Lush Lolas

We went out for supper at Lush Lolas.  It is a BBQ place that has relocated to The Smokey Hills Wilderness Retreat.
 
This parcel of land used to be The Village of The Smokey Hills.  It was started by a dozen area women who mortgaged every thing they had to form an artisan community.  The long and short of it is they got too big too fast and decided to charge admission because locals were coming out to have pie and coffee all the time.  It was a wonderful place.  I consigned crafts with them for a number of years.  After they decided to charge admission the tour buses stopped coming and the locals stopped buying pie and coffee and they fizzled out.  It has been vacant from time to time…always under new management…a conference center/retreat of sorts and cottages to rent. 

Anyways Jim and his family had a catering business and his approved kitchen was in a building that burned down…so he has leased this property for three years.

It is a beautiful woodland setting.

The woods, pools and waterfall are surrounded by boardwalks.

Here is Jim the cook.  We got a warm greeting and went inside for the Wednesday Night Buffet.  BBQ Ribs, BBQ Chicken, Smashed Potatoes (Red potatoes with peeling on and cheese), cornbread, baked beans, some kind of macaroni and cheese and a salad bar. Dessert was peach cobbler.  The ribs were great as were the smashed potatoes then again I have never met a potato I didn’t like.  I make baked beans and cornbread that knocks your socks off…so they were not a hit with me…they were just okay. It was still a nice night out.

Hydrangeas

The inside of the restaurant hasn’t changed in years, still knotty pine and the message board that use to sport the daily specials now just welcomes you to Lush Lolas. There were a few locals dining, but most were touristy types.  The booth and tables are heavy pine furniture that sure has stood the test of time.  The traffic flow to the buffet is a little crowded, but I looked around and couldn’t see a better option unless it was built into a wall that separates two dining areas.

I think they are worried about how to make it through the winter but with some well placed advertising and continued good food I think the people will come.  It is the only place to eat in many miles…30 miles to Detroit Lakes and 12 miles to Park Rapids. Right now they are open Wednesday Nights for BBQ, Thursday or Friday (They haven’t decided yet) for a Shrimp Boil, breakfasts on Friday and Saturday and a breakfast buffet on Sunday.