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| - Lula's website was under construction, so there was minimal info online. I'm not sure if this was a temporary host issue, or ongoing, but they really need to fix this. The website did not have their regular menu displayed, or a wine/beer list, but it advertised a "weekend prix fixe menu." I inquired about this when I called (this was on a Friday), and the host confirmed it. Lula doesn't take reservations, but the host said we shouldn't have a problem finding a table, but she took my number, so they could set aside some space for us if they got busy. She was friendly, and when I asked a question she did not know the response to, she called me back within 2 minutes with an answer.
Once seated (right away,) I inquired about the prix fixe menu options that I had discussed earlier with the hostess, and our waitress told us that that was from Valentine's Day weekend last month, and was inadvertently left on their website. That was a disappointment, since tapas restaurants typically leave us feeling hungry, so we thought that it would be a great option for dinner. The hostess on the telephone had been so helpful, but I was surprised that she was not notified that the prix fixe menu was not still happening, after a month.
The wine list was okay. It would have been nicer to have more variety, and more higher quality wines (if I am going to a wine bar, I expect to have some really great selections.) The wines by the glass were pretty unimpressive (I realize that wines by the glass are typically $10-15 store price bottles, so this wasn't a surprise; however, for a wine bar, I would have expected more options for people to try something nice.) They had some decent wines by the bottle, but nothing spectacular. I realize restaurant wines are usually about 3-4 times what you would pay in a wine shop, but again, for the price, I would have expected more variety in high quality wines. They had some representation of popular Napa Valley wineries such as Duckhorn and Rombauer, but it would have been nice to see more varietals, like Zinfandels and Super Tuscans. I must note, if you don't see any wine that you like, they have a very reasonable corkage fee of $10.
Since the prix fixe menu was not happening, we ordered a few tapas for our table to share. I know that I can't compare real Spanish tapas to the much smaller and more expensive American version, so as far as that goes, Lulas was pretty standard for American "tapas" when it comes to price, portion, and well, value. But we were really hoping for the prix fixe, since we were coming for dinner, not just a snack. I just wish that the website (and host I spoke with) had mentioned that ordering tapas a la carte was the only option, since the advertised dinner special for the weekend was from last month.
I love cheese, and the cheese platter was a big disappointment. The hot boursin cheese was good, but the rest of the cheese was pretty bland. I was surprised to see annatto-colored mild cheddar cheese, and a rather boring Swiss. I expected more locally-sourced or at least more interesting cheeses that varied in intensity (e.g. a nice soft cheese, such as a Brie/Camembert, or maybe a blue cheese.) For the price, it was simply not worth it, and I wouldn't order it again. The meatballs were average; they were presented nicely, and the price was not bad, but they weren't that flavorful. The plantain nachos were okay; our table was divided on that one. The dates wrapped in bacon were good, but very small portions. The carrot ginger soup was very good, and it was a nice amount.
Overall, we had fun, and the service was friendly enough, but we were disappointed in not having the prix fixe menu (which is apparently my phrase of the day!) when it was clearly advertised on the website. Our meals, including drinks, came to $27 per person, and two of us still felt a little hungry when we left. So, not that atypical of a tapas place, but just know what to expect. But Lula's has a nice vibe and comfortable, lounge-typed seating.
I really want this place to succeed, so I would recommend that they, first off, fix and update their website. In this age of technology, the impression of a restaurant begins before a customer sets foot (or doesn't) in a restaurant, so presenting yourself well is very important. I would also recommend adding more veg options. The cheese platter needs a complete revamp. I am more than willing to spend some money to try good cheeses, but the cheddar and Swiss seemed, well, kind of like Kraft. The location and vibe are great selling points. It's nice for a drink and a snack, but as of now, I wouldn't consider it to be a real option for me to return for an actual dinner. I am hoping that they add more menu options (especially more vegetarian ones) so that it could suffice as dinner for meat and plant eaters alike. I think if they offer more variety of dishes that are a bit more filling, they could have a really good thing going.
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