Lolita

Having just gone to Lolita in december… was horrified at the fire that just occurred. The food was fantastic and the drinks were sophisticated. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait until they are up and running again.

Kudos to Lolita for happy hour integrity! So many pricey restaurants try to lure customers in with desirable-​sounding happy hour food specials that turn out to be really tiny portions — but not Lolita. Their $ 5 happy hour cocktails are strong, & their $ 5-​$ 6 happy hour apps are the real deal — straight off the regular menu. & just as big.
I live right down the street from Lolita but hadn’t been yet for a couple reasons: one, it’s a little pricier than I’m used to for an average night out, & two, the pork-​heavy menu has never really appealed to me. That said, I recently spotted their happy hour menu online & couldn’t resist it — $ 5 fancy cocktails & apps? Yes, please.
Unfortunately, their in-​person happy hour menu was different than what they have listed online, possibly because it changes seasonally & the site hasn’t been updated? I was really looking forward to trying the Tremont Smash (spiced rum, apricot brandy, pineapple, passionfruit) &/​or the Ranger (watershed gin, blueberry, lemon, soda), but neither was on the actual menu. I went with a bourbon cherry Coke, which turned out to be delicious, if a bit too sweet for my tastes.
We ordered two apps (the same as listed online, to my delight), & as noted, both came in surprisingly huge portions. Very exciting! The mac & cheese was made with chunks of juicy white-​meat chicken, creamy goat cheese, & rosemary, just $ 6, & it was delicious — some zing from the goat cheese, some protein from the chicken. I could’ve done with more rosemary, but then, I could’ve eaten a barrel of it, anyway, so I have zero complaints.
We also got their charred eggplant dip, made with feta, lemon, chili, & toasted cumin, & served with housemade flatbread. I’m not a big eggplant person, but mainly because the texture squicks me out a bit. In a form like this, a little bit more like baba ganoush, I’m all in — & this was better than any baba ganoush I’ve yet had. It does indeed have a charred, smoky flavor, enhanced by the flatbread, which is slightly blackened on the bottom (not burned!) like a good wood-​fired oven pizza crust. We devoured this — & when we ran out of flatbread, the bartender offered us a regular (but soft & delicious) bread roll to soak up the last of the dip.
The bartender was friend & polite, attentive but not on top of us, & he was chatty with us & fellow customers at the appropriate times — interesting, informative, talking about the restaurant’s famous owner — but not overly chatty in an annoying way. In fact, everyone we interacted with was friendly, pleasant, professional, & not at all uppity in a standard fancy-​restaurant way. This is a nice restaurant that treats you like it’s not — in a good way. In a Cleveland way.
I don’t know if I’ll be back to Lolita for regular mealtime — like I said, not a big pork person — but I’ll take all the happy hour I can get. This is hands down the best in town!

Pork belly app was very tasty! I got the risotto and it did not disappoint. Someone in my party said the steak was the best he’s had in years. The drinks were delicious, too.
Love that there are plenty of entrees with relatively reasonable prices. Would definitely recommend!

Had to drag a coworker to Lolita’s. It’s difficult when you’re with someone that doesn’t like to try anything new. There is pizza though bMy advice is enjoy the appetizers that you can’t get anywhere else. The Mac was wonderfully creamy. And appreciate that Michael Simon owns this wonderful establishment.

Shortest Unilocal review I will ever write: EVERYTHING ON THE MENU IS AMAZING!
(We ordered almost every single item on the menu and all were delicious. Food, cocktails, everything was fantastic.)
Iron Chef Michael Symon= Genius

3.5 stars. I wanted to love Lola but it was really a disappointment. The restaurant is dimly lit with loud acoustics but appealing and the menu had lots to offer. Unfortunately the food wasn’t that great. My pasta was over cooked and not freshly made, the roasted chicken was tender but not that flavorful (and at 65.00 for chicken, it really should be amazing). The food including the sides was overall pretty heavy. The service was super slow and unorganized which was perhaps the worst part of this expensive meal.

