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Categories: Spanish, Tapas Bars
211 W 2nd StMon thru Fri 3-6:30/ $5 Late night tacos Sun-Thur after 10pm New Fall Menu coming soon!
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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First of all, I had no clue there was a art district in the heart of Santa Ana. And to my surprise, this area is very nice. Almost feels like you're not even in the OC anymore...very pleasant.
Now take that feeling, and combine that with great food and atmosphere and Lola Gaspar is what you would get. We came here for some happy hour grub after work. The tapas was good...street tacos akin to those you find down south. The fries with duck is definitely worthy of order. Sangrias were refreshing and complements well with the finger foods we ordered. And all enjoyable while seated in the outdoor patio.
Prices were reasonable for happy hour. I would imagine it's a bit more otherwise, but it's an interesting place to check out. And a very nice area.
The blue cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon was definitely 5stars. The margarita which tasted soapy (which they kindly took back and replaced with sangria) 2 stars.
Ambiance 4 stars
Overall Menu 4 stars
I had a good time here. We ordered street tacos, fries with duck with creme fraiche, dates and meatballs. The dates were spectacular followed by the meatballs in sauce accompanied by bread to dip.
The only complaint was the drinks...margarita had a soapy after taste. I tried to drink it but I just couldn't. And those who know me, know that I will taste any alcoholic beverage at least once. But this was too too soapy...it had a thick froth on top which I wasn't sure about...it either was shaken too hard or it was a soapy film. The waitress was apologetic and mentioned it may be the soap they use. But the sangria that I ordered to replace it was ordinary and I had better sangria elsewhere.
I do love the funky look of the place, different and unique.
I will come back again and try other specialty drinks on the menu...they definitely looked interesting and maybe better than the drinks I have had. AND I will have the best DATES I have ever had...I am in love with those.
Hate to say it, but this place was a little hyped up. Don't get me wrong, the venue boasted one of the more clandestinely gorgeous atmospheres I've seen (save for the creepy tall painting of the girl with the gun) and served up some tasty (albeit weak) sangria.
Let's start with the food:
Quite pricey to be sure, and none of them particularly noteworthy except for their tasty pork tacos that were reminiscent of char-siu flavor, and, of course, the bacon wrapped cheese stuffed dates. Can we say exploding mouth orgasm? Because that's what it was.
Duck confit fries were a bit of a miss for me. The duck was a little dry, not moist with fat. Why! Why was there no duck fat! The flat bread was just okay, not really a huge fan of the overpowering rosemary or the sharp cheese they used.
Their saving grace was definitely the atmosphere and their stellar service. I usually like to give the place the benefit of the doubt, so I bump a 3.5 to a 4. I probably will come back again for a classy late-night thing, but given my appetite I couldn't really count on Lola giving me a bang for my buck for food. Great place to hang out and chill though.
I came here for tapas and sangria with a girlfriend and had a really good time. The ambiance is really cool; I loved the dark, romantic bohemian vibe, the murals, and the chandeliers, combined with the fact that they served PBR totally made me feel like I was back in San Francisco. The outdoor heated patio area is great too and it's located in a cute little plaza.
We ordered a few small plates, which were a little on the pricey side, although I must say the portions were a lot bigger than I expected. The blue cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates were pretty good - I'm not going to say amazing, but they were tasty. We also ordered flat bread, which was really fresh; the brazilian sausage sandwich with chimichurri was large enough to be an entree and sooo good; and the sangria, which was rich without being too sweet, but could have had a bit more fruit in it (I love to eat the fruit!)
Our waitress was very friendly and patient. She readily offered recommendations on what to order and was patient when we still couldn't make up our minds because everything looked so good.
This place looks like it has some interesting cocktails as well, which I didn't try but plan to on my next visit... if they can make a great mojito I might just bump my rating up to 5 stars. A little bit of SOMA in SoCal - I will definitely be going back!
Hmmm... How do I even Begin to start to describe Lola Gaspar? Theres Just so much to talk about. Everything about this place is just amazing.
The Food here always is always Amazing! These are a few of my favorites that i love to wash down with a PBR fresh off the tap!
-Bacon wrapped Dates stuffed with blue cheese!
-Duck Fries!
-All of the Flat breads!!!
and the menu is always being updated with even more delicious creations!!! Just thinking about it is making me hungry! but its not just the food that brings me here just about every week, its the Service and the people that go here as well!! I mean, I love walking in to Lola, Saying hi to everyone, and just having that feeling like Im back at home!
A toughie.
Not sure how to rate it. I really liked certain things on the menu and didn't care for others.
I liked:
- Bacon wrapped dates
- Chile Relleno
- The bread with honey butter?
Didn't care for:
- Duck tacos
- Calamari
- Duck Fries
I also found that the drinks, despite being praised by fellow Yelpers, weren't all that either. Specifically, the Mojitos were so-so and they don't have a large selection of beer.
Yay! Finally made it out here last night! I have had this place bookmarked since my friend told me about it during the summer.
I give this place 5 stars for the food. The service...not so great. But I'm here to talk about the food.
I started off with a PBR to drink which was delicious, as per usual. To eat, we started off with some chips & salsa. They have 3 different types of salsa for their chips. One of them has a sweet flavor with a spicy aftertaste which was very different! But I loved it. The other two were just plain ol good salsas, a green one and a red one. Maybe I should've been listening when she explained what kind they were to us...but I'm a teacher, I get paid to talk, not to listen. :D NOT!
Then we had some of their potato tacos. Those were sooo good. You don't miss the meat at all. The duck fries were also amazing. Sooo tasty. We also had some of their flat bread pizza and the banana bread pudding for dessert. I enjoyed everything!!!
Server sucked, but the food was great!! I will be back here again. :D
180 reviews dare I become #181?
If only to prove I'm daring.
Some things in life are worth repeating. Lola she was a show girl...with flowers in her hair...Ok enough of dat-on to the goods.
Even though last night was my first visit to Lola all of the outstanding and mouthwatering reviews I've read over the last 6 months made me feel as though I'd eaten here a hundred times. I could already taste the blue cheese stuffed dates everyone had been raving about.
