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Stumbled across this spot by just walking in flatiron. We were seated by the kitchen counter which is a pretty cool concept. The ambiance was great and I loved watching the food being cooked. Service was 10/10 and our waitress was really attentive. Apologies that her name is slipping me at the moment. I wish they had more items to choose from but overall would recommend. I had the low country boil and my friend had the pork dumplings and grit cakes, all very delicious. I will come back for the fried chicken thighs
Lunch menu a bit mid. Got the ASPARAGUS + KALE PANZANELLA $17 add charred chicken thighs $10 for total $27 There's so little salad, basically not a meal if I didn't add the chicken. Yet the chicken has a lot of skin and fat :/ Mostly is the sourdough ended up feeling like an unhealthy dish.
We had a really nice experience at Lola's last week. My son had Lola's on his NYC list of restaurants he wanted to try so here we are! We were seated at a nice quiet table overlooking the kitchen with lots of room. I love when a restaurant reads my comments on my reservation! Adam was our server extraordinaire and he really helped make our evening memorable. From his great menu recommendations to his very attentive service, you can tell he really takes pride working at Lola's and made sure we had a great meal. The tuna appetizer was very good and two of us had the crispy chicken thighs which were excellent...super crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I loved the buttermilk sauce on the side along with the coconut vinegar and hot honey... nice addition! My son had the Atlantic Char which seemed to disappear off his plate very quickly .. he really enjoyed it. Thank you Adam and Lola's for a great dinner!
I could write a book about how much we enjoyed our dinner at Lola's for my 30th birthday... it was pure excellence, dedication and hospitality all wrapped up in one fabulous meal! And what a unique concept too -- Filipino and Southern flavors married together in the most elegant fashion with additional unexpected touches along the way. We had an early reservation at 5 before a Broadway show, so we were some of the first ones to arrive for dinner service (but the cozy space filled up within minutes and was pleasantly buzzy the whole time we were there). They seated us right away at our spot in the back at the chef's table/kitchen bar -- I cannot emphasize enough how much we enjoyed that experience... watching the team prepare each dish with so much skill and attention to detail was like watching an episode of "The Bear" (only 100 times better because it was all happening right in front of us!). The staff were absolutely phenomenal -- Suzanne, the executive chef, greeted us right when we sat down and made a point to check back in a few times, and our waiter, Ben, couldn't have been friendlier and more helpful. We started out with delicious drinks (the mocktail I ordered was superb... I can't remember the name but it had ube and was complex & refreshing) and decided to get the house-made naan as our appetizer -- and boy are we glad we did, it was a standout!!! So fun watching one of the chefs preparing each ball of dough in front of us, sliding it into the green-tiled wood-fired oven, brushing it with oil and presenting it with a dish of yogurt, carrot chutney and cilantro sauce (the quality of the ingredients was unmistakable). For our entrees, we had the short rib and shiitake dumplings (clearly hand made and stuffed with the tenderest meat filling and swimming in an umami-rich, perfectly spiced broth) and the wild striped sea bass (beautifully cooked, crispy exterior and juicy interior, served over the most unique grain, shrimp and kimchi combination and garnished with some absolutely outstanding roasted banana squash). It was one of those meals where we looked at each other after taking our last bites and were genuinely sad that it had to be over. I also want to call out the multiple ways they surprised and delighted us throughout the meal -- at one point, I mentioned how good the beet, apple & endive salad sounded, but my husband didn't want that so we decided against it, only to be surprised by the kitchen a few minutes later when one showed up on the house as a birthday treat! Then as we were wrapping up and said we had decided against dessert to allow time to get to our show, one of the staff brought over a warm chocolate chip cookie packed in a to-go bag. These small but very meaningful gestures are the things that make a restaurant go from good to great in my book, and I will forever cherish the memory of our outstanding dinner at Lola's (and recommend it to anyone and everyone I know traveling to NYC) because of it. Thank you for the best birthday dinner EVER, Lola's team!!!
Highly recommend sitting at the kitchen counter, I loved being able to watch the chefs do their thing. The gumbo oysters were so flavorful and the rice cake grits were so interesting. Overall punchy flavors and really well cooked fish, but hats off to the team for going above and beyond. They heard us debating between what we got and the low country boil, and they surprised us with a mini version of the low country boil to try! It was delicious and I was delighted
Loved our dinner and drinks at Lolas! I forget the name of the drink - something with yuzu in it, extremely refreshing! The food was banger - we got the naan, chicken thighs and bento box. Everything was incredible. Luke behind the bar was so genuine and kind! Cannot wait to come back.
