Finally sat down for some food! Loved their elevated & creative SE Asian dishes. I would say their flavours are authentic to my Malaysian-Chinese taste buds. But for others, it may be an acquired taste. I loved that they did a complimentary Amuse Bouche! Cocktails: -Singapore sling (4/5) -Under the bridge (4/5) Food: -Duck Leg Confit (4/5) I liked the idea with wrapping it with the betel leaf -Seared Scallops & pork belly (5/5) the combination of these flavours and textures with the crunchy pork belly and the scallops were so creative. Loved the green sauce, used it even with the duck confit dish -Black cod & clam yellow curry (5/5) amazing portion and literally licked the curry off the plate. The server was great for splitting this main into two plates for easier sharing -Bison Rendang (5/5) classic Malaysia dish done right but with a twist with the protein ! Honestly such an authentic but elevated restaurant in Waterloo! Lucky to have a unique gem like this. read more

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One of my favourite restaurants in KW! I always end up ordering their oysters, and the Pegu Club is a go-to cocktail. read more

Loloan Lobby Bar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Waterloo, Ontario

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Had an enjoyable evening at LoLoan. Food was nicely presented and flavorful. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable on the various dishes and spirits selections. Interior was well appointed and set to impress. I recommend. read more

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Top notch food and fantastic drinks in probably the nicest room in the area. Ok, scratch "probably".

Decided to catch up on my yelp reviews while quarantined to revisit the restaurant scene I've been badly missing. Came to Loloan over the winter for the first time. Grabbed a seat at the beautiful bar and ordered an elegant cocktail. I knew from recommendation that we were going to enjoy this dinner, but now that our cocktails have arrived, my expectations are soaring. We started our dinner with the laarb (buffalo tartare) and it was very good though looking back, the only menu item we wouldn't need to order again. The buntut (oxtail) was special with flavors that had me guessing from the first bite to the last as would be the case all night long. Our main courses were the Cornish hen and Moo Parlow and they were both special. However, the Moo Parlow Will be one of those dishes that I dream about years from now. Somehow we made room for a little dessert, though we didn't need to, and had some sort of brownie like dessert that was just right to finish the meal. This place is high on my list of places to return as soon as I am able. read more

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Canada's food scene is fine. It's got some fantastic restaurants. But you can't get a decent mouthful of food in Kitchener-Waterloo, so it seems. Case in point - Loloan Lobby Bar. Purveyors of Asian-inspired food. It's their trick, their shtick, their big idea. There is only one thing worse than being served a terrible meal: being served a terrible meal by earnest waiters who have no idea just how awful the things they are doing to you are. The same owners of Bhima Warung', a formerly great place, just down the street. The place where the main of pigeon was requested medium but served so rare it just might fly again given a few volts. The last time I dined at the Loloan, I thought it was a pretentious place serving fancy, not very good Asian-ish food for about $100 a person. That was three years ago. Since then there has been a lengthy shut down which ended last month in a victory for the masked and silent majority. You might think that they would have used that time to really figure out their recipes and infuse some enthusiasm in the kitchen staff - alas... No such luck. Today Loloan is still a pretentious place serving fancy, tasteless, not very good Asian-ish, fish sauce-infused food for about $ 100 a person. It's a prime example of "cooking by the numbers" - but devoid of any personality, any fingerspitzengefuhl. When menu items are sold at the prices they are at Loloan Lobby Bar, one expects the result to be extraordinarily "good". It was extraordinarily ordinary instead. Just mindlessly throwing a bunch of ingredients into a pot doesn't make an inspired concoction. Abundant use of fish sauce to mask one's inability to properly season a dish is a crime to mask incompetence. The soup is a problem. The garbanzo bean soup is dreadful. A soul-less concoction of chickpeas and not much else. Think consistency of porridge, or gruel. Surely, something could have spiced up that bland garbanzo bean. Surely, a good chef could have rescued those chickpeas from the abyss of tastelessness. But no... the spices went on holiday. I guess they weren't on the numbered culinary canvas, and hence, not applied. Pity. It had potential. A confit leg of duck with a salad leaf doesn't make a salad, frankly. A trio of curries left me finally realizing what COVID patients experience as a symptom: complete loss of taste. Thank you, chef. Now I know. The trio of curries - without curry taste. Nada. Nothing. Soul-less. A boned fish with plenty of bones didn't make the grade, either. it was fiercely fishy and semi-inedible. sitting on a mish-mash of all kinds of randomly thrown together with random ingredients, where the Great Taste Extractor in the Sky did its thing. Not only looked the assembly of ingredients like an aquatic cemetery (due to the abundance of bones - come to think of it, perhaps it was the Halloween special). The menu said "boned fish"- I am not sure if the Chef boned that fish, but... So it is expensive. The food, in this instance, did not match the expectations that the price point had set (if it's expensive, it must be good, no?). It might well be that the chef had an off-day, but that's not an excuse. At these prices, you need to be on top of your game. Every day. Yesterday, it was not. Best of all, it is almost time to leave. Unlike other restaurants that charge these sorts of prices, Loloan does not shower you with little gifts to make you linger at the table. No petits fours, no chocolates. And although it can be nearly impossible to find someone willing to pour your wine, getting the check is never difficult. Just snap your fingers, and it is there in a flash. read more

