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, Lucille’s American Cafe and Bistro Pizza in Winter Haven, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, and The Joinery 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 Black & Brew 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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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

Blackburn’s BBQ

Blackburn's BBQ

Blackburn's BBQ in Eagle Lake serves oak smoked pork ribs, chicken, pulled pork and beef…

Address: 169 5th St
Eagle Lake, FL 33839

Phone: (863) 287-9975

blackburnbbq@gmail.com

Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant

Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant

Enjoy large portions of coastal and interior Mexican cuisine at Abuelos Restaurant at Lakeside Village…

Address: 3700 Lakeside Village Blvd
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-686-7500

Good Thyme LKLD

Food on white table. Vegan power bowl with two eggs, a chicken biscuit and Kombucha from Good Thyme LKLD. Two lattes from Concord Coffee.

Good Thyme LKLD has something for everyone. Popular items include the Fried Chicken Biscuit, Power…

Address: 1037 Dixieland Mall Ln
Lakeland, FL 33803

Phone: 863-603-8296

goodthyme863@gmail.com

Blue Palmetto Café

Blue Palmetto Café at Bok Tower.

Blue Palmetto Café serves delicious salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, fruit and specialty desserts daily. The…

Address: 1151 Tower Blvd
Lake Wales, FL 33853

Phone: 863-676-1355

cafe@boktower.org

Andy’s Igloo & Drive-In Restaurant

Andy’s Drive-In Restaurant Winter Haven, FL

Andy's Igloo & Drive-In Restaurant is a kid-friendly, local favorite near downtown Winter Haven.

Address: 703 3rd St SW
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-293-0019

Arabellas Ristorante

Arabellas Ristorante, Winter Haven Florida

Arabellas Ristorante is consistently the #1 Restaurant in Winter Haven according to TripAdvisor reviews. The…

Address: 346 W Central Ave
Winter Haven, FL 33880

Phone: 863-293-1797

Harry’s Old Place

potatoes, corn on the cob, shrimp and butter. Seafood boil bowl at Harry's Old Place in Winter Have, FL

Harry's Old Place has been serving up a large selection of fresh fish in Winter…

Address: 3751 Cypress Gardens Rd
Winter Haven, FL 33884

Phone: 863-324-0301

dquill12@hotmail.com

Lavender N Lace Tearoom

Young girl having lunch with grandma and siblings at Lavender N Lace Tea Room in Lake Alfred, FL

Enjoy a savory lunch and dessert or afternoon tea at Lavender n' Lace Tearoom. Daily…

Address: 430 N Lake Shore Way
Lake Alfred, FL 33850

Phone: 863-956-3998

lavenderandlace@gmail.com

LEARN & DISCOVER

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