Lola’s European Cafe

My experiences have mirrored those of Kim C. You walk in and wonder if anyone works there, because absolutely no one asks if you want something or even acknowledges your presence. The last time we were there, we were finally served our gelato, and then waited, with the gelato dripping all over us, for the «cashier» to finish talking with her girlfriends long enough to ring us up. I finally got so fed up I just slammed the cash down on the counter and walked out. The owners of this place really need to consider who they hire to run it because the service is HORRENDOUS.

Love this place! Probably my favorite on cookman ave. to spend summer afternoon. Their meat and cheese board platter are more than enough for two people. Their gelatos are creamy and they have a ton of different flavore. I still haven’t tried all of it.

Warm, romantic place for date night. Really nice ambience at night, great gelato, looking forward to trying a cheese sampler when we visit every night on our July 4^th vacation!

Gelato: 5 stars
Service: 0 stars
Sitting here mid afternoon on a Friday (6÷17÷16) — walked in when there were only two other customers. They seemed to be waiting an extraordinarily long time for no reason. No one greeted us when we walked in, we were standing around for a while waiting to be acknowledged and either girl working here now couldn’t care less today, apparently.
Finally my husband is at the counter ordering, he told me the experience was lackluster. He said the girls working here seem indifferent to customers. I definitely witnessed this. He brought our gelato back to the table and we are the only two people in here until a young Asbury police officer walks in, and my how the girls perked right up! Laughing, cackling, having a grand old time with the male cop. He stayed for a while and they were talking at the counter and laughing like they were having a great time.
Then I overheard one of the girls talking about how she even comes in on her «off» days. Etc etc. Says the owner doesn’t take her seriously or doesn’t consider her for a higher position, something to that effect. So she is telling the police officer this and I (a customer) can hear their conversation loud and clear. So incredibly unprofessional but I expect nothing less from these young girls. Finally the cop leaves and I asked one of the girls at the counter a question and she LITERALLY could not care any less to talk to me! WOW talk about horrible service. Just so rude and unwelcoming. In an area where other eateries have friendly service, this is just such poor taste.
Oh let me add another couple did was in while that one girl was complaining to the police office about the owner of Lola’s, and they also went without being acknowledged for a while as well.
If I were management I would either fire these children for their unprofessionalism or at the very least give them a lesson in customer service and etiquette. Seems like only cute boys get their attention.
And I felt the need to write this as I am still sitting here because this whole experience was just ridiculous. The atmosphere is adorable and gelato was amazing so far. I would not return just based on the horrible service we received.

adore this theme. Ever since visiting Italy I’ve missed apperitivo and gelato. I love the idea of this place mixing both. The ambiance is cozy with rustic and old word Italian décor. They have offerings of both wine and tequila flights to match with cheese offerings just like I would do touring Italy. They also offer a bunch of panini’s, grilled veggies and other good wine accompaniments.
They have a good selection of gelato (coffee flavor and cookie crumb were very good/​Ive had better Nutella flavor :(.)
They offer a black board full of coffee options and a choice of liquors, including a chocolate liquor (!!) you can add on the gelato; I think this is a brilliant idea.
I can’t speak much on service. We arrived in the last hour and someone came to our table and started changing our napkins without saying anything to us. I found that a little imposing but hey it’s the end of shift I get it.
I love the idea of this place the only reason I gave them 4 starts is because I wish they had some more welcoming seating options. The tables were cute but I’ve been to a similar place in San Francisco and they offered low couch seating around tables with low candle lighting. It was more inviting to buy a bottle of wine and really relax for a tasting of everything that they have to offer. This felt more like a quick stop place and I think it would be worth it to create a place people would want to spend an hour or two or even three $$$.
Either way I will be back soon.

Coconut was delicious, but kinda thin consistency. Pistachio was some of the best I’ve had. Nice rustic Italia décor.

Great atmosphere and delicious gelato to go with it. Have been here a few times and haven’t been disappointed. Basil and rosemary honey gelato are my favs. Cappuccino was also very good

Very nice place, we were wondering around Asbury park and the owner was out side very friendly to our dog and it was ok to seat out side with the dog. Food was good and tasty, I had a grilled vegetables salad and the rest a panini.
We all were very satisfied from the food service and music.

I was embarrassed for them. Comment to my wife was that it must have been the entire crew’s first day, and all they had to learn from was a one page note from the real manager and staff, which was as poorly written as the dirty, torn, sloppy menus we were given. The woman behind the counter knew nothing. How do we order cheese, is it only in the prearranged flight, or by weight like in a cheese shop? The woman handed me the cheese flight page and said she wasn’t sure that what they had in the case is what was on the page. Great, so helpful. Didn’t order cheese, so they lost the sale. Woman asked me if I wanted to try the wine on tap, I said yes. After forgetting about me and the offer to taste, five minutes later I ordered a glass of $ 9 Sangiovese. The pour was small, the wine was oxidized. I have a hunch it was opened on Saturday, and they were closed Easter and Monday (this visit was a Tuesday).
So I asked how the Italian Tuna pannino was prepared, and she said «exactly as its written.» We’ll it’s not explained on the wall, and the sandwiches aren’t on the printed menu at all so wtf am I missing? She didnt know what cheeses were on the grilled cheese also… yikes. Wife asked for Grilled cheese, and the short order cook came out ten minutes later to say they were out of the caramelized onions for it. No problem, since she had no way of knowing to expect them. Then she was surprised to find arugula on it when it arrives, 20 minutes later (20 minutes for a couple sandwiches?)
Short order asked me what wine I was drinking so she could add it to my check. Then she asked my wife if she had prosecco, which she had not. Suggestion– there’s only two other people working with you, ask them what they’ve poured so you don’t have to have a borderline rude query with a guest.
Also, if you’re reading this, J Lohr doesn’t have a winery in Germany. Get your act together, Lolas. You’re the only place in town open on Tuesdays in asbury. That was a mess.

