When well-loved Belmonte couple Andy and NingNing, owners of Lolo’s Music Bar and Restaurant, decided to move their business to its present location at the second floor of Avenue Square, they also decided to be more passionate about the “restaurant” part of it.

        As proponents of musical and other artistic events such as poetry readings, book launchings and plays, Andy and NingNing don’t need to prove anything in that area anymore, they are one of the city’s most successful event organizers. Their list of full-packed shows is long and legendary. One of the most notable was ex-Platters vocalist Bobby Soul’s concert in May, before that was the well-attended The Company concert, then latest was the True Faith concert at the parking lot of Avenue Square. They have mini shows as well, like Nagueńo Joel Olivera’s comedy show just last month and the packed December schedule. (please see inset)

        Andy or Lolo, for whom the place is named (because he is considered the patriarch of Bicolano musicians everyone calls him Lolo), erstwhile Mixed Nuts bandleader and wife NingNing, sister and friend to everybody, are both excellent singers and artists. They have long dreamed of putting up a place for music to give Bicolanos real quality entertainment. Thus, Lolo’s is dubbed “the only authentic music lounge in Bicol,” where wholesome entertainment is guaranteed. No sleaze, no mediocrity please at Lolo’s. And trust Andy to fix the acoustics of the place that no matter how loud the bands play you’ll surely not get ear problems nor stress, unlike other so-called music lounges where our ear-and-chest comfort were never considered so you go home feeling more tired than relaxed.

        What motivated NingNing and Andy to dream of putting up a place where Bicolano artists can hone their talents was an experience many years ago that Ning related to us, “I was the booking agent of Mixed Nuts then and I would call hotels all over the country. One day I called up a big hotel in Cebu asking for a booking, and the person I was talking to told me he was sorry they give priority bookings to local bands.” That triggered Ning and Andy’s determination to give Bicolano artists a venue where they can perfect and at the same time showcase their talents.

        Indeed now Lolo’s Music Bar and Restaurant is the perfect home of the finest Bicolano (and non-Bicolano) performing artist. But how else can they reinvent themselves to make Lolo’s a more exciting and fun place?

        Since they are now institutions in the music world, Andy and NingNing’s passion nowadays is into food. Passion and wholesome can be nice partners and we find that in Lolo’s. We’ve always been a Lolo’s regular, way back in their former 3rd floor venue where we had many chill-out parties in only three years, including a Christmas midnight party complete with a band and the entire family eating noche buena and partying till the early hours of 25th morning. I must say they’ve always had good food and of course, wonderful personalized service. But with their renewed passion to not only warm our hearts and feed our soul with great music, the Belmonte couple is determined now to find more and more delicious ways to our hearts---through our stomachs.

        The first thing they did was to get really talented chefs that were trained in the best culinary schools in Manila. Chefs Tirso Medina and Tong De Lima alternately create tasty delights from appetizers to entrees to sandwiches and pasta dishes to yummy desserts. All the items on the menu are checked by their nutritionist so that healthier ingredients and cooking procedures are used, thus giving us healthier options on our food. They also don’t use MSG at Lolo’s kitchen. More herbs are used and the chips they serve are homemade. They have guest chefs on Sundays for the family buffet like Takay Verdadero and Adam Sia to give variety to their bill of fare.

        Then the Belmontes thought of ways to make the array pocket-friendly, too. There’s the “Afternoon Delight” from 4 to 6 p.m. These are value merienda meals with a choice of drinks for only 75 pesos. From 6 to 9 p.m. is the “Dining Madness” where the first 20 guests to dine will get a whopping 20% discount. For sure, there is madness in passion! Prices of entrees and appetizers are so incredibly low that it’s alright to bring the whole family along for a savory dinner at Lolo’s and there’s a lot left in the pocket for drinks while feasting on truly good music. Lolo’s isn’t just a music bar it also doubles as a place for exclusive parties, seminars, workshops, meetings, product launchings, etc…they have all sorts of packages to choose from, all with healthy options in mind.

        Ning Belmonte says, “we would like to be recognized as a fine dining place along with being known as a music bar.” “We are really putting a lot of effort to improve and promote our food as not so many people know that they can also eat their dinners at Lolo’s, too,” Ning adds. Slowly but surely word is spreading about this delightful information. Ning dreams of opening earlier for the lunch crowd. One day Lolo’s will have longer business hours. Ning hopes that it would be soon.

        Lolo’s Music Bar has long found its way to our hearts. That’s already a fact. Now let us count the many luscious ways that they are warming our hearts more through our tummies these days. Check out Lolo’s Meals daily starting at 4 in the afternoon and let us promise you this, the luscious ways arecountless.

Lolo’s Music Bar and Restaurant
2/L Avenue Square, Magsaysay Avenue, Naga City, Phils. 4400
Tel. # (632) 054-472-9453 • 811-2468 • 473-9494