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Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
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Mmm, blood orange drinks, birthdays, and vegetarian substitutions. I have found my Mexican love (te amo)!
Been here twice and both were enjoyable and tasty; got the enchiladas with pan-seared tofu instead of the shrimp. Also got the mango chipotle chips and this is the real deal. Everything tastes fresh and clean -- the green sauce with the enchiladas is just sublime. Thinking about it makes me hungry.
Definitely my favorite BYO in town.
This is Marcie Turney's baby. Before 13th street became what it was, before El Vez piggy-backed its cuisine and all the fancy boutiques took residence here, Lolita began the revolution.
Lolita was in fact my first foray into the world of BYOBs when I moved to Philly in '03. So I have a soft spot for this place and though my experiences have vacillated between three and five stars throughout the years, I think Lolita is still definitely in my top ten list for BYOBs in the city.
First and foremost, byoT . Damn straight. Tequilla, say no more. Though the pitchers are price-y - the cocktails are tasty. Of course, you're not limited to bringing just that sweet devil liquor, but it's an option.
Food, again, consistent execution from the kitchen - with my fave (along with others, it seems - the carne asada) - Menu could stand to get a bit of reinvention, but otherwise, food is simply delicioso. Service here is decent, although depends on the server and always how busy the place is. Noise level is medium and lighting quite dark and they do take reservations (but not on Friday or Saturday) - and like other BYOBs, ugh, cash only.
This is part two of my four part restaurant week/birthday celebration. Delicious.
Last night, I went out with my man J Rashid for dinner. I ate outside again, which was nice, but it was a bit cooler than the it was at Audrey Claire. Lolita is a fancy Mexican inspired spot right in the Gayborhood. I've been wanting to check out this restaurant; it came high recommended. For some reason, my camera was freaking out, so I didn't get any good pictures of the food.
We ordered a tall pitcher of mint blood orange margarita. Our server mixed and poured the drink for us, and we added a little more tequila after she left. The margirita was great, and it lasted us the whole meal. Lime and Watermelon were also available. With the BYOT (Tequila) option, this is basically a must when dining here.
There were about six options for each course, and three desserts. Jonny had some salmon tostadas, while I had jack cheese filled corn cakes topped with brazed short ribs and guacamole. The meat on my was really fantastic, and overall my dish was well prepared, in presentation and taste. My appetizer was easily the apex of the meal.
Jonny main course was mahi-mahi with cumin chorizo. Again, he loved this. I went with pork short rib with sweet Mexican BBQ glaze and cornbread stuffing. The meat and glaze were good, but really, it was just BBQ pork. I could get this a million places. On top of that, the corn side dish was bland. Overall, the was a good dish, but my standards change depending on the quality I expect (and the price).
Overall, Jonny loved his meal. I'm sure he'll rave about this place. I make a note of that because I want to give contrast to my experience. I thought everything was good; nothing more. My dessert was a really nice tiramisu, and Jonny had some kind of milk biscuit/cookie concoction.
For service, Jonny had a really hard time with our server. She was a bit scattered, maybe overly friendly, but it didn't bother me. I probably wouldn't have even noticed if he hadn't commented. As for atmosphere, we were outside, so we didn't experience it much. Looking inside, it seemed like a normal spot, but a bit too packed and loud for my liking.
Bottom Line: Looking back over my review, I just keep saying things are "nice" and "good." Clearly, I'm not raving. There are so many people who will give Lolita high praise. I'm not one of them. Still, at the same time, it's in the upper echelon of food and Mexican spots in the city.
Went here with a friend, sat outside and had a faabulous BYOB time. The food was really good and the service was outstanding. great location too. I've sat inside before and even though its cramped and loud, the atmosphere is lively and bustling. yummy =]
I went here a few months ago with a friend. We were walking around the neighborhood looking for a place to eat. The BYOB we had wanted to go to had stopped seating, so we searched around for another restaurant and came across Lolita. We had a bottle of wine in hand, so we looked like idiots with all the BYOT people!
I had wanted to sit outside, but it was full, so we were seated at a teeny little table against the wall. The place was dark and very, very loud and I could barely hear him. If it had been a group of friends it probably would have not been a problem, but Lolita is not your place if you want an intimate dinner.
As far as the food goes, he got a steak/tenderloin that he absolutely loved. I got the shrimp enchiladas (which I don't believe are on the menu anymore) and they were pretty forgettable.
