Lola’s was recommended to us by friends and each time we visit Key West, the one thing that is understood is that we are eating at Lola’s. We love it so much that when we got married last week, we hosted our rehearsal dinner there. Everything always exceeds our expectations. The food is always phenomenal. Our guests were also blown away with the whole experience. Our favorite place to dine in Key West!
Jan Downing - Pierce
Always Fresh & Flavorful! Great atmosphere, Fun vibe, incredible staff. Best kept secret in KW but the secret is out so just know it’s worth the wait while enjoying a drink🥂
James Martin
Thank you to Rhett, Bruce, Yvette and Chef Richard for an EXTRAORDINARY New Year’s Eve dining experience!
The food was Phenomenal and the service Stellar as always! #gratitude
Elizabeth Lopez
Lola’s is an excellent restaurant. The food is always superb and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable . I highly recommend this wonderful gem!
The best food I have had in key west. Truthfully one of the best I’ve had in my travels. Kind and grateful staff. You can see the chef making your food right in front of you. I will 100% be back and tell anyone/everyone please go here. It is an experience and completely worth every penny. Bring your drinks with you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallops, Cheesecake, Amuse-Bouche Complimentary Appetier from Chef
Lauren Sunner
Wonderful, intimate experience with delicious food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Diane Gore
Lola's was everything I had hoped for. From the romantic setting to the melt in your mouth filet mignon. We highly recommend and we will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak
Karen Gagliardi
Chef Richard is the best- this place has a beautiful atmosphere and is a work of art. Watching Chef prepare everything was memorizing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim Highsmith
UPDATE to owner response: I have not ever posted wonderful comments about you. I don’t know what it is about your oversized ego that you just don’t get the point of what customers are saying: the numerous directives to be quiet before you even enter a restaurant are off-putting, and quite frankly, bizarre. So is your obsession with insulting your guests. Why are you even responding during meal service? Shouldn’t you be patrolling the restaurant for loud talkers?
Against my better judgment, I dined here for the second time a few weeks ago, because it was a friend’s birthday. Big mistake. HUGE. Before our party was granted entry into the restaurant, we were sternly told four times that we must keep our voices down. The man then looked at us admonishingly. I felt like I was in the principal’s office. Did we understand that? Yep. We all have IQs in the triple digits. Got it. That was the dark cloud that hung over the entire meal. Before the Grand Master responds to this, I’ll be clear: we knew to expect high prices. We are a group of professional adults who enjoy both low and high-end dining experiences. But come on! High prices should equate with the overall dining experience. We have all had much better times, and food, at places that are less fancy. The Grand Master believes that if the food is good, you must suffer for his art. The response to reviews that are less than 5 stars sound like a petulant child. But, some would argue, that’s what chefs are. If you want to call yourself a bistro, then you should at the very least write the night’s menu on a chalkboard. You know, like they do in actual bistros. To rush people into ordering their entire meal at once, with no mention of, say, whether a starter is big enough to share? You’re just ripping people off. There’s a reason almost all restaurants have a front of the house, and a back of the house. We dined frequently at Off the Hook, which was located in this space prior to Lola’s. There was NEVER a problem with noise in the room. NEVER asked to keep our voices down. The kitchen was not in the front of the house. I guess those wonderful chef/owners didn’t need adulation from the customers to feed their ego. The owner will respond and say I’m cheap, blah blah blah. They will get plenty of tourists to fill seats. Which is great, because us locals, we really prefer to dine where locals dine, where we are treated with respect, with friendliness, where we are welcomed. There are plenty of places on this island that do just that. So, see ya. PS, we were never asked during the meal to be quiet. As we were leaving, we talked to a couple of guys at a table who were. We never had a problem with that, or any other table, being loud.
I have lived in Key West since 1985 and have tried every restaurant on this island and have never had food as good as I have had at Lola’s Bistro. Chef and his wife are true restauranteurs and have wowed innumerable guests since opening their doors here in 2019. Chef Richard has the Midas touch and his creations are unparalleled. It doesn’t matter what he cooks it turns to gold and melts in your mouth. You will be dreaming of his food after dining here. His training in Italy and his extensive experience owning and running his prior 2 restaurants has honed his skill but his passion for what he does cannot be taught, it is innate. Chef Richard and his amazing partner Melanie are professional yet kind and unpretentious and it is a privilege knowing them and having had many opportunities to dine at their wonderful establishment whether alone or with friends and family. I have never had a mediocre meal or bad experience here. They are gracious and gregarious and this off the beaten path restaurant always ignites a spark in my soul and leaves me looking forward to the next visit. So whether you’re looking for a place for date night or just want to impress your friends/family look no further. There is a magic about Lola’s Bistro that is all it’s own…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kade Mortenson
One of my favorite restaurants on the island! Every meal every appetizer I’ve had here over years have been outstanding and they always have a piece of pecan pie for me which is to die for!
