Lock 'N Key Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

Few places have impressed my wife and I as much as this restaurant did when we first visited last weekend. For starters they have recognized that there is a parking problem on their end of Manasota Key to where they have complimentary valet parking. The valet was very presentable with clean attire to where we were not hesitant to have him take our car. Believe me, there are some valets, like those who run the downtown Sarasota SMH parking garage that I would never let in my car. This gentleman was well-spoken and provided knowledgeable information about the valet service as well as the area.

We arrived about a half hour after opening so there were very few people in the dining room but the outside seating (of which there is plenty) was almost full as was the bar area. Opting for the bar atmosphere we found a couple of empty chairs next to one another and were greeted immediately by the bartender. After inquiring as to what we would like to drink my wife and I ordered beer. The bartender pulled out two pull tab cards and explained what they were. The cards contain five pull tabs. Behind each pull tab is a price. Three of the tabs say Full Price, while one says Half Price and the other $0.50 price. This was a nice surprise when my wife pulled the half price tab. One note, however, is that you cannot get the cards unless you order your drinks at the bar.

My wife and I both ordered the New Strip which comes with two sides, a side salad, and bread. My wife had the mashed potatoes along with french fries, while I went with the rice and vegetables of the day (carrots, squash, and zucchini). Our steaks were both cooked as ordered and had a very nice seasoning. All of the sides were perfect, and I loved the rice and vegetables while the bread was warm and soft.

The vibe inside was also very welcoming with service that did not waver throughout our meal and time there. We will definitely be back for many more visits...

Editted - Read the whole review please..!

The Lock 'N Key deserves 10 stars for Dinner, bur only 1 star for Lunch..!

Dinner Visit 6/11/2022: The quality and quantity of the food served at this restaurant is quite literally the best of any restaurant I've ever dined at and I've been to thousands of restaurants. The king cut prime rib melts in your mouth and can be cut with a butter knife it is so tender and succulent. The baked potato and broccoli/ cheese added the perfect accompaniments, and oh dear lord..the dinner salads with the in house made dressing was the perfect starter.

My wife thoroughly enjoyed the Seafood combo, she chose to get it blackened and she couldn't stop raving about how great it all was. Her sides were a sweet potato and mac n cheese.

Oh...I almost forgot to mention the baked rolls delivered to each table...mmmmmm!

Great job Lock 'N Key team....Great job..!!!

Lunch Visit 7/13/2022 What an absolute total disappointment all the way around. Server was totally and inexcusably indifferent through the whole process, My wife and I both ordered the Prime Rib sandwich, expecting a sandwich, what we got was absolutely a tasteless mess of a measly, grisly cut of prime rib laying on two semi burnt half pieces of toast. My wife's sweet potato fries were visibly burnt, to the point my wife returned her whole meal. Our server only asked my wife do you want me to take it off your bill..? She did not even offer or ask if she wanted a different plate or anything, she simply walked away. So my wife sat there with nothing to eat. Worse yet, no manager came by our table to check. No one asked why she was returning the food....nothing.

So after a great dinner visit a month ago, this piss poor lunch visit has deterred me from ever coming back....it was that...

The location was prime, but that was about it. I walked in, and the atmosphere was inviting. It seems like a good choice for dinner. We went as a family of 4 tonight. We were seated almost immediately, and the waitress came right up. She seemed friendly enough. We asked for the drink menu, and she said it was on the table. We asked that she give us some time to peruse the menus. The drink menu was lacking. I ordered a frozen drink, and my fiance asked for a pitcher of beer for him and I. Immediately we were told they don't do pitchers. Okay, fine by us. My son order the 13 oz steak with a side of sweet potato fries, my daughter ordered fried calamari with a side of mashed potatoes, I ordered the prime rib sandwich and my fiance ordered the stuffed grouper with a side of mac n cheese and sweet potato fries. The 13 oz steak was sub par at best. The prime rib sandwich was gross and sitting on top of soggy toast. The Cole slaw was unappetizing. The stuffed grouper wasn't good either. It was mushy and weird. The sweet potato fries were probably the best. My daughter seemed to enjoy the calamari and mashed potatoes, and she really had no complaints. It just wasnt good food. The menu seems large, but really isn't when you get down to it. The food is overpriced and it all just left a bad taste in my mouth. You go in, spend $140, you expect a good dinner. It makes me really skeptical of the other restaurants in the area if Lock N Key is rated highest on google. I will not make the mistake of...