Really enjoyed lunch here with family. Will definitely go back. Food and service was great!

Service was great for the first time found, and the waiter was helpful in picking good recommendations. Started with the ceviche, which was phenomenal. The entree was paired, black bean risotto was amazing. Upscale spainsh/cuban cuisine great for nice date night for sure would highly recommend. read more

Nineteen 61 - Churrasco steak - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Stopped for lunch at this Lakeland eatery after a visit to this area. OMG! Everything was delicious! My friend had the smoked manhattan which was made with my favorite bourbon (Blanton's). It was amazing. We ordered the Brussel sprouts appetizer, avocado salmon toast with rice and beans and the garbanzo bean soup. Everything was delicious and the service was outstanding! The only negatives is that I forgot to take pictures and Lakeland is 2 hours from home. We plan to return next January when we next visit Lakeland! read more

The food and service was amazing, great place to celebrate a birthday with a few friends! The staff handled everything just perfectly and made my birthday so enjoyable! The atmosphere is so relaxing. We will for sure be back! read more

One time was enough for Me , I started with Spanish Bean Soup Which is Garbanzo Beans !!! No Cuban Bread with a cup of soup durning the day , I was told I could buy it for $7. Absolutely Not!!!!, It's only served with night meal at this restaurant, All Cuban restaurants except for this one serves cuban bread with all meal , That's the first thing all other Cuban Restaurants bring too the table as soon as you are seated, The so called Cuban chorizo was (horrible)!!! Switch Too Goya Chorizo and do a Sofrito don't just throw the chorizo in the pot it make's a big difference, The one you use totally overwhelmed the cup of soup & with it being horrible I only ate My baby garbanzo beans out of it which were hard , Paid for My Cup of Soup & left . I have voted this as the worst Cuba Food/Restaurant In Lakeland. read more

Nineteen 61 - Garbanzo Beans Soup - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

An outstanding meal from start to finish. The sous vide octopus was cooked to perfection, as were the scallops in the paella. I also took the wine pairing suggestions, which complemented my meal nicely. read more

One of my go to places in Lakeland as of late. The food here always taste amazing. And the drinks are also just as good from the bar. Everyone that works there has been very pleasant. They have a lot of seating, but they do get a little busy during dinner. The place itself is really cute if you're looking for a place for date night. read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

While we enjoyed the food it was not a great dining experience. We had a reservation for 4 which I had made a week in advance. We were running a few minutes late which I let them know. We arrived and we seated a table clearly set for two - it was in the middle of the restaurant very close to other tables - maybe they gave away our table set for four away not really sure. Our waiter did promptly greet us and offer sparkling wine since two of us had not eaten there before - then it was a good 10 - 15 minutes before he returned for app and drink orders. The table was too small to put our menus down so that was a little awkward. Our app arrived- ceviche for four to share - two of us still did not have side plates and no serving utensil was given. It took several minutes to flag someone down to get those things. The rest of the meal was uneventful - just disappointing from a service perspective. read more

The risotto was yummy and well cooked. The rope vieja was a bit tough but the flavor was good.

My family went this evening for my grandma's 89th birthday. Our server Zach along with the rest of the Nineteen61 team made her feel so special! The service was great, the food was amazing, and the wine hit the spot! Thank you all for such a wonderful experience for my grandma, my family, and myself! read more

Nineteen 61 - My sweet grandma - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

This is our go to restaurant when we want a fabulous meal, amazing cocktails and impeccable service. Ask for David to receive top notch service. Best restaurant in Lakeland by far. read more

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The restaurant was packed on a Sunday afternoon but you have the option to get on a waitlist which texts you when your table is ready. We got texted about 25 minutes later and came back to find our table waiting. We had 2 vegetarians who won't even eat French fries made in the same oil that meat has been made in. Our server was great and made sure the Brussel sprouts and fries were cooked separately. The chicken wrap was decent but lacked a flavorful sauce. The hot sauce aioli came with something else but added a little spice. Not many vegetarian options so don't expect much if you don't eat seafood or meat. Pisco sour was delicious! read more

