I finally made it to Lola's and it definitely lived up to the hype. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere stood out. The place has a great energy to it warm, inviting, and the kind of spot where you can sit back and enjoy your meal without feeling rushed. Food: The food was absolutely on point. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. One of those meals where every bite reminds you why people keep coming back. No complaints at all just really good food from start to finish. Service: Service was excellent. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was taken care of throughout the meal. Food came out in a reasonable time and the overall experience felt smooth and welcoming. Ambiance: The ambiance was fire. Cozy, lively, and full of character without feeling overcrowded. It's the type of place that works whether you're on a date night, out with friends, or just looking for a good meal in a great setting. Overall: Great food, great service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay awhile. Lola's is easily a spot I'd return to and recommend to anyone looking for a solid dining experience in New Orleans. Definitely going back. read more

Lola's - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Went to Lola's for Mother's Day brunch and honestly the short rib and grits completely stole the show. The short rib was so tender it literally melted in your mouth. The grits were creamy, rich, and paired perfectly with the savory sauce and vegetables. One of those dishes where everybody at the table keeps sneaking bites off your plate. I also tried the steak and eggs over potatoes which was good too. The steak was cooked well and the potatoes were seasoned nicely, but after tasting those short ribs, nothing else really stood a chance. For the appetizer we ordered this fancy oyster dish that I cannot pronounce to save my life lol, but it was actually really good. Crispy, flavorful, and beautifully plated. Definitely a great starter if you want something a little different. The restaurant itself has such a charming atmosphere. The floral wallpaper, vintage decor, fresh flowers on the tables, and cozy setup made it feel warm and intimate without trying too hard. It was busy for Mother's Day brunch but still felt relaxed and enjoyable. Definitely a spot I'd go back to, especially for those short ribs and grits alone. read more

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The seafood paella from Lola's is still the best dish I've ever had in the city of New Orleans, and given the city is known for its food that should tell you something. It's just downright delicious and filling too. The bartender was a bit awkward. She said she'd only worked there for two months, so maybe she is still trying to find her rhythm. Her interaction or lack thereof seemed notable enough to drop a star. Still, in a community full of solid dining options I'll recommend Lola's again and again. read more

Lola's is simply a jewel! If you're looking for a quaint, chic, intimate, cute, and cozy spot this is it! The flavorful and amazing cuisine captured me at first bite! The weather was nice so we chose to dine outside. The entire dining area is so beautiful designed. Everything from the table decor, tiki torches, and string lighting is perfect. Tavae, our Server was so sweet. She provided awesome recommendations and her personal favorites! We chose for Tapas the Shrimp & Fish Ceviche‍ Our entrees were the Seafood Paella and Lamb Chops! Whew! Both are so flavorful, fresh, and delectable! Both are highly recommended! I'm looking forward to dining here again soon! read more

We've been coming to Lola's for many years, and often bring out of town guests here. We brought an of town guest on 8/12 and found our two favorite dishes are no longer on the menu. The Caldereta and the Pork Loin are what kept bringing us back. Although our dishes were good this time, and there were no issues, I'm not sure if we will return unless those dishes make their way back to the menu. Disappointed. read more

Food is good, like the flavors. Flamenco out front was excellent. Service is friendly. Favorite thing we ordered (sorry no pic) mussels appetizer. Chilled almond soup may have used mayo - could not finish it. Spinach linguine a bit overcooked, like the inclusion of artichokes. read more

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TODAY WAS THE PERFECT STORM. I got an early morning brunch invite from a long time friend, so I had to say yes! We met up at 10 for the revamped brunch menu. It was fabulous. The menu has a lot of options, we ordered most of them, and everything was great. The braised rib and grits... I saw God. The blueberry drink was amazing felt like the girl in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This place is so cute and intimate. We sat outside because the weather was perfect, and that definitely made it even better. I just really had an awesome day. With all that said, the service was great everyone was so kind and accommodating. They're still working through some kinks, but honestly, aren't we all? read more

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We sat outside. The vibes and service were amazing! The bread service was so good. It came with a very garlicky butter that we loved. The ceviche was super fresh but not very flavorful. Everyone really liked the garlic shrimp. My favorite was the calamari steak! I would go back just for that. The brussels were super undercooked but the sauce that came with them was 10/10. The seafood paella had so much seafood in it, and the shrimp pasta was really good! read more

