You can't swing a bag of botox around South Florida without hitting an "ultra lounge." The whole nightclub/restaurant concept has become so pervasive that it seems there's one opening (and closing) almost every week. Although the idea of signature drinks, clubby atmosphere, and party food is a good one, many of these places are overcrowded, loud, and plain obnoxious. But one of the newest ultra lounges to open, West Delray Beach's LOLA Restaurant and Ultra Lounge, actually nails the concept. The restaurant is a crazy fun time; it's also the subject of this week's Dish review. Here's an excerpt:
LOLA is prime real estate for people watching. The westDelray restaurant and hipster ultra lounge offers the sort of
unadulterated voyeurism that put Jerry Springer on the map. Within its
halls are Bocahontases prowling around in skirts shorter than the men
they date, dudes in shiny shirts picking up at the bar, elderly West
Siders dressed to the hilt, and former Captains of Industry setting
back against the red brick wall and soaking it all in with a martini or
six. To park yourself against a plush leatherette bench in the
restaurant's faintly glowing lounge area is to grab a seat at the Big Show
-- all you need is a well-mixed cocktail handed over by one of the
black-draped waitrons and your ticket is punched. And if you're the
sort of guy or gal who enjoys being watched, well, bully for you.
You're going to have a good time, if not because of the live music
(mostly classic rock, ´70s, and jazz cover groups that are actually
quite good) then for the excellent party food Chef Bruno Silva and
owner Wendy Rosano turn out.
Now check out our full review of LOLA.