Food & Drink - Best of LKLD 2026

Best Breakfast

FAT JACK’S DELI & PUB

2940 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Congratulations to Fat Jack’s for winning AGAIN this year! You can’t beat this place. They’ve got all the usuals for breakfast, pancakes, eggs, etc. But they also have lox and bagels. Pastrami, salami, or corned beef omelettes. Steak and eggs. Waffles! Need I say more? Arrive hungry, leave very happy. Congratulations to the entire staff at Fat Jack’s!

2nd: Black & Brew

3rd: First Watch

Best Brunch

FRESCOS SOUTHERN KITCHEN & BAR

132 S Kentucky Ave, Lakeland

I’m going to cut to the chase. Bottomless mimosas. Deviled eggs with Neuske’s bacon and candied jalapenos. Apple bourbon monkey bread. Breakfast burritos. The “Knuckle Bowl” with chicken, andouille, shrimp, onions, peppers in Frank’s Hot Sauce, and eggs over cheesy potatoes. You get the picture. This is an absolute gem. Congratulations to everyone at Frescos!

2nd: Nineteen61

3rd: The Terrace Grille

Best Coffee Shop

BLACK & BREW

Multiple locations

Congratulations to Black & Brew for winning Best Coffee Shop AND for celebrating 20 years in business this year! They have a lot to celebrate! Serving locally roasted Patriot Coffee, you can grab a cup to go or stay and order something from their cafe menu including breakfast sandwiches, freshly baked goodies, salads, soup, and more. They offer seasonal drinks, too. Cereal Milk Shaken Espresso, anyone? If you want to save time and skip the line, order online and pick it up.

2nd: Concord Coffee

3rd: Mitchell’s Coffee House

Best Bakery

BORN & BREAD BAKEHOUSE

1113 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Congratulations to this 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist! Of course they were voted Best Bakery, and I wholeheartedly agree! I often find myself just thinking about her sourdough. It is truly so good, the best bread around. I dream about it. And now that they’re open Tuesday through Saturday, we have more opportunities for more bread, cruffins, croissants, bostocks, and cinnamon rolls! Even better, stay and order a sandwich. My favorites are the sausage and hot honey breakfast biscuit, Benton’s bacon breakfast sandwich, and the chopped Italian sub. Oh, and don’t leave without a “take & bake” pot pie, either. (Can you tell I’m a big fan?) Congrats to the entire team at B&B!

2nd: Meraki Bakehouse

3rd: Bandidas Bake Shop

Best Donut Shop

PARLOR DOUGHNUTS

351 E Bay St, Lakeland

Known for their “layered doughnuts” which are doughnuts made with layers of buttery dough fried to be crisp on the outside and light/fluffy on the inside. They offer flavors like bourbon caramel, coconut cream filled, and chocolate chocolate. They also offer minis, vegan/gluten friendly, and keto doughnuts. If there’s a line when you go, wait in it. They’re worth it. Congratulations to Parlor!!

2nd: Hole in One Donuts

3rd: Reasey Donuts

Best Diner

FAT JACK’S DELI & PUB

2940 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

First they won Best Breakfast and now this! Stop by for lunch and get a French dip made with lean roast beef and Swiss cheese. Or the kielbasa roll with sauerkraut. Or an “over stuffed” corned beef sandwich. Or the franks & beans. This diner is loaded with nostalgia, a super friendly staff, and some serious food. Congratulations on your repeat win this year!

2nd: Dena’s Place

3rd: The Egg Factory

Best Burgers

GRIEVOUS ANGEL

801 E Main St, Lakeland

Yes. Yes. And yes. This is my “desert island” food choice. My “last meal” food choice. My middle name should be smash burger. Grievous Angel makes burgers with thought and love. All burgers are double-patty smash burgers, smashed to create a lacy, crisp edge while keeping the center juicy. It takes skill. And when it’s done right, you win my heart. (And the hearts of everyone in Lakeland, obviously.) Congratulations to the staff at Grievous!!

2nd: S&L Restaurant

3rd: Super Duper Spot

Best Cuban Sandwich

OLE’ TAMPA CUBANS

4525 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Ole’ Tampa Cubans has pressed its way to the top, congratulations! They offer traditional Cubans made with slow-roasted garlic pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles, pressed on authentic La Segunda Cuban bread straight from Ybor City. They also offer a honey Cuban, a spicy Cuban, and the American Cuban with lettuce and tomato.

