain but nothing to " write home about. " 6/10 The steak was mediocre at best and smelled unlike anything we've ever smelled. A cream sauce was over the top of the nicely sliced pieces of meat. The fries were not close to crispy but rather soggy. For $32 this entree is a 5/10. Service was just fine. Setting was just fine. read more

This is kinda a hidden spot off of Roan Street, could be missed. The food was great, we had a few tapas and pasta for entree. Absolutely loved the tiramisu! Ambience was okay. Our server, however, wasn't super friendly and kinda impatient. Here's how I would rate this place - Ambience - 4/5 Service - 3/5 Food - 4/5 read more

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It's one of the best Restaurants in town. The food is excellent and the staff is so friendly! It also looks great inside. read more

Nice restaurant with fresh pasta dishes. Easy to find off Roan St. Casey, our waitress, is very kind and helped us place our order. She boxed up our leftovers and re-corked our wine. We stopped in for a meal while in Johnson City running errands. read more

I'll definitely be back! I love the ambiance and the food was all delicious! From the shrimp cocktails and spinach artichoke dip to the filet mignon with portabello ravioli and garlic mashed potatoes, it was all very very good. The only downside is that we had a reservation for a group birthday and the people at our table stuck around for 30-45 minutes beyond our reservation time so we were delayed in being seated. The wait staff was wonderful and they did comp us an appetizer for our delay, which was appreciated read more

I absolutely love Cafe Lola! I haven't been since the pandemic, so we decided to have a pre-birthday celebration here ... and let's just say, they did not disappoint! First, we got greeted by the lovely Sophia! She's new to waitressing, but this is so second nature to her! Pleasant personality, so welcoming! I asked what she recommended and she told us her favorites, which we chose 2 out of the 4 she offered us. My husband got the French Dip, the bread for this is muah! The best! My mother in law for the Salmon Wellington, wow! This dish knocked it out of the park! The flaky pastry leveled up the salmon! And I never order ravioli, but was recommended, let's just say, you need to try this! The chicken was grilled to perfection, tender + juicy, a lot of places don't put love into their chicken, but Lola does! The yummy bread on the side was crispy and perfect to dip into the cheese sauce (loved the angel wing presentation of that btw!) I had a side salad with the maple dressing, in love with it, I'm a sucker for good dressing! We got the grilled bacon wrapped peppers for an appetizer and they were delicious (except the bed of chopped up lettuce was pretty wilted from the heat of the peppers, just my opinion, I would leave off the lettuce or put them on a small, crisp leaf of romaine, I'm no expert, this just makes sense to me lol). They brought me out a birthday dessert, I chose Tirimisu, one of my all time favorite desserts and they nailed it! Chef, you are doing our area right by cooking such amazing food! The bar area is always our go to spot to eat, black leather tuft booths with the red damask wallpaper, I feel like I might be in an upscale brothel saloon which I have always loved the feel of this spot, so creative and different to our area of JC. (But just one little itty bitty piece of advice, there was alot of collected dust in the upper corner of the wall/ceiling area where we sat, didn't bother us bc the place is so clean, just letting you know!) Thanks for being amazing Lola, we will be back to enjoy more dishes soon! read more

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Date nights are few and far between for my husband and I at the moment. So when we are afforded the opportunity, we try to make sure we are either going to places we know we enjoy or trying new places that look worth taking a chance on. I have some food allergies and preferences that are very different from my husband so finding a place that has food options for us both can be tricky. We decided to give Lola's a try because if anything, the cocktail menu looked interesting. When we walked in, it was about 8:30 on a Saturday night which is close to their closing time, but we figured we had enough time for a drink or two and nice conversation. We entered and waited to be seated. The front room wasn't very crowded but had several groups. We were seated in the back room where there were a few couples and a larger party. The lighting was dim and it was a great place for a more romantic atmosphere. Each room has its own bar and set of bathrooms which I thought was great! Our waitress was a younger woman named Makenzie and she was absolutely awesome! We found that she and the other staff we encountered, were polite and helpful; especially when it came to ordering food and finding things on the menu that fit my food allergies. We started with a round of drinks. Their cocktail/beer/wine menus had many options and I had trouble deciding what to try. I decided to begin with a classic I love, a St. Germain Bellini (I know it as a French 77). It's a simple drink but it was made well. For food, I ordered the warm butternut squash and Brussels sprout salad while my husband got the Italian meatballs. We both thoroughly enjoyed our dishes and while they were smaller portions, it was plenty of food to satisfy our hunger. After dinner, my husband got another beer and I got an espresso martini. Again, my drink was very well made and I enjoyed drinking it. While we were there, we were seated next to a larger party who you could tell was a group of friends just getting together for some food and drinks. Yes, they were a little loud because there was about 10 of them; but we weren't put off by them or the noise because they weren't being belligerent, just having a good time. It was sweet that the manager came around and asked how things were and if we had dined with them before. We said we loved everything we ordered and it was our first time at the restaurant. He apologized and explained that usually the bar is a quiet place that is perfect for a romantic meal but the group that was there were regulars. We told him that we completely understood and appreciated their concern for the other patrons but we were not upset with anything and m husband and I were still enjoying the atmosphere and each other's company. We also really appreciated that the staff stayed open well beyond their closing hours and didn't make us feel rushed since an hour past closing, there was still quite a number of people there. I am so glad we gave this restaurant a try because we really had a great time. The food and drinks were delicious and well priced, the atmosphere was romantic and the staff/service was outstanding. If you haven't given this gem a try, I highly recommend it! I know we will be wanting to go back. read more