Surely most of us come to this place because of Michael Symon. It is very wise to have fewer menu items and affordable pricing for Lolita, a quite small property. It is quite noticeable that ingredients are well-​selected and freshly-​cooked, and I am sure the managers put much effort in purchasing high-​quality ingredients. I do not have any complaints about the quality of ingredients and the perfection of cooking precision at all. The only thing I felt confused about was the flavor. Most of dishes tasted plain and bland which got me confused because I was not sure if this was intended by the restaurant concept. «Fresh, healthy and natural» may be the reasons behind. But I just thought a good chef knows how to use natural to create memorable flavors, too. A tourist must-​go!

Honestly, I expected much more for the price and the ‘reputation’ as a Michael Symon restaurant. Everything we ordered was only so-​so. The bread wasn’t even warm and fresh. Mushroom pizza was eh. I’ve had better pizza for ½ the price. We wanted the crispy pig ears but they were out. The goat cheese mac and cheese was good but again… not worth $ 17. The chicken liver was also good but not impressive.
In summary, I expected an explosion of goodness with each dish and every bite… but instead got the feeling like when you expect your pop rocks to really crackle… but they don’t.
Probably would not return again.

Lola is definitely superior. We must have went on an off day, the staff seemed completely off of their game. It was not what I expected having experienced the level of service present at Lola.
We placed a food order about 15 minutes after being seated, from there it took over an hour to get our food despite the restaurant not being full. The server seemed relatively unapologetic about it. I was disappointed.

Lolita is one of those restaurants where you can close your eyes, point to anything on the menu, and be 100% satisfied with your order. It’s a rustic, intimate ambience with an open kitchen, adding that modern vibe catering to a sleek crowd.
I came on a Wednesday night with three others and I was surprised to see how busy it was! The four of us decided to order a bunch of plates to share and in my opinion, it’s the best way to go about your dining experience here. There wasn’t a single dish we had that wasn’t absolutely delicious. We ordered the mussels, eggplant dip, mushroom pizza, tagliatelle, and fried brussels sprouts. For dessert we had the dark chocolate panna cotta and that too was amazing.
I was also really impressed with the service at Lolita. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly, so it’s another perk added to the overall experience. From décor to food and everything in between, I am very impressed with this restaurant.

This was my third visit to Lolita. I absolutely love the «neighborhood-​y» feel to this place. The menu is approachable, but sophisticated.
On this trip, I had the roasted bone marrow, crispy chicken livers, cheese plate, brussels, and polenta. Everything was wonderful!
For drinks, I had a glass of bubbly and a glass of white bordeaux. The Etoille Brut was perfect before the meal — bubbly is always a good way to excite the palette and generate an appetite. the Bordeaux was a great companion to the appetizers.
I recommend this place for a nice meal with a good friend or for a date.

Great drinks, very nice ambient, great service… I ventured out and for the first time tried bone marrow and pig ears and tail! The bone marrow was great, and pig ears and tail wasn’t bad but didn’t really blow me away… I tried the Mac and goat cheese which was good, and the polenta was also good.
If if have to pick between Lola’s and Lolita’s «food wise» I think I would pick Lola’s… But Lolita’s was still a great spot to visit and I would definitely come back again!!!

