Lady Lola Deli Bar Bistro — Restaurant in Dunsborough

PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ ALL 1 AND 2 STAR REVIEWS BEFORE VISITING THIS VENUE.

I was a big fan of Lady Lola, having enjoyed the food on our last trip to Dunsborough so I was keen to revisit the venue again with my husband, parents and children over our break down south in January.

However, when we returned to Lady Lola for our dinner booking for 6 people, with a clear note on the booking outlining a pram space was needed (I try to make it as clear as possible we'll have a baby in tow) I was shocked by the service we received. I have NEVER been treated so poorly by a hospitality venue (and I do my best to visit a fair few).

We were shown to our table outside. It was a high table with very little room for a pram. I was concerned that we wouldn't be able to safely or easily reach down to reach our 8 month old in the pram. I asked if there was a high chair available, I was rudely told that they don't have highchairs and that they would try get one from their more family friendly neighbours (Yarri and Blue Manna Bistro). Before we even attempted to try the high chair, we were approached by one of the owners asking what the issue was. We responded (in a very amiable manner) that we were concerned the high table wouldn't be suitable for the pram or highchair and was there a lower table alternative available, thinking that that might be a reasonable question to ask. In response I was told, in a very curse tone, "this is a problem created by your poor communication. We don't have highchairs available and if we weren't happy with the table, there wasn't an alternative available and that if we were to attempt to leave we would be charged for the booking." My husband intervened (because I was left speechless) to try and reach a reasonable middle ground but the owner felt it was necessary to continue to berate us until we eventually left.

I really don't mind if a hospitality venue doesn't cater for children, I understand that not every venue can do so - I would much prefer they were upfront about that but to be spoken to in that manner where there was honestly no antagonisation, and by one of the owners, no less, I will NEVER be back and will do my best to make people aware of the kind of service Lady Lola offers to patrons spending their hard earned money at this venue.

Please consider before booking at this venue!! The locations next door saw the commotion and were very sympathetic to our situation so I would urge you to consider those venues instead. I also hope the owner reads this and attempts to have some self control when speaking to anyone the way she spoke to me.

RESPONSE TO LADY LOLA'S REPLY:

If this response doesn't highlight the pure mediocrity when it comes to Lady Lola's customer service and interpersonal skills, I'm not sure what will.

Interestingly, I took a read through the one and two star reviews of this venue and there's a pattern of aggression and insultingly contemptuous behaviour that stems from the ownership team at this venue. Apparently, dismal customer service skills is something they take no issue with.

Why I took 3 weeks to write this review? I have 4 children (one of whom is a new baby) and as you've highlighted, it's school holidays - I don't have the luxury or time to sit on Google reviews nor is it on my priority list to write a review about a person who is insolent towards her patrons. "Mind boggling"? Maybe to some...

I've attached a photo of my booking and highlighted the information requiring a pram space, just to make it extra clear for the individual who couldn't see it the first time... Some advice, if you can't cater for children, then don't. A very simple solution.

We didn't expect the high chair to be the height of the table - the high chair wouldn't be a solve for seating an 8 month old at a high table. Maybe you need to work on listening to your customers and have some serious thought on your ability to problem solve, or just don't have a tick box on your booking form for a pram so customers don't assume you'll cater for them?

Hopefully this clear...

Lady Lola We finally went to Lady Lola for a meal. What can I say, we had food and drinks and it was a mixed bag. The food was excellent we ordered: Two serves of baguette and French butter. Beetroot Carpaccio + Goats Cheese + Walnut Praline Black Figs + Gorgonzola + Macadamia Caponata Goulash + Olives + Polenta Custard Beef Cheek Bourguignon + Nduja + Grana Padano

Baguette was lovely and soft, the French butter did not disappoint. It was not rock hard either which was a win. The Beetroot Carpaccio was great, fresh and full flavoured it all combined well. Black Figs & Gorgonzola - An amazing dish, the sweet of the fig contrasting with the flavours of the Gorgonzola, yum. I had to ask what the Caponata Goulash was, a vegetarian dish, I was thinking/hoping it was goat. Ha ha…. Well it was very good with great flavours and decent sized dish polenta custard was interesting. Nice a light not what I was expecting which was a solid lump of polenta. The Beef Cheek Bourguignon was the winner, well cooked tender beef cheeks in a rich gravy. Wow I didn’t want to let the empty dish go.

I had a Dark & Stormy and a Lola Classic Negroni

The Dark and Stormy… This is a well known cocktail. Firstly it doesn’t have bitters in it, and this one I got wasn’t very dark or stormy. It’s supposed to be the colour of a cloud you would not want to be caught in a storm under. So it’s appearance was fail. I did struggle with the flavours, I could barely taste the rum or the lime. Maybe it was the bitters which confused things, I struggled to tell. The line should stand up and be tasted but it just wasn’t there, It was a 5/10 at best.

Now comes an important drink. The key to a good Negroni is BALANCE. It’s a simple cocktail with equal parts gin, vermouth and Campari. This one disappointed as all I could taste was the Campari bitters. Try as I might I couldn’t taste the gin or the vermouth.

So the food was excellent but the bar was disappointing.

I’ll go back for the food and next time talk to the bar person. There is...

Our recent visit for dinner was an absolute delight, showcasing not only the superb food and drinks but also the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere of Lady Lola.

We arrived just before 8:30 PM on a lively Friday evening, immediately enveloped by the heavenly aromas wafting from the kitchen. The ambiance was electric, with a trendy, laid-back vibe that made us feel right at home.

For dinner, we had the “special” in the pappardelle bolognese, a dish that exemplifies comfort food with a gourmet twist. The bolognese sauce, a rich medley of pancetta, beef, and pork, was expertly simmered on low heat to develop a profound depth of flavor. Paired with big, bouncy pappardelle noodles and a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, every bite was a delight. The harmony of textures and flavors made this dish a standout.

Equally impressive was the mushroom and truffle risotto, a stunning dish that married earthy mushrooms with the luxurious aroma of truffle/ can’t wait to see what these guys do during the WA truffle season. The risotto was perfectly cooked, creamy yet with a slight bite, and exuded a sophisticated elegance that was truly memorable.

The drinks menu is extensive, featuring an array of exciting cocktails- try the Spicy Ryan!

The attentive service at Lady Lola was another highlight. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to make recommendations or ensure our glasses remained full ✅

Lady Lola...