Lolo's Seafood Shack: An HONEST Review!!!

One thing you should know about me is I LOVE to eat.

I know most women say this but I really am a foodie. I honestly have to credit my parents, who spoiled me throughout my childhood with weekly dinner outings to new and exotic restaurants. Thai, Italian, Ethiopian, I was exposed to it all. They were the first people to teach me to be open minded, not only with people and their cultures but with their cuisine. I can still hear my mom saying, "Mikali, don't say you don't like something until you try it, just take a bite honey" and honestly, that has stuck with me ever since.

My earliest foodie memory was a trip to the Chinese buffet nearby that was well known for their unlimited crab legs. Oh man, I'll never forget the look of frustration on my mom's face as she taught a 6 year old me how to crack my own crabs because she couldn't focus on her own plate lol. 24 years later, my mother created a monster who cracks crabs every chance she gets.

So it's no wonder that when I heard of Lolo's Seafood Shack I had to give this Cape Cop and Caribbean mashup a try.

303 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026

Situated between Spanish Harlem and The West African section of Harlem on West 116th Street is this cozy little gem. Brightly painted in Caribbean flair, its hard not to miss the quaint restaurant with its delicious aroma wafting out the front door.

Once you walked through it's doors is easy to understand why this spot is a local favorite. The colorful theme is found throughout the restaurant decorated with a Caribbean/nautical theme both inviting and relaxing. Lolo's is one of the few locations that offers year round patio seating in the often rare finding of a backyard. It's clear that Guyanese-born Chef Raymond Mohan, who owns the Harlem restaurant with his wife, Leticia Young-Mohan, take great pride in their island fare.

A Glimpse Inside Lolo's Seafood Shack

After doing a little research I learned that Chef Mohan’s culinary interest developed as a child while accompanying his mother to the market to shop for the family’s roadside stand. There they sold homemade Guyanese specialties such as mavi, sardine sandwiches, and other Indian specialties. A graduate of New York Restaurant School, Mohan’s love of culture and food set the stage for his world renown dishes he and his staff serve up at Lolo's. His wife Leticia, who is an East Harlem native rounded out their booming business as a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the entrepreneurship program of the French Culinary Institute. Talk about Power Couple!

One look at the menu and you'll realize it draws from a wealth of Caribbean influences, including Mrs. Young-Mohan’s Belizean ancestry, in dishes like boiled shrimp with “coco curry,” flaky thyme-scallion johnnycakes with honey butter ($4) or achiote-glazed smoked chicken wings ($10). The food, says Young-Mohan, draws not just from their travels and her husband's resume, but from their own Caribbean backgrounds.

Coconut Shrimp and Garlic Fries - $10 | 2x Rum Punch - $20

Upon my visit I decided to stay tried and true to my mother's lessons and decided to try Lolo's Seafood Boil of 1 lb Crab Legs. The restaurant boasts massive crab legs with even bigger flavor. The Chef starts with boiling the legs in a recipe of a secret broth, bay leaves, old bay seasoning and onions then masterfully sauteed them in old bay infused garlic butter. To top things off they serve the crab legs in its juices along with corn and potatoes. Uh, yum!

I will say that one order is NOT enough for two people and although incredibly tasty the price tag was a bit steep compared to what I pay at other places for more legs.

Lolo's Seafood Boil - 1 lb of Snow Crab Legs - $19.99

While there I also decided to try the coconut shrimp and french fry basket which might I add was some of the best I've ever had. You get about 6 pieces in an order, perfect for sharing if you're anything like me and like to try a handful of menu items at one time. If I'm being honest, the fries were just ok mainly because they were a garlicy-greasy mess but accompanied the coconut shrimp nicely.

The Rum Punch was also very refreshing and tasty. It had a nice kick to it that helped balance out the flavors of our meal. Before we left we grabbed two more because they were soo good!

FYI: The alcohol content of the rum punch was a bit on the light side for the price however if you're not a big drinker or plan on driving it is just right.

All in all I had a fabulous experience at Lolo's and would absolutely recommend this spot to my seafood lovers looking for somewhere new to try. The menu literally has something to offer for every palate and is a really cool place to hang out and unwind with some friends. If you're ever in the area make sure to retrace your steps to Frederick Douglas Boulevard for lunch or dinner.

Check out this video below from The Food Network that I found that did an excellent job at covering Lolo's Seafood Shack. I really hope you enjoy this place as much as I did!