2nd: Julio’s Sandwich Shop

3rd: Elena’s Cuban Cafe

Best Pizza

J. BURNS’ PIZZA SHOP

2306 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland

5615 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Congratulations to everyone at J. Burns’!! They have definitely stolen a pizza our hearts. For over 50 years, J. Burns’ Pizza has been serving us thin, crispy pizza cut into squares, and we can’t get enough. (Me, I’m talking about me.) Customize your toppings or choose from one of their signature pies. Heads up, they also offer a gluten-free crust. My favorite is the classic pepperoni, a little well done.

2nd: Pizza Odyssey

3rd: Palace Pizza Downtown

Best Tacos

TAPATIO’S RESTAURANTE MEXICANO

734 E Memorial Blvd, Lakeland

Let’s taco bout this repeat winner! Tapatio’s wins year after year, they’ve guac-ed their way to the top with their traditional tacos topped with onions and cilantro and your choice of meat. Try the tacos de pescado, which are grilled fish tacos served with chipotle sauce. Or try the tacos de gobernador made with cheese and shrimp covered in a creamy and cheesy shrimp sauce. So good! Congrats to the staff at Tapatio’s!

2nd: Dona Julia’s Mexican Restaurant

3rd: Mega Mercado Restaurant & Tienda

Best Wings

GLORY DAYS GRILL

3790 Lakeside Village Ct, Lakeland

They’ve got fresh, never frozen jumbo wings and they’ve soared straight to the top! You’ve got choices to choose from like the classic breaded wings, dry rub wings, fire-grilled wings, or the traditional Buffalo-style. Choose from 11 wing sauces like honey Old Bay, teriyaki, or stinging honey garlic. Served with your choice of ranch or blue cheese. Congratulations to the staff at Glory Days!

2nd: Country Chicken n’ Fish

3rd: Wingnutz

Best French Fries

LOVEBIRD ALMOST FAMOUS CHICKEN

2101 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

LoveBird takes a “side of fries” to another level. Yes, you can get regular, delicious fries tossed in their house seasoning. Ok. But you can ALSO get the “dirty fries” with cheese sauce, bacon, scallions, and ranch. Add an almost famous chicken tender in your choice of heat, and you’ll have the “dirty birdy fries.” If you’re super hungry, order the “Kitchen Sink” which is dirty birdy fries with a side of smoked gouda, cheddar, and pimento mac. Oh baby.

2nd: Grievous Angel

3rd: Cob & Pen

Best Greek | Mediterranean Restaurant

LOUIS PAPPAS FRESH GREEK

1318 Town Center Dr E, Lakeland

Every year, Louis Pappas wins for Best Greek food, congrats to the entire staff for this continued success! Louis Pappas has been located at Lakeside Village for over 20 years. One of their more popular dishes is the Greek-a-dilla made with your choice of chicken, gyro, or pork, crumbled feta, cheddar jack cheese, and scallions, on grilled flatbread. It’s so good, no wonder it’s a favorite!

2nd: The Athenian Restaurant

3rd: Lakeland Diner

Best Oysters

THE PEACH HOUSE

733 E Palmetto St, Lakeland

Keep calm and shuck on at The Peach House! They offer raw oysters with ginger lime mignonette, lemon, and crackers. If you don’t like them raw (gasp!), they also offer broiled Chesapeake Bay oysters with garlic parsley butter, parmesan, lemon, and breadcrumbs. Pro tip: get a cocktail, any cocktail. Also, they don’t take reservations, so don’t dilly-dally around. It’s first-come, first-served.

2nd: Gary’s Oyster Bar & Seafood House

3rd: Fish City Grill

Best Salad

J. BURNS’ PIZZA SHOP

2306 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland

5615 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Lettuce celebrate this win! They offer some pretty hardy choices like the Italian salad with ham, salami, banana peppers, green olives, red onion, parmesan, and their housemade Italian dressing. The “club salad” comes with tomato, ham, turkey, bacon, eggs, three cheeses, and your choice of dressing. Congratulations to J. Burns’ on another win!

2nd: Vegetation

3rd: Nineteen61

Best Sub Sandwich

J. BURNS PIZZA SHOP

2306 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland

5615 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Yo Meatball! is the name of a sub that has, yes, you guessed it, meatballs. The Quirky Turkey has, you guessed it again, turkey. The Hamtastic has ham. You see where I’m going with this. The Mob Boss, however, does not have any actual mob boss in it. Well played, J. Burns’ and congrats for beating out Publix this year; those Pub Subs are a worthy opponent!

2nd: Publix

3rd: Jessie’s Gourmet Sandwiches

Best BBQ Restaurant

JIMBO’S PIT BAR B-Q

1215 E Memorial Blvd, Lakeland

Since 1970, this family-owned and operated restaurant has been smoking the competition. They slowly cook the meat to perfection in their smoke pit with a secret seasoning created by Jimbo’s. Ribs, chicken, pork, beef, ham, sausage - the list goes on. “Meat” your friends and family for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and see why the locals have been coming here for over 50 years! Congratulations to the team at Jimbo’s!

