Lola's Opens in King Street District. Photo Tour

[Ocklawaha]

Staff couldn't tell what was what - we couldn't either since all empanadas look alike on the outside.

Actually they don't. There is variety in the masa, most Colombian Empanada's use a completely different formula.

Masa / Empanada's Colombiana


Masa / Empanada's Argentina

[Timkin]

Nice establishment and the food looks amazing. Can't wait to check it out .

[ben says]

Staff couldn't tell what was what - we couldn't either since all empanadas look alike on the outside.

Actually they don't. There is variety in the masa, most Colombian Empanada's use a completely different formula.

Masa / Empanada's Colombiana


Masa / Empanada's Argentina

Did you think the empanadas were adequately filled?

Also, since you seem to be the Latin/South American food guru, ever been to Lolita's Pupuseria on San Jose Blvd? Never been but here good things.

[finehoe]

since all empanadas look alike on the outside.

Actually, most empanada makers will vary the shape or the pattern on the edges or some other variation according to the ingredients just for that reason.

[goldy21]

Service was atrocious.  Didn't see our waiter for 30 minutes after he took our orders, so we ordered more drinks from the bar.  Food was average and they messed up 3 of our 8 entrees.  However, it's two blocks from my house, they have a great drink selection, and I'm a sucker for chips and queso/guac/salsa.  So yeah, I'll probably end up being a regular.

[thekillingwax]

ben: Didn't Lolita's close? I could've sworn that it was now just a standard tex-mex joint with a different name.

I might try this place once the kinks get worked out- I like burritos but it's stuffed full of stuff that I shouldn't be eating. One thing that does kinda bother me and I'm not even remotely PC is having a dish called "Wetback Willie". I don't recall a  "Guinea Luigi" pizza at Carmine's. Let's hope they don't go for a soul food restaurant next time.

[Tacachale]

ben: Didn't Lolita's close? I could've sworn that it was now just a standard tex-mex joint with a different name.

Lolita's Pupuseria was phenomenal... and only open till 8. It's long gone now. IIRC you're right that it's now just another texmex place; don't remember if the name is different or not.

Anyway, I can't wait to try Lola's.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Let's hope they don't go for a soul food restaurant next time.

Care to elaborate?   

[ChriswUfGator]

We've been twice, both times the service was horrible. The first visit the main thing I liked about it was they would double-shell the tacos with a hard shell inside a soft shell and sauce in between. It was delicious. The second time we went they had used a magic marker to black out a third of the menu, including that. I asked why and finally got an answer from a busboy, the kitchen was repeatedly forgetting when people would order it and a lot of food was getting tossed. So I guess rather than training the staff, they just took it off the menu.

The first time I had tacos, they were good, mainly because of the double shell thing. The second time, I ordered a steak quesadilla and it was awful. A small amount of chewy steak with a lot of low quality cheese in a burnt tortilla. When I asked for sour cream or guacamole, you know, the stuff that comes with a quesadilla anywhere else (including LA), since it really wasn't really edible without it, they said it wasn't included and charged me for it. Who gives you a plain quesadilla with no sour cream or guac? It was like $8 or $9 and very visibly cost only a buck or two to make, if that much. Not like they don't have the margin on that dish to give you the normal sides. One of my friends ordered tacos and the wrappers were stone cold. I watched him ask our waitress about it, she told him that's how they're supposed to be. Ok, so the food's supposed to be cold. Great.

Bobby's a nice guy, I don't know if he has partners and they don't know WTF they're doing or what. But all in all, the food is mediocre at best, the service is terrible, but at least the drinks are ok when they finally show up after 30 minutes of waiting. The prices appear reasonable, so I guess that's the one redeeming feature. Still not enough to make any of us want to go back. And be warned, everything is an up-charge. They charge for tortilla chips, they charge for common side items that come with the dish everywhere else, like sour cream, etc.

I guess I'll give it one more try before chalking it off the list, only because Carmine's is so great, I figure they might get the kinks worked out. But if they don't, then it's not worth bothering with it. I've never had a two hour dinner at a mex place before. This is trying to be the food that comes off the LA taco trucks, except the trucks are much better and it only takes 2 minutes to get your order. The most off-putting thing about it was the response to problems, telling people that's how it's supposed to be. If someone is telling you their food sucks then, odds are, they don't want your opinion, they want you to fix it.

[ben says]

^ I concur.

The main problem I see here is they don't seem to want to learn from their mistakes.

The blacking out of the items the kitchen/staff can't learn to handle is unacceptable. The cold taco shell thing is abhorrent. I've complained three times about the meat to rice ratio, and they say "that's how we make it."

I really wanna like this place. Like you, I love Carmine's. But common guys, learn from what your customers are saying.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

...I love Carmine's. But common guys, learn from what your customers are saying.

You don't think they are?  Do you even remember Carmines when they first opened?  Shitty service, spotty food, etc... Now?  They're the go-to place for pizza and beer in Riverside. 

I have no doubt that Lola's will end up just like Stella.  (Getting her groove back!    )

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,11221.50.html

[Tacachale]

We finally got a chance to try it last weekend and thought it was awesome. The tacos and burritos were terrific (particularly the gator tail) and that's a solid drink menu. The service had some kinks, but nothing beyond the pale for a new place on a busy Saturday night.

[BridgeTroll]

One of my friends ordered tacos and the wrappers were stone cold. I watched him ask our waitress about it, she told him that's how they're supposed to be. Ok, so the food's supposed to be cold. Great.

Exactly my experience...Perhaps thats how they want them made... but that is NOT how they are supposed to be.

[PeeJayEss]

The first visit the main thing I liked about it was they would double-shell the tacos with a hard shell inside a soft shell and sauce in between. It was delicious. The second time we went they had used a magic marker to black out a third of the menu, including that.

This development broke my heart. It better come back.

Now?  They're the go-to place for pizza and beer in Riverside.

Pizza I'll give you. Beer? Puh-lease

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I've been 8 times.  It's been hit and miss, but I know what they did with Carmines, so that's exactly what I expect, it's just that I'll give them some time to do it.

The funny thing is, I don't cut Pele's the same slack.  I guess it's because they came in blowing their horn pretty loudly and then fell flat on their face.  Carmines didn't do that.  Lola'a expectations were already through the roof before they ever opened the door.