If you're in Lower Lawrenceville and the craving is brunch, Lola's Eatery is the place that comes up. It sits at 3337 Penn Avenue, and the name itself tells a bit of the story: LOLA stands for Lower Lawrenceville, the community that has meant a lot to co-owner Zoë Blume, and it also happens to be the Filipino word for grandmother. The kitchen is a partnership between Max and Zoë Blume, blending Max's Filipino and Mexican background with Zoë's pastry skills and imagination.
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The place opened in December 2019, just two months before the pandemic turned everything upside down. Like a lot of spots that launched around then, it had to pivot its plans during lockdown, and it's come out the other side in what they call its green phase, now with a bar, an espresso machine and cake mirrors. The philosophy behind the food is straightforward: approachable, creative and fresh, made with real ingredients and house-made seasonings, sauces and spreads, alongside fresh daily donuts and bagels, made-to-order sandwiches and partnerships with local vendors.
On the menu, the Filipino and Mexican influences are easy to spot. The Mr. Bate Dacon is one of the more talked-about items, with smashed avocado, glazed bacon, a Medjool date, goat cheese, herbed oil and micro-cilantro on honey wheat bread. There's a lineup of breakfast sandwiches with names like the Mc Steamy, the Taylor Gang and The Bunny, plus fresh-baked bagels, including a rosemary version, and a selection of donuts and customized cakes. For something more substantial, there's adobo fried rice, avocado toast, French toast and a salad with cashews and edamame. Draft beer is also on tap if you're leaning into the boozier side of brunch.
The drink list is built for a long morning. Cocktails run from a $13 mimosa, $63 by the pitcher, to a $11 Yinzer Michelada, a $13 Bloody Mary, a $14 Vudi's Espresso Martini, a $13 Horchata Float, a $12 Blood Orange Cooler, a $12 Mama Chissa and a $16 Lola's French 75, with rotating slushies in the mix. There's sparkling wine, Riesling, Chardonnay, a red blend, Sangiovese and Merlot, and a non-alcoholic side with Jarritos soda guava at $2.75, Philippines juice at $3, cold pressed orange juice at $5.75 for 8 ounces, Pittsburgh Juice Co kombucha at $5.50, hot tea at $2.75, iced tea at $3, house-made chai at $5 for 16 ounces, turmeric tonic at $5 and drip coffee at $3 for 12 ounces, with espresso, cold brew and lattes running from $3.50 to $7.25.
If you're after a cake, that's a separate track: custom cakes are available for pickup Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 1pm, with orders needing at least 72 hours' notice, though a week or two is recommended. Sizes go from 3 inches serving 3 to 8 inches serving 15 to 20, in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, almond, matcha and carrot, and a $15 to $20 storage fee kicks in if you pick up past the agreed date and time. Beyond the food, the place does catering, e-gift cards and online ordering, and keeps its hours to the morning and early afternoon: 8am to 2pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 2pm on Saturday and Sunday. It's a counter-ordering setup, so you order first and then get served at your table, and street parking is available nearby.
