Lola Cocina Spanish Restaurant Parramatta

Come to celebrate our colleague going away party after a hard work in the office. First to this magnificent looking Spaniard restaurant. It’s quite large with restaurant. It’s not far from public parking so can easy walk from station or parking lots. Foods that we orders are guide generous without compromise on tastes. We highly recommended.

We came here for an office Christmas lunch party last week. Being part Spanish, the vibe didn’t feel that authentic, and the food wasn’t really either. Yes most of the food items and dishes were reminiscent of Spanish cuisine, but it felt mass produced or just a watered down version. The Sangria wasn’t containing fermented fruits, and the paella (pronounced incorrectly by the waiter) wasn’t charred through the rice, and tasted too soft. The staff were nice, and the restaurant was ok, but decor felt culturally forced.

Nestled in Parramatta, this family-run Spanish gem invites with an authentic charm reminiscent of Madrid's tapas bars. While the menu is vivid, large and appears overwhelming, it is thoughtfully curated. It unfolds a Spanish tapestry, featuring Calamares al Pimenton (spiced crispy Calamari), Chorizo la Parrilla (grilled chorizo with sherry), Gambas al Ajillo (Tiger Prawns in Olive Oil and White Wine), Sardinas Fritas (fresh grilled sardines with Aioli), Champiñones con Ajo (sautéed mushrooms), Fabada Asturiana (pork stew), and Pinchos de Cordero (grilled lamb) for tapas. Mains were Paella de Marisco and Paella Serrana and they showcased culinary finesse with a right amount of bite to the rice and strikingly bold flavours. Wish it was a bit less greasier though. We washed all of this down with a refreshing Sangria (which was some cut fruits in watered down wine due to excessive ice and needs some work honestly), rounding off a delightful culinary journey. Overall a pleasant experience with very few misses. The standouts for me were the stuffed peppers, fried sardines and the mushrooms, something so simple yet so elegant. While parking poses a challenge, a nearby paid option mitigates the issue. Can’t wait to get back sooner and try other dishes on the menu and hopefully the desserts.