Lola Cocina Spanish Restaurant Crows Nest — Restaurant in Sydney

Lola Cocina is a hidden gem of a Spanish restaurant that captures the essence of Spanish cuisine with flair and authenticity. From the moment you step inside, you are transported to a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere that sets the stage for a memorable dining experience.

Ambiance: The restaurant's decor is charming, with rustic touches, warm lighting, and Spanish-inspired accents that create a cozy and inviting ambiance. Whether you're dining with friends, family, or a special someone, Lola Cocina provides the perfect setting for an enjoyable meal.

Service: The service at Lola Cocina is exceptional. The staff is attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, offering helpful recommendations and ensuring that every guest feels welcomed and well taken care of. The waitstaff is efficient, and the overall dining experience is seamless.

Food: The highlight of Lola Cocina is undoubtedly the food. The menu features a delightful array of Spanish dishes, each prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients and bursting with authentic flavors. Some must-try dishes include:

Paella: The paella is a standout, with a perfect balance of saffron-infused rice, tender seafood, and flavorful meats. It's a signature dish that showcases the chef's skill and expertise.

Tapas: The tapas selection is excellent, offering a variety of small plates that are perfect for sharing. From crispy patatas bravas to succulent gambas al ajillo, each bite is a taste of Spain.

Sangria: No Spanish meal is complete without a refreshing glass of sangria. Lola Cocina's sangria is fruity, well-balanced, and pairs perfectly with the dishes on offer.

Value for Money: Lola Cocina offers great value for the quality of food and service provided. The portion sizes are generous, and the prices are reasonable, making it a fantastic choice for those looking to enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine without breaking the bank.

Overall: Lola Cocina is a culinary delight for lovers of Spanish cuisine. With its inviting atmosphere, attentive service, and delectable food, it's a restaurant that consistently delivers an exceptional dining experience. Whether you're craving paella, tapas, or a glass of sangria, Lola Cocina is sure to satisfy your Spanish food cravings. Highly...

I went here for a valentines dinner last night. We were seated at 7:20 and handed menus, the 5 course set menu looked delightful so we chose that at 7:30. By 7:45 we had not received wine or table water, so enquired and got our bottle of wine. By 8:05 we were quite hungry so asked when our entree would be coming out. Upon asking this we saw the waitstaff panic as it became evident our order had not been put through. At 8:25 we received course 1 (entrees) and course 2 (table salad), then course 3 (two tapas dishes) at around 8:40. We were famished by this point so devoured the small portions. After speaking to the couple seated next to us, we realised that they had ordered similarly to us, however their portions were literally twice the size. This left us thinking the kitchen was running out of food so had reduced the set menu portions to keep pushing them out. By 9:10 we were done, we had decided enough was enough, and that an hour and a half was too long to wait for a main course (Course 4). After explaining how long we had been waiting, I requested the bill, however politely declined to pay the full amount, as I would expect only to have to pay for the 3 courses and wine we had consumed. After some back and forth with the waitstaff, our main was delivered to our table, and we were compensated a new bottle of wine as our first one had been finished (only after asking for this compensation, it wasn't offered willingly). We ate the paella (which was very nice), then dessert (course 5). At the end of it, we walked out of the restaurant 2 hours after we walked in, with the majority of that spend waiting for meals that had been forgotten, and were smaller than earlier dinners.

1 Star because the food was actually beautiful. No more stars because our order was forgotten (it took us to ask for it to be fixed), our meal sizes were smaller than earlier dinners, and we were still expected to pay full price for the experience. We may try again on a less busy night, however there are plenty of other restaurants in Crows Nest doing...

I had dinner here for the first time last night with a party of five. Let me just say the waiters are very attentive, and the place is very lively. It was packed when we were there on a Friday night. We enjoyed the Sangria and all the tapas we ordered - Pork belly, calamari, lamb.

We were recommended to try their Paella, we chose Seafood Paella which is listed at $24. We received two large Paella pans (diameter of 45-50cm). When the bill arrived we were charged $24 for 5 people for Paella. We should have been told we would be charged per person (we would have just stuck to tapas).

[Edit] After this review the owner/operator contacted me to explain Paella is not charged per person and the waitress that took our order was new. I’m very impressed he took the time to not only contact me, but also refund us for the extra portion of Paella.

The food here is a standout, I highly recommend the tapas which were cooked beautifully and presented very well, portions are also just right. Whilst two people from our party have been to Spain and commented that the Seafood Paella is not as good as what you can get in Spain (some areas were not cooked through and a bit dry) I thought it was tasty and enjoyed it more than other seafood paella’s from other venues (Postales, Captain Torres).

[Further edit: July] the owner/operator asked us to try this venue again, and in July two people went. He kindly provided us with 50% discount. The tapas were very tasty. It is hard to find a restaurant that can offer this high level of customer service. Hats off to the owner. I highly recommend...