I couldn't recommend this establishment enough. The inside was beautiful and it felt very private, even though it was busy. In addition, the service was better than any restaurant I've ever been to in my life. My boyfriend took me there for my birthday and the restaurant gave me a handwritten card signed by the entire staff, as well as complimentary champagne and dessert. The food was also absolutely delicious, and very filling. It may be a pricier dinner option but in my opinion it was very worth it, and we're already talking about going back. read more

Nineteen 61 - Arroz con Pollo - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Excellent in all categories My wife absolutely loved it. Great experience Thank you read more

This will now be my go-to Lakeland restaurant when I am in town. Wow- the food here is so good. The quality of the food + the taste was just great. I went with a group of coworkers and every single person commented that their dish was delicious. I personally ordered the garbanzo bean soup and the Churrasco steak and had absolutely no regrets. The churrasco steak was cooked to absolute perfection. Super tender and juicy at a perfect medium rare. As a group we got several appetizers and each one was good on its own. The brussel sprouts was super flavorful, the plantain chips with salsa and avocado mouse was the right level of crispy and thin, and the ceviche was fresh. I felt full after my soup and somehow still ended up finishing my whole churrasco steak + a side of Mac and cheese somehow. I could not stop singing the praises of the food that night and the next day. Highly recommend for folks to check out for a special occasion. The ambiance was upscale with the waiters and waitresses being super friendly and helpful with food suggestions. They genuinely seemed to love the food themselves when they were providing recommendations for what to order. A couple coworkers also grabbed a few cocktails and they said the drinks were also really well made. Overall 10/10 meal where we were all super satisfied with dinner. Will be back again! read more

Very very good Last minute decision to go while out with our dog. We sat outside. Very well shaded area. Unfortunately no pictures. We will absolutely be back. Had: -old fashioned -macho margarita - just perfect level of spice -sea bass tacos - lightly breaded on corn tortillas -Peruvian fried rice with chicken - so good, wish they offered a trio option where you could get chicken shrimp and steak Being gluten free and dairy free I had a hard time deciding what to get. Many good options. Service was nice. We made a reservation online about 30 minutes before arrival. Front patio was full but our table was waiting for us. Attentive hostess and servers. You could see that they assist each other. read more

The atmosphere is quite warm from the very start, walking in the door we were greeted right away despite a busy Saturday night crowd, checked in for our reservation, and seated in beautiful dining area. We were celebrating my wife's birthday, and when confirming the reservation they kindly asked my wife's name. Little did we know they would print a CUSTOM MENU with her name on it, and a birthday card was signed by the staff. Nice touch! The service was top notch, water glasses never reached more than half empty, menu suggestions were spot on. Somehow, the food OUTSHINED the service! Every bite was crafted to perfection, and I thought the execution on the total experience justified the overall price quite nicely Not only will we be back, but we will absolutely be brining friends and family along for the ride! Well done to the chef, the servers and wait staff, the bartenders (even rooftop ) , and the entire team on creating a nice memory, and an excellent restaurant here in lakeland read more

Nineteen 61 - Vaca Frita - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Dining at Nineteen 61 was a treat for three reasons: 1) The service was fabulous. 2) The food was delicious. 3) Someone else was paying. This is one of those gorgeous restaurants you will ever step into, and the service is just as good. It's been a while since I ate there, and I honestly can't remember all the dishes we had, but the food that we had was delicious. Now it is a little pricey, but as I said, someone else was paying, which made it that much more fun . Parking was not the easiest, so I parked about 100 yards away, but it was a nice night and I enjoyed the walk. read more

Nineteen 61 - Sea Bass - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

We ate at Nineteen61 after months of reading great reviews and planning to go. The Food was excellent as expected with a pleasant atmosphere for conversation with our best friends. We started with the Plantain Chips and Avocado Mousse which was crazy good - a lovely salty sweet crunch with the smooth creaminess of the avocado mousse paired perfectly with the Italian Poderi Chiara Moscato D Asti sparking wine. The Soups and Salads were enjoyed by all. We both got the Delmonico Steaks: a basted 24oz hand cut angus boneless ribeye, served with caramelized onion butter and the smoked broccolini. A luscious thick steak big enough for two and deserving of its $67 price. We finished with a flourless chocolate ganache raspberry cake and a Birthday Boy Complementary Guava Cheesecake. Both served with special coffees. Overall a very special meal with great friends that will bring us to Lakeland frequently. read more

