Wow what a place! Tiny restaurant downtown that only has about a dozen tables. Small selection of appetizers and entrees and we all chose something different. To a person, not one had a bad meal. Personally this was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I think it's 2 or 3 seatings a night and it's BYOB. It is expensive but we'll worth it. We loved it! read more

Honestly, I do not even know where to begin!! From the warm welcome at the door for our 8pm seating until the last bit of Bananas Foster was licked from the spoon--this experience was to die for! Not a detail was forgotten and not a taste bud left unsatisfied! Call a couple of weeks ahead to reserve your spot and bring your own wine and cash! No cards are accepted! If you do not appreciate a gastronomic fantasy, do not waste a table on yourself:-) We are fortunate enough to live here and we will be back on a regular basis! Enjoy!! It's incredible! read more

Oh my, what an excellent dining experience! The chef uses ingredients in season that day, so the menu is ever changing. Our dinner was absolutely exquisite. All six in our party were so impressed with the talented chef and his creations. You will not regret choosing this restaurant. You must make a reservation, bring cash only and BYOB. read more

Super cute. Nice place with great food. BYOB is great. Wrapped artichoke was outrageous and the hog fish was good too. Ricotta cheese cake was amazing. Great place to try. They don't take credit cards. read more

Lola's Bistro - BYOB - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Best in Key West! The chef is a true artist. So creative. One of the best dining experiences we've ever had. Keep in mind you need to bring your own wine and they don't take plastic. Highly recommend. read more

Literally the best food I've had in key west. OBSESSED. Wish I could bundle them up and take them with me to SEA. If you can get a res then DO IT! Don't waste your time anywhere else. Such a treat!! read more

Such a cool new concept in key west. We had the tasting menu and everything was delicious. Loved that it is byob. If I went again I would probably order ala cart items. The pecan pie was so good and I usually don't even like pecan pie. read more

This place was recommended by our BnB and it was a hit. They only take reservations. We ordered the shrimp and scallop appetizers as well as the filet and Branzino entrees with a slice of key lime pie to top it off. Everything was great. My husband said the filet was one of the best steaks he has ever had. It is BYOB. Service was great. Definitely recommend! read more

This was such a phenomenal experience and I cannot wait to bring my mother and sister in law in April when I return. It is a unique dining experience and the food was simple yet delicious! We loved that we could bring our own wine to the dinner. We were stuffed beyond compare! The portion sizes were gigantic. read more

Live here and eat out a lot, we both work in the biz....go, eat and enjoy....hands down the best restaurant in Key West if not in all the Keys. Bring cash, make a reservation and take it all in. Bravo and thank you! Go!!!! read more

This is the restaurant that everyone wishes they had in their neighborhood. It's unique in many ways. They accept $, don't charge a corkage and their menu is not printed. The experience is always good and rewarding. It's my favorite place to dine. Where else can you go where the actual owner is also the chef who prepares every plate to order. The food and service can't be equaled anywhere else on the island. I so appreciate their attentiveness and attention to quality. Looking forward to returning to our favorite table, every other week! We Love You Lola's! Don't change a thing! read more

Lola's Bistro - Best Wine List in the World! - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

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Loved our dining experience at Lola's! You do need reservations, especially right now with social distancing requirements. We were able to secure a spot for early Friday. Our hotel bus had a fender bender on the way downtown. Needless to say my hubby was hurting on arrival to the restaurant. Melanie, hostess, server and wife was of the chef was absolutely awesome. She took extra care of my broken hubby! She told us the evening menu but suggested the chef's tasting. it's was 80 per person but for what you received. WOW! 7 amazing courses. Not little one bite dishes either. I could have eaten half of what they gave us and been full. Everything was wonderful. And it is BYOB with no corking charges. So nice not to have to buy overpriced drinks! payment is Cash, check, venmo or PayPal. All of this will be told to you when you make your reservation. This is a great little local's gem! I highly recommend Lola's! Thank you!! read more

