This restaurant is located in Nevada, city's beautiful downtown. It is part of the national hotel on pine Street, and despite the high reviews and ratings the restaurant has received, we really wanted to try it because it looked like such a beautiful establishment. The good reviews for the dining was only a plus. We had originally planned to have brunch here on Saturday, and although we were able to make online reservations when we arrived on that same day, we were disappointed to find out that the establishment was closed most likely due to the Mardi Gras parade that was planned for the downtown that afternoon. Our desire to experience the restaurant was large enough that we decided to get reservations for the Sunday brunch as we were preparing to leave Nevada City to end our weekend getaway.
The Lola restaurant is to the left of the national hotels lobby. The environment looks historically classical and beautiful like you would expect to see in a Hollywood movie. Lots of wood, beautiful settings, lovely lighting, and a feel of Elegance. We arrived an hour earlier than our reservation and we're pleased to find that they were able to seat us. The restaurant was not full at the time so it wasn't much of a stretch, but they were still very polite about it all and very accommodating. We ordered the biscuits and gravy and the Nash hash. Both came with an order of eggs for which we both ordered the over easy. I will point out that they're handling of over easy eggs was both skillful and tasty. The Nash hash was brisket with potatoes. This dish was good, but I will comment just to be picky because it's only fair. The brisket was tasty but I would characterize it as a bit on the dry side. The dish also comes with horseradish shavings which for me sets it apart from other similar dishes, but I would have preferred to have a dish. Without this. I could taste how this could make the dish unique and memorable and different from other restaurants who have a similar dish, and although the flavor was overall light, I feel that the dish could be better without it if the focus was on juicier brisket. I can't comment too much on the biscuits and gravy but I can say the gravy did taste good. The most notable thing about the biscuit and gravy order was that the server came out to check on how we liked our food, and we had some reservations about the biscuit and gravy dish, but my wife didn't want to particularly say or criticize. For her part, the hostess encouraged her to share her feelings about it because the establishment was focused on ensuring that she had a good experience and even went as far as to say that the dish could be taken back, made again, or that she could order something completely different. I loved this. An establishment that cares enough about the customer's experience that they offer at the server level. The option to consider these alternatives. My wife declined and decided to continue on with the dish, and by the end of the meal felt that she had a good experience and that the dish was good. That would infer that it wasn't perfect, but she did not regret staying with it. The portions were a very good size and plenty to fill us up. They even have their own house made Tabasco sauce. Coming from the most well-known classic Tabasco sauce on the market, in comparison, I would say that this had the same kind of taste overall but a bit on the lighter side, and nowhere near as spicy. This can be good or bad depending on your preferences for Tabasco sauce, but I found this to be a good offering for a homemade experience and for an average pallet that may come through.
Although we largely decided to eat here due to the beauty of the establishment, the food was also worth the visit. The prices are not high relative to where we traditionally eat in the Bay area, stephan finer dining and higher prices than surrounding eating establishments still seem like a bargain to us. I will admit, that even for a local I could argue that the beauty of the national hotel and the Lola restaurant would be worth paying a...
Read moreWe arrived in Nevada city on a Thursday night and we were hungry for a music and dining experience. We found that at the National Exchange Hotel, Restaurant and Bar.What a delightful experience it turned out to be. The food was sublime. My husband had the lamb shank and I had their fish chowder. Both were top notch. The lamb shank was out of this world! I don’t think I’ve ever lamb shank as good as this was. The food was so good Thursday night that we decided to have breakfast at the same place. I had the eggs Benedict and my husband had his kids and gravy. And again the eggs Benedict was the best eggs Benedict I’ve had in a restaurant ever. The weight staff, Art, was courteous and ver professional. We look forward to our next day in Nevada city as we’ve had such a wonderful time! Oh, and Thursday night was Irish night, songs and instrumentals! So much fun!!! All of this on a Thursday night. What else could...
Read moreWent there for Mother's Day the food was superb. My wife and son both got 2 entrees, which were amazing, as was mine. One was French toast done in a way that was just unique. My hash was also over the top. Staff were harried of course but service was plenty good enough. I really appreciate how easy it was to make the reservation online. More recently I went to the bar and was insulted by the saddest whisky sour I had ever encountered or even heard of, small, flat, tasteless, 14 bucks. The bartender should have paid me to dispose of the thing. I also prefer the old, semi-decayed, impossible to guess the last time work was done decor. The new look is plain, bloodless, uninteresting, it has no connection to gold rush history that I can see. If I ever order a drink from that bar again, it will be a bottle of beer. That way,...
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