Side note: The menu at this place appears to change pretty often outside of a handful of appetizers and a couple of the mains such as the short rib and chicken so you might not get the same menu as me. In short, I would recommend the Crispy Chicken, the Panzanella, and the Cookie for dessert. First off, shoutouts in particular go to our excellent server as well as the rest of the waitstaff. They went above and beyond in terms of asking questions/confirming things, cleaning stuff, asking if we needed new plates or silverware, and other things. Anyway, this interesting little restaurant off of 5th Avenue opened up a little while ago and I went earlier in the evening with a group. They describe themselves as being Southern and Korean though I would consider this more Southern and pan-Asian. The place inside has comfortable seating and the lighting is a bit dim unless you're all the way in back by where they cook. The food is pretty good though some dishes definitely are a whole lot better than others and the price points can be a bit high. I started with one of their $19 signature drinks; the Leche De Tigre with mezcal and ceviche sauce. This was a unique drink with some smokiness from the mezcal and some herbal flavors from the ceviche mix. It was interesting though I likely would not order it again. Best of the smaller plates was something that someone else ordered which was the Asparagus + Kale Panzanella for $26 with bacon + red onion jam, cheddar, and toasted sourdough. I'm usually not the biggest fan of kale but it worked here with some of it being crisped up for texture. The bits of sourdough added crunch, the cheddar added some saltiness, and it just overall had a nice mix of textures. This was the best bite of the night along with the chicken easily. My appetizer was the Beef + Barley Tartare for $28 with broccolini, gochujang, and sunchoke chips. The tartare had a good texture compared to most with the beef being in larger chopped pieces and the chips added some good crunch. The gochujang added some nice spiciness to the dish though I felt it made the dish a tad salty. It was pretty tasty though a bit pricey. The last appetizer anyone ordered which I tried was the Marinated Beets + Strawberries for $24 with goat cheese, pepitas, and calamansi honey which was alright. The strawberry was unique here though it got a bit overpowered from the goat cheese and beets. The calamansi wasn't really detectable though the dressing was a bit light in general. I just don't think the mix worked too well even if the quality of the ingredients was good. I went with the recommended dish from most other reviewers as my main which was the Crispy Chicken Thighs for $29 with pantry pickles, pantry pickles, fermented hot honey, and coconut vinegar which is the closest thing to a Filipino dish on the menu. The chicken was somewhat similar in terms of texture to Taiwanese popcorn chicken though lacking that distinct and wonderful white pepper flavor and was pretty tender and juicy though there was a lot of batter. The chicken itself was pretty moist and the portion size was pretty large. The pickles on the side were on the lighter side for pickles with the sweetness being similar to Filipino atchara though I prefer the original style as a slaw. The red sauce on the side had a similar heat to the coconut vinegar and I think they worked the best combined to add a proper amount of heat and flavor. This was good and I would recommend it. The rest of the people got the Roasted Short Rib for $39 with caramelized shallot barbecue, charred broccolini, and mushroom ragu. You would expect the dish to be very large based on the price point but as per many photos, it consists of multiple small chunks. While it added a nice presentation, the portion size was therefore a lot smaller than expected. This would be forgiven if the flavor was excellent but I found it to be a bit bland and the piece of short rib that I tried was tough. I wouldn't recommend this. A few people ordered two of the desserts at the end which I had a small nibble of. Better of the bunch was the Brown Butter + Miso Chocolate Cookie for $10 with oolong milk. The waitstaff split up the oolong milk into 6 small glasses which was very nice of them and was pretty tasty with the milk helping to reduce the richness of the cookie. The cookie had a nice mix of textures and was pretty sweet though not cloyingly and the closest comparison especially with the pretzels on top for salt would be a much better version of the Compost Cookie from Milk Bar. It was solid. Interesting and alright was the Sweet Blue Cornbread for $14 with roasted strawberry, rhubarb, and whipped buttermilk. The cornbread had a nice texture and was mildly sweet though there was oddly a lot of ginger inside which others found unpleasant though I didn't have a huge piece. The fruit and buttermilk went with it nicely. This was OK. Out of review room. 3.8
This spot is super cute. We got a table right by the bar seats so we were close to the action. We got most of the items on the menu. The naan, oysters, and pimento cheese to start. All solid. Next we got the panzenella and lettuce wraps. Then the rice cakes, chicken thighs, dumplings, short rib, and striped bass. Everything was delicious but the stand outs were the lettuce wraps and chicken thighs. We finished with the cookie and black forest ham. The milk and cookies and little bits of pretzels were an amazing touch. The service is also really good. At one point I dropped my chopsticks and they replaced it right away before I even picked it up. We'll definitely be back.
