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Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval, Tampa, FL

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

4.5
4.5
285 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for groups
  • Lively
  • Great for creative cocktails
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

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Matthew Brennan

Experiences

  • Top Golf Swing Suite Weekend

    US$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

    US$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.

What 285 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
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Tampa

    Good for groups

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval offers a vibrant dining experience with "amazing food" and an "upbeat atmosphere." Known for its Mexican-American fusion, standout dishes include lobster quesadillas and fish tacos. Guests appreciate the "excellent service" and "perfect musical vibe." While some experiences varied, the "best happy hour" and "delicious margaritas" are consistent highlights.

285 Reviews
  1. Ashley

    Tampa

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience will definitely be back. Food, drinks and service was incredible!!

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  2. Laura

    Detroit

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food & margaritas. The Lump Crab Guacamole & Mercado Margarita was amazing! Great service - our waitress was wonderful and made great recommendations. Would highly recommend!

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  3. Ariana

    Unspecified

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Latin music was lively and loud, creating an energetic vibe that made for a fun night out. A big plus was the accommodating staff—some of our party arrived late, and they kindly extended our start time, which we really appreciated. However, I wouldn’t recommend the Top Golf Swing Suite. While the concept is fun, the system kept glitching, and we couldn’t get through a single game without issues. This made it more frustrating than enjoyable. Additionally, we had to ask for instructions rather than the staff proactively showing us how to play, which would have improved the experience. That said, our server, Aldolvo, was knowledgeable and a pleasure to be around, ensuring we had everything we needed. Niko, the manager, was also excellent and went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. Overall, the atmosphere and service were great, but the Top Golf Swing Suite needs some serious improvements before I’d consider trying it again.

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  4. Raul

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was so good, and they had the best environment! We will be back, coming from Texas to Florida. It is hard to find good Mexican food in Florida. All these other "MEXICAN" MIKEY MOUSE restaurants say authentic Mexican cuisine, which is not!

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  5. mirian

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Supero mis expectativas , sin dudas un restaurante con un menu exquisito , un ambiente agradable y un servicio con atencion unica . Gracias por hacer mi visita memorable !
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded on February 25, 2025
    Dear Mirian Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that we exceeded your expectations. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed our menu, the atmosphere, and the service. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and can’t wait to welcome you back for another memorable visit

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    They told us that valet parking was free for restaurant guests & then when we got there they told us it would be $27 for valet bc of an event. That should be disclosed when making the reservation.

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  7. Henry

    VIP

    Orlando

    69 reviews

    5.0

    69 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Very pleasant experience. Fusion mexican-american food with a few authentic Mexican dishes. All delicious. Excellent mezcal choices with a few premium tequilas. Promp and courteous service. I reserved again for the next day.
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded on February 25, 2025
    Dear Henry, Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed our fusion Mexican-American dishes and mezcal selections. It’s great to know that the service met your expectations, and we’re excited to welcome you back again the next day! We truly appreciate your recognition, and we’ll be sure to share your feedback with them. We look forward to welcoming you back soon

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  8. Sally

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Absolutely fantastic experience, delicious food, amazing service.
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded on February 25, 2025
    Dear Sally, Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear you had a fantastic experience and enjoyed the food and service. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another amazing visit!

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  9. Michelle

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We used the sports game simulator - hidden gem!! Staff were excellent Our food was excellent we did burgers quesadillas and tacos
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded on February 25, 2025
    Dear Michelle, Thank you for your amazing feedback! We're so glad you discovered our sports game simulator and had a great time. It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the food—burgers, quesadillas, and tacos are always a hit! We're proud of our excellent staff, and we truly appreciate your kind words. We hope to see you again soon!

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  10. Jessica

    Atlantic City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Me and my boyfriend tried this restaurant for the first time and it was truly amazing they treated us so great and made us feel so welcome. The food was amazing, the drinks were also outstanding. The vibe was incredible music was perfect. We had an overall amazing service thank you Lona we will be back soon
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded on February 18, 2025
    Thanks for the review, Jessica! We're thrilled to hear that you and your boyfriend had a wonderful experience at Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval. It's fantastic to know that our food, drinks, and service met your expectations. We're also glad that you enjoyed the vibe and the music. Your kind words are a big encouragement to our team. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!

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FAQs

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval is rated 4.5 stars by 285 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 p.m.
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

505 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • 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
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Cash not accepted, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Matthew Brennan
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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