2nd: Sonny’s BBQ

3rd: Blue Dog Craft Barbecue

Best Asian Restaurant

NORTHSIDE ASIAN KITCHEN

6737 US Hwy 98 N, Lakeland

Congratulations to everyone at Northside Asian Kitchen! They’ve wok’d their way to the top this year. Locals love the bourbon chicken, but the menu is long with soy many choices. From chow mein to lo mein and all of the stir-fries in between, this place is great. This is a take-out-only restaurant, so plan ahead!

2nd: Hakucho

3rd: Sabu Ramen

Best Chinese Restaurant

PEKING HOUSE

2411 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Congratulations on another win this year! This repeat winner has won the hearts of locals and visitors. One very happy patron wrote, “... we routinely make the drive from our Plant City home. The General Tso’s Chicken is a favorite, and there’s a beef mushroom special that’s to die for. We also love the pork egg rolls ...” Others remark about the cleanliness and friendliness of the staff.

2nd: Northside Asian Kitchen

3rd: May Flower Chinese Restaurant

Best Thai

SAVORY THAI

5109 US Hwy 98 S, Lakeland

Savory Thai has all the favorites and the locals love them. From papaya salad, larb, fresh rolls, and curry to fried rice, stir-fries, and noodles, everything is delicious. Patrons rave about the large portions and reasonable prices. One happy person wrote, “... I got the Massaman Curry and it was SO delicious. Best Thai food I’ve had in a long time. The employees were very nice. Will be returning to try their whole menu.” Congratulations to the staff at Savory Thai!!

2nd: Thai Oishi

3rd: Spice Thai & Sushi

Best Italian Restaurant

SCARPA’S ITALIAN

1833 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland

Year after year, locals vote Scarpa’s as the best. The authentic Italian food is im-pasta-ble to beat! We like to start with the sausage & peppers then move on to the burrata salad. For a main course, let’s get the shrimp diablo made with Gulf shrimp, fresh linguini, and spicy tomato sauce. Oh, I’m getting so hungry right now. Scarpa’s has truly delicious food and excellent wine choices. Congratulations on this repeat win!

2nd: Il Forno Italian Restaurant

3rd: Palace Pizza Downtown

Best Mexican Restaurant

DONA JULIA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT

5375 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Dona Julia’s serves up authentic Mexican food. One very happy guest wrote, “Great food. I’ve been looking for a Mexican food place that is close to what I had in Texas. This is by far the best one in Lakeland I have tried so far. The staff takes care of you as soon as you walk in.” Congratulations to the entire staff at Dona Julia’s!!

2nd: Tapatio’s Restaurante Mexicano

3rd: Sweet Cup Cafe

Best Seafood Restaurant

HARRY’S SEAFOOD BAR & GRILLE

101 N Kentucky Ave, Lakeland

They keep hooking a win and reeling it in year after year! This New Orleans inspired restaurant has all of the Big Easy’s favorites. You can get jambalaya, étouffée, “French Market” pasta, and shrimp and grits, just to name a few. One of their signature dishes is the andouille crusted grouper in a red bell pepper sauce. Congratulations to the team at Harry’s for another win!

2nd: Riverside Seafood & Chicken

3rd: Fish City Grill

Best Sushi Restaurant

SUSHI MASA

5700 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

This is the third year in a row that Sushi Masa has rolled its way to a win! They are truly our sushi soy-mate. The “All You Can Eat” sushi special is a favorite. One happy guest wrote, “Love this place. We go here to celebrate things and always get the All You Can Eat option. The servers are friendly, and the sushi is fresh and comes on stylish plates. My favorite rolls are the Bon Temps roll and the Shaggy Dog roll.” Congratulations on the win!

2nd: New Moon Sushi

3rd: Fancy Q Sushi & Thai

Best Vegan Options

VEGETATION

1439 E Gary Rd, Lakeland

Everything at Vegetation is made with whole foods and 100% vegan. You can order online and pick it up, or stop by the cafe to get a take & bake or stay and eat. The menu changes weekly, so there’s always something new and delicious to try. One recent option was the French onion soup made with slowly caramelized onions and beef-ish broth topped with a slice of sourdough and melty cheeze. All vegan, all delicious. Congratulations on this repeat win!

