Lola - A Michael Symon RestaurantThere were so many excitingThere were so many exciting offerings that one must go more than once. We look forward to a future visit.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for Non-Foodies, tooI like to think of myself as a foodie but the truth is I'm a wannabe. I like to think I'm adventurous with food but I'm not as much as real foodies. Having said that our meals at Lola's were outstanding. I had the scallops with creamed corn lobster soup that had cubes of crispy pork, too. The scallops were great but I was in heaven eating that soup. My husband ordered the pork chop with cheesy polenta. He said the pork chop was seasoned especially well and it was the most tender pork chop he's ever had. The key lime dessert we had was a deconstructed lime cheesecake with apricot sauce. I kept trying to think of myself as the foodie I want to be and took the time to enjoy every single bite and my experience was one of the best I've ever had.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dining experience of all time!The service was spectacular with the food being perfectly timed, the food was very well prepared, delicious and everything was what we would expect of a Michael Symon restaurant and the ambiance was classy, stylish, and hip. I traveled from out of state to go here and definitely recommend it... It's just a shame it's only in Cleveland and not closer to home!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!!!!Great Ambiance, the service was excellent as our waitress was very knowledgeable on her wines, beer and food menu. Menu choice was the perfect size, food was very good, prices were reasonable and the quantity was perfect, not to big or small. The East 4th street area in downtown Cleveland is a gem! A must to see and Lola from the outside looks to have the best curb appeal compared to others, even tho they looked nice as well. A must restaurant to visit in Cleveland.
John
Windsor, Ontario
Canada6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat evening and food. ConstructivGreat evening and food. Constructive feedback:
Halibut portion was quite small.
Flatware was annoying. Small and round shaft on knives and forks made it impossible to hold.
Seriously it's very annoying.
Need to replenish the cellar. 3-4 selections were out and the bottle we ordered was the last one.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLola ReviewGreat food and service a resturant Cleveland can be proud of and Michael Simon is always a great topic of dicusssion over lunch and/or dinner.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for ClevelandLola, like all the Michael Symon restaurants is a gem in search of a necklace. This celebrity chef has not only chosen to provide a wonderful experience in the center of the resurgence, but expanded his food empire in his hometown.
From the time you walk in the doors you feel at home and everything works! The menu is thoughtful and expertly executed, served with good humor. The seafood was sublime and the pork shank (my choice) was massive and filled with great flavors and texture.
While Captain America was being filmed a few blocks away, One of the real heroes of my town is a chef with a wild laugh who really knows how to put together a restaurant. i suspect he is not finished yet. Michael Symon East Side?6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMawesomeService was the best I 've experienced. Food was just awesome.6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMLola'sThe food was excellent the Lola fries were the best song ever take those off the menu! And the French toast that comes in the 6am special was the best French toast I've ever had.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat but not for vegetariansWe were disappointed that there was only one vegetarian option on the menu and it was disappointing in and of itself. Flavors were lacking in the dish. The meat eaters in the group were pleased with their dishes, although the chicken seemed a bit too salty. This was our first time at Lola and we will definitely return next time we are in Cleveland as the service, location and atmosphere are fantastic and we'd like to try other dishes offered.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMIt is an Great addition toIt is an Great addition to the Downtown scene in Cleveland. The overall experience was Excellent and will come back again.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat nightWonderful meal. Receiving food slighty slow severer explained kitchen was backed up due to a large party. Just tell me what's going on. Will go back on
next trip to Cleveland.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely (and delicious) dinnerThis was my first time dining at Lola, and I would recommend it. The food was delicious and the staff were very welcoming.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMSymon is BrilliantEverything from the curb appeal to the synchronization of the kitchen staff was well polished. Clearly Michael Symon is more than a television personality. The passion that we see when Michael competes on Iron Chef comes to life in the kitchen at Lola. At first I was a bit skeptical about our seats right across from the open kitchen; I wanted to enjoy my meal without the headache that comes from kitchen noise. Was I ever surprised! Like a well-oiled machine, the chefs and staff of the Lola kitchen were in sync with one another and very focused on the task at hand. It was almost surreal watching them do what they have been called to do with such perfection. Our server was attentive without being intrusive. The food...AMAZING6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMreally good,, but ....We visited for our first time recently and we left a wee bit disappointed. Perhaps we let all the reviews, iron chef business, and friend's comments build our expectations too high but the end result was we left a bit disappointed.. Service was outstanding, the lighting is dark, and the place is loud. The food is why one goes and therein lies the rub. We ejoyed all our selections but were only really impressed with the tortilla soup. The rest of our meal included the morels and peas, kale salad, hanger steak, scallops, and 6 am special dessert. It was all really good - just not great. Our review might be clouded by the fact thar we had dined at another Cleveland gem the night before and had an amazing meal so Lola had a hard act to follow.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBringing Cleveland back!!On a recent visit to Cleveland and had lunch at Lola's. It was so good that we returned with family that very night to have dinner! I grew up in Cleveland but have lived in New York for the past 30yrs and Lola's definitely rivals any top New York restaurant!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMNever DisappointsSymon has created a restaurant that delivers inventive food.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinately lives up to the hypeI was in Cleveland on business for two days. I took the opportunity to visit Lola because it was a three block walk from my hotel. I ordered the bone marrow (even though I've never had it before) and the halibut with mussels even though I don't eat a lot of fish. I figured after bone marrow, I wouldn't want a heavy entree.