Kerri our fabulously friendly server was great in answering our million and one questions and helped steer our taste buds in the right direction with calamari, goat cheese/poblano/carne quesadilla and chorizo flat bread. All of it was perfect.
I don't like mojitos. In fact I'm not a fan of mixed drinks unless it involves free or it's a vodka energy drink. I'm pretty much a beer girl. But the fucking mojitos here are exceptional like raise the roof exceptional. I had 2 errr 3? Who's counting anyways?
People who complain about the long wait need to reevaluate there expectations with a reality check. This is a small place so it would make sense that their kitchen is small. Hence the long wait. Ya dig?
However to be objective I understand that with all the popularity that Lola has brought to themselves they should do something to offset the wait. I don't have a solution just throwing a flashlight into the dark and hoping someone finds it.
I don't even know where to begin. I don't even know what to say. I sat around drinking lovely PBR and suddenly my friends ordered food and I really thought I had died and that maybe heaven does exist because those duck fries might be better than sex. And I can't even start thinking about the dates, wrapped in bacon, filled with blue cheese, without wanting to drive the 40 minutes to get there.
It was stupid and disgusting and I am so mad at Lola Gaspar because I love it so much. I hate you because I love you.
The atmosphere is lovely and dark, the music is fantastic, the patio is perfect, the servers are so kind and welcoming and all of it just makes me sick.
UGH.
I have only been here twice and I honestly don't remember the first time because...it was so long… Read more »
Perfect romantic spot for a special dinner. Luckily, my birthday fell on a Monday this year. Get it?? - right ! - no crowds! I've heard it can get a little overpopulated at this old world style artsy cafe.
The calamari is sublet and exquisite, the flat bread is a perfect mix of rich cheese (fontana, goat?) and spicy chorizo.
The bartender makes very good mojitos, sangria and pomegranate martinis (well, it was a celebration!).
3 tapas and 6 cocktails with tip - around $90 - not bad for an authentic feel on a candlelit terrace.
Did I mention the waitress was fun, nice, friendly and sweet?
I hope they expand the menu soon, and maybe lose the carne asada or get a new recipe..
Her name was Lola... she was a showgirl...with yellow feathers in her hair... and a dress cut down to there...She would merengue... and do the cha-cha... And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar...
While you are more likely to hear the Pixies than Barry Manilow (thank god, for that, too) and the fellow behind the bar may or may not be named Tony - there is a line in that famous tune 'Copacabana' that shares commonalties with Lola Gaspar.
"Music and passion were always the fashion..."
Indeed. The music selections are great and the passion is definitely evident in the dishes that lined our table... I very much like Lola Gaspar because it is easy to slip inside and forget you're in Santa Ana (or California) for that matter... though the menu might not be straight ahead Spanish... (Jazz fans will get the ref, the rest of you - I just mean it's not a'hundred percent traditional)... it's damn good.
Damn good'e'nuff to order seconds and thirds and share with a table of friends over laughter and drink specials... or a carafe of sangria, which goes down nicely and provides me with a nice little buzz... Yep, easy to forget Santa Ana, forget California... the inside of Lola Gaspar reminds me of quaint eateries in a more urban locale... in a city or country, far, far away... luckily for me, it isn't... it's just a short 15 min drive.
Menu favs that rank high are the duck confit fries (it was after a very recent trip to France that I have become a huge fan of duck... I just hafta put out of mind that it is in fact NOT Daffy on the plate in front of me...) - duck confit, melted, gooey delicious cheese, some kinda spicy green sauce, and sour cream drizzled atop delicious fries... these fries are spec-quackular!
Yeah, I went there.
The absolute highlight for me is the chorizo corn dogs - really? I thought I found heaven...but as my pupils quickly dilate, I realize no, this kind of gastro-temptation is one often encouraged by hooves and a tail... a piggie tail...mmm....piggie hoovies...MMMMMM.... Chorizo! Corn Dogs!
NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM! Oh so good....
We also ordered tacos... as well as the "salsa flight"... as indicated, a bowl of chips served with three salsas... one of which I was pre-warned was very spicy...and though I've had spicier, it was DEELISH.
The perfect way to end an evening at Lola Gaspar is to share a slice of the banana bread pudding... unfreakingbelievable...I'm trying not to salivate writing this! It is so soft and moist - I think a little part of my soul stayed behind when we left because it is calling to me now to come back and visit ...time and time again...
At the Lola... Lola Gaspar...
Went with some friends on a friday night to check out the much yelp'ed Lola Gaspar. Had some trouble finding it as it is a bit off the beaten path...once there we saw the place was packed! Got a table for four pretty quickly but it was hot inside!
Ordered up some drinks from their beverage list all of which was ok, nothing special. Then came the much talked about duck confit fries - yuck. I must not have a sophisticated palette because there was nothing good about this. It was cold and just plain tasteless. We ordered pretty much every item on the menu and I found the only items worth writing about was the dates with blue cheese and the flatbreads as good picks. Everything else was forgettable...
Lola Gaspar could be a fun place to hang out if you are close by, but I don't expect to return. It was a "Been there, done that" type of spot. Of which, my friends and I left Lola's to have a more fulfilling dining experience at another restaurant....
When art met food...that's when Lola Gaspar decided to approach the narrow and romantic streets of the artistic village in Santa Ana.
Located in the heart of Santa Ana on a pedestrian road, Lola Gaspar appears as an innocent and average eatery at the inexperienced eye.
As a matter of fact the decor of the restaurant is indeed just like another exotic and eclectic venue from which you can only expect another version of fusion; well you would be very wrong.
Despite its modern first impression, this restaurants still manages to spread out a very warm and Mediterranean vibe to the guests, just as soon as you cross the door that separates the outside world made of mediocre restaurants from the culinary "sublime-ness" that you are about to experience.
The service, at least the pace of it, to be extremely honest, is not the best; even though the waitress that served us was incredibly polite and knowledgeable, she still was only one, which in my opinion was not enough.
