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Real People. Real Reviews.®
I've been to Lolitas last year and always had planned to write a review but never did. I had to go back again to finally get to write one, and it's well deserved.
The place has a warm feeling to it, like a cozy South American restaurant. The lighting is pretty dark but not too much. The service is good and relaxed; the girls are nice, tattooed, and friendly.
The margaritas are what they call "hand made". Me and my friend ordered the lime margarita, but only took one each (probably a record in my case) as I had plans that involved walking, talking and not stumble around. One of my South American friend always told me that what he likes in a margarita, is the bitterness, your mouth burning with sourness. I got that. And I liked it. I am a margarita enthusiast as I make my own, and I can say that those are pretty damn good ones.
For the food we had the Enchilada Verduras and the Lolita's tacos (pulled achiote chicken with salsa verde & crema AND ground beef & chorizo with pomegranate demi-glaze). This comes with a salad and rice. The portions are not that big but since the food is fresh and heavy (beans :)), you get full pretty fast. The food came and two tacos were placed under the chicken and two under the beef. The problem with that is I tend to eat slow and by the time we got to the taco on top, it started to be a little wet. Note to self: Eat the taco on top first !
All in all this was a great experience. The restaurant looks good and comfortable, I would go for a date or for a drink with friends. It's definitely a cool place to hang out. A little pricey, but worth it.
Not every Mexican restaurant is a "Mexican" restaurant.
Lolitas is a great restaurant, but it's definitely Can-Mex food. It's pricey, the food is excellent, but if you are looking for authentic, I'd look elsewhere.
We last dined here on May 5. Cinco de Mayo is a cause for celebration for Mexicans - a holiday remembering how the Mexican army defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, so imagine our disappointment to discover that the owners didn't even know what cinco de mayo was, let alone didn't have any specials to celebrate the occasion.
I enjoyed my meal at Lolitas. Great service, vibrant atmosphere. Reasonable prices. But I stop short of calling it Mexican.
This place is fun, tasty and the beverages are spot on.
It's not cheap, as you will likely have more than one drink and eat way too much, but everything is tasty and with a buzzing, tight ambiance it's easy to spend a few hours.
Not great for big groups but perfect for 2-4 (4 max) as it's close seating and usually quite busy. I wouldn't call the food Mexican, more Mexican-inspired but extremely good with bold flavours and reasonable portions.
I fiiiiinally dined at the West End's Lolita's this past week, after several years of hearing good things about it and seeing it as I have walked/run along Davie, en route to Stanley Park. My family tried Lolita's older, brash cousin - Me & Julio - last year and I have discovered that I feel the same way about both of Jaison and Lila Gaylie's establishments.
Vancouver doesn't "get" Cal-Mex, let alone authentic Mexican cuisine. The appeal of West Coast Mexican food is its bold flavours, value, and satisfying simplicity. From Whale's Vagina (San Diego) to Blaine, every US city worth its salchicha offers an array of cheap and kickass Mexican restaurants. But nooooo...all you can get upon entering hoighty-toighty, chi-chi Vancouver is designer desayuna and yuppified yerbabuena. Yes, Lolita's has stellar cocktails and beautifully-plated entrees. Yes, Me & Julio's specials are super creative and will start a party in your mouth hole. But this is beside the point because Vancouver needs some Mexican restaurants that are somewhere between a taqueria and a boutique eatery such as Lolita's.
My foodie pal and I ordered the Plantanos con Creama, the Turkey Tostada, and the Brisket Taquitos. To reiterate, the food created under the Gaylies is always punchy and pretty, so I cannot state that I did not enjoy my meal. I'm just getting sick of enjoying these types of $16 dishes, when what I would really prefer is a $5 tamale or $7 birria like I have had in countless Mexican cantinas and restaurants south of the border. I would definitely go back to Lolita's for a cocktail and those delectable plantains, but I'd probably eat somewhere else along Davie.
One final, snarky thought: would you naturally *want* to dine at a restaurant owned by a guy who spells his name "Jaison"? It's like wanting to listen to the music of a singer-songwriter named KT ("Katie") Tunstall, or wanting to read a book by an author named Poppy Z. Brite. I should trust my gut more often, before I fill it.
Buzzing atmosphere, delicious mojitos and a creative Mexican menu - you can't go wrong at Lolita's.
This popular little haunt means I've generally waited for a table, but you can easily order a drink at the bar and peruse the menu for the short while. The decor offers a Mexican rustic seaside feel which translates beautifully in both summer and winter. The location is small so be prepared to get cosy with your neighbour.
I think food taste better when stolen off someone else's plate, so Lolita's is perfect for sharing dishes. I can't go past the slow roasted smoked beef taquitos or the soft halibut tacos. Mojitos are delicious.