Loloan Lobby Bar and Bhima's Warung are my favourite restaurants in Waterloo, hands down. I've been to both restaurants at least ten times each. Loloan is a more refined version of Bhima's, with more upscale decor and plating, but the flavours are still all there! They have a rotating prix fixe menu that showcases different southeast Asian flavours all the time. The fixed menu is a really fun experience to try several dishes with cool combinations of flavours (though they can run a little pricier). Alright, onto the main menu. I have basically tasted 80% of their menu so here are my top picks. The Kwai Massaman (bison short rib curry) is my go-to dish here because of how rich and flavourful the massaman curry is and how many fixings come on the side, it makes the dish so fun to eat! The pork baby back ribs add-on to their new noodles menu is incredible and has a beautiful smokey flavour that reminds me of peking duck. The rib meat just falls off the bone and there is a generous amount for just $14! The Moo Parlow also had really great braised pork and the rice noodles were very fresh. I didn't like these dishes as much: hkah ghin (too salty), tom yum (too little seafood for the price, but the broth was tasty), gulai tempeh (tempeh was a little dry) For dessert, I would vouch for both the ca phe dessert and the fusion layered cake! Can't go wrong with either. I was not a fan at all of the chocolate ganache, it was way too heavy and dense. read more

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Loloan Lobby Bar sets the new standard of food in Waterloo region. It perfectly celebrates and elevates southeast Asian cuisine and is a great addition to the local culinary scene. The interior has a sophisticated exotic feel and the service is excellent. The food is absolutely outstanding with a huge punch of flavour and exotic menu. I would highly recommend the cumi-comic appetizer, featuring perfectly cooked octopus in a Balinese broth. For a main course both the braised pork neck and massaman bison short rib were fantastic. The captivating cocktail menu is equally exciting and I was blown away at the amazing options. I would highly recommend Loloan Lobby Bar and strongly believe it is my new favourite restaurant in KW! read more

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Oyster - recommend the black pepper sauce, fresh and delicious Duck - lychee sauce was very good and flavourful, rice was a little on the salty side and the duck was a little dry. Seafood Tom yum - packed with fresh seafood, my husband really liked the soup base, but I personally would have preferred a bit more coconut flavouring. Dessert - homemade ice cream was amazing, a must try! A thick aroma of milk that you don't get from store bought. Chocolate cake was not too sweet, a bit of bitterness with salty crumbs, so good! read more

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This place is beautiful. Lots of attention to detail. Felt like I was in a classy lobby bar/restaurant in another time. My favourite restaurant human in KW Renee works here (I think she's part owner) and that makes it all the more enjoyable. The menu is small but diverse enough. If your vegan/vegetarian might have a hard time (like me). BUT if you're looking for delicious cocktails beautifully presented - this is your place. You avoid the university crowd, which is sometimes nice. Drinks $12-$18 ish. Appetizers $14-$28 and mains $30-$40. Whether it's a special occasion or you have money to burn - spend a night here. read more

Loloan Lobby Bar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Waterloo, Ontario

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A fantastic culinary experience. Fans of Bhima's will adore this new addition to the Waterloo food scene. With a trendy yet intimate ambience, this place was buzzing when we arrived for a late dinner. We luckily secured a table without a reservation, perhaps because it is early days. Once word spreads, it will be hard to secure a spot in this relatively small dining space. The cocktail menu was quite intriguing, and we settled on trying the Butterfly Pea Flower Martini and the Ingat. Both are mixological works of art -- I particularly loved the deep purple hue and the floral fragrance of my martini, and the presentation was very cute! Our mains -- the Kwai Massaman (a bison short rib curry with lots of little fixings) and the Ayam Betutu (a chicken ballotine) -- were both excellent, with all their individual components coming together in perfect harmony. The chicken in particular is just a fantastic balance of refined technique and comfort food. Service was also excellent, and our waitress was wonderfully cheery. In short, Loloan does not disappoint. read more