While I didn’t get a chance to sample the coffee my husband raved so much about his I had to review. He ordered a mint chocolate chip gelato (after having a filling lunch and saying he couldn’t eat anymore) and a double espresso. He said the espresso was so smooth it was phenomenal and finished the gelato realizing after that he didn’t offer me a bite. He said it was THAT satisfying. The environment was also just a huge plus and the girl working behind the counter had a smile on her face throughout our indecisive ordering process. Definitely our new go to when in the area!

Gelato; me Likey
Good coffee and a hot chocolate with a tasty panini for lunch.
Good service (the panini press was slow, so they comp’ed us 2^nd beverages for the wait.
Counter service, but nice menu.
Did we mention gelato?

Love love love Lolas! Gelato, coffee, paninis, & cheeseboards are amazingly good and the staff is awesome. The charm of this farmhouse style European café is a great time year round. They have both intimate seating and bar type seating. Great place for a date or to enjoy with a group of friends — outside seating in the warmer months brings the charm out to Cookman. Directly across the street from the House of Independents, Lola’s is a must to cap the night with a hug in a cup! I’ve been a regular for many years and it keeps getting better!

I love this place! When I want to transport myself to Italy and can’t find the time or money to actually escape, I take the 10 minute ride to Lola’s. Their panini selection is great. I enjoyed the prosciutto sandwich with a glass of prosecco, and my daughter enjoyed her grilled cheese sandwich with fig jam. It is usually served with carmelized onions and fig jam, but I didn’t want to shock my daughter too much. She said she loved the sweetness of the jam in her sandwich. Along with the multi-​grain chips, they were nice enough to prepare a small salad to go with her sandwich.
Great place to people-​watch as they have a «bar» of seats facing out to the street where you can also enjoy a cup of espresso. The place is tiny so I look forward to the return of warm weather so we can sit at their tables outside the café.
I really came here for the gelato — Gelato of unique flavors besides the standby of chocolate and hazelnut (both very good!). As much as I enjoyed the coffee gelato with small bits of coffee beans, the Bacio flavor was amazing! It had chunks of the Perugina chocolate kisses in it! My daughter liked the candy cane ice cream and wafer ice cream. Their pistachio gelato is the best I have had stateside. I didn’t try it but it’s interesting that they have Cap’n Crunch as a flavor. Some sorbettos also available.
Looking forward to my return so I can try their cheese platter with one of their cocktails. Sunday brunch anyone?

At Lola’s European Café in Asbury Park… Vine, cheese, gelato, gourmet coffee … Heaven

A great addition to Asbury Park. The place is beautiful, cute dog-​friendly outdoor seating, and there’s something for everyone whether its something sweet, savory, drinks, or their variety of cheeses. I always skip dessert when I have dinner in the area in hopes of going to Lola’s.
The atmosphere is great for conversation and the staff is very helpful and friendly. There are some communal tables so groups should be okay as well as smaller parties. I got to sample a ton of gelato (which to my surprise tastes great with amaretto) and found a few new favorites. Cookie butter is fantastic as well as their dark chocolate one. I’d try before buying since the portions are generous. Great coffee too!

I’m not gonna lie… I’ve only tried the gelatos here. I don’t care, though, because they are phenomenal. Their food could be the worst and they would still get a high rating from me because of how delicious all their flavors of gelato are.
I LOVE the dark chocolate one. Though, it is very rich, so if you get it, mix it with another flavor, like strawberry or vanilla!

Can’t wait to come back for more food food. We stopped in after dinner for some amaro an gelato. The menu looked really good. They have a ton of flavors of gelato. I’ll report back after my next visit.

Why this place only has 7 reviews is beyond me. I’m rating them a 5 only because I can’t rate them a 10! Excellent place to relax and sip some wine. The ambiance is cozy and inviting. The owner is so friendly. Not to mention the dynamite cheese, nut, and fruit platter. Really a stellar experience. Oh and Basil Gellato. Ok, now go there… now!

Loved the look, feel, and taste of this place. The coffee was bold, which is something I really look for! Espresso is strong and rich. The gelato… out of this world. My other half was in love with the Cap´n Crunch gelato, which I sampled as well. Amazing! I was content with my Gianduja though. ;)

The real question here is … Why haven’t you gone here yet. Lola’s is like walking into Italy but being able to leave. The service is pretty good for only two people working. Try the gelato! Pannis are very good. What a chill place!!!
Don’t miss out! Go and thank me later.