Lolita's is a wonderful option for a date or dinner with friends. It's hard to find a restaurant that guarantees you a great atmosphere every time, so this is a must for your next evening out.
Where to begin? It's not Mexican food, really. Crappy margarita. Overpriced food. Music WAY too loud, we had to shriek to be heard by our table. Fleetwood Mac Rumours on rotation - it played 3 times! Inattentive wait staff. It doesn't matter how good the food is if the experience is a struggle for the patron. Who needs it? There's too many great restaurants in the city. Don't bother.
Background: I've been to Mexico 3 times in the last 2 years. It's near and dear to my heart. The kitchen here is open late and my friend intro'd me here at 1am yesterday night.
Food: Girly cocktails hit the spot including a lychee-guava-something-something I ordered yesterday that was killer. It comes with an umbrella so you can look pretty. Mixed ceviche comes in an appetizing mound on a bed of guac and a blue tortilla chip. My that sounds sensual. It's delicious but the meat was a bit too cooked by the citrus. Crab cakes were just the right texture and had all sorts of fun veggies mixed into it. It came with a nicely complementing ensalada with a bright vinaigrette.
Ambiance: The latin beats are funky as hell and numerous people were interrupting their nosh session to funk it out. I love this place. It's great for dates.
Service: Good although a bit ADD. Lacked the personalized touch.
Pricepoint: $20-30 per person to eat and drink here. Coming just for drinks is a realistically good option.
Overall: This place is new-age Mexican cuisine, has a sensual kitsch atmosphere, and truly deserves a regular spot in anyone's weekend nightlife.
My rating is 2 stars lower than I would've rated it 2 years ago simply because they stopped serving brunch. Lolita's was my favorite brunch location -- they had amazing french toast and DE-licious coffee -- but probably were a victim of their own success because they were constantly packed Saturday and Sundary br-oon, and seemed to have staffing issues.
Food:
BUT, their evening dishes are great as well. I wouldn't call it Mexican cuisine as it's much much better than that and way more unique, but it's in the similar style, wherein you can get re-fried beans and pulled meats, etc. They've got a number of funky Caribbean drinks (Mojito!), and it's a pretty funky place to hang out (if you can get in).
Service:
Again, I think they have staffing issues (i.e. not enough), so you may have to wait a while to be seated/served. But the staff are pleasant and funky -- gotta love the tattoos on the ladies ;)
Environment:
It's a bit small for me, but the decoration is unique (all their decor is hand-made, including the tables), and it is cozy.
I'm hoping you read this Lolita's so you bring back your amazing brunches!!
Lolita's is a very tiny, cozy Mexican restaurant in the West End. It's popular with locals and therefore almost always crowded. The loud music, close quarters and surrounding conversations tend to make it unsuitable for long intimate conversations, but it's a great casual place to stop by for a drink and an appetizer.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. Service is quick but informal, and the poor waitresses are constantly bumping into everything due to the lack of space. I recommend sitting at the bar if you are over 5'9" - you'll have a bit more elbow room. Don't overdress, it gets pretty warm in here!
The best thing Lolita's has going for it is the atmosphere. This place is always buzzing and you really feel like having a drink or two while you are here. With a Polynesian inspired decor it feels somewhat like a tiki bar.
The food is what you might call modern Latin, I am trying to avoid using the word fusion. The owner and chef once worked at Bin 941 and you can see a resemblance between the two although Lolita's is more casual affair. The food is excellent and full of fresh clean flavours, nothing feels heavy or greasy at all. A great effort at moving Mexican flavours into restaurant quality dishes.
Why people rave about the drinks here is beyond me though. They were ok but not balanced well at all. Way too sweet in general and no real effort to work with the flavours of the liquor. I am sure a lot of girls will love the sweet taste and pretty colours but for anyone serious about good cocktails, stick to the beer or perhaps a tequila straight up.
Overall well worth a visit and definitely one of the top places on Davie St.
Listed in: Davie Street
At my stepdad's request: Mexican, I took him here for his 60th birthday. And it was perfect.
Yes, it's not authentic Mexican but it's damn good fusion and the drinks pack a punch. Heck, even my mum who's not a liquor drinker got into the margaritas!
The music's loud (too loud to really converse) but that helps with the party party atmosphere and once you imbibe in a couple of cocktails you too will be turning up the volume.
The place was packed when we got there for a 9pm dinner and so we had to wait until a table cleared out, this was fine except there really isn't anywhere to wait and have a drink in the meantime - the bar was completely full. They don't take reso's so if you're going to want to eat at a table and not wait then i would suggest showing up on the earlier side of the dinner rush.
Service was fine, a little short-staffed considering how full the place was. But all in all, I'll definitely be back again.
Had a great time in this funky atmosphere. Service was amazing and I would but the food at above average. Vancouver seems to miss the target consistantly with its Mexican resturants..what's up with that? Mexican people..revolution. But, still I will definately be back.
