Restaurant in New York City, United States
Lola's
290Pearl PointsChef-First Dinner
About Lola's
Lola's is a strong New York City pick for diners who want chef-led Asian-Southern cooking with current awards momentum, including a 2026 New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City #71 placement and a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist nod. Book it for a curious dinner rather than a predictable luxury occasion; lunch is the more practical route when availability matters.
Lola's in New York City is worth considering if the draw is chef-driven Asian-Southern cooking. Its confirmed recognition includes a New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City #71 placement for 2026 and a 2025 James Beard Award Semi Finalist nod, but the clearest reason to book is the restaurant's specific culinary point of view rather than a generic special-occasion script.
Asian-Southern cooking with a chef-first reason to care
The clearest reason to pay attention is Suzanne Cupps. The verified cuisine labels, Asian and Southern, are broad, so the decision should not be based on chasing one named dish or expecting a specific format. Treat Lola's as a chef-led New York City restaurant where the appeal is the crossover of influences, not a checklist menu.
Because no verified price range, signature dish, service style, or room details are available here, the practical move is to check the restaurant's current official materials before committing if budget, format, or a particular menu item matters. If the goal is a New York City dinner with a defined culinary angle and current recognition behind it, the case is stronger.
Book for the times Lola's is open
Lola's is closed Monday and Sunday. Verified hours are Tuesday 5–9:30 PM; Wednesday and Thursday 12–2:30 PM and 5–9:30 PM; Friday 12–2:30 PM and 5–10:30 PM; and Saturday 11:30 AM–2:30 PM and 5–10:30 PM.
Use those windows as the main planning constraint. Lunch is available Wednesday through Saturday, with Saturday beginning at 11:30 AM, while dinner is available Tuesday through Saturday. The verified dress code is smart casual.
Where it sits in a New York City decision
Choose Lola's when the priority is a chef-specific Asian-Southern meal with confirmed recognition. Choose another New York City option when the occasion requires a cuisine, price point, service style, or room format that must be known in advance. Other named options diners may weigh include Café Carmellini, Ilili, Planta Queen, Nomad, The NoMad Restaurant, depending on what kind of night they are planning.
For broader planning around the city, these city guides are more useful than overloading one reservation with every possible need: see Our full New York City restaurants guide, Our full New York City hotels guide, Our full New York City bars guide, Our full New York City wineries guide, Our full New York City experiences guide. The decision is simple: book Lola's when the cooking style is the reason for the night, verify current details directly when logistics matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lola's accommodate groups?
The verified details here do not include group capacity or private dining information. Lola's is in New York City, parties should plan around the confirmed service windows: dinner Tuesday through Saturday, plus lunch Wednesday through Saturday. For larger-party needs, check directly with Lola's or consider another New York City option such as Ilili.
What should a first-timer know about Lola's?
Go in for Suzanne Cupps and the Asian-Southern brief, not for a single verified signature dish. The confirmed recognition matters here: New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City #71 for 2026 and James Beard Award Semi Finalist in 2025. If you want to compare it with another New York City choice, The NoMad Restaurant is one possible reference point.
What should I order at Lola's?
No verified signature dish is available here. The safest move is to review Lola's current menu or ask the restaurant what best represents its Asian-Southern cooking. If you want to compare the decision with another New York City option, Planta Queen is one possible alternative to consider. Check the venue's official channels for the latest details.
Is lunch or dinner better at Lola's?
That depends on schedule. Lunch is verified Wednesday through Friday from 12–2:30 PM and Saturday from 11:30 AM–2:30 PM. Dinner is verified Tuesday through Thursday from 5–9:30 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5–10:30 PM. Café Carmellini is another New York City option to consider when comparing plans.
What are alternatives to Lola's in New York City?
Other New York City options to consider include Café Carmellini, Ilili, Planta Queen, Nomad, The NoMad Restaurant. Choose Lola's when the appeal is Suzanne Cupps's Asian-Southern cooking and the restaurant's confirmed recognition.
Is Lola's good for a special occasion?
It can make sense for a special occasion if the occasion is centered on chef-led Asian-Southern cooking. The James Beard Award Semi Finalist nod and the New York Times ranking give it confirmed credibility, but no verified details are available here about room style, price, or special-occasion services. For a different New York City comparison, Café Carmellini is another option to weigh.
Is Lola's good for solo dining?
The verified details here do not confirm a bar, counter, or solo-dining setup. Solo diners can still consider Lola's during its lunch or dinner hours, but should check current availability and format directly. If flexibility matters more than the specific Asian-Southern focus, Planta Queen is another New York City option to consider.
Location
2 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
New York City, United States
Compare Lola's
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lola's | New York City | Asian, Southern | New York Times Best Restaurants in New York City #71 (2026); James Beard Award Semi Finalist (2025) |
| Café Carmellini | New York City | Italian | , |
| Ilili | New York City | Lebanese | , |
| Planta Queen | New York City | , | , |
| Nomad | New York City | , | , |
| The NoMad Restaurant | New York City | , | , |
How Lola's New York City compares with similar nearby venues.
Where to book if Lola's is full
Try Ilili for a group-friendly table with Lebanese dishes built for sharing, or Café Carmellini for a more classic upscale Italian night nearby. If the priority is plant-forward dining, Planta Queen is the cleaner alternative.
How Lola's compares in NoMad and nearby
Café Carmellini is the safer choice for polished Italian dining and a more familiar upscale script. Lola's is the better call when the point of the booking is a chef-led Asian-Southern angle and current recognition, but Café Carmellini is easier to explain to a mixed group that wants classic comfort and a room with a more formal feel.
Ilili is stronger for groups because Lebanese dining naturally supports sharing and a wider spread across the table. Lola's is better for two to four diners who want a more focused read on Suzanne Cupps's cooking. Planta Queen should be the pick when plant-forward dining is the brief; it is a clearer fit for dietary alignment than Lola's, where the draw is the broader Asian-Southern point of view.
Nomad and The NoMad Restaurant are better references for diners prioritizing NoMad atmosphere over a specific cuisine lane. Choose Lola's when the meal itself is the reason to book; choose those peers when the decision is more about the neighborhood setting and a familiar hospitality rhythm.
Recognized By
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