I cannot say enough good things about Bar Lola - just make your reservation right now and then prepare for a glowing review.
Sure, it's a titch off the beaten path, but that should't stop you. Get out of the downtown chaos and enjoy ample street parking and a calm, quiet vibe - you can even sit outside and dine al fresco on a warm evening.
On to the food: The menu is broken down into courses. The first and second courses are light appetizers, with the firsts being more like plates to share. We split up a dozen of the local oysters with a bright champagne mignionette, the charcuterie plate which featured amazing jamon, chourico and salami, and a trio of local cheeses. All were delectable and a perfect start to the meal. My second course was a single (and perfectly prepared) carnitas taco - a hint of spice, great, deep flavor and fresh, crisp slaw. The third course options feature hand-made pastas, risotto, etc. I skipped right to the fourth course and snagged one of the last of the specials, the local dab filet which was light, delicate and beautifully cooked. Paired with fresh vegetables and a gorgeous butter sauce it had been poached in, it was one of the best things I have eaten in a while. Totally delicious.
Their desserts are well worth saving room for, so I was glad to have skipped the third course (although one of my companions ordered the risotto for her entree, and it was phenomenal). We shared the basil panna cotta with balsamic reduction and pine nuts and the hazelnut chocloate mousse. Both were outstanding and just the right size for a sweet-ish taste post-meal. The basil panna cotta was so unusual and the perfect desert of you're not a huge fan of sweets.
Lastly, the service - impeccable, sincere and helpful. We were warmly greeted, quickly seated, well attended to and, when the restaurant emptied out around us, we were never made to feel rushed. Truly outstanding.
I look forward to returning to Bar Lola several times in the future. Such a wonderful spot!
Bar Lola gave me one of the best meals of my life. Â Hands down, everything was spot-on. Â I feel as though someone cracked into my brain, discovered my palate, and made dinner just for me.
Being the adventurous types, we went for the 7-course "feed me," with wine pairings, but the kicker is that each of us got a different dish each course. Â Even the salads were different. Â Each course was delicious and the wines were amazing. Â We especially loved the carnitas taco, the scallop entree, duck ham, and the desserts - almond cake paired with sherry, and basil panna cotta with muscato.
Also, service and ambiance were outstanding. Â The space is clean and simple, and Stacey our server, and Stella, the owner paced everything out perfectly. Â When Stella served us the first wine course she said, "If you don't like the wine, let me know, we have a whole room full of it in the back." Â We are absolutely in love with Bar Lola. Â
The next time I am in Portland (which I now hope is sooner rather than later) I will be back to Bar Lola for another Feed Me.
Best food in Portland? Â So far. Â Yes. Â Comparatively speaking of places in Portland, Maine this review is definitely based upon that. Â That being said, will not complicate this review with specifics. Â Been to all the typical in Portland for excellent food (Fore Street, etc.), this is my only five star.
1) Food- excellent, great execution, obvious good technique, et cetera. Surprises and stand-by's.
2) Waitstaff- professional, knowledgeble, not folksy, perfect timing and level of attentiveness (what more do you want?). Â A good supervising manager, attention to detail but not making servers or clientele uncomfortable. Â Well done.
3) Decor- Simple casual elegance. Â One simple step up and got it nailed.
4) Atmosphere- Knowledgeable regular dining crowd albeit a very old set.
5) Drinks- ok, but bartender a little akward (at least when sitting at bar table). Â Good choice of beer and wine.
We had an absolutely lovely dinner at Bar Lola the other night.  The food was great (highlights included one of the best cocktails I've ever had, the outstanding cremelle pasta, and a wonderful pork rib dish).  But what motivated me to write this -- my first ever  yelp review -- was the beyond gracious service.  The owner/hostess went well above and beyond to accommodate us (we were traveling with our well-behaved but young son) in a way that I have never experienced in any other restaurant.  The waitstaff was exceptionally friendly and kind, without being overbearing.  The chef even sent out fresh melon (perhaps my son's favorite thing).  It was all so exceedingly pleasant that, before we knew it, we had passed a truly memorable 2-hours in a truly wonderful restaurant.  Will look forward to returning and to sending friends.