As far as the service goes, I wasn't impressed. The waiter was very busy, and since we were sandwiched against the wall and inches away from other tables, we got left by the wayside. They even had to reach over other people to give us our food.
Overall, I can't say I was impressed, but I would be willing to give it another chance (and try out those BYOT margaritas!)
The food at Lolita is indeed tasty, but I have to say that I felt a bit underwhelmed with the whole experience. With so many restaurants to choose from in this city, I see no need to pay for a swanky atmosphere and an artistic dinner. When I'm 90 and sucking my dinner through a straw, I'll have fond memories of what I ate, not what it looked like.
The BYOT deal is OK I guess. $10 seems a bit much for a pitcher of margarita mix, but at least I get to pour my own after the server is done adding a single shot to the whole thing.
Cash only.
Mmmmm, Lolita. Light of my life, fire of my loins...
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but I firmly believe the first paragraph of Lolita is one of the most magical things ever written and just wanted to share that. Anyway, on with the review!
I went to Lolita for the second time last weekend with my boyfriend to meet his parents. This is the sort of event that normally sends me into a nervous fit, but I kept my cool most of the day because I was so freaking excited to eat here! Whether you want to call it Mexican or neo Mexican or Mexican influenced American, I don't care. The food is seriously yummy. We split some guacamole and fundido for an appetizer. I would have eaten the guac with a spoon, but I was trying to make a good impression. They all loved the fundido. We also got a pitcher of blood orange margarita. Boyfriend had the waitress bring me a glass with sugar and poured me some before adding tequila. He said it would go really well with my meal. At first I though a virgin margarita was kind of silly, but he was right. Delicious. It was such a good compliment to the spiciness of my salmon. Everybody loved their meals. The bittersweet chocolate pecan bread pudding I had for dessert was astoundingly good. The flourless chocolate cake Boyfriend got was irrationally dry (seriously, there's no flour, how is it dry?).
I would eat hear all the time if I could afford it, but I can't afford it. At all. Minus a star for price, Lolita. My sin, my soul...
Oh sweet nectar of the gods! The carne asada at Lolita's has become my new religion. I will definitely go back and be completely content to never order another thing off the menu. It will be carne asada from now until the day I can no longer get my lardy carne ass off the couch. Each visit, like the first, will be sure to include my signature goofy happy dance and a pitcher of margaritas. Life is not so hard after all.....
I'll just add my voice to the chrous of support for the BYOT idea. Get drunk here, it's cheaper than a bar, plus you get dinner.
Amazing, as a veggie (and with my non-veggie friends), Lolita is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia.
I wasn't sure what to expect from a Bring-your-own-Tequila joint in Center City. Pictures of a dirty hole-in-the-wall with amazing carnitas popped into my mind as we drove into the parking garage. What we found was the equivalent of a quality Parisian cafe in the heart of Philly, serving inspired Mexican food.
Parisian cafe? yup. The place was noisy, with no reservations on Fri & Sat. The tables are basic, with some outside. The service was very good. The food was very well executed, both attractive and delicious. And like the typical Parisian plate, each dish was accompanied by some amazing sauce and complimenting condiments.
We plopped down our bottle of Patron in the middle of the table and were greeted with four salt-rimmed glasses and a pitcher of virgin Blood Orange Margaritas, which quickly lost its virginity. That mixed very well with our appetizers. There was a melted cheese plate with chorizo and a bunch of yummy condiments like picked red onion (I think) which you spooned onto a freshly made corn tortilla; Gorditas which are little corn cakes with mushrooms and some yummy mexican stuff; and a little more standard guacamole, cilantro-chile salsa, and roasted-tomato salsa. For dinner my Lamb was grilled nicely and still very tender, served on a bed of corn masa. It reminded me that not too far away there were similar dishes served with polenta down in South Philly. I prefer the masa. The short ribs were even more tender, you could cut them with a fork; and they were served with a potato gratin that matched it well.
The flavors in all the dishes embraced us with pleasure - the plates had to be scraped cleaned before they were taken from us. There was hints of cilantro, oregano, and chile everywhere - but nothing was overpowering. After my dinner, my mouth was left with a comfortable flavor of garlic and a tiny bit of spice. I call it happy mouth.
Finally, the desserts rounded out the meal. Cheesecake with caramel sauce, chocolate bread pudding, and flourless chocolate cake. It was probably the cake that won that night - super moist matched with coconut macaroon topping and chile roasted spanish peanuts. Yum!
