| rev:text
| - Lola is really a strange place. In some ways, it embodies a European sensibility--the communal dining, small menu, limited drink menu, rustic decor, and the uber-gracious hostess (who went out of her way to save a table for our large party when I called ahead) are all reminiscent of places I've been in Europe where dining is about simple flavors, good wine, and great conversation. Unfortunately, the portion size and unimpressive flavors of the tapas didn't quite live up to my expectations. After all, great atmosphere and sangria should enhance the food, not mask the fact that it's really overpriced and not that flavorful.
Before you jump on me and tell me that tapas are supposed to be small portions, let me just go ahead and explain that I grew up in California where small plates restaurants are par for the course. I have absolutely no problem paying good money for a small plate that is really flavorful and is large enough for 2-3 people to get several bites of the dish. However, the plates at Lola were so small that in some cases, even after ordering 3 plates of a dish, someone in our party of 9 didn't even get one bite! The most laughable example was the gambas dish. The plate came with 4-5 tiny shrimp for $10 bucks or so! For $2 per shrimp (not even prawn!), we just gave up trying to order enough for everyone to have a solidly sized portion. The asparagus dish was similarly amusing - one $8 plate contained about 8 baby asparagus stalks. And when I say baby, I mean it. These suckers were like pinky sized!
I would have had a little more patience for the portion sizes (which already made me want to go down a burger after we left) if the flavors were brighter and more memorable, but that aspect of our meal was also a letdown. The daily special (bruschetta-like pieces of bread with caramelized onions, honey, and goat cheese) was very enjoyable and I thought the filet was tender (although kind of bland), but the pork tenderloin, gambas, and eggplant were completely uninspired. I thought the eggplant tasted like soggy eggplant parmesan and failed to see what made it Spanish. The tortilla espanola was the best dish by far but still fell a little short compared to the one at Sol y Sombra.
Lest you think our experience at Lola was horrible, I want to remind you that I loved the cozy, rustic environment and that the hostess made the experience of showing up with a party of 9 at a place with communal seating a bit less stressful. Furthermore, I thought that the red sangria was really good (strong without being too sweet) and the pitcher was a pretty generous size for the price. I just can't get too thrilled about a place where the food--the crowning glory of any great European restaurant--isn't that flavorful and isn't generously enough portioned to allow everyone in the group to really share in the flavor experience. If I'm craving tapas in the future, I will head straight to Sol y Sombra or check out Imagine Spain, which I hear is worth the drive.
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