16 Best Restaurants in Lake Wales, FL
Formerly known as Watts Lake, the city of Lake Wales in Polk County, Florida, has flourished since its incorporation in 1917.
The city also houses expansive orange groves contributing to the Sunshine State's massive citrus production.
Famous tourist attractions such as the Bok Tower Gardens and Spook Hill have drawn many tourists to the city.
Its commercial district features 16 historic buildings, coffee shops, boutiques, and many more.
Despite being a hurricane-prone area, Lake Wales remains resilient and continues to attract many people to work and live in the city.
The U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2019, estimated the city's population to be more than 16,000.
Apart from popular tourist attractions, the city also houses many casual and fine dining restaurants serving different cuisines.
As soon as you visit, check out these restaurants in Lake Wales, Florida!
Lake Wales Family Restaurant
For a delectable breakfast, Lake Wales Family Restaurant welcomes you with its delicious homemade dishes in American fare with Greek-style specials.
The restaurant has gained its reputation by serving breakfast daily with items made from scratch.
They offer daily specials such as tuna melt, famous cheeseburger, buffalo chicken on ciabatta, grilled or fried haddock, and roast pork or turkey with stuffing.
But their omelets are the best sellers, ranging from fresh garden, spinach, and feta, to country, Italian, and meat-lover omelets.
If you're there for lunch, don't miss their delicious wraps, entrees, salads, and many more.
Lake Wales Family Restaurant, also known as Lake Wales, was established in 2001 on East State Road 60 West.
Crazy Fish Bar and Grill
One restaurant that would make you go crazy, which stays true to its name, is Crazy Fish Bar And Grill on Henry Street.
The tropical-themed and award-winning restaurant serve fresh seafood, which it's known for.
Their fresh gulf grouper, Mahi Mahi, seafood salad, and boom-boom sauce are among the top bestsellers that customers are raving about.
Except for a few items made with meat, 95% of their dishes are all seafood, from sandwiches, pasta, soups, and more.
And if you feel like having a delicious seafood meal with natural sunlight, you may choose to settle in their nicely decorated patio or backyard area.
They also have a full bar for your favorite cocktail and other beverages and a jukebox!
Crazy Fish Bar And Grill was established in 2002.
Moreover, Urban Spoon named the place one of the Top 5 Most Popular Restaurants in Florida.
L'Incontro Italian Restaurant
If you find yourself craving the famous Italian cuisine, Lake Wales has it too!
At L'Incontro Italian Restaurant, satisfy your all-things-Italian cravings with their famous chicken parmigiana, polo Sorrentino, and tiramisu.
These and other Italian specialties are made by the owner, Chef Jose Uzhca, who has cooked for famous public figures like Oprah Winfrey, the French President, and more.
They also offer a great selection of wine and a few specialty bottled beers to pair with your favorite Italian dish.
L'incontro means "The Meeting Place."
The family-owned L'Incontro Italian Restaurant was established in 2011, offering old-world Italian-favorite dishes.
Manny's Original Chophouse - Lake Wales
Are you looking for the best steak in town?
Visit Manny's Original Chophouse to try its famous steak, served in a fun, friendly, and welcoming environment.
Their steaks are grain-fed, Midwest-raised, USDA Choice, aged for 35 days or more to produce over-the-top steaks in Central Florida.
Their steaks have long become a customer favorite, prepared fresh daily and char-grilled.
Manny's Original Chophouse - Lake Wales is also famous for its ribs, salad bowl, pork chops, and more.
The roadhouse-style tavern was established in 2003 with several locations in the Sunshine State, including Lake Wales.
You can find it on East State Road 60.
Woody's Bar-B-Q
People say that it's not barbecue if it's not mouth-watering!
Luckily, Woody's Bar-B-Q serves one of the most talk-of-the-town slow-cooked barbecue fares in an easygoing and family-friendly atmosphere.
You never have to look back if you try their famous Woody's Signature Baby Back Ribs, Classic Bar-B-Q, A Taste of Woody's, and Big Half A Chicken.
Apart from their specialty barbecues, they also have delectable starters, salads, sandwiches, and gluten-free options for those with food restrictions.
Woody Mills and his partner Yolanda Mills - Mawman established Woody's Bar-B-Q in 1980 with huge inspiration from his mother, Grace Mills.
It's on Highway 27 in Lake Wills, with almost 20 other locations in Florida.
AL'S PLACE Restaurant
One of Lake Wale's oldest taverns is AL'S PLACE Restaurant serving delicious American staples in a friendly roadside setting.
The tavern is known for its mouth-watering fried fish platter and customer-favorite Saturday Dollar Fifty Day.
If you can get there on a Saturday, you can order their unique $1.50 offerings for their best dishes and 12-oz. draft beer.
They also have tasty chili dogs, sliders, chicken wings, tater kegs, and other American dishes.
AL'S PLACE Restaurant was established in 1971 on North Scenic Highway.
Sizzling Grill
Another top-quality casual restaurant that has been raising the bar in the food industry in Lake Wales is Sizzling Grill on U.S. Highway 27.
As soon as you pull up to the restaurant, you'll see a warm, house-vibe decor and smell the tempting aroma of its mouth-watering steak, seafood, and other American staples.
Their 11 hand-cut steaks are also USDA Choice, cooked over a charcoal flame to produce the ultimate umami flavor.
Their seafood plates are available fried, broiled, stuffed, or blackened.
They also have a full-service bar where you can have your favorite wine, draft beer, or Michelada.
Sizzling Grill has operated since 2006, recognized as a 4-Star Restaurant by a local newspaper.
Bill's Cafe
They say happiness is homemade, which is true at Bill's Cafe.
