Harborside Restaurant is a great option for waterfront dining in Central Florida, located on Winter Haven's Lake Shipp

Restaurants in Central Florida

Your taste buds have a sense of adventure, too. So what’ll it be? Napkin-obliterating BBQ? Classic high-end steakhouse fare? From upscale elegance to down-home grub, Central Florida’s food scene is sure to please everyone from the culinary curious to the chicken-fingers-only crowd. Try something delicious at these restaurants in Central Florida.

Plan A Trip

Lakeside Dining

With more than 550 lakes dotting Polk County, locals and visitors alike all have their favorite lakeside dining spot. In Winter Haven, with full-length windows and a lakeside patio, Harborside Restaurant is a modern American steakhouse, seafood and oyster bar that features only the finest cuts of dry aged meat and daily delivered fresh fish. Also in Winter Haven, with its neighborhood restaurant feel and its location on the shores of Lake Ned, no place epitomizes casual lakefront dining more than Harry’s Old Place. Situated on the shores of scenic Lake Pierce in Lake Wales, Cherry Pocket Steak & Seafood Shak provides a perfect blend of entertainment, scenery and fresh seafood.

Fine Dining

If you’re headed to Winter Haven or Lakeland for a romantic weekend, or if your kids have a sophisticated palate, book a reservation at our most popular fine dining restaurants including Arabellas Ristorante and Nutwood in Winter Haven, or Nineteen61, Bay Street Bistro and Scarpa’s Italian in Lakeland. In 2017, Arabellas Ristorante was named in OpenTable’s Most Romantic Florida Restaurants list.

Local Favorites

From kid-friendly restaurants and barbecue restaurants recognized by Garden & Gun Magazine, to Gastropubs and TripAdvisor’s #1 restaurant in Lakeland, here are a few of our local favorites: Andy’s Drive-in Restaurant & Igloo, Fire Restaurant and Bistro Pizza in Winter Haven, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, and Café Zuppina in Lakeland, and Peebles Bar-B-Q in Auburndale.

Sweets & Baked Good

Cookies, cakes, pies, and CRUFFINS are just a few of the goodies you can find at the various artisanal bakeries located in Polk County. But don’t fear – if you’d rather gelato or perhaps a Turkish coffee, we’ve got you covered too. Our local favorites include Born & Bread Bakehouse (Cruffins) and The Market at Café Zuppina in Lakeland. If you’re on the east side of Polk County, go to Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop in Winter Haven or Lavender n’ Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred.

Coffee Shops

You can visit chain coffee shops anywhere, so be sure to experience one of Polk County’s locally owned shops during your Central Florida vacation. Concord Coffee in Lakeland is a roaster and coffee shop, Hillcrest Coffee features a variety of locally roasted beans including Ethos Roasters, while Black & Brew Coffee House & Bistro in Lakeland brews locally roasted Patriot Coffee. Ethos Roasters is also served at N+1 Coffee in Winter Haven.

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Scarpa’s Italian

3 people eating Italian dishes, water and wine glasses at Scarpa's Italian in Lakeland, FL

This fine dining experience in Lakeland has been recognized by Emeril Lagasse. Scarpa's Italian features…

Address: 1833 E Edgewood Dr
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-937-8940

scarpasitalian@gmail.com

Fire Restaurant

Hamburger with onion, cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and sauce on wooden table at Fire Restaurant in Winter Haven, FL

Fire is a lunch and dinner restaurant in downtown Winter Haven. Lunch menu features hamburgers,…

Address: 325 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-875-5544

thefirerestaurant@gmail.com

The Proper Pie Company

fish and chips and a meat pie from Proper Pie Company in Davenport, FL

The Proper Pie Company in Haines City is a small restaurant serving fresh, handmade double…

Address: 511 US Hwy 17-92
Haines City, FL 33844

Phone: 863-438-2705

info@properpiecompany.com

Lang’s Taste of Florida Café

person hold up orange ice cream in front of Lang's Taste of Florida sign

Home of the world famous grapefruit pie, featured on Food Network, Lang's Taste of Florida…

Address: 5900 US-17
Haines City, FL 33844

Phone: 863-956-1460

langsuncountry@yahoo.com

Richard’s Fine Coffees

Counter of baked goods at Richard's Fine Coffees in downtown Winter Haven FL

Located adjacent to the Winter Haven Public Library in Winter Haven, Richard’s Coffee Shop is…

Address: 330 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881

Phone: 863-291-3082

dtuttle1024@verizon.net

Hillcrest Coffee

Staff bringing coffee to customers sitting at table inside Hillcrest Coffee in Lakeland, FL

Hillcrest Coffee is a warm and inviting coffee shop in Lakeland. Inside the 1925 bungalow…

Address: 119 Hillcrest St
Lakeland, FL 33815

Phone: 863-398-9155

hillcrestcoffee@gmail.com

Ave Bar by Arabellas

man and woman with cocktails sitting at bar inside Ave Bar in Winter Haven, FL

Ave Bar by Arabellas is adjacent to the fine dining restaurant in downtown Winter Haven.…

Address: 340 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Manny’s Original Chophouse

Manny's Chophouse

Manny's Original Chophouse is a locally owned, small chain of restaurants serving steaks, pork chops,…

Address: 210 FL-60
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-678-0370

Lakeland Food Tours

Group sitting at table inside Cafe Roti. Drinks on table. Nate, host of Lakeland Food Tours standing.

To fill your mind, your belly and your heart in one walking food tour with…

Address:
Lakeland, FL

Phone: 863-279-0076

nate@lkldfoodtours.com

LEARN & DISCOVER

Group sitting at table inside Cafe Roti. Drinks on table. Nate, host of Lakeland Food Tours standing.

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To fill your mind, your belly and your heart in one walking food tour with Lakeland Food Tours.

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