Lolita's is a fantastically unique place along Davie St. in Vancouver. Very tiny and hidden along a block you wouldn't expect to find a restaurant. The inside is a very caribbean-inspired and hip with a Mexican flare, and the food is equally unique. It's not authentic Mexican, but instead a Mexican fusion.
First, let's get a few complaints out of the way. It's very tiny, so it often feels cramped, even when seated. There's no real place to wait while your waiting for a table but to hover in a small area right by the door or outside. On the plus side, they're more than happy to serve you a drink while you wait. Second, sometimes the service can be a bit slow due to often due to being understaffed. Finally, it can get pretty warm, especially in the summertime, so dress light!
That's it with the complaints. On to the good stuff, and there's plenty!
First off, the drinks. The Piña Lolita. It's a fantastic drink you expect to be sipping while laying on the beach in the Caribbean, and easily the best drink on the menu. I crave this drink all time time. It's that good. If you choose to go beyond the Piña Lolita, you can't go wrong. Plenty of great mixed drinks, beer, and even wine on the menu.
As for the food, I haven't had a single thing here I dislike. The salsas are fantastic (all three of them), and so's the guacamole. Every meal should start with that. The ceviche habañero is also fantastic, and something I didn't expect to find. You want something light? Try that. The beef taquitos. Enough said.
But those are just the appetizers. If you need something simple, Lolita's Tacos are a simple but delicious way to go. You have the choice of six different types (of which you get two). My recommendation? The ground beef and chorizo with pomegranate demi-glaze. And for the second? Go with the vegetarian one. It's really that good. Not all tacos need meat.
This review is getting longer, so as for the other dinner options, they're all pretty good. The steak is my favorite, though. Lots of food. Big plate.
Go to Lolita's, guys and girls. You might have to wait a bit. It might be warm inside. It might feel a bit cramped. But the food and the drinks make it worth it.
Listed in: Best Vancouver Restaurants
Food is awesome, ambience is really cool and hip, but it's really expensive for what you get. Drinks are consistently yummy and fruity.
A charming wee Mexican fusion bistro! The food my friend and I split was incredibly tasty and very unlike other Mexican food I have tried in Vancouver. We shared an appetizer and main course and the portions were so big we were absolutely stuffed after.
It is very cramped and crowded so instead of waiting an hour to get a table we sat at the bar which was great because we could order multiple cocktails during our gossip fest! I am always a fan of easy access ;)
I think Lolita's would be a great place to go with a group because then you could order lots of different dishes and share everything. What was coming out of that kitchen looked divine and I wish I could have tried it all.
Ole!
Listed in: take your taste buds on a trip…
Lolita's a nice spot on Davie. "Hip" comes to mind. As noted before, the drinks are Canada-strong, creative, and very tasty. The decor is fun and the chatter convivial. The food is also "la bomba." Be sure to spring for the plantain chips if you're waiting for a table. They come with a nicely seasoned chipotle mayo. Also, the guac is something else. It comes in a delicious creamy mound, and shares space in the bowl with refried black beans. Great, and now I'm salivating.
Cool & dark mexican inspired restaurant on Davie.
Went here with a friend and I had the tacos and the cheese dip appetizer thingy. Both were decent however the tortillas with the cheese dip were raw and awkward and the tacos had this very sweet cabbage over them that dominated the flavors. Nicely spiced otherwise. The food isn't quite what you'd get from other mexican restaurants in town which could be good or bad. Personally I prefer a place like Don Guacamoles, the food is considerably less pretentious.
Stylish interior however the seats are all next to each other making a private dinner somewhat difficult. Portions are large but the dishes are relatively expensive for what the place offers. Service was quite disinterested from a group of women who seemed like they weren't terribly excited by being there.
Much better options available for the style of food in this city.
Come for the mexican....get lots of pickled cabbage...it is on everything they serve
I had heard really good things about Lolita's so I decided to try it. I live in Chicago but am in Vancouver weekly for work so I have high expectations for my mexican.
I went with a buddy and we shared a few things...guacamole, beef taquitos, the two tacos (steak and chicken) and the queso fresco.
The guacamole was topped with pickled cabbage and was a guacamole with a bean dip on the bottom, it was ok. The chips tasted like cool ranch tortilla chips but we got a refill on the chips and they clearly make their own.
The queso fresco was good. They had a few salsas on the side that really made this dish. The tacos were topped with pickled cabbage but this gave the tacos a great taste. Keep the pickled cabbage here! The beef taquitos were nothing special.
All in all, probably the best mexican in Vancouver, the food has a good taste and the margaritas go down easy. It is a small little restaurant so you may have to wait some time for a table but it is worth it.
Newschool Mexican in a cozy bumpin' atmosphere, me likee :)
Great place to catch up with friends and knock back a couple (maybe more :P) mojitos.
