If you are looking at eating here do the fried chicken first it's awesome I travel along the south a bunch and it's one of the best I have had in a long time It's made to order so it's going to take a while but it's definitely worth it read more

On a business visit asked for a 'good local lunch place'. Small town - down town. The fried chicken was REALLY good as was the chicken and dumplings. Small place, a little disorganized in set up, the kitchen is executing 110% on Southern home cooking. Waitstaff could be better but, hey, this a is main street diner, not the French Laundry. It's almost expected. The price? six stars for value. 3 of us were from out of state and remarked, "That's all it costs?" . read more

Pretty good lunch and dinner; great breakfast. Located in the historical part of Bartow so the venue is old and not the most pleasant looking. read more

Especially for you is the ultimate small town diner. Located on Mainstreet downtown Bartow, you will feel as you were a guest in someones home. The restaurant has a small diningroom with most tables accomodating 2-4 people In my several visits to Especiallt for year I have seen people just stop by to say hello to the owner, or to pick up to go orders. My favorite dish there is not on their everyday menu. You must ask for it or it may be featured on the daily special menu. It is their Oxtails! It is so tender and creamy and comes on a bed if rice and includes 2 sides. I almost always get their Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole. It is a pillow of heaven. And just sweet gooey goodness. I alternate between Broccoli and cheese casserole, Mac and Cheese, or mash potatoes and gravy. But the broccolli and cheese is my favorite. I would never had tried it if they did not mix up my order and give it to me instead of my Mac and Cheese. (Which they would happily rectify but I fell in live with their Broc and Cheese. Their oxtails is not that salty which is good for low salt diets. I juat add a little and it is perfect! The foid is true diwn home xooking at its best. read more

Wow!!!!! Was recommended by a friend and was not disappointed. We had the Smothered Pork Chops and Rice, Collard Greens, Green Beans, Fried Chicken (Best in Polk County) broccoli casserole, Lima beans, kids chicken tenders, Mac and cheese and Lemonade. The server was excellent and she let you know it's cooked fresh so it takes a while. The entire staff was friendly. Will definitely be going back. read more

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Located on E Main St. just down the road from the Polk County Courthouse, Especially4U is southern cooking at its finest. Their vegetables (lima beans, sweet potato fries, corn nuggets, collard greens, green beans, fried green tomatoes, grilled squash) are all freshly prepared and never overcooked. Entrees include baked and fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, pork chops, meatloaf, and more, as well as burgers and salads to round it out. One of the charms for regulars is the ever-changing menu which cycles from week to week (though some favorites are always available). Desserts are stand-out as well with their cobblers being of particular note. Prices are middling for lunch with an entree (including two sides) clocking in at $6.99-$7.99 and desserts running $3.50-$3.75. read more

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I happened upon this place looking for a salad. Once inside another customer was raving sanity the fried chicken, enough that I had to indulge. I've been eating clean, but I'm a sucker for perfectly fried chicken. I was not disappointed. This was some the best fried chicken I've ever had. The meat was a tasty and moist and the skin was crunchy and flavorful. Although I cannot and should not eat any dairy, I did get the broccoli casserole which was delicious. I enjoyed the green beans, which were cooked in turkey. The sweet potatoes, although bet sweet, rounded out an excellent meal. The service was worth mentioning as well. Both servers were friendly and the owner did come out and talk to one of the guests. Their interaction seemed friendly. I will be back and plan to bring my family with me. read more

#Polk #Bartow - Happened to park in front of the restaurant while visiting the tax collector in downtown Bartow. Glad I found this place which seems more toward catering than table service. True southern soul and comfort food with a very downhome feeling and friendly staff. I had the 4 vegetable platter and found all of it to be delicious & presumed homemade , as well as the cornbread which is served in both original and seasoned versions. The unsweetened tea was fresh and the refills came regularly. The ONLY NEGATIVE and it was a big one was the length of time for the meal to come. Four different table, including mine, sat and waited for over 30 minutes for their orders. In speaking to others this seems to be the exception , so I won't hold it against them. Seating is cozy but this adds to the ambiance in my view. If you find yourself in Bartow try this place out. It alone will be worth the trip downtown. read more

So look I'm not going to knock this place but I'm going to call it how it is. We got there and it was a nice quaint place. The young lady greeted us immediately and we chose to dine in. I got the lemonade for my drink and it was sugaraide. Naw just way too sugary for me and It definitely wasn't homemade. Not that they said it was I'm just stating I would kind of expect it to be at a soulful restaurant.......Umm OK so I asked the young lady what was the bestseller and she told me the broccoli casserole (not that great), Lima beans and the fried chicken. I opted to go with the special of the day which was ox tails. I didn't know they were 16 bucks! That's fine but it was definitely not worth it. They were probably my least favorite ox tails ever. Hands-down. The gravy has to be from a jar or packet, not made from the meat. I got them over yellow rice and it was just totally bland and the ox tails were small with tons of fat. I didn't eat a quarter of my food. I also ordered the collard greens which I felt they were undercooked and very salty. The lima beans were good as the young lady said. We got red velvet cake to go and I can tell you that red food coloring does not count as red velvet cake. It was ok, but again, not what I expect from a soul food place! The chicken and dumplings were unique, but tasty and could have had more chicken. The best thing going was the batter on the chicken tenders that we ordered for my daughter. The tenders themselves were over cooked. Their batter is amazing thou So if I do decide to go back I will definitely have to just stick with the fried chicken like the young lady originally mentioned as a favorite. Otherwise this was my experience. To each his own read more