I am not kidding when I say that I literally moaned when I bit into that marrow. oh. my. gawd. Amazing. Everything was so perfectly balanced. The smoky buttermilk, the date bacon jam and other condiments really added to the smooth flavor of the marrow. I was so sad when I finished it. I actually considered ordering it again and skipping the fish. I'm glad I didn't because it was wonderful6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMLove!Besides the long silverware that was hard to balance in my hand, haha, this restaurant is incredible. Great cocktails, wine list, and food. (Wouldn't mind more starter salad selections.) Desserts are to die for. Try the 6 AM Special!!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderfulI have been to a couple of restaurants at this level and this is the only one that has ever made me feel i received my moneys worth. the serving sizes for the entree was wonderful! The chef was very accomodating with any substitution we needed on the menu. Overall I can not wait to go back!6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food.The food was great, as expected. The portions are perfect, allowing us to get a full four course meal; sharing appetizer and dessert. The kale salad was awesome as was the hanger steak. Dessert was delightful. Pricing was on par for a high end place. Decent decor and show up early to get a good seat, as well as avoid the overhead music. My only complaint, and this is one I would never imagine anyone having, is that I hate their forks. As a designer maybe I'm picky but the round shaft fork made it difficult to eat. This is something I've never noticed in any restaurant before. Not a big deal but odd none the less. Regardless this is probably one of the best places to eat in the city.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was good but notThe food was good but not spectacular. My party had the pork chops, flounder and scallops. We tried the potato soup, American ham tray and both salads. The Kale salad was the only stand out. All of us had desserts which were again, good.
The service was impeccable.
The restaurant was very loud and truly harmed the dining experience. As a result, I will not go back nor recommend this to others.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDelish!It was a great dinner to celebrate a special occasion, but the lighting was so dark and it was difficult to hear all diners at our corner table.6/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food! The girl seatingGreat food! The girl seating us at the table just asked why we were in town and I mentioned it was for our anniversary. We were quite pleasantly surprised to receive two mini-cupcakes with candles on top with Happy Anniversary written on the plate with a raspberry coulee!! Would highly recommend.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFinally made it to Lola's!My husband & I went to Lola's for dinner before attending a play. Our dinner was delicious. My husband had the Kale Salad and the Smoked Hampshire Pork Chop and a side of Lola fries. He raved about the salad... I think he'd go back just for that! The pork chop was done to his liking and the fries were good, but not extraordinary. I had the Poke appetizer and Scallops for dinner. Loved the appetizer! It was light, flavorful and delicious! The scallops were seared golden brown on one side and were very good. I had two glasses of wine and he had two drinks. Our waiter was very attentive and did a great job answering our questions. With tip, we spent $150, which is pricey for dinner for two. Still, it was a great dinner and evening!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMUpscale Cleveland Centric FoodThe service was excellent. The menu itself was an amazing take on foods that are endemic to Cleveland and its demographics with an upscale twist. We sampled several of the appetizers. The Poke had amazing flavor. The pierogi was so savory and delicious. The Porkbelly had melt in your mouth tenderness. The main entrees were all excellent especially the pork chop. The creamiest polenta I have ever had!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat cocktails, salty foodEntrees were over seasoned, but overall the food was pretty good.
