Cafe Lola Bistro
There is something familiar, lovely, and haunting about Café Lola. Like being near a good friend but not quite being able to place where they are, knowing they’re there all the same.
I arrived right as they opened the doors at 5 p.m. on Saturday. I was greeted by three young women, neatly dressed and ready for the impending Saturday night rush. I was directed to sit where I liked so long as there weren’t any settings on the table yet. Those being reserved for dinner guests who had called ahead. I meandered from the conservatively decorated dining room to the bar area. With crimson wallpaper, black leather, and wrought iron, the bar has a unique vibe all its own.
As I settled into a corner two top in the back, I requested a glass of Apothic Red and a small goat cheese salad. The Apothic is your standard utilitarian table wine. The type I lean on when I don’t know what I’m going to do next. I sat and took in the unique ambiance. French bistro tunes echoed gently through the rouge bar. A television in the opposite corner played sports news and weather. Just off the bar are two black leather couches that bracket a large coffee table. Seating patterned out from these back to the wall where I was located.
A young lady with long, dark hair became my designated server. She brought the salad shortly, and I dug in. It came with a crostini with chèvre (goat cheese) and a generous helping of candied walnuts and dried cranberries. A raspberry vinaigrette added a nice finish to the trim little salad.
When the server returned, we discussed the menu. I was stuck between the Salmon Wellington and the Roasted Filet Topped with Portobello Mushroom Ravioli. I decided on the Filet Mignon rare. The young lady attending me told me her favorite was the Wellington, and I will have to go back and try it because it sounded delicious.
The entree arrived, and I immediately realized the ravioli was actually a ravioloni, or a supersized version of ravioli that was nearly half the size of the filet mignon itself. The ravioloni and 6-ounce filet were stacked atop a generous mound of mashed potatoes, and the entirety was smothered in au jus. I’d also gotten a side of broccolini, which paired well with the petit steak. I say petit, but the trio of pasta, beef, and potatoes was a generous helping of food, and the broccolini made it even more so.
I was stuffed. But I’d seen Crème Brûlée on the menu, and I’m as much of a brûlée addict as I am a chocolate junkie. So, with a glass of Fonseca Tawny Port, I proceeded to dessert. It was a classic crème brûlée, garnished with strawberry and delightfully too much.
As I finished my meal, dinner patrons began to fill the restaurant, and a few drifted into the bar. It had been a wonderful dinner, and I had enjoyed the company of the staff and the ambience of the restaurant. This is a place I want to go back to. Cafe Lola Bistro is known for seasonal menu shifts and creating unique takes on traditional fare. If you haven’t already, you should drop in for lunch or reserve a spot for dinner. It is an excellent choice, and you will be happy you went.
