It’s “electric” during dinner service at Lola’s newest location in Eastdale Village, co-owner Eddie Kowalski said.
Excitement is in the air surrounding this mid-Hudson Valley staple expanding to the Poughkeepsie development as Lola’s Cocktails & Kitchen — it’s loud, vibrant and something fresh to get into gear for the warmer months.
The space is different than the “train-car” size of the City of Poughkeepsie location by the Walkway Over the Hudson, co-owner and son of Eddie Kowalski, Tyler Kowalski said, but the warmth, hospitality and the food people know and love are still there.
“It may look different, but it feels the same,” co-owner Ryan Matthews said.
Wappingers-based FW Interiors designed the inside, where guests will find bubble-shaped light fixtures and a luxurious emerald-green bar with a rope-design feature at its center; it’s Lola’s next high-spirited, but “elevated” chapter, Eddie Kowalski said.
There have been no days off in their first week of business. The three owners have put in about 90 hours each since their soft opening days on April 15 and 16.
They think Lola’s might just be the “anchor” spot on Eastdale’s South Avenue side.
They’re the only restaurant over there, and Lola’s garage-style doors open up onto Eastdale’s newest community amenity, an open-air piazza, which will be finishing construction shortly.
“The Piazza is intended to serve as a unique, active venue in the Hudson Valley, which our team will thoughtfully program throughout the year with wonderful events for the community,” said John Hettinger, president of Kirchhoff, the real estate investment firm responsible for Eastdale Village, in a statement.
Over two decades of Lola’s
Kowalski opened the Poughkeepsie Lola’s back in 2005 as a place to get healthier, more affordable food on the go.
In 2007, the brand expanded to a restaurant called Crave, which in 2017 had a name switch to Lolita’s, known for wood-fired pizzas and a “rustic, Old World Italian feel,” Eddie Kowalski said. In the same year, their New Paltz location on the corner at 49 Main St. opened.
Now, Lola’s Cocktails & Kitchen is the brand’s newest venture. This is Eddie Kowalski’s first location where he is not the sole owner, and he seems to be just fine with that.
The trio have great chemistry and a teamwork mentality, showcasing each of their strengths where the other two may lack.
Tyler Kowalski’s in the kitchen, creating the menu, cooking, keeping track of food costs and training staff. Matthews is setting up back-of-house operations for success through data-driven information and keeping track of the books, and Eddie Kowalski is taking on a different approach compared to the previous locations, greeting customers on the floor and ensuring smooth service where he’s needed.
“We have the perfect balance,” Matthews said.
“We’ve been working together for almost 15 years,” Tyler Kowalski said. “… Me and Ryan have been handcuffed now almost our entire careers.”
But they “wear no titles” at Lola’s, Eddie Kowalski said. You’ll find each of them doing what needs to get done, even if it’s mopping the floors.
The prospect of Lola’s in Eastdale has been in the works since 2023, and Eddie Kowalski said they knew they had to bring something unique.
“We’ve had smaller restaurants for 20 years where we always felt like we were bursting at the seams,” Eddie Kowalski said.
This 6,000-square-foot space surely switches things up.
Lola’s ‘personality’ hires create their ‘superstar’ team
Although the owners think of this as “thoughtful” expansion, Tyler Kowalski said, much of it has to do with their employees.
Eddie Kowalski said Lola’s has never “looked to capitalize off of past success and tried to open a million places.”
The expansion comes when he has a “kitchen full of superstars” to retain the staff, “who are so good at what they do,” some of whom have been there for 15 to 20 years, since the beginning.
“We always hire off personality,” Eddie Kowalski said.
They can teach anyone how to cook or serve, so they prefer to surround themselves with good people, which they attribute a large portion of their success to.
“All the management really embodies this vision of hospitality that we believe sets us apart,” Tyler Kowalski said.
Lola’s Eastdale must-try menu items: Old favorites and your newest obsessions
“Tyler was able to write the menu and bring some classics from the other two locations,” Eddie Kowalski said.
Their “Mamas Boy,” a wrap with chicken cutlet, melted cheddar, romaine, coleslaw and bacon, is their incognito version of the well-known “Red Fox” and “The Hawk” wraps at their other locations. You’ll be able to find the Lola’s Burger, topped with their homemade special sauce, as well.
If you’re looking to try their new items, Tyler Kowalski recommended their “General Ty’s Cauliflower.” A popular appetizer with a sauce made every day, he believes it separates them from other General Tso cauliflower renditions.
If you’re looking to try one of their big plates, Tyler Kowalski described their juicy and tender “Chicken Pepperonata,” an airline chicken breast with crispy skin, in a lemon Chardonnay butter sauce that’s a little spicy and a little sweet.
In the realm of cocktails, “The Birdie,” with peach tea-infused vodka, has been a hit so far.
Overall, their menu is meant to be for everyone, taking average ingredients that are sourced locally and engineering them into something great, Eddie Kowalski said.
Families can find kid-friendly options, while parents feast on salmon or hanger steak, or get one of their classic sandwiches or wraps for a reasonable price.
It may be a “safe menu,” Eddie Kowalski said, but the owners have been able to sneak “cool flavors hidden throughout it.” Plus, guests will be able to try some more intriguing specials.
“We show up every day, stay in our lane, and just try to do the next right thing,” Tyler Kowalski said.
Lola’s wants you to be a ‘regular’ at the center of new Eastdale activity
The owners hope you get to know your Lola’s Eastdale servers, bartenders and find an affordable meal out, as “everybody’s being pinched right now,” Eddie Kowalski said.
From plenty of Lola’s handhelds for about $15 to Eastdale’s central hub, which they’re opening soon, featuring free community events from May to September, like their farmers market and outdoor family-friendly movie nights, going out and about might not break the bank too badly.
“From the outset, the vision for the Eastdale Piazza was to create the social heart of the community — a space where architecture and everyday life seamlessly come together,” said Giovanni Palladino, Kirchhoff’s Director of Architecture & Design, in a statement.
You can overlook the happenings from Lola’s or grab takeout and be a part of the inclusive space, inspired by European public squares, for residents and visitors alike.
“What we’re trying to establish is like a place for people to be a regular,” Eddie Kowalski said.
Nickie Hayes is the Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal and focuses on how to make the most of what the mid-Hudson Valley has to offer. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Lola’s newest chapter bringing ‘electric’ vibes to Eastdale Village
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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