Lola's Bowl & Bistro Serving Great Craft Beer Alongside Delicious Filipino Cuisine

08 Jan Lola’s Bowl & Bistro Serving Great Craft Beer Alongside Delicious Filipino Cuisine

Posted at 18:45h in Uncategorized by Justin Knepp 0 Comments

By Charlie Sasse for Indiana On Tap

When someone mentions Clermont, IN I think of the NHRA Grand National Drag Races, Lucas Oil Raceway, and driving slowly because the police do not tolerate speeding. Some things I don’t think of are progressive restaurants and craft beer. Lola’s Bowl and Bistro sits on the main drag trying to change perception and bring new business to the town. They are doing this with a menu consisting of items like Lumpia Shanghai, Pancit Canton, Pork Adobo, etc. What does it mean when a Filipino restaurant that serves craft beer in the middle of small town Indiana is successful? To me it means I can satisfy my foodie side with a decent beer whenever I want!

Patty Timmons is an entrepreneur who owns Lola’s and two successful Wyliepalooza ice cream shops. For Lola’s, Patty went back to her Filipino culinary roots. Traditional items like Beef Caldereta and Dinuguan allow Patty to spotlight her heritage. Nontraditional dishes like the BBQ Chicken Flat Bread Pizza and A-1 Steak Sandwich allow a more diverse customer base. Sometimes when we go out with grandma and grandpa for lunch it is nice to have options other than MCL Cafeteria every once in a while. I was skeptical about trying the Dinuguan, or blood stew, at first but I put it over rice and dove in. The taste is roasted pork basted in vinegar. There is a delicious funkiness to this dish that isn’t for everyone, but worked well for me. Dinuguan begs for a Daredevil Liftoff to be paired with it. The citrusy and bitter hops would play great with a savory dish that has a tart finish.

My favorite dish is Lola’s Raging Ramen Bowl (with extra chili peppers). I had the beef broth and fell in love right away with the spice from the chilies and savory flavors in the broth. Fountain Squares Working Man’s Pilsner is a solid beer to pick from their menu and drink while eating this soup. The pilsner works great not to overpower the flavors while providing a light/crisp beer to battle the heat of the chilies (assuming you ordered extra like I do). Lola’s has a fully stocked bar with four taps and a beer list which contains a nice selection of local and imported beers. So bring grandpa in for an old fashioned and an A-1 sandwich, then order yourself a Danny Boy Mexicali and the Pancit Bihon. Both of you will be happy and you don’t have to eat at a place where all of the flavors have been removed from the food… oh and that doesn’t serve beer!

Lola’s has quickly become one of my favorite Westside eateries. There are always specials on the board and I will guarantee you there is something you haven’t had before. If the description scares you just pair it with a beer you like and dive in. There are plans to begin beer pairings a couple times a month with local breweries as well as increasing the local craft beer selection. If the tables are packed slide on up to the bar and talk with Patty’s husband Mark. You can typically find him there ready to help after their other business, US Water Systems, closes for the day. Mark can tell you anything you want to know about the restaurant, or water. Do yourself a favor and visit this little restaurant in a small town known for slow traffic and fast quartermiles. I promise you will not be disappointed you did. Keep drinking great beer and talking about it, I know I will.