Nineteen61

From start to finish, the experience at Nineteen61 was outstanding. The service was attentive without ever feeling rushed, and every detail made us feel taken care of. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our Polk County Women Social Club group was comfortable and had everything we needed. The food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, paired with an atmosphere that’s both elegant and welcoming. If you’re looking for exceptional service and a memorable dining experience, Nineteen61 is truly a five-star choice.

Fantastic place to dine and converse! Food was Phenomenal and the service was even better! We even got a glass of bubbly and a thank you card for coming there as a welcome to out restaurant gift! The manager (not the owner) takes very seriously how gracious he is to have been chosen as the restaurant of choice for their patrons! So worth it! You gotta take the time and go to Nineteen 61!

If I could give 5 stars plus, I would. We celebrated our 25th anniversary here and from the moment we arrived until the time we paid we were given a great deal of attention and service. We enjoyed our cocktails, appetizer, entrees, and dessert. Everything was delicious with the ingredients and preparation explained in detail by our server. The story of the restaurant was shared by the house manager and he also shared some suggestions for our choices from the menu. We can't wait to come back and thank you for a memorable experience.

I have never had such a wonderful and thoughtful experience. The wait staff was amazing. Our waiter was very attentive and kind. The food was delicious. I had the churrasco steak and it was cooked to perfection and very flavorful. But the best part is when I arrived they asked me if I was celebrating anything special and I let them know it was a belated birthday celebration for me. They gave me a complimentary dessert, I chose the tres leches which was delicious, and they brought it out with a candle and a birthday card signed by all the staff. I was truly amazed at the service. My friend who was with me also thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

First off our server Maria was outstanding. We have been here several time but never for happy hour, she helped us with suggestions for appetizers and drinks. She also let us know the paella has been updated. We had the Bloody Mary sans vodka and my wife had the strawberry mojitos mocktail. Plus we had the dos tacos one beef and one pork both were succulent and juicy. I wish I was able to give them 10 stars.

We decided to try the brunch here. It was absolutely delicious! We enjoyed the ambiance & our server was so sweet & took great care of us. They also have gluten-free options. I'll definitely be back.

We planned my son's rehearsal dinner the night before his March 2025 wedding, and Sunday brunch the day after the wedding in the banquet room at Nineteen61. We worked with Justice, who was terrific, for almost 8 months prior to the big day. Justice met with us in person, showed us all of the table decor and food options. She was very patient, experienced, and helpful. Showed us that you can have a slide show on the two monitors in the room, which was great. The rehearsal dinner and brunch were tremendous, great buffet style food, large windows for light, a bar, you can see the kitchen area, such a pleasant space. My son and his fiancé chose an Asian style menu for the rehearsal and a traditional eggs, sausage, bacon breakfast that was very terrific. Justice was so attentive, to me as the Mother of the Groom, and to the bride and groom. She set up the slide show for us, which was a bit complicated, she made it work, and it was a very big hit. She checked in with us frequently, bringing drinks if we wanted one, gave us extra menu cards for keepsakes, boxed up left over food so guest could take some home, that was very nice. We forgot to gather our thumb drives from the monitors, and Justice mailed them to us and included a personal handwritten card with it. Nice touch. I can't say enough about the wonderful experience we had at Nineteen61 and the great customer service by Justice. She is a gem! It made this special weekend more special!

We came for our 31st wedding anniversary and it was such an amazing experience. From the minute we arrived we were greeted with personalized menus and a card signed by the staff wishing us a happy anniversary and complimentary champagne. The food was delicious! And the dessert blew me away! It was a guava cheesecake and I can’t wait to go back for more. This place knows how to make a special event feel like just that. I have and will continue to recommend this restaurant, it’s an experience!