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I had high hopes for Lola's, but overall, it was a pretty average experience. The pork loin was underwhelming. It honestly just tasted like pork chops smothered in A1 sauce, which wasn't what I expected. On the positive side, the sangria was refreshing and the grilled fish was actually very good. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired, the staff wasn't the friendliest and the customer service didn't make the visit any better. We only saw our waiter a total of 3 maybe times. And the host stand was full of the different waiters and staff cursing and talking very loudly . For me, Lola's lands at about 2.5 stars. Good drinks and fish, but the rest of the meal and the service just didn't deliver. read more

Lola's - Red sangria - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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If you're in the area you won't regret grabbing a couple apps and a marg from this place! Service was top notch and the food was delicious. Will definitely be back.. read more

amazing food and friendly service. we stopped by here during jazz fest weekend and their menu was perfect. we weren't going to consider the jerk chicken until we saw them take our the grill and once we smelled it - we were sold. everything was full of flavor and we definitely recommend! read more

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I was so excited to try Lola's and it's been on my bucket list for almost a year now! We ordered a garlic chicken and veggie paella. They accidentally gave us the garlic mushrooms but they quickly fixed it and gave it to us on the house. Food was great and chicken had great flavors. I also loved the ambiance of this place - casual, but cozy and classy at the same time. They have both nice indoor and outdoor seating! read more

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Lola's is in a great spot and has a really cute, cozy vibe. We sat inside, which was nice, but the outdoor seating looked like it'd be perfect on a sunny day or evening after work. I was hoping to order a cocktail, but they only serve beer and wine--which was a little disappointing. We started with the garlic shrimp, and they were seriously delicious. For entrees, we had the combination paella and the shrimp pasta. Both were flavorful and satisfying--no complaints. Overall, it was a good experience, and I'll definitely be back to explore the menu. read more

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Loved the ambiance. Lola's brings me back to Barcelona for sure. I ordered the small paella and white sangria. Food was pretty good and service was good. The paella was flavorful but not the best that I've had. read more

Lola's - Small Paella - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Lola's has some of the best cocktails and brunch items I've seen lately. The fact that is so intimate and chic is like the icing on the cake. Their late night lounge and ladies nights are also a vibe. If anyone ask me for a recommendations for brunch items dinner, Lola's is always my first choice. read more

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Made a reservation for Monday night. My friend and I just missed happy hour, but we got dinner service, which was wonderful. Everyone was so friendly. The drinks were very strong. Food was good, I had the duck with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and my friend got the tuna with rice and mixed veggies. It's small, but quaint, and cozy. read more

Lola's - Tuna with rice and veggies - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Lola's is a hidden gem for anyone who loves authentic Spanish cuisine. The quaint, intimate setting makes it the perfect spot for a cozy dinner, whether it's a date night or a quiet evening with friends. The staff is incredibly helpful and attentive, always ready with thoughtful recommendations and warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home. And the paella? Absolutely unforgettable. It's the dish that made me fall in love with Spanish cooking -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Lola's isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience I'll always cherish read more

A perfect spot on Esplanade! The setting was charming, the seafood paella was absolutely delicious, keep in mind the paella takes 45 min. to cook, They let you know that when you sit down. The service was excellent. Such a sweet experience! Great service! My new favorite spot! read more

Lola's - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The food is excellent and the atmosphere is always cozy. They have both indoor and outdoor dining options. The weekend brunch is fantastic. The restaurant staff always go the extra mile to keep me and other regulars coming back for more! 5-stars read more

Great service. Food wasn't my style but my dining partner was very pleased! Just look at menu before going.

Food was amazing, service was less than as a solo diner. I made a reservation for one for my birthday at 6:00 and requested a table inside, all excited from looking at their menu and knowing what I would get. When I get there, they ask me if I'm ok with a seat at the bar. Typically yes, but I made a reservation and noted it was my birthday bc I wanted to celebrate and be comfortable with room at a table. I say no, and they ask which two top I want to sit at. I point to one against the wall and they say those tables are reserved for another party at 7. They say they only have the two center tables to offer me. It was obvious they didn't have a spot for me. I felt uncomfortable, but the most they could offer was a seat at the bar. Food was really delicious, but I replaced a side dish with another from the menu and didn't receive it at first. After I said something, the server brought it out halfway through the meal, and I was charged for both sides because "I got both." That was whatever, but just weird. When I decided to grab boxes, the food was taken to the back to be bagged up, and my second side was not packed to go. Again, just weird. Not enough space in the box, alright, but then grab another box. Then to charge me but not send me home when there was half a serving left. Food was really delicious. The lamb chops were perfectly cooked, and the vegetables on the side were so well seasoned and perfectly cooked as well. Food & drinks were a 10/10 on taste, but I didn't try any desserts so I can't comment. This experience was a little over a month ago, I was unsure how to write about it without seeming like it was all complaints. The food and decor were lovely, my experience was not. I do think the treatment was because I was dining alone, but that's no excuse in a city like NOLA with millions or great restaurants read more

