Lola's Mexican Kitchen hits White Plains

The long awaited first visit to Lola's..

I have been desperate for a good food place to have equally good drinks.  I know, that seems odd, but there is so much good (tasty treats that are fantastic) food in Westchester that I've felt this is a void of a place where I can both love my food and drink.  The cocktail art should not be limited, it should thrive!

16 ounce Magarita 

As far as Mexican food is concerned, there are a few hit or miss places; or places that have good food or drink, but both is tough.  (Before you go crazy, bartaco is far from the Hudson for a quick weeknight place.)  So, I am on the hunt for a tasty margarita that comes with equally good food.  This search brings us to Lola's. 

The hostess was nice, as was the waiter.  Honestly, the bartender seemed disinterested with his job...certainly not the cocktail artist that one could hope for, but (if you can overlook the overly soda-ed drinks) it was mediocre. Honestly, watching him butcher the beverages was like torture. 

The food arrived hot, which is a huge step up from the Havana Central chain experience. For starters, the empanadas were fine. Certainly not the best I ever had, but they were presented nicely and hot upon arrival. As far as the main meal is concerned, the rice lacked flavor, but the beans rated pretty well. With the addition of tons of hot sauce, the taste was fine. The presentation of food was clean. We had the brisket chimichanga, carnitas burrito, and fried plaintains. Overall the food was fine, but only fine. It was not so much better than Guadalajara to drag myself west versus north (and they will light my lime on fire). The atmosphere is nice, somewhat understated. You can hear yourself think and see what's going on. (So if you're going and expecting Lolita Cocina, this is not it.) On the bright side, the waiter was attentive and nice. I will continue to hold out hope that with time and feedback, they will improve.

Burrito with rice and black beans

www.lolaswhiteplains.com
White Plains, NY

Guadalajara - June 4, 2012

Sometimes Mondays are actually Margarita Mondays!

So, off we go to Guadalajara. Honestly, this may have been one of my very best experiences at the restaurant. I do generally find it incredibly crowded, pretty loud and over-priced; however, this time the atmosphere was calm and quiet. Granted, the restaurant was empty, but I like it like this!

I was served a very cool flaming margarita (and I am not above admitting that I had a heck of a time putting the flame out). The food was average. I would like to see a spicy option on the menu. Chris asked for hot sauce for his food (burrito?) and it was great. It seemed like something homemade and I wish they sold it.

My drink was great and the food was average, but above average once the hot sauce was added. The service was impeccable. The atmosphere is very nice and we saw a birthday celebration that was pretty hilarious. Overall, it was a great time.

www.guadalajaramexny.com
Briarcliff Manor, NY

Lolita Mexican - June 2, 2012

I was thrilled to see that this tasty spot was now on opentable.com and that smaller parties were able to make reservations. I only hope that cb5 decides to make one of the river-towns their next home!

The hostess was pleasant, even if a bit uncomfortable and possibly confused. I wonder how many people flake on their reservations, but we try not to do that (she almost seemed surprised when we showed up). We were seated above the bar. My chair was even more rickety than usual, so I made a quick swap (and no one seemed to mind).

Any meal that begins with fantastically presented grapefruit granita and a shot of tequila sounds lovely to me! There are so many great drink choices, but we went for a mojito (Chris) and an eponymous margarita (me). The warm chips came with a few tasty salsas (that are more closely characterized as dips). All three are fantastic. I would be more detailed, but I don’t want to sway you in any particular direction. Our waiter was very attentive and I found him to be the right combination of knowledgeable and patient. His support team was very effective. Our plates were cleared, water glasses refilled, etc…in a very timely manner.

To start, we had the spinach and cheese quesadilla. Ever since the first time we had this tasty treat, it has never disappointed. The spinach is not over-powering and the cheese is a nice compliment. I like to put the hot, mango (red bottle) sauce on them.

For the main course, Chris had the carne asada and I had the garlic lime chicken. I am somewhat wary of chicken when I eat out (and I am told that I make this comment every time I eat chicken), but this was fantastic. The skin was even tasty. The accompanying side was well cooked and had absorbed some good flavors. Chris was also happy with his food. The carne asada is not as spicy as the pollo asada, which has a great flavor if you enjoy hot vinegar. The corn bread side was probably the highlight of the main meal, even though I enjoyed my food. It has such great flavor and would be worth the trip alone.

We didn’t have dessert on this trip. We tried their cupcakes once and they were okay (just okay), so we opted to wait for the cotton candy. The bill comes with little Lolita tattoos (and the aforementioned cotton candy in a green apple flavor).

As a side note, interestingly enough, I am often disappointed with the restroom. For such a funky place, it could certainly be better decorated. Putting chalk out for decorative purposes is nice, but much more could’ve been done to add to the ambiance.

Overall, I always enjoy Lolita (and it is not only because of the drinks). The hostesses are generally nice, even if they seemed a little bothered to be there. The waiters are excellent and seem as though they’d be best suited handing you screenplays, rather than plates. The place is not for you if you want a quite night. There is a bustling bar scene and you can often find large parties chatting it up in the dining room.

lolitamexican.com

Greenwich, CT 

Bar Taco - May 19, 2012

Is the weather nice? Yes. Would you like a drink? Yes. Let’s go to bartaco!

Okay, that might not be exactly how every bartaco related conversation goes, but it is certainly close. Whether you get to sit outside on the Byram River, or if you are surrounded by the nautically themed inside, you are sure to enjoy bartaco. How can you pass up the chance to be served by a small army of blue plaid wearers and dragonfly signaling cards?

The tacos are very tasty and there are not so common options, making the experience that much more fun. Granted, if you do not like raw onions, you should certainly note that on your card. (As for cards, that is how you order your food.) I personally like the beef and the spicy chorizo. Generally, at least one pork al pastor gets ordered for Chris and me, too. The chopped salad is flavorful, as are the quesadillas.

If you’re looking for something more substantial, go for the rice bowl. The rice and meat are flavorful and it is a bit heavier. All that said, no trip to bartaco would be complete without at least two orders of gorditas. The sauce they come with is beyond tasty and I only wish they sold it.

Okay, that was a bit about the food, but let’s shifts over to the drinks. A little while ago, Chris and I were lucky enough to take a tequila class where Gretchen Thomas walked you through a few of the drinks after providing background information. The bartaco margarita is fantastic. If you are lucky enough to sit at the bar, you can watch the formidable bar staff fresh pull the ingredients that go into the drinks. The azteca and rosita were both fine options.

Generally, Chris and I stick with mojitos (or margaritas for me). They strain their mojitos, but if you ask they will leave the mint in there for your enjoyment. Chris was a great bartender and he addressed us (aka the fourth wall), even when it got busy. We chatted about a variety of things as he pulled drinks and served up the tasty snacks!

Bartaco is a great spot for a snack, dinner, or drinks. The fresh ingredients make everything special. The atmosphere is fun, even though everyone takes their roles seriously. I would highly recommend, but it gets very crowded, especially when it is nice out!

www.bartaco.com
Port Chester, NY