When you see the beauty of this restaurant it almost seems out of place in a city that is not known for aesthetics. It has been constructed and furnished with such detail that you immediately feel comfortable upon entering. Family owned and operated, Lola, is the newest of three restaurants owned by the same family. The menu is diverse by Temuco standards and you can detect a hint of Patagonia Argentina in the menu and atmosphere of the place. To truly experience local cuisine in Temuco you must be willing to venture away from the standard shopping mall and casino.

You are welcomed in with warm bread and cloth napkins. Cloth napkins separate the men from the boys in restaurants. The servers are all men and some of the most attentive and professional to be found in the city. Smokers and non smokers alike will rejoice to find a beautiful smoking lounge with plenty of space, leather arm chairs and a fire place all completely separate from the non smokers. Upstairs is all non smoking with a private salon for parties larger than 25.  Beautiful leather furniture, stone walls and original art work are to be found throughout. Small details like a small section with a glass floor keep things interesting.

The bar is well stocked and the wine collection is immense. The drink choices are many and you will find gringo friendly drinks such as Bloody Mary, Vodka Tonic, Kahlua, Bailey's and Margaritas at around 5 bucks each. They offer a generous serving of fresh juice made in a real juicer and this is a refreshing alternative to soda for the kids. The wines in Chile are excellent and affordable so take your time and enjoy. Sports enthusiasts will rejoice to find a big screen in the bar. South Americans take sports very seriously especially soccer.

Though the staff do not speak English they are quite helpful with making suggestions and very patient with broken Spanish. Half the fun of eating out in Chile is trying to figure out the menu and the what the waiters are saying.

To enjoy the full asado which is the traditional Chileno BBQ you must come at dinner time as the parilla is not up and running until late in the day. The same is to be said for the brick oven pizza because at lunch time it is cooked in a regular gas oven. True brick oven pizza lovers will have to venture out in the evening.

Lola opens daily from 12 to 4 for lunch and again from 7 to 10 for dinner. They do offer a lunch special which gives 3 different options for appetizer, main plate and dessert all for less than 15 dollars. The dessert menu offers 10 different items including  frozen bananas, tirimasu, and mousse or you can opt for the sampler of 6 desserts or 3 desserts. This is a great way for a family or group to try many different items. The appetizer menu offers several items including seafood options. There are around 14 pizzas under 10 dollars in the personal size. There are more than 8 choices of salads. The children's menu includes only 2 items but this is more than most places offer. The choice for kids is hamburger or breaded chicken cutlet with mashed potatoes. At least this beats the usual hot dog choice. Be careful with the kids because it is standard practice to add a fried egg to these items. Be sure to say "sin huevo" or your kids may protest.

Parking is never a problem and you are greeted by an attendant. These attendants are generally reliable and it is customary to tip when you exit. There is a special handicap parking area with a ramp. This is a law in Chile but normally you will not find compliance like you will find in Lola.

When you discover a place like this you will become regulars very quickly.

Thiers 898 Tel: 40-4400