Lola's Lakehouse - Waconia

My friends Mr. and Mrs. M suggested we go to Lola's for a Tuesday dinner. Being the skint that I am, I was pretty broke, and Lola's is expensive. No worries they assured me - we can split a pizza! I thought.."Just pizza..at a nice restaurant? Weird "But hey - beggars cant be choosers, so off we went!

I was actually quite comfortable upon entering Lola's. Lots of dark wood, nautical themes and exposed stone. We were seated in what is probably the most comfortable booth I've encountered in a restaurant. No easy task for me. The booths were roomy, not too high and not too low, and when I leaned back I wasn't immediately met with stiff wood. There was some give, and I was quite happy in my nook. The restaurant was nearly empty, which I liked. But It made me wonder what the vibe is when it's busy?

We arrived and perused the menu's. I was happy to see their signature drinks were around $6.
Not too cheap, but certainly not as expensive as other places I've been. They also have a nice affordable wine list. I ordered a glass of Cab, and was delighted to recieve it in a stemless glass (because I am a glassware NAZI.) Mr. H joined us, and he ordered a Sidecar.

Their pizzas come in small or large, and they have specialties or build your own. They have a goat cheese and chicken pizza that looks awesome. But we decided on the build your own, with pepperoni and andouille sausage. Yes - andouille. They have some nice topping choices, for $1 apiece!

I polished off my wine, ordered a French Martini and marveled at the lakeside view. They boast a long patio, running the length of the restuarant that is RIGHT by the water. The walls are basically windows, so even from inside you see the sparkling lake. I am not a huge nature person, but a good view is always appreciated and this was no exception.

Our pizza finally came. It was pretty good. Mr. M says he dreams about the pizza, he loves it so much. I'll agree that it's above average, but I can be a tough pizza-crowd. The toppings weren't overwhelming, which is a pet peeve of mine. The andouille sausage mimicked very thick pepperoni, but had that great andouille flavor you expect. The crust was traditional style, and was not too chewy or crispy - a fine balance between both. The sauce was a tad on the bland/sweet side, but the cheese was abundant and gooey. The thing I liked the most was the structure of the pizza. It wasn't messy, greasy, floppy or loose. It held together perfectly, and was easy to eat and hold. Not an easy feat for pizza and sandwiches of the food world. It's a simple pie that doesn't over or underwhelm your senses. You just ENJOY it.Overall, I liked Lola's a lot better than I thought I would. The view is awesome, the pizza is simple and good, and the interior is cozy. The only gripe I have is the wait. We waited a long time for drinks, which is inexcusable for a restaraunt that isn't busy whatsoever. Regardless, I'm eager to return in the warmer weather and sit on the patio!

Greats:
-Drinks are affordable - especially for the ingredients they use
-Super cozy atmosphere
-Comfy booths
-The bread comes with basil butter
-The pizza is quite good
-The lake view

Not so greats
-The service wasn't that prompt
-I'm scared of what the vibe is in busy summer months
-It's expensive, so I have to save up to go back!

http://www.lolaslakehouse.com/