A sophisticated European-style deli, wine bar and bistro feels at home in this coastal holiday town.
“It’s a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world, except for Lola”, to quote the famous song by The Kinks. Maintaining consistency has been hard for many venues during Covid, but offering a concise, seasonal menu has worked for Dunsborough’s Lady Lola; there isn’t anything that seems mixed, muddled or shook up here between summer and winter visits.
Michelle Forbes conjures beautiful Euro-inflected dishes full of robust flavours from the tiniest of kitchens.
Amber glassware and light fittings add to a retro feel, although there’s nothing dated about the cooking, with Michelle Forbes conjuring beautiful Euro-inflected dishes full of robust flavours from the tiniest of kitchens. Nab a spot at the bar and Forbes plates wafer-thin slices of prosciutto and capocollo with baguette and salted French butter. Albany sardines come with piquillo pepper, cucumber, olives and fennel – a refreshing, tart counterpoint to the charcuterie.
On a cool night in the courtyard, a warm, rich beef ragù with gnochetti fortifies the soul, as does Marinela Antonic’s extensive, expressive drinks list. It leans Euro, or Euro in style, with a focus on small-batch wines and those made with minimal intervention. Aperitivi, Gin and Tonics and amaro star, too. A refined, thoroughly enjoyable addition to Dunsborough, hitting its stride.