Now moving to my favourite part: the FOOD; so lets talk some food!
We tried the street tacos with marinated carne asada and they were absolutely delicious. You could taste the jalapenos and achiote giving the meat a spicy yet sensual flavour and the roasted red salsa was just the crown on such a wonderful dish. Then we also tried the roasted vegetables and fontina cheese flat bread and I have to say that in its simplicity, this dish was incredibly balanced, thought and displayed. It was the way to make out of a regular sandwich, a culinary masterpiece.
All this was accompanied by a tremendous sangria with an original passion fruit flavour, that topped it all.
The price is fair if not too cheap, considering the high quality of the food that is served in this venue.
All in all it's a great place with a romantic touch, where you can enjoy great food and a very pleasant atmosphere...100% recommended.
Art on a plate!
I've had Lola Gaspar bookmarked forever and a day. When some co-workers and I needed a place to have a celebratory dinner, one of them recommended Lola Gaspar - and I jumped all over it.
One thing is for sure - people were right about needing to wait. We got there and waited pretty much 20-25 minutes before ordering. To be fair, not the waitresses fault. I think she was the only server there on a Wednesday night. But thumbs down to the scheduler for under-staffing. I will say that once we got our orders in, food came rather quickly.
On to the important stuff. We ordered so much food it was ridiculous. But we were hungry.
--Roasted vegetable flatbread. Pretty darned good. It got kinda soggy, but otherwise it was good.
--Chille relleno. Easily one of my favorites. Stuffed with mozarella and goat cheese, and topped with dried cranberries (strange, I know, but FABULOUS!). I think the kicker for me was the yummy habanero sauce it was served with (ask for it on the side, so you can control the heat, because it could easily become overwhelming).
--Mac and cheese. Pretty good, but then again I'm a sucker for the baked variety with bread crumb topping. Brings childhood back to me.
--Sausage sandwich. This had a different name I can't remember (sorry) but I really liked this one. Carmelized onions and juicy sausage. Served with super good fries.
--Calamari. Some people were scared of it because it wasn't breaded and fried like many people are used to. But super flavorful. A must if you're not scared of squid. ;)
--Tacos. We got I think every kind possible. Chicken, carnitas, carne asada, veggie and duck. I tasted carnitas, veggie and duck - and suprisingly veggie was my favorite. I love mushrooms and they were fabulously seasoned. The tacos came with tons of salsas, sauces and toppings.
--Banana bread pudding. Pretty good. My only comment would be that it wasn't soaked right....too much dry bread remained. But don't attempt if you're already full (which we were). Bread pudding is definatly not a light dessert.
I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I think that's most of it. We were all stuffed and only spent about $30 per person. Not so bad at all. Just don't go when you're in a hurry. Be ready to spend some time. Relax.
My only regret - I was kinda sick and on a steady flow of Robitussin, so couldn't try their sangrias. Oh well - a reason to return.
Lola Gaspar - I'll be back.
My first couple of visits here probably merited 5-stars, but Lola Gaspar has come back down a bit, mostly due to the hit-or-miss service. I love the ambiance, especially the interesting large-format paintings hung on the dark wooden walls. I still like their take on tapas and shareable food - I'd order the delicious duck confit fries any day. That combination of salty/crispy fries with the earthy but not-too-gamey flavor of the duck, plus the salsa verde and crema fresca on top is the clear standout on the menu. They also used to offer roasted duck tacos, but they're no longer available.
One of the pluses of Lola is that their kitchen is open late, 'til nearly last call. But you could have yourself an enjoyable evening here just enjoying the atmosphere - aided by drinks of course. As Dave G. stated in a recent review, their sangria is like a PG-13 version of wine. I think he was talking about sangria in general, but I've had much stiffer (don't say it, it's NOT what she said) versions of sangria. (In fact, I make a pretty mean sangria myself. No, really. I will prove it to you upon being challenged.) Anyway, the sangria I had at my last visit to Lola was not even PG-13, it seemed even more watered down. It was like Jesus turned water into this wine but forgot to convert the alcohol. Hey, get off His back though, I hear He's busy dying for your sins, you no-good sinning jerkface. The other cocktails are mighty tasty though, so don't hesitate to try them out.
All in all it usually adds up to a great time in a relaxing environment. Like I briefly alluded to, the service can be inconsistent; at times they can be real attentive, and other visits, we've waited lengthy amounts for drink orders/food orders/getting the check, etc. If you remain patient, it shouldn't be too much of a detriment to a positive experience.
It never fails. Ask the bartender or waitress on what to drink and they will boast about their allegorical ambrosia. Sangria.
Perhaps my expectations are headed in the wrong direction, but how can one get so excited about sangria? It's a PG-13 version of wine...with chunks of fruit wading around in the glass. Imagine buying a Hustler magazine and discovering that Hello Kitty stickers have been placed all over the money shots. That's what Sangria is.
Don't get me wrong. Their sangria does, in fact, taste good. However, much like its fancy sibling--the mimosa, it's more titular suiting as a breakfast or lunch beverage. I'd anticipate that sangria would go well with a bowl of cereal or a stack of hotcakes. Mmmm.
Asides from the sangria, Lola Gaspar doesn't disappoint with the atmosphere. I particularly like the bar tables nestled within the windowside nooks. With the conserved lighting emanating from behind the bar, it's a nice and cozy environment for conversing while still providing a tinted view of the outside.
The patio area isn't something I'm too fond of since you are still within earshot of the modern day thespians squatting on nearby benches trying to express their artistic qualities by half-assedly playing their guitars. Sorry, I'm just a guitar snob when it comes to people playing in the public.
This place is as good as it gets! The food is delicious, the staff is very welcoming, and the ambiance is great! Lola Gaspar is situated in a really cute artsy area in downtown Santa Ana.
The constantly changing menu consists of delectable treats! Even something that sounds simple like the warm tortilla with butter is absolutely mouth watering. I recommend the Monte Cristo and any of their tacos!
