Pizzeria Lola

First things first: Pizzeria Lola is located on 5557 Xerxes Ave South, Minneapolis. If, for any reason, you decide to first check out 5557 Xerxes Ave North, you will be greeted with a Sears parking lot, a car repair shop, and a Popeye's.

Lessons learned. Nothing wrong with Popeye's, but it is not Pizzeria Lola. 

After remedying the error with Google maps and cruising through Edina's sweet little France & 50th shopping area, we pulled up to our intended destination. It was 11:45 am and the sidewalk patio was already filled. Apparently, people like the place. < < < understatement of the year

Pizzeria Lola bakes up artisan pizzas in a funky, casual atmosphere. There's a photo booth in the back and tons of pics from other customers lining the walls. Wondering about all the Weimaraner portraits? The restaurant is named after the owner's dog. Fun atmosphere aside, Lola's pizza magic starts with the crust - a thin crust baked in a brick fired oven, it yields great flavor in itself. Add on the haute cuisine-like topping combinations and that's a little slice of heaven right there. 

I sipped an extra-spicy ginger beer and ordered one of their specials for the day: an appetizer of toasted French bread topped with mint-basil pesto, burrata cheese, smashed English peas, and greens. As I ordered it, our friendly server gave me an approving nod, and now I see why: it was a perfect interpretation of the spring season, light and brightly flavored, the creamy cheese pulling everything together. I could've just eaten that and been satisfied with my meal.  

It's almost impossible to choose a pizza, but I landed on the Forager pizza, loaded with mushrooms and touched with truffle oil. It was wonderful, rich and meaty without a shred of meat on it, but as I took the first bite, I suddenly wished I would've ordered one of the lighter tomato-and-arugula pies like the table next to us. Isn't that always how it is? Still, I ate a few slices and then gladly took the rest to-go for a late night snack later. 

Pizzeria Lola comes from the same San Francisco pizza school of thought as Fireflour Pizza in Bismarck, and although others may disagree with me, I think Fireflour's 'za is just as good as Lola's. Sure, Lola's has a more extensive menu and has the flexibility to do more seasonal fair like my amazing pea burrata crostini, but Fireflour is doing mighty good stuff right here in my hometown and I will gladly return again and again. At least until I can make that 7-hour trip to Minneapolis again, this time without the Popeye's stop.