Lola's — Restaurant in Longmeadow

The food was incredible! However value is just not there, service was a bit slow although attentive. Make a reservation or you may not get in!

The food: everything we've ordered was flavorful, robust, and delicious. The flavors were all well balanced and incredible. It's a modern take on classic Mexican cuisine. Caramelized plantains were our favorite, I'm not sure if it's possible to just order a side of them but it should definitely be an option. Tacos were simple but had a lot of flavor. Surprisingly our favorites were the Nashville Spicy Chicken ones, Al Pastor were okay, Carne Asada had a decent amount of steak and were good. Very curious to see what they would do with Birria Tacos if they offered them. I'd definitely get the Nashville Chicken again. Tortillas they buy from Springfield were fresh and well worth the effort. The biggest disappointment was the baby spinach salad with pomegranate seeds, mango, and cucumber. It had no pomegranate seeds in it, we're not 100% sure but we don't think it had cucumbers either, and it was just okay. Definitely not worth $15, maybe $6? $10 tops.

Atmosphere: was lively, definitely on the noisy side, if you're looking for an intimate dinner, this may not be the place. It was hard to hear each other across the table often. The bar was alive with activity. Place was clean and well kept. Bathrooms were clean and taken care of.

Service: the first table we had, we received great service, our waitress came in 2 minutes or so. Unfortunately my pregnant wife could not make it up the high bar chair, a hostess saw my wife struggling and quickly switches us to a lower table. This was greatly appreciated, incredible service and kind staff. Second waitress however did not see us for maybe 10ish minutes, and overall was on the slower side. She was very kind and helpful however.

The cost: unfortunately the rumors were true, everyone we talked to said it's high priced for small portions. The value is simply not there. For $17 you get two small tacos and a lime wedge. That's it. No side, no salsa or guac cup. Seems like only a few years ago you'd get 3 tacos and rice and beans on the side for $15 or so. I get this is an upscale place, catering to a specific clientele, but I just feel a bit sad when I see the two tiny tacos for $17. I think a margarita costs $10? Seems odd that liquor costs less than the tacos, usually it's the other way around.

Overall a great addition to Longmeadow, they seem to be busy all the time, I hope this turnover continues for them and they see lots of business. Just wish there was more value in the food. If there was we'd go there regularly, as it's priced now, it's an occasional guilty pleasure for...

The vibe is cute, it’s what drew us to Lola’s in the first place — and apparently everyone else in Longmeadow. It’s nearly impossible to get a reservation here at a normal dining hour unless you make it weeks in advance so we decided we’d treat ourselves to a little date night and made our res three weeks ago.

First impressions upon entering were good, I was impressed with the decor and the menu upon first glance. Lola’s is clearly trying to serve high end Mexican food. This would have been great if the food actually was palatable. For us, it left a lot to be desired, especially at the prices being charged.

We started with margaritas and the guac/chips appetizer. The margs were decent (i opted for spicy strawberry on the rocks, it was fine. my partner ordered a frozen banana ginger which he didn’t love). For our meal, we ordered the short ribs and the chicken bowl, both just ok. We also ordered the elote starter (egregiously overpriced) and the potato casserole as a side (greasy and barely edible). Every single thing we ordered was topped with a heaping handful of cilantro which was so bizarre to me. I get it — you serve Mexican and cilantro is an ingredient used in Mexican cuisine, and fresh cilantro is super pretty, but there’s a reason that parsley is used as garnish — it doesn’t have a strong flavor, whereas cilantro permeates whatever it gets near.

Besides the lackluster food, we were disappointed that everything — from our drinks to our guac and chips, to our sides and entrees — came out almost immediately. We could hardly sit to enjoy anything or have a conversation because as soon as our guac appeared to be done it was taken away (there was still a spoonful left by the way — it’s a pet peeve of mine when servers just assume you’re done and decide that for you). Five minutes later our mains came out. It truly felt like we were being pushed out the door, which isn’t the experience we wanted after waiting weeks for the reservation.

Lola’s wait staff was polite albeit a bit unknowledgable and clearly very green. My water glass was filled with lukewarm tap water upon being seated and not refilled again until I finished my meal. The front desk hostess was borderline rude and snippy, asking if I had a reservation before I could get any words out upon walking into the restaurant.

Last I’ll say that we were most excited to try this place since we read the Federal had closed temporarily and that they were going to prioritize getting Lola’s up and running. We truly wish they would stop sinking energy into this place and bring back the Federal! It was so wonderful.

Ultimately, we sadly won’t be...

Review: Lola’s Restaurant in Longmeadow

For my birthday, we decided to try Lola’s Restaurant in Longmeadow—a first-time visit to this Mexican-inspired, fine-dining establishment. While the experience was memorable, it wasn’t quite what we expected.

Service & Atmosphere: The service was impeccable, with our server being attentive and welcoming throughout the evening. The interior décor was stunning, completely transforming what was once a Friendly’s into a space that exudes elegance and sophistication. It’s clear that great care was taken to create a dining experience that feels special.

The Food: Lola’s isn’t your typical Mexican restaurant, which became clear immediately when there were no complimentary chips and salsa—a standard at most places. Instead, we ordered the $12 salsa flight: three small, flavorful, but not spicy salsas, served with whole fried tortillas that you break into chips yourself. Fancy, yes, but it felt more style than substance.

We also tried the Sikil Pak, a seasonal pumpkin seed dip with mild habanero pepper. It was tasty and unique, but again served with the fried tortilla sheets, adding to the "gourmet touch."

For dinner, my wife ordered the Nashville Tacos, featuring chunks of fried chicken, while I had the appetizer-sized empanadas stuffed with chorizo and potato. Both dishes were well-prepared and presented beautifully, but the flavors leaned more haute cuisine than authentic Mexican.

Dessert was a creative take on my favorite, tres leches. Instead of the classic sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, Lola’s version featured a melon-sized scoop of cherry ice cream, a cherry chocolate bark chip, and cream. It was inventive, but for a purist like me, it missed the mark.

Final Thoughts: Lola’s is less about traditional Mexican food and more about reimagining it through a high-end, French-inspired lens. The flavors are subtle, the portions modest, and the prices premium. For those looking to impress or experience fine dining, Lola’s delivers with its artistry and elegance.

However, if you’re craving traditional, hearty Mexican food with bold spices and classic dishes, this isn’t the place. For us, the lack of authenticity and the high prices mean we likely won’t return, as we prefer a more traditional Mexican dining experience.

Rating: 2/5 Great service and atmosphere, but it’s Mexican cuisine for a different...