Looked online for places to eat, not realizing at the time I was saving a place that was one of The New York Times 100 best restaurants. Walked over from our hotel and loved the overall vibe, which was busy and welcoming. Our server was so nice, asking dietary restrictions and even my preference of Gin or Vodka for my Lola's Martini (which you can get with lower ABV!). We ordered the beet and strawberry salad because we were curious of how the Calamansi honey would taste, and even though we didn't taste it overtly, the salad was amazing. We shared the crispy chicken and the wild striped bass. Both were delicious and not too heavy, light enough that we ordered a Rhubarb Cosmo to share, and wow, so delicious, with a strong taste of Calamansi citrus. Again, shoutout to our server who talked to us and when I mentioned my birthday offered a sweet happy birthday to me, complimented my bolo tie (of NYC), and we mentioned how much we liked the vinegar with Calamansi and she saved some for us on a tiny plastic container! Amazing! Go here (get a reservation) and sit at a table Or at the beautiful bar at the front of the restaurant or the other bar seating by the kitchen! You wk be delighted by the vibe, the staff, and especially the food and drinks!
it was very much above mid food we got the naan, tilefish, fried chicken, short rib, and cookies naan: surprising good for it having carrots on it and i hate cooked carrots tilefish: an elevated fancy filet o fish with no bread fried chicken: super juicy crispy and flavorful short rib: no no no. no flavor at all and it tasted like beef. need some sort of glaze or sauce cookies: super yummy with oolong milk
LOLA's Overview: My friend and I came here for dinner on a Tuesday night at 5pm. We made a reservation as well and I would recommend doing so since by the time we left it was fully packed. The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. Very chic but also welcoming. Overall, the food was great. We liked our entrees more than our apps. The entrees were fantastic. Also, I got the fresh cranberry cosmo and it was dangerously delicious! What was ordered: FOOD: beef & barely tartare, marinated beets, local tuna tataki, roasted short rib DRINKS: fresh cranberry cosmo, mezcal old fashioned, yuzu lager Stand outs: Roasted Short Rib & local tuna tataki Would I come back/recommend: Yes - I would go back Yes - I would recommend
This was incredible. The naan, pimento toast, fried fish lettuce wraps, and especially the heritage pork were absolutely perfect. We weren't that crazy about the egg noodles and would probably skip that next time. This place is more vegetable forward than I realized going in and next time would lean more in that direction (although the pork and pimento toast were kind of sneaky veggie dishes in their own right). We also liked the chocolate chip cookie for dessert but the real champ was the Black Forest cake.
We had our Valentine's dinner here, and overall, it was a lovely experience with some standout dishes. We actually took a long time to decide and the server was so patient and happy to help explain the dishes to us. Highlights: * Beef Tartare - Hands down the best dish of the night! I loved how they chopped the tartare into mini cubes and mixed it with black barley, which added a nice chewy texture. The sunchoke chips were a great touch, adding some crunch to balance it out. Super creative and well-executed. * Chicken Thigh - This reminded me of Taiwanese popcorn chicken in the best way! The coconut vinegar really helped cut through the oiliness, making it feel lighter and easy to keep eating. The hot honey dipping sauce wasn't really for me, but it might be for others. * Naan & Sauces - The sauces were excellent--carrot masala yogurt and cilantro chutney were both packed with flavor. The naan itself had a strange flavor to me, almost like gas or something charred too much. My husband, on the other hand, thought it tasted great, so maybe it's just personal preference. Just Okay: * Beets salad & Stir-Fried Noodles - Worth trying once, but I probably wouldn't order it again. Nothing bad, just not as memorable as the other dishes. Lola has a great atmosphere and some really creative dishes. While not everything hit the mark for me, the highlights made it worth the visit. Would definitely come back to try more!
Really enjoyed my meal at Lola's. We shared 2 apps and 3 mains for 3 people and found it to be the right amount for us. The food was all very flavorful and each dish was unique. Here's the rundown: - naan: recommend this, though maybe overhyped myself based on previous reviews. The yogurt sauce was delish, but the bread itself was very good but not mind blowing. - BLT salad: dark horse fav! Tons of flavor and I kept going back for more. Recommend as an app - Union Square bento: honestly, wish this came in a real bento box. Seems like a miss, but I suppose separate plates give you more volume. Good to add as a side to whatever else you get. Cabbage was the best of the trio. - rice bowl: squash and rice were solid, but the shrimp was the standout here! Very flavorful shrimp. Not sure how they packed so much flavor into the little bites of them - fried chicken thighs: I mean, yes. They're juicy. They're fried excellently. The side sauces are creative and great for vinegar-lovers like me I also got the carrot cocktail which was ultra smooth and had the right amount of dill flavor. We got two cookies to go which were divine. I'd get them to stay to try it with the oolong milk next time, but we had to run. The service was friendly, courteous. Ambiance was trendy but not uptight. Would recommend for a nicer night out read more
4 months ago
Stumbled across this spot by just walking in flatiron. We were seated by the kitchen counter which is a pretty cool concept. The ambiance was great and I loved watching the food being cooked. Service was 10/10 and our waitress was really attentive. Apologies that her name is slipping me at the moment. I wish they had more items to choose from but overall would recommend. I had the low country boil and my friend had the pork dumplings and grit cakes, all very delicious. I will come back for the fried chicken thighs read more
Lunch menu a bit mid. Got the ASPARAGUS + KALE PANZANELLA $17 add charred chicken thighs $10 for total $27 There's so little salad, basically not a meal if I didn't add the chicken. Yet the chicken has a lot of skin and fat :/ Mostly is the sourdough ended up feeling like an unhealthy dish. read more
Business owner information
Nick S.