Review Source:This is one of the best meals I've had in Portland. Really. Delicious.
We made reservations for a late Friday evening dinner. Our table took a few extra minutes to get ready, but we were happy to sit on the lovely couches just inside the door while perusing the drink menu. The atmosphere of the restaurant is intimate and charming and the salty breeze from the Eastern Prom entered through the open windows. Surprisingly, despite its name, the bar is small and only one tap of beer was available. There were several cocktail, wine and bottled beer options, however.
Each of our party of three chose the 4-course tasting menu which is fairly priced at $36. For cocktails, we chose the East End Diesel ($6) - a delightful mix of Allagash White, ginger beer and Creme de Cassis - which was like beer's spin on a champagne cocktail. My husband also had a rye whiskey cocktail ($10?) that he loved, but I was too engrossed in my own to remember details about his.
It was difficult to criticize the comforting yet creative food offerings we tasted at Bar Lola. The website indicates that the menu changes frequently so I won't gush over each dish individually except to say that the homemade pasta dishes were divine and perfectly al dente, the warm kale salad w/ egg was innovative and left us wanting more, and I will probably have dreams about the fantastically crispy skin that sat atop my salmon dish. Dessert was also good, though perhaps not the highlight of the four courses. That said, I still finished every bite.
Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and most certainly helped to elevate our dining experience. Dishes did arrive a bit slow, the whole experience took about 2 hours, but we were so satisfied with our drinks, conversation and the aforementioned sea breeze that we hardly noticed the extra time.
Bar Lola is most certainly a place I will go back to and recommend to any of my friends!
Bar Lola, I am so glad that you and I had a chance to see each other again. Â Allow me to recount how much I enjoyed our dinner together.
You first presented me with soft, delicious bread with seasoned oil, accompanied with a nice glass of Syrah-Grenache. Â I enjoyed this until you tantalized my palate with oil-cured tuna with capers, accompanied by an excellent dish of fingerling potatoes cooked with spinach and chorizo. Â Lastly, you served up a dash of freshness with a frisee and cauliflower salad as well as a splendid fish dish accompanied with the most intriguing curry shredded cabbage and carrots. Â
I enjoyed the ambiance and atmosphere, and was terribly sorry to part your company. Â I do hope that our paths meet again in the future, where I promise to let you treat me again.
The hubby and I had pretty high hopes for Bar Lola based not only on the high reviews fellow Yelpers have awarded it but also the recommendation from friends.
On one hand, I love the tasting menu option, which is available in 4-7 courses, for variety. Â The portions were perfectly sized for this type of experience. Â Although we arrived a few minutes early for our midweek reservation, our table was ready (there were only two other groups of diners, both 3 people or fewer) and we were seated promptly. Â The server was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, and pointed out adjustments that could be made to make some of the offerings vegetarian-friendly. Â
On the other hand, everything up to the dessert was just ho-hum - not terrible but far from excellent and not at all memorable. Â We were there two weeks ago and I can barely remember what I had! Â I do recall liking the salad a great deal, but my chickpea / root vegetable entree was dull, was short on root vegetables, and the chickpeas were an unpleasant gritty texture. Â I'm sure the tasting menu is hard to execute at a place like this, where every table has multiple courses and, due to the small portion sizes, goes through them pretty quickly. Â But we found ourselves waiting and waiting even though there were, as I mentioned, only two other parties there at the time. Â
The take-away message here is that we didn't love it, it was quite forgettable, and there are just too many great options in downtown Portland for us to want to return here again in the foreseeable future.
We really enjoy the experience at Bar Lola every time we go and we've been going for years. Â Last night was a birthday dinner for two and Stella and Guy were wonderful hosts. Â We regularly choose the pris fixe menu because the 5 courses are perfect for a leisurely evening meal.