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The food here was amazing, the wait staff would go to great lengths to explain the details of each choice and gave excellent recommendations. I loved how the food had many different elements and you needed to combine them with various sauces and pickles to get great flavours !! The chocolate truffle dessert was really chocolate and heavy so I wouldn't recommend if you like lighter flavours! read more

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Had to try this place after having an amazing time at bhimas. It's great to see creative ethnic cuisine in Waterloo! Drinks were straight sling and the bolan hattan. I would've appreciated more attention to the ice cubes in the sling, as it seemed they just used ice machine ice cubes which really diluted the drink. The lanhattan was a "deconstructed" drink which sounded intriguing in paper but the pandan water could not withstand the flavour of the other components. Two apps and a main were a great way to taste many different things without feeling overstuffed - like bhimas, the portions are great. Got the laarb tartare and the oxtail which were both beautiful and flavourful. Bison curry was the main, which was served with many accompaniments that really made it feel like a home meal! A must go place if you're exploring the food scene in Waterloo. Unlike bhimas, there's not yet a wait for tables on weekends. Just need some polishing up with the drinks! read more

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Our meal lasted 4 hours. We spent 45 minutes eating, the rest was spent looking at the servers coming out of the kitchen with plates for other tables. For this size of a restaurant, there is no excuse for improper pacing of the meal. And don't ask the servers about vegetarian recommendations, the dishes need a MAJOR improvement. The tempeh is inedibly dry, and the wok'd greens were balanced unfavourably towards the greens - with not enough supporting veggies. For $32 a plate, the price was more difficult to swallow than either dish. read more

Loloan Lobby Bar - Asian Fusion Near Me - Waterloo, Ontario

I have been a huge fan of Bhima's for years. I have followed Loloan Lobby Bar of Insta for some time and organised a joint birthday dinner for my friend and I. We booked on opentable and advised it was a joint birthday. There was a lot of excitement leading up to this dinner and sharing the Loloan Lobby Bar experience. I have to say the experience was unpleasant. The way the manager, Jake, spoke to us was appalling. I have never felt so disrespected in my life while simultaneously having to pay someone. He had zero interest in hearing our concerns and just thrust the interac machine at us and walked away. He offered me the option to email the owner directly, which I found incredibly odd. I emailed the owner wanting to discuss my experience. I noted he was an incredibly busy person and this is a busy time of year, but if he could message me a time to chat for a few moments I would appreciate that. I also praised the waitress was a standout. She did everything to perfection. I could not fault her. She is an incredible asset to his business. She has passion, compassion and is highly attentive. She noticed everything and had impeccable manners. I went on to say that you could tell she loves food and her job. I was met with the following response: Hi Serena, I was really disappointed to receive your note. We apologize for any errors that we may have made. I know Jake my manager to be calm, professional and polite. Your experience with Jake certainly does not sound like his personality. I do regret that you posted on social media before you brought forward your concern to me. Believe it or not...I do not own a phone. I wish you and your family a great holiday season . Paul Needless to say, we will not be returning. read more

Formal setting. Delicious cocktails to pair with a peculiarly daring menu. The staff was extremely kind and catered to every/any request.