Thank you for your feedback!
We had a really nice experience at Lola's last week. My son had Lola's on his NYC list of restaurants he wanted to try so here we are! We were seated at a nice quiet table overlooking the kitchen with lots of room. I love when a restaurant reads my comments on my reservation! Adam was our server extraordinaire and he really helped make our evening memorable. From his great menu recommendations to his very attentive service, you can tell he really takes pride working at Lola's and made sure we had a great meal. The tuna appetizer was very good and two of us had the crispy chicken thighs which were excellent...super crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I loved the buttermilk sauce on the side along with the coconut vinegar and hot honey... nice addition! My son had the Atlantic Char which seemed to disappear off his plate very quickly .. he really enjoyed it. Thank you Adam and Lola's for a great dinner! read more
9 months ago
I could write a book about how much we enjoyed our dinner at Lola's for my 30th birthday... it was pure excellence, dedication and hospitality all wrapped up in one fabulous meal! And what a unique concept too -- Filipino and Southern flavors married together in the most elegant fashion with additional unexpected touches along the way. We had an early reservation at 5 before a Broadway show, so we were some of the first ones to arrive for dinner service (but the cozy space filled up within minutes and was pleasantly buzzy the whole time we were there). They seated us right away at our spot in the back at the chef's table/kitchen bar -- I cannot emphasize enough how much we enjoyed that experience... watching the team prepare each dish with so much skill and attention to detail was like watching an episode of "The Bear" (only 100 times better because it was all happening right in front of us!). The staff were absolutely phenomenal -- Suzanne, the executive chef, greeted us right when we sat down and made a point to check back in a few times, and our waiter, Ben, couldn't have been friendlier and more helpful. We started out with delicious drinks (the mocktail I ordered was superb... I can't remember the name but it had ube and was complex & refreshing) and decided to get the house-made naan as our appetizer -- and boy are we glad we did, it was a standout!!! So fun watching one of the chefs preparing each ball of dough in front of us, sliding it into the green-tiled wood-fired oven, brushing it with oil and presenting it with a dish of yogurt, carrot chutney and cilantro sauce (the quality of the ingredients was unmistakable). For our entrees, we had the short rib and shiitake dumplings (clearly hand made and stuffed with the tenderest meat filling and swimming in an umami-rich, perfectly spiced broth) and the wild striped sea bass (beautifully cooked, crispy exterior and juicy interior, served over the most unique grain, shrimp and kimchi combination and garnished with some absolutely outstanding roasted banana squash). It was one of those meals where we looked at each other after taking our last bites and were genuinely sad that it had to be over. I also want to call out the multiple ways they surprised and delighted us throughout the meal -- at one point, I mentioned how good the beet, apple & endive salad sounded, but my husband didn't want that so we decided against it, only to be surprised by the kitchen a few minutes later when one showed up on the house as a birthday treat! Then as we were wrapping up and said we had decided against dessert to allow time to get to our show, one of the staff brought over a warm chocolate chip cookie packed in a to-go bag. These small but very meaningful gestures are the things that make a restaurant go from good to great in my book, and I will forever cherish the memory of our outstanding dinner at Lola's (and recommend it to anyone and everyone I know traveling to NYC) because of it. Thank you for the best birthday dinner EVER, Lola's team!!! read more
5 months ago
Highly recommend sitting at the kitchen counter, I loved being able to watch the chefs do their thing. The gumbo oysters were so flavorful and the rice cake grits were so interesting. Overall punchy flavors and really well cooked fish, but hats off to the team for going above and beyond. They heard us debating between what we got and the low country boil, and they surprised us with a mini version of the low country boil to try! It was delicious and I was delighted read more
Loved our dinner and drinks at Lolas! I forget the name of the drink - something with yuzu in it, extremely refreshing! The food was banger - we got the naan, chicken thighs and bento box. Everything was incredible. Luke behind the bar was so genuine and kind! Cannot wait to come back. read more
1 month ago
