Neighborhood Business Highlight: Sola
Chef and General Manager, Erika Lipe
Inspired by travel, music, food and visual arts, Chef Erika Lipe has found a way to use her inspirations and, in turn, inspire others with her food at the Oxford restaurant, Sola. Erika shares, “I think combining styles of food on a menu is a very delicate art. You have to have a really good understanding of the purpose of each of the elements in order for it to be a success.” And Sola has certainly found its success and more!
In August of 2014, The Wine Bar was opened by Erika Lipe, along with partners and proprietors Dr. & Mrs. Lee Valentine of Meridian, MS. They rebranded as Sola in the Summer of 2019. Erika serves as Chef and general manager. Sola is known for its Southern Fusion cuisine, pulling heavy influences from the Mediterranean and Far East with expressions of worldly classics ranging in style from street food to boutique eatery.
We asked Erika about Sola’s best selling items and she shared, “Our crispy Brussels sprouts tossed in sweet Thai chili sauce and served on coconut rice with mint and lime have been on the menu the longest, and won’t be leaving anytime soon. We also keep veal piccata on the menu year-round and offer it with many different protein selections, from chicken, shrimp, to fish of the day.”
Sola also has some weekly specials and mainstays. Every Wednesday night is “Spaghetti Night,” where they feature their house Bolognese pasta for $15 and house wines for $5. Every Thursday night is “Ramen Night,” where they create a different noodle soup inspired by variations from around the globe. These ramens have been everything from Malaysian curry to Mexican pozole to Louisiana shrimp boil to even pizza-inspired noodles.
Sola has a great location on the Oxford Square! Erika shared, “Being on the square has many more pluses than minuses, but being a part of the Oxford community has been nothing but blessings. I can’t even begin to talk about the success of our restaurant without bringing up how amazingly supportive our town was during quarantine, when we were only able to do takeout.”
We ask our Neighborhood businesses how the Oxford and Lafayette county real estate market affects them. Erika shared,“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” (We just love her wit!)
We are so grateful to Erika and her willingness to create and her love of inspiration! Sola has become a local (and visitor) favorite restaurant on the Oxford Square. Sola is located at 401 South Lamar Blvd and is open Sunday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm and Wednesday-Saturday 5:00 pm – until. You can even order online here for pick-up or delivery. Be sure to follow them on social media for all of their weekly specials (@solaoxfordms).
Neighborhoods close by: Harrison Square, The Inmon House, The Van Buren, Van Buren Village, 619 University Avenue, Belle Maison, Tyler Place, The Ice House