First time visiting here today after having dined at Bhima's Warung, one of the more well known South East Asian Fusion restaurants in KW. With that in mind, we were not particularly impressed with the food however the dining experience overall was pleasant. To start, we shared the Nem Trio ($18), a collection of hors d'oeuvres with regional influences from Singapore, Hanoi and Thailand. Overall, we found that the balance of flavours in each hors d'oeuvre was lacking. In particular, the cured arctic char vegetable wrap had too much slaw in it and was quite spicy which overpowered it despite the crab oil accompaniment on the side. However, we enjoyed the deep fried rice paper roll with seafood and vegetable filling as it paired nicely with the lemongrass sambal (although sambal usually refers to a sauce or paste and would have been easier to dip the roll). The sour cherry nuoc was good - the tartness of the cherry mingled well with the nuoc. We shared 2 entrees - the beef tenderloin medallions with taro gnocchi ($38) and the roasted duck breast with smoky gapi rice and oyster omelette ($38). The beef tenderloin was mildly cooked past medium rare (which was what we ordered) however was seasoned nicely. The taro gnocchi was unique and had a bit more sweetness than the potato gnocchi you may encounter in Italian cuisine. Coupled with the sauteed vegetables on the side, altogether, this was a decent dish. We felt that the roasted duck breast entree was unfortunately not as good as the beef tenderloin entree. The duck breast had an odd liver like aftertaste to it - it's possible that this is just the 'game' like flavour associated with duck but we have never had this issue before with duck breast. It was not alleviated with the curry nor the prik nam praa sauce. Although a bit unusual, the oyster omelette was interesting and paired quite well with the sweet lychee curry. In some ways, the best part of this dish was smoky gapi rice. Often gapi fried rice includes shrimp paste and this was evident here - quite flavourful and had a unique contrast to the rest of the dish. To end the meal, we had the pandam sorbet ($6) and the petits fours ($17). The pandam sorbet had a mild citrus yet refreshing taste and was served with a tuile on the side - both were done well. The petits fours ranged from good to somewhat disconcerting. Two of these petits fours were macarons and to say the least, the technical structure of the macarons were concerning - the almond cookie was closer to a meringue. One had a tamarind buttercream which was pleasant however the other had a tumeric buttercream which was quite strange and did not pair at all with the sweetness of the macaron. The mango tart was excellent - the creaminess of the mango worked well with the crust on the tart. Regarding the rest of the petit fours, the banana cake with ginger candy and the truffles were not very impressive and seemed relatively ordinary - things that you could buy or make at home. Service-wise, our waiter today was excellent and we did not have any complaints - she was attentive and prompt and was very knowledgeable about the ingredients on the menu. The restaurant itself is also beautiful - the design of the bar and the careful attention to the tableware and decor are second to none. Overall, despite the underwhelming food, we had a pleasant dining experience at Loloan today. As they opened only a few weeks ago, it is natural that there are some kinks in the food that they need to work out. At this point however, I would only advise coming here for the atmosphere and for some notable dishes (mainly the beef tenderloin entree and the pandam sorbet). read more

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Loloan exceeded my expectations! I first came here for drinks back in March (shortly after the grand opening) for a friend's birthday, and I was blown away with my experience. Although we only came for cocktails, they were absolutely beautiful and tasted even better. It's not easy finding a great cocktail in Waterloo and Loloan certainly has every other restaurant/bar in the area beat! My favorite cocktail is the Pimm's Cup - it's a must try. The exceptional service, more upscale vibe, and of course, the amazing cocktail menu is what made me want to come back a second time for dinner. It look me this long to come back because I was a apprehensive about how exotic the menu was (I consider myself somewhat of a picky eater). Even ordering my dinner, I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't like my meal, but was pleasantly surprised at how delicious everything was. This was truly a high quality meal and if I was going to try 'different' food this would definitely be the place to explore. I have no complaints whatsoever, and I look forward to coming back soon to try a few more dishes I now have my eye on! Lastly, I noticed in some other reviews that Loloan was pricey, but compared to other 'high-end' restaurants I enjoy eating at in the area, the value of this meal far exceeded any of Loloan's competitors. In fact, our meal (2 apps, 2 mains, 4 cocktails) actually ended up being cheaper than what we usually spend at other restaurants, yet it was my best dining experience in KW so far. read more

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Amazing food! Everything was sooooo good! Great service as well! Can not recommend this place enough!

Absolutely had an amazing time there. Beware the cocktails are STRONG. The interior design is immaculate and the service felt like a 5-star restaurant. I got the butterfly cocktails. It was a vodka mix and it came with snacks. Would highly recommend read more

Delicious! A truly world-class restaurant in Waterloo. It has world-class prices too though. Everything was exceptional - the food, the cocktails, the wine and the service. The food selection has some flexibility; it can be more traditional or a little more adventurous. Has to be one of, or the best, restaurant in KW. read more

The bill was 205.00 plus tip Apps were waterbuffaloo tartar good but if have had better tartar Octopus charred very good Mains beef medium rare spot on great taste Pork neck really good large portion nice sides Dessert shared a petit fours shared plate two mixed drinks two beers all good We arrived in jeans and t shirts like you might at Bhimas very under dressed for this place . Dinning room was all but empty but we got shuffled of to small tables by the bar because tables were all booked. After 3 courses and drinks on leaving I noticed the dinning room was still half empty . Yes I noticed Nice place up scale nice seating if you get the dinning room a view of times gone by. Drinks are the big push here and they are done well the food is very good but Bhimas is a touch better. Good place to take someone you want to impress take a cab for two reasons the drinks are way too good and parking is a long walk. Nice place I would go back . Worth the money but not cheap the food has a Bhimas taste to it which is fine the drinks are better the feel more upscale . Location OK but not great read more