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Delicious veggie paella and garlic shrimp. Beautiful cocktails as well. Overall excellent experience and service. Authentic Spanish food. read more

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A Must-Try Brunch at Lola's! If you haven't tried the new brunch at Lola's, you are seriously missing out! I stopped in recently and ordered the Oyster Pan Con Tomate, and WOW it absolutely blew me away. The bread was perfectly toasted with that light crunch, the tomatoes were fresh and full of flavor, and the oysters were cooked to perfection. Every bite tasted like something you'd get in a coastal Spanish café. It's the kind of dish you think about later and immediately want again. Lola's has always been known for great food, but this new brunch menu takes it to the next level. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service is warm, and the food is unreal. If you're looking for a brunch spot that feels special without trying too hard, this is it. Do yourself a favor and go try the Oyster Pan Con Tomate and the rest of the brunch menu. you won't regret it! read more

Lola's - Oyster pan con tomate - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We dined here early in the evening on New Years Eve. We were one of the first ones here and our reservation was for 530pm, which is when they open. I wanted to love this place, because as I was walking up, the romance just shines here. The quaint little table set ups all along the sidewalk and side of the building, complete with handing lights lining the alley way and the oak trees. We sat down and were greeted with what seemed to be a very new waiter. We all got to start somewhere, but felt like we weren't getting the best service because of it. There were a few things. The bread - we were the only ones in there other than maybe 2 other couples. Those other couples were being waited on another waiter and they all had been served bread and butter which I assumed was complimentary since both couples had the exact same bread. Our bread showed up around the appetizer time. Then, the paella - when it was time to take our food orders, he had his memorized spiel which included ordering the pricey paella and that I should order now due to the long 45 min time period it takes to cook. Now I had read reviews about it and a lot of the reviews were miss, and not hit regarding the paella, so I decided I wouldn't spend high dollar on a dish, that may or may not be worth every penny. So, we gently declined his recommendation and it seemed like he was shocked and sort of fumbled over the next sentences. Finally - the dessert - The restaurant is tiny and it is New Year's Eve with people starting to piled in and we had been there right under an hour. He drops off the bill, instead of asking prior if there was anything else we needed and I said, well we were planning on ordering dessert. He apologized and got us the dessert. Overall, he was nice, just made things awkward as he seemed inexperienced. Now normally, I don't really care about that because again, we all got to start somewhere. The food itself was not spectacular though. The outside ambience was better than the food. The inside ambience seemed, unfinished, at least one wall did anyway - maybe there is a fun story to that. I had the garlic soup, which was good, but really needed some kind of a crunch element in there. The garlic shrimp was better than the garlic soup, but I have had better garlic shrimp throughout the city. I guess I was expected to want to lick the bowl clean like I do when I have BBQ shrimp sauce or a sauteed crab claw sauce. The roasted duck sauce was a little odd, it was supposed to be a fig sauce, it just didn't appeal to me that much. Overall, I would maybe come back here just for wine or drinks to sit in the gorgeous atmosphere. Really stunning job on the decor. read more

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The food was delicious - highly recommend the garlic shrimp, mussels, and seafood paella. Our waitress, CiCi, was very friendly and attentive. read more

Lola's - Seafood paella. Delicious! Size large. - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I had high hopes for a nice romantic upscale dinner at this spanish restaurant. I was seated inside the restaurant by who I thought was my waiter. He brought me water and took my drink order. The lady bartender came over and asked me what gin I wanted in my martini and I answered house is fine. She made the drink and then brought it to me and said something about the waiter going off shift, but he seemed to hang around the rest of the evening. She took my order of garlic soup and seafood/meat paella. The soup was a little cup of broth. $8. Disappointing. The paella came out in a rather small pan. $34. It only had these small chips of meat and seafood on top. The rice was not the correct kind of rice to use and it was not caramelized on the bottom of the pan like it should be. I could not see or taste any saffron in the dish, which is the whole point of ordering paella. When the bill came, she charged me $10 for Tanqueray and another $4 for it being a martini. Total of $67. I would not recommend this place... not in a city like New Orleans. read more

Do NOT order takeout online from this restaurant. I went to their website yesterday, placed an order (including a generous tip) through Grubhub (which their website referred me) and received an email confirming my order and a 6:00 p.m. pickup. I drove across town to pick up the order and was informed by a very disinterested staff that my order had not been received. I showed them the Grubhub confirmation and they told me that they didn't do orders through Grubhub (even though their website says differently). There was virtually nobody in the restaurant but the waitstaff seemed more interested in chatting with each other than helping me to resolve the issue. They were, frankly, rude and dismissive. I constantly hear about how NOLA restaurants struggle in the summer, so it's very disappointing when I try to give one business and am treated so shabbily. I will not be back. read more

