Lola's Cafe — Restaurant in Town of New Paltz

Underwhelming

Having been there twice prior JM and I decided to have dinner this evening at Lolas in New Paltz. We wanted to sit outside somewhere; we didn’t feel like too expensive of a place, but we did wish to have good food. We got two out of three.

Lola’s is on the corner in the heart of New Paltz. There is nice seating outside where it is easy to people watch while you eat. The inside is done nice, simple, clean, sort of hipsterish (Disclaimer – I’m old and think every place is hipsterish)

You order at the counter inside, and then sit where you like displaying a order placard and the server brings you your food.

We arrived about 5:00pm. It was not busy. There was a staff member hanging out talking with some tables of people she seemed to know. The conversation while not really loud did fill up the dining room with noise and seemed as if would continue so we sat outside.

The order-taker seemed annoyed that we were there, she was not at all friendly. Twice while she was taking our order she cut away quick to receive a phone call, no apology or even eye or body language to suggest she knew it may be conceived as rude by us customers. It seemed as though she was annoyed at the staff member who was in the dining area still talking with the crowd she seemed to know. Maybe that staff member would be the phone call taker, or maybe the person who interacts with customers, either way we didn’t get great feelings from the order taking process. We paid, received our order card and informed the girl at the register we would be outside.

When the food came it was very disappointing. My burger seemed not much more then a frozen patty with a few toppings. The fries were clearly frozen supermarket fries. Now there was nothing “wrong” with the burger of fries, they were edible; but from a place such as Lola’s purports to be I would expect better fires then I had last week at the Truck Stop in Maybrook.

JM ordered the tuna sandwich, same as my burger, okay but very undercooked, raw inside actually. As with my burger the sandwich was edible and serviceable, but that’s it.

We had been here twice before and while we do not recall what we had or too many details we do believe had the meal been as what we had today we would not have thought of the place as we had, our expectations were high. We do recall the service the last two times was exceptional, especially for a small order first type place.

Will we return? I don’t know. There is nothing that says I wouldn’t, but I don’t see us going there anytime soon. When and if we do it would be to see if there is any change. Maybe today was not emblematic of the normal service or...

Disappointing Experience at Lola’s Cafe in New Paltz

I rarely take the time to leave negative reviews, but my experience at Lola’s Cafe in New Paltz was truly disappointing. Given the positive ratings, I expected a welcoming atmosphere and good service, but unfortunately, the reality was quite the opposite.

Service: Unprofessional and Unwelcoming

From the moment we arrived, the staff’s attitude was shockingly rude. We waited patiently to be served, only to be met with dismissive and unfriendly behavior. Despite our repeated attempts to place an order, we were completely ignored and, eventually, outright refused service—without any valid explanation. Their condescending tone and lack of basic hospitality made it clear that customer satisfaction was not a priority here.

Cleanliness: A Major Concern

Adding to the negative experience, the restaurant itself was visibly unkempt. Dirty windows, uncleaned tables, and an overall lack of maintenance created an unappetizing environment. A restaurant should uphold at least basic hygiene standards, but Lola’s Cafe failed to meet even the most minimal expectations.

Alternative Options in the Area

New Paltz is home to a variety of fantastic restaurants and cafés that actually value their customers. If you’re looking for a great meal, consider one of the many local Mexican restaurants or bar-style eateries nearby, where you’ll likely receive much better treatment and food in a clean and welcoming atmosphere.

Final Verdict: Avoid This Place

I strongly advise against visiting Lola’s Cafe. Between the unprofessional service, lack of cleanliness, and outright refusal to serve paying customers, this is not a place worth your time or money. With so many better options in New Paltz, you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience elsewhere. Save yourself the regret and choose a restaurant that actually appreciates...

Lola’s Cafe: Rude Staff, No Service, and a Terrible Experience

I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but my experience at Lola’s Cafe in New Paltz was so unbelievably bad that I feel obligated to warn others. This is not a place that should be in the hospitality business—the staff is rude, dismissive, and outright hostile to customers.

Terrible Service from the Start

From the moment we walked in, we were treated like we didn’t belong. The staff barely acknowledged us, refused to answer simple questions, and acted like we were an inconvenience. We waited patiently to be served, only to be met with cold attitudes and outright refusal to provide service. It was clear that they had no interest in making customers feel welcome.

Kicked Out for No Reason

After standing around waiting for service, we simply asked for some clarification, and instead of a polite response, we were rudely dismissed and ultimately told to leave. I’ve never been treated so poorly at a restaurant—it felt like they were looking for any excuse to get rid of us rather than actually doing their jobs.

They Should Not Be in the Restaurant Business

If a restaurant is going to act like this toward paying customers, they have no business being in the service industry. The way we were treated was beyond unacceptable—it was unprofessional, unwelcoming, and downright insulting.

Go Anywhere Else

Luckily, New Paltz has plenty of other great restaurants with friendly service and good food. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and avoid Lola’s Cafe—you’ll regret stepping...