After years of being a Food Network nerd, I definitely wanted to make sure to get to one of Michael Symon’s restaurants while we were in Cleveland. You never quite know what to expect, but in my opinion Lolita lived up to the hype.
The space itself isn’t as big as I expected, but I really liked the décor, and the open kitchen layout is great. It was a bit loud, but not to the point you couldn’t carry on a conversation. There didn’t seem to be much of a dress code– the servers are fairly casual, and we saw other diners there in everything from shorts to suits on a Wednesday evening. Our server was great– he had helpful recommendations about both food and drinks, as well as excellent timing; we never felt ignored or rushed.
The menu is «meat-​centric,» to say the least, so vegetarians and vegans beware. Several of the appetizers were out of my comfort zone; maybe I’m a wuss, but I couldn’t bring myself to order crispy pig ears or bone marrow. That said, I think most omnivores could find things to be pleased with. We ordered:
–ceviche appetizer: not a large portion, but delicious. The citrus and shoyu combined very well and it had just the right amount of jalapeños.
–hanger steak: my husband had this and I got to try a bite– it was excellent, and we both loved the blue cheese sauce. He said his side of potatoes was delicious as well.
–carrot agnolotti: this was a great pasta dish! the carrots had just the right amount of sweetness. I’d never had rabbit before but actually really enjoyed the flavor. My only complaint would be that I found several small bones in the rabbit; having never had rabbit, this may be totally normal, so I’m not knocking them for it.
–drinks: I had a cocktail that I don’t see on their online menu, but really enjoyed, and my husband had the «apiary» and liked. They also had a good selection of wines by the glass.
–dessert: we shared a dark chocolate panna cotta and really enjoyed.
I’m impressed, Cleveland.

I got there through Unilocal… and I am so so glad! If you’re un cleveland don’t miss Lolita! Lovely place, great ambience, friendly staff and superb food.
Happy hour At the bar offers half portions of the best dishes and drinks on the menu
Don’t miss the mac&cheese with goat cheese… worth coming back for

Completely underwhelmed and, quite frankly, unimpressed.
It’s obvious that Michael Symon is no longer heavily involved with Lolita and that people are only coming here for the name and not the food. The place is overrated.
We ordered the chicken livers, bone marrow, mussels, and pork chop.
The chicken livers were unique and one of the few highlights. Served with polenta, mushrooms, and bacon – a great taste combination. The bone marrow was meh – I’ve had better. I did enjoy the mussels. They were served with chorizo sausage – an interesting take on a traditional dish. The pork chop serves two and that it does. I found it a bit dry though and lacking flavor.
The menu is meat centric, so if you’re vegetarian or vegan don’t waste your time.
Loved the décor and ambiance. Exposed brick walls, Edison bulb fixtures, tin ceiling, cozy bar area, dim lighting.
Three stars only because of the décor and apps. Would not come again.

My hubs and I have a tradition of going out for dinner either the day before or after Valentines Day. When we sat down and thought about it, the last 3 years we’ve gone to Lola. This year we decided to try Lolita. So glad we did.
We made a reservation for relatively early on the 13^th.
We got there and the table was ready and the hostess and server were very friendly. Starting off well.
We started with the ceviche and the soup of the day, mushroom soup. I know those two things don’t really pair well, but we wanted to try both, so we went for it. The mushroom soup was a standout and I would go back just for that soup. Yum.
The ceviche was good, but I didn’t think it was anything super special (but the rest of the meal made up for it).
For the entrée I went with the hangar steak. I’d had a different preparation previously at Lola and it was awesome so there were high expectations. Lolita did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked, great sauce, avocados paired nicely. Even better was the polenta I had for a side with the steak. I didn’t know that polenta could be described and light and airy, but this stuff was– I don’t know how he did it.
The hubs had the butternut squash risotto for dinner. When he took the first bite, you could just tell he loved it. Smooth, great flavors. Would totally get that again as well.
And since it was a «holiday» we splurged on dessert — the bread pudding and the goat cheese panna cotta. Both were good, but the goat cheese panna cotta was outstanding. Not super sweet but a great way to end the meal. And the figs on top? I could eat a pound of those.
So, after this meal at Lolita, we’ve done 4 consecutive Valentines Day’s at a Michael Symon restaurant. Guess its a new Valentines tradition! Maybe next year we will get to eat at Symon’s new place!

This a gem in tremont. I’ve been frequenting this place for years. I love that every time I visit, it feels like a special occasion. The roasted chicken is delicious. The side of fried brussell sprouts is amazing.