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Let's start off with the location . It is in the heart of downtown Lakeland. If you looking for Latine Cuisine , then this is your spot. Cubans and Peruvian infused. The restaurant is situated in a perfect spot to check out after having some drinks or just walking around downtown Lakeland. The location is in demand that there was no inside seating because everything is by reservation ( keep that in mind) in which it is very understandable. So we sat outside in which was fine because they had fans and ACs ... if I may recommend something. Please buy those fly fans for the table it will make guests wayyyy more happy. The food delicious. Not 1 complaint about anything. Everything we ordered was very yummy. I believe meadow was our waitress and she was nothing but kind super helpful and always checking up on us. Will be coming back ... 9.0/10 for sure read more

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Everything here was amazing from the moment we arrived until we left the server was great and the food was delicious as well as the drinks. Definitely plan on returning. read more

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I came to Nineteen 61 one a work lunch and could not have been more impressed! (speaking for myself and my coworkers). We were nervous because we didn't think to make a reservation, but we were able to be seated right away, which was incredible! Our server, Jenny, was incredible at her job, and extremely attentive! She recommended the Tacos al pastor special, which is what I got, and it was delicious! I'm very apprehensive about paying more than 5$ for tacos, but these were incredible! I loved the combination of sweet and savory flavors! The yuca fries and empanadas were phenomenal as well! We loved the atmosphere and ended our visit with a cup of coffee. I definitely will need to come back again! read more

Nineteen 61 - Empanadas Lunch - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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First time, we had a great bartender Jacob and an amazing prime rib brunch, to cap it off cafe con leche! Best one since Tio Pepe' in Clearwater Fl. We will be back and bring friends. read more

Nineteen 61 - Brunch - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Very sophisticated place! We went there for our anniversary & they made a page of the menu wishing us a Happy Anniversary! Complimentary Champagne & the server even gave my bf roses to give me! Food was Phenomenal! We had the whole fried snapper, ceviche, calamari & sashimi. Will definitely be back to try more dishes! read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

For a recent celebration of life event, I made a last minute call to check on availability at nineteen 61. I got lucky. Kerri was my point of contact and within minutes i received a proposal and a contract for the event. Upon arrival the venue was perfect and everything was in place. Justis the Banquet manager was in charge and we never felt unattended. Any plate or glass set down after use disappeared by the nija like staff. All food and beverage items were perfectly fresh and well presented. One thing I always tell anyone planning my event, is we never want to run out or or short on anything. There was a constant flow of hors d'oeuvres and plenty of if wonderful signature dishes that Nineteen 61 does so well. Thank you so much for turning a sad and somber day into an amazing time of celebration and fellowship. It will always be remembered and appreciated by our family and friends. Sincere thanks. Please consider the wonderful owners and staff when considering your next event. No dissappointments!! read more

Nineteen 61 - Vasco Sixty-One - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Such an amazing lunch! Been wanting to try this place since it opened and finally went today for my birthday. We had a great experience, the ambiance was perfect, the food was delicious, and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Can't wait to go back. read more

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I've had ropa vieja from many restaurants but this is hands down the best I've ever had!! It was soo good, the service was slow but food was amazing! read more

Met some friends in the cute town of Lakeland. This place was on my hit list since it was Spanish and listed very high with Yelpers. Weather in Florida, fantastic. We had outdoor seating and there were heat lamps if needed. Server was awesome, very patient and accommodating. He provided recommendations and answered our five million questions. A couple of us split the pitcher of red Sangria($40+). I had the most amazing Seafood Paella. I was not a fan of octopus and our server was able to add more shrimp and skip the octo. Dessert was so delicious. We split the tres leches. It's pricey here but worth the food and service. read more

Nineteen 61 - Seafood Paella - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Great experience as always. This is our favorite fine dining rest in tampa by far. Their service is great and their food matches. Flavors are amazing and everything is obviously made in house. Suggest making a reservation to be sure that you can get in! read more

Nineteen 61 - Chips, Avocado Mousse, and 61 Salsa Lunch - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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My hotel suggested this place. I looked it up and the menu looked pretty good. Lots of food choices. I had to try it. I walked over and didn't have a reservation. I got a seat at the bar, my fav. Liz and Taylor were the bartenders. Iasked for a recommendation. I then asked about the Chaufa. Liz said it was Devine! So I had to order the chaufa con pollo. The guy next to me ordered and got the Churasco. It looked and smelled amazing. The place was getting real busy and loud. The music was just right. I finally got my meal. The guy next to me said it looked and smelled really good. I took a bite and agreed with him. It was. The girls were attentive and kept asking if I was OK? My drink was refilled multiple times. I finished and was offered dessert. Tres Leche was the choice. It was also very good. Both dishes were different than i have had in the past. But really good in their own way. The chaufa was tasty and full of chicken. The tres leche was not drowning in leche. It was just right. The cake was moist but didn't fall apart. This place was awesome. The food was good. The service was excellent. Liz was great and entertaining. This is a must of you're only in town for a night. You will love Nineteen 61. read more

