DO NOT use this locksmith. The guy that they sent was rude, unprofessional and completely scammed me. All I needed was a broken key removed from a lock and he took one look at it and told me it would cost $400. He then told me I needed two other things replaced and convinced me the door wouldn't work without them, which I'm sure now was a flat out lie. After all that the door didn't even close properly and when I questioned him he raised his voice at me and just kept repeating "that's the best you're going to get". He also charged a $30 credit card fee and a $40 "trip fee" neither of which he told me about. I tried to get in contact with a manager to tell them about my experience and every time I called they said he was busy and would call back. I called a total of about 10 times and never got a call back. I run a small business and nearly $600 is not a small amount for us. The fact that they couldn't even give me a call back after we paid them that much money is honestly unbelievable. Cannot stress enough not to use this business. read more

The ex-fiancee never returned my house key. So it was time to re-key the entire house! Thank you to Lew and his wonderful locksmith shop here on the El Camino Real in Palo Alto. The shop is just minutes away from my work making is easy to stop by and gather all the parts and material during my lunch break. I brought some other locks for repair work (hoping that it wouldn't cost me an arm and leg). Happily, Lew gave me a great deal on the repair work and made some helpful suggestions to secure my home (in case I have another case of the ex problems). If you're going to re-key your entire house, please be sure to call ahead for advice. There are several ways to get your home re-keyed without buying a brand new door lock assembly. Make Note: Lew accepts cash or check only. Parking: Maybe a challenge because it's all street parking. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL MOM & POPS STORES before shopping at the big hardware stores!!! read more

Lew's Peninsula Lock & Key - Keys & Locksmiths Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Lew was great, he fixed an old key that wasn't working and made me two new sets of apartment keys all for $10. Couldn't have been easier or more pleasant to deal with. I'll definitely use his services again. read more

Went in today to get a key copied. The owner did it quickly (under a minute) and provided the duplicate key with a smile. I had cash but only larger bills and he did not have the proper change and does not accept credit cards. He said, "just take the key and come in some time and pay for it". Really? In this day and age? I realize it was a small amount but what amazing customer service. I went out, got some change and returned and paid. I will use this guy in the future if I ever need a locksmith or anything to do with keys. Great experience! read more

Great place to get keys copied. The only negative is that it's hard to find/see from the street. It's between the First Republic Bank and R&B Seafood Restaurant. TINY shop! Park on the street. read more

Locked myself out of my car at IKEA. Felt pretty dumb. But Lew came to the rescue and was at my car in less than 30 minutes. Not that one should expect him to have the ability to do that all that time, but still, it was a huge relief. Lew CLEARLY knows his stuff and has been fixing locks his whole life (as revealed through conversation). An original craftsman. I love meeting people like that around the Bay Area. Sadly, people like this are becoming harder to find these days. I would also say that Lew got me to ensure I had cash before agreeing to come to my car and to call back once I had the cash and was ready for him to come. While at first I thought this was an odd request, I soon realized that locksmiths often get "stood up" by clients who find other people to help them, and when people like Lew show up, the situation has already been resolved by another locksmith. Anyway, it helped me empathize a bit. Thanks Lew! EDIT: Also, I want to also echo what another reviewer said about supporting your local Mom & Pop stores. Not only do you develop relationships with the owners, but you're helping out the LOCAL economy and the people that have been a part of it for decades. read more

Overall a GREAT experience. I called and said I needed the lock changed ASAP. he came in 1/2 hr. He pointed out the previous person had not installed the panel flush. He changed the lock. He lube'd the stuck part of the door. Fast, knows his stuff. told me to note down the 5 #s so in the future if I got locked out, that I could just call in future copies of my keys and he would have them ready for me when I got there! wow. His price was quite reasonable, I thought. $85 for the lock change. Minus 1 star only b/c when he asked how many keys do you want, I said 5 and didn't realize the price was 2x what ace hardware would have charged, I thought he was throwing them in. =( foolish me. no credit cards. cash/check only. read more