Note: they serve La Columbe coffee. That is also worth it.
Food: 5 -stars. I **will** come again.
cash-only. no reservations on Fri & Sat nights.
Good food, horrible personnel.
Last weekend I had a friend over from out of town, and we decided to go to Lolita's since I heard such great stories about this BYOTequila Mexican-style place.
We could only order a pitcher of margherita mix, and since it was only the two of us, this took us a while to finish. Too long I guess, according to the waiter, who, 5 minutes after we finished our foods (but obviously not yet our drinks) told us to leave because there was another group of people waiting to be seated for dinner. Sure, if there's another small table available where we can sit and finish our drinks. No reply. Then one girl from the waiting group came up to us, and also asked us to leave so they could sit there. Again, sure we would move to another table so you can sit here. Apparently there was no other table available, so the waiter crammed 8 people next to us, where there was only room for 6. They started complaining, loudly, to make us feel bad and leave. We didn't, cause there was still (good) margherita left. Then the one girl explicitly told us to our faces that we were so rude for not leaving, and letting them have the table to themselves. That did it. We chugged our margherita's and left.
I will never go here again. This was by far the most rude I've ever been treated as a paying customer .
5 star food, 3 star cost.
Perks: So many options for vegetarians & meat/ fish lovers combined! Many dishes can be prepared with either tofu or a portabella mushroom - both were very tasty.
Pitfalls: Expect to pay upwards of $30 per person, it is VERY easy to meet the $18 per person minimum for dinner. Cash only.
Tips: BYOTequila for their pitchers of margaritas - look for seasonal flavors.
I made it to dessert (after intense weeks of stretching my stomach). The tiramisu.... you have to try it. It's a Latin-take on the traditional tiramisu, and it's AMAZING.
Lolita is Yum.
The prices are comparable, if not a teeny pricier, to many of the other BYOBs in the…
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We came to Lolita for a friends birthday. We ate outside on the patio. The service was just right not hovering.
We brought a bottle of 1800 Reposado from the Liquor store. I am new to Philly so I thought it was a DEAL for the BYOT. We all got tipsy for the low cost of $10 for the Margarita mix. - Fluid lemon/lime flavor, not just a sugary concoction.
Me and a friend slit the Borrega Borrega. Lamb is a tough meat to get right. That is why I appreciated the deep roasted lamb that made the MEAT PLIABLE AND THE MILD/SWEET SALSA that complemented but didn't dominate the meat.
I've never seen a place that is bring your own tequila. Loved the roasted duck breast here. I'm also a sucker for sweet plantains...nice and crispy on the outside. Also had a really nice and tender chile-tamarind pork chop with a smokey blackened corn salsa and interestingly, pickled watermelon rinds. It works. :) I am a fan.
Went to Lolita last night, after reading several good and some not-so-good reviews for the place. I like trying new places, so reviews won't discourage me but they are a good way to get a heads-up on a place before you go. I went with an open mind and was not disappointed. I had the carne special and it was fantastic. The beef was perfect medium rare, the mole was just spicy enough and the rice was cooked perfectly...Very impressed! I didn't try anyone else's dishes, but nobody complained. The chips, salsa and guacamole are good, too, but it wouldn't hurt to give more salsa and guacamole. The ambience is nice, the place is a little small but that's a nice change from big restaurants (maybe a little more lighting to see what you're eating). so that's the good stuff...great food! The blood-orange margaritas are fantastic as well.
The reviews I read about service lacking, however, are only half true. Our waitress was attentive, however there was kind of a snotty air about her, which I couldn't understand because no matter how you dress it up, it's still a mexican restaurant. She looked and sounded incredulous when I said we didn't want an appetizer, and just had an overall sense of I'm-better-than-you about her. It was a turn off, and a little disappointing considering everything else was great. In addition, I can understand a restaurant needing to make a profit, so the $18 minimum isn't so crazy because you'd spend that much anyway eating at a decent restaurant, but I've never seen that anywhere before, and I have to admit it's a little ridiculous to be REQUIRED to spend that much. People don't balk because of the amount, I don't think, but just the very existence of a minimum is strange and just doesn't help when you're trying to give a new restaurant a chance.
