The prevailing theme from tonight's dinner at Lola's was simple: food tastes better when shared with friends. Everything was outstanding as I had remembered it when I first fell in love with this place in 2020, starting with the amuse-bouche--perfect little bites that set the tone for the night. Toasted crostini topped with Roma tomato and mozzarella, paired with a slice of salami, cucumber, and cannellini beans tossed in a light vinaigrette--it was fresh, balanced, and just enough to whet the appetite. Next came a round of shared appetizers (the exact menu details escape me, but the experience certainly doesn't): scallops, lobster ravioli in a cream sauce, boneless quail in a sweet chili sauce, artichoke with mozzarella, and lobster tail. Every dish was memorable, but my favorites were the lobster tail, the impossibly tender quail with its subtly sweet sauce, and the perfectly cooked scallops. For my entrée, I ordered the filet mignon, medium rare, served atop a bed of house-made pearl couscous--rich, comforting, and executed beautifully. Dessert was a true smorgasbord of scratch-made creations from Chef Richard: lemon tart, pecan pie à la mode, baked banana caramel, a light and fluffy New York-style cheesecake, and a decadent chocolate cake. We each took two bites before passing the plate to the right, repeating until nothing remained. The standout for me was the crustless cheesecake--airy, delicate, and utterly perfect. Rett provided an outstanding experience, honest suggestions for us, and even offered club soda with lemon for my son's upset stomach from the tedious red eye plane flight (should have booked Lola's later in our trip instead of the day we got here) so that he could be able to better enjoy his meal with us. All in all evening of incredible food, shared plates, and even better company, exactly how dining should be. read more

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excellent food prepared by a very special chef, service was spot on, however the noise level gets pretty intense. Two of us had the pork chops which were very flavorful and cooked perfectly. One had the pompano fish which was really spectacular, and the 4th person had the ribeye steak which was also delicious. Highly recommend, just remember to bring cash! read more

Great food wonderful service. It's as if you were invited to someone's home for a delicious food. No parking so uber Very romantic inside CASH only read more

This might be, by far, my favorite restaurant in Key West! I have been there twice and each time the food was spectacular! The menu changes every day depending on seasonal availability of products which guarantees freshness. I also love that it's a BYOB restaurant allowing you to bring your own wine without charging a corkage fee. The service was "top-notch" as well, very friendly yet professional. My ONLY suggestion for the restaurant would be to improve their air conditioning system. It is rather warm inside. Otherwise, I love this restaurant and I highly recommend it once you are in Key West. read more

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An incredible dinning experience. There is a new menu everyday with multiple choices in appetizers...entrée and deserts. When you arrive they call you in by your name and seat you. They announce the menu to the whole restaurant...which is small and intimate with the open kitchen and real lit candles along the walls. Enjoyed the BYOB. read more

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Lola's Bistro delivers an unforgettable dining experience - both in terms of incredible food and literal heat! The charming, candlelit space seats only about ten tables, creating an intimate atmosphere. Just be aware that the open kitchen makes certain tables quite warm - we were seated right by the cooking area and definitely worked up a sweat, as did neighboring diners. Where Lola's truly shines is on the plate. Our meal began with a free starter from the chef - tomato on french bread, thin slice of cured meat and marinated cucumber and beans)--a nice touch. Remarkable appetizers: perfectly cooked scallops, lobster with a creative spicy Thai preparation, and melt-in-your-mouth lamb accompanied by a cherry reduction. When it came to main courses, the Seabass and Pompano were absolute standouts - the pompano fried in leek and garlic butter was particularly memorable. The Filet and Cobia were good. A few helpful notes for first-timers: The menu is presented verbally (you can ask about prices if needed), and they only accept cash, check or Venmo - neither of which detracted from our experience but are good to know in advance. You must call a leave a message to get a reservation. There are only two seatings, 6 and 8 pm. The Bistro is tiny, maybe 10 tables. The spacing of the tables is nice, not too crowded. This restaurant is BYOB and they do not charge a corkage fee. They do provide water and wine glasses for the table. While the $400+ total for four reflects the quality, the uncomfortable warmth near the kitchen keeps this from being a perfect rating. That said, the outstanding food makes Lola's absolutely worth visiting - just maybe bring a handheld fan if you're seated near the action! read more

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This place is straight up amazing. The service was great, they cook the food practically in front of you. Just an overall cool dining experience. read more