Wow what a great find! Never expected to find such great place in downtown Lakeland, we were pleasantly surprised! We arrived on time for our 5:15pm reservation and were promptly seated. The tables were a bit closer to each other than I normally like, but ambiance is nice with impressive tin-panel high ceiling. Menu is extensive and took us a while to decide what to order. Our waiter Cullen did not rush us at all. His service was exceptional. We had a perfect evening. Every dish we ordered was fabulous. Pulpo 61 was seared perfectly with strong delightful taste. The presentation of the whole fried snapper was perhaps the most beautiful of a whole fried fish I have ever had. Both the Vaca Frita and de Mariscos were also great! For dessert, my guava creme brûlée was among the best crème brûlée I ever had! If there was one thing to improve, it would be the timing of the dishes. There was a bit of wait longer than it should be between appetizer and main entrees. But with conversation flowing we didn't mind it. It was a nice relaxing evening with awesome food and service! We will most definitely be back again!

Great dinner at Nineteen 61. We were in for a business meeting and were seated in a back corner of the restaurant. Menu is very diverse and they also had a lot of options that worked with my shellfish allergy. The restaurant has a modern warehouse vibe and was very crowded. I would suggest a reservation or you may not get a table. They had a nice wine selection and cocktail list. I chose the vegetable quinoa from The Wok. My dinner arrived quickly and very warm and tasty. Maybe a tad too much soy sauce but it was very good and I would try again. Parking/ there are a few street parking spots but there is a public lot around the block. Overall loved the restaurant. I did feel like they pack the tables a little too closely which makes it a tad loud. Still enjoyed the meal and will be back.

This is one of Lakeland's top restaurants and has been for a long time for good reason- it's AMAZE! It's not cheap dining, but the price is well worth the quality of both the food, service and atmosphere. When you come for a special occasion, they'll ask for a name or what the occasion is (such as, it was my dads birthday) and then they'll personalize your experience for that occasion (they had a happy birthday note in the menu for my dad). They even gave my dad a handwritten birthday note from the team there! All of the food is just splendid. They train their chefs very in depth so they are beyond professional and know taste profiles. The food just melts in your mouth. The ropa vieja- highly, highly recommend. But there's no bad options on this Latin-fusion menu. And to top it off: creme brûlée for dessert! It wasn't as good as some I've tried, especially compared to the rest of the meal, but definitely still very delicious. They also gave a free house wine for my dad's birthday. I would say a lot of nights, especially on the weekends you'll want a reservation. It stays busy here. Everything here is so spot on, the detail in all parts of the experience makes it a lasting and impressive one.

Very good! First time here for dinner. We had a late reservation around 9:50 pm. We were seated immediately. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails before our dinner arrived. Great watermelon mule! Both hubby and I ordered the steak. One picanha and one churrasco. Both perfectly cooked. Sauces and sides were delicious except the risotto was undercooked. We shared the apple cobbler for dessert and it was fantastic! If you are in Lakeland, this restaurant is a must try.

What a great find. The food is excellent, Cuban/Spanish/Peruvian inspired cuisine. We tried it out during a busy lunch hour and all of the food we ordered was 10 out of 10. The sopita took me back to Abuelita's cooking. Vaca Frita was authentic. The Poutine Cubano is a clever take on poutine replacing fries with an upgraded experience of Yucca fries. Took me back to my Miami days. Cocktails all were delicious as well. I recommend La Fresita margarita and their Mojito. Great atmosphere with attentive staff. Highly recommend this Lakeland Gem!

Nineteen61 was a whole vibe. They legit changed the menu header for my bday, gave me a card, and hit me with free dessert?? felt so special . Service was top tier fr. As a Latino man who prides himself on his family's cooking the empanadas and tres leches was 10/10 fuego. But, the vaca frita was kinda mid. Still, I'd come back for the vibes and try something else next round.

No better place to pick for my solo date. Great for groups as well. I stopped in for dinner and I'm definitely happy I did. Waiter Matt was absolutely remarkable he was attentive, knowledgeable and friendly. Appetizers: Scallops The fresh perfect cooked seafood in a beautifully rich broth . Empanadas Warm flaky hint of sweetness melt in your mouth crust paired with the bold flavors oe beef are a perfect pair. These are amongst some of the best empanadas I've tasted. Main: Grouper with manchego risotto it was slightly rich for me but very tasty and cheesy. Dessert: Key lime pie perfect. Not many can master this but this is perfection Drink Hibiscus sweet tea lemonade Champagne-complimentary Parking:$7 valet or street parking available Restaurant is extremely clean and centrally located. Their staff and kitchen run like a well oiled machine. Such precision and intention with everything. I enjoyed my evening and happy I got a chance to try this while in town.