2nd: The Juice Box

3rd: Bandidas Bake Shop

Best Outdoor Dining | Pet-Friendly

THE JOINERY

640 E Main St, Lakeland

You get some gorgeous views of Lake Mirror while sitting outside! This indoor food hall also has covered outdoor seating for those days when sitting outdoors sounds nice. Choose from barbecue, pizza, Mexican, ramen, burgers, sushi, ice cream, plus a full bar with some truly amazing cocktails. Bring the family, bring a date, go by yourself, just go! Congratulations to The Joinery!

2nd: Cob & Pen

3rd: Garden Bistro

Best Casual Dining

FRED’S MARKET RESTAURANT

2120 Harden Blvd, Lakeland

Fred’s Market offers Southern favorites, buffet-style. Whether it’s breakfast, weekend brunch, lunch, or dinner, they have a large selection of food. There’s literally something for everyone! They also have a takeout menu and the “Ready Freddy Family Pack” for when you want to get dinner on the table fast without thinking about it too much. Congratulations on the win!

2nd: Il Forno Italian Restaurant

3rd: Cafe 51 Lakeland

Best Fine Dining

THE TERRACE GRILLE

329 E Main St, Lakeland

This is a truly beautiful setting for some seriously good food. Congratulations to the team at The Terrace Grille! They offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, bar bites, and dessert. One dish that we love is the eight-ounce filet mignon made with 1855 Black Angus beef, served with fingerling potatoes, grilled asparagus, and béarnaise. For dessert, let’s order the citrus-infused tropical creme brulee topped with tropical fruit. Save me a seat.

2nd: Nineteen61

3rd: Scarpa’s Italian

Best Dessert Menu

THE PEACH HOUSE

733 E Palmetto St, Lakeland

What a sweet win! Well-deserved, too. Have you tried the Japanese whisky bread pudding yet? It’s made with Japanese whisky (of course), brioche, miso caramel, and chocolate chips. O. M. G. How about the peach cobbler with warm vanilla dump cake, spiced peaches, and vanilla ice cream! They also offer a banoffee pie and a bruleed key lime pie. Honestly, they’re all amazing. Congratulations to The Peach House!

2nd: Hakucho

3rd: Vampire Penguin Lakeland

Best Ice Cream Shop

LAKELAND ICE CREAM COMPANY

2972 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland

2973 Duff Rd, Lakeland

Lakeland Ice Cream Co. has scooped the competition to win this year! They offer premium hand-dipped ice cream with over 150 rotating flavors including sherbet, sorbert, non-dairy, no sugar added, gluten-free, and vegan options. They’re also home to the cotton candy burrito, which is exactly what it sounds like. Ice cream wrapped in cotton candy! Congratulations to the staff at Lakeland Ice Cream Co.!

2nd: Mayday Handcrafted Ice Cream

3rd: Mootown Scoops

Best Place to Grab a Beer

GLORY DAYS GRILL

3790 Lakeside Village Ct, Lakeland

Great news, everyone! We’re hoppy to say that the place voted for Best Wings is also the Best Place to Grab a Beer! The planets have aligned! They offer draft, bottles, and cans, so you can cool down after those spicy wings. Congratulations to the staff at Glory Days for bringing in the wins!

2nd: Swan Brewing

3rd: Cob & Pen

Best Cocktails

REVIVAL

119 S Kentucky Ave, Lakeland

Revival was the first bar in Lakeland to serve complex and thoughtfully created cocktails. And, as our readers say, they’re still the best at it. Revival loves an Old Fashioned and has an entire menu of creative versions. The High Roller Wagyu Old Fashioned is made with Wagyu fat-washed Buffalo Trace. The Rob Roy is made with pineapple-infused Glenlivet’s Caribbean Reserve. Congrats on your repeat win!

2nd: Vasco Sixty-One

3rd: Hakucho

Best Mocktails

HAKUCHO

207 E Main St, Lakeland

Zero proof, 100% delicious! Hakucho has shaken the competition with their mocktail selection. The Tart HighBall is made with lemon/grapefruit/lime peel oleo saccharum, lime, and yuzu lime soda. It’s tart. It’s refreshing. It’s perfect for designated drivers, mindful drinkers, or anyone wanting a super delicious drink. Congratulations to the team at Hakucho!

2nd: The Joinery

3rd: Cob & Pen

Best Beer List

GLORY DAYS GRILL

3790 Lakeside Village Ct, Lakeland

This is un-beer-lievable. Glory Days has won again! Super congratulations to them! Locals have been checking out what’s on tap and loving it. One happy patron wrote, “Was in Friday with some friends at the bar and had the best service I’ve ever had there in a long time. Samantha was great and so friendly and never missed a beat. Never went without a full drink.”