I just started housesitting for my friend in East Palo Alto. On the second night, at 2:30 am on a Saturday, I accidentally locked myself out of his condo with my phone, wallet, all my keys locked inside... All my friends were asleep, and nobody had a spare key anyway. I walked over to the Four Seasons and the front desk guy was very helpful and googled locksmiths and called around for a locksmith. After a few calls to various business, Lew at Peninsula Lock & Key was the only one to actually answer the phone... several other business were actually disconnected fly-by-night operations. He took down my information and said he would be out in 30 to 45 minutes. I was assuming that anybody I called would either take a long time, or not want to come out to EPA at 3am on a Saturday night. After about 20 minutes, Lew arrived; I was definitely happy with how quickly he arrived. At first Lew was all business (not rude, but just getting to work right away without any chit-chat), I didn't have a way to get the gate open so he could drive his van into the complex; my clicker was locked in my car. He spent some time trying to help me open the gate, but in the end just parked on the street and brought a few tools. I thought he would charge me extra due to the gate problem, but he didn't complain at all and stuck to his original quote. He came to the condo door, again all business, and started working on the lock. The lock was a bit of trouble, (and I know a little about locks and expected a lot of problems with picking it because it was so tight), and I was afraid he would have to drill it out... which would definitely not win over any of my new neighbors, lol. However, Lew got creative and got the door knob apart without even picking the lock (pretty impressive). Once he got me in, he spent some time making sure the front knob assembly was reassembled properly and worked properly. He also inspected the other locks inside the condo and gave me the codes to them so I could have keys easily made in the future. Lew took a check for payment, though also accepted Visa/MasterCharge. The cost was about $195, due to it being the middle of the night. I've heard there are guys who quote cheaper, but once they get to your place will jack the price up. Additionally, some guys who do things quick and dirty can damage the lock on your door which will end up costing. I'll gladly pay the $195 and have a working lock in the end. It's much cheaper during normal hours by the way. Anyway, once the job was done, Lew spent some time chatting and he was a very friendly guy. He gave me a lot of info about what he had done, and he made sure I was happy with the results. I really appreciate his effort and coming out so late. I will definitely call him again if need be, though hopefully it won't be in the middle of the night. Thanks Lew!!! read more

Read the great reviews and called LEw in my time of need. Needed all locks changed on my house within 24 hours. Lew showed up and delivered as expected. Great service. Commitment to quality. Very nice. read more

Got a cable lock sawed off my bike yesterday. It was reasonable but definitely a trip in the way back to 1982 machine.

Cute little lock & key shop. Very old school which added to its charm. I needed 6 copies made and I didn't want to drive over to Home Depot, so I looked around for something closer and bada bang bada boom -- I found Lew's. As someone else mentioned, Lew is a real locksmith. It was really cool to see him measure the grooves of the key and then use an old school key cutter. I felt like I was getting a key cutting history lesson. I thought that his price of $2.50 was a little steep compared to what giants like Home Depot charge, but it was worth it because I was guaranteed a perfect key and I received honest and genuine service. I don't know if I will need more duplicates in the future but if you do -- I highly recommend going to Lew. read more

I was house-sitting and locked myself out by mistake at 1AM in the morning. Not a good situation. I called 411 from a phone and got through to Lew's. Lew came over within 15 minutes of calling and got me back into the house. Fast 24 hr service. Amazing. read more

I got locked out of my house today. The first place I called would not give me an estimate. Lew said $95. He came when he said, got into my house in 10 minutes and then was kind enough to lube another doorknob I had for an additional $5. I didn't want any nasty surprises and didn't get any. NOT a fly-by-night this guy is clearly very passionate about what he does. read more

