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Casa de Campo Living loves doing restaurant reviews, especially when we discover somewhere different and new with such great food we’re desperate to go back – Lolita is one of these restaurants. We liked Lolita so much we’re already planning our next visit…. The ambiance/decor is reminiscent of a ‘gangsta’ movie, a mix between cheesy-gansta chic and a modern soho bar – it’s well designed, with a feel that is sexy, fun and sophisticated. The crowd is not your usually super, ultra trendy, uber cool clientele, who frequent a restaurant because it’s ‘de moda’ rather than because it is actually good – here we found a rather more relaxed, yet obviously well to do set of diners – enjoying a great dinner without the need for being pretentious. So as we arrive at Lolita, before tasting a single morsel, we think to ourselves “this place has potential“. When at Lolita, before you reach for the wine menu we recommend you take a look at the cocktail menu and treat yourself to one of their tropical mojitos, carpiriñas or bellinis – beautifully crafted refreshers before, after or even during any meal. I especially reccommend the Chinola Mojito (RD$240), it is quiet simply delicious, I also tried and very much enjoyed a Coco Mojito (RD$240) and a Kiwi Bellini (RD$260) (what can I say once I’d tried one I couldn’t resist trying a few more!) Whilst for men looking for something a little more ‘fuerte,’ they can enjoy the Mandarina Carpiriña (RD$220) . In fact, the drinks menu itself could be reason enough to come and indulge in an evening out, without the usual hustle, bustle and madness of Santo Domingo.
The Food – we tried, we ate, we overindulged, we liked and we will go back! When doing a review we are always happy to try some of the most popular and best known dishes. Here is how the dishes went. Croquetas de Chistorra de Navarra y Queso Manchego (RD$295) I thought this dish was fantastic and is ideal to share over a nice cocktail to get your meal off to a great start! The texture was crispy not greasy, with a very soft centre of melted manchego cheese and Chistorra de Navarra, something very similar to Chorizo, served on a leaf of arugula. Sopa de Maiz con Camarones y Coco (Plato del dia/dish of the day) This creamy concoction had a light corn flavor, hints of ginger and coconut, caramelised onions, fresh cress and tender pieces of shrimp, with just a touch of spice – the flavour was very authentically thai and absolutely delicious. Sadly, this dish was only making a guest appearance on the menu as a ‘plato del día’ however given it’s popularity, restaurant manager Daniele told us they were considering adding it to the menu, or at least including it as a regularly available dish – so if you don’t see it on the menu, it’s worth asking for. Tuna Tartar vs Tartar Tuna (dos presentaciones diferentes, una con spicy mayo y la otra con nuestra tartar sauce):  RD$295 An interesting pairing of two tuna dishes that was a playful attempt to bring together two different styles of tuna tartar, one very creamy the other a bit salty. An interesting attempt at a ying and yang. All tuna served in Lolita is fresh – caught in the seas around Santo Domingo. Pulpo a la Parilla y Camarones al Jengibre w/ pure de coliflor y tomaticos cherry asados: RD$525 The cauliflower puree stole the show in this dish – it was absolutely lovely, with the slightest hint of vanilla, a consistency of mashed potatoes and an amazing finish. The pulpo and shrimp were what you would expect from grilled pulpo and shrimp -crispy and succulent and accompanied with a little pak choi and cherry tomatoes, that were bursting with flavor! Culotte de Res a Caballo, w/ patatas rosti, chimichurri  y huevo frito: RD$695 This dish is big and done right. A good size portion of Culotte de Res, with russet potatoes that are delicious. This dish stands out for its flavor, texture and simplicity. By sticking to the basics and letting the ingredients speak for themselves, the chef has kept this dish simple, delicious and authentic. The fried egg tops it off beautifully. While this dish is a good sized portion, suitable for any hungry man-folk – eating it you don’t feel like you overindulged, but quite satisfied. Mouse de Pistachio and Mouse de Chocolate: RD$220 each These 2 deserts do not usually come together – although having tried them both, we recommend that you order them together, they compliment each other well. The unique pistachio moose was simply devine – soft, light, creamy and with a really subtle nutty flavour. Overall, the food is Mediterranean inspired, with an international flair – though, and we are happy to see this, they seem to be sticking with what they know and they do it well. The dishes are flavourful, well presented and delicious. The prices are great, especially given the overall quality, the ambiance and the friendly attentive service. Lolita may not the place that is ‘de moda’ but it is certainly chic and unique, with food that stands on its own merits without the need for the smoke and mirrors of trying to be ‘hip and cool’… it actually is. The clientele seem to be primarily repeat clients – a fair feat for a restaurant less than 6 months old. Some extra photos of the food – we took these from Lolita’s Facebook profile: [nggallery id=579] Here are photos of part of their menu – to give you an idea of what else is on offer! TIP: Restaurant manager Daniele is very welcoming, friendly and knowledgable – so if your unsure about what to order, ask for his advice!
Lolita Restaurant Avda.Sarasota 114 Santo Domingo Reservations: 829-535-9556, 829-535-9557 We recommend you make a reservation – despite only being open for 5 months they are usually booked up every Friday and Saturday night.
Disclosure: Please note although our experience at this restaurant was as described above, during each review we find ourselves as guests of these restaurants who typically pay special attention to us, serving their best and most popular dishes to help get a positive word out. Restaurants also change over time, so please note the date when this review was written as things the menu and other factors may have changed since. While we are hope that our review is representative of the food, the service and quality of the overall experience, every case will be different. As a result, your comments, positive or otherwise, are always helpful to keep our fellow readers in the know. If you have a restaurant you would like us to review, feel free to email us at info@casadecampoliving.com