The only thing that is slighty a negative is that they constantly change their menu - so if I want to go back and have something I already had it might not be there :( butt it's okay - because seriously - you can't go wrong with anything on the menu!
I always leave Lola Gaspar extremely satisfied! And I guarantee that you will too!
Trendy place.
Cool atmosphere.
Good service.
Good food.
Late night specials on food is a plus.
I cannot get enough of Lola Gaspar.
Love the intimacy of the place. It a perfect date spot or a place where you can catch up with a gf.
I always start off my meal with their tasty sangria. My absolute favorite item on their menu is the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with blue- cheese. nom nom nom
I love all of their tacos but the best one is the potato and mushroom. Let's not forget their infamous habanero salsa. In Rachel Zoe's words, "I die!"
Met a gf up for drinks last night and so happy that we came to Lola Gaspar. I love the fact that… Read more »
I really wanted to like this place, as a matter of fact, I was ready to be in love with this place. But in the end, I was quite disappointed with the food, and the same goes for my party of ten. We came on a Friday night and it was packed! The service was however good because our waitress was very accommodating and maintained a smile on her face the entire night; but it was just a tad bit on the slow side since there were only two girls working the floor. Now on with the sad stuff...
-Gaspar Steak and Cheese $8 - tasted just like a Grilled Stuffed Burrito from Taco Bell; not the one with ground beef but the one with carne asada steak.
-Duck Confit Fries $8 - It was freakin' cold! (Was it sitting on the counter until somebody remembered to bring it out?!) Save the extra three dollars and get Carne Asada Fries from the Mexican Stand instead.
-Bleu Cheese Stuffed Dates $8 - This was decent, but the boyfriend loved it. To me, it's something I can totally make since all it is, is bleu cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.
I don't know if we came on an off-day or something but I was not satisfied with the Tapas at all (and BTW, their selection is VERY small). But I do however think that the venue is very cute and trendy with dim lighting, awesome wall art, and charming food presentation; but not so much with its surrounding area since it was dark and dead looking, well aside from the Christmas lit trees they have out front.
Oh, Lola, where have you been all my life? Why didn't I know about this place before?
I had a lovely food and drink experience here. I absolutely adored the violet gang martini. Where can I buy cucumber vodka?
We also had the calamari, petite rib eye with sweet potato mash and green beans (chimi churi sauce was a bit acidic for my taste), and the blackened fish tacos.
The service was on point; every time I turned around, my water was filled or something unnecessary was taken from the table.
I would love to have given it 5 stars, but as a non-pork consumer, I wished there were more non-pork and/or seafood dishes. (Yes, I know it's Spanish style!) I will definitely return!
If you are looking for pricey, a little bit above average tasting food, served to you by smokin' hot and friendly waitresses in a hip and relaxing environment, then this is your spot. 3.5 Stars
This fun, unpretentious restaurant is located in a great spot in Downtown Santa Ana's Artist Village. It is right next to Memphis, across from the Gypsy Den, steps from Proof Bar and just down the street from the Crosby and Original Mikes. You pretty much have to know it is here to find it, as there are no signs outside with Lola Gaspar. It is not even on the directory outside. This restaurant is a little unique as the entrance is through the outside patio.
The friends I was meeting were running late, so I kicked it out front by the Gypsy Den for a bit. Many people were just jamming away with their guitars. I think they were preparing for their performance that night at the Gypsy Den. I know in the past, the Orange County Music Awards would hold competitions at the Gypsy Den.
I also had the pleasure of listening to a metal head jam away on his electric guitar hooked up to his amp. At first I did not know what he was playing and singing, but it was pretty cool sounding. And more and more metal head looking dudes came out and gathered around us. All of them started to sing along. I was the only person that did not know the words but was still accepted by this group. At the end, someone yelled, "Pink Floyd" And that would be the reason I did not know the lyrics. I've seen the famous Dark Side of the Moon TShirts and know that there are several different versions of The Wall. That is the extent of my knowledge of Pink Floyd.
So my buddy and his coworkers finally arrived and we decided to dine outside. Our waitress was very good. She was fun and playful and started out us with some drinks. We all had a Lower East Side. It was kind of tasty and I think it is some form of a mojito. My buddy didn't care too much for it as he only drank 1/4 of it, while the rest of us had two each. I told him he was just a snobby Upper West Side kind of guy.
We also ordered the Duck Confit Fries to share and each one of us had the burger. The fries were covered with a green and white sauce. It was quite a unique experience to have duck with fries, but I have to say it was pretty tasty. The burgers are something I recommend people pass on. It was just okay and at $10 for something so small, it was not worth it. When the bun dwarfs the meat, you know you are going to be still hungry.
I really like the vibe at this place and would come back again. The friendly service and the chill atmosphere is enough to bring me back even tho I think the food is only a little bit above average tasting and kind of pricey. Good dining experiences to me are not always about having fantastic food. In this case, it is about hangin' with friends in a place that you are comfortable at and being taken care of by some beautiful friendly ladies.
How is it that I was raised in Santa Ana, but barely get to this as the152nd reviewer? Right...because I don't own bullet proof vests and metal helmets. Well my friends, do not be a fool like me and set aside any ignorant thoughts you might have about Santa Ana.
Cliff Notes:
Food- 4 Stars
Atmosphere- 4.5 Stars
Drinks- 3 Stars
Service- 4 Stars
Would I return? Yes!!!
Highlights:
Duck Fries--5 Stars $8
Bacon wrapped Dates-- 4 Stars $8
Banana Bread Pudding-- 4 Stars $5
Gaspar Steak and Cheese-- 4 Stars $8
Not so memorable:
Tacos (Carne and Duck) 3 Stars (3 for $7-8)
Flatbread (Vegetarian and Chorizo) --3 Stars $10 each
Do not order:
Calamari-- 2 Stars $8?
Things that might have not been said:
The Gaspar Steak and Cheese is messy, a little oily---but heavenly due to all the flavor and fried tortilla. It's like a *pimp-my-chimichanga* type dish, not necessarily for the sophisticated, but rather for the *extra flavor* enthusiasts.