This small restaurant serves no-frills breakfast and lunch specialties in a warm, home-style, and family-friendly setting.
They're famous for their Cubans, country fried steak, and Rueben sandwich, and their sausage gravy is to die for!
They also have salads, wraps, burgers, omelets, and many other American staples.
Bill's Cafe is on East Central Avenue.
Beef 'O' Brady's
On Highway 27 sits Beef O' Brady's, offering delicious lunch and dinner with a traditional Irish-style twist.
The family-friendly restaurant and sports bar is famous for its award-winning jumbo wings served in 12 signature sauces.
Apart from their tasty jumbo wings, they also have Angus burgers, salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, bowls, and many other fares, all with an Irish twist.
Jim Mellody, in 1985, established Beef 'O' Brady's after getting the idea of an Irish pub-style sports bar and restaurant.
For the love of sports and good food, Jim and his wife started the restaurant in Brandon, Florida, and installed TVs for the customers to gather and enjoy together.
Today, Beef' O' Brady's is all over America with over 150 locations.
Family Sports Concepts Inc. now owns it, although Jim's daughter reportedly runs the original and first location in Brandon since 2009.
Jay Bees
Each time a visitor comes in, Jay Bees consider him a tremendous asset in helping the restaurant thrive in the small community of Lake Wales.
Even the locals find comfort in the restaurant, especially since it offers home-style dishes that make you feel like family.
The restaurant has a delicious grouper sandwich, catfish and egg salad sandwich, country fried steak, catfish, and salmon dinner.
Friendly food servers offer these and many other delightful dishes in the restaurant.
Jay Bees is a family-owned restaurant established in 1989 on East State Road 60.
Fat Boys' Bar-B-Q
Fat Boys' Bar-B-Q door is open for hungry souls searching for a Southern-style barbecue in Lake Wales.
The restaurant is famous for its smoked meats like pulled pork, ribs, roast beef, chicken wings, and fried green beans.
Their smoked meat barbecues are among the restaurant's popular items and are a must-try.
Don't forget their tasty salads and baked beans.
Fat Boys' Bar-B-Q is nestled on U.S. Highway 27.
Norby's Steak & Seafood
Norby's Steak & Seafood will give you a delightful traditional Surf and Turf experience in Lake Wales.
In outdoor and indoor settings, the restaurant will serve you a delicious lobster, shrimp, and steak platter that you can't find anywhere in the city.
They also offer made-to-order dinner specials, which you can check out at the restaurant.
Nothing's fancy in the restaurant except for the food and service you'll receive as soon as you step in.
You can settle at their outdoor setup to feel the Sunshine State breeze or stay indoors and experience a beautiful reminder of the old Florida.
No matter where you sit, you'd still receive warm smiles and oh-so-delish Surf and Turf fare!
Norby's Steak & Seafood is located on East State Road 60.
Melanie's Seafood Company
Another reputable seafood restaurant in historic downtown Lake Wales, Melanie's Seafood Company, is raising the city's food profile.
The restaurant serves lunch and dinner seafood staples in the form of mouth-watering lobster rolls, oyster po'boy, grilled pompano, and many other famous dishes.
The customer favorites are their blackened shrimp Caesar, Ahi tuna, Cajun shrimp & cheese grits, and chocolate cheesecake.
Also, their Signature Burgers, like the blackened hand-pattied Cajun Burger topped with Creole Mayo, are to die for.
They have a great selection of beer and wine, which are perfect pairs for a sumptuous lunch or dinner.
Melanie's Seafood Company was the brainchild of Steve Manwell and his wife, established in March 2020.
You can find it on East Park Avenue.
Carter's BBQ
Homecooked barbecue makes Carter's BBQ a place for those looking for delicious old-fashioned and Southern-style barbecue.
The award-winning barbecue joint is known for its southern-style cooking, which makes everyone feel at home.
The restaurant features a grassy lawn with picnic tables and umbrellas that you can use for lunch or dinner, allowing you to feel the Florida breeze.
Try their Carolina-style pulled pork, peach cobbler, pork barbecue sandwich, wings, and chopped pork, as well as their famous Southern Dinner and Fried Seafood menu.
Vegetarians also have choices such as lima beans, collard greens, okra & tomatoes, and many other options on the side.
Carter's BBQ received Restaurant Guru's Best BBQ and Best Takeaway Food awards in 2019 and 2020.
It's conveniently nestled on North 2nd Street.
City Star Family Restaurant
City Star Family Restaurant offers a combination of American, Italian, and Greek-style cooking if you're into old-fashioned, homecooked-style eats.
Try their famous traditional Greek, country-style, or classic western omelet.
Other breakfast offerings, such as their version of eggs benedict and their catfish and grits, are also popular.
Their chicken parmigiana, shrimp Alfredo, cheese ravioli, and many more are also bestsellers for lunch and dinner.
You can also have their signature burgers and sandwiches if you're not keen on having Italian or Greek offerings.
City Star Family Restaurant is on East State Road 60.
Rufus Ribs
Are you up for a sumptuous rib dinner?
You can do it at Rufus Ribs, which offers perfectly smoked ribs with delicious sides such as potato salad, collard greens, sweet potato pie, and many more.
The restaurant is another spot in Lake Wales that has raised the city's food industry level with its above-par offerings and outstanding service.
They also offer dishes like mac and cheese, baked beans, and peach cobbler.
However, as their name suggests, their ribs are to die for!
You can find Rufus Ribs on East State Road 60.
Final Thoughts
The city of Lake Wales, apart from its beautiful tourist attractions, is also a perfect destination for those who are on a food adventure.
It houses fantastic and award-winning restaurants that are worth the visit.
Keep your tummy happy with the best restaurants in Lake Wales, Florida!
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