Side note: The menu at this place appears to change pretty often outside of a handful of appetizers and a couple of the mains such as the short rib and chicken so you might not get the same menu as me. In short, I would recommend the Crispy Chicken, the Panzanella, and the Cookie for dessert. First off, shoutouts in particular go to our excellent server as well as the rest of the waitstaff. They went above and beyond in terms of asking questions/confirming things, cleaning stuff, asking if we needed new plates or silverware, and other things. Anyway, this interesting little restaurant off of 5th Avenue opened up a little while ago and I went earlier in the evening with a group. They describe themselves as being Southern and Korean though I would consider this more Southern and pan-Asian. The place inside has comfortable seating and the lighting is a bit dim unless you're all the way in back by where they cook. The food is pretty good though some dishes definitely are a whole lot better than others and the price points can be a bit high. I started with one of their $19 signature drinks; the Leche De Tigre with mezcal and ceviche sauce. This was a unique drink with some smokiness from the mezcal and some herbal flavors from the ceviche mix. It was interesting though I likely would not order it again. Best of the smaller plates was something that someone else ordered which was the Asparagus + Kale Panzanella for $26 with bacon + red onion jam, cheddar, and toasted sourdough. I'm usually not the biggest fan of kale but it worked here with some of it being crisped up for texture. The bits of sourdough added crunch, the cheddar added some saltiness, and it just overall had a nice mix of textures. This was the best bite of the night along with the chicken easily. My appetizer was the Beef + Barley Tartare for $28 with broccolini, gochujang, and sunchoke chips. The tartare had a good texture compared to most with the beef being in larger chopped pieces and the chips added some good crunch. The gochujang added some nice spiciness to the dish though I felt it made the dish a tad salty. It was pretty tasty though a bit pricey. The last appetizer anyone ordered which I tried was the Marinated Beets + Strawberries for $24 with goat cheese, pepitas, and calamansi honey which was alright. The strawberry was unique here though it got a bit overpowered from the goat cheese and beets. The calamansi wasn't really detectable though the dressing was a bit light in general. I just don't think the mix worked too well even if the quality of the ingredients was good. I went with the recommended dish from most other reviewers as my main which was the Crispy Chicken Thighs for $29 with pantry pickles, pantry pickles, fermented hot honey, and coconut vinegar which is the closest thing to a Filipino dish on the menu. The chicken was somewhat similar in terms of texture to Taiwanese popcorn chicken though lacking that distinct and wonderful white pepper flavor and was pretty tender and juicy though there was a lot of batter. The chicken itself was pretty moist and the portion size was pretty large. The pickles on the side were on the lighter side for pickles with the sweetness being similar to Filipino atchara though I prefer the original style as a slaw. The red sauce on the side had a similar heat to the coconut vinegar and I think they worked the best combined to add a proper amount of heat and flavor. This was good and I would recommend it. The rest of the people got the Roasted Short Rib for $39 with caramelized shallot barbecue, charred broccolini, and mushroom ragu. You would expect the dish to be very large based on the price point but as per many photos, it consists of multiple small chunks. While it added a nice presentation, the portion size was therefore a lot smaller than expected. This would be forgiven if the flavor was excellent but I found it to be a bit bland and the piece of short rib that I tried was tough. I wouldn't recommend this. A few people ordered two of the desserts at the end which I had a small nibble of. Better of the bunch was the Brown Butter + Miso Chocolate Cookie for $10 with oolong milk. The waitstaff split up the oolong milk into 6 small glasses which was very nice of them and was pretty tasty with the milk helping to reduce the richness of the cookie. The cookie had a nice mix of textures and was pretty sweet though not cloyingly and the closest comparison especially with the pretzels on top for salt would be a much better version of the Compost Cookie from Milk Bar. It was solid. Interesting and alright was the Sweet Blue Cornbread for $14 with roasted strawberry, rhubarb, and whipped buttermilk. The cornbread had a nice texture and was mildly sweet though there was oddly a lot of ginger inside which others found unpleasant though I didn't have a huge piece. The fruit and buttermilk went with it nicely. This was OK. Out of review room. 3.8 read more
