From the moment we dipped the complimentary, soft Focaccia filled with pecorino cheese and sun-dried tomato into the extra virgin olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar at Lolita's Kitchen, we predicted it was going to be a good night.
Lolita's Kitchen, located at 2219 N. Commerce Parkway in Weston, is a cozy, family-owned hidden gem, serving international cuisine with Colombian flair. It's owner Hector Alonso and his brother Fernando do everything from greeting the guests, to entertaining the diners, to making sure everything runs smoothly in the kitchen. This family is quite familiar with the restaurant business. They have two other eateries in Cali, Colombia: Restaurante Mochika serving an infusion of Peruvian cuisine and Patio Santo (also known as El Patio), a popular place featuring live shows and entertainment.
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Focaccia filled with Pecorino Cheese and Sun-dried Tomato |
Initially starting with more of a fast food approach, Lolita's Kitchen has evolved in the year and a half it has been around. Now it serves an incredibly diverse menu with traditional favorites and global fare. It has a jovial ambiance, with its "Sharing and Creating Life's Little Pleasures" philosophy and bright green hues. On the walls hang flat-screen T.V.s perfect for watching sporting events (I'm already thinking ahead to next year's Heat win) and for following along during open mic time.
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Michelada |
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Fundido Lolita's |
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Caipirinha |
As we looked at the menu, we decided to order a Michelada: a traditional Mexican drink consisting of a "prepared beer", in this case made with Aguila, a salted rim and a splash of lime at the bottom. We also ordered a nice, cold Caipirinha, for the cocktail lover in me. Our first appetizer was the
Fundido Lolita's, a marriage of mushrooms and vegetables sautéed in cream, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It was creamy, thick and full of flavors and textures. We also tried
Lolita's "Mozzarella en Carroza"(Mozzarella in a Carriage)
which consisted of fresh baked mozzarella sitting on a bed of basil pesto and topped with a mound of ripe tomatoes. I completely enjoyed how the bold flavor of the pesto complemented the more delicate taste of the baked mozzarella.
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Lolita's "Mozzarella en Carroza" |
Next we had one of my favorites of the evening: the
Mexican Soup. It sounded so appetizing on the menu, I figured I'd give it a go even if I had to walk the block ten times after dinner. One slurp and I was hooked. Imagine a hot, creamy soup filled with crispy tortillas, shredded chicken, melted cheese, pico de gallo, slices of fresh avocado, corn, jalapenos, pork cracklings and sour cream. A meal on its own, you have to try this dish.
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Mexican Soup |
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Hector and Alvaro |
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Alvaro Ruiz |
By now the entertainment was starting, and Hector, the talented owner, was rocking it on the mic alongside Alvaro Ruiz, singer and comedian. Already close to 11 pm. the place was packed and it was a very family-oriented ambiance where everyone was having a good time. The later it got, the more alive Lolita's became. The party continues way into the night on the weekends.
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Lolita's "Lomo Jalapeno" |
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Passion Fruit Salmon |
We ordered our entrees:
Lolita's "Lomo Jalapeno", and the
Passion Fruit Salmon. The 10 oz. steak was thick and juicy, grilled to perfection and rested on a pool of roasted tomato and honey sauce. It was topped with melted mozzarella cheese and jalapenos, and served with Pasta Alfredo and their special salad. The grilled salmon was tender and flaky, bathed in a passion fruit sauce and also served with Pasta Alfredo and a salad. We enjoyed the combined flavors in this sweet and savory dish.
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Nutella Crepes |
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Banana Wrapped in Puff Pastry |
For dessert, we sampled two of their favorites: the
Nutella Crepes and the
Banana Wrapped in Puff Pastry. The crepes were a chocolate lover's dream - sweet and decadent, filled with the gooey treat and served with vanilla ice-cream. The caramelized bananas were wrapped in puff pastry, drizzled with chocolate and also served with a scoop of ice-cream and fruit.
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Cafecito |
As you know there couldn't be an open mic night and me not take part. So, I decided to sing the karaoke version of
Olvidame y Pega La Vuelta from Pimpinela, with Hector. While I doubt I'll be getting a call from American Idol anytime soon, I don't think I did half bad. I've actually been practicing these past couple of weeks because it was so much fun, I really want to do it again soon.
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And there she is...the next American Idol! |
So, if you're looking for a night of great food, in a fun, family-style setting, look no further than Lolita's Kitchen. To add to the excitement, there is something different going on each night: Broadway Night on Mondays, Comedy Night on Wednesdays and Latin Night on Fridays and Saturdays with live entertainment to dance the night away. They also offer a pretty amazing daily happy hour as well with $5 cocktails and light bites from 5-7 pm. For more information on Lolita's Kitchen, you can call them at 954-389-8871 or visit them online at
http://www.lolitaskitchen.com.
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