La Grignote — Restaurant in Key West

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 La Grignote, Key West, FL Fabulous Food and Atmosphere, But A Bit Rushed At The End

We recently dined at La Grignote and were absolutely delighted by the experience up until the very end. The food was fabulous especially the Eggs Benedict and the Quiche Lorraine. Service was top-notch, attentive but never intrusive. The open-air seating added to the overall island charm, and we thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.

Although the restaurant was bustling, it never felt overcrowded. Instead, the energy contributed to the ambience, and we even enjoyed some friendly conversations with our table neighbors. This was communal dining at its best.

However, our experience was slightly marred by an abrupt interaction with Dennis, the owner or manager. Less than five minutes after we paid our bill, he approached us, stating that "people were waiting" and we needed to leave. This felt unnecessary, especially considering we had just finished paying $60 for breakfast and had also tipped our waitress more than 20%.

Ironically, Dennis had been engaged in a lengthy conversation with guests at a neighboring table about local government and restaurant fees. The contrasting treatment was both noticeable and disappointing. Upon leaving, we observed that only a single party of six was waiting, making the rush even more perplexing.

While we'll still recommend La Grignote for its culinary excellence and most of its hospitality, we'd also advise Dennis to consider a more tactful approach, especially with patrons who have just contributed to his business. He should also take into consideration that the people who come to his restaurant are not all tourists, who may never come back again. They could be like us, who are locals, down in Key West on a staycation, who refer and recommend restaurants and locations all the time to family, friends, and clients. #keywestrestaurants #keywest #lagrignotekeywest...

What a disappointment. After so many great reviews we thought we would have a good breakfast. It didn’t work out that way. The atmosphere is hot and crowded with tables right on top of each other. Our server rushed us through the entire meal. The priority was obviously turning the tables. Prices are high, even for Key West.

We had an American breakfast. The scrambled eggs were not hot and the bacon was small pieces of crispy bits. It was ok, but seemed like leftovers. It came with toast so I asked for jelly. They charged an extra $2 and gave me a small piece of sourdough toast and a small cup of watery jelly. The total was $20 without tax or tip. We also had a ham and cheese croissant. It was obviously reheated since the outside was warm, but the middle and ham were refrigerator cold. So much for “fresh baked” pastries. The side of fruit was some berries and couple underripe melon pieces. What a disappointment. We later learned from a local that in spite of the menu talking about how the owners built this place as a long time dream, the restaurant was actually opened and created by a French couple who sold it to the current owners after COVID. Like so much of Key West it is image over substance. We had a much better breakfast the next day across the street at Banana Cafe featuring hot food, relaxed service and 25%...

Food was pretty good, though it was $14 for a normal turkey sandwich not including tip. The waitress had some attitude since we came 30 minutes before they close and told us to order a pastry within 5 minutes or else it would no longer be an option. However, the whole time we were there, we saw people walking in and ordering. Didn't make sense. The waitress also didn't give us any ice for our water and mind you, it's mid summer. I asked for ice and she said no, because they're closing soon???? Like y'all... if you are OPEN and you have CUSTOMERS and they're paying your ridiculous prices, they're doing their share. So do yours as a business and take care of your high paying customers! My friends and I spent a few hundred dollars here and I really wish we picked another place but it wasn't my decision. Eventually also, I did get a cup of ice. So they had ice available the whole time and just didn't want to give it to me until it's time for the check. Very convenient. Anyway, if you want service with an attitude, warm baby sized cups of water, and over priced sandwiches with hard bread, come to this establishment. Food...