rev:text
| - I tried Lola for the first time on Friday night and had an all-around great meal. The table ordered three appetizers-the famous beef cheek pierogis, the crab salad, and a charcuterie board. The crab salad wasn't bad, but it wasn't terribly memorable either. It was definitely the worst thing ordered that night, but it was still good, though a bit dull. The pierogis were a beautiful elevation of a Cleveland classic, very rich and filling. The charcuterie board was beautiful, with many kinds of cured meats and spreads. It was definitely big enough to share, as some was left uneaten despite all of us sampling the meats.
I ordered the hanger steak with fries. The steak was beautifully cooked, exactly as I ordered. And the fries were thinly cut, crisp, and delicious. They were brushed in rosemary, which made the even tastier. Someone ordered the pork chops over polenta which was also a delicious dish (and I normally don't like polenta, but theirs was so tasty).
Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, as I would expect at a restaurant of this level. The impressive wine list was presented by iPad.
My one criticism... the steak didn't come with a vegetable. I understand that Lola is often playing with traditional steel-mill family favorites, so meat and potatoes is definitely a classic. Still, a green vegetable would have been a welcome addition.
This is a TRUE Cleveland restaurant. For a meal that has playful, rather elegant food that stays true to the culture of this city.
|