rev:text
| - We went to Lolita Sunday early evening after a trip to the new casino in Cleveland, we wanted to try Lola but it wasn't open. The space is very well done, great light bulb treatment and patio, we were seated in a very comfortable table directly across from the kitchen - when I say directly, it was almost like being IN the kitchen, we heard and saw all - some training on professional kitchen etiquette is required. The absolute best thing about our visit was the service, our waitress was right up there at the top of my list (short blondish hair and lots on tats). Our table of 4 started with a cocktail (well made), a beer and a bottle of wine, really liked the fact that the waitress came back to explain the bottle of wine to be sure that is what we wanted, it wasn't, so that was really appreciated. We started with the dates and meatballs - the dates were amazing, the sauce that came with them was excellent, the meatballs were a bit mushy and the sauce seemed super acidic. I have reviewed meatballs before, I think mine are better than most places. The table split two pizzas, they were just fine, nothing chef worthy, just fine - I can't judge on pizzas alone so am going back for another visit. We also had the brussel sprouts and a very excellent soft polenta. The wait between apps and pizzas was right about an hour - not acceptable when the kitchen crew is loud and heard in the dining room, there was too much joking with a bearded male employee who I can only assume was training because he never left the kitchen bar area and we got to hear all the conversation being had - it wasn't professional, I expected more. And yes, like another reviewer, two of us did notice the guy in the middle (calling orders) tasting off spoons and not washing them, it was definitively gross from a diners perspective. I love when a restaurant has an open kitchen and you see the staff working in symphony, seeing a chef at the top of his game, like an iron chef - we saw Taco Bell. More after our next visit.
|