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This hidden gem is worth the visit. The chef publishes 5 appetizers, 5 entrees and 5 desserts on a daily changing menu. Go in knowing there is a generous amuse bouche plate to start the meal. We expected tiny appetizers but the portions are HUGE (read shareable). Scallop app provided 4 LARGE scallops, artichokes and ravioli were similarly generous. We could have shared 1 appetizer but so glad we ordered 3 as they were the stars of the show. For entrees we had Cobia, filet (10oz) and lamb chops. The lemon caper sauce and lobster ravioli accompanying the cobia were my favorite. The lamb chops also had merit. The filet was under seasoned and we prefer a crispy edge, maybe just our taste. Banana dessert was good but needed a brûlée crispy carmelized edge too. As the front man, Bruce was the belle of the ball. He was charming and friendly. I would return with enthusiasm, being my own wine and cash. We wish this chef much success in his restaurant business. The affect of the interior is dim and romantic, lit by candles ensconced on the walls. The photos included are representative of the beautiful dim lighting and ambiance. read more

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What a delight watching the chef create your meals not only perfectly but great in taste , presentation and being authentic!!!!

This little, (and I mean little) gem in Key West is one of my all time favorites. The food is just wonderful, the artichokes were melt in your mouth delicious. My husband got the boar, as an app, which truly was a meal in itself. For the main course, I ordered the 10 oz tenderloin, and the remaining eight ounces, I ate the next three days. My husband had the pompano in garlic sauce. He smelled of garlic for the next three days. Both meals were delicious. Service is impeccable. The service is a team effort. One server even noticed someone's napkin fell on the floor, ran over and placed a new napkin in front of her while picking her old one off the floor. The atmosphere is intimate. Tea light candles (real by the way, you might need to warm your hands because it is freezing inside) and the wall is covered in them. A downside, along with an upside is they only take cash. It saves you money though because a number of places in Key West charge a 3% fee for using a credit card. Large tables tend to be a bit obnoxious and loud. They were even asked to lower their voices, but because you bring your alcohol, they just did not listen. read more

Lola's Bistro - 8 ounces of tenderloin - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

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The staff and food is amazing! The entire meal from appetizers to desserts was a culinary experience! Highly recommend Lola's! read more

Damn, Lola's was a moving culinary experience that I just can't shake! Literally everything about our 2 1/2 hours was memorable. The atmosphere. The FOOD. The "feel" of the restaurant. The FOOD. The staff (Rhett!) . The FOOD. The energy. The FOOD. and the Chef. Watching Chef Richard, do his thing, right in the dining room, is like watching the greatest conductor of a perfect symphony filled with Lobster tail, short rib ravioli, lamb, sauces that are subtle but succulent, the freshest fish and the best piece of tiramisu ever. Or evah as we say in Boston. BYOB, cash or Venmo and worth every penny. read more

My husband and I came to Lola's after a close friend raved about their food. We were treated to one of the best meals of our lives and we have been around great cuisine. Make your reservation now and bring your close friends along. We recommend the filet mignon and any fish cooked to perfection they are serving. End your meal with the chocolate flourless torte... we cannot wait to return again!! read more

I had to take a few days to write a review for this restaurant. I'm not about leaving a negative review unless for good reasons. It started with calling for a reservation where we were instructed that they have timed seatings, do not serve wine/beer/cocktails/beverages, and only take cash or Venmo. Not the most customer friendly oriented place it seemed. We got to the restaurant with a party of 5 and instead of being welcomed in, we were told "good, you brought your own drinks" with an air of superiority that made us feel like we were lucky to have pleased them. This slightly arrogant attitude by what appeared to be a manager was present throughout the whole meal. It's not like I'm an amateur at spending time in fine dining restaurants where usually the staff is ready to do whatever is needed to give a good experience. Not sure why the entire staff at this restaurant has a snooty attitude but somehow, this kind of social climate exists. So... the food. We got the a few appetizers and the artichokes stood out as the best. The quality of the food was good but all the dishes were lackluster. You can tell when food is cooked with pride and love. Everything tasted like whoever cooked it didn't really care. There was nothing extraordinary considering the price. Next up were our main courses. I got the filet, a few people got fish, and we ordered a lobster tail ($100!) for everyone to share. Again, everyone felt that the food was just mediocre with nothing making it worth the prices they charge. Also, as the meal continued it got dark outside and they only used candles so by the end of the meal you could barely see what you were eating! I would say the highlight of the meal was the chocolate dessert pictured below. We were hoping for a gem in a town full of really poor and touristy restaurants. What we got was an $850 bill for 5 people served with a nice amount of arrogance. Just take a look at the response from the owner to any negative reviews and that will tell you all you need to know. Customer reviews are treated with the same condescending attitude as in person. I would use the phrase - the fish stinks from the head down. Can't wait to see the owners response to this interview! read more