On our way home from a weekend at Disney decided to stop in Lakeland for some lunch. Such a great food scene here! This place sounded really nice and the menu has some awesome options. Grabbed a reservation but didn't really need it. Seated at a table pretty quickly. Meadow came right up and took our orders. Very nice and friendly. Very relaxing vibe and a free glass of sparking wine on our first visit! Bonus! We started with some empanadas. Really good, light and airy with a little kick to the picadillo. For me I had the SRGENTIRIAN SAUSAGE HASH. Grilled chorizo Argentino, really good and large portion. I did think it needed a little more heat for me. Got some of their house made hot sauce to kick it up. Deb got the El Cubano 61. El Cubano Sandwich Lunch. Delicious and the salad was really good. Overall we had a great experience here and will look to stop in again

We came in for lunch and had a great experience. The restaurant is beautiful. The staff were very attentive and welcoming. To drink, I had the hibiscus tea, which was sweet, refreshing, and pretty. For my entree, I had the Cuban sandwich with yucca fries. The sandwich was absolutely delicious! The pork was so tender and the salty ham and cheese added so much flavor. The bread was sweet and pressed to perfection. The fried yucca was crisp and had a great texture. The prices were also very good. Overall, this was an awesome lunch experience!

Cute spot in downtown Lakeland! It was my first time here and it was a good spot. Street parking and pretty large venue. I went for brunch with friends and got one cocktail, an appetizer and an entree. The cocktail menu was extensive with lots of unique drinks. The Mucho Margarita was light and refreshing with a beautiful tequila taste. We then started with the Brussel sprouts and there was a delicious maple drizzle over them. They were perfectly crispy and a decent portion. For the entree I ordered the Argentinian Hash. The chorizo was nicely charred and flavorful. Would love to come back and try other items on the menu. The server was also great at recommending items.

Just visited Nineteen 61 for brunch! The food reminded me of Miami, rich Cuban food with a twist! Appetizer calamari had a great topping with a sweet & spicy sauce it was amazing! Vaca frita was food to my soul! Churrasco was cooked perfectly and so juicy with best yuca con mojo! All in all our server Jordan was amazing, service was over all good, food was out quick! Ambiance was amazing!

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.

Food is great, beer is good, service was average but acceptable. The bands are extremely loud, their amps are at your level so you are getting the full brunt of their amps. Once the band start we usually cash out and leave. Outside of that I do recommend it.

Oooo wow! Came to this restaurant on a Saturday night, and our waiter Colby (the only one with a ponytail lol) told us it was one of their busiest nights in a long time with over 300 reservations. Even though it was packed, the service was incredible! The ambiance is moody and perfect for an anniversary, birthday, or a romantic date night. It was a bit loud, but that was only because one table was really enjoying their drinks (haha). Now, onto the food and service: Right after we sat down, Colby greeted us and gave us a detailed rundown of the menu and the restaurant's history. I really appreciated that personal touch. We kicked things off with the chickpea soup and plantain avocado mousse chips. WOW! The flavors were incredible. Everything was fresh and crispy, just how it should be. The avocado mousse was light but packed with flavor definitely a highlight. For the main course, I had the pollo al la brasa. I'm sensitive to spice, so Colby made sure to check with me when the dish arrived to ensure it wasn't too spicy. Thankfully, it was just perfect! The black beans and plantains helped balance out the flavors and cooled things down when needed. And of course, we saved room for dessert! If there's one thing I'll be coming back for, it's the guava cheesecake. Colby recommended it, and he was spot on. It was perfectly sweetened with the right amount of crunch--seriously, I'm already craving it again. NEED ASAP lol! We also tried the mocktails--the Don Ramon (hibiscus tea with other flavors) was super refreshing, and their fresh lemonade was so tasty! Overall, a 5-star experience! I'm definitely coming back, and I'm curious to try their lunch menu next time. Highly recommend this place for a fun night out with fantastic food, drinks, and service.

