Peruvian dishes from family recipes shine at Pineville’s newest restaurant
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Lola Ceviche reopened in Pineville as a full-service Peruvian restaurant and bar.
- The menu highlights ceviche, lomo saltado and homemade family recipes.
- Lunch specials and weekend brunch expand Lola's weekday and weekend appeal.
A new spot for ceviche, lomo saltado and other Peruvian food favorites is now open in Pineville.
Lola Ceviche & Peruvian Tapas reopened mid-May, after first operating in spring 2023. What started out as a food truck and then a coffee shop with a food truck outside has now transformed into a full-service restaurant, complete with a full bar.
Awhile back, Tuan Nguyen of Le’s Sandwiches — who knows good food — reached out to me about giving this hidden gem a try, and I never made it there. But the restaurant’s reopening after a year of renovations has offered us all a second chance, me included.
A glance at the offerings says everything I need to know:
- Yuca cheese balls served with chipotle aioli and ají amarillo spread
- El Poderoso De Lola with mahi-mahi, shrimp, lobster, Peruvian scallops prawn, octopus, blue crab legs served with Peruvian corn, sweet potatoes and fresh onions
- Kausa Mar Y Tierra, a soft potato terrine filled with crab meat and avocado topped with filet mignon lomo saltado
Jade Campos, who co-owns Lola with her mother, Frances Portales, said the restaurant’s recipes have been passed down through the generations in her family.
“Something that people get very surprised about is that when you taste the food, you can tell that everything is homemade,” she told CharlotteFive. “That was my mom’s goal — she is the head of the kitchen. She does the magic.”
If you’re not sold yet, there’s also a new lunch menu at Lola, featuring a variety of dishes for $12.99 from noon-4 p.m. on weekdays. Among the 12 choices — not including appetizers — are:
- Papi Juancho Burger with cheese, caramelized onions arugula and house sauce with cheese, which it calls “the Peruvian Burger You Didn’t Know You Needed”
- Lomo Wrap with stir-fried filet mignon, onions, tomatoes, french fries and cilantro with aji sauce
- Aeropuerto bowl with a chifa-style stirfry of noodles, fried rice, chicken and veggies
- Tropical grilled veggies with chicken, pineapple, zucchini, bell peppers, broccoli and onions that you can get without the chicken to make it vegetarian
Bonus: We all know Charlotte loves a good brunch. And Lola Ceviche & Peruvian Tapas gets in on that action, too. The restaurant invites you to sit down with a cocktail or mocktails on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.– 1 p.m. while you browse a menu that includes:
- Artisan Butifarra, slow-roasted Peruvian ham with salsa criolla, lettuce, mayo and mustard on a fresh Portuguese roll
- Aji de Gallina Empanadas, made from chicken stew filled into hand-made pastry with a creamy Peruvian yellow pepper sauce and egg
- Leche De Tigre, with the catch of the day, chopped seafood, crispy calamari, leche tigre, peruvian com and fresh onions
- Ocean sunrise, a seafood omelet with octopus, scallops, shrimp and onions that’s served with multigrain toast and a side of your choice
Tranditional sweet treats are available to finish off your meal, too. The ladies behind Lola take care to pay attention to all the details, ensuring that each plate of food that comes out of the kitchen is the best it can be.
“We might take a little longer than other restaurants, but it’s because we make everything right at the moment,” Campos said. “It would be easier to have things premade, but it’s not the same experience. We’re trying to bring the best food possible to the clients.”
Lola Ceviche & Peruvian Tapas
Location: 605 N Polk St - Suite E, Pineville, NC 28134
Cuisine: Peruvian, ceviche
Instagram: @lolaclt.peruvian
