Sheila Lucero Executive Chef

A native of Denver, Colorado, Chef Sheila Lucero owes her love of cooking to her father, an avid cook and food connoisseur. She fell in love with the wonderful and varied cuisines of South Florida while earning a degree in Biology and playing soccer at Florida International University and, bent on becoming a chef, she returned home to CO to enroll at the Colorado Art Institute. She then joined the outstanding opening crew of Jax Fish House in Denver and rose through the ranks to become Chef de Cuisine in 2002. In 2009, she became the Executive Chef of Jax Fish House, and has since helped open additional and equally awesome Jax locations in Fort Collins, Glendale, and Kansas City.

Guided by a concern for the health of our oceans and the state of our global fish stocks, Sheila has spearheaded a sustainability program at Jax and LOLA to ensure that the seafood we serve is not only good for our guests, but also for the world we live in. Seafood is delicious, and we want it to last forever!
Under her guidance, we have partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch, The Blue Ocean Institute, Fish Choice, and the James Beard Foundation’s Smart Catch among other sustainable seafood certification organizations to share important news in the ever changing world within our oceans. In June 2017, she was invited to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress and lobby for several key environmental policies that are up for renewal. She also participated in the James Beard Foundation’s 2017 Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change in Burlington, VT.

In 2018 She joined the LoLa family as Executive Chef, leading the kitchen into a new era of coastal culinary adventures with her contagious smile, inspiring creativity, and incredible commitment to sustainability.

Jonathan Mathews Chef de Cocina

Chef Jonathan—aka Juicy—got his start at the Culinary Institute of America, where he earned degrees in Restaurant Management and the Culinary Arts. He then cut his teeth in kitchens across the country, including the Everest Restaurant in Chicago where his team earned a Michelin star. In 2011, he moved to the mile high city and worked his way up the ranks of SAGE Restaurant Group before joining the Lola family in 2018. As the Chef de Cocina, he brings an immense amount of dedication, creativity, and commitment to teamwork to the table. And while he isn’t an illustrator, painter, or sculptor by any stretch, he definitely lends credence to the title culinary artist with his daily inspirations in the kitchen.

A true foodie, Juicy spends his time away from Lola either cooking, eating, or talking about food. He and his wife—who happens to be a pastry chef—also run a local chocolate business together.

Leslie Richards General Manager

Born and raised in one of the great culinary capitals of the world, it’s no surprise that Leslie loves good food. A New Orleans native, she got her start in the restaurant biz as a teenager and fell in love with the excitement, the teamwork, the chance to make new friends from all walks of life, and the fact that no two days are ever the same. She earned her MBA and JD from Tulane University, and also worked alongside legendary Crescent City chef Emeril Lagasse.

When she’s not leading the crew at Lola, you’ll find Leslie spending time with her family, playing with their rescue pups and foster dogs, exploring new restaurants, reading, and listening to music. She also loves to support her community, donating her time to local charity organizations.