Cynthia C.
Yelp
What a great find in the heart of the refashioned "downtown" San Fernando City. We were enjoying the vibes at Shadow Grove Brewing on 2nd Street and got hungry. SGB doesn't have food, but does allow patrons to bring it in. I did a Yelp search and was torn between Magalay's for tamales, and Lola's. When I saw Lola's offered meat on fries the answer was clear - LOLA'S!!!
Quick walk from SGB and I was inside this lovely little spot with good vibes. Arella greeted me with a friendly smile and offered the folded menu available at the counter. Mac and cheese caught my eye immediately, so that was a no brainer. I asked her, in a way that must've seemed I was negotiating between my cardiologist and my dietitian, what meat could I get on fries. The description was pulled pork on chili fries, but I was not interested in the chili. So pulled pork on fries. 'With cheese?' 'Of course!' As she put my order in, the smells started to waft. Mmmmm...
We chatted about the area and the great little places to eat and drink. Then she suggested, for future orders, some other items I might be interested in. Their nachos can be ordered with either fresh tortilla chips, ORRR...wait for it... FRIES!!! And if I'm willing to pay a slight additional fee - MEAT!!! Ahhh...just minutes into our relationship and this lovely lady GETS me! Hot links, chicken, brisket, pork, tell Arella what you desire and Chef will make it so.
Then Arella's grandmother came out to say hello. We started taking about tamales. I confessed I was leaning that direction when I saw her shop with meat+fries and tamales flew out the window as an option. They don't have tamales at Lola's. They are an eclectic mix of southern and middle America flavors.
A short while later I got my food, snapped off a few more pics and bid adieu to the fine people - including the smiling Chef, peeking through the "order up" window.
When I got back to Shadow Grove Brewing and opened my Lola's, hubby's eyes went wide with delight and tunnel vision honed in on all that glorious pulled pork stacked on thick steak fries, covered with Lola's homemade queso sauce and cheese. It is SO GOOD!!! And a GENEROUS amount of pulled pork, BBQ'd with a char to the outside and tender, juicy on the inside. The homemade Mac n cheese was also VERY tasty!
We will definitely be stopping back into Lola's to try even more delicious dishes. Later, I spotted on the menu mac n cheese topped with pulled pork - WHAT?!? Could Mac n cheese be my new French fries??? Stay tuned to find out - unless you're my cardiologist. Cheers! "CC"