Lolita

The demure yet elegant Lolita, atop Munjoy Hill, is decidedly modern American, but also embraces the flavors of the Mediterranean. Upon entering, guests are greeted with the warm glow of the custom wood-fired grill, and rough-hewn walls adorned with Lolita’s thoughtfully curated wine collection. The setting is reminiscent of an Old World bodega. Open late morning to night, guests are invited to take a seat at the long zinc bar or cozy banquette and enjoy a quick midday bite of plump, warm olives, a local cheese, or perhaps a rosy, ribbon of jamón sliced using an imported, Ferrari-red meat slicer. Guests might finish with a cup of rich, crema-topped Fair Trade roast, hand-drawn from the antique, lever-pulled espresso machine. Alternatively, patrons may choose to linger well into the evening, enjoying hand-crafted cocktails and dishes meant for sharing – tender spit-roasted suckling pig, or game birds gently smoked on racks. Day or evening, local bounty from land, sea or sky is prepared by hand with a thoughtfulness and care that harkens back to an era when source and sustenance were deeply connected and honored within the kitchen. At the guest tables, emphasis is placed on the flourishes: glinting stemware, well-balanced utensils, and fine linen napkins. The setting, cuisine, service, and attention to detail combine to elevate every dining experience, and round out Lolita’s rustic elegance.