Restaurant Review: Lolo

Lolo Bistro, 619 Mount Pleasant

What a great find this little place is! The interior is cozy and welcoming with black-and-white toile de Jouy on the chairs and deep red walls. They take your coat for you, which I always think is nice.
Basic bistro menu, and everything on it looks nice, making ordering a delightful chore. Grilled calamari to start is tender and yummy, on mixed greens with a fresh-tasting salsa. Goat cheese tart with caramelized onions lives up to the promised potential of two of my favourite ingredients. The escargot was well-received, if the accompanying mushrooms were "underwhelming." Ribeye steak is good. A little thin for my likes, but they cooked it correctly, so kudos for that. Delicious peppercorn sauce, though I was surprised at its presentation (a big puddle under everything, as opposed to on top of the steak) but it worked out, because you wanted to sop it up with the excellent, crispy frites. [Aside: last time I was in the United States of America, I saw on a menu that the steak came with "steak fries." I asked the waitress if that meant the skinny crispy ones, thinking that perhaps down there in the U.S.A, "frites" was too foreign. I was told that "steak fries" are big, thick and soft. Figures. When I want those, well, I never want those, but if I did, I'd order a baked potato.] The veal was enjoyed. Garlic mashed potatoes got lukewarm praise. The fresh vegetables were all really nice -- give me a restaurant that doesn't overcook a carrot and I'm happy. We didn't have desert, because I'd made creme brulee at home--and mine is very good--though apparently they are all made on the premises and probably quite yummy.
I didn't get a look at the wine list, deferring the ordering instead to someone whose standard order isn't "a glass of your cheapest red as long as it isn't Cressman's." We had a fun and zesty red, and lots of it, so I don't remember what it was. I assume there was a nice selection, if that was part of it.
Okay value for money. The food was good, but I think there's a bit of a neighbourhood premium at work.

rating: * * * (I'd pop in again if I was in the area, but might not make the trip just for them.)