Nineteen 61 - House 1961 Salad Lunch - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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The food was excellent, but our server, Tammy, made the night. She was a true delight - attentive, yet not overwhelmingly so, quick on her feet and had a great sense of humour! Everyone we encountered was friendly, and accommodating. We truely enjoyed our evening and will definitely be returning! read more

I was wowed from the moment I sat down!!! The food was superb. Salmon cooked to perfection at the chef's temperature. At the end of the meal, I was presented with a Congratulations card because I am graduating with an MBA today. Customer Service & a keen eye for details to the max. The customer service, superb cuisine, and lovely atmosphere wowed me. read more

Nineteen 61 - Wowed by the amazing staff! - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

I've been here many times and have never been disappointed with food or service. Although a reservation is needed, the bar area up front has small tables for first come first serve seating. read more

Nineteen 61 - Bar61 Old Fashioned - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Once again, Nineteen 61 knocked it out of the park. Everything from their craft cocktails to dessert is well prepared and full of flavor. Today we started with croquetas de jamòn and pulpo. The croquetas are exactly what you expect, with a crispy crust and warm, soft center of ham goodness. They aren't exceptional, but well made and certainly tasty. The pulpo, on the other hand was something special. Cooked to tender sous vide perfection and then finished over enough flame to give you a crunchy char... it was so wonderful we had to concentrate to keep from eating too fast. Next, we had the lechon asado and vaca frita. Both of these dishes remind me, in a way, of a leisurely Sunday afternoon dinner at Mom's house. Slow cooked, comfort foods, but elevated just a bit. Not pretentious, but perfectly executed. I'd happily eat both dishes again, but between the two, the vaca frita just reminds you of home. One final note: I love black beans. I make them at home (and they're pretty good) and If they're on a menu, I always order them. Ive had them in probably a hundred different restaurants and these are, without any doubt, the best I've ever had. I don't know what kind of magic incantations happen in the kitchen that result in these black beans, but if that was all Nineteen 61 served, I'd still an hour in a hail storm to get them. Complementing the outstanding food is truly great service. The entire staff is friendly, knowledgeable and efficient without being rushed. The owners care about every detail and it shows. read more

Wow this restaurant is awesome!! It was our first time and they gave us a welcome card and complimentary champagne. We had Kristin C as our waitress and she was so sweet and explained the whole history of the restaurant. I had such an amazing experience!! read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Since this review was written, the chef and the manager of Nineteen 61 called and apologized for the bad service and the addressed the concerns regarding the food. The restaurant made several attempts to reach us, and we did make contact. The management was very concerned, and each problem was addressed to our satisfaction. We, meaning our group, was satisfied, and we will be returning to the restaurant in the future. Thank you! read more

Just went for my Son's 18th birthday. I live local and would call myself a regular. Over all the food was good and the service was great per the normal. My only gripe and it's a big one. I ordered the $69 ribeye and what came out was not a ribeye. I assume it was a large piece of sirloin but it had zero marbling, no cap, and was very tough. It was cooked medium rare as I asked. It what I would have expected at Texas Roadhouse if I order a large sirloin. The only difference is it wouldn't have been $69 read more

We took our son to Nineteen 61 for his birthday. Madison was our server, and we want to give special thanks to her for her assistance throughout the meal. Our son is gluten-, egg-, and dairy-intolerant, and she knew which menu items were safe and which were problematic. She was also very helpful with menu choices for the rest of us - cheerful, friendly, informative, while remaining professional. We started with some appetizers: I enjoyed the Pulpo 61 - octopus served in a great complementary sauce with fingerling potato slices. The others had the Brussels sprouts (tossed in maple balsamic vinaigrette, and topped with raisin caramel and manchego cheese), and the Chips with avocado mousse & tomatillo salsa (excellent). We all enjoyed the appetizers and then moved on to the main courses. I had one of the day's specials - a New York Strip steak, "gaucho style". Wonderfully flavorful and nicely seasoned, it was a large steak (no bone), so my son wound up taking half home for his dinner the next night. I also had a small "1961 salad" which was a very nice salad with cheeses (manchego and baby swiss), manzanilla olives, and the signature house dressing (like a slightly thicker vinaigrette). Two of our party had the Seabass Chimi - wood grilled with house chimichurri plus caribbean sweet potatoes). They loved the texture and flavor of the fish (and the potatoes). One had the Churrasco steak - a marinated flat iron steak with sides. All our meals came with one or two sides, and there was more than enough food for everyone. The restaurant had no desserts that were gluten-, egg-, and dairy-free (no surprise there!). We had checked the previous day, so we earlier went to Mimi's and got some great ice creams (yes - gluten-, egg-, and dairy-free ice creams - delicious). So - unfortunately, we skipped dessert at Nineteen 61 and went back to our hotel for a birthday dessert party. Overall - a great experience at the restaurant, and another shout-out to our server, Madison, who really made this an exceptional experience. read more