Have I just heard too much about this place??? Was I just expecting too much??? Alas, I think I was and here are my tasting notes:
Brussel Sprouts: delicious! Worth the hype and the addition of anchovy adds a great savory component.
Marrow: had better, really. One of the frequent comments on Unilocal!was the fact that the dish is served with too much of the salsa verde. I almost wish I had more. There was not enough acidity to cut and enhance the fat at all. And my marrow was more gamey and a little tough than the nice buttery texture I’m otherwise used to.
Scallops: really the highlight of my meal. The shaved celery, raisins, and celery root purée were delicate but went well with the perfectly cooked scallops. Was annoyed that one scallop (out of the meager five in the dish) was so tiny that it looked like it had been inadvertently halved prior to service.
Mac and cheese: noodles were perfectly cooked with still enough bite to them. But really, what does the addition of bland, rotisserie chicken do to the dish? Nothing. Really, a good home cook could reproduce this at home. Why pay $ 17?
Wine: selection is good. We partook of a very nice Montepulciano.
Service: unobtrusive and attentive. A little too eager to take away plates. Perhaps calm down a bit on that front?
Verdict: would I go back? Probably not. Perhaps give Lola a go next time I guess.

I’m writing an update about a week after writing my first review, that’s how incredible Lolita is. I just had to return for dinner and I am so glad that I did! New favorites include:
— Crispy pig tails and ears: How does one make such disgusting body parts taste so heavenly? These are crunchy, saucy, and so savory. They resemble orange chicken but seriously kick butt in an way that orange chicken never could
— Roasted bone marrow: This is a meal in it’s own right. You sly dog Micheal Symon for making this an appetizer. While I personally felt it was a little too fatty (almost created a film on my upper palate and teeth), the salsa verde and scallions on top were YUMSICLE. Just make sure you balance each bite of marrow with ample veggies, or you’ll drown in fatty goodness and fall asleep before you make it to the entrees!
— Grilled quail: How can such a ridiculously tiny animal provide so much delicious sustenance? The meat almost falls off the bone and is delectably rich. The yogurt sauce underneath is almost too good (has a very Indian-​esque flavoring)…I don’t think I blinked once while I inhaled that bird
Best part of the entire meal was that I had leftovers that were still amazing the next day :)

Thank you Michael Symon for making my inner fat kid extremely satisfied! I’ve been to Lolita a few times now, and I am finally ready to write a well-​deserved review for one of my favorite restaurants :)
First things first, make sure you make a reservation before coming here! Even on a weekday night it can get pretty busy because everyone and their moms know how amazing this place is.
For starters, I recommend getting the pig ears/​tails, bone marrow, and mussels. The pig tails and ears are super crispy! The pig tails are slightly fatty, but it’s not overpowering and is balanced well by the crispy skin and tangy flavor! The bone marrow is very savory and slightly fatty as well, but again, not too much! Mussels are always my go-​to appetizers, and Lolita is no exception! I love the lightness of the sauce, and the crunchy breads are perfect for your dipping pleasures :)
For the entrée, I’ve tried the following:
— Pork sausage pizza: crispy crust with deliciously tender pork? Can’t ask for anything more!
— Grilled Quail: you get 2 quails in this dish! The meat is suuuuuuper, like ridiculously, tender! The flavoring is great as well, a bit sweet and very savory!
— Pork chop milanese: Perfectly crispy outer shell with tender and flavorful pork! The sauce has a hint of sweetness in it. I love it!
I always order the brussel sprouts as a side! It is perfectly salted and savory. Some may think it’s kinda oily, but my taste buds like it just fine :) I’ve recently tried their new cauliflower side, which is my NEW favorite! It’s similar to mac n cheese but without the mac and with tons of cauliflower! Best part about it is the crunchy top layer, which goes so well with the soft and creamy core!
I’m looking forward to many more trips to this restaurant!

Lolita ist die kleine Schwester von Lola. Beide Restaurants gehören America’s next Chef Michael Symon. Beides ganz hervorragende Restaurants mit wechselnder europäisch inspirierter Karte. Auf höchstem Niveau. Nur ist Lolita noch authentischer und etwas weniger hip. Tremont ist das etwas Alternative Künstlerviertel Clevelands. Dementsprechend ist das Publikum entspannter;-))