The charcuterie plate was very nice with a pork belly and a duck confit along with a fennel salume. Â Excellent mustard on the side. Â I had the halibut main dish and my wife the sausage raviolis - delicious on both counts.
Great, affordable wine list and some fun specialties - I had the rare Madeira with dessert and it was amazing. Â My recommendation is the pris fixe 5 course ($39) or the "feed me" (7 course) approach. Â You'll enjoy it. Â For a little more you'll get to add a wine pairing to your experience. Â Even more fun and expertly paired.
For a lovely night out together, you cannot go wrong. Â Be patient though. Â The pacing is usually very good but can be a challenge when everyone in Portland decides to come in on the same night. Â Then, relax, enjoy and anticipate the next course - which will be delicious.
My wife and I had the 7 course "tasting menu" and every course was interesting and delicious. Service was casual and attentive..very personable as well. As a chef and restaurant owner I would recommend this restaurant to people who have a more sophisticated palette...than say those who like olive garden
Review Source:Yay, Bar Lola! Â They are doing it right in Portland! Â I had the "feed me" seven-course meal and was totally surprised by each course. Â This option is perfect for the adventurous eater. Â A delightful mix of seafood, duck, fresh, seasonal vegetables, cheese, dessert...mmmm! Â Plus it's only 44 bucks! Â My husband ordered four dishes. He liked the oyster dish so much, he ordered another! Â The meal was perfectly paced, and the portion sizes were perfect. Â Since it was a Thursday night, we were able to walk next door after dinner and view the city from the top of the lighthouse...what a great evening!!
Review Source:I just ate there this past Wednesday night, and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time (and I've worked in the restaurant business for almost 30 years). My sister got the five course meal, and I got three additional items, and we shared everything. Only one of the eight items we got was less than stellar, and that was only because I thought the basic salad was a bit on the small side for the price - but it still tasted good. The highlight was the mussels - they were amazing, and the broth was ridiculously good. I also had the Manhattan made with Knob Creek, and it was outstanding.
Service was friendly, and everything was paced really well. All in all a great meal in a nice space for a reasonable price - what more could one want?
Wow. Â Bring your appetite and go for the pre-fixe. Â Not exactly in downtown though worth the trip. Â Rated the best restaurant in Portland Magazine. Â Certainly one of the best. Â Small and intimate - not a restaurant structure - was a small house at one point. Â Very interesting mixed drinks. Â Reservations through <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FOpenTable.com&s=c91bdbc3a0ec574526e58696cba3aeccf3c9f0bf51b27a302b229c80b40f42ac" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://OpenTable.com</a>. Â Not over the top expensive.
Review Source:My wife and I spent President's weekend in Portland and wanted to have a nice dinner Friday night. After reading some reviews online and on opentable we decided Bar Lola was the place. We actually wanted to go on Saturday night but it was booked solid which seemed like a good sign.
We arrived about 15 minutes early and expected to wait but were instead seated immediately. The restaurant is pretty small with a nice intimate atmosphere. I would say no more than 10 tables with a small bar. The service was top notch. Our waiter (Steven I think) was very professional while also being friendly. I ordered a 7 course chef's selection dinner while my wife ordered a 5 course prix fixe. We both got wine pairings as well. It would be hard to go in to every course but the definite standout was the pork belly. I would have gone and just ordered 3 servings of the pork belly. It was that amazing.
I can't say there was a single item that we didn't enjoy and by the end of the meal we left completely stuffed. This was the best meal we had in a while and has me craving a return trip to Portland.
