lolo (Reported Closed)

Doesn't Recommend

picodeguy

Joined 3 years ago

Paella was bland, shrimp was bad.. We've been wanting to try this place for a while and finally

had an opportunity. For tapas we had the empanadas and the anchovie/olive/pepper sticks. We enjoyed both. And I have to admit, I've never had paella before, so if it was really good, maybe I just would rather my food have more flavor. The rice tasted like it was cooked in nothing but onion and tomato broth with a barely noticeable hint of saffron. The octopus and sea scallops on top were good, and probably are what made the dish for two so expensive at $37. But the four big shrimp were not good. My guess is that they were farmed shrimp and not wild caught. After paying $60 plus a tip for a once in a blue moon night out without the kid, I was pretty disappointed that the main dish and my first experience of paella was so flavorless.

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Jonny Hotnuts

Joined 3 years ago

Lolo is great. My wife and I have traveled extensively in Spain and it is truly unfair to judge an Spanish restaurant in America, expecting it to be identical to the food you get in Spain...its not. Many of the basic ingredients are not available (within reason) in this country (Jamon Pata Negra for instance), so at best a Spanish restaurant in the US is "variations on a theme". This being said a good US Spanish restaurant does what it can with whats available & Lolo gets this, (*as does Toro Bravo). Lolos paella was as good (or better) as any we have had in Spain. Everything across the board was better than expected. While not everything was true Spanish I say "so what", the food was great, the service was great and was a very nice dinning experience.

The only thing I can find bad to say was finding a parking spot wasnt the easiest......boo hoo on my end really! BFD!

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danniissopicky

Joined 5 years ago

loved it. I am not a fan of the tapas concept. Somehow, this didn't feel like that, we ordered 1o-12 plates, for four of us, plus cocktails (plenty) and our bill was crazy low. I was full and happy and the food was fresh and gorgeous to look at. The atmosphere is great and the people-watching was epic. You should take people you like here.

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elsabor

Joined 6 years ago

really good. Always wanted to try this place and between a strong craving for spanish food and my last disappointing visit to toro bravo I visited lolo. The service was friendly and prompt. I noticed a few things on the menu that seemed strange to me (ex. american burger) but steered clear of them entirely. If you know anything about spanish cuisine you can find several authentic foods here. Between me and another we had a few glasses of wine, and tried eight different tapas for about $60, not bad. The seafood items were my favorite here. I will return.

Doesn't Recommend

Oregonwineguy

Joined 4 years ago

Are we in Spain?. Had a very nice meal last week just about ruined by an absurd wine list! The food was very good, the service was acceptable but I could not get over the lack of Oregon wines and micro brews on the list. Sure they had like two Oregon pinots but what about all the excellent Southern Oregon Tempranillos? The Spanish Temp my wife had by the glass was awful and $8 a glass! I had the one Oregon micro brew offered--they even had a Spanish beer on tap. What is it with these Portland restaurants bragging about Oregon salmon, lamb, breads, chicken, produce, etc. and matching them with foreign wines! Are you simply not aware that Oregon has over 400 wineries and produces over 20 varietals? When you went to Spain, did you order a California wine? Or a French or Italian wine? No, you had a LOCAL (Spanish) WINE!!! Why should we support your restaurant when you do not support our own State? My wife wants to go back but I will not until you open your eyes and start supporting your own state's wine industry

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zdenka

Joined 8 years ago

Fantastic Food and Fun. I have been a fan of this place since it opened , we are so lucky to explore such fine dinning at Lolo's .

Chef Rory habitually creates fresh incredible dishes every night !

Lolo's staff is fun & energetic always enticing us to try new things . Last night we had Marinated seasonal

oranges, shallots with an Olive tapenade. Beautiful presentation , beautiful home made tagatelli with squash and chestnuts . Winter love in a bowl !

Every Wed. night happy hour all night ! Mike the bartender always has some new infused drink up his sleeve !

see you there !

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parlor55

Joined 5 years ago

i love Lolos. This is a great place a casual drink or snack. The variety of

food is wonderful and the cocktail menu is fun.

A real gem!

i especially enjoy the spicy almonds and the olive and oranges!

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relixwjm

Joined 9 years ago

awesome server...great sangria...faboo food. pork empanada with avo and pineapple was great...nice pineapple finish... ceviche was light and tart...scallops dish was killer

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maguro

Joined 7 years ago

Authentic and excellent taperia. I happened into here with my dining partner and I was amazed that it was not full at all on a Friday night while Toro Bravo is inpenetrable and always crowded - but lolo is far better. I agree with the other reviewer who has been to Spain. I lived in Spain and this is no way Americanized, it is more the real thing than Toro Bravo which is good but mediocre in comparison. Ceviche was wonderful, chorico (Portuguese chorizo) great, gazpacho excellent. I recommend it highly. Delicious and authentic and reasonably priced.

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bluesbread

Joined 7 years ago

Great food that transcends category. I see people calling this the best tapas place around. True, but that doesn't go far enough. It's one of the best Portland restaurants of any kind -- based on the food, anyway. I've only been there once, and sat at a sidewalk table, so I can't comment on the atmosphere inside. The service was friendly and helpful, if a bit leisurely (which wouldn't normally be a problem but we were in a bit of a hurry). But everything we ordered was incredibly delicious and unusual. Even the burger is stupendous and super-gourmet! What a kitchen.