This spot is super cute. We got a table right by the bar seats so we were close to the action. We got most of the items on the menu. The naan, oysters, and pimento cheese to start. All solid. Next we got the panzenella and lettuce wraps. Then the rice cakes, chicken thighs, dumplings, short rib, and striped bass. Everything was delicious but the stand outs were the lettuce wraps and chicken thighs. We finished with the cookie and black forest ham. The milk and cookies and little bits of pretzels were an amazing touch. The service is also really good. At one point I dropped my chopsticks and they replaced it right away before I even picked it up. We'll definitely be back. read more
Looked online for places to eat, not realizing at the time I was saving a place that was one of The New York Times 100 best restaurants. Walked over from our hotel and loved the overall vibe, which was busy and welcoming. Our server was so nice, asking dietary restrictions and even my preference of Gin or Vodka for my Lola's Martini (which you can get with lower ABV!). We ordered the beet and strawberry salad because we were curious of how the Calamansi honey would taste, and even though we didn't taste it overtly, the salad was amazing. We shared the crispy chicken and the wild striped bass. Both were delicious and not too heavy, light enough that we ordered a Rhubarb Cosmo to share, and wow, so delicious, with a strong taste of Calamansi citrus. Again, shoutout to our server who talked to us and when I mentioned my birthday offered a sweet happy birthday to me, complimented my bolo tie (of NYC), and we mentioned how much we liked the vinegar with Calamansi and she saved some for us on a tiny plastic container! Amazing! Go here (get a reservation) and sit at a table Or at the beautiful bar at the front of the restaurant or the other bar seating by the kitchen! You wk be delighted by the vibe, the staff, and especially the food and drinks! read more
10 months ago
it was very much above mid food we got the naan, tilefish, fried chicken, short rib, and cookies naan: surprising good for it having carrots on it and i hate cooked carrots tilefish: an elevated fancy filet o fish with no bread fried chicken: super juicy crispy and flavorful short rib: no no no. no flavor at all and it tasted like beef. need some sort of glaze or sauce cookies: super yummy with oolong milk read more
LOLA's Overview: My friend and I came here for dinner on a Tuesday night at 5pm. We made a reservation as well and I would recommend doing so since by the time we left it was fully packed. The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. Very chic but also welcoming. Overall, the food was great. We liked our entrees more than our apps. The entrees were fantastic. Also, I got the fresh cranberry cosmo and it was dangerously delicious! What was ordered: FOOD: beef & barely tartare, marinated beets, local tuna tataki, roasted short rib DRINKS: fresh cranberry cosmo, mezcal old fashioned, yuzu lager Stand outs: Roasted Short Rib & local tuna tataki Would I come back/recommend: Yes - I would go back Yes - I would recommend read more
This was incredible. The naan, pimento toast, fried fish lettuce wraps, and especially the heritage pork were absolutely perfect. We weren't that crazy about the egg noodles and would probably skip that next time. This place is more vegetable forward than I realized going in and next time would lean more in that direction (although the pork and pimento toast were kind of sneaky veggie dishes in their own right). We also liked the chocolate chip cookie for dessert but the real champ was the Black Forest cake. read more
We had our Valentine's dinner here, and overall, it was a lovely experience with some standout dishes. We actually took a long time to decide and the server was so patient and happy to help explain the dishes to us. Highlights: * Beef Tartare - Hands down the best dish of the night! I loved how they chopped the tartare into mini cubes and mixed it with black barley, which added a nice chewy texture. The sunchoke chips were a great touch, adding some crunch to balance it out. Super creative and well-executed. * Chicken Thigh - This reminded me of Taiwanese popcorn chicken in the best way! The coconut vinegar really helped cut through the oiliness, making it feel lighter and easy to keep eating. The hot honey dipping sauce wasn't really for me, but it might be for others. * Naan & Sauces - The sauces were excellent--carrot masala yogurt and cilantro chutney were both packed with flavor. The naan itself had a strange flavor to me, almost like gas or something charred too much. My husband, on the other hand, thought it tasted great, so maybe it's just personal preference. Just Okay: * Beets salad & Stir-Fried Noodles - Worth trying once, but I probably wouldn't order it again. Nothing bad, just not as memorable as the other dishes. Lola has a great atmosphere and some really creative dishes. While not everything hit the mark for me, the highlights made it worth the visit. Would definitely come back to try more! read more
1 year ago
Made a visit to Lola's for dinner on Valentine's Day and the food, sommelier, and decor did not disappoint. The oysters, pimento toast, and crispy chicken thighs made an impression. read more
1 year ago
4 months ago
Business owner information
Nick S.