Nineteen 61 - Seabass Chimi - started eating before picture, so not as pretty as served. - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Very upscale menu with perfectly prepared food and drinks. Nice patio and bar services

This was our first visit to Nineteen61. We were celebrating our anniversary in the downtown Lakeland area and wanted something special. Our waitress Leah was phenomenal. She knew the menu well and was able to give us some ideas as to what we might enjoy. The calamari was sweet and spicy. We definitely enjoyed it. I had the vaca grits and it reminded me of a traditional Cuban Christmas dinner when I was a child. My husband ordered the whole snapper. He catches and cooks fish all the time and we can never compare his fish fry to anyone else's, but this dish was absolutely delicious. The ambience was nice too. We sat outdoors and the weather was just perfect. read more

Nineteen 61 - Vaca Frita and Whole Fried Snapper - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Food and service is excellent The Brussel sprouts and calamari are amazing..The Arroz chaufa is also great and the drinks from the bar are so tasty. read more

Had lunch and can't wait to return! The food is amazing and the servers are professional and gracious. I could make a meal of the rice and beans alone--so tasty. Look forward to trying the pollo and hope to have room for the Tres Leches cake next time. Just sorry it took me so long to finally try this place. Don't be like me, GO! read more

Nineteen 61 - Pan Con Bistec Sandwich and tacos - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

The food was amazing, we got the Pollo a la Brasa (Half Chicken) and the Lombo Saltado (Beef Tenderloin). The meat was juicy and the salad was marinated well. The drinks really stood out to me, most bars (including fancy New York bars I've been too) don't put half as much effort into curating the perfect flavor profile as they do here. The buena vista mule combines flavors of lavender, rosemary, hibiscus, and lime which complement eachother so well. And the Coladita is like a piña colada but even better, somehow they make it taste so smooth (while on the rocks) and they add a hint of cinnamon. The service was amazing, our server checked on us periodically and we never had to wave anyone down. Our server was very kind and knowledgeable, we also ordered an order of the Croquetas de Jamon to go, and with one look she noticed the kitchen sent us the wrong item and had it fixed the second it got to our table. This place has a great vibe inside and it's right across the street from a nice park with beautiful lighting. Overall an wonderful experience. read more

Nineteen 61 - Buena Vista Mule (Left), Coladita (Right) - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

