The Comforts of LoLa Café + Bar

SMORES (P210)

I recall dining in this establishment a few years back; but apart from the stellar plating of its Mango Pavlova, I fail to recall anything from that previous visit. (Although, I do have positive recollections about the restaurant, my mind's just a blank when I think about what we've tried).Accompanying me and my mom on this visit would be my sister Jem and her boyfriend, Kino Mendoza. I love dining out with them because they just give off this positive vibe all the time (and they always bring along their hungry tummies which allow me to try out more things)!

We started with their Molo Soup (P295). I was thrown off by its gaudy orange-colored annatto broth. Nonetheless, its broth was a perfect tasty union of stock, saffron, bonito flakes, and kesong puti. I did have serious issues with their chicken meatballs as they had a sour taste to them.

GISING EXPRESS (P140)

Commanding a price tag of only P140, I was shocked at the gigantic serving size of their Gising Express. Miniscule chopped sigarilyas and French beans bathe in a glorious coconut milk sauce, spiced with finger chilies and homemade bagoong. I found myself slurping through this fiery dish throughout the meal!

TRUFFLED LENGUA (P495)

The Truffled Lengua was another tasty dish we enjoyed as tender slices of ox tongue and shiitake mushrooms were generously tossed in a rich and creamy sauce. My only contention was that I failed to taste any hint of truffle cream or truffle oil in the sauce. Definitely lacking truth in its advertising.

WAGYU SALPICAO (P320)

The Wagyu Salpicao was definitely a delight to devour. The Kitayama Wagyu cubes were tender and wonderfully juicy; while its olive oil-garlic sauce does wonders when paired with rice or bread. I love that they opted to serve whole roasted garlic cloves instead of the garlic chunks/slithers most restaurants opt to serve.

BANOFFEE PIE (P170)

I absolutely cannot stand the taste and texture of marshmallows, but I surprisingly didn’t mind digging into its toasted marshmallow Smores dome which gave way to a luscious melted chocnut and dark chocolate dip mix. If you want something easier (and less messy) to eat, its Banoffee Pie can rival that of Starbucks’ and Banoffee’s. It seems to have just the right ratio of cream: crust: banana/peanut butter.

If you’re in the mood for classic homecooked Filipino dishes, do consider lounging in LoLa Café + Bar. Its cozy dining area, warm service, and extensive drinks selection would definitely keep you long inside.

LoLa Café + Bar

99 Sct Lozano St., Quezon City

Date of Visit: May 21, 2016