I called to make a reservation for 1 last minute and they were able to accommodate my request which I really appreciated. The restaurant is very small and intimate. There is beautiful lighting and it smells amazing as soon as you walk in the door. You need to bring your own wine, which I actually enjoyed. Melanie gave amazing service and read off the options for the appetizers and entrees which I assume changes daily. The braised artichokes were spectacular and I ordered a seafood entree with the largest shrimp, scallops, mussels I've ever seen! There was also Hog fish which is special to key west in it that I was excited to try which just melted in your mouth. I would definitively try this place if you are in the keys! read more

There aren't enough good things to say about this place. Is it harder to make a reservation, sure, it's it harder to get in, maybe, is it worth it? 100% yes... I've recommended this place to everyone and I haven't heard a single bad thing about it. Know that they only take cash, know that it's going to be a long dinner. Sit there and enjoy the company and the moment. BYOB is amazing. I've never had a single bad bite of food here. read more

Our wonderful B&B host recommended Lola's Sunday evening. This was the best decision we've made during our stay. Hands down the best food in Key West! Lola's is small, a little out of the way, cash only, reservations required, and BYOB. Every dish is made in view of the room. My husband's favorite dish was the langostino appetizer. My fresh off the boat hogfish was maybe the best fish I've ever eaten. Just Go! read more

Would have been a great experience other than the fact we were discriminated against at this establishment for trying to dine here with my partner. As we approached the restaurant, we were wearing Pride colors and holding hands. When we arrived 15 minutes before they opened and only had two couples in front of us (who did not have a reservation) we were laughed at and denied entry by the hostess/waitress (her name is Evette from the Manchester, UK) and told it was "reservation only." My partner called them a minute later, giving them the benefit of the doubt, and asked for a reservation in 10 minutes, as two other men were going into the restaurant and said it was an amazing experience. The server's face dropped when we entered, although she was professional enough to greet us cordially. The situation escalated from there, and the server was overtly and blatantly rude to us from the beginning, making snide, patronizing, and unprofessional comments throughout our dining experience. Her berating actions and condescending attitude across multiple time points were humiliating. We left no gratuity because of this experience, which promoted the server chasing us down after we were outside the restaurant and walking down the street. She exclaimed, "gratuity is not included!", to which I replied, "it was an absolutely horrible experience." She proceeded to tell us, "YOU are horrible and that's why I didn't let you boys in to begin with." Again, we were in line and did nothing but ask if they had room for 2. Would not recommend. Discriminated based on appearance and sexual orientation (presumably). read more

Food is amazing. Service is amazing. Ambience is excellent. Not sure the last time I had a better experience overall.

My husband and I went here on our honeymoon for a romantic dinner and Lola's Bistro did not disappoint! There are tea candles lining the walls and the tables are set up with wine glasses. We got a complimentary appetizer and the scallops were perfectly cooked. The chef is preparing the meals right there in the same room. Everything we got was rich with flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to have a romantic dinner! read more

I had the opportunity to go to Lola's soft opening while vacationing in Key West this past weekend. The food is absolutely delicious! Such great options to choose from that we tried several items, all of which were amazing. From the homemade gnocchi to the scallops, the shrimp, and short rib ravioli...so good. Melanie and Richard were so gracious and the atmosphere perfect. Don't forget the tiramisu! A must go to spot when in Key West. Alicia from Philadelphia read more

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Had the good fortune to dine at this establishment while visiting Key West. My meal commenced with a beautiful caprese salad. For my appetizer, I chose the braised beef shank which came with mushroom ravioli. Both were executed perfectly. I chose the filet for my entree and it was beautifully prepared and served on a bed of rice and vegetables. Finally in joyed banana with caramel sauce for dessert. This was a meal of a lifetime. Thank you chef. read more

One of the BEST dining experiences I have ever encountered!! Very eclectic dining. Worth every single cent and more!! Hard to find a better dining experience anywhere. We had appetizers, entrees and desserts and didn't want to leave. read more