I hate to leave a poor review, but feel I should speak on our experience. I had made a reservation for a certain time in the evening and was called a few hours ahead of my reservation and was told I needed to come in earlier due to issues with the reservation booking system. Slightly off putting, but I work in a restaurant and understand that sometimes you mean to turn reservations off at a certain time, and maybe you forget, or maybe it's kind of slow, and you're hoping to get all of your reservations out-of-the-way, so maybe you can shut down early. I wasn't sure what the case was, just that we were being told to come in early, or not come at all lol. So we came in early! First thing first, the patio ambiance was beautiful. The string lights were lovely. However, there was what appeared to be a bullet hole in the window. I wasn't sure how to feel about that, considering I was sitting directly in front of it lol. But ultimately my review is about the food and service. We were told that the restaurant was closing soon, & that it takes about 30-40 minutes to order the paella. Which is what they're known for. We asked if it would still be OK to order the paella, since they are trying to close down, and the server said yes. So we order the paella, and the lamb chops. I'm not certain why the paella took so long to make, considering it had absolutely no depth of flavor, all of the seafood was overcooked, and vegetables tasted canned or frozen. My partner had gone to the restroom(right by the kitchen) and saw our paella being made. He said the chef had head phones in and was scrolling on his phone. The lamb chops were fine. Certainly not the best I've ever had. But better than the paella, for sure. I didn't really understand why they came with a bunch of blue cheese sauce. But I guess that's a preference. I like blue cheese, just didn't understand the pairing. I was really looking forward to our dinner at Lolas, so I was really disappointed by all of this. We ate everything, but still left hungry and unsatisfied, so we opted for a late night slice of pizza and Poboy. read more

Our server Macy's was outstanding we ate. They are on the last night of Jazz fest so as you can imagine it was packed the hostess was lovely and seated us early even adding a seat for a friend that was supposed to meet us at the last minute. We ordered the bread with garlic butter, but sent it back. It was over the top. We also had the tomato and mozzarella salad, which was fresh and delicious as well as the seafood paella. It was delicious. They did pretty well considering how overrun they were with patrons. The vibe was fun and I would definitely come back. read more

Small cute and quaint restaurant. I truly enjoyed almost every aspect of your visit! We arrived right when the restaurant opened luckily for us as I'd imagine it's hard to get in without a reservation. We were quickly seated. I love the attention to detail from our waiter Pat. He overheard me talking about how cold it was and adjusted the AC as it was blowing directly over the area where we were seated. Not to mention it was very cold outside. The openness of the kitchen was also nice, as we could watch the chefs/cooks move about and prepare meals. The food was AMAZING! All of it was fresh, very flavorful and served HOT! Pat even noticed when placing a plate down it had a stain on it. The only issue for me was the restroom. The floor and mirror was dirty, and there was hair, water, and dirt spots in and in the sink. Someone had messed up all over the seat, and floor. You can tell the soap dispenser and been refilled over and over Understanding it's a gender neutral restroom, and only one since the restaurant is so small, however the restaurant had just opened so it should have been immaculate. Nonetheless I'll be back! read more

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We came on Sunday for brunch - they are now open in the afternoons. The lamb burger with eggplant was succulent and the French baguette sandwich bocadillo with salami and chorizo was very tasty. Both were served with potatoes with a Spanish sauce that was delicious. We sat outside below the trees in a gentle breeze to enjoy brunch cocktails too - a fine pisco sour Sevilliano and an even more sour Paloma (tequila and grapefruit juice with tagin- a spicy salt) were perfect accompaniments. Highly recommended - quiet music so you can hear and nice wait staff! read more

Tried Lola's for a friend's birthday dinner. We sat outside along the sidewalk out front, under the shady oaks. The pre-meal bread and butter is excellent! Might have been my favorite part of the meal, but then I'm a sucker for carbs. I ordered the vegetable paella which they warn you takes longer than other dishes to prepare. It's made to order however, which I was willing to wait for, plus others in our party had ordered the seafood paella, so I wasn't the only one. Haha. I tried my friend's muscles while we waited. Delicious sauce! The paella was delightful. The rice was cooked just right, and it had a nice complex mix of flavors. I used the lemons they provided to give it a dash of tangy citrus. Overall an excellent meal! read more

Everything was amazing as soon as we walked in: the ambiance, food, cocktails, and the incredible customer service from the entire staff.