So overall, GO! Amazing food and drinks, be ready for a waitress with her nose in the air and a bill that's a bit higher than you'd imagine for mexican food.
this place would get 5 stars if it accepted credit/debit cards. what kind of establishment only takes cash?? lolita.
the food was excellent, as was the service. and while we still didn't have a cheap meal, the fact that we were able to bring our own tequilla saved us a lot of $$$.
and i loved that you could sub tofu or portobellos for select meaty dishes.
i will definitely return!!
Lovely. I was not so keen on the idea because I generally dont like margeritas and BYOT seemed to be the name of the game here, but was I mistaken... I may be a believer now. We got there early-ish on a Saturday, got seated right away despite the small size. Very cute spot with the exposed brick and soft lighting which to me made it cozy instead of cramped. . Our waiter was friendly and just attentive enough. I got the lamb as an entree, which was fantastic. Both me and my company did have one complaint, even though our waiter was both attentive and friendly, the other staff was not altogether friendly. I understand that it was busy but it takes one second to say you're welcome, and a smile says a lot. I'll be back, with tequila for more of those phenom margaritas
I wish I remembered exactly what it is I always get here.. But I do know this is a necessary stop for my dad whenever he's in town. He gets kind of annoyed that it's a BYO, but there's a state store right down the street for out of towners that don't come prepared.
I believe the dish I usually get the fillet tips, which may or may not still be on the menu since I remember getting the enchilada last time I went which was definitely 5/5.
The staff is extremely helpful and laid back, the perfect place to come with your date, a group of friends, or even your parents!
I can't believe it too me so long to visit Lolita. I've wanted to go since before I was old enough for BYOTequlia, and the husbands birthday this week was the perfect excuse. Its spectacular - amazing entrees (we got the beef tenderloin and the filet tips), and $10 pitchers of delicious margaritas (as long as you bring the T). Its a smallish spot, very tight, and quite dark. But the service was efficient, friendly, and fast. They've got some policies that I'm less of a fan off - they loathe taking reservations, and are cash only. But that aside, I'm a huge fan!
I've been here more than a few times and am never totally blown away by this place. I never go out of my way to eat here but when its suggested it sounds like a good option.
So here I was again with a few friends on a Saturday night- tequila in hand.. Unfortunately blood orange was not an option that night (it is super good), but the lime was decent. They were a little light with the tequila so we spiced it up a bit when the waiter left and were all quite pleased with the results. Not the best margaritas, but certainly tasty (Warning- you are charged for the drink mix).
We decided to do a tapas style dinner and basically ordered all of the appetizers. Stand outs included the carnitas tacos (absolutely delicious), the mushroom gordita (also delic) and the chicken tamale (i love tamales and this one was good). The calamari app was cooked well but I found the preparation too spicy with not enough flavor (surprisingly all you taste is spice). The guacamole was good- I liked the addition of jicama on top and they were great about chip refills. The salmon was ok. Small and nothing to write home about and we skipped the queso. For dessert we had the chocolate cake which was pretty good, although I didn't like the spiced peauts. Overall we had a great time and had a few really delicious apps. The restaurant is super loud so be prepared to yell.
The carne asada here is so perfect it makes its way into my dreams. I have a hard time ordering anything else here, though I have tried other people's dishes and it's all been amazing. Even dessert is great.
Bring your own tequila for some amazing margaritas - especially the Blood Orange margarita. When we were in college my friends and I used to go to El Azteca to BYOT but now we like to joke that Lolita is where we go now that we're "grown-ups." And apparently grown-ups eat much better food.
It's great for a group, great for a date, cash only and byob. If you like real Mexican food, Lolita is not to be missed.
Went here w/ a group of friends, everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. Steak was delicious, calamari appetizer - not so much. Classic margarita mix was good, I would say that (w/ byob tequila) the resulting drink was better than a lot of margaritas in the city. On the other hand, you are paying $10 for lime juice. Heard a lot of rave reviews about the restaurant before coming here. Afterward, not sure why it gets so much hype. But, overall it was a good experience.
Food: 4/5
Drinks: 5/5 (BYOB)
Service: 3.5/5
Decor: 3/5
Bang 4 the $: 3/5
Will come back: Yes
I love the BYOT(equila) but I hate how there is always a long wait (they don't take reservations)... So how have my friends and I coped? We take shots while waiting in line. Ladies and gents, it's a BYOT and in the summer/winter just plop on the bench outside and bottoms up until you're called, just be sure to save some tequila for your margarita pitcher (pretty sure it's not legal but we haven't been stopped yet!). Wait, I guess most people are not lushes, you can also leave them your cell and walk around until they call you about your table.
