DOÑA LOLA comida del caribe — Restaurant in Cartagena

What can I say , I’ve been very disappointed in the fine dining experiences available here in Cartagena . I was beginning to believe New York City and Miami contained the pinnacle of Colombian Cuisine . I’m please to inform you that Dona Lola completely changed my mind . Upon entering I was greeted by Sergio Abril who also became my most excellent guide to what would become an excursion into some of the tastiest elements Colombia has to offer. Firstly the ambiance gives me John Wick Continental Hotel vibes . Sort of an upscale twilight contrasted by the black and white floors , grim yet amiable decor . Trusting in the young Sergio I took towards his recommendations for prawns and Ribeye steak . Finishing with a classic revised Flan all accompanied by the various cocktails that seemed to pair well with each course . The Prawns were doused in a flavorful cream based sauce . Teamed with garlic and herbs the taste of the small meaty morsels immediately transports you to an alternate dimension . Where chefs and their satellite personnel take extreme, almost fanatic pride in the product they present . Paired with a Casa De La Felipe pineapple centered cocktail I was immediately smitten . I was saddened when it was finished but my jovial demeanor was doubled once I bit into the ribeye steak . As an American, I’m no stranger to the sampling of this bovine beast . So believe me when I tell you , the cut of meat doesn’t do the talent of the chef and line cooks talent justice . The Meat alone was sensational , but just for good measure they decided in their wisdom to place a fresh peppercorn sauce on the side that takes this dish from Mars all the way to Pluto . I was honestly stunned as I have spent far far more money on a drastically inferior piece of meat in the past . Then the Flan , all I can say is Wow . As a Miami native, Cubans have force fed me Flan my entire life . However this one was far less dense then its subordinate counterparts . Light and airy while dancing on a bed of coconut doused in a tangy honey perhaps apricot caramel infusion . I engorged myself to the last drop while already full to the brim . I honestly want to eat here tomorrow all over again but unfortunately I’m here to discover the best of Cartagena and I won’t be sure if the mountain goes any higher unless I continue to climb . Five amazing stars …..Bravo...

Doña Lola purports to serve up local Caribbean food. An ‘amuse bouche’ of ‘tortilla española’ and ‘pan con tomate’ sets a different tone from the outset. Elegant décor that’s more befitting of the Upper East Side or London’s Chelsea, with the clientèle to match..Waiters were polite, no more than that, the service was awkward and felt more ‘Parisian’. A far cry from the sizzling, authentic Caribbean vitality and warmth that make us love this city so much. Unoriginal, menu. Small, very average, bland starters and mains, there was no sense of any real ‘love’ for food here. We passed on the dessert and slipped back out into Cartagena - which this restaurant most certainly is not. The city is undergoing such fast-paced change to meet the current mass onslaught of tourism and that has to be sustainable. Considering he negative impact of tourism in so many parts of the world, the only realistic way to ensure that its development is sustainable becomes more a question of ‘sustainable culture’. It is the responsibility of hoteliers and restaurateurs (amongst others) to ensure that visitors to Cartagena experience genuine local culture rather than enjoying what with time risk feeling like aseptic, ‘commoditised’ experiences. There are some fantastic restaurants in Cartagena that are doing this - without even trying, because they have been doing it for years. Candé is a perfect example. Doña Lola tries far too hard. This said, Doña Lola clearly satisfies the kind of diners that it’s currently appears to draw and will thus no doubt be around for some time to come.

And If after supper you are craving to prolong that authentic local experience why not hitch a ride home in a ‘calèche’? I’m confident the Maitre D will oblige if you ask nicely. The perfect end to the...

This place was quite the disappointment considering all the rave reviews I had read. I made a reservation in the Fork app on a night that Cartagena had a blackout and I took my mom anyhow thinking this place would have a backup generator. The waiters waiting outside helped my mom (who is losing her eyesight) thinking they’d have candles on, but to our dismay it was pitch black. We decided to leave because we worried about what and how we’d be eating and decided to go down the street where a nearby restaurant had a generator running. I decided to give this place another shot and came by for a late lunch/ early dinner and we decided to stay in the first room by the entrance since we were hot and there was AC. And that’s where it all went downhill. The mosquitoes attacked my legs and then the waiter opened the windows so we could be harassed by vendors and homeless men as we ate. I have to say having lived in Cartagena several years this was absolutely the WORST service I have ever experienced and it’s not just because I’m used to NYC service. Our waiter Gustavo was rude and ruined the experience for my mom. A restaurant of this caliber couldn’t offer me a glass of Sauvignon blank because clearly he didn’t want to open a bottle and offered me the last dregs of a wine that was barely drinkable. He disappeared after I asked for another glass and we never saw him again. The bus boy (?) then proceeded to become our waiter and honestly If he had been from the get go I’d add another star. The food was good but nothing to rave about. The hotel is beautiful but 3 stars is all the...