First Taste: Lola's

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Lola's caters to Detroit tastes -- good stick-to-your-ribs food, jazz and art. The location, in Detroit’s recently designated Paradise Valley district (formerly Harmonie Park), is in proximity to the Opera House, Music Hall and the stadiums.

The space used to serve Hunter House hamburgers until three years ago when Lola’s moved in. Since then, the décor has completely changed from light-colored wood to rich red-and-brown walls that showcase murals of jazz scenes by local artist GiGi Bolden and bathrooms by graffiti artist Shades.

The space is long with a high ceiling revealing exposed ventilation and low-ambient spot lighting. Rows of dark wood-top tables with white tablecloths sit along the jazz-derived depictions on the walls making the diners feel as if they are amidst the social scenes of the wall art.

An all male wait staff clad in white shirts and black ties reassure attentive service, and the cuisine is tailored for midwestern palates and appetites -- a clever and affordable mix of old favorites and contemporary items. Signature salads with your choice of toppings are available along with classics like Caesar.

Buckets of Lola’s famous wings and orders of catfish are among the favorite a la carte items that can accompany a meal or stand alone. Also, check out the appetizer list’s interesting creations like the crab, crawfish and corn fritters, a mix of crawfish, crab, whole-kernel corn, green chilies and muenster cheese fried and served with pineapple honey mustard and Jamaican relish.

Lola’s offers familiar entrees representing different budgets. Two styles of tempura shrimp, one plain and the other tossed in house made buffalo sauce, a rib-eye steak and a flat-iron steak, tilapia and salmon, and starchier dishes like the garden linguine, a pesto pasta served with assorted vegetables and the seasoned fried rice or a Chinese-style fried rice with assorted vegetables that are topped with Monterey Jack cheese.

Sandwich items on the entrees menu include the Lola burger served on avalon bread and a smoked turkey reuben.  

Get the full dish on Lola's

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