We were hungry for another installment of our “Eat Down the Street” series, so we asked readers which street is packed with must-visit restaurants. The most popular choice was Kentucky Avenue, one of the main roads through downtown Lakeland, where there’s an eatery up anyone’s alley.
Reader recommended
Grab a slice from Palace Pizza, the winner of our 2023 Lakeland pizza bracket voted on by thousands of readers. With garlic knots this good, we see why it came out on top.
When you need a quick bite, reader Robbin J. recommends The Purple Onion Deli & Grill, saying, “Love the chicken salad, best in town! Great ‘pick two’ options.” Follower @brettgarbs92 also shouted out the “burgers that rock” at the rockabilly-themed Chop Shop.
We’ll toast to starting the day with pancakes, mimosas, and piping hot coffee.
Photo by @frescoslakeland
Brunch bites
Coffee is the most important meal of the day, right? Grab an I Dream of Jeannie Latte from Mitchell’s Coffee House, the oldest coffee shop in Lakeland, and pair it with the breakfast or lunch special of the week.
If the morning calls for something stronger, you can’t beat the bottomless mimosas at Frescos Southern Kitchen & Bar. We like ours with spicy chicken + waffles during weekend brunch before hitting the farmers market.
Late nights
Most of Lakeland turns in pretty early, but a few spots keep the eats coming through the night. Visit Ax-Caliber for crispy Ax-fries + ax throwing until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. For a quick bite, Bedrock Wings stays open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays slinging wings, burgers, and wraps — and we never skip a Bartender’s Choice nightcap at Revival.
Top rated
Finally, Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille is a top spot for Cajun-inspired fare — it even has 8,200+ Google reviews, the most of any downtown restaurant. Enjoy the shrimp and grits on the outdoor patio to see why it has 4.6 stars.
Once you’ve checked off all the spots on this list, Eat Down the Street on Combee Road and Edgewood Drive.