I would definitely return. Especially for the price, seemed very reasonable.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat experience againThis was our second time at Lola and we thought it would be impossible to top our previous visit but they did. Food was out of this world and beer/wine list is extra ordinary. They will see us again soon!5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMNice celebrationWhat a perfect place to celebrate a special birthday,5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was fabulous! ExpectedFood was fabulous! Expected nothing less from Michael Symon's restaurants! Would probably only go there on special occasions as with wine and appetizer tab was pretty steep. But, worth every penny!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMMEMORABLEMy husband and I LOVE to eat out. This restaurant ranks in the top 3 we've ever been to. The restaurant looked great, the servers went above and beyond, and most important, the food was exquisite! Thank you for a great experience!5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMWONDERFUL!!As soon as we walked into Lola's, I knew our experience would be great. The front desk staff was polite and promptly found the rest of our group that had arrived a few minutes before us. Our waitress was friendly, knowledgable and very helpful in the ordering process. The other wait staff were wonderful as well; our glasses were never below halfway the whole night! The food was delicious; my halibut was the best I have ever had and my friend's pork shank was so tender you could cut it with a fork. In addition, our waitress brought my friend (who was there for her bachelorette party) a congratulatory dessert, which was a wonderful end to our experience. I would definitely recommend Lola's to anyone and will visit again!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAs I would hope forGreat time, great food. It lived up to my hope for Michael Symon's restaurant. I have already told a lot of people from my area about my great visit, and I will continue to suggest it.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect!The food was absolutely delicious and the service was excellent. And the pork shank. It blew our minds! Would love to go back to the restaurant near future!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMEast 4th St Don't-missLola is an absolute must for folks traveling to Cleveland. Symon's ever-changing menu utilizing locally grown ingredients showcases Cleveland at its best. For the beef and potato lovers, the hangar steak was unbelievable - tender and flavorful but without all the fat that typically makes for a great steak. Served with a side of Lola fries, it was perfection on a plate. The staff was knowledgable and friendly, and the service was attentive but not overbearing. I can't wait to go back!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Ever!The perogies were absolutely delicious. The signature pork chops ordered by 2 of our party of 4 were hailed as the best chops ever (and the best meal ever by one). The halibut was prepared perfectly with mussels, pearl onions, potatoes and ham juice. The wild salmon was very good but not exceptional like the other dishes. Desserts were beautifully presented and tasted out of this world. The servers were very friendly and attentive, and presented our graduating daughter with a candle lit cupcake with "Congratulations" on the plate. Overall, a life-long memorable experience. Highest accolades all around!5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMAn Experience To RememberThe food was some of the best I have ever had. The wait staff was friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere was relaxing. My wife mentioned that it was quite romantic. Glad we traveled so far to have this experience.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA night of romance.We were celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary and it was a night to remember. We had a romantic table for two with an exceptional server who was very attentive and met our needs as well as making the dining experience fun. The food was exactly what we wanted, the reason we came. Our first experience was fabulous! We will certainly return.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSave room for DessertFood was outstanding, definitely save room for dessert. The night's special black bean soup was amazing. Multiple layers of flavors including the unexpected but delicious citrus notes. The pork shank was fall off the bone tender, no knife needed. The hangar steak was a perfect rare as ordered. The 6 a.m. dessert was amazing. I'd never had bacon in ice cream but it was well worth the wait, absolutely amazing. Our server Brian was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and had many good recommendations. He wasn't intrusive but always there when we needed him. The sommelier had good recommendations.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAlmost PerfectWith the exception of a bland Kale salad the dining experience was nearly perfect. The cocktail (aged Manhattan) and app (Beef cheek Perogi) were a beautiful start. The Hangar Steak with Lola Fries inspired childhood memories of a Big Mac and Fries. This is the highest compliment: a refined and perfectly cooked steak that unleashed all of the same endorphins I used to get as a kid. The Key Lime Pie was the perfect finish.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful experience! FoodWonderful experience! Food and service couldn't have been better. The salted caramel pot au creme was absolutely decadent!!5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWonerful Dinner !Had a great diner at Lola. Waiter and staff are friendly and helpful. We had the Scallops and Pork entree, we enjoyed it all. The Manchego Cheesecake dessert was Great.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience...What kudos do I need to give to such a fantastic restaurant. I was in Cleveland on business and it was our way of saying job well done. I will return on my next to Cleveland and write a more through review after my second visit.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWould highly recommend LolaWould highly recommend Lola to everyone. I love it!!5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Cleveland's bestWords can't describe how fantastic our dining experience at this restaurant was.
Once we stepped foot into the restaurant, we were greeted with genuine kindness.
The low light setting may throw you off, but your eyes will adjust.
I have to mention how much I appreciated the fact that both still AND sparkling water were offered, complimentary. I have eaten at many restaurants and this usually isn't the case.
From the appetizers to entrees to desserts, you just can't help savour every single bite.
The portions are perfect. You leave the restaurant feeling satisfied and full-without feeling overstuffed.
Our servers were incredibly pleasant and well-informed. You don't feel rushed and the food is prepared surprisingly fast!
We will be back ;)5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOur original reservation wereOur original reservation were for a party of 4, but we added another person to our group. We were celebrating our daughter's graduation from college and my husband's birthday. When Lola's confirmed our reservation they said there were no tables for 5 at that time. I said we would come anyway and were greatly pleased to find a table for 5 waiting for us when we arrived. Nice job!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything was perfect. GreatEverything was perfect. Great food. Server looked so young but provided excellent service.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMExceeded my expectation.Went here for our 10 year anniversary and it was fantastic. The food was amazing and the services was impeccable couldn't say enough good things about this restaurant5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFriendly Staff was a SupriseWent to Lola for an anniversary dinner. I expected the food to be great and it was. The the Potato and Ramp soup was outstanding. What surprised me the most was how friendly and helpful was the staff. Not pretentious at all;5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMCelebration DinnerPromised to take our daughter to Lola to celebrate her college graduation. Lola did not disappoint. Service was excellent. Anyone that brought food to our table was able to explain the various components. Menu is on the small side but variety will satisfy any diner. We selected a variety of meat and seafood entrees and all were equally as good. Can't recommend a favorite entree as we were equally pleased with all of them. Pork belly appetizer was a big hit and the french toast dessert was everyone's favorite. Would love to return to try more dishes. The only thing that could have made the evening any better was to have seen Michael Symon walk in as we are big fans.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AM