The tacos--big disappointment. I'd suggest that Lola premake the tacos, rather than having the patron do it themselves---you know, fool us a bit by drenching it with the sauces/condiments provided to conceal the dry taste of the meat.
Calamari-- wreaked of seafood odor/taste.
Altogether, Lola's is located in Artist Village, a cute yet very small section of downtown Santa Ana. No joke, but I forgot that I was in Santa Ana...as it felt more like Old Town Pasadena. It's perfect for food and drinks with your buddies, and for a night where you don't want to feel like a loser home-body or a hot drunken mess. This is a very well rounded spot, with the duck fries tantalizing enough to make me return.
Delish!!! The atmosphere was nice and unique and they had marinated Sangria, which is hard to find! We went there for lunch and it turned out to be a good place to eat.
The place was decorated somewhat gothic and trendy at the same time... I don't know how you mix that but they managed to pull it off. I wouldn't consider it tapas in the general sense because portions were big, like lunch size portions to me which is different than most tapas bars I've been to. Good place though.
BEST MEAL I have had in a LONG time. The food is creative and artful. This is the type of restaurant you hardly find outside of NYC or San Fransisco. We had the braised carnitas tacos, the baked mac and cheese with mushrooms, and the duck confit fries. ALL three of these dishes tasted so good it made my toes curl. The waitress offered some additional salsa/sauces to go with the tacos, we said "bring em all" and she did. Each one was soooo good, but the one that made me die and go to heaven was the creamy hananero sauce. I literally wanted to drink it. The mac and cheese was bubbly and brown on top, and ooey gooey and REALLY flavorful. Had a little kick from the spicy jack cheese. yummmmmm. The duck confit fries were divinity. I couldn't do it justice with my words. Just try this dish. We had the sangria, and it was great too. Home-run. Lastly, we had the peach cobbler. OMG. Home made love to the max. All this for under 50 buckaroos. The ambiance is perfect, and the service was fast and friendly.
Good food, nice people, but slow service.... :(
Only been there once.. willing to try again, but will be prepared for the slowness.
Their sangria was yummy. Loved the flatbread (both the one with meat and just veggie). The tacos (fish and duck) were only so-so. The duck confit fries were crispy, but I was a little disappointed by the duck confit topping. Other dishes were not bad. Keep in mind servings are small.
I've had Lola Gaspar bookmarked for well over a year. It was date night a Friday night a few weeks back and we decided to go through my bookmarks and try something new.
Lola Gaspar stood out by far and we ventured out. For a fun area (Santa Ana Artist Village), it sure was dead. I happened to run into Pauline L. and her party--thank goodness, because I don't think we would have found the restaurant
We were seated right away and ordered a round of sangrias. Looked through the menu and since everything seemed rather interesting--we opted for another round of drinks. Beer for him, sparkling peach cocktail for me. Drinks so far were quite tasty!
After quite some time, we settled on a few dishes: warm tortillas and butter, chorizo flat bread, salmon and brussel sprouts, and carne asada and carnitas street tacos.
Overall--the food was good. Everything was tender and full of flavor. The salmon was especially good--I even enjoyed the Brussel Sprouts. While the carnitas were very good, I don't think it's worth the price. I really don't have anything to complain about--it was all very good and enjoyable. I think maybe I just overhyped the place a bit in my head.
That said--I was kinda bummed they only had bread pudding for dessert. To be honest, i'm not too picky in that department...and a creme brulee or flan really would have hit the spot.
I'm still going to give this place 4 stars--not soley on food, but just on the overall experience you can have here. It's really a great place to take a date--have some wine and order a few appetizers. Great gothic design and great music.
We think this is the best kept secret in Orange County. I really think that Lola is a great example of what is going right in downtown Santa Ana.
Every week we can depend on great food and drinks. The potato tacos are excellent and the french fries are one of a kind. You cant go wrong here because its Tapas style. The house made salsas are always a surprise. Andy is always friendly, helpful and makes a very good drink! The service is usually great and attentive.
Lola is always evolving and changing. Items are added and changed which always leaves you with a unique experience. I have not had the best of luck with the Sunday Brunch and recommend that first time visitors stick to a dinner service.
I've heard so many good things about this place, and I was really excited to try it! My friend and I got all dolled up and headed out for a night In Santana.
We got to Lola and grabbed a seat inside. We each ordered a drink (sangria for me...yum yum!), and that came right away...then we decided to share a flatbread. A little while after ordering (I would say around the time I would expect the flatbread to have arrived), we decided we were hot and wanted to move outside. We asked our server if it was okay for us to move, and then showed her where we were going to be sitting.
We kept sipping away on our drinks...but no flatbread. Like 10 min or so later I saw our server walk by us and get an "oh shit" look on her face. She ran up to us and told us the flatbread would be right out.
So, we kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
Honestly, it took us about 45 minutes to get that dang flatbread. I'm not even kidding. I think they had a goat in back they were milking, and then someone was hand-churning that shit into cheese. I have no idea why it took so long, because she told us several times it was on its way, and when we got it, there was really nothing about it that should take more than about 15 min to cook. SO WEIRD.
The flatbread was totally yum, and the drinks were totally yum, and I like to think that this ridiculously long wait for food (which the manager kindly comped...thanks, manager!) was a total fluke. It had a fun vibe, and I can see why people say good things about it. I'll have to give it another try soon and hope for a better food experience.
After reading all of the rave reviews, I had high expectations for Lola Gaspar. My experience wasn't great, it wasn't bad, it just...was.
We were seated quickly but had to pick up our own menus which was no big deal since they were right at the front entry.
It took a while for someone to come around to take our drink order and when the drinks came out, they forgot my lemon. Ok, not a big deal either.
Then we waited. And waited.
Doot doot...
Then the waitress came back and took our order. She was really nice, but I guess they were pretty busy so she seemed a little rushed. Anyway, we ordered the duck confit fries and the bleu cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.