Lola's is an amazing Spanish restaurant. (As in Spain, the country, not the language. You will not be finding burritos here! haha). It's tiny, cozy, and the food is absolutely delicious! The prices are a bit on the higher side, but you expect that since they're located at the hopping part of Esplanade. As mentioned, it's a really small eatery with limited seating and a low-capacity kitchen. I would recommend making a reservation before you head out to eat here. Also to keep in mind, because the kitchen is tiny and they make everything fresh to order, you should be prepared to wait. We were told that our paella would take about 45 minutes to get to us. Don't let this turn you off of this place though! Making food fresh is a great sign for a restaurant and I swear it's worth every minute! We ordered the: *Garlic Soup ($8) - a garlicky simple chicken broth soup with egg dropped in. This is nothing to write home about, but it's yummy and cozy, perfect for when it's a little chilly out. *Roasted Duck Breast ($25) - Neatly sliced and roasted-to-perfection duck smothered in a slightly sweet fig reduction sauce. I think they use wine for the reduction, you can taste it. Whatever it is, it pairs well! The whole halves of figs you'll find in there compliments your tender bites of duck splendidly. *Seafood Paella ($39 for 2 people, a "medium") - This is the show stopper dish here. Their paella is AMAZING. It comes with all kinds of seafood proteins (shrimp, scallops, mussels, calamari) and the dish comes in different sizes depending on the size of your party. This is so delicious, you will definitely overeat and wish you had more to take home! The rice is soft moist and bursting with flavor. I could come to Lola's just for their paella! One thing to note, the portions for all of the items are very fair. You'll go home full! No loading up on carbs while skimping on the protein here either, they give you plenty of both. It's money well-spent at this locale! read more

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We live in the neighborhood and booked an outdoor reservation for two. We walked from our home to the restaurant. While waiting at the host stand a walk up of two was seated outside. They did not have a reservation. When we checked-in the host informed us they had no outside seating available and would need to be seated inside. I shared we would be willing to wait on our outside reserved table. He shared we had booked standard and not outside. I showed him the reservation and that it did indeed show outside. He blamed OpenTable and said they did not allow outside reservations. It was awkward and not much hospitality. We decided to eat somewhere else and it will be some time before we give LOLA another try. read more

Lola's - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I happened upon Lola's while traveling for work. It was easy to get a solo table on a Monday night... the wait staff was kind and quick. Offered good suggestions and warned me on the 45 min wait for the paella. I highly recommend for a taste of the Iberian peninsula and the Al fresco dining. The music and atmosphere were pleasant and it was good relax with a glass of wine while I waited for my food. read more

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It's easy to overlook this restaurant, and that's a damn shame. The chef is spectacular. The wait staff is helpful and attentive. We had a group of 6 and enjoyed a variety of tapas (tropical crab, garlic shrimp, ceviche, calamari steak) and then some of us split a paella for the main course. The waitress helped us order family-style for efficiency. Others in our group ordered the salmon and the trout and said it was great. It's a small restaurant and only serves dinner so you should plan ahead. We are mega fans of seafood, so that's all we ordered, but they have duck and chicken on the menu as well. There was a heated patio space for outdoor seating, too. Byo alcohol, but they did have wine and a small selection of beer. Definitely go try it out. read more

Lola's - Seafood paella (portion) - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Something is wrong at Lola's. We have been eating there for decades. But last night! Bad service. Slow. Took all dishes and utensils after appetizers! Weird. Did not give us separate checks after they said they would. Forgot butter with the second bread order. It never showed up. Food: seafood soup had practically no seafood and it was all shrimp. Garlic shrimp were huge peel on shrimp. Wrong. For twenty years it's small peeled shrimp. Duck: full of fat and chewy. Garlic chicken: overcooked and tough as leather. Something is going on. And they were out of pasta shrimp at 5:45. Pasta! Go to the grocery! I hope they fix this. We really like the place. read more

Loved it! Great food - Great service. For tapas we har garlic shrimp, garlic mushrooms and tomato basil salad (caprese). For main we had the trout and garlic chicken. They both came with rice and vegetable. They did double veggie as we didn't want the rice. Veggies were carrots, zucchini and broccoli. Loved it. My only suggestion was that we needed to add a little salt to each dish, but always better to add salt over being too salty! We will definitely go back here. Ty our service was great!! read more

Lola's - Trout and veggies. Garlic Chicken in the background. - Spanish Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Like others, I wanted to like it here. But the food was extremely disappointing. Tough, overcooked garlic chicken, mushy old crab tropicale, slow service, overall it is terribly overpriced for the quality, I guess you are paying for the ambience. read more