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If you are looking further an amazing place for Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner, look no further than Cafe Lola. The food is exquisite, the service, impeccable, and the atmosphere delightful. There is no need to go anywhere else! Cafe Lola is AWESOM read more

Service was slow, had to ask for table service...and the size of the Sea Bass (which we LOVED) was like half it's size from our last visit. The Manager acknowledged my complaint, and reduced the bill somewhat. One drink each for three of us, and $150 with the tip. We're taking this "off the list" for a bit. read more

I took my friend to lunch around 11:30 AM (they open at 11), and this place was already filling up. We came without a reservation, but seating was available, although too close to the guests seated next to us for my comfort. The lunch menu is small - primarily sandwiches & salads - all reasonably priced between $12 & $20. I ordered the Niciose salad with seared Ahi Tuna ($16.95), and my friend had the Italian Panini ($12). Both were delicious. The atmosphere is loud. The service was a bit slow, and they didn't have enough servers for the number of people coming in (we only saw one server and one hostess). However, if you're willing to wait, the food is worth the trip. read more

This place is surprisingly good. We had been considering going for some time, but the entry way and such were not inviting, so we continually passed it up. BIG MISTAKE! Their coffee was very nice, and their food was excellent. All this came in at a budget price and although this was lunch, we were determined to return for dinner. Watch this space. read more

Great service, wonderful ambiance. Food is remarkable! Always expect a great experience when you dine here. Perfect for date night.

Service was speedy and attentive. I really enjoyed the turkey panini as well as the Waldorf chicken salad. The brown butter cake is to die for read more

This is probably the toughest review I've ever had to write. Cafe Lola has so much potential, but our experience there just didn't live up to other restaurants in this price range. To make a long story short, skip the appetizers and dessert and focus on the entrees, which really shine here. My wife and I ordered the Stuffed Peppers, Side Salad with garlic bread, Smoked Ravioli, Braised Pork Shank, and Tiramisu. Our appetizer was small ($7 for 1 and 1/2 small peppers?) and the bacon was over cooked and too crispy. The side salad was decent, and the Tiramisu was okay, but the entrees are what redeemed our dinner. The Smoked Ravioli was creamy and perfectly rich. I did think it was a touch under seasoned, but that's no biggie. The Braised Pork Shank was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. If the appetizer and dessert had been given the same care and attention as the entrees, this would have 5-star potential. Our waiter was courteous and attentive, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was decent. I'm definitely looking forward to giving Cafe Lola another try, but until then, I can't give it more than 3 stars. read more

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It is worth your time and money to dine at Cafe Lola! I went after shopping at the mall for a nice lunch and I was not disappointed! They lets my table sit outside. It was small but super cute and not too loud! Vanessa was our waitress and she was so kind! She answered all of our questions and she followed up! The food was OUT OF THIS WORLD! I got the turkey panini which was AMAZING! I also I ordered the side of their soup of the day which was tomato bisque. It was fantastic! Please take a chance here! It will not disappoint! Thank you for such a great experience! read more

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Excellent food with a menu of a variety of dishes. Had the smoked mozzarella ravioli with chicken and a cream sauce, which was outstanding. Each person at the table said that the dishes were well prepared and very tasty. The ambience is a bit rustic, but the food was outstanding. Service was great! read more

Cafe Lola goes way beyond their food and unique menu! The owner and staff are always great, paired with great food and service! It is a must try whether you're a local, or just passing through! read more

Great little restaurant. Very quaint and a little romantic. The food is executed very well.

Every single dish was a smash! We had the maple brussel sprouts, four cheese lasagna, wedge salad, and bacon wrapped dates. The brussel sprouts were sweet and crispy, but not burnt. The lasagna is big enough to share. The wedge salad tasted so fresh. The bacon wrapped dates were the highlight. The perfect mix of sweet and savory we topped it off with a mojito and pear martini. The drinks were not too strong--a plus in my book. read more

I have been here a couple of times now and the food is very good. They have a limited menu, even at brunch, where'd the expectation is that there would be a different menu filled with new items not accessible during the week. I also found them to be less than accommodating late in the lunch and brunch period, out of many dishes and not willing to serve if your within 15 minutes to the end of either lunch or brunch. You should try it during earlier hours they stare open because it's worth the trip. read more

Really great atmosphere and service! I came here for lunch but I want to try dinner and brunch next! Highly recommend! read more

Cafe Lola - Warm Croissant Sandwich with Chicken Salad Veronique - New American Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee

Visited for New Year's Eve and enjoyed the wine dinner where wines are paired with each course served. Service was wonderful and so was the food. Enjoyed eating there! read more

My Mother in Law and I came here to grab a quick bite after shopping. I had heard great things and wanted to try it. We arrived at lunch time on a weekday and it was somewhat quiet. We got a seat in the main room. Our server was quick to come over and ask about drinks. I ordered the Watermelon Lemonade, which was delicious. A must try! For lunch, I got the crab cake croissant sandwich, with a side of broccoli cheddar soup. Both were excellent. My Mother in Law got a spinach and goat cheese grilled panini sandwich. Hers was huge! She could only finish half but it was yummy (I tried a bite). I did ask for no tomatoes on my order, but they were on there anyway. Not a huge deal. Interior was cute and the service was prompt. Restroom was a little dusty. Giving the café 5 stars because the meal was delicious. I will definitely be back! read more

Cafe Lola - Watermelon Lemonade - New American Near Me - Johnson City, Tennessee