My husband surprised me with reservations here for my birthday. I was so happy, Nineteen61 has been on my bucket list since we moved to Lakeland. We arrived on time and were seated promptly. From the moment we arrived to when we left, everyone we encountered who worked here were absolutely lovely and made our dinner perfect. Started off with large glasses of lime infused water, which was appreciated. My husband ordered a bottle of Modelo Negro which was poured into a chilled glass and I tried a Bar61 Old Fashioned (delicious, with hints of cherry and orange). In fact, mine was so good, I tried it again and declared it my new favorite cocktail. Later on, during the meal, since it was our first time at Nineteen 61, we were given complimentary glasses of champagne. After we ordered, we were served two amuse bouches. The first was either breaded cheese or cheesy bread, either way, it was a surprisingly dense bite of deliciousness. The second was a small chip with a dollop of creamy cheese. That was very interesting. The chip was very salty and the cheese was very sweet, giving quite the contrast in one small bite. Soon our appetizer arrived: Lechon tostones. My husband questioned me ordering these, saying it sounded like something ordinary, but I had a feeling about these - and I was right, these were anything but ordinary. First off, the pork tenderloin tips were incredibly tender and the chili spice rub that was used was sneaky. It was light and nice and then a few minutes later it got a bit hotter and kept on going. We enjoyed every bite of the three appetizers we were served; we each ate one and split the third. Definitely plenty. All of the courses were spaced perfectly. Our entrees arrived in perfect time. My husband ordered the filet mignon which was cooked to a medium, and served with a manchego risotto (quite possibly the best we've ever had) and a veal glacé. He was given a steak knife but it really wasn't needed, the filet was unbelievably tender and could have been cut with an ordinary table knife. I had the braised lamb shank with parsnip silk and seco gravy. I had not tried parsnips in this fashion but it was quite good and went well with the rest of the dish and the gravy. The lamb shank? Perfection. I only had to use the knife to hold the bone and use the fork to pull the meat off. It was literally melt-in-your-mouth tender and delectable. Because it was my birthday, I could choose a complimentary dessert off the menu - so I chose the Creme Brûlée, having heard friends rave about it. We were not disappointed. It was different than others we have had in the past. Instead of a custard or a flan-type bottom under the crisp burned sugar topping, this was more of a whipped custard. It was delicate in texture but not light in flavor. It was a perfect ending to an exceptional meal. But it wasn't the ending - our check was accompanied by two darling shortbread cookies with dulce de Leche sandwiched in the middle. Another treat! Nineteen61 is a fabulous restaurant that is absolutely worth every sip and every bite. I do not hesitate to recommend this place. I will offer a few tips. (1) Make a reservation. Even on a rainy, Wednesday evening, this place was packed. (2) If you need parking, there is the Main Street Garage (Main & Massachusetts) that has free parking after 5 pm. read more

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Went in Saturday afternoon and it was packed. We were lucky to get the last booth available in the back near the kitchen. We were able to see the chefs whip up some good food and even though it took a while it was such a good ambiance. The architecture reminds me of Spain. It is such a relaxing environment. Liz was our server and she did an amazing job. She was so attentive and gave great recommendations I honestly thought she would get annoyed with my bf many questions but she was incredible and had such great spirit. We asked her to help us pick out the appetizer and main and she even helped with our dessert selection. We always love to hear servers favorite menu options and she gave great recommendations across the board . We had the Cuban poutine , Huacaina pasta and then the guayaba dessert. Everything was so delicately decorated and the tastebuds were for sure satisfied. For the poutine we had it was 10/10 . The yuca fries were so tasty and the cheese and pickled onions gave it a fresh taste , the microgreens were giving it a nice little French kick and better than the go to cilantro some people use in restaurants. We will definitely go back if we're in town . read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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I had no idea such an amazing place existed in Lakeland. I found this gem while visiting overnight. Food was outstanding and the options for a craft cocktail were endless. read more

Food is spectacular. The servers are new and at your service. The amount of people is packed but they will escort you to the fastest seats. read more

Nineteen 61 - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

Gem in an area with very few quality options! I was not feeling the one vegan option they have on the menu, so the waitress (Haití -- she was awesome!!) was more than helpful in telling me about the other menu items that could be modified to be vegan. I opted for the tacos, which came with nicely seasoned and cooked vegetables (a lot of times chefs must think vegans don't like flavor and give bland veggies, but these were very flavorful!!). I told Haiti I was sad to lose the crema and queso that typically come on the tacos because I love sauces and felt it was taking away from the dish. She said their in house hot sauce is always a favorite, so I got that and it did not disappoint! The tacos were not missing anything and were very satisfying. My date was very pleased with her fried grouper sandwich as well! Highly recommend for those who are vegan, pescatarian, or who just like quality food! You don't have to settle for the chain restaurants that seem to have taken over here and surrounding areas. read more

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Nineteen 61 is a must to visit in Lakeland. Great service and high quality food! There is not one single bad thing on the menu.

