Fall in Love with Lola

Café Lola embodies her romantic moniker in the most subtle and seductive ways. This bohemian French bistro’s intimate space invites, and will leave you wanting to linger in her comfortable embrace far longer than you intended.

Authentic French cuisine, of both Parisian and Provencal persuasions, is lovingly and masterfully prepared by Lola’s chef and owner, Henri Donneaux. Together with his partner and wife, Ivanina, Henri has created a dining experience that infatuates. Such is the spirit of Lola.

The wine list alone is enough to entice, offering carefully selected bottles from around the globe, matching Lola’s eclectic soul. Whimsical cocktails, like “Hemingway in Paris,” “The Starving Artist” and, my favorite, “Madame Pigalle,” a flirtatious combination of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, champagne, and Absolut Pears, help set the scene for this most amorous of dining experiences.

And then, you eat.

Every dish Lola serves up is more enchanting than the last. Nothing is over-prepared or over-presented; the quality of the ingredients and the pure talent of Chef Henri require no artifice. From the Salade Verte with a delicate champagne vinaigrette, to the Steak au Poivre in a well-balanced green peppercorn sauce, the dishes delight your palate. If you’re paying Lola a lunchtime visit, please don’t miss the Merguez sandwich, a savory and spicy indulgence, paired with perfect pommes frites. Lola’s proprietors overlook nothing; they even whip their own butter.

The wait staff is knowledgeable and remarkably intuitive. They’ll leave you to indulge in your culinary liaison, only to appear when you realize there is something else you require.

Like any good mistress, Lola enchants. She will leave you smitten. And she makes it seem effortless. If you’re ready for your next great moveable feast, pay Lola a visit.

Find Café Lola at 57 Unquowa Road in Fairfield.

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