We are staying with a friend in Lakeland and taking him out for dinner. He doesn't eat out that much on his own, so I am looking for some recommendations of good, interesting places to which he might not have been. They don't have to be right in Lakeland and it might be preferable if they weren't chains (but they can be, if they are special or new).

If your friend likes a good steak, you might take him the the Red Barn Steak House. We used to eat there everytime we were in Lakeland.

Hi MsCarls--I just moved back north from Lakeland, and my FAVORITE restaurant was Curly Tails. I just couldn't get enough of it! It is delicious, home-made BBQ food. It is a very small, very casual restaurant in Bartow (about a 10-15 min drive from Lakeland). The price is very inexpensive, but again, it is very casual. You order your food at a counter, and then someone brings it to your seat at one of the many Picnic tables that decorate the large room, along with lots of checkered tableclothes, and loads of BBQ sauce bottles. I definitely think it is worth it though. Also, they are only open for lunch Sunday -Thursday, and dinner is only served Fri and Sat. Yummy! If you want something more high end, there is a Hops on South Florida AVenue that, although a chain restaurant, was recently re-done as an "experiment" with the company. It has a more New York vibe, if you will, and a very trendy interior, with moderately priced and very good food. Still go to Curly Tails for lunch though! Hope this helps...

There is an old hotel in downtown Lakeland that was recently renovated. It overlooks the downtown lake (Morton? Mirror?). The places listed below are fairly casual but this place is the only place in Lakeland that offers food and service that are upscale and special. And the old hotel is really beautiful. Sorry but I can't remember the name of the hotel.

I meant the places listed "above". And I second the recommendation for the Red Barn, although bring your clothes pins for your noses. Not every steak house puts you this close to the steers At least you know the steak is fresh.

Hi, Don't know the name of the hotel you are talking about, but the Lake is Lake Morton...

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

Harry's best seafood anywhere. On the park downtown, no reservations. I can't remember the name, but there is a steak house right on the lake to the east of downtown (the lake with the gardens on it) it is expensive, but so good.

Here's a link to the Terrace hotel:
http://www.terracehotel.com/about.htm

We went to a really good Italian restaurant in Lakeland that was called Mario's. Nothing special to look at, it was in a strip mall kinda place but the food was excellent.