The duck confit fries were somewhat underwhelming. I could taste the duck, but it was mostly obscured by the green sauce they liberally poured on top. Don't get me wrong, the sauce was good. The dish was good. I just feel like if you call it duck confit fries, the standout flavors should be duck and fries, not green sauce and fries.
The dates however, were absolutely incredible. The date was perfectly complemented by the creamy cheese and the sweet, smokey bacon. Then again, what doesn't taste better stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon? However, $8 bucks for 5 dates? I could make like 20 of them at home! Well maybe not, but you get the idea.
Overall, I'm torn! I really want to like this place if only because the environment is so cute, but our food wasn't as standout as I had expected. I might have to try a few other things (including that banana bread pudding) but for now, I'm sticking with 3 stars.
Like everything in life, trends are exposed and disposed everyday. The life cycles of just about everything we know and hold dear are well... indeterminate at best; Left to the main street media fate of popularity and accessibility. But perhaps a "generational" relationship exists which helps define these trends and contributes to a better understanding as to their beginnings and their ends.
As the man who paints the lines on astroturf says... "I digress".
Lola Gaspar is a popular restaurant which inhibits edgy, rage against corporate, artsy, free spirited, hipster like traits. Unfortunately, their product waivers from the very same foundation, born from sweat and attrition of an underground movement, it tries so very hard to be.
Reminisced of an age old adage titled "The emperor has no clothes" by Hans Christian Anderson which, in short, describes an omnipotent fear mongering emperor persuaded by a gypsy seamstress to stitch the most beautiful clothes in the world which would make him loved by all. In the end, the seamstress didn't make anything but presented this invisible set of clothes as something material. The emperor felt so powerless because he couldn't see these invisible clothes so he pretended they existed; out of fear of death all his servants and towns people also agreed the non-existing clothes existed and were beautiful. It wasn't until, at a town-hall-meeting, a little boy no older than seven pointed to the emperor and yelled "the emperor is naked!" the whole town at that point agreed - "the emperor has no clothes".
Let me express that I'm not a mensch or even the seven year old boy. I'm not that vein [trust me]. However, the moral of the adage above, while rudimentary as it is, (IMO) parallels life in that popularity can become a self-fulfilling prophecy simply on the belief that something exhibits more ebullience than what actually exists. Getting back to Lola Gaspar, it exceeds on a visual level in every possible way but is weak in adhering to the principled roots *others* have paved before it.
Pabst Blue Ribbon (pbr) is a horrendous beer by itself; the addition of an orange juice sidecar does not make it more appealing nor taste any better. It only makes it ghetto. Life is too short to drink bad beer or anything for that matter. Amazing micro brewers have been discovered in recent years by this hipster movement why not showcase this quality to at least meet the quality you want to be remembered for. Russian River, Ballast Point, Bear Republic, Stone, etc... (Father's Office?)
My Gaspar order:
Duck confit french fries ($8) - The fries were okay. The rich flavor in the duck was lacking. The salsa verde was the keystone of this dish however.
Calamari a la plancha ($9) - sounds amazing but the ocean flavor of the calamari was missing. I'm sure this had a lot to do with the processed calamari steak that was used. (imo) baby octopus or fresh squid would have kicked it up. The stewed tomatoes and heaps of garlic tasted good and hit the mark.
Steak and Cheese ($8) - why? This was no different than an oil-dripping fried Alejandro steak burrito accompanied with colorful chips. The steak was ground too which left not much to be desired. Yes, for $4 at 3am it would be damn good.
I think every item was topped with grilled onions; while good, it doesn't make it hip or imaginative. In-N-Out has been doing it for years. Furthermore, it must be noted that Lola Gaspar's prices appear very affordable for a restaurant. However, for tapas of this size it would take at least two to fill up the average size person. Two tapas and two drinks will bring the tab to $30+pp.
Mint cocktail - A mojito with less acid. It was different, but for me, I've had better (Habana comes to mind).
Cucumber cocktail - I'm a fan of drinks that contain more of the unorthodox ingredients like basil, sage, rosemary, jalapenos, and cucumbers. I liked this refreshing cocktail and would order again.
Kentucky Bourbon - To finish off the meal I would have rather paid more for some decent scotch or even Jack (no other selections though).
The artsy hip movement was spawned through risk taking and an immense imagination. Lola Gaspar riding on the coat-tails of this movement provided neither; However, not all is lost, potential obviously exists. But please don't sell me an over-infatuated idea... sell me on quality and I will happily pay.
Lola Gaspar placates to those looking for a nice ambiance, good service, place to drink. I just happen to be looking for more. I hope to come back and be proven wrong!
2.5 stars
I've been dyingggg to try out Lola's.. literally.. DYING!! The food sounded so amazing.. duck tacos and fries?! Amazingly delicious drinks? all with Happy Hour prices? sounded like a perfect late night dinner date.
Unfortunately, you get your choice of either Happy Hour ($3 Margaritas) from 3-6:30pm OR the late night taco plate special ($5 for 3 street tacos). Since I don't usually drink until the sun comes down, we came for their late night special.. and don't be fooled. Their closing hour depends on the crowd and how busy it gets, not necessarily 2am.. so we got denied at 11:45ish one night since they were closing up.. call ahead!
Our order consisted of the Carne Asada tacos, Carnitas tacos, Duck Confit Fries, and a Grapefruit Margarita. The verdict:
The tacos are fresh and accompanied by fresh sides: onions, cilantro, salsa, and jalapenos. Truth is, you can find more authentic AND cheaper tacos on a regular basis down the street at Taqueria Tapatia or Taqueria de Anda for about a buck each. This is Santa Ana...
Our Duck Confit Fries came out cold.. and drenched with sauce. It reminded us of Carne Asada fries.. but a way smaller portion with a heavier price tag ($8). Again, Taqueria Tapatia makes amazing carne asada fries.. good enough for 4 people, piping hot and fresh, for $7.
