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Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval, Tampa, FL

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

4.5
4.5
246 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 44 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Innovative
  • Good for groups
  • Hot spot
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
  • Website
    https://www.lonatampa.com/
  • 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
  • Location
    505 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602
  • 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 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.

  • 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.

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 246 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval delivers a "delicious!" dining experience with standout dishes like shrimp and crab enchiladas and lobster quesadillas. The "amazing" service and inviting atmosphere enhance each visit. While some find the menu pricey, the drinks, especially the Guava Margarita, are "fantastic." A great spot for food adventurers!

246 Reviews

  1. Laura

    Tampa

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The basics of tortilla chips and salsa were a big miss. Tortilla chips too thick and hard. Salsa was terrible and didn’t taste fresh. Exact same experience last week at Venga in Snowmass (must be Sysco?). Service at the bar before dinner was great. Table service was not so good. Inattentive server who wasn’t that busy. Entered wrong order for one dish. Forgot drinks. Will go back to just sit at bar.

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  2. Rachel

    VIP

    Tampa

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came for Christmas happy hour ! Was very empty when we arrived. It soon filled up at the bar. This is one of the best happy hours around. The drinks are amazing, well crafted in lovely glasses and great price ( just means you drink more !). The nachos are large and an added order of guacamole is always welcome. The corn … oh what to say about the corn… this is street corn at its finest. We had three orders between the three of us. Black bean soup, chips and delicious salsa as well as a taco al pastor rounded out our feast. Service was gracious and we appreciated that folks were working on a holiday. Enjoyable all around - we will be back

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  3. Melissa

    Tampa

    12 reviews

    2.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was not good at all. Maybe it’s because it’s not your normal menu. One of the three people ate their food.

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  4. judy

    VIP

    Tampa

    41 reviews

    5.0

    41 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was really good. I had the ceviche which was very fresh tasting - my husband had the shrimp fajitas - it came with tasty accompaniments (crema instead of sour cream). The black bean soup was unique and superb. All we ate had an authentic flair to it. The salsa served with the chips was excellent and very different from the usual tomato based salsa. It had a nice bite that was flavorful and brought out the heat of the chilis used. I was going to buy a bottle of it for home but forgot by the end of the meal! Next trip!

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  5. Susan

    VIP

    Tampa

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great location. Menu is diverse and food is delicious. Service is top notch and welcoming.

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  6. Steve

    Naples

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 21, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our waitress was amazing!!! She catered to us and succeeded with all our requests

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  7. Donna

    New York City

    16 reviews

    3.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was in one word, uninspiring. The tuna in the appetizer was mushy but tasted good. The shrimp tacos were dry and needed more sauce. The salmon was properly cooked but we just couldn't muster up much enthusiasm for the dish. Overall a bit of a disappointment.

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  8. Robert

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent creative Mexican flair food and excellent cocktails. Service was friendly and great. It was my first time at Lona. Ordered too much food and couldn’t stop eating.

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  9. Liber

    Caribbean

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The atmosphere is warm and vibrant, perfect for a casual meal or a Sunday brunch. Don’t miss their quesadilla’s they’re absolutely delicious! Great service and reasonable prices make it even better. Highly recommend!

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  10. Edward

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great Experience Good Food and Drinks Great Service

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FAQs

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval is rated 4.5 stars by 246 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 44 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
  • Website
    https://www.lonatampa.com/
  • 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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