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Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval, Tampa, FL

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

4.4
4.4
258 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 39 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Lively
  • Innovative
  • Good for groups
Lona is a dynamic modern Mexican restaurant brought to life by the creative collaboration of renowned chefs Richard Sandoval and Pablo Salas and aims to redefine the Mexican dining experience by combining traditional flavors with contemporary techniques and artistic presentation.

At Lona, guests will be immersed in a lively atmosphere that pays homage to Mexico's rich culinary heritage while embracing the spirit of innovation. The menu showcases a fusion of regional Mexican cuisines, featuring an array of bold and authentic flavors. From delectable street food favorites to refined dishes inspired by ancient recipes, Lona offers a culinary journey that celebrates the diversity and complexity of Mexican gastronomy.

We also offer reservations for our TopGolf Swing Suites, which can be made via our OpenTable Experiences.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Cocktail Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (813) 204-6390
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Matthew Brennan
  • Private party facilities
    For functions of 12-300, host your next celebration in the unique dining spaces at Lona. From live-action stations, tasting & pairing dinners, and interactive cocktail receptions – our dedicated event team will bring your vision to life. Learn More: https://www.lonatampa.com/events
  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Top Golf Swing Suite Weekday

    $75.00 per party

    Multiple dates available
    Our Topgolf Swing Suites are an immersive social experience offering guests a comfortable lounge and a premium experience of play, food and beverage and music. With massive screens and a selection of multi-sport virtual games, Topgolf Swing Suites deliver a one-of-a-kind simulation that’s fun for all.
  • Top Golf Swing Suite Weekend

    $90.00 per party

    Multiple dates available
    Our Topgolf Swing Suites are an immersive social experience offering guests a comfortable lounge and a premium experience of play, food and beverage and music. With massive screens and a selection of multi-sport virtual games, Topgolf Swing Suites deliver a one-of-a-kind simulation that’s fun for all.

What 258 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    Innovative

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    Good for groups

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    Hot spot

  • Tampa

    Innovative

  • Tampa

    Good for groups

  • Tampa

    Hot spot

  • Tampa

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval offers a vibrant atmosphere with standout "amazing" happy hour specials and "excellent" margaritas. The diverse menu includes creative Mexican flair dishes, with notable mentions for the ceviche and shrimp fajitas. While some found the chips and tacos lacking, service is generally "top notch" and welcoming.
258 Reviews
  1. Ryon

    VIP

    New York City

    30 reviews

    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great brunch spot! Amazing huevos rancheros and wonderful cocktails.

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  2. Gene

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Small food portions and no sides included. Drink prices also high for what they are serving.

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  3. Carol

    VIP

    Tampa

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service and food. Take advantage of happy hour. You can’t beat it.

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  4. Brett

    VIP

    Tampa

    17 reviews

    5.0

    17 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent as always! The manager, Ryan, stopped by our table to ensure everything was up to standard. Service was professional yet friendly, and the food was delicious as always. Well curated, balanced, consistent, and fresh!

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  5. Kimberly

    Tampa

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious! Highly recommend the queso fundido app. Our server, Alenny, was energetic and very accommodating. She was spot on with recommending the shrimp and steak fajitas and the shrimp and crab enchiladas. Both were amazing! We will be back!

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  6. Aarika

    VIP

    Washington DC

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on January 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and environment! Drinks were excellent! Definitely recommend!

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  7. Peter

    Baltimore

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 11, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We were at the Tampa Convention Center for my daughter’s All-State Chorus concert and wanted to celebrate with a nice dining experience after the event. Lona’s seemed like a great option. I had reservations so we were seated promptly. The atmosphere was nice, well decorated with traditional Mexican music playing. Our server, Maria, was kind and attentive and did her job well. Unfortunately this was as good as it got. The food unfortunately did not deliver. One of our orders was the Enchiladas which we asked only for the red sauce. The chicken was completely unseasoned. It tasted like chicken boiled in water. The sauce was 100% tomato, 0% chiles, which would make the dish an Entomatada. It tasted terrible and was not eaten. We also had the salmon, which was cooked properly but was completely drenched in sauce giving a delicate fish a soggy texture. The sides for the salmon were a fully unseasoned red cabbage only coleslaw and a half avocado sprinkled with roasted corn kernels. Those were unseasoned as well. We also had refried beans and yellow rice brought to the table as sides for everyone and it was inedible. The beans were pureed to the point of a watery consistency and lacked any flavor, while the rice had no seasoning either. Now the very unfortunate part is that this was a relatively expensive restaurant. I understand and fully support paying good money for good food, but for lousy food, it just doesn’t register. The chef needs to pay more attention to the food leaving the kitchen and ensure that every cent they received from diners is actually earned.
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded 5 days ago
    Peter, Thank you for your detailed feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience. Please check your messages for a personalized note from us. Sincerely, The Lona Team

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  8. marie

    Raleigh

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on January 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really enjoyed this place. The food and margaritas were delicious, the service was good and the environment was inviting. Will definitely be back again.

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  9. Don

    VIP

    Naples

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had brunch at Lona earlier today for a party of 8. . Food, drink and service were all great !

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  10. Rose

    Charleston

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Located downtown Tampa inside the Marriott lobby near Amalie Arena, the restaurant had a great energy feel with eclectic southwestern feel. Bummer that the large screen TV with the latest football game was enormous and kind of ‘in your face.’ Unfortunately the chips tasted a bit stale but the salsa and the crabmeat guacamole were definitely tasty. We ordered the shrimp taco. Enjoyed the soft, corn tortillas but the shrimp were way over seasoned and were rubbery. I really wanted to love it but unfortunately we did not.

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FAQs

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval is rated 4.4 stars by 258 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 39 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

505 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Tampa
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–11:00 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Mexican, Latin American, Cocktail Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Matthew Brennan
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (813) 204-6390
  • Private party facilities
    For functions of 12-300, host your next celebration in the unique dining spaces at Lona. From live-action stations, tasting & pairing dinners, and interactive cocktail receptions – our dedicated event team will bring your vision to life. Learn More: https://www.lonatampa.com/events
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