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Unique set up with Chef Richard cooking food right in the dining room. No fixed menu, it changes for each seating. Good times. $100 person / BYOB. Don't miss it!! read more

This is one really great unusual restaurants. Today's menu is announced by the waiter. 4 or 5 entrees and later comes desserts. It's BYOB and cash only. We have been there twice and both times it was fantastic! $$$$ yes but great value. We are looking forward to our next visit. read more

This restaurant is a very unique experience. It is small quaint and casual. They only offer two seatings 6pm & 8pm. This restaurant is BYOB and they do not charge a corkage fee., They only take phone reservations. If they do not pick when you call leave them a message. There is no set menu. They offered us 5 appetizers, 5 entrees and 5 desserts. We were a group of 6 so we were able to order every plate and try each dish. The chef is cooking live which is a very nice touch to the experience. Everything was served very nice and was delicious. Would definitely return. read more

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This restaurant is an absolute must try if you're visiting key west! The portions are huge, the appetizers themselves are the size of full meals. The menu changes every day so everything you get is fresh. Everything we got was a delight, the duck leg I had was moist and the gnocchi were amazing. My favorite though was the pineapple cream cake...best cake I've ever had, and that's saying a lot because I love my cake. Great honeymoon experience! read more

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Just back from a delicious and charming dinner at Lola's Bistro. Two seatings, 6 and 8 pm. The Bistro is tiny, maybe 10 tables. The spacing of the tables is nice not too crowded. A clean and inviting ambiance with low lighting. Two walls filled with flickering votive candles. You can see Chef Richard in the open concept kitchen preparing meals. Guests are welcomed by Bruce and seated individually when called by name. The tables set with wine and water glasses, nice silverware and crisp linens. Chef Richard greeted us with a complimentary small plate of refreshing ripe tomato on french bread, thin slice of cured meat and marinated cucumber and beans. There is no printed menu. The wait staff orally give you five options for appetizer and entrees. If you want the price, you will need to ask. Our party of three enjoyed the scallops, artichokes and mushroom stuffed ravioli appetizer. Each generous plate was delicious and ample for sharing. As Hogfish is a dish we can't get in our hometown we all ordered the Hogfish plate. This was an abundant meal of fish, lobster ravioli and two generous scallops. Easily the dish could have been shared. We had sated our bellies and passed on dessert. On my next visit I would share the appetizer and one of the meals to have room for dessert. I would give Lola's five star rating but did not only because there is not a written menu, as the offerings for the evening dish prices are not listed. Our meal for three was just over $300.00 Reservations required. Lola's Bistro is BYOB and does not serve alcohol or soft drinks. Lola's does not accept credit cards. Come with your cash, Venmo or check. Guaranteed a delicious and relaxing experience. read more

Lola's Bistro - Open concept dining. - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

Food was just ok. Very uninviting dining area. Very harsh and severe. Surly service. So many great restaurants in town. Skip this one.

Lola's came recommended by a key west local and good friend and boy what a come up. Lola's is an experience in its own and should be experienced at least once. They offer only two dining options at 6pm and 8pm so plan accordingly. The dining room itself is open concept. Super open concept. And with intimate table settings and candlelit decor, chef Richard's cooking station lives front and center for all of his guests to gaze their eyes on. One of the best parts, it's BYOB which we were big fans of. We were even given wine buckets for the table to keep our wine cool. Small gestures don't go unnoticed here. Menus do not exist in the sense of physically. We were shared our menu options verbally as the menu constantly changes based on what ingredients chef Richard has on hand that day. Great concept as it keeps us as guests curious. We ordered a little bit of everything to really experience Lola's and we sure did enjoy ourselves; shrimp prongs were doused in a tomato based sauce packed with flavor and tons of spice, the lamb chops were great but just slightly undercooked, gnocchi and pancetta was *chefs kiss* cheesy and salty in all the right ways, and the ravioli being a table hit. We thought we were done there until we heard the dessert options; pecan apple pie, banana foster and cheesecake. And it was absolutely worth the splurge. Judge me. Service: 10/10 Experience: 10/10 Food: 7/10 Be sure to bring cash with you or they do accept Venmo so come prepared. Looking forward to our next visit! read more