Sadly I wanted to enjoy my Grapefruit Margarita but I think I've been spoiled by Javier's Margaritas. They're the first I've ever had.. and they were pretty damn tasty. Since then I haven't been able to find anything nearly as good. :\ They were just okay, wouldn't order it again :(
I agree, the feel of the place is super seductive, dimly lit with candles and dark interior... but IMO the food does not match how awesome the decor is. Maybe it was the hype? Maybe I just expected to be WOWed by it all.. but I don't find myself coming back in awhile. Sorry miss Lola.. being located in the same vicinity as authentic taquerias is taking away from your appeal.... change your location to Newport and maybe you have a shot?
This restaurant made our night!
It was an incredibly busy night as there was a Dia de los Muertos celebration in the village. They were out of 2 of the 3 dishes we originally ordered and once we ordered, our food took a really long time to come out. However, our waitress, Kerri, was really great and kept checking in with us about the delay. What made this place shine, in terms of service, was that the manager came over and apologized for the long wait AND told us he would take care of our bill.
I love tapas because of the variety of tastes in one meal. While this place isn't an authentic Spanish tapas bar, they do have tasty dishes. The bacon wrapped & bleu cheese-stuffed dates are heavenly and the duck confit fries are absolutely delicious. We also had the Gaspar steak & cheese wrapped in tortillas and served with chips, which was yummy and filling (unusually large portions for tapas). Bummed we didn't get to try their baked mac-n-cheese or the Choripan Brazilian sausage.
To drink I had their sangria-- it's pretty good, especially since it seems like they marinate the fruit-- and a couple beers (okay selection, but really $5 for pbr?! even if it is draft). Curious about their cocktail, The Gentlemen, which is a pint of PBR and a shot of bourbon.
Overall, great service, delicious food, and a cozy atmosphere. Definitely will come back to try their other dishes.
It's been a while since I yelped so I need to write down what I ate here before I forget!! Came here about 2 months ago after hearing Christina S.' nonstop raves about it!
Stupid GPS made me lost but we ended up finding our way ok. Got there right around 5:30pm so there was no wait :). My friend and I shared chicken tacos, duck fries, and flat bread pizza (AH, i forgot what kind). All 3 dishes were deeelish! I love the little holder thingy that the tacos come in...so cute and creative! Duck fries were interesting but so good, and same with the pizza! I remember it having sauage on it...maybe it was chorizo??? I'm not sure. My friend had the salmon dish for the main, and I had steak and fries. Main dishes were good but I'd recommend just getting a ton of appetizers and sharing.
I know we had dessert too but I can't remember...=( sowwie
Our total came out to $60 (i think) with 3 appetizers, two main dishes, a drink, and dessert! awesome deal!
We also had a nice time admiring the interesting (and kind of creepy) art hanging on the walls.
The place is a little hard to find...all I know is I didn't not see any sign that said LOLA GASPAR, so good luck friends
3.5 stars. was good, but pricey for the small portions of food. Good drinks, seems like a place to hit up for drinking more than munching. Awesome decor, dark, hipster feel, beautiful chandeliers.
Had the duck confit french fries ($8). yummy. The duck was tasty, but there was a lot of spicy salsa on there, kinda burned my tongue to eat, but overall a great dish. The fries did get a bit soggy toward the middle of the dish though. Also tried the calamari a la plancha ($9), it's not breaded and fried, but was still really tasty. I liked that dish. It was weird though because the stuff on top was like ice cold, but toward the bottom it was piping hot. I don't know if it was supposed to be hot and something was wrong? or if it was supposed to be cold and the grilled tomatoes and onions on the bottom just heated it up? Both these dishes were pretty small too.
I had a gang violet martini ($8), it was pretty good; vodka, pomegranate juice, cucumber juice and a lime floating around in it. If I was out just to drink I'd have been awesome with it, but it went with *nothing* that I ate. I actually had to keep clearing the taste out of my mouth with water because it was making my food taste so wrong.
We also got some tacos after 10pm at $5 each (includes all but the duck taco). We got the blackened fish and the carnitas ones. The fish was pretty bland/flavorless. The one fish taco I ate had its tortilla falling apart too, like it had been cut down the middle or something. very messy. The carnitas tacos were tasty, very moist and pulled apart goodness. The flavor was a little weird for carnitas though, it was kinda sweet like they had cooked it with brown sugar or maple syrup or something. I liked how they have a side plate full of your fixings for you; cabbage, red onion, cilantro, red and green sauce. The red sauce was decidedly weak but did have a great tomato flavor. Tacos were street taco sized, maybe slightly smaller.
Overall the food was pretty good, our waitress was really attentive, but it's just pricey for the small portions. If I hadn't been munching on food from the fair all day I would have left this place hungry. Our bill was over $50 after tax and tip.
Lola!! Lola!! Lola!!
What hasn't been said about you by 140 other people? Not much but I'll still add my two very long and wordy cents about Ms. Gaspar.
Located in the beautiful Artists Village in downtown Santa Ana, this place is a charmer. It would a great place to take a date or to have a laid back meal. With outside seating, people watching and taking in the nice weather are options too.
After wanting to go here for the longest time, I've been here on two different occasions in the past six weeks. So what did I order?
------------
1st Visit with a Group of 6
Had the calamari as a starter and it was good but it didn't stand out from other calamari dishes I've had.
I'm Asian so I love duck and never had the opportunity to eat duck tacos. My group got two orders so everyone could have one. It was what I thought it would be. They were really good but what was better was the habanero salsa served with them. Pretty damn spicy.
The duck confit fries were a fresh twist on fries for me. Of all the times I've eaten duck, I never thought to eat them with fries. But maybe I will now because I am a believer. Very tasty.
I got grilled salmon as my entree. The salmon smelled great and had wonderful flavors with the chimmichurri. It was very flavorful. The roasted vegetables were a savory complement to the salmon.
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2nd Visit with My College Buddy
After eating much from the menu the last time around, I asked the waitress for a recommendation. She said the dates. I was skeptical at first because I rarely eat dates. But it was an intriguing combination at Lola's. They were stuffed with bleu cheese and wrapped with bacon. Good call by the waitress because it was AMAZING.