I met friends from out of town for lunch and I thought this would be a place that would meet everyone's dietary needs. They just didnt offer enough vegetarian options. Our server was a delight, the service was friendly and fast and she went Out of her way to make it an enjoyable experience. Just the right amount of attention so we could catch up. We sat outside. The sidewalk is blocked from he street with shrubs for privacy. Inside is busy and highly energetic. They have a full bar, many choices on the menu for food and cocktails, more traditional Mexican.

We went for lunch to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Since it was a week dat at lunch it was busy but everything was excellent! The food was amazing. Service was top notch. We got a cozy booth in the back. The glass allowing you to see into the kitchen is lovely. They even printed menus with our names and gave us a card signed by the staff. Space inside is a bit tight so I'd keep it to small intimate but they can accommodate larger parties.

I recently visited Nineteen16 for lunch while exploring Lakeland, and it did not disappoint! As a first-time visitor, I was pleasantly surprised with a complimentary glass of champagne! The Latin American cuisine was absolutely delicious! Must get the Peruvian ceviche! The service was friendly and attentive, making sure I had everything I needed. If you're in Lakeland and looking for a spot with amazing food, great hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere, Nineteen16 is a must-visit. I'll definitely be back! What I ordered: - PERUVIAN CEVICHE: corvina, leche de tigre, ginger, lime, cilantro, cancha, choclo, & a plantain chip, traditional or aji amarillo - EL CUBANO 61:Slow-roasted mojo pork shoulder, Manchego, Jamén serrané, house pickles, sour orange aioli on honey-buttered pressed Cuban bread - GRAND MARNIER CREME BRULEE - TRES LECHES

We dedicated to stop in for lunch to grab a bite to eat quick before leaving town. Thankfully they had open lounge seating because it was booked out for their typically restaurant seating with reservations! We were immediately sat in the lounge/bar area & greeted promptly! One of my favorite parts of their menu was everything was full of flavor and nothing lacked my attention! I ended up getting a pretty basic chicken and veggies meal, but it was filled with flavor! We also got a spicy margarita and a fruit margarita which both were amazing and I would come back just for those! All of our food was hot and everything came out promptly. I will say their food and drinks are on the higher price range, but they have great flavor and are worth the price! Overall I love the taste and flavor, knowing what I'm paying for! I recommend also trying their rooftop bar after eating if you get the chance!

Absolutely worth the full dining experience! Whether seated at the bar, booth, or table, this restaurants cuisines, drinks, desserts, atmosphere and service are all 5 stars . This downtown Lakeland gem is a popular spot and one of my favorites that has to miss. What adds an even special touch is the occasional table visit by the executive chef at any given time. If you're looking for great quality, delicious, Latin American inspired flavors, then indulge your palate with this 10 out of 10 dining experience.

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.

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!

This is probably my wife's favorite restaurant in Lakeland for celebrating major occasions. The food generally has good flavor though portion sizes can be a little smaller. I've never seen the Picanha on the menu before but I was well rewarded for the risk. The steak itself was juicy and delicious while the side potatoes and cherries were covered in an equally delicious sauce. I've also never had anything like those sweet drop peppers which was a delightful experience as well. Most of the desserts are so small it's not really worth it but they taste decent if you need just a small splash of sweetness to finish off your meal.

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.

Went there for lunch on a Monday afternoon. Not too crowded and was able to be seated immediately. We were a party of 3 and with one adult beverage and lunch menu spent a little over $100 (with tip). This is far above what I'd consider usually for lunch but it was a special occasion. The food was good and came pretty fast. Maybe I just cheap but this will only be a special occasion place.