2nd: Swan Brewing

3rd: The Joinery

Best Wine List

THE WINE GARDEN

1204 Florida Ave S, Lakeland

The Wine Garden has uncorked another win this year! This repeat winner has a curated wine list with hundreds of choices. Don’t know what to order? They can help guide you. If you’re an oenophile, join the Wine Club! Every month, depending on your membership, you’ll receive three to six bottles of wine from small, quality-driven producers around the world. Let’s raise a glass to The Wine Garden! Cheers on this repeat win!

2nd: Scarpa’s Italian

3rd: The Peach House

Best Happy Hour

VASCO SIXTY-ONE

215 E Main St, Lakeland

Happy Hour, every day! You don’t find that very often. This beautiful rooftop bar is waiting for you. It’s covered, so don’t let rain scare you away, and the views are the best. They offer select cocktails, wine, and beer at a Happy Hour price. My favorite is the Pepina Diablo made with Wheatley vodka, cucumber water, lemon, Flair elderflower, jalapeno agave, and fee foam. Congratulations to the team at Vasco Sixty-One!

2nd: Revival

3rd: Grillsmith

Best Bar

REVIVAL

119 S Kentucky Ave, Lakeland

Another year, another win for Revival! For this, we raise a glass to Jeannie and the incredible team that keeps her dream alive. Every drink you order at Revival is made with in-house syrups, fresh-pressed juices, and custom garnishes. They have seasonal cocktails, tiki drinks, spritzes, the classics, and spirit-free cocktails. Check their socials for a new Weekly Revival cocktail, available for just one week. Congratulations to this repeat winner! We love this place!!

2nd: Vasco Sixty-One

3rd: Rec Room

Best Catering

TLC CATERING BY TERRIE LOBB

1239 E Main St, Bartow

For over 25 years, locals have trusted Terrie Lobb with “Every event. Every detail. Every bite.” They can help you customize your event, no matter the size. From corporate events to your wedding, from box lunches to elaborate dinners, they have the expertise to make it a success. Congratulations to the staff at TLC!

2nd: Our Noire Kitchen

3rd: Blackburn’s BBQ

Best Food Truck

THE BAKED BUTCHER

Mac-n-cheese is the best food in the world, yes. We can all agree on that. But have you had the loaded mac-n-cheese bowl from The Baked Butcher yet?? Holy macaroni. Next time you’re at the farmers market, find them. Get the mac-n-cheese. Live a happy life. What more is there to say? Find out where they will be, other than the farmers market, on Facebook at thebakedbutcher. Congratulations to the Baked Butcher team!!

2nd: Our Noire Kitchen

3rd: Taco Riendo Food Collective

Best Guilty Pleasure

MERAKI BAKEHOUSE

Bacon egg & cheese croissants. Croissant cinnamon rolls. Vanilla bean & strawberry croissant. Tiramisu croissant. Peanut butter honey oattie cookies. Crème brûlée croissants. Best guilty pleasure?? Absolutely. Congratulations to Meraki Bakehouse! Follow their socials to find out where they will pop up next.

2nd: Andrew Logans

3rd: By the Chef Pizza

Best Hidden Gem

THE NYC CART

3304 S Florida Ave, Lakeland

They serve shawarma. I feel like that’s all I need to say. This food truck brings New York-style street food to Lakeland. They also serve falafel, gyros, salads, and loaded fries. But again, they serve shawarma. You can’t find that anywhere here, and IYKYK. I’m looking for my keys and heading over there now.

2nd: Uncle Nick’s Italian Deli & Bagels

3rd: Sabrina’s Delicacies

Best New Restaurant

GRIEVOUS ANGEL

801 E Main St, Lakeland

Oh, Grievous Angel. I love you so much. This might be cheesy, but you’re bun in a million. My favorite? Thanks for asking, but I can’t choose. It would be like picking your favorite child. Ok, it’s the Weekend Hero, hold the mustard. You got me. I love all your side pieces, too. Spicy fried pickles?? Yes. Oh, you have Snap-O-Razzo maple-smoked, all-beef dogs and a full bar? You’ve got us. Congratulations on your success, and I’ll see you soon. XO

2nd: Folds Pizza

3rd: Wingnutz

Best Restaurant Service

VEGETATION

1439 E Gary Rd, Lakeland

Not only is the food 100% vegan, but the staff is 100% lovely! One very happy patron wrote, “From the warm, welcoming atmosphere to the fantastic service from the young man at the front counter, everything about this café was top notch. The falafel was delicious and the smoothies hit the spot. I’m already looking forward to my next visit to try more of their menu!” Congratulations!

2nd: Hakucho

3rd: Il Forno Italian Restaurant