Thursday, June 20, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013

Lolita to get a liquor license

The pioneering BYOB is ramping up its game.

9 comments

Lolita to get a liquor license

POSTED: Friday, March 8, 2013, 3:30 PM
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Lolita, 106 S. 13th St. MICHAEL S. WIRTZ / Staff Photographer

Another BYOB is about to bite the dust:

Lolita - the spiffy Mexican that started Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney on a conquest of the 13th Street restaurant strip nearly nine years ago - is getting a liquor license, Safran says.

It's expected to arrive in June or July. Until then, you can bring your own tequila for the killer margaritas.

Lolita right now is the couple's only BYOB, as Barbuzzo and Jamonera are both bar-equipped. Safran says that they just signed a new 10-year lease.

She said Lolita would close briefly in July for renovations, including a small, Barbuzzo-like bar. Turney will revamp the menu.

More importantly, Lolita will begin accepting credit cards and reservations.

"People don't go here because we're BYOB anymore," Safran said, adding that tourists and conventioneers don't enjoy being told that they have to go to the liquor store around the corner.

The couple are also developing the former Robin's bookstore, above Barbuzzo and Verde (their gift shop), into an event space-slash-dream kitchen for Turney and a regulation office for Safran.
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9 comments
Comments  (10)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:09 PM, 03/08/2013
    I thought she was 14?
    — Wilhelm Von Humboldt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:21 PM, 03/08/2013
    Yummm. Great place.
    — Tatt2
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:15 AM, 03/09/2013
    so the app/entree prices should come down then, right? place was way too pricey for a BYOB
    — main liner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:49 AM, 03/09/2013
    You're wrong Ms Safran - we do go there because it's a BYOB. But there are many others. Mercato, anyone?
    — Queen Village mom
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:20 AM, 03/09/2013
    I agree, QV mom. We love the fact that it's BYOB (or BYOT). The food is great, but for as pricey as it can get, adding what I'm sure will be stiff drink prices won't help.
    — stefek23
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:51 AM, 03/09/2013
    This comment has been deleted.
    — Thor Steiner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:57 PM, 03/09/2013
    Wow you paid 18k? Who cares?
    — DogBiscuitthedope
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:16 PM, 03/09/2013
    Wow, Thor Hiney, absolutely no one cares about either of the things you just said.
    — Jesus_the_Gardener
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:33 PM, 03/10/2013
    I love the way they designed the interior. The stainless and brick along with the lighting makes it a nice atmosphere. Very pretty place.
    — Joyce Lesby.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:10 AM, 03/12/2013
    I go there because it is a BYOB, but there are plenty of others. Too bad though - it was pretty good.
    — Steven Lee


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About this blog
Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here. Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.

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