Lola's Southern Cuisine opening Patchogue location
Smothered turkey wings with collard greens and macaroni and cheese at Lola's Southern Cuisine in Medford. The restaurant is opening a Patchogue location. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
When Tiffany and Darrell Darwood were searching for a location to start Lola’s Southern Cuisine, they looked in Patchogue before landing in Medford. They come full circle on Saturday, opening a second location in the Main Street space that used to be Rise & Grind.
"It was just meant to be," Tiffany Darwood said. The couple also owns a bakery in Brooklyn, Doc’s Cake Shop.
Lola’s first spot opened in 2022 at 2717a Rte. 112 in Medford with a menu inspired by Darwood’s grandmothers’ recipes, from fried chicken ($15.99) and smoky pulled pork ($15.99) to fried green tomato BLTs, catfish or shrimp po'boy sandwiches ($15.99) and peach cobbler ($6.99). Darwood said the restaurant can't meet demand in Medford.
"We have customers that were calling for reservations, and we’re only a 16-seat restaurant and mostly takeout," she said.
Tiffany and Darrell Darwood at their Lola's Southern Cuisine in Medford. Credit: Newsday/Corin Hirsch
The second location in Patchogue has seating for more than 100 and a patio. The expansion includes new additions to the menu with breakfast items such as shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, pancakes, French toast and breakfast skillets that drew diners to the location's previous incarnation. Fresh paint — a vibrant royal blue — was really the only thing they needed to do to prepare the space after the deal to take over the business was finalized May 5, Darwood said.
"We really didn’t have to do much renovation at all," she said. "Other than that, we’re just ready to move on in."
Rise & Grind owner Philip Shum put his breakfast and lunch spot on the market in February after owning the business for five years. He said he plans to leave Long Island for warmer climes. Shum partnered with entrepreneur Anthony Santiago, and they took over the facility in 2020, overcoming challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. The space has previously been Country Kitchen and Pancake Cottage.
Lola’s Southern Cuisine, 240 E. Main St., Patchogue. Starting June 7, open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday. Closed Sundays.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