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My wife and I went to Lola's Bistro last night. Understanding this is byob establishment, I expected that the cost per plate would be high. More on that later. I was very, very unsatisfied with my meal. I ordered dual pork chops. They came out way under cooked. When I cut in to the first chop I saw it was slightly cooked on each side and raw in the middle. Pink, not good, not safe. I alerted the server who took it back to the owner/cook. It appears to be a one man kitchen. After a bit of a wait he returned with the same chops covered in more beurre blanc sauce. I cut into both chops again, 'both were still way undercooked. The waiter stopped by again and asked how the dish was. I replied, not good. He kept walking. I pushed the plate away and didn't eat any more. It wasn't safe or palatable. My wife couldn't believe it and tried a piece. Not good. I have traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe. Much of the enjoyment of travel is dining out and trying local dining. This is the first negative dining review I have ever written. My pork chops were awful. In fairness, we enjoyed our appetizers: My wife had artichoke hearts with cheese and I had andouille sausage with a tomato sauce. The bill came with all meals included on the bill, including the pork chops. I was about to tell the waiter that charging me for that meal was criminal but my wife asked me to let it go. So, I did. Much like other reviewers have said, there is no printed menu. Dining is à la carte. The server tells you verbally what is on the day's appetizer and entree menu. No prices given. They don't expound on what's included with the entree course, it's just "We have Chilean Sea Bass, Filet Mignon, Pork Chops, etc". The place holds probably 30. There were 25 diners and the noise level was high which made the ordering process difficult. Pricing: Our appetizers were $30 and $35. The Sea Bass was $68 and the Pork Chops were $60. Total bill was somewhere around $210. read more

phenomenal dinner! all 3 courses, so amazing! Service was solid as well. Only 2 sittings made it special

We had lobster and scallops for an appetizer. They were both delicious. Two of us had the filet. It was good, but not great. Not for the prices you pay here. Chilean sea bass was excellent. It is a nice experience, but very, very expensive! read more

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An amazing food journey. If you want a special, unique experience with your significant other or friends, Lola's is where you want to go. We had a party of 14 and they handled us perfectly. The staff was very professional and welcoming. The chef is in the dining area so you can see your food prepared in real time. The meals are custom, and top shelf. Don't be fooled by the price, as you get exactly what you pay for which is five stars! Bottom line, best restaurant in Key West for high end dining! read more

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Loved the romantic low light ambiance of the space. My partner and I were seated facing chef Richard, who was super fun to chat with and amazing to watch him prepare your dinner right in front of you. There is a BYOB policy and cash only, personal check, or Venmo. You must make a reservation as there are two seating times. No printed menu, 5 app options and 5 entree options that the waiter describes to you aloud and is happy to answer any questions or repeat the options. We ordered a little too much food in our enthusiasm but I am never at a loss to take home extra leftovers. We had the scallops and tempura fried lobster tail as appetizers, they were both large portions. For dinner I had the Black grouper and my partner had the filet Mignone with mushroom glaze. Everything we ordered was delish! It's was the best black grouper meal I had in all of key west as many places I dined at would slightly over cook the fish. One of the dessert specialties was a in house made cheesecake and the bananas cream foster both devine. Such a unique experience for our special occasion. We will be back for this dining treat. read more

The atmosphere is lovely as well as the attentive service. BYOB is a big bonus. We ordered artichokes, lamb, lobster n scallops as the appetizer. The artichokes were fabulous, scallops also. The lamb was cooked to order. I've put a lot of things in my mouth, but warm water lobster hasn't been one of them. There was an odd membrane throughout the tail that wasn't my favorite. I'd have to try again to see if it's a universal thing. For dinner, gnocchi, cobia, and a hog fish. All were good, my overall impression is there's too much sauce which is usually never a problem, 70% of my fridge is sauce n condiments but with fresh good quality seafood I'd like to see it stand out more. The sauces were tasty and well-balanced but masked the delicious main ingredients. read more

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Pretty good. Always enjoy myself there when I go. Great place to just get off of Duval st

Best restaurant in key west hands down. The Duck and Jumbo scallops are perfect in every way. The duck was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The gnocchi was so delicious. The banana dessert was incredible. These are mere simple words in attempt to describe something indescribable. Every bite was better than the last. The service was professional, when our water was low, it was refilled without asking. Inside is the perfect mood setting for an 8:30pm meal. The pictures didn't come out great due to the dim lighting but don't let my bad pics bring this place down even a little bit. 1000/5 stars! read more

