Tikka Bar — Restaurant in Key West

We stopped in for dinner while on vacation in Key West - me, wife, daughter, 3 grandkids.

We were seated immediately and the waitress introduced herself saying she was in training but her trainer would be right behind her. She took our drink order, made nice with the kids, and was back in a minute or 2 with another waitress who took our order.

A gentleman stopped at the table with coloring pages and crayons for the kids.

Both ladies were exceptionally friendly and outgoing and totally professional. They handled with smiles (and correctly) multiple food choice changes by the kids (10, 8, 5). They explained the contents of the seafood lasagna, stating, again correctly, that it contained real crab meat and not "sea legs".

The seafood lasagna was the best I have ever had - and I am almost 70 and have had a few :) The pizza was FAR larger than we expected - the "personal" was the somewhere between a standard small and medium, and for 11 bucks was a steal. The meat lovers' pizza was loaded with toppings.

During the meal my daughter was concerned that the kids did not have vegetables. We asked for some slices of raw cucumber; again, the portion was enormous (looked like 2 good sized cukes arranged nicely on a plate). I was surprised to find that there was no charge for this on the final check.

I cannot speak highly enough of the friendliness, helpfulness and professionalism of both waitresses. After we settle the check and were headed out, we were asked if we would like some waters to go since it was really hot that day and they were concerned that we stayed hydrated. We were given 4 full large takeout cups of ice water, with lids.

I am embarrassed that I cannot find the card with the ladies' names on it that they gave me. We were there Friday May 17 around 5PM, so the owner will know who to commend.

The entire check for 7 people was well under $70. I ask you, where do you eat quality food properly and promptly served for a price like that? Almost worth flying down from Saratoga Springs NY to Key West now and then...

TL;DR: Needs Improvement, Lacking Competition

Review: I recently dined at this restaurant and unfortunately, my experience was underwhelming. While there were a few positives, such as prompt service and friendly staff, the overall experience left much to be desired.

Firstly, the food was excessively spicy. As someone who enjoys a moderate level of spice, I found it difficult to fully appreciate the flavors due to the overwhelming heat.

Furthermore, the ambiance and vibe of the place were lacking. The atmosphere felt dull and uninspiring, which detracted from the overall dining experience. A more inviting and lively ambiance could greatly enhance the dining atmosphere.

Another disappointment was the lack of properly chilled cold drinks. It's essential to have refreshing beverages served at the appropriate temperature, but sadly, this was not the case. A simple improvement in this area would significantly contribute to the overall customer satisfaction.

Lastly, the quantity of food served was noticeably inadequate. It's disheartening to leave a restaurant feeling hungry despite paying a considerable amount. A greater focus on portion sizes would go a long way in satisfying hungry customers.

What's particularly discouraging is the apparent lack of competition in the area. It seems that the absence of competition has led to a complacency in maintaining high standards. It's crucial for the restaurant to recognize the importance of consistently improving and providing a memorable dining experience, regardless of external factors.

In conclusion, this restaurant has potential, but it falls short in several areas. I hope that the management takes these criticisms constructively and works towards enhancing the quality of their food, ambiance, drink service, and portion sizes. With a more competitive mindset, they can create a better overall dining experience for...

The food was amazing and our waiter was great. But from the moment we walked in the door we knew it would only get worse. We were greeted by a hostess who said the would prepare us a table and then walked away. Several seconds later this blonde lady walked in who we eventually found out was THE OWNER, she looked at us weird as at first we were a few minutes early and bye the time she got there it was 6:01 and she awkwardly looked at us and then kinda nudged her self forwards the sign with there hours. We then said we were just waiting to be seated and following that yelled at us to just sit over there. And then when we repeated that they were setting us a table already she again demannded for us to sit down over there as we did. Then we were greeted by our waiter who we explained to that we had caught fish and were told we could have it made their and we did. The owner was standing next to him and looked at us like we were aliens after we said that but they made the food and it was great. Then when the food got here we noticed that the ribs that my sister had ordered with the sauce on the side had the sauce on them. We told them this and the owner took it and yelled we'll look what I'm having tonight and told all of the staff about it. Following that every time she came back to the table she talked about how good my sisters ribs were. And when they were clearing of the table the owner proceeded to take the napkin off the table and threw it on my lap. I was over all very impressed by the food but the owner was...