This Saturday Nights Pick-Lola's Tequila Bar & Cantina

Its summer, and with all the cookouts and parties Bob and I have fallen off our usual Saturday night routine. This past Saturday night we find ourselves free, not realizing we do not have a pick. We wanted to eat outside by the water so we headed down to Providence's waterfront and came across Lola’s. The place has a Caribbean feeling open to the out doors. We immediately tell the host we would like to sit outside. Their deck is right at the Foxpoint Marina with the I-Way to the left and the City to the right, making for a nice view. We sit at a colorful picnic table stenciled with red lizards. Each table has an umbrella, which helped with the glaring sun. By the way, the glaring sun turned into a beautiful sunset.

Great drink menu, Bob orders the BADASS, which reads, “Think you are naughty enough? If you need to know what’s in this potent concoction, your not tough enough” $8 Bob had two of these concoction’s which had whiskey, peach schnapps, orange juice and sour mix. He really loves this drink. I ordered two house margarita’s called the LOLA $4. Taste great, lots of alcohol.

We ordered an appetizer. Elotes- “Grilled Mexican street corn with lime mayo, cotija cheese & ancho Chile powder” $7 this appetizer goes beyond our expectations. This corn on the cob comes served with a skewer on a bed of shredded lettuce. The corn was grilled and then drizzled with an unbelievable lime mayo. The char really comes through, the lime mayo mixed with the cotija cheese, and ancho chile just blows us away. (Cotija Cheese is a cow's milk cheese named after the town Cotijia in Mexico)

Bob ordered MARINATED CARNE ASADA ENCHILADAS - served with salsa ranchero, queso fresco, rice, black or refried beans $12. Other choice Enchiladas -Oaxacan Chocolate Mole Enchiladas-stuffed with beer & chipotle braised chicken $12, Twice Cooked Carnitas Enchiladas- served with salsa verde & cotija cheese $10. Bob was very happy with his choice. He said the steak was tender and delicious and the flour tortillas were very fresh. The rice and refried beans were your typical Mexican rice and beans. Bob was very full, but some how ready for dessert.

I order the LOLA’S SIZZLING FAJITAS -”sautéed pepper rajas & cabalettas with a lime-epazote marinade, flour tortillas & trio house sauces. Fajita choices are Carne Asada $17, Carnitas $14, Chicken Tinga $15, Al Pastor $14, Brisket $14”. Fajitas also come with rice, black beans or refried beans. House sauce choices - House Crema, Pico De Gallo, Garlic Mojo, Grapefruit & Mango, Chipotle Ranchera, Tomatill Pico, Citrus Mole, House Salsa, Lime Mayo, Citrus Crema, Chimichurri, Pineapple & Habanero, Salsa Verde, Salsa Macha, Salsa De Molchet, and Sun Dried Tomato Salsa. That is many choices. I felt it was important to include them. I chose the CARNE ASADE with Chipotle Ranchera, Lime Mayo, and Pineapple & Habanero Salsa. The Fajitas come to the table sizzling hot. Lots of sautéed pepper but a little light on the Carne Asada (steak). The sautéed peppers were very tasty and the steak was very tender. The sauces were fantastic. My favorite was the Pineapple & Habanero. I love that heat and sweet taste together. I was also ready for dessert.

We ordered the CHOCOLATE CHIPOLTE CAKE-served warm with berry salsa $8. It sounds great right. Well the waitress had to come back and let us down easy. They have just sold the last piece. Our second choice was LOLA’S MANGOS LOCO- deep fried vanilla ice cream, tequila flamed mangos & plantains, brown butter caramel $10. Now we are very excited until the waitress has to let us down one more time. She was so very honest and told us that the deliveryman left the freezer opened and the ice cream melted. She is so embarrassed and said she was bringing over House Made Churros with nutmeg crème $8 but these would be on the house. These Churros are warm and crunchy. They are beautifully soft inside. Pooled at the bottom of the bowl is the sweet buttery nutmeg crème. Bob and I just kept dipping them in the crème. They were sinful and delicious, no harm done. By the way, the service was great and the waitress was lovely.

Lola's Tequila Bar & Cantina welcomes you Monday-Thursday 4pm-1am, Friday & Saturday 4pm-2am, Sunday 11am-1am

525 South Water Street in Providence, RI | Phone: 401.383.0220 http:// www.lolascantina.com/