Food: Only been there once but I was impressed by the dishes balance in textures.
i.Heart: Soft shell crab (man I'm a sucker for soft shell crab) with tamales. Chocolate espresso rubbed steak with chipotle mashed potatoes (this was on special).
Service & Atmosphere: Intimate, cozy and jungle feverish.
Listed in: For Two Please
So far, the best Mexican food I've had in the Northwest. Which is funny, cause its Canada.
Best part of the restaurant, its island theme, like a tiki bar.
Good margaritas, and more a bar atmosphere (loud).
I loved it. But someone really needs to let those canucks the difference between Hawaii and Mexico.
Funky Mexican fusion cuisine you have never imagined possible. It is possible, it's at Lolita's. Everything I have tasted on their menu was memorable. Their fish tacos are so legendary I find myself trying time over time to replicate this dish at home thus far with little success.
This is a really busy joint that becomes a loud bar scene in the evenings at which point service can be a bit touch and go. Arrive early and beat the bar-stars to the punch.
I have a lot of respect for a place that takes such care to make my cocktail not only delicious, but memorable. When you order your mojito (or other sinful selection) you can watch as the staff behind the bar muddle your mint and squeeze fresh limes.
The cheese fondue was tasty, but I would only recommend it if you're spitting between more than two people. It's so heavy because they give you a generous amount of cheese. The four tortilla shells will not be enough. I got hooked on Tortilla Soup while I was in Oaxaca so I was excited to try it here. Tortilla soup was never the same twice in Mexico and this is another different take on the recipe that I enjoyed.
It's a lively spot on already-fun Davie Street and worth the wait to eat there.
A sweet lil' late night spot with amazing food at great prices! Try the Ensalada de espinaca....heavenly delicious! They are open until 2am every day so if you wanna place to hit up after a good show on a weeknight, make your way to Lolita's, it will definitely hit the spot.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
A small, narrow and dark space entirely made of wood (it feels) is one if my favourite spots. The servers almost all have full bodied tattoos and are female and very pretty. It's an edgy space that mixes fresh, organic West Coast ingredients with a brilliant Mexican edge. Everything is made from scratch. The guacamole and handmade tortillas, plantains and creme and ceviche are calorie-laden addictions that I must have at least once a month. The quesadillas and shared fish dishes are perfect to share. The mango and chili margarita and their pages long Tequila menu is not for the faint of heart. It's always full, waiting is inevitable but worth it.
Listed in: Top Restaurants
This tiny little whole in the wall restaurant is super cosy and romantic. It has my fave Mexican food in the city, and they make a mean margarita. It's very tiny though so don't bring a group - 2 people is perfect. Also go early cause there is often a line out the door.
This downtown joint gets five stars for the margaritas alone. I don't think I've ever had one with so much oomph before. They're the real thing. And they come with cocktail umbrellas in case you were hoping for a souvenir. The food is also quite good, spicy and fresh, and the décor is kind of Mexican gone funky. It's a pretty cramped little place, so there's often a line to get in, which tends to grow as the evening gets later, so if you don't want to wait in line, or be forced to go down the street, get there early and stay late.
Finding tasty Mexican fare in the Pacific Northwest is no easy task. My cravings weren't satisfied with Taco del Mar so I was tickled mole to find Lolita's, a fun and appetizing cantina on Davie Street. As with most places with atmosphere in Vancouver, Lolita's space is cramped. The décor is Latin festive without oozing maracas and piñatas. Lolita's service is friendly but a wee slow. We enjoyed a raspberry mojito (!) and a standard margarita - it's a fine place for just drinks. We ordered the ceviche and the chili relleno - both indulgently good. The prices are also indulgent - over my budget for a casual dine but damn deserving of a special occasion. I had regulated myself to a life of sushi. Vancouver just got a little more interesting.
Listed in: Let's eat
Came here while visiting Vancouver for a week. A good choice. The seafood paella was tasty and, refreshingly, quite spicy. My associates were more than pleased with their halibut soft tacos. Good drinks, too.
Now it may be because every time I come here I meet strangers who rain compliments on my friends and I, but Lolita's always leaves a good taste in my mouth. Not just because of the food, which is great Mexican fushion, but rather it's one of those places with a great vibe. You feel pleased you went. A favourite West End haunt, the bar is open late nightly and is great for pre or post drinks on a night out. The room is long, narrow and tends to feel packed, which does well to compliment the vibe. The staff is outgoing and warm, and genuinely give off the vibe that they're happy you're there. Obviously much of this is the ability to feign interest, which the industry necessitates. Well, at least they do it well. This is a great place for a cold night this winter. Sit at the bar and drink brandy. Say hi to me, I'll be there.
Listed in: The Places I Go Out, My Neighborhood
Neighborhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
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