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| - OK yelpers. Settle in with a snack and a drink. This may be my longest review ever.
I made a reservation for my wife's birthday. We were greeted and seated promptly at what is probably the best table in the place. The lighting is subtle and the colors soft. Great ambiance. Excellent feel.
We were greeted promptly by our server, Nicole. She gave us the wine menu which is on an iPad. Very cool. We chose a bottle and ordered the beef cheek pierogi, the pork belly, the white bean soup and a Greek salad to split.
Let me start by saying our server, Nicole, was top notch. I spent a year in grad school waiting tables and it's not a cake walk. This young lady had it together and was very professional. The front of the house management is on top of it at Lola. The staff is swift, efficient, and friendly.
Now the food.
The pork belly was, in a word, sublime. I've had pork belly in a dozen restaurants and the closest competition Mike Symon has here is at Michael's Genuine in Miami, Florida.
The plate was presented with a nice heap of Julienned carrots and other veggies with a sprinkling of cilantro. The sauce is out of this world. Piquant, tangy, fragrant and popping with flavors. Every bite was a different taste experience. My wife went crazy for it and I wasn't far behind.
The beef cheek pierogis were outrageous. The beef itself was perfectly seasoned and oh so moist. The two large pierogis were garnished with a rich dark sauce and horseradish creme. Delicious. Slivered green onions topped the dish. I couldn't leave any sauce on the plate so I mopped up what was left with the crispy bread. No complaints here.
Water was refilled promptly and the soup arrived. It was a lovely pumpkin color and Nicole was nice enough to split it for us as we were sharing. Excellent service.
The soup was rich and flavorful but not overpowering.
The salad was fresh, crisp, and perfectly dressed. We finished it and shortly thereafter our entrees arrived.
The hanger steak my wife ordered was tender and perfectly cooked. The Lola fries are outrageously tasty and rich.
My Berkshire smoked pork chop was the highlight of my meal. It's hard to describe this dish except to say there's a little bit of heaven in every bite.
The smokiness of the pork combined with the cheesy polenta and chile sauce was rich beyond compare without having too many things going on on a single plate. The balance of flavors was unmatched and I was truly saddened when it was all gone. What a dish!
We didn't have room for dessert but Nicole brought out a plate of fresh cookies and a candle for my wife's birthday. A very nice touch.
I've been living in Cleveland for about 12 years now and this is, by far, my most memorable meal here. Michael Symon has put together a winning menu in a venue that would hold its own in any city on the planet.
If you have a chance to go to Lola by all means do. You won't regret it.
Chris
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