A fabulous addition to the Waterloo Gastro scene! Visited Loloan April 20 to celebrate my wife's birthday and so glad we did. Upon entering, you immediately know the spirit of Bhima's Warung happily lives here as your lungs and taste buds drink in the unmistakable aromas of South-East Asian cuisine. As stated by others there's an understated elegance to the place, in a word, lovely. Casual and sophisticated with no pretension of trying to over achieve. The decor is balanced and although not a large space, you feel a cosy intimacy, not squeezed in.. I found my walker was easily accommodated and didn't feel like I was interfering with anyone else's space. If you have mobility issues you know exactly what I'm talking about! Now to the really good news, the food here is fantastic! I opted for the foie gras appetizer served with a unique oxtail jelly and sesame salt, my wife had the Nem trio which was also a tasty treat featuring assorted Asian cuisine flavours. For mains my wife had the whole rainbow trout which would easily feed two as a shared dish, and iwent for the bison rib and it too was beyond excellent I simply love this place and look forward to a return visit soon read more

Table of 4 May 16/19; reservation for 7 pm. Service was sporadic & inattentive. Waited an hour before we got our first courses. Food was quite so so and nothing stood out. 2 of us had the Apr-May tasting menu and there wasn't a single item that we enjoyed and we left much of it on our plates. The gents' dishes - starters were the best of the evening (tuna sashimi & ox tail) - the mains were uninspiring; beef dish was fatty & the Tom Yum soup flavourless. It was almost 9:45 pm by the time we got out of there. Based on this experience, I cannot recommend. read more

First visit. Had the short rib paired with the sommeliers wine recommendation, best meal I have had in a long, long time. Generous portions as well. Can't wait to go back read more

On the basis of many positive reviews we chose Loloan last evening with high hopes that it would be the perfect venue to celebrate both an anniversary and a significant birthday. Alas, we came away from that dining experience quite letdown. The restaurant itself is lovely. Understated and elegant at the same time. We were given a booth that was totally inviting. Our waiter Jake was unfailingly friendly and attentive. The booth also provided a welcome buffer against the fair amount of ambient noise. My wife was served a very well made cocktail and both of us enjoyed an excellent French wine from a region of the country where we had spent much time - a happy reconnection with the past! We chose the "prix fixe" menu at $70.00 per person with the encouragement from our waiter that it would allow us to experience the Loloan kitchen at its most versatile. To quote him :"It's when our chefs get to play!" We were offered a quite delicious "amuse-bouche", followed by a well prepared, well served appetizer based on shrimp and sablefish. The main dish, unfortunately, was a definite disappointment. Slices of goose breast and apparently a goose leg (invisible! Had it gone for a cold winter night's stroll?), mixed with various legumes and interesting spices, all sitting in a bath of savory broth. The dish was "announced" to us with great fanfare by a waitress in a well meaning, but totally over the top fashion that left us expecting the main dish of a life time. Sadly, that was not the case. While the portion was sufficiently generous, the goose was tough. (When questioned, the waiter allowed that goose was "chewier" than duck. Hmm!) Moreover, the dish was served lukewarm, a real detriment to the full enjoyment of the complex flavours in the broth. Following that disappointment we were hoping that the dessert would be a consolation and a much needed morale booster. Unfortunately, not the case. The visual presentation of the "torte" was striking and inspired hopes that were soon dashed. Sadly, the orange glazed layer cake that was the heart of the dessert tasted at least a day old and tired. Certainly not what one would expect from such a hyped restaurant. All in all, a very uneven dining experience for a very high price. If, as the waiter said, the chefs "get to play" in preparing the "prix fixe" meal, it was at the expense of the quality of much of our meal. As ze French say :"un mauvais rapport qualité-prix". A pity! I don't think we'll be back! read more

One of the few places in town where I would say it is just a treat to eat at this place. Well worth the extra dough in my opinion.

Best drink I've had in years. I fantasize about it; need to go back and have two more. "BO.LAN HATTAN"- thai style whiskey, chili salt, green mango, pandan water, sweet fruit. Ok, all that sounds intriguing, for sure. But it is deconstructed, sort of like the ritual of a tequila shot with lime/salt only WAY tastier and the presentation is gorgeous. The entire bar- from the entrance right out of a Grahame Green novel- to the barstools (sumptuously comfy, stunning blue custom jobs), this bar isn't KW. Hell, it's not even TO. Go, and you will go somewhere far, far away Become pleasantly drunk and enjoy the walk/cab ride home. read more