Palace Italian Restaurant in Lakeland, Florida is the best Italian dinner you will find in Central Florida.  With six locations throughout Central Florida, there is no reason that anyone who calls Central Florida home should ever have an Italian meal that is anything less than divine.

I have been enjoying the cuisine at Palace Italian in Lakeland for years. Shame on me for not shedding light on this remarkable Italian restaurant sooner.  My friend and I most recently visited the North Lakeland Palace Italian Restaurant location.

Food:  Is “divine” a word that you can use to describe food?  Have you ever had a meal at a restaurant and while eating it you seriously contemplated if God created the chef, his/her imparted knowledge of the culinary arts, and the components of your meal especially for you?  As vain as that may sound, those are the thoughts that cross my mind each time I eat at a Palace Italian Restaurant. To describe all of my favorite dishes and why I love them would simply be the beginnings of a book.  But, I will tell you that the flavors are fresh and authentic, the dishes are artfully crafted, the portions are very generous, and every bite is as perfectly delightful as the one before. Not to mention, the desserts are made in-house; daily. Light and blissful tiramisu, the absolute best cannoli you will ever have in your life, a tiramisu-like strawberry shortcake to die for, and much more. Disappointment is inconceivable.

Atmosphere:  Palace Italian Restaurant not only has a beautiful décor, but a comfortable ambiance that resembles the feel of a home.  Not the kind of home where 50 relatives are crammed into a dining room made for ten, but the kind of home that is made for 100 but you feel like the dinner was made just for you.  Personalized trinkets are found throughout these family owned and operated Italian restaurants and this family welcomes you to their dinner table.

Customer Service: From Pizzerias to fine Italian dining, no matter the location, it is clear that Palace Italian Restaurant is dedicated to the entire dining experience and not only the food. You will always be greeted and served with a smile. Furthermore, due to the pride they take in their traditional family recipes and the quality of their dishes, they will ensure that you are completely satisfied with your meal. During my most recent visit to Palace Italian Restaurant in North Lakeland, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sal, who, along with his wife, owns the North Lakeland location.  I was very interested to learn that all Palace Italian Restaurants throughout Central Florida are family owned and operated.  The first one, Palace Pizza, opened in downtown Lakeland in 1997 and is still going strong today.  Since then, this family from Naples, Italy has groomed sons, brothers, aunts, and cousins of the family to open locations throughout Central Florida. Lucky for us!

Palace Italian Restaurant - 6 locations throughout Central Florida

Downtown Lakeland
114 S. Dentucky Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
863-688-0045

Highlands City
5235 Highway 98 South
Lakeland, FL 33812
863-709-8683

South Lakeland
5720 South Florida Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33813
863-619-5919

North Lakeland
6120 North Highway 98
Lakeland, FL 33810
863-853-1316

Shepherd Rd, Mulberry
2054 Shepherd Road
Lakeland, FL 33860

Downtown Bartow
105 Main St. East
Bartow, FL 33830

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For those of you who go to a Mexican Restaurant for authentic Mexican food, who view a nice dinner out as an experience, or for those who expect and depend on good customer service while dining out and spending your hard-earned money, this article is for you.

My friends and I recently visited Abuelo’s in Lakeland, Florida, one of the area’s biggest Mexican restaurants. However, I feel that their ‘popularity’ amongst the locals is simply due to the lack of options. Abuelo’s supervisor Myra says that they really don’t have any competition in the area. She references local Ma & Pop restaurant Topatios as their main competition, but generally noted that they are the only real ‘go-to’ Mexican Restaurant in the area. People of Central Florida, this is quite unfortunate. I will be blunt: if you are looking for authentic Mexican food and enjoyable customer service… Abuelo’s “Mexican Restaurant” will most definitely disappoint you.

Food: The food at Abuelo’s in Lakeland was actually pretty good. However, if I had been in the mood for some serious Mexican food, I would have most likely been disappointed. They did mess up our order… but that happens from time to time.
I guess I can’t really get down on them for their lack of authentic Mexican food. After all, their slogan is “The Flavor of Mexico.” And that’s just what is was… a little flavor of Mexican food that was smothered in corporate food-service efficiency procedures. Hmmm…

Atmosphere: The atmosphere inside the Abuelo’s in Lakeland, Florida was quite nice. The building itself is less than five years old so it was clean and modernly accessible. Although none of the décor was authentic or even particularly interesting, the lighting was pleasant and the seating comfortable. However, the music was obnoxious. Pop top 40 (or something) was playing throughout our meal and was definitely not something you would expect to be hearing over dinner… maybe if you were eating dinner at a bar, but certainly not a Mexican restaurant like Abuelo’s.

Customer Service: Our server, however slightly uneducated about the menu and unoriginal in interaction, was quite attentive considering the crowd that was there. I was, however, disappointed with the customer service I received from the rest of the staff. Most restaurant managers enjoy speaking and interacting with their customers. Usually, a manager even visits your table to check-in with you at some point during the night. So, I waited and when no visit was made I asked if it were possible to speak to the manager. Curious person I am, I like to know how establishments such as these are ‘attached’ to their community. I’m quite certain that the person who came over was not the manager; however, I continued to ask about the history of the restaurant and their history in the area. You would have thought I was asking this woman for a free meal. Wow, did I ever put her out! The manner in which she interacted with us was actually quite interesting considering I was simply asking basic questions about the restaurant and their history in the community. It became quite clear as to why when she mentioned how they were a corporate establishment and didn’t really have any competition in the area. It truly is a shame when any customer-oriented business loses site as to why they exist. I’m sure it is just too comfortable under that corporate umbrella.

Therefore, I will take my business to a place that appreciates their customers and community. A place that greets their guests and works to ensure your dinner is a positive culinary event verses serving up some cilantro rice and beans or chips and salsa. Abuelo’s in Lakeland, Florida is no longer on my list of Mexican restaurants in Central Florida. In fact, it’s off my list of restaurants completely.

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Bonefish Grill

1761 W. State Road 434
Longwood, FL  32750
407-331-0131

225 W. Pipkin Road
Lakeland, FL  33813
863-701-9480

2699 W. Osceola Pkwy
Kissimmee, FL  34741
407-931-1790

7830 W. Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
407-355-7707

3279 Daniels Road
Winter Garden, FL  34787
407-654-6093

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Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grill, located downtown Lakeland brings the unique palate stimulating flavors of New Orleans to Central Florida. Featuring a unique Cajun inspired creative menu, full bar, and authentic New Orleans atmosphere, a trip to Harry’s will displace you to Bourbon Street with all the flavor of New Orleans. Laissez Les Bon Temps Roule…Let the good times roll!

Harry Seafood Bar & Grill
101 North Kentucky Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 686-2228

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