Lola's Cocina — Restaurant in Madison

First I want to say that Phil Sandoval’s is my favorite sitdown, Mexican/Tex Mex restaurant And little Rosie is by far my favorite Fast casual Tex-Mex place. So when I found out Phil’s was putting out a fast casual I was so excited. So far, I have sat down to eat with my family for dinner and I have hit the drive-through for a quick breakfast. Both times service was very fast and very nice. The restaurant itself is beautiful. It’s very modern and bright. Little Rosie is so dark and cramped and this is nothing like that. On a pretty night, they had all the doors open so it was very alfresco even inside. There was a long line at the door, but it moved very quickly. Our food came out hot and very fresh. They messed up my Husband’s side, but not a big deal. My son is so excited that they have the large bottles of Mexican Coke. I loved the different flavors of margaritas and chose the spicy mango and it was delicious.However, there are some things that I think would really help make this place a stand out. First of all my husband ordered a steak burrito and all he got was a cheap plastic fork wrapped in plastic, no knife. Our food came out on paper plates. I think when you sit inside, it would be so nice to have real plates and real silverware. He at least needed a plastic knife to cut through this, but it didn’t seem like they had them. I ordered tacos and they came with a very, very spicy orangey sauce on the side. I guess to dip the chips in. I had to use the little mild salsa that came with my son’s kids meal because I found it too spicy. One of the things I love about little Rosie’s when you eat in is there are different salsa choices so I would love to see two or three by the front that you could pick for yourself. But if not that at least giving people a choice. Next time I know to ask for the mild stuff that comes with the kids meal. When I hit the drive-through for breakfast, that egg taco was pretty sad. I don’t know when those scrambled eggs were cooked, but it wasn’t anytime soon. It also came with the very spicy salsa, so my taco was really dry because I can’t eat that. Yes it’s my fault for not asking for something milder. I also ordered the iced Horchata coffee. I don’t think they gave me that though. I want to think it was probably just a Horchata because there was no coffee Flavor and it was almost milk white. It has a very gritty texture. I have only gotten into Horchata over the last year so I’m still learning, but I feel like it’s supposed to be strained and smoother than this consistency. I went home and promptly brewed a double shot of espresso poured over and now it’s a pretty lovely drink. However, I would not order it again. The flower tortillas are not as fresh and fluffy as they are a little Rosie’s. The corn tortillas are pretty good but pretty standard factory corn tortillas. The chips were thin crispy, which I really like. The esquires were also very good. I’m not giving up on this place and I really want to try the Ramen Birria when it gets colder out. I’d also like to try sit down breakfast and get the platters. I think the fresh cooked eggs would be much better than the scrambled eggs that come in the tacos. Overall, this is a nice addition and I think if they could at least get the plates and silverware it could really be a nice place for dinner. We will probably give it some time and try back in...

We visited Lola’s Cocina at Town Madison for a family lunch and had a pleasant overall experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful — very spacious, well-decorated, and welcoming. The atmosphere is bright and inviting, and the staff was attentive throughout our meal. The place is also impressively clean and very accessible, which makes it a great spot for families and groups.

The food arrived with excellent presentation, and it certainly looked as good as any upscale Mexican offering in the area. However, while the dishes are visually appealing, the flavors didn’t quite match the same level. The birria, both in plate form and in the tacos, as well as the asada tacos, came across a bit flat. The tortillas had a sweetness to them that didn’t complement the proteins, which themselves lacked seasoning. While hot sauce does help, authentic Mexican food — like what you’ll find in Mexico or El Paso — should have a natural balance of flavors that the salsa enhances rather than compensates for.

That said, Lola’s Cocina is definitely a step above Rosie’s Cantina, which is very bland, and is on par with Phil Sandoval’s, given they come from the same family. If you’re looking for a beautiful setting, welcoming service, and a clean, enjoyable environment, this is a solid choice. But if you’re craving truly authentic Mexican flavors, I’d recommend...

Went to the drive thru, had amazing service and all the staff was amazing. Food came out quick and packaged neat and tidy.

It was 15$ for 2 tacos, chips and side. My chorizo taco costed 50cent more lol. My chorizo taco was so mild and bland it was very disappointing. No spice at all it was so sad. Just bean, Chorizo and cheese on a semi soggy tortilla. My birria taco was very well cooked but lacked flavor. I got a side rice and it actually had the most flavor and was amazing. I will say it was a TINY side of rice. The salsa and hot sauce were also both amazing but the chips need some salt or something.

I did eat everything and was still hungry. For 15$ no drink, the portions were small and the Value was not there (fast food). Prices are a little steep. It would have been around 18$ with drink (a lot for fast food) But on the menu they WILL charge you for anything. A lot of tacos had +$$ markers as well as sides. It looked like they would upcharge you for anything.

Will retry later but there are far better mexican...