Saul David
Our experience at Lola’s was 10s across the board in every category. The atmosphere, 10. The food, 10. The service, 10. One of the most fun, unique and delicious dinners we’ve had in Key West and watching the chef work his magic in the open kitchen is the icing on the cake. Don’t miss out on trying it for yourself!
I recently visited Lola’s and it was amazing! The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the staff was friendly and helpful.The food was the highlight. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.The portions were just right, and the dessert was the perfect way to end the meal.Overall,it is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal. I can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Walter Wally
The Chef's Career-Ending Catastrophe: Listen, if this chef's career isn't over after this, we need to redefine what constitutes culinary failure. This isn't cooking; it's an act of culinary treason. Whoever praised this chef should be legally required to eat here for eternity as punishment.
The Staff's Cult of Misery: The staff here aren't just brainwashed; they're the high priests in a cult dedicated to the worship of mediocrity. They serve you with all the warmth of a Siberian winter, and their forced enthusiasm is about as convincing as a politician's promise.
The Food - A Vomit-Inducing Experience: - The Misnamed 'Starter': This isn't an amuse bouche; it's a 'bewildering bouche'. You get served what looks like the aftermath of a toddler's snack time disaster.
- Main Courses: The scallops have the texture of a damp sponge, and the filet with cheese? That's not fusion; that's a culinary abomination. It's like they're challenging you to find anything palatable in a dish that screams "I give up."
Service - A Hate Crime Against Diners: You're treated like you're intruding on their private pity party. They make you wait like you're about to enter the VIP section of a club where the only VIP is mediocrity. And forget about any real service; you're on your own, from pouring your water to uncorking your own bottle because they can't be bothered.
Payment - A Throwback to Tax Evasion: Venmo or cash? What, are we in the Wild West? They're probably dodging taxes with this setup, or maybe they just enjoy watching you fumble for your wallet while they tally up the cost in their head because, you know, transparency is overrated.
Ambiance - A One-Way Ticket to Dullsville: If the '70s called, they'd ask for their decor back. The place looks like it was last updated when bell-bottoms were in style, and not in a good way. It's like dining in a time warp where the only thing that's traveled forward is the price.
Final Verdict - A Culinary Career Suicide: If this place doesn't close down, it's only because the world has lost its collective sense of taste. This isn't just a restaurant; it's a cautionary tale of what happens when someone's ego outstrips their ability. Avoid at all costs unless you're fascinated by watching someone's culinary career implode in real-time.
Lola’s was recommended to us by friends and each time we visit Key West, the one thing that is understood is that we are eating at Lola’s. We love it so much that when we got married last week, we hosted our rehearsal dinner there. Everything always exceeds our expectations. The food is always phenomenal. Our guests were also blown away with the whole experience. Our favorite place to dine in Key West!
Always Fresh & Flavorful! Great atmosphere, Fun vibe, incredible staff. Best kept secret in KW but the secret is out so just know it’s worth the wait while enjoying a drink🥂
Thank you to Rhett, Bruce, Yvette and Chef Richard for an EXTRAORDINARY New Year’s Eve dining experience! The food was Phenomenal and the service Stellar as always! #gratitude
Lola’s is an excellent restaurant. The food is always superb and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable . I highly recommend this wonderful gem!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was amazing ?
I’m coming back for sure
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Ganache Cake, Scallops
The best food I have had in key west. Truthfully one of the best I’ve had in my travels. Kind and grateful staff. You can see the chef making your food right in front of you. I will 100% be back and tell anyone/everyone please go here. It is an experience and completely worth every penny. Bring your drinks with you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallops, Cheesecake, Amuse-Bouche Complimentary Appetier from Chef
Wonderful, intimate experience with delicious food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lola's was everything I had hoped for. From the romantic setting to the melt in your mouth filet mignon. We highly recommend and we will be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak
Chef Richard is the best- this place has a beautiful atmosphere and is a work of art. Watching Chef prepare everything was memorizing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
UPDATE to owner response: I have not ever posted wonderful comments about you. I don’t know what it is about your oversized ego that you just don’t get the point of what customers are saying: the numerous directives to be quiet before you even enter a restaurant are off-putting, and quite frankly, bizarre. So is your obsession with insulting your guests. Why are you even responding during meal service? Shouldn’t you be patrolling the restaurant for loud talkers?
Against my better judgment, I dined here for the second time a few weeks ago, because it was a friend’s birthday. Big mistake. HUGE. Before our party was granted entry into the restaurant, we were sternly told four times that we must keep our voices down. The man then looked at us admonishingly. I felt like I was in the principal’s office. Did we understand that? Yep. We all have IQs in the triple digits. Got it. That was the dark cloud that hung over the entire meal.
Before the Grand Master responds to this, I’ll be clear: we knew to expect high prices. We are a group of professional adults who enjoy both low and high-end dining experiences. But come on! High prices should equate with the overall dining experience. We have all had much better times, and food, at places that are less fancy. The Grand Master believes that if the food is good, you must suffer for his art. The response to reviews that are less than 5 stars sound like a petulant child. But, some would argue, that’s what chefs are.