-Love the bloody orange margarita.
-Big fan of the Carne Asade and the grilled Mahi Mahi.
-Cash only.
-In warmer winters they have tables outside and you know all the kids across the street at El Vez are secretly jones-ing your spot.
Damn you Lolita! Your Queso Fundido has ruined me! It's all I can think about since I had it on Friday! Too delicious! Damn you!
2nd time at Lolita. 1st time having the Fundido (fondue en Espanol?).
The margarita mixers taste gorgeous. I am excited to learn they sell them at Grocery (owned by the same folks) so I can make them at home. And I love their fresh-tasting salsa, especially the verde (that means green, people) one.
At 8:30 on a Friday night the man with the clipboard told us it would be a 5-10 minute wait for our table for two. Sweet! 15 mins later I walked back in to 'check on our table status' and after 10 more min.s of awkwardly standing and waiting crammed against the front door, (only place to stand besides outside) they seated us. Yes it's loud and kind of cramped but we lucked out with one of the window seats. The man who waited on us was of few words but pleasant and was attentive but did not bug us - perfect.
I do not eat beef often. When I do, I try to make it the good stuff. I had the Carne Esada this time around and it was a beautiful piece of meat! I can understand the chef's desire to not want to overcook it. I would normally order a steak Medium but as per the reviews on here I ordered it Med Well, and it came out perfectly Medium. Thanks Yelpers. :)
The sauce was amazing and the little yucca potatoes were good but I felt like there could have been something else on the plate. Some veggies or something. Other than the delicious pickled onions on the fundido and the salsa, our entire meal was virtually veggie-less. Maybe next time I will order a side of something.
There are cheaper 'cuisiney' Mexican places in town but I feel that the quality of the food and service here is appropriate to the $$$. (Even if I may incur rehab costs to recover from the cheese-crack that is the fundido.)
Some of the best Mexican food in this City. The restaurant is very chic -- dark wood tables and modern lighting complement exposed brick walls and a tiled floor. Similarly, a fun and sophisticated bunch seem to be the restaurant's most frequent patrons.
As for the fare, the kitchen embraces simple ingredients, yet the food will speak to you with assertive flavors, textures and colors. Favorites include lobster and sea scallop ceviche, Morita-cumin grilled beef tenderloin, and guacamole with a mix of sweet potato, taro and blue corn chips.
Make sure you get the Flan for dessert it is YUMMMMMY!
I was here a few weeks ago. I was in search of a cool margarita on a hot night. My server (Megan? she had a tattoo?) was AMAZING. She was very attentive and accommodating. She even laughed at my lame joke about desperately needing patron!
Amazing service, even better food! I can't wait to go back!
Oh yum. One of the better margaritas I've had in a LONG time. Both the original and the Blood Orange were like a tequila party in my mouth, and I approve of pitchers with a serving spoon - I always end up with a glass full of ice completely devoid of beverage.
Our waiter was great but the food took forever to come out. Granted it was a crowded Friday night, but from what I can tell it's always crowded, so they should be more on the ball. But what was served was stellar: I got the duck, which was kickass (unfortunately occasionally fatty but it's kind of an accepted hazard when eating duck). The shortribs and lamb ordered by my dining companions were also tender and savory goodness, although the mushroom and cheese side thinger that came with the lamb was not exciting.
All in all, good stuff. A little outside of my normal price range but those margaritas are worth their weight in gold.
Despite what everyone else says about this place, and the high ratings, I am not impressed. Last night was the fourth time I have been here, and same story.
To begin, there is always a long line. Usually 45 minutes to get a table, but the good thing is, you can give them your cell phone number and they'll call you as soon as your table is ready. This not the reason I'm giving them a 2.
The reason I am giving them a 2 is because I do not like the taste of their food. It's not Mexican style food. I love Mexican, and you will not find the typical menu here. I've had their popular steak with the yellow cream sauce and did not like it. Great steak, just a nasty sauce, and everything is mixed with their nasty sauce (vegetables, mashed potatos). Last night I had the mahi mahi. It had a nasty sauce on it with Sausage. Who eats sausage with fish???
Anyways, the reason people like this place is because it's bring your own tequilla. You BYOT and then pay $15 for some type of punch to mix this with. You can go to any BYOB in phillly and bring Tequilla and bring your own Juice / Mixer so I don't know why this is so special. People probably just don't know.