Omg the food was so gosh darn salty! Like flavorful is one thing but salty is just wow. Both risottos were so salty and I couldn't eat them. I was excited to try the black been & the cheese version but one bite, my blood pressure wouldn't take it. The steak was really good but the seasoning with the chimichurri sauce was just too much. I'm starting to think salt is the culture in Florida but I won't let Lakeland speak for all of Florida. The French 75 was good but who can mess it up really? It's not a hard drink. The one thing I did enjoy was the garbanzo bean and chorizo soup! The soup was not salty at all and the flavors speaker for themselves! The bread was very gooey and wasn't my favorite. The ambiance is beautiful and attractive! I heard customers are able to rent their own wine lockers. read more

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Friendly service & really pretty environment! Took my mom & sister. Great pisco, cevchi! Definitely coming again when im in town.

Since I'm from South Florida I had ZERO expectations for this place... well I am beyond impressed by the flavor of their food!!! WOW! Tastes just like being in Miami maybe even better than some places I've been. ! The staff was wonderful and it's located in a cute little area with street parking. Love the bar and lounge area , the music is great and all the historical Cuban paintings are hanging up. Definitely a MUST if you are in the Lakeland area! read more

Nineteen 61 - Vaca Frita "The Original" Lunch - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Had Mother's Day brunch here today. The food was incredible! The service was great. We got the warmest greeting from the owner, the service was excellent and the flowers and instagram photo spot was the perfect touch! This is becoming one of our favorite restaurants read more

Nineteen 61 - So much food! - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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This place is the best. The food is delicious. Service is great. Friendly people and no rush to get you out. Great dining experience.

Such a cool place! Great vibe, cool service, awesome drinks and delicious food! While in town for work we grabbed a lunch here and I can tell you I will definitely be back next time I am in Lakeland. Ceviche, Brussels sprouts and churrasco steak were so good! I highly recommend this spot! read more

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Amazing food, great atmosphere , superior service. Have been there many times while I live in Lakeland and no the I live in Palm Coast , going back for Christmas and to celebrate my 40th wedding anniversary on the 26th. Second time eating there on my anniversary. read more

I recently stopped by Nineteen61 while visiting Lakeland. I was looking for a tasty lunch and I definitely found it here. I stopped in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. I grabbed a seat at the bar and admired their selection. The had a solid cocktail menu so I started with one. I looked over the food menu and went with the vaca frita. The bartender took good care of me while I was there The food came out quickly and it looked great. The beef was nice and tender and the flavor was great. The beans, rice, egg, and plantains complimented the meal really well. I really enjoyed my meal. My brunch visit to nineteen61 was a success. The food and cocktails were on point. I look forward to my next visit to explore the dinner menu. read more

Nineteen 61 - Vaca frita - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Absolutely lovely place! Classy, high end, hot spot. Went for a first date. Sat at the bar first. Then moved to our table. Get reservations! I don't want to take photos of my food on a first date. I usually take pics but didn't want to scare him off. Great food, exceptional service. I'll be back! read more

Nineteen 61 - Cheers - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Vasco Rooftop - nicely made drinks. Main restaurant- nicely made drinks dishes and excellent table service by our waiter. Only disappointment was that their churrasco, although tender as promised, was a flap not a skirt steak. Empanadas were really flaky n We had several other delicious plates. read more

Great service overall i definitely recommend this place to anyone that lives local or around town read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

4.75* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* 09/30/2023 This place was recommended by our son who lives in the area and has been here for lunch since it is near his latest worksite. This is a top-notch restaurant and was quite impressive - what I would have expected to find in downtown Tampa. Everything about the experience was excellent, with the only ding I can give it based on value - as it is a bit pricey. This was a bit of a brunch stop for us, so we ate fairly lightly. My wife ordered the Arroz Chaufa Pollo Lunch (see picture) and 1961 Side Salad (see picture), my son ordered the Classic '61 Tacos (see picture) and I ordered the Peruvian Ceviche (see picture). As is our custom, we all shared bites from each others orders and all really enjoyed all of these dishes, so would highly recommend them. The ceviche was creamy and tangy, the arroz chaufa pollo was moist and flavorful and the tacos were zesty, cheesy and delicious! If you are looking for a great lunch or dinner stop in Lakeland, especially if it is a special occasion worthy of a bit of a splurge, Nineteen 61 will not disappoint you. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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This restaurant really took me by surprise. I didn't expect to find a place like this in Plant City but we did. I started out my meal with a Moscow mule and some empanadas. The empanadas were Betty tasty. The breading was flaky and the beef was extra juicy. The mule could've been a bit better. For my main entree I had the center cut pork chop. I don't usually eat much pork but this cut of pig was irresistible. It was so succulent and juicy. The sides weren't as memorable. read more

