This is a chain grocery that began in NY. This particular one is a Latino store full of specialty…read moreand grocery items. It also has a two table "bistro" seating at the bakery and a separate room for cafeteria style Latin steam bins of hot meals by the plate. The walls advertise "Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto RIco" and the like. Prices are fairly good everywhere, however, knowing typical pricing is helpful. For example besitos or coconut kisses (macaroons) at the bakery are $2 when they are .75 in other bakeries. It is worth your stroll through (it is in a "food dessert" area and there is a significant homeless population in the area). English does not seem to be the first language in this store. The ready to go foods look good and I'm hopeful it's a new Lakeland Treasure (It replaces a Bravo Supermarket)

New to the area, and I found a store that carries brands and food I needed! Clerks were…read moreknowledgable and kind.

This place is very clean and once it's filled all the booths it will be better. The market section…read morewas predominantly Hispanic food, meats, fish and produce. It was well kept and organized. There were several food booths but most were closed, some had no customers and one was doing a brisk trade. I think this place has potential.

Great hidden eating places inside for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We also enjoyed the…read moreinternational grocery store on one side and shopping booths for gifts on the other side of the indoor building. Love this hidden Water tower treasure in Winter Haven while in the area.

The Crystal Lake Plaza is a medium-sized strip mall that is jammed with-packed with a wide variety…read moreof businesses. And when I say wide variety, I'm talking completely across the spectrum. I stop here every so often to visit Shine Bright Nutrition, a cure nutrition place tucked into the corner where you can get energy teas and protein shakes. As far as food goes, the Egg Factory is a pretty popular breakfast place, Crazy by Rasel is a drive through convenience shop at the very end of the plaza, and there's even an Indian grocery shop you can stop by. There's a pawn shop on the opposite end from the drive thru, a phone carrier store, an insurance company, a new store that I believe mostly sells legos and/or toys, and a boutique that I'm definitely going to check out at some point. There's even more than this but just to rattle off a few offerings. One downside is the plaza is definitely not taken care of. The individual businesses keep their units clean and nice, but from the outside the plaza as a whole looks dirty and a bit run down. The parking lot can also be a little chaotic and unorganized at times.

If you haven't been here and you profess to be a Quer, then you can NOT be a good barbe Quer!!…read more Seriously!! Whenever I'm within 100 miles- I have to stop! I found this place just driving around while at the state basketball tournament and I've been addicted ever since! They have dozens and dozens of barbeQUE sauce, seasonings, marinades and cooking gear. They will take time, show you and explain what will help you create the cooking profile you desire. For me, I love heat with gently sweet. These guys are great!! You need your credit card with you because you are not going to walk out with just one bottle or just one rub. Nahhhhh, that won't happen, I promise you that! I've been going for the last 5 years and thought I had posted a review. My badddd. These guys take it personal and will help your cooking game from a first timer to competition cooking!! Sometimes they are out front giving away samples that are fresh off the grill! For the woman looking for a special gift for their significant other - this is for the guy who has everything! It's a barbeQUER paradise!! T

We just bought a smoker and let's just say that even though my hubby can come up with some lovely…read moreflavored ;) I thought we should check out some from the pros... Whiskey Bent gets a 5 big fat stars for having every single type of heavenly flavor possible for our grilling needs! They have everything you need to get yourself established... Smokers, pellets, dry rubs, sauces etc!!! You get to sample the rubs too so you're not disappointed when you get home if you don't like it!!! Friendly service and Military discount to boot! Go check them out!

Surprisingly good! I look forward to going back. I just had a sandwich, but it was very…read morehigh-quality, tasty, and the staff member provided me my sandwich was nice.

Anthony's Health Hut has TWO 10-star features, it's knowledgeable employees and it's great health…read morefood restaurant inside the store. Staff is friendly and helpful throughout Anthony's. They usually have several options in supplements you need as well as some helpful print outs of information. I also enjoy eating there, great sandwiches and soups, seedy bread. I also get my beloved figs there, sold pre-bagged.

Lake Miriam Square more recently had a complete face lift, and now the decent-sized plaza is…read morebrightly lit, clean and spacious. This plaza has a lot to offer, from a wide range of businesses. There's of course all kinds of food- sushi, italian, açaí bowls & healthier food, Mexican, ramen, cake & Publix with their whole specialty areas (pizza, mexican bowls, sushi and the like). PDQ sits just on the far corner of the area as well. But there's also a dry cleaners, barbers, a nail salon & hair salon, dog groomers, a whole spa, pool supplies, a dentist and a Starbucks & bank on the opposite side (plus more). Tons of parking available and great businesses to patronize. It's a nice area and pretty easy to navigate in and out of.