I guess it's good to try it once to get the experience, but if I can, I will not go back to this place.
WOW - I was impressed. I took a friend here the other night and I just had to yelp. The restaurant is small and we almost missed it walking down on 13th. The food was absolutely amazing though. Both of us got the carne asada, which was tender beyond my wildest imagination. We ordered the carnitas appetizer, which was definitely tasty - some guac, some salsa, and some really juicy carnitas to roll in a tortilla.
The best part of the night was the margaritas, which come virgin (or without alcohol), and you pour your cuervo into the pitcher yourself. Obviously you get to choose how saucy you want to be at the end of the night, which makes for a great time.
If you're interested in taking your date out to dessert afterwards, it's a block away from capogiro, and just walking up walnut will get you to naked chocolate if she's not a fan of the gelato. But whatever you do, this place is CASH ONLY. Don't get caught with just a $10 bill on your date. The nearest ATM is at a sex shop down the street. =O
I went to Lolita for the second time last night, and I was not disappointed. As of now, I'm heavily vasillating between 4 and 5 stars. I may, on further thought, have to bump it up!
We had the blood orange margarita mix, which, thankfully, isn't too sweet. Everything I ate was delicious, from the chips and delicious fresh green cliantro-based and roasted pepper salsa, fundido de queso (with the chorizo on the side for the bf) enchiladas verdes (I substituted tofu for the shrimp). I really love that they are willing to substitute portabellos or chile tofu for most of the meat selections, but it would be nice if each dish has a suggested substitute (for flavor pairings). Also, though everything was delicious, and I can only blame myself for the ordering, my dishes were very cheese heavy. I think they;d actually be better if they were lighter on the cheese and heavier on the vegetables and fresh ingredients, which they do so well.
The place is load, due to the small space and exposed brick, but we had a tiny table in the back corner, and a lovely romantic night anyway. Our waitress was just attentive enough without being overbearing, dishes were cleared promptly, and the food came out faster than we could finish our pitcher of margaritas! The prices are pretty reasonable, too, and it always helps the bill at the end of the night to BYOT!
I've loved Lolita the couple of times I've been there. The BYOT concept makes high-end Mexican far more affordable.
The margarita mixers are a definite highlight, bring your own bottle (yes, full bottle) and try a couple of pitches - you won't be disappointed!
Ambiance is great, dark with a good vibe.
Expect to wait an hour +/- for a table on the weekend. They are unapologetically not accepting of large groups on the weekend. Don't bother :)
Since I am giving this place 5 stars, I will get my one minor complaint out of the way first: This place is LOUD. Perhaps it was just the Saturday night crowd, but the place was deafening.
Now, on to the positives.
- The food was delicious. We started with the Queso Fundido, which was flavorful and heart-cloggingly delicious. This was followed by the Carne Asada, which had a creamy and smoky sauce over a tender steak and some well prepared yucca.
- The Blood Orange margarita mix was delicious and went very well with the reposada tequila that we brought with us.
- The service was great despite the packed house and I witnessed tables being turned over quickly and efficiently the whole evening.
- The price was right. We came in well under $100 for the two of us with 2 entrees, a pitcher of mix and a delicious appetizer.
This place is pretty high on my list of Philly dining values, and if you like spicy foods and great margarita's you have got to visit Lolita.
I went on a date! And it was here! And this is exciting!
Ok, I personally thought the service was fine, despite the fact that the host yelled "They're unisex, Missy! Just pick one!" at me while I tried to suss out the bano situation.
If I were you, I would dismiss the idea of this place having "mexican" food before you go. While it is nom nom nomlicious, it only slightly resembles things cooked in your illegal busboy's kitchen.
Me plus boy started with the queso fundido and salmon somethingorothers. Cortadito, tostadito, frito bandito? I don't know. The salmon thingies were yummy because you can't go wrong with smoked salmon. The queso fundito was rather fun because it wasn't as deliciously heart stopping as you would get at a real mexican restaurant. There was like...salsa in there. And pickled onions(?) on top. It cut the greasy pleasure of the cheese/rizo goodness underneath.
For the main I got up on some mahi mahi, which it appears was also served with chorizo. And some kind of stuffing type mixture. It was fabulous, and kind of spicy. The kind of spice that builds after you've already swallowed the food. Boyface had some lamb dish that made me want to leap over the table, stab him with the fork and run off with the plate in the night. Did I mention we were having margaritas also? Anyway, I don't know what this deliciousness cost because I'm a Lady of Lazy right now and apparently let boys buy meals for me.