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The Basics: Nineteen 61 is a Spanish-style restaurant in Lakeland, Florida. The menu has many great options, the restaurant is beautiful, and the food was delicious. Things I like: The service and food were both incredible at this spot. Since it was our first time visiting this restaurant, they offered us glasses of champagne on the house. We started with the empanadas, which were so flavorful and perfectly done. I also enjoyed the Pollo Mexicana. Our table split a pitcher of the red sangria and we loved it as it wasn't too sweet. Things I didn't like: Nothing! Everything was delicious! Overall, this is an amazing restaurant to visit in Lakeland! An overall wonderful experience! read more

Nineteen 61 - Pollo Mexicana - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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We celebrated our 29th anniversary here, and enjoyed every aspect of our dinner. We were a little early, so we were invited to get drinks at the rooftop bar, which we did. Waitstaff, drinks, and the appetizer we shared were terrific. When it was time for our reservation, we went downstairs and were seated promptly. Our server, Zack, was, as the manager described, a treat. Attentive, warm, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful ...just a delight overall. He really enhanced our dining experience. The personalized menu was a nice touch, and we enjoyed the complimentary champagne that arrived shortly after we were seated. The ceviche was fresh, zippy, and delicious, and the suggested plantain chips went with it beautifully. Great for scooping, and added a nice crunch. We split a 1961 salad, which is one of my favorites, and, as usual, was fresh and flavorful. My grouper saltado had a flavorful sauce, and the grouper was tender and well cooked. I enjoyed the chaufa that accompanied it as well. Gray's pork shoulder was equally tender, and delicious. We also enjoyed the dessert we shared, which was like a chocolate mousse cake, but, sadly, I cannot recall its name. I prefer a booth, but we were seated at a table, however, the seats were super comfortable, so I didn't mind. Overall, a wonderful experience for our special occasion. We'll be sure to return. read more

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I did not realize that the inside environment was a bit fancy. Don't wear your gym clothes! Upon entry, we were greeted by the host and seated at one of the tables by the door. The inside is small: there's a bar and about 6 tables in the front; a few pass the bar area. We weren't offered the option to sit outside. Service was timely. They gave us a free champagne for being first time visitors; definitely a nice touch. The restaurant vibes are a bit stiff; feels like you almost have to whisper to the person you're dining with and the waitresses were very "to the point." Therefore, I do not recommend this place as a first-date spot or somewhere to laugh and gather with friends. Maybe dinner has a different vibe, as this was happy hour. The reason I'm giving this location a 4, rather than 3 for service, is because the food was amazing! I've been thinking about the calamari and empanadas since I left. Their happy hour menu is limited and the only menu offered during 3-5pm (such a short HH). I will return solely for the food. Update: We arrived again on a Sunday at 3pm (rather than weekday), but they were serving drinks only. Kind of disappointing since the website says happy hour daily. read more

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Beautiful and perfect location downtown Lakeland. The atmosphere, decor, and over all vibe of the restaurant is incredible. I was greeted immediately, sat at the bar with my gf, had a nice cocktail by a very attentive bartender named "Brian" and had the most delicious salad I have had in a long time. Would definitely return. read more

Nineteen 61 - 1961 Salad with Salmon - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Your search is over. This is the place to eat when you're in downtown Lakeland. Outstanding service. Warm decor. And amazing entrées. The only reason I gave it four stars is because we all agreed the desserts were a miss. They're try hard, overcomplicated, and underwhelming. But aside from that, we had an amazing dinner and will be back. read more

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Amazing flavorful food. We went here for lunch, and the prices were reasonable, service was friendly, and we will for sure come back.

Love this spot. Nice clean restaurant. Great service. They welcome you with a free glass of wine as first timer. Managers and staff all welcome you. Food is awesome. read more

Went there for the first time a few months ago and had a great time. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and served us complimentary champagne with our meal. My husband loved his meal and said it was the best steak he had ever had. I ordered a special that I wasn't too keen about, but I think it was just not for me. Our appetizer was amazing. Service was prompt and friendly. We are returning this weekend for lunch. read more

We had a good time here.... Our service was great thanks to Cullen and my food was amazing from the guacamole and chips appetizer to the fried rice dinner meal I thoroughly enjoyed it only criticism I can give is that some of the food was lukewarm and we'd prefer it to be served hot. The ambiance indoors was amazing and the outdoor seating was nice and quaint I would highly recommend ! read more

Nineteen 61 - Cocktail and outside seating - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida