Zeb and I recently broke down and got cable — Comcast sure can be pretty persuasive. After three years with only Hulu+ and Netflix we now have a variety of shows we can watch whenever we want. This includes the Food Network. I’m pretty sure I have caught up on every Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode Guy Fieri has ever made. It was while binging on a marathon of ‘Triple D’ that I discovered Pizzeria Lola, and I knew instantly that we had to go. As in, I couldn’t think of anything else until I made my way there, had to go.

We were finally able to fit it in our schedule and met two of our good friends, Jon and Katie there. Pizzeria Lola does not take reservations. It was a Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. and we had a forty-five minute wait for a table. We put our names in at the front and pushed our way to the back of the restaurant. The waiting area is jammed between the bar and the wall, so take advantage of the bar being in close proximity and order a drink or two while you wait. Trust me, the pizza is worth your time!

As we waited we scanned the wall of photos from their photobooth, debating whether we should add our mugs to the group. Before we could make a decision, our name was being called and we were shown to our table. We were placed at the table right in front of the beautiful copper pizza oven in the center of the restaurant. I quickly spotted the restaurant owner slicing pizzas before they were sent to the tables. After talking to our waitress we learned she is often there helping out around the kitchen.

We scanned the menu and had a difficult time picking only three pizzas. The menu is made up of several unique pizzas with a few traditional varieties thrown in for good measure. We landed on The Korean BBQ ($16), The Boise ($14.95) and the special of the day. Oh my goodness, guys, I don’t think I can ever eat pizza again and not compare it to the awesomeness that was this pizza. Three big, mouth watering pizzas were delivered to our table.

I started off with a slice of the Korean BBQ and plopped it on my lovely vintage plate — we each had a different thrifted plate. This pizza was made of beef short ribs, mozzarella, arugula and a sesame and soy-chilli vinaigrette. The Korean BBQ quickly became my favorite of the night. The beef was cooked to perfection and paired well with the spiciness of the arugula. The sesame and soy-chilli vinaigrette was the stand out on this pizza, it created the perfect rich flavoring. I had to force myself to take my next slice from the Boise pizza. I am glad I did. This pizza, made of potato, gruyere, fontina, caramelized onion, olive oil and rosemary was an absolutely mouth wateringly good pizza. The caramelized onions add a sweet, flavorful addition to the potato base of this pizza. Add the woody undertones from the rosemary and you have yet another win for Pizzeria Lola.

Our third pizza, the special of the night, wasn’t my favorite pizza. Of the three, it was the most traditional pizza of the bunch. Tomato pizza sauce, mozzarella, and large chunks of their house-made fennel sausage. It tasted like lasagna in pizza form. I have to admit, I am not an Italian sausage fan. For some reason the mix of flavors in meat form just don’t work for me. I was the only one at the table that didn’t care for it. In fact, it was the favorite for some of us.

The four of us devoured all three pizzas. I was extremely impressed with the staff. Even though Pizzeria Lola was constantly buzzing with patrons, the staff was friendly and prompt throughout the entire evening. Once we had finished our pizzas and loitered for a bit, we decided to clear the table to let one of the many groups waiting have their turn. I cannot wait to return to Pizzeria Lola.

Atmosphere
Modern, clean lines. Art lined walls with a partially exposed kitchen area. The large, beautiful copper pizza oven is the standout.

Service
The service was surprisingly good. With how busy Pizzeria Lola was, I was surprised at how tirelessly our waitress worked. She made sure we had everything we wanted.

Presentation
It’s pizza, doesn’t it always look good?

Taste
Amazing! Seriously, dream-about-it good.

Value for Dollars
Pizzeria Lola is definitely on the pricier side. With drinks and a tip each couple paid in the upper forties. But, sometimes you need to splurge.

Pizzeria Lola

5557 Xerxes Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55410

Ph: 612.424.8338

www.pizzerialola.com

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