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Super yummy old fashioned southern cooking! I had the smothered pork chops with gravy over rice, fresh field peas, cheesy broccoli casserole, and cornbread. It was so good, I ordered 2 meals to go for family. One person had Shepherds Pie, zipper peas, and sweet potato casserole. Another had the daily special Spaghetti, Mac & cheese, and lima beans. Huge servings, most everyone that eats there leaves with leftovers. I got homemade Peach cobbler to go and Wow was that good! Everything was fantastic! I saw lots of folks stopping to get to-go orders to take home. Great place for folks that want just vegetables, lots of choices and daily vegetable specials. It is a real family ran place with three generations right there working together. The night I was there Grandma, the owner, was there cookin' along with her daughter and her granddaughter was serving everybody. They were all working to make everybody feel welcome and happy, and I say they were doing a good job of it! Lots of people were ordering the fried chicken or the meatloaf or the chicken & dumplings so I think I'm going to try one of those next time I go back. I will definitely be back! read more

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I really love this tiny restaurant. Oddly laid out floor plan but with food this good I would eat in a hallway. Home cooked slap your Mama good. Love the meatloaf and greens! read more

This place has gone DOWN!!! Stay away...worst customer service I have EVER had!! My Wife and I arrived at 11am...First people in the door to place a to go order. Watched 3 parties who came in and ordered to go off the menu...NOT CALL AHEAD...walk out with their food. I asked after each person left about our order and was told it is coming. An HOUR after placing our order we are told they do not have the yellow rice we ordered but we can have white rice! I asked why they waited an hour to tell us that? Answer: we just found out! Really???!!!! I said we just want a refund, but it should be comped since we have been here over an hour at this point. No apology given...no offer to make it right. Then the cook comes out while I'm standing there (he was also present when I asked why they waited so long to tell us about the rice) hands a young lady her plate (who came in WELL after us), and says "I have yellow rice for you." STAY AWAY. This isn't the only soul food place around. read more

Especially 4 U Catering - Southern Near Me - Bartow, Florida

Hidden gem! May not look that great....but the food is delicious! Comfort, home cooking like granny used to make. Greens, collards, biscuits and gravy...pork-chops, cornbread. It's a southern thing!!! read more

Nice little place. Small menu, they had specials available, which we ordered two of. We also ordered the chocolate cake for dessert, which was great. read more

Especially 4 U Catering - Southern Near Me - Bartow, Florida

This place is small and quaint. Friendly staff with southern hospitality. I had the fried chicken with field peas, collards, and old fashion cornbread. For dessert I had the key lime cake. Everything was amazing! The flavor of everything reminded me of home and growing up. The portion of food was plentiful. If I ever travel through Bartow again, I'll definitely be back to dine. read more

Traveling through Florida on a motorcycle we stopped in Bartow and enjoyed lunch in this restaurant. The service was outstanding the food was unbelievably good. Everything fresh made read more

I wasn't impressed...not one bit. I kept getting flash backs of my middle school cafeteria days. I'll pass.

Aaron's review nailed it with a good overview description of the offerings. I enjoyed my first visit. Being a transplanted Yankee I'm not as fond of southern fried foods as the majority in the room. I also found the foods saltier than my tastes enjoy. The meatloaf was moist but perhaps one of those things never as good as "Mom's". The portion was huge. Chicken -n Dumplings was a popular lunch choice. I prefer noodles to dumplings and their broth was creamy compared to the northern "brothier" version. It almost had a canned or salty flavor to me. My friend felt that pimientos were in it and changed its flavor a bit. She asked to have hers reheated, it was luke cold. The fried green tomatoes are very heavily coated in breading, not greasy-- and flavorful. I'd not order again due to the overpowering breading. My friend left her broccoli casserole behind but said it was good. She also likes their jalapeno cornbread. My roll and mashed potatoes were non-descript but edible. Their chicken looked divine on others tables. The summer salad someone ordered was beautiful. The veggie of okra, corn and tomatoes looked great. This is a "Mom's kitchen table" type place and everyone can find something they're hankering for. Service was swift and always with a smile. Red velvet and chocolate cakes were beckoning from the wings but we were well-full with TO-GO boxes in hand. I'll be back for a more healthful salad next time! read more

4 U Catering is a small cafe located on Main Street in Bartow, FL. You will be surprise that we have all the fixings you like. They serve home style southern comfort food. Fried green tomatoes, broccoli and cheese casserole, collards, cornbread, dessert, mac and cheese.. all AMAZING. Absolutely incredible. Great food, great price. read more