Quaint little neighborhood place with low key signage. Made two u-turns to find them. Needed two keys made; one regular and one "do not duplicate"...yes....sorry....but I don't want to pay my prop mgr $10 for a key....and yes, I used to work in security, which makes me double trustworthy right.....haha...anyway, good to know that even a small establishment like this will turn me down when I pleaded to have the "do no duplicate" key duplicated. Fast quick service, took 5 minutes in and out. Took longer for me to cross El Camino.... read more

Got home only to have my key snap off in my front door. (I have no other regular door, just sliding doors in the backyard)... With half my key inside the lock and the other half in my hand I was thinking I might never get back in my house. My wife (who was with me) looked on her phone and found Lew. And, man oh man, am I glad she did. He was at our door in less than fifteen minutes and had the tiny piece of key out of the lock after just a few minutes of working on it. He was quick, friendly, and extremely good at his job. If I ever need anything dealing with keys or locks again you can bet I will be calling Lew. Really terrific! read more

Locked out on the coldest night of the year... We called the first company that showed up on google... Waited for over an hour while sitting in the rain... it was awful. We called Lew while we were waiting (found him on Yelp) and he showed up just 10 minutes after we called-and on a holiday! He got us inside in SECONDS and even lubed the locks and tightened the knob for us. He then proceeded to cut new keys for us at no charge while teaching us how to measure a key and use our 5 digit code to cut a key for our apartment in case we found ourselves locked out again. Pretty cool to see people out there who are still excited about their craft; that's Lew. He was speedy to rescue us, got us in right away, knew his stuff and gave us an education. read more

I've used Lew for a number of different re-key projects at my house. He truly is a master of his craft and very efficient. His rates are beyond reasonable as well. Perhaps all locksmiths do this, but he gave me the punch code for each of the various keys in my house and told me to just give him that number if I ever lose a key. This way I don't have to pay for the labor charge, he can just cut me a new key. What a solid guy!! read more

I dropped in here to get a couple of duplicate car keys made. Lew was super fast and friendly, and cheap! Keys work great, no sticking. Cash or check only, though. read more

Needed my house rekeyed after my purse was stolen. Lew came to my house within 30 minutes of me calling- talk about speedy service! That way, I didn't have to leave my house in jeporady when I had to . Price was reasonable, about the same as the other places I called. read more

An old fashioned locksmith, conveniently located with great prices and services. Keep it local people, 'nuff said.

Lew himself came out to my house and re-keyed 13 cylinders in approx 1 hour. The keys fit beautifully and he lubed each lock. The price was competitive. Felt safe with him in the house - real concern for many women. read more

This place is great, I went in there with an old key that wasn't even the real key and the owner looked into his large inventory of blanks and cut a new one for me that worked perfectly. It's nice to find a real locksmith who knows what he is doing. I will definitely go back again Thanks read more

Lew was incredible. First of all, he didn't keep me waiting very long at all. He went out of his way to keep me informed as to where he was on his way to my place. Once he got here, my door was unlocked within 3 minutes. Super nice guy, very fair and reasonable, and did incredible work. I'd recommend Lew to anyone--a true professional and overall good person. read more

Came quick, got the job done, and showed me some useful pointers along the way.

Mark, the key cutting technician, is hilarious. Friendly service. He ensures that the job is done right. Home Depot is half the price per key but never works. Cash only, strictly 9-5 but you get what you pay for. read more

Very very helpful. Had to get two keys copied and despite the rareness of these particular keys, did it quickly and well. Lew was extremely nice and helpful. read more

Thanks Yelp for again leading me to another great place for service. I was on my way to PA for a conference today and only had a few min. Lew opened his place right at 9:30 AM and he quickly made the two keys I needed. No fuss and I was on my way. Thanks! read more

Locked myself out of my house on a rainy Saturday evening and Lew was there in no time. Good guy and great service. Thanks Lew!