Hi Marlyn,…
Stunning food! We walked in for 2 and sat at the bar. It's a chef's counter and you can see quite a bit. We ordered cocktails, the bread and dip, a salad, the farmer's market special, and the chicken. Our server recommended the chicken, and I'd definitely try it if it's your first time! Everything tasted wonderful, and I had some nice acidic and spicy bites. The bread and dip and the salad were all beautiful. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu. Friendly, quick service. Really cool vibe inside, the design was awesome. Nice bathrooms. read more
So tasty! Have heard great things about the restaurant and finally got to try it. I think reservations are recommended; there is space for walkins but not much. Every dish we ordered really hit the spot. My favorite dish was definitely the chicken thigh, as many others have pointed out. We asked for recommendations, and our server was really helpful in describing pretty much everything on the menu so we can get exactly what we wanted. My friend also tried the pandan cocktail, which tasted great. Honestly kudos to the bartender! We also had the cookie dessert with oolong milk, the milk was actually the better half! read more
8 months ago
5 months ago
Made a reservation the second the NYT review dropped lmao. My boyfriend and I were big fans of Untitled (RIP) and were happy to see the chef reappear here! I tried: + Pandan punch + Carolina old fashioned + Fried tilefish lettuce wraps + Crispy chicken thighs + Beef and barley tartare + Stir fry egg noodle + Chocolate and black sesame pudding cake + Warm buckwheat chocolate chip cookie The lettuce wraps and cookie were my favorite bites, followed by the chicken and egg noodles. Cocktails were also great, with a slight edge to the old fashioned. The only letdown was the cake, which was way too sweet. Definitely will return! read more
I was in town all-too-briefly producing an event, and I had but one restaurant on my list: Lola's. Coincidentally, the event featured a particular NY Times food writer who just so happened to review Lola's for the Gray Lady, so when I mentioned to her my schedule might deter me from stopping in, well, she looked at me and told me in no uncertain terms that I'd regret it if I missed it. As fate would have it, I was staying a block away at the Ace Hotel. So I managed to eke out 40 blessed minutes on my way to the airport, and walked-in, luggage in tow, to a seat at the kitchen counter at 5:01pm. Said food writer was not wrong -- Lola's is a winner. I'm intrigued by Asian food culture in the American South, and I've read about Chef Suzi Cupps' story and background integrating Filipino cooking with her South Carolina roots. Given her cooking pedigree (Gramercy Tavern, Annisa, Untitled at the Whitney), I had pretty high expectations. But the experience at Lola's starts way before anything hits your tongue - the whole vibe of the place just feels original yet absolutely welcoming. It felt like I'd dropped back into my regular neighborhood haunt in Prospect Heights or Cobble Hill instead of here in the glossy Flatiron district. The service, FOH staff, everything was poised but also very humane, devoid of pretension. Having cautioned the server of my now 37-minute window, I was heartened by his efficiency, though he still managed to make things feel leisurely and unrushed. I quickly landed on the recommended Paraiso Market Salad (and relieved when I was offered a 1/2 portion) and the Roasted Short Rib with shiitake & spring onion ragu, bloomsdale spinach, and blue cornbread (honestly the cornbread sold me), with a Yuzu shrub mocktail -- "don't bother coursing it, just bring it when anything is ready!" What will stay with me is the thoughtfulness and deliberation of it all. Every ingredient was there for a functional reason. From the pretzel crunch in the salad to the densely slippery shrooms in the ragu, Chef Cupps clearly has a thing for textures, and it added a dimension to things that was just, well, fun. And the flavors were pure spring - vibrant, bright, alive. I only wish I had more time to stay for dessert. The kitchen counter is a great place to be: I love watching cooks, and the precision and synchronicity of the crew didn't disappoint. Chef Cupps wasn't on the line that night, but I wish I could have offered her a quick and heartfelt thumbs up. Next time I'm in town I'll be sure to book myself enough time to truly stretch out and explore the menu. Try it. You'll regret it if you don't. read more
Creative and fresh food but frankly I didn't get any strong Filipino vibes which I was hoping to have even a little- the noodles were yummy but lacked umami and the tuna was good but tasted more like a pan Asian or Hawaiian dish Leche flan was solid but too thick for my taste Will still return though to try the other dishes. It was also a bit loud because it is popular which is great but hard to have a catch up dinner with a friend read more
New restaurant from the very talented Suzanne Cupps, with lots of amazing and unique dishes. Must start with the Crab Stuffed Littleneck Clams ($18) and the Paraiso House Salad ($19). The Fried Tilefish Lettuce Wraps ($22) are also incredible, as are the Heritage Country Rib Skewers ($31). For dessert, don't miss the Warm Buckwheat Chocolate Cookie ($9), and a great Leche Flan ($12). read more
Lola's is something new and fresh and a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed Lola's version of an old fashion which had alittle heat. It was an interesting twist. The side of potatoes were delicious with a crispy outside and tender inside. Also, there are some interesting desserts. I had the chocolate pudding with meringue. The short rib was not as inspiring as the other dishes. Servers were friendly and service efficient. The Southern twist makes this new restaurant. read more
6 months ago
