Melissa H.
Yelp
I think that Lulou's is one of those restaurants that is "old-school Reno"... pre-hipster, before Midtown was cool... one of those places that is cemented in the Reno food scene because it's been serving delicious food before the foodies arrived. Unfortunately, though we had a delicious meal here this past Saturday, we can't vouch for the service, and that's a big point for me.
The vibe is modern - bright space, high ceilings, and an open kitchen makes the place feel very chic. Many staff members on the floor give the appearance that you will receive excellent service; however, many of those people are there to host or refill waters. Needless to say, we stayed very hydrated during our visit! We couldn't seem to pin down our server to order another cocktail, even though he was doing circles around our table to greet the others.
Besides that, we really loved the food, with just a few minor exceptions. The biscuits that they served before the meal were reminiscent of Red Lobsters biscuits, just homemade. They were fluffy and dreamy, just missing that hit of salt to bring the all flavors out. Our appetizer was the octopus - sooo good! As perfectly cooked as octopus could be, rubbed with a slightly spicy marinade and served with baby potatoes. That dish was gone soon after it arrived!
The paella entree was my favorite of the two - perfectly seasoned and featuring little jewels embedded throughout, like shrimp, andoille, and wonderfully charred quail. I would've loved more of the crusty bits of rice (soccarat, I think?) but it was tasty either way.
The duck was also cooked to perfection - that breast though! The sauce reminded me of Thanksgiving in the best way possible. Such a warming dish. The only part that I couldn't eat were the peas - they were hard and flavorless, though the accompanying pea puree was bright and sweet and delicious.
Overall, this may be an issue of expectation vs reality - we had heard great things, and because we were let down while there to celebrate a special occasion, it really missed the mark for me. I hope the staffing can get worked out so this beautiful restaurant can live up to its great reputation.