Out of bounds dining. As soon as we tasted the appetizers of scallops , artichoke hearts with a light tomato, Lamp Chops and the mushroom ravioli we made a reservation for the next evening read more

We were dining at the Red Door and were told that the best restaurant on Key West was Lola's. We made our reservation for the 8 PM seating. We were given (5) options for appetizers, (5) main courses and (5) deserts. We were so pleased with our meals. This year we made our reservation earlier and got the 6 PM seating and we brought 2 couples with us. Everyone ordered different items and all were very pleased with their selections. This is a small venue with a skilled chef working right in the dining room with the patrons. Its a BYOB and we will be going back every time we visit Key West. read more

FANTASTICAL!!!!!!!!! This was a recommendation from a local and what an amazing little local secret!! This tiny fine dining hole in the wall is quite the gem!! It was quite possibly the most amazing meal I've ever eaten in my entire life!!! You most certainly should make reservations as there are only 9 tables. The service is extremely personable and friendly! It's BYOB and cash only so come prepared. You will not regret it! I'm just sad we aren't locals so we can become regulars!! Thanks Rich and Melanie for the perfect dinner night!!! read more

Hands down the best meal I have had in key west. An amazing family and chef that cares about each guests meal. Reservation required, small place made smart with covid. My local parents ordered from here at least once a week during quarantine and could not stop talking about the amazing level of care and service the restaurant gave them. The artichoke appetizer was insanely good and each of our entrees was specially prepared. You will be lucky to eat here if you are visiting. read more

I had such high hopes for this restaurant. I've dined at many unique-niche restaurants, Michelin star restaurants, etc... and I was told that this restaurant would be one of the finest in Key West. It was a disaster. To start, I'll share what they did well: The scallop appetizer was phenomenal, and the amuse bouche was delicious. It went downhill from there. The lobster appetizer was served raw, we sent it back for them to throw some heat on, and it came back just as raw. The gigantic 10oz filet was supposed to be served at medium temp and it was served WAY under temp. The sauce was ice cold, and the orzo served with it was somehow over cooked, clumped up, and also cold. We got our tab and left as soon as we could. Keep in mind, this place has no liquor license, so you have to bring your own alcohol, and the tab was still $250, with no dessert. I don't usually publish reviews of all the bad places I go, but I feel it's necessary to warn others so they don't make the same mistake I did-which was spending an outrageous amount of money on a terrible over-hyped-niche dining experience. read more

Never a doubt about their food. But today after 72 hrs of making a reservation, traveling all the way from Miami, we were turned back at the door, wine at hand, saying our name was not on the list. Reminded me of the places I want to avoid . Maybe an online reservation system? I am sorry but it's Friday night in key west and we are now left in limbo to find a place for food. LAME read more

I am a local in Key West. I love to eat and I think Key West has some great restaurants. However, Lola's has now become my favorite! The service was incredible. And the food is absolutely wonderful! So fresh. Will be going back very very soon. Whenever I call to make a reservation, Melanie gets right back and is so very very nice and kind. This is a must if you come to Key West!!!! read more

This is an AMAZING find tucked away on Simonton! Stumbled upon this little gem while walking around our (January) neighborhood & SO glad we did! Reservation only, 30 seats, cozy atmosphere, open kitchen (you can watch the Chef create every bite!), very nice staff. Verbal menu only (4 apps & 4 mains each day, varies by what's fresh & tasty!!) BYOB (they only have still water and ice (if you BYO needing to be chilled bevy). No corkage fee. They grace your palate with a complimentary starter (FRESH bread, FRESH mozz, tasty cucumber slice and prosciutto (?) I'm a pescatarian so I didn't eat that piece)) so tasty! We then got the highly recommended artichokes in lemon and parm (very hard to choose between the apps & mains!) & we're NOT disappointed! I then had the pan seared halibut with cous cous and fresh green beans. Hubby wanted the recommended veal medall but I can't t bear to have have him eat veal in my presence (I'm a hypocrite bc I don't put up a fuss when he eats other meat, I'm terrible!) anyway, he got the 24oz bone in rib eye & he practically licked the plate after he enjoyed every bite! My flounder was the best I've ever had. Wish we had room for dessert! This place is awesome!!! read more