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Lola's is such a special place!! There's no menu, it's whatever the chef feels like preparing based upon the freshest catch and ingredients. The server will tell you verbally the 5 items or so to choose from. The interior is small and intimidate, exposed brick walls in a narrow townhome reminds me of a south Philly BYOB. Lola's is also BYOB which I greatly appreciate since it's hard to find in Key West. The food is absolutely fantastic. The chef cooks right inside the dining room, it's very intimate. You can see all the fresh ingredients. He's even friendly for photos :) Everything we ate was phenomenal. Gnocchi, steak, fish, dessert. I will recommend Lola's to everyone who wants a unique experience different from the typical ocean-front seafood house that key west is popular for. TIP: cash only, or Venmo. I love the Venmo option :) also reservations required. Call for reservations you can't do it on the website. read more

Lola's Bistro - Chef with our special BYOB - Italian Near Me - Key West, Florida

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If I could give more stars I would, the ambiance is very romantic, cozy and comfortable. The staff is outstanding, friendly, and knowledgeable . The Chef is the best I have ever had the pleasure of talking to and tasting his food. No one can beat the food served in this restaurant. It is top quality in taste and flavors. Don't miss this restaurant during your stay in Key West, there is no better. read more

The two appetizers were fresh hand-made pasta Tortellini stuffed with cheese. The best pasta dish we have ever tasted and sautéed quail with the most amazing balsamic & butter reduction sauce. We chose the fish entree and the filet mignon, we split each entree and created a surf and turf for two. Fabulous meal! read more

Unique experience in small personal setting where the food is prepared in plain sight, new menu every day, while energetic waiters take care of every detail. The food is beautiful and straight to the table. Definitely going again. read more

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I watched the server drop a sprig of rosemary on the floor, pick it up and put it on the plate for the chef to cook. The chef literally cross contaminated everything by using the same gloves and same towel to wipe down everything. I've been here a few times and I seriously regret my last visit. I got the worst case of food poisoning I have ever had. Being sick two dozen times and dropping 12 pounds. I'd avoid for the lack of sanitation and you don't want to end up in the suffrage that I experienced. read more

outstanding experience. Could be one of my most favorite restaurants of all times sat right next to the kitchen and watched all the action happening seeing all of the fresh food and him a maestro of how he handled all of the dishes. Not one thing was missed. One of the best meals I've ever recommended other reviews are correct. Be there on time so you don't miss any part of your experience if I could give 10 stars I would. read more

The food is Michelin quality . The atmosphere is quaint and first rate 5 star rating isn't enough read more

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This restaurant is trying to come off as something special....there is an exclusivity play where you have to leave a message to make a reservation. And they have timed seatings. All signs that the food is going to be amazing! But alas, not so. Setting aside the pretentious service - "verbal menu" that is screamed at you and the guy doesn't even have it memorized - and a bad attitude when you ask for a clean glass for your second glass of wine.... the place is just kind of weird. There were no lights, just candles. I'm all for a candle-lit dinner but not when it's so dark I can't see my food. And all of this would have been fine IF (this is a big IF) the food was amazing. And it just wasn't. It was mediocre and crazy over-priced for what you get. I have been to many amazing restaurants all around the world, including several Michelin-star places. I have a pretty good idea of what good food is. And yes, we all are welcome to our own opinions - but our entire party agreed - the food was mediocre. For an $800 bill for 5 people (and of course that does not include drinks because they are BYOB) - um definitely NOT worth it. I recommend you save yourself the money and skip the fake-special experience. read more

This was an amazing meal and experience! We would highly recommend it to anyone visiting!

Went for my birthday with parents, fiancé and brother--- 3/5 of us are pretty picky eaters. The service was so simple, it is BYOB but they provide wine glasses, chillers, wine keys, etc.. I dropped a fork at one point and there was a new one given to me before I could even think about asking. Very personable environment. Food, on the other hand..... mind blown. After the chef's special amuse buoche, we started with a Parmesan-something-gnocchi and some kind of twin lobster tail with a red sauce that was to die for! My only regret the whole meal is not ordering more appetizers. The servings were a great size, but there were so many amazing options and I hate that I didn't try them all. For dinner we ordered the filet mignon and 3 different fish dishes. All sounded really simple but every bite was amazing. Literally not ONE bite went to waste. We were spooning sauces off our plates. Dessert was great, we tried pecan pie and carrot cake. Delicious and homemade, but nothing to write home about. For the 5 of us, the total was right below $400 before tip. We probably spend an additional $50 on wine beforehand. I realize that's very pricey but if you're going to eat somewhere nice, that's a pretty comparable price to other restaurants. read more

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

We had several people recommend this restaurant while we were in Key West. The meal was great and the service exceptional. The restaurant is small and intimate but very nice for a romantic dinner. Chef Richard Deflice operates out of a small kitchen cooking all of the dishes for all to see. He does an amazing job with sauces with each dish. read more