If you want to call yourself a bistro, then you should at the very least write the night’s menu on a chalkboard. You know, like they do in actual bistros. To rush people into ordering their entire meal at once, with no mention of, say, whether a starter is big enough to share? You’re just ripping people off.
There’s a reason almost all restaurants have a front of the house, and a back of the house. We dined frequently at Off the Hook, which was located in this space prior to Lola’s. There was NEVER a problem with noise in the room. NEVER asked to keep our voices down. The kitchen was not in the front of the house. I guess those wonderful chef/owners didn’t need adulation from the customers to feed their ego.
The owner will respond and say I’m cheap, blah blah blah. They will get plenty of tourists to fill seats. Which is great, because us locals, we really prefer to dine where locals dine, where we are treated with respect, with friendliness, where we are welcomed. There are plenty of places on this island that do just that. So, see ya.
PS, we were never asked during the meal to be quiet. As we were leaving, we talked to a couple of guys at a table who were. We never had a problem with that, or any other table, being loud.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I have lived in Key West since 1985 and have tried every restaurant on this island and have never had food as good as I have had at Lola’s Bistro. Chef and his wife are true restauranteurs and have wowed innumerable guests since opening their doors here in 2019. Chef Richard has the Midas touch and his creations are unparalleled. It doesn’t matter what he cooks it turns to gold and melts in your mouth. You will be dreaming of his food after dining here. His training in Italy and his extensive experience owning and running his prior 2 restaurants has honed his skill but his passion for what he does cannot be taught, it is innate. Chef Richard and his amazing partner Melanie are professional yet kind and unpretentious and it is a privilege knowing them and having had many opportunities to dine at their wonderful establishment whether alone or with friends and family. I have never had a mediocre meal or bad experience here. They are gracious and gregarious and this off the beaten path restaurant always ignites a spark in my soul and leaves me looking forward to the next visit. So whether you’re looking for a place for date night or just want to impress your friends/family look no further. There is a magic about Lola’s Bistro that is all it’s own…
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorite restaurants on the island! Every meal every appetizer I’ve had here over years have been outstanding and they always have a piece of pecan pie for me which is to die for!
Our experience at Lola’s was 10s across the board in every category. The atmosphere, 10. The food, 10. The service, 10. One of the most fun, unique and delicious dinners we’ve had in Key West and watching the chef work his magic in the open kitchen is the icing on the cake. Don’t miss out on trying it for yourself!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Pork Belly, Scallops, Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake, Gnocchi Appetizer, Lobster Raviolis, Pecan Pie
I recently visited Lola’s and it was amazing! The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, and the staff was friendly and helpful.The food was the highlight. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.The portions were just right, and the dessert was the perfect way to end the meal.Overall,it is a great place to enjoy a delicious meal. I can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Chef's Career-Ending Catastrophe:
Listen, if this chef's career isn't over after this, we need to redefine what constitutes culinary failure. This isn't cooking; it's an act of culinary treason. Whoever praised this chef should be legally required to eat here for eternity as punishment.
The Staff's Cult of Misery:
The staff here aren't just brainwashed; they're the high priests in a cult dedicated to the worship of mediocrity. They serve you with all the warmth of a Siberian winter, and their forced enthusiasm is about as convincing as a politician's promise.
The Food - A Vomit-Inducing Experience:
- The Misnamed 'Starter': This isn't an amuse bouche; it's a 'bewildering bouche'. You get served what looks like the aftermath of a toddler's snack time disaster.
- Main Courses: The scallops have the texture of a damp sponge, and the filet with cheese? That's not fusion; that's a culinary abomination. It's like they're challenging you to find anything palatable in a dish that screams "I give up."
Service - A Hate Crime Against Diners:
You're treated like you're intruding on their private pity party. They make you wait like you're about to enter the VIP section of a club where the only VIP is mediocrity. And forget about any real service; you're on your own, from pouring your water to uncorking your own bottle because they can't be bothered.
Payment - A Throwback to Tax Evasion:
Venmo or cash? What, are we in the Wild West? They're probably dodging taxes with this setup, or maybe they just enjoy watching you fumble for your wallet while they tally up the cost in their head because, you know, transparency is overrated.
Ambiance - A One-Way Ticket to Dullsville:
If the '70s called, they'd ask for their decor back. The place looks like it was last updated when bell-bottoms were in style, and not in a good way. It's like dining in a time warp where the only thing that's traveled forward is the price.
Final Verdict - A Culinary Career Suicide:
If this place doesn't close down, it's only because the world has lost its collective sense of taste. This isn't just a restaurant; it's a cautionary tale of what happens when someone's ego outstrips their ability. Avoid at all costs unless you're fascinated by watching someone's culinary career implode in real-time.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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