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Lola's cannot be beat. It is an honor to watch Chef Richard cook the amazing food, and paired with the phenomenal service, it can't be beat. Lola's is not only one of the best meals in Key West but one of the best anywhere. Do yourself a favor and call to make a reservation, bring cash (cash only, along with Venmo) and a nice bottle of wine (BYOB). You will not be disappointed! read more

Lola's has quickly become the best new restaurant in town. Having Chef Richard cooking in the dining room for the entire restaurant creates a unique and special experience. This small, bustling bistro offers the most flavorful dishes on the island. The service is always fantastic. Melanie and Ryan are a joy to be served by. The restaurant is BYOB and cash only, so come prepared with your favorite wine/beer/champagne...don't miss out on an opportunity to eat here. Make sure to plan ahead and make a reservation! read more

Fabulous food. I'll definitely return as I've dined there twice in past month. Wait staff was kind and friendly for one visit, but waitress with "Aussie accent" was condescending and a bit aloof on the other trip. Maybe she was just having a bad night, but if she continues that attitude, I may need to sadly remove Lola from my "favorites list" in Key West. :( The way the wait staff treats customers has a huge impact on the overall dining experience...... just sayin' read more

Amazing and elegant ambiance. The setting is very intimate. The food is spectacular. We had Halibut and Snapper. Both were expertly prepared. The portions were generous. Everything was delicious and piping hot. Our servers were attentive and very knowledgeable. This was the most amazing dinner experience I've ever had. read more

Excellent , excellent , excellent One of the key west hidden jewels Food cooked to the perfection , 3 men crew but so efficient Great price, highly recommended read more

Amazing food & atmosphere! Our new favorite! We love to bring our own wine. Always a great experience.

What a beautiful and delicious experience. I had the Mahi Mahi tonight served with a tomato sauce and rice. It gifted me a warm feeling of home with hints of my Cajun grandmother's summer fish couvillion. Thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful dinner, service, and atmosphere! Thank you! read more

Seriously! This has to be the best restaurant to open in Key West. From the quaint open air dining room/ kitchen. To the verbal menu that changes daily. It's breathes a breath of fresh air here in Key West. I've now enjoyed dinner at Lola's 4 times and each time continues to amaze me. Make sure to try the scallops (if they have them!) my friends rave over the Bronzino and as a meat eater their ribeye doesn't disappoint. Melanie is a gem taking care of the front of house and her husband (the chef) is a wizard in the kitchen. Make a reservation ahead! And grab your favorite vino on the way. Don't miss this place! You'll be sorry. read more

Quite possibly the best restaurant in key west.. Phenomenal dinner tonight. Creativity is still alive post Covid-19!!! Bravo! These folks are killing it. If you haven't tried Lola's you're really missing out. Be sure to bring a bottle of wine! read more

Just had dinner at Lola's this evening and it was hands-down the best meal we've had on the island. The small, intimate space, BYOB policy, and service makes this quirky restaurant a new favorite. The small menu was read to us by our attentive waiter, Ryan. The filet and snapper were cooked perfectly and it was evident the ingredients were fresh. Be sure to make a reservation. I simply cannot say enough good things about this little hidden gem and we'll be back time and time again! read more

Lola's Bistro - Cute boutique restaurant - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

I wish I could give six stars! Amazing food. I love that it is fresh and can change daily based on what's available and how the chef is feeling that day. The service was impeccable. Portions were generous - we could have shared a dessert. But I ate every bite! Read the bad reviews so you will understand how this place works, and if that's not your thing head over to the Dennys on Duval. :-) read more