I also got the steak with Moroccan butter. The steak was perfectly cooked how I wanted it and they were served with tasty fries. But the highlight of this dish is the Moroccan butter on the steak. Fly me to Marrakech! I'm gonna bring back some butter.
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Yes, what LL Cool J is to the ladies is what I am to LG's menu. We get around. One thing I can certainly vouch for is how damn good their sangria is. Got a pitcher of it for the first visit and a glass the second. I must say that its a perfect drink to have during the summer.
After a couple trips, I've been thinking to myself:
WHY THE HELL DIDN"T I COME HERE SOONER?
I read reviews from friends and others about this place. I looked at the photos. I live nearby. It's always what's hot on Yelp. But I guess, all that matters now is that I've tried it.
And that I love it.
Dear Lola Gaspar,
Thank you for opening your doors and for serving tasty and imaginative food at practical prices.
Your organic mixed green salad with goat cheese, red grapes, and sherry mustard vinaigrette was astounding. It was well worth the 7 dollars that I paid for it and, honestly, I would have paid more. The textures and flavors were used flawlessly and will be cherished in my palate eternally.
After I sadly finished every bite of the salad I moved on to the salsa flight for 3 dollars. The salsa flight is a trio of seasonal salsas served with tri-colored tortilla chips. I'm ashamed to admit this was the first time I had tried green salsa. Lola, I apologize but please forgive me. I'm from the Midwest and grew up on meat and potatoes. With that said, thank god for green salsa. I can't believe I have lived 24 years without it. To make up for lost time I plan on incorporating green salsa into my daily life. Ok, daily is pushing it but I will absolutely be enjoying it more often. The less spicy red salsa was also worth mentioning. While I'd like to say I consumed every drop of the habanero salsa and it didn't even phase me, that's just not the case. Habanero is far too spicy for my kindergarten spice-level palate. That's why the other red salsa really did it for me. I was left with a delightful burning sensation in my mouth and I just wanted more!
Now on to the duck confit french fries - pulled duck meat with queso fresco, salsa verde and crema fresca for 8 dollars. This was my "it's me, not you" moment in the meal. I only enjoy duck when it's prepared in certain ways. I typically like it crispy. This just didn't do it for me. But again, it wasn't the duck, or you, Lola, it was me.
We ended the meal with the Gaspar steak & cheese wrapped in a grilled tortilla with pepper jack cheese and caramelized onions for 8 dollars. What a way to end the meal. The meat was tender, the cheese seeping out of the tortilla. Ahh, the tortilla, the tortilla was warm and soft. Simply delightful.
I washed down my meal with the El Ganador Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina for only 8 dollars a glass. It was ripe and smooth going down.
Thank you again for your hospitality, Lola. The charming ambiance paired with the utmost quality of food and friendly service made me walk away one very smitten costumer.
All my best,
Mary Hulett
I've only been here twice, but every time I've went I have been pretty impressed. Granted, every time I go the restaurant is virtually empty and there are 3-4 people waiting on us (service then is still slow, but kitchen service) but it's nice. On to the food!
Duck Confit Fries - Meh. If it were me, I'd have doused them in more salsa. More salsa! Salsa and fries! The duck was on the dry side, but the dish as a whole was yummy.
Cheese Plate - I'm a cheese fanatic, so naturally this was my favorite plate (it's not on the fall menu =(). We got three types of cheese, crostini, some honey, grapes. It's cheese, what else can you say? Damn good cheese, I might add. Manchego!
Chorizo Flatbread - I like the smell of goat cheese, but I don't like the texture. Just feels like goat cheese needs to be... baked. Voila, flatbread. It's delicious, I would think it's more of a pizza than a flatbread because it pretty much looks like a pizza witht he filings in the right spot, but we'll call it a flatbread. Scrumptious.
Only thing I don't like is the inability to make a reservation. And they're not fond of large groups so I wouldn't come here with more than 8 people, say, for a birthday dinner. Even so, this place is pretty awesome. We'll see if I get an experience different if I order something other than flatbread...
I've been hearing raves about this place pretty much since it opened so when I found myself in the area at lunch time I pretty much had no choice but to pop on by to check it out.
First off, I was a little taken aback by the almost gothic decor -- not sure what I was expecting and not saying it's a bad thing but certainly didn't feel like Santa Ana. It actually reminded me of a few tapas bars I'd been in when in Madrid a few years ago.
I ordered the carnitas tacos and the duck confit fries-- both were up to the raves I'd read. Of course, as always happens to me I had major dish envy when the dish my friend ordered got to the table -- the ribeye sandwich w/chimichurri sauce. She let me try a bite and oh my, was it delicious! The chimichurri sauce had the perfect little kick to it and the ribeye was cooked to perfection, and a really good cut with just the right amount of fat.
The service was good but our waitress was very softspoken so we had to ask her to repeat herself a couple of times. I found it a tad ironic considering she looked like she stepped out of an anime but regardless she did a good job of keeping us happy. :-)
All in all, a great experience and I'll definitely be back -- gotta try that bread pudding next time!
Two primary things I liked about Lola's:
First, I didn't get the pretentious vibe I often feel at places in artist/hip communities. I'm not trying to insult anybody on here, but that's just the feeling I tend to get at some places. Everyone seemed to know each other, but nobody was being cliquey and exclusive or anything. The waitress/bartender lady was super nice, always coming to check on us--making sure we had full glasses and food--without being annoying. Which brings me to my second point...
The food was really good! A friend and I split the potato-mushroom-something-else tacos and the warm tortillas. Just thinking about them is making me salivate! We had to get a few rounds of the tortillas before we left. They came with honey butter, but it wasn't the kind that's already mixed and whipped up. It was just butter with actual honey on top. Amazing! If you've ever gone to El Torito Grill just to get the hot tortillas you get when you sit down (like I have), you need to try these. Yum!
We went on a really warm night and sat outside on the patio. It was seriously so nice with the lit fountain nearby, except the overhanging tree was dropping shit in our food. Not a huge setback, though. We were hungry.
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