LOLA

"Does the world (and New York) need another wood-fired pizza and natural wine spot? Probably not, but we’re still glad that Lola exists. While pies topped with robiola and black fig drizzle are the main attraction, try at least one of the non-pizza options, like their housemade rigatoni alla vodka or calamari with tiny spears of fried zucchini. Get a little bit of everything, plus a bottle of barbera to celebrate successfully surviving a run-in with a former classmate. And during the day, you can pop into their cafe for cream-filled brioche pastries or a spicy chicken cutlet sandwich on springy focaccia. " - anne cruz

"Does the world (and New York) need another wood-fired pizza and natural wine spot? Probably not, but we’re still glad that Lola exists. While pies topped with robiola and black fig drizzle are the main attraction, try at least one of the non-pizza options, like their housemade rigatoni alla vodka or calamari. Get a little bit of everything, plus a bottle of barbera to celebrate successfully surviving a run-in with a former classmate. During the day, you can have a lazy brunch of cream-filled brioche pastries or a spicy chicken cutlet sandwich on springy focaccia in their cafe, or you can grab some pastries and coffee to-go while you browse through shops in the Stockade District. Food Rundown photo credit: Lisa Nichols Pizza The first time we had a pizza at Lola, we couldn’t decide whether we wanted to study it for scientific pizza progress or scarf it down. The crust is perfectly blistered with a hint of sourdough tang, and each pie has a generous heap of toppings without losing the structural integrity of each slice. You can’t really go wrong with any of their pizzas, but we like the Tiger Paw, which has a nice blend of heat and creaminess from provolone, pepperoni, and chili honey. photo credit: Lisa Nichols Chicken Parm Alla Vodka The chicken parm and vodka pasta are indeed listed as separate items, but you can (and should) ask for them together. The chicken cutlet is shatteringly crisp and juicy, and the spaghetti has a silky coating of vodka sauce with just a bit of heat and smokiness from chili flakes and shallots. Calamari Delicate pieces of calamari are flash fried, producing a multi-sensory taste and crunch. The breading explodes into millions of little crispy shards with each bite, and the hidden spears of zucchini keep this appetizer from feeling too heavy. A must-order for the table. photo credit: Lisa Nichols Chicken Cutlet Sandwich This huge sandwich is the highlight of Lola's cafe menu. The thin, juicy cutlet is identical to the one featured in their chicken parm, and is easily complemented with rach slaw, pickled onion, and a spicy aioli. All together, it's exactly the type of meal you might want to recover after a night out." - Anne Cruz

"Does the world (and New York) need another wood-fired pizza and natural wine spot? Probably not, but we’re still glad that Lola exists. While pies topped with robiola and black fig drizzle are the main attraction, try at least one of the non-pizza options, like their housemade rigatoni alla vodka or calamari with tiny spears of fried zucchini. Get a little bit of everything, plus a bottle of barbera to celebrate thrifting the perfect vintage valise to store your throw blankets. For dessert, go for the affogato. Lola’s version is made with soft serve instead of hard ice cream, in honor of New York state’s affinity for gravity-defying swirls." - anne cruz, clare lagomarsino, keith hernandez, chanize thorpe

"Offering exceptional wood-fired pizzas, pastas, cocktails, and wines, and an outdoor patio." - Robert Sietsema

"Lola is a casual Italian spot serving antipasti, pastas, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and soft serve ice cream with a selection of toppings from Swedish fish to Amarena cherries." - Robin Cherry