This place has become my special neighborhood place, good for a nice dinner or even just dessert and drinks. Guy and Stella have really got a great place here with a delicious menu that is really flexibly formatted. My boyfriend and I have been here twice for dessert (ALWAYS get the cheese plate!) and have ended up being intrigued by something on the small or medium menu. The portion sizes are perfect, you can go 5 course meal (recommended) or share items or pick and choose for the table. Most recently we enjoyed the all-natural meatballs, which were clustered in their tight nest of three and topped with a perfect yogurt sauce with mint and fennel pollen. They pair perfectly with the Leese-Fitch Pinot Noir. If our income supported it we would be here once a week for sure, if not more! The service is fabulous and comfortable from the minute you arrive, Stella is always by the door ready to welcome you. I do wish, however, the bar was just 2 or 3 more seats larger but I understand physical space deters that from being possible.
Anyway I love this restaurant and hope to make it our regular spot in months to come!
Wonderful atmosphere and the service was excellent. However, the food was uninteresting and bland. I tried the 5 course tasting menu to give myself a spread, none of which was terribly interesting. The manchego with honey was ho-hum, the duck confit was interesting and flavorful, the chowder was merely a broth with two mussels and some potato cubes, and the beet salad was ok. My main course of the beef with dark cherries infusion was simply disgusting, not a flavor I want to have again.
The idea of Bar Lola is intriguing; the idea of a puzzle. However, it is not tapas, nor is it a dinner. Not sure how I would place it, but I don't think I'll be bringing my appetite there again.
An amazing meal. Â Just amazing. Â A delightfully comfortable, quite, friendly place. Â Did I mention the meal was amazing? Â We had three seven course dinners, so 21 unique dishes. Â Of those only three items were deemed to be merely very delightful. Â Gosh. Â Possibly the best meal we've had in a decade.
Review Source:This place was excellent. I'm vegan and they were extremely accommodating. The server brought over a menu that the chef had marked up showing what could be made vegan, etc. Â I had a beet and sauteed greens salad, and gazpacho. My dude had the vegetarian entree, which was ricotta inside rolled up thin pieces of squash with a ratatouille sauce. He said his was excellent, and mine definitely was. Great wine too.
Review Source:Just flew in from NYC for a weekend.  Spending only one night in Portland and chose this place for dinner.  So glad we did.  This quaint place on the East End of Portland, "the former ghetto area" as one staffer refered to the area has a great concept for reasonable pricing.  Diners get to chose a 5 course menu for $36 with optional $24 wine pairing.  This is ultimately  a lot of food.  You get to chose from the bite section, the salad section, the medium (appetizer) section, the large section (obviously those of you that eat out regularly will identify these as the main course) and of course who would want to leave out dessert.
So my Fiance and I split a 5 course tasting and added an additonal medium and large course so we didn't totally stuff ourselves. Â The first tiny course which wasn't that tiny we chose to split was the charcuterie. Â The plate came with molinari brothers sopresseta sausage, house made chicken liver mousse and house made duck confit. Â All were delicious with the toast and grainy mustard on the plate. Â Next for our salad course, a delecious spinach salad with a warm bacon dressing was topped with the perfectly tempura crusted fried egg. Â This salad alone is worth the trip to the restaurant. Â From there we each got an appetizer. Â We shared the duck breast in a mustard sauce with sauerkraut and a medallion of monk fish in curry sauce with fennel. Â Both were really delicious. Â Then our main courses of the chicken and dumplings and the hanger steak with spring parsnip puree. Â Both of these dishes...totally tasty! Â The chicken was poached and paired with the lightest dumplings and freshest veggies (peas, carrots and fiddle heads). Â The hanger steak was a perfect medium rare sliced thinly and placed on top of a puree of parsnips. Â Dessert was okay, the choice of the peanut butter chocolate terrine was a dense chocolate/pb treat. Â It was neither overly rich or too sweet but the pb flavor was not shining through. Â I guess I like more PB ratio in a chocolate/pb snack. Â Not like a reese's cup or anything similar. Â
The service was amazing and friendly. Â The restaurant had a homey feeling without being run down, considering it looked brand new. Â I need to find more reasons to come to Portland as the food in this town is worth the trip.
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