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    Lola's Bistro

    4.4 (226 reviews)
    Open 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Lola's Bistro Photos

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    LOLA'S BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Lola's Bistro

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lobster appetizer
    Peter M.

    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.

    Chef with his Philadelphia Eagles hat
    Scott Z.

    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.

    free starter from the chef
    Chris B.

    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!

    Shrimp - fantastic
    Steve Z.

    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.

    Scallops appetizer
    Amy M.

    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.

    8 ounces of tenderloin
    Maura P.

    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.

    Lobster
    Keith S.

    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!

    Carolina A.

    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.

    Spicy tempura lobster tail
    Mandy W.

    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!

    Open concept dining.
    Denise G.

    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.

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    Richard D.

    Thank you so much for your kind review!

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    2 years ago

    Great food in a friendly atmosphere. BYOB. Cash or Venmo only. Too dark in there for my taste.

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    Thanks so much Rick :) we totally appreciate your time to review us!

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    Thanks Eva for a stellar review!!

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    Page 2 of 6

    Ask the Community - Lola's Bistro

    We have called a few times, what is the trick to getting a reservation?

    You can look them up on Instagram as well and message them… Read more

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    4.4(942 reviews)
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    We came across Blackfin Bistro on our last night in Key West. If we had discovered it earlier in…read morethe trip, it likely would have earned a repeat visit. Food Blackfin is a beer and wine restaurant, so no cocktails. I'm not a big drinker, but I do enjoy when a place offers creative house cocktails. Since I'm not much of a wine or beer person either, I was initially a bit disappointed. That changed quickly when I saw they served Stiegl Grapefruit Radler. That alone felt like a small vacation in a glass. The menu offers plenty of choices to satisfy almost any palate. We weren't especially hungry, so we opted for a lighter approach: * Grilled Octopus * Tempura Green Beans * Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad Everything we ordered was very good. The salad was fresh and thoughtfully balanced, with bacon, goat cheese, apple, and honey bringing layers of flavor. It was served with a crusty baguette. We don't normally eat bread, but this was a welcome addition. The grilled octopus was tender, flavorful, and served hot. Always a good sign. The tempura items were nicely executed, lightly battered and not greasy. The green beans were crisp with delicate seasoning, served alongside a balsamic glaze dipping sauce that complemented without overpowering. Service Service was attentive throughout the evening. We never felt forgotten, and we never felt rushed. The pacing was natural and relaxed. Thank you, Gabor. Atmosphere The indoor dining area feels quiet and intimate. The outdoor patio in the back leans more casual. Surrounded by a tall fence and shaded by trees that form natural canopies, it offers a sense of privacy that can be hard to find in many of the more open-air restaurants along Duval Street. Even though this was a lighter, abbreviated meal for us, my sense is that Blackfin would be an excellent choice for a full dinner. We would definitely plan to return on our next visit to Key West.

    One of my fav restaurants on the island. Entrees were delicious this evening (per usual) I forgot…read moreto take a photo. Service is great and excellent deals during their happy hour. Highly recommend their Diablo Burger, croquettes, tempura green beans and of course their creme brûlée is the best on the island as well as their carrot cake. Plan to arrive when they open, or make reservations. Great ambience and crowd. Thanks again for a wonderful visit.

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