Lolita's — Restaurant in Richmond

Lolita’s has been a favorite for us. The bar team is superb, Adan’s cocktails are flawless, and our servers have consistently been gracious. On this visit my chicken tacos were exactly what I wanted. The problem was a snapper crudo that tasted off to both of us on the first bite. We stopped immediately and sent it back out of basic food-safety caution. It was the second time we have encountered questionable seafood here; on a prior visit we were told there had been a supplier change.

When we asked for a manager, the interaction turned combative in a way that surprised us. Instead of starting with an apology and removal, we heard two refrains that put us on trial: that this was the “second time with you,” and that management “knew” the fish was not old. We were not seeking drama or a post-mortem on provenance. We were reporting a simple sensory claim about what was in front of us and declining to keep eating it. Arguing with guests at the table about whether their palates are wrong is not service recovery. The standard response in hospitality is straightforward: remove the item, comp or replace if appropriate, and investigate offstage.

We asked to be left to our drinks because the exchange had become adversarial. The manager later returned quietly to clear the plate, which we appreciated as an attempt to normalize the moment, but the damage to the evening was done. My wife was rattled and left in tears. To be clear, the floor staff and bar team remained excellent throughout, and we tipped our server for that.

We plan to keep coming for the cocktails and the dishes we have always enjoyed. For now we will avoid seafood here, since two experiences have shaken our confidence. More importantly, we hope management re-centers hospitality when handling food-safety concerns. A guest who says an item tastes off should feel believed and cared for, not cross-examined. Remove it, make it right, and take any investigation away from the table. Do that, and the reputation the bar team has earned will be matched by leadership...

Went for a lunch date, Lolita’s came well recommended so I thought this should be a slam dunk…it was not. Parking is what it is in Carytown, expect to search for a block either way, but at least it’s mostly free!! Tuesday lunch was not busy, maybe 3 other tops with about 15 patrons total. Sat at will, drinks right away. We had a waitress in training, she was great, hope she turns out successful, she did her job well! Wanted to sit outside, unfortunately a skelator looking character was posted up next to the sidewalk tables, didn’t want to have a weird exchange with him, so we sat indoors. Service was prompt and continuous, atmosphere was great, what I would expect of a high end eatery in Carytown. The menu was small, it appeared like the chef was trying to hard to make simple dishes trendy….chips and salsa don’t need to be tostadas that I must break apart and small portions of salsa. While the salsa was good, the chips tasted like the stale tostadas I have in my pantry from 6 months ago. Queso for 14, Guacamole for 12? Nah I’m good fam…it was taco Tuesday, so mix and match tacos for 5$ a pop. Not unheard of, I’ll give a shout out to the pastor(pork) with pineapple, that thing was the bomb!! The magi taco was decent too, especially with the salsa from the appetizer spooned on top…too bad it didn’t come with the entree. Tried the mushroom taco, definitely not a good version of a vegetarian taco. The flavors didn’t pop, they didn’t mesh, the room wasn’t crispy nor protein like as a taco should present(IMO). The Pollo Asado was commercial at best, overdone and stiff, good flavor, bad execution. For the 39$ price, 6 tacos, chips(tostados) and salsa, it brought this to 3 stars, almost two, but damn I know they trying hard! It’s a nice 1 time spot to try, but repeat business will not be in my future. Destination Carytown title needs to be removed to save the other establishments that...

Stopped in on a recommendation from a friend who called this an absolute necessity for my trip to Richmond, and my already high expectations were blown out of the water. Service from Avery was phenomenal right off the bat, who was not only welcoming but incredibly well informed on the menu; she helped us with understanding some of the dishes we were less familiar with. The food was an absolute revelation. We started with the guacamole, and followed with the herbal aguachile. The flavor of the guacamole was incredible, and the aguachile was perfectly balanced between spicy, sour, and refreshing. For entrees my partner and I shared both tacos gobernador and suadero, and while I was initially apprehensive at only 2 tacos sold per order, the portions were more than generous, and the taste mind-bogglingly complex. By the time we’d finished our entrees, another server, Allejo (I think I’ve gotten that right?), cleared our table swiftly, and thoughtfully made sure to get our dessert order in before last call. I would like to preface this next part by saying that at this point in the meal I am full beyond my expectations, and I was anticipating to have a few bites of our tres leches before taking the rest home. I started sobbing at the first bite. I was immediately taken to a place I hadn’t been since I was a child in Ft. Lauderdale, my abuela scolding me to not eat my dessert so quickly. I felt dragged back and slingshot across those years in a way that overcame me. It was possibly the best dessert, maybe the best meal I have ever eaten in a restaurant full stop. The entire experience stood as a testament to the power of food as a cultural memory. I left the most full I have been in years, angry at my body for it’s inability to fit more. 11/10, could not possibly...