We didn't have a reservation, and we were really lucky to get a cocktail table for 2. The hostess was quick to get our table cleaned and ready for us. For an appetizer we had the scallops in lime juice with parm (Conchas a la parmesana) .The espresso martinis were good and made with Baileys. My entree was the Sea bass chimi which came with carrots and mashed potatoes. I did come with a soup or salad. I tried the garbanzo bean soup which was delicious! It's a very cute place that has a bar and cocktail area in the front and a darker cozy dinner area in the back. I parked at hollis garden and walked past the lake to get there. Very nice thing to do on a chill Saturday. Thank you Alexa for your great service!

Came here tonight to celebrate my moms birthday and oh my gosh. They had a cute menu for her and a birthday card signed by the staff that she unfortunately left on the table. She was almost close to tears riding home but we live far away and couldn't drive back in time to pick up the card. The service and ambiance were absolutely amazing! From the moment we stepped inside to the moment we left with our waiter and the manager both were very attentive and sweet. That grilled chicken was absolutely amazing! Juicy and flavorful. I will be bringing friends and family back here seeing as we couldn't stop talking about our experience here.

This weekend while visiting Lakeland we decided to dine at a highly-rated Latin Cuban fusion restaurant, as recommended by Yelp reviews. I was impressed by the experience! The restaurant is modern and vibrant! We sat at the bar because it was pretty busy, which is a good thing. We ordered the Calamari Fritos, Pollo a la Brasa, and Churrasco Steak. Each dish was amazing. And can't forget we had some delightful espresso martinis!! fantastic dining experience and would certainly return in the future.

Definitely will rerun, and may spend a night or two in town. The smiling faces are the most endearing. We came seven minutes before their opening but the staff is very welcoming, and seat us immediately. Thank you. 1961 was the year owner and or chef's parents came to U.S. from Cuba - hope I get this fact right -:). They also have a banquet hall next door. The decor is rustically beautiful. Love the exposed brick walls. Our serve is a beautiful tall girl in short hair, who is just wonderful and attentive - thank you. I like their earthy tableware. We've two small starter plates and a salad: - octopus Pulpo: one of the best octopus I've had - crispy outside and tender inside. - chips avocado - two dips are wonderful and I enjoyed the spicy one more. - 1961 salad with salmon: the dressing is on the sweet side for me but very yummy, and I finished it. The salmon is also cooked to the perfection. Hand soap and cream in the bathroom: soap is wonderful but hand cream is a little watery. Two or three bar tenders have been busy since we sat down. There is a small party, 10 some young women who dressed well. The clientele is from infant to oldies like me and beyond. It's a scene. In and out in a little over an hour. Now heading to their street fair, which is four blocks long, and which is two doors away. This restaurant drew us in and we're very glad to discover a lovely town, kind of like New England quaint town. Will be back soon.

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 !

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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

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!

This was a third stop of five on a birthday outing and what a fabulous place for a fancy occasion. The service is outstanding! From the moment we arrived, we were seated and properly greeted with a friendly welcome. I love the Euro feel of the cozy sidewalk seating and the attentive service. The "Bar61 Old Fashioned" is spot on. Since we were hopping around having drinks and appetizers, we didn't order a main course but I will say, the Poutine Cubano appetizer was outstanding. The brisket was very tender, juicy and flavorful. The presentation of this plate was 5-star and tasted like it as well. I requested a somewhat of a cafe con liche but with a shot of cream rather than all the milk and it was spot on and delicious. I absolutely enjoyed this place and can't wait to return.

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.

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.

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!

I've been living in Lakeland for yearssss and never visited this establishment until yesterday. The food was amazing, the service was awesome and the drinks were delicious. My server Tristan was so friendly and polite. The Maitre D Dean was very professional and welcoming. I ordered the PAN CON BISTEC sandwich, the Beef empanadas for appetizer and The walk in the park margarita. Everything was so good. I can't wait to go back!

Everything about this gem was phenomenal. Great service, delicious food, beautiful ambiance. Cody provided an unforgettable experience and made awesome recommendations. We can't wait to come back for another date night.

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

Great brunch spot on the weekends. Perfect scenery, menu, and flavors that explode in your mouth.