What a hidden gem! This place is fantastic-- I didn't want to leave!!…read more Ambiance 10/10! Staff and service 10/10! I wish I could live here! We got the latte flight with the Honey I'm falling, Bad Apple, Chai Hard and Pour Some Pumpkin On Me lattes- you can pick any 4 from their seasonal menu. They were all great, the PB cold foam on the Honey I'm falling was spectacular! The Chai Hard made 'dirty' was excellent! The Banana Bread Latte also perfect fall in a cup! They also have food- we ordered the Waffles grilled cheese and Monte Cristo- both crispy and perfect. Love this place and can't wait to come back!

Finally made it to Unfiltered and it did not disappoint! The aesthetic is so warm and cozy. The…read morestaff was super friendly, Peggy & Lizzy were great. I had the salted caramel maple pancake iced latte and my husband had a regular iced latte, both really good. There's a bookstore upstairs with different options for reading. Looking forward to going back and sitting with a book on one of the comfy couches.

If you're looking for a dessert experience that's completely different from the usual ice cream…read moreshop, do yourself a favor and visit Vampire Penguin in downtown Lakeland. We ordered the Nevermoreo and it was absolutely incredible. The dessert starts with Vampire Penguin's signature "snow" -- a unique frozen treat that's neither ice cream nor shaved ice. It's made from a creamy frozen base that's shaved into incredibly thin layers, creating a light, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture unlike anything we've had before. The Nevermoreo was loaded with chocolatey goodness, cookies, marshmallows, graham cracker crumble, and rich chocolate drizzle. Every bite tasted like a gourmet campfire s'more with an Oreo twist. It was beautifully presented and even more delicious than it looked. The atmosphere deserves a mention too. The gothic bookstore vibe, moody lighting, vintage décor, and cozy seating make it one of the most unique spots in downtown Lakeland. It's the kind of place where you want to stay awhile and soak it all in. And don't skip the Dirty Sodas! They offer a fun menu of customizable soda creations and specialty combinations that pair perfectly with their desserts. Between the incredible snow desserts, creative drinks, and unforgettable atmosphere, Vampire Penguin has quickly become one of my favorite dessert destinations in Lakeland. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend!

I had never heard of this place until yesterday when I decided to look up coffee shops in Lakeland…read more The concept of coffee shop meets bookstore drew us in immediately. 30 minutes later, me and my friend were walking in through Vampire Penguin's door. As soon as you walk in, you're met with a dark and moody ambience. The accent wall covered in a beautiful, floral wallpaper, fitted with a fireplace and wooden bookshelves lining the wall with whimsical accents such as candles and vintage books. On the opposite wall, dark wood creating an air of mystery. Upon walking in, the store itself is fairly small. There's one large booth in front of the only window, and maybe 3 or 4 smaller tables. I wouldn't call this a proper bookstore as they only had a couple of floating shelves with books for sale. All smaller, indie authors. Most of them looked to be fantasy/romantasy and there was at least one I saw for kids. There were large bookshelves along the rest of the wall, but those books seemed to be just decorative and not for sale. All looked antique and had a cool vibe to them. Still cool to check out! We went on a Friday around 3 pm and with kids being out of school and this being a shaved ice place, it was in fact packed with families which we didn't take into account. They mainly offer shaved ice; there are several different options you can choose from as well as small or large sizes. We just wanted coffee and they had a few fun options to pick from. I ended up ordering the Custard Eclair which has chocolate syrup, custard, and shortbread. We waited for about 10 minutes for our lattes and a croissant. It seemed there were only 2 workers manning everything between running the register and making the orders. The space got more packed with little room for new customers to line up and the other people waiting trying to make room while an employee ran orders back and forth. We finally got our order and decided to sit outside due to how loud and overstimulating it was inside. They have some outdoor seating in the shade and that's where we spent some time sipping our coffees. The lattes were actually delicious. You could taste a good amount of the espresso they used while still tasting the nice blend of sweetness. Would I go back? Sure, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. Now if I'm in the downtown Lakeland area already and I'm doing a little shopping, a little exploring, I might stop here and grab a cup to go. Like I said, the latte was really solid. I wouldn't recommend getting your laptop and working here, but for a quick stop, I say go for it! Giving this place 3/5 stars