Alison C.
Yelp
I had been to Lola's for dinner about 10 years ago and had not been back since, except once for drinks. I had found my initial visit just mediocre, so I was not moved to return. However, my friends were craving tapas and had enjoyed their Lola's meals more recently, so I decided to give it another chance.
The restaurant was spacious and decked out with Spanish-influenced décor. The fun and welcoming vibe was also felt from our gracious server. For instance, his recommendation on the Red Sangria was spot-on, as it had just the perfect hint of sweetness.
Sadly, that was where the rest of the experience fell off for me. I ordered the Grilled Prawns, of which I was told the item included 3 large, head-on shrimp. While the waiter thought he was warning me about the crusty skulls, I declared that I actually loved drinking the juices from the heads. He agreed that was the best part of the giant shrimp, and I sat giddily awaiting my plate. When it arrived, I was immediately drawn to its garlic-heavy aroma. However, when I cut a piece off from one of the shellfish, I was crestfallen to discover that the prawns had been overcooked, leaving them chewy, dry, and without head juice. As much as I loved the marinade, I could not get past how overdone they were. I had also ordered a side of vegetables, as I had not thought the 3 prawns would have been enough. The side included carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and A LOT of string beans. In fact, there were too many beans for my liking, so I just ate around them. I did appreciate that the vegetables had been cooked in that same aromatic garlic sauce, though. The food reviews were mixed around the table, which I felt validated my feelings of dissatisfaction.
Lola's has been around for such a long time, and I know it has some diehard fans, I just sadly cannot be one of them.