Other reviewers are right: this man is a craftsman. I tried the key he made and then a copy I had made at the local hardware store, and the feel was noticeably different. The one cut at the hardware store was rough and cut down a little far (which reminds me, I must take my knives over to Bernal Cutlery instead of the hardware store or farmer's market). It technically worked, but it was a little clunky. I just thought it was the old lock. Now it feels solid and turns smoothly. He might sound a little gruff over the phone, but he's a sweet man who is honest, prompt, and takes pride in his work. He just happens to have a gravelly voice. He wrote down and gave me enough information about this particular key so that if I ever lock myself out and have no spare, he can actually make the key right at his shop (i.e., not have to pay him to come out.), and have it ready when I got there. He's conveniently located on El Camino, near Page Mill Rd. read more

The front door lock froze up and would not lock. So after doing some quick searches I found Lew. He was close by and was able to come quickly. He did a great job as he was able to just replace the one part that needed fixing and we did not need new keys. It all got done in an afternoon. Really great service. I would use him again. read more

There is still value in customer service and Lew's provide this extra value. I hated standing around Home Depot waiting for someone to help me make key copies. You've been there you know what its like. Well Lew's is the polar opposite. Tiny store filled with old and new lock and key related goods arranged in no particular order but exactly where Lew wants it. Lew knows his business. He isn't an hourly employee allocated the responsibility of the "key" department. It is what he does and he does it well. read more

Sunday Afternoon I was locked out. I called Lew and he said he would be there in 15 minutes. He made it in 10. Lew unlocked the door in 1 minute. Prompt, professional, available. The best! read more

Lew came out on time and made some good suggestions for improving security in our 9-unit condo building. The bill was close to what he estimated over the phone. Thanks, Lew! L Mehl Menlo Park read more

I was dog sitting for a friend, and while driving their car around town I broke the key off in the ignition. I was horrified! I checked yelp and saw that Lew's Pen Lock and Key got great reviews, so I swung by at 10AM on a Saturday. He cut me a new key based on the fragments of the old one, and I had a working key before 11AM. Reasonably priced for $10. The place is kind of dirty, but the owner really knows what he is doing. His competence saved my day! read more

this guy was trouble from the first moment. Lew expected me to have the tools he needed; and then when I did not, he complained. He overcharged me for both parts and labour, while not completing the job correctly! He spent about 20 minutes looking at his ad in my copy of the yellow pages. When his work failed and I called him to complain, he cursed at me. I had to spend $120 to redo his work!!! He preys on those he thinks are Jewish!! read more

We had a great experience using Lew for our re-keying. He explained everything clearly, and suggested re-keying rather than a more expensive way to fix a stubborn front door. He also rekeyed a number of other doors, quickly, expertly, and very economically. Every time I unlock the door I smile and think, "This is like butter." and I thank Lew. My previous key had broken in the lock, the door was such a problem. I recommend Lew highly. His skill and craftsmanship are topnotch, and I enjoyed talking to and learning from him. read more

Yelp delivered yet again, and I had a great experience with Lew's Peninsula Lock & Key. Lew was very responsive and communicative which made it easy to coordinate a repair that required me to drive 45+ minutes in each direction such that I spent a minimal amount of time waiting around. He put me at ease and gave me very little reason to worry that he would not follow through once he committed. The price could have maybe been a little cheaper, but for quick on-site service, I was pretty satisfied. I will definitely call Lew again should the need arise. read more

Lew did a quick, professional job at our house. He changed 12 locks and lubricated a few sticky latches. He showed up on time, changed the locks with no fuss and was economical. I recommend him without reservation! read more

called to ask if they carried a thumb turn cam lock- simple question. Lew said he wasnt in the store and i could come and look........ hmm... thanx for nothing. This was quite rude and bad business practice. i will not be shopping here. read more

Lew is national treasure. Meticulous, knows his craft and is a total professional. He is a character out of central casting as true craftsman have mostly disappeared long ago. Made a house-call to rekey our Menlo Park front and back door and garage. Fixed 20-years of other lingering door problems we didn't know could be fixed. Showed and taught me things about locks and keys I never knew existed. read more