If you still have a job, or know a generous person that does, you should definitely go here and get your daily foodgasm.
Do you have any reservations for thursday?
Oh God No - We are completley booked.
Ookay.
Meet Lolita, the younger and smaller, but still hip step sister to much larger and somewhat swankier El Vez across the corner on 13th street. This small byo packs a punch, just be sure to bring your own tequila to add (liberally) to your choice of blackberry or blood orange margarita...just to make it memorable.
You might rub elbows with your table neighbors and fight for conversation, so its not a first choice for romantic setting. However, the dim lighting and lively atmosphere with open kitchen and street views from the windows (sadly no al-fresco dining) still lend to first-date breaking of the ice.
We enjoyed orange ginger pork with mango salsa and fresh guac wrapped in mini tortillas to start - though it could have been a meal in itself. My entree was an interesting mix of mahi mahi with apple salad garnish - a fresh & light pairing, but overkilled when served with spicy sausage and a roasted leek torta (think flavored corn tortilla patty - aha, there's the Mexican influence!). T'was a flavorful but odd combination of fish and meat, and perhaps too clashing. Dessert was a creamy flourless chocolate cake with caramel, coconut macaroon, and chile-toffee peanuts - a perfectly smooth melt in your mouth cap to the meal, though not quite up to par with my dinner mate's discerning choco- holic/lover/snob taste. Wait staff was prompt, animated, and provided menu interpretation assistance, as I pointed unknowingly to the borrega, borrega con budin de huitlacoche...mmmm sounds good, I'll have THAT. All in all, Lolita had some pizzaz, but is definitely an adolescent runner up, and not quite as seductive, to neighboring Mexican hotspots in Philly.
You Need To Know: Order the guacamole and chips. You won't be sorry. The chips are fresh and light. The guac is creamy and rich - and comes with jicama. Two other sauces are included. Very fine.
You May Need To Know: The menu welcomes vegetarian substitution. Ditch the cholesterol and have a couple o' hunks of tofu. You'll be very satisfied.
You'll Be Glad To Know: Lolita does wonderful things with plaintains. And if you don't use cumin in your everyday cooking, you might after eating at Lolita.
You Don't Need To Know: My opinion of the margaritas, 'cause I don't drink. But the folks at tables around us were certainly, uh, enjoying them.
Be Prepared: Lolita was 3/4 full when we were there and the volume level was barely tolerable. I'm from Seattle and maybe we're just overly polite. Or maybe people in Philly just like to scream. But there was screaming going on in Lolita and I think it was in effort to be heard.
What I Know: I'll go back here again on my next visit, probably later in the evening to avoid the decibel assault.
Restaurant week - either an unfair time or a pointedly fair time to review. I say the latter - this is supposed to be the restaurant putting its best foot forward to draw me back for higher-margin meals.
Food delivered - excellent mix of flavors without being overwhelming. Desserts were fantastic & just the right size. If the rest were as good as the food I'd be hard pressed to decide between 4 & 5.
Margarita mix - tasty enough. I like having a bartender to mix the right amount of tequila into the pitcher - I'd appreciate it better if the servers were trained on how to pour the customer's liquor properly. Beverage service - functional but hurried (see below).
Service - The whole time i felt as if the staff were treating Restaurant Week guests like a burden rather than a boon. All of the staff seemed annoyed at something and were all in a hurry, yet service kept getting hung up by long waits. We also had to ask the manager to allow us to enter drinks & an appetizer before the rest of our guests arrived - to counter a rule that the entire order had to be entered at once. With a fixed menu, the FOTH & BOTH should have an easier job; concocting a silly one-time rule like 'whole order at once' is unnecessary and speaks of a poorly-prepared staff. Plus, with a fixed menu who wouldn't want to upsell drinks & apps?
Come back, but make it on Mon-Thurs and definitely not on restaurant week.
Great Mexican / Cuban place and the BYO aspect keeps it very reasonable. Interesting combinations and absolutely one of the hidden gems. Great fresh menu based on available ingredients and seasonality (this is a big thing with me). Definately go.
PS there is a liquor store right around the corner on chestnut, so do not worry if you are not prepared with wine as long as they are still open.
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Rittenhouse Square
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Market East
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Olde City
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Market East
Category: Lounges
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