First time to Lakeland, FL and found this nice restaurant and bar in downtown. The cuisine is South American/Spanish with some island flare. Wonderful and unique cocktail menu concentrating on tequila and mezcal and utilizing smoke and peppers in many drinks. Very nice beer and wine listing as well. I got the mezcalito Paloma and Thai Basil Sour which were both excellent. Try the Peruvian Ceviche as an appetizer - it is excellent. A got the Churrasco Steak which is first sous vide than finished on the grill on a bed of black bean risotto. I would highly recommend this place if you are in the Lakeland area. read more

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Recommend, a destination restaurant, among the best in Central Florida, certainly in Lakeland. Party of 8, the service was outstanding and smooth. Our server, Liv, was helpful and patient throughout service. We had the popovers & the amuse bouche tonight was quinoa based, under super creamy white bean puree. Mmm. I, and two others, had chicken a la brasa, wood-smoked off the grill, just superb, perfectly cooked, every bite a pleasure of smoky sweetness. I'd really love to know how to do that. My wife loved her grilled salmon, with wood-fired asparagus, and got good reports on the grouper and burgers. Sides of manchego- risotto were super. I had a bite of the Brussels sprouts side and it was perhaps a little sweet but balanced the natural bitterness of the sprouts well. We enjoyed cafe con leches, shared a tres leches cake, & also the chocolate torte. Be aware that this is a loud, tight restaurant. The the attractive bare brick walls seem to help sound reverberate throughout. At times the noise level was unpleasant. At some point, Latin pop started playing as well, contributing to an even louder experience. Walking inside can be challenging for mobility chairs and walkers, but we managed. read more

This place is amazing, my bf took me here on our 2 year anniversary and I had the best guava cheesecake ever. The service was amazing and they really went out of their way to make our date special. I have and will recommend this place to friends and family. read more

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We really have enjoyed eating here the past times we've been here. It's recommended to make a reservation and it's a dressier type of atmosphere. We have been both for dinner and lunch. Lunch is definitely more casual than when you go for dinner. Everything is delicious and I love to try new things every time we go. My top three things that I want each time are the 1961 salad, the cubano poutine (ask for a runny egg on top!), and the tres leches dessert. The one thing that was not the best in my opinion was the crème brûlée. It had a citrusy bite to it that I'm not accustomed to. I definitely recommend coming by here for any specials occasion or just to get some good food. If you do have a special occasion like your wedding anniversary they will give you complimentary dessert and champagne! read more

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Came for a birthday celebration truly did not disappoint. Customer service, services, food and ambience was perfect. read more

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I'm visiting from Cincinnati, Ohio- & I asked my aunt could we come here for lunch! We came Around 12:30 and it was a nice crowd... The restaurant is small & clean and modernly decorated. We sat at the bar which is set up beautifully... The bartender Jenna was friendly, fast, & attentive. I ordered The Churrascho steak with beans and rice as my side (Lunch portion). It was sooooo delicious the rice was seasoned to perfection. The steak rub was great and the chimmichurri sauce was delicious! I would definitely come back! read more

Nineteen 61 - Well Stocked Bar - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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Consistent fabulous flavorful food and outstanding friendly service. Classy vibe (music and decor) minus being pretentious. read more

Nineteen 61 - Appetizer-Croquettes De Jamon pisco sour and 1961 old fashioned. Non smoked. - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida

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The service was excellent my meat dish was really good. The salad was really nice and the little bread that they make was really nice. My pomegranate margarita was in a strange glass that was kind of small and there was hardly any flavor to the drink. The chicken I'm so glad I didn't order that cuz my friend gave me a bite and it was pretty dry. I spent $85 and I think that I was grateful to be in a nice place but at that price I'm much rather cook for myself. I still do recommend people go in here it is nice read more

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Brandon was our server for my birthday dinner, and the service was phenomenal. Very high end treatment here! We were served champagne for it being our first visit, and got a free full birthday dessert of my choice to boot. The Churrasco Steak was absolutely delicious! Great experience overall. read more

Nineteen 61 - Churrasco Steak - Latin American Near Me - Lakeland, Florida