Lolo’s Seafood Shack, located right above the B/C train on 116th street, is a great example of what a New York City hotspot should be: delicious food, fabulous customer service, wonderful ambiance and more.
As someone who used to live in Harlem it pains me to know that I never stopped by Lolo’s Seafood Shack when it was legit steps from my old apartment. Happy to know about it now as I will be a repeat customer after devouring the fabulous array of food they provided to me and my friend during our visit there last week.
The concept of Lolo’s is quite simple: taking small Caribbean-inspired fare and elevating it for the masses in Harlem and its inhabitants to enjoy. As cliche and corny as it sounds the food really does transport you to an island of sorts as you escape the gritty streets of NYC for something much more laid back with every bite you take.
Something I am a stickler for when I go to restaurants of any kind is flavor. Meaning that its a big deal for me when I sink my teeth into something that will make my mouth sing with glee. A great example of that at Lolo’s is their Glazed Chicken Wings. It’s topped with an achiote glaze and garlic crema that pack so much punch into each wing. There’s also sesame seeds scattered across the top to provide a yummy crunch to an already fabulous menu item.
Something that I was also vastly impressed about in the snack or share portion of the menu was their Coconut Shrimp Spring Rolls. Egg and spring rolls are my jam and I was delighted once again to see the flavor profiles in this particular dish. I’m not the biggest coconut fan however it gelled really well with the shrimp and the way the rolls were cooked making it yet another fan favorite for me at Lolo’s.
I was then presented with a cute bib for one of their heavenly steampot combos. This was a really fun part of the evening as I put my gloves on, licked my lips and devoured their Peppa Shrimp Bowl. It included one pound of shrimp (so make sure you come hungry), corn and potatoes with an amazing garlic butter sauce that also came with Old Bay seasoning.
I took my time with the Peppa Shrimp Bowl because there was a lot to get through and I wanted to make sure I ate every single morsel inside of it. Everything from the shrimp to the potatoes to the other stuff I added in (spicy pork sausage, garlic noods) was incredible. One of the best meals I’ve had so far in 2020 if not my entire life.
For more information Lolo’s Seafood Shack please click here.