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Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval, Tampa, FL

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval

4.5
4.5
291 Reviews
$30 and under
Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 31 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

  • 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 291 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
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Tampa

    Good for groups

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval impresses with "outstanding service and delicious food." The ambience is "beautiful" and ideal for a lively night out. Happy Hour offers "great drinks" like the Guava Margarita and a "wonderful experience" overall. Despite some mixed reviews, "authentic Mexican flavors" shine through, promising a memorable dining experience.

291 Reviews
  1. Aixa

    Tampa1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time there, We loved everything we had, from the chips and guac, Skinny marg, to even a delicious burger. Service was quick and friendly. We will definitely come back!!
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Aixa, Thank you for visiting us for the first time! We're so glad to hear you enjoyed everything from the chips and guac to the Skinny Margarita and burger. It's great to know the service was quick and friendly, and we can’t wait to welcome you back for another fantastic experience. See you soon!

    Is this helpful?

  2. Richard

    Orlando13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great yellowtail snapper dish. Guacamole with crispy bacon was excellent too. Very pleasant server.
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Richard! Thank you for your review! We're so glad you enjoyed the yellowtail snapper and the guacamole with crispy bacon—two of our favorites! We’re also happy to hear that your server made a positive impact on your experience. We hope to welcome you back soon for more delicious dishes

    Is this helpful?

  3. OpenTable Diner

    Tampa1 review

    3.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My waitress was phenomenal. Service was great. Food came out very quickly. Everything just tastes very bland and underseasoned.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Robert

    Tampa18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, drinks and service. This was my third time dining at Lona. The food is outstanding. The flavors and creativity in each dish makes for an amazing dining experience.
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Robert, Thank you for your continued support and for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your third visit to Lona was just as outstanding as the first. We take great pride in the flavors and creativity of our dishes, and we’re so glad it made for an amazing dining experience. We look forward to welcoming you back for many more delicious meals!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Rakini

    Phoenix19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The server was really great. He have good suggestions and made sure we were taken care of. The good was delicious
    Lona by Chef Richard SandovalResponded 1 day ago
    Dear Rakini, Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad to hear that your server took great care of you and provided helpful suggestions. It's wonderful to know that you enjoyed the food as well! We hope to welcome you back for another great experience soon.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Ashley

    Tampa3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 7, 2025

    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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  7. Laura

    Detroit5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    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!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Ariana

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    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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  9. Raul

    Tampa1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    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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  10. Tami

    San Francisco5 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Nice ambience. Great solicitous service. Food not great.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Lona by Chef Richard Sandoval is rated 4.5 stars by 291 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 31 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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