Chef Suzanne Cupps created an amazing space with phenomenal food! I love how she honors her Filipino grandmother ("Lola" is the Filipino word for grandmother). Convenient location, lovely space (I highly recommend the chef counter seating for a small party of 1 or 2), and wonderful staff. Our server was patient and friendly and enthusiastic. Amazing dinner... each bite has us talking about how we each want to come back and bring others. Counter seat reservation for 2. Great to watch the chef and others in action and also to see what everyone else ordered as each dish was prepared. The server was patient with us as we asked questions and had trouble deciding. We thought we knew what we wanted and then would see someone else's dish go out and want that! She had wine, I had the Carolina Old Fashioned. This was a rough decision for me because all the cocktails sound great. Next time I want to try the calamansi cocktail. We shared all the food (and wished there were more people so we could order more to sample and share!). We kept watching naans be made and baked in the oven so we HAD to order the carrot masala yogurt + naan to start. The portions were larger than expected and everything was a pleasant surprise. We praised each first bite of each dish! The portions were larger than expected, we are glad we had room for dessert after seeing the Filipino-style flan (lecheflan) being sliced and prepared. Union Square Bento Crispy Chicken Thighs (the spiced vinegar on the side was a nice touch!) Fish of the Week (seared tuna) And of course the Leche Flan for dessert. read more
My sister's pick. Giving them 4 stars despite the hiccup at the end. Came to support the Filipina chef. How can you go wrong with a place named after an abuela? We were a wee bit early for our reservation, but we got seated right away. Found parking right outside so a win right away. As their setup is family style we went to town and got a few things to share. Started off with the naan, beets and dip. We cleared those plates so quickly I don't remember exhaling. Next up was the pimiento toast. I wanted more, but more food was coming. Next up was the crispy chicken thighs, noodz and chopped pork. I could've finished that chicken on my own. We were nearing the end of our meal when my nephew looked at me and my sister with a concerned look. Turns out there was a tiny piece of hair on his plate, sitting right on top of the pasta. It was too short to be his and he has curly hair so it couldn't be his. I could barely see it, but my sister took a photo and concluded it was most likely an eyelash. We called our server who was way too nonchalant about it then took the plate to the kitchen. I stopped eating altogether. We still had a good amount of the noods left and a few bites of the pork. The floor manager came over quickly and fixed the whole ordeal. He took the noodles off our check and comped us a couple desserts. Here's the kicker - I asked him if I could have a sample of their spicy vinegar sauce and this man gave me a whole ass bottle of it. A big thank you to Nick for turning our frowns upside down. It's because of your generosity and chill vibes that I'm not giving this place a 1 star review. I'm taking that vinegar sauce back to LA. read more
6 months ago
3 months ago
1 year ago
Lola's is my wife and I's favorite restaurant, and they frankly make us feel like their favorite customers with smiles and fun conversations at the chef's counter. Suzanne Cupps, the head chef, is an absolute gem who served us the brown butter and miso chocolate chip cookie (delicious) the first time we went, and last night bonded with us over a shared love of farmer's market heirloom tomatoes. The Southern hospitality roots run deep at Lola's. We ordered the fried chicken thighs both times and it's an incredible dish - extra crispy, juicy and addictive with drizzles of fermented hot honey and coconut vinegar. The gumbo roasted oysters are bright, light and go down smooth as buttered pearls. The BLT toast was an absolute standout last night - an open-faced gem with tomatoes sliced as thick as the bread and a meaty punch of bacon. We've also got the pimento cheese dish in the past - as native Southerners, my wife and I can vouch this is top-notch cheese. In addition to the great food, the drinks are creative, ice-cold and lovely to behold. My wife says the Leche de Tigre - a neat mezcal drink mixed with ceviche sauce - is one of her top-five drinks in the city. As for myself, I will be getting the 50/50 Lola's Martini every time; that sake vermouth and pickled shallot goes down smooth after a long week! read more
2 years ago
Love it here! The cuisine is a welcomed addiction to the NY dining scene. I'd say it's Southern with subtle Filipino/Asian accents, both cuisines known for being comfort food. Service was very good, friendly and courteous, hallmarks of both Southern and Filipino cultures. I started with the pandan punch: lovely, but I expected a green color to this drink, which would have made this cocktail pop in presentation. Next, the flat bread with the yogurt masala spread is a must. In addition to being freshly baked in their oven that's prominently situated for all to see, it's about the ritual of pulling the bread apart with your hands, and then glazing on the spread. I love dishes that invite us to do this. I went for the chopped heritage pork with sweet potato, black honey garlic butter, and collards - it did not disappoint: layers of flavors from the BBQ sauce to the slight mustard nuance, with the sweetness of the honey. It wasn't overpowering, just the right amount of flavorful interest. Chef Cupps served the dish herself, along with some charred cabbage which accompanied the BBQ perfectly. (As a Filipino American, I'm so proud of her accomplishments!) Finished with a black forest cake with chocolate pudding, sesame brittle and cherry jam...Wow! Cake was super moist, the tart cherry complimented the chocolate perfectly and the brittle added the perfect textual interest. Lastly, the price point is spot-on! With this clean and modern interior, fresh ingredients, and service...the price point is just fantastic. I'll definitely be back! read more
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