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Favorite Local
Restaurants that have Said "Good-Bye"
from your most up-to-date local
restaurant guide on the web! |
Recently Departed from the local Restaurant
Scene...
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Good Buddies BBQ. in downtown Lakeland Is the Latest
Restaurant to close. (last day July 3rd '10) This is Sad as they had VERY GOOD BBQ at
reasonable prices. The Good News is they did NOT go out of business but
moved their location to the auto auction cafeteria northeast of town and will continue to
do catering and school lunches as well as compete in Pro BBQ Contests. We wish Joel Vann
& family the best! Don't forget Good Buddies when you need catering & want some
delicious BBQ. The Ledger story |
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Golden Corral Buffet - On South Florida Ave, Lakeland. This location was a franchise
store and had been there for a long, long time. It got good reviews from the Ledger and
the parking lot always looked full at diner time. The Ledger reported they closed due to
an apparent lease dispute. The Ledger article |
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Harvest Buffet - You probably don't remember this place as it lasted only something like three
months before closing. (Previously the China Pearl - see below). This one is no surprise
to me. A friend & I tried it not long after it opened. Outside of a new staff who
couldn't speak any English... 90% of all the food was totally inedible. My friend said
"Gee I hope I don't get sick" and any remaining appetite I had was
long gone! I've had food poisoning and it's no fun. Really it was that bad. My guess would
be the Health Dept shut them down. |
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China Pearl Mongolian Buffet - Sad to see the old main stays go. This is another restaurant that
had a long run, something like 25 years or more on south/south Florida Ave. They featured
a Mongolian buffet & regular Chinese take-out. They were Nice People too. The
restaurant had been up for sale for several years and I guess it finally sold. The
new owners changed the name
to Harvest Buffet... Duh? After years with a fine reputation & loyal clientele?
Why change the name? |
| BARTOW
Now
Closed |
La Esquina Mexican - This newer Mexican fair on Main Street has closed
after about about six months. Their menu did nothing for me and I'm not too surprised.
Guess the rest of the Bartow main stream didn't think so either.
Italian Market - Bartow - This concept was flawed from the get-go. The only offerings were 8
Panini sandwiches plus Italian Market products. So, compete head on with Publix?
Yeah right. Gone in less then six months time.Andy's Gyros & Subs - Opened at great expense & effort in remodeling the stand alone
buiding in front of the Publix plaza on Van Fleet Dr. (even had a drive thru-pickup
window!) Crusine had Italy, Greece & Cuban flavors plus salads, soups & subs.
Interior was clean like a McDonalds. And they got a pretty decent rewiew from Trent Rowe
at the Ledger. Even still.. they're Gone. |
| EAST POLK Now
Closed |
havan Nights Cuban - Havan Nights was a welcome addition to the Lake Wales ethnic
dining scene in the old Dairy Queen location in 2008. But No More. They closed the doors
for good and all equip was auctioned off.Italian Market - Bartow -
This concept was flawed from the get-go. The only offerings were 8 Panini sandwiches plus
Italian Market products. So, compete head on with Publix? Yeah right. Gone in
less then six months time.
Andy's Gyros & Subs - Opened at great expense & effort in remodeling the stand alone
buiding in front of the Publix plaza on Van Fleet Dr. (even had a drive thru-pickup
window!) Crusine had Italy, Greece & Cuban flavors plus salads, soups & subs.
Interior was clean like a McDonalds. And they got a pretty decent rewiew from Trent Rowe
at the Ledger. Even still.. they're Gone. |
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Lakeland's Landmark Bothers Bar-B-Q has closed! Owner and former football star Freddie Mitchell left for the West
Coast and likely not to return. Now the fate of Brother's remains in a Polk County Court
room in a dispute between Mitchel and former owner Mary Harris. If the Brothers Tradition
will continue remains to be seen. Choices for really GOOD BBQ are dwindling
as Carters BBQ, Happy Jack's BBQ and now Brothers have all closed. |
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Syd's New York Pizza - They barely
lasted a year and it's a mystery because they had some pretty good food AND offered
delivery to Northside & Central Lakeland. For a time they even offered Online Ordering
like the Big Pizza Chains. They even had cheap rent! Guess times are tough out
there! |
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Christy's Sundown Restaurant, a Winter
Haven ICON has closed.
End of an Era 1950's - 2009. This extremely popular restaurant founded
by 'Nick' & Ann Christy has been a Winter Haven "Institution" since the
early 50's. The Christy's retired and sold the business in 2007 to James
Bronkhorst who has reportedly closed "Christy's" due to the poor economy.
Rumors abound that Bronkhorst is selling the business to a member of
the "Fred's Southern Kitchen" family. Stay tuned...
More history info on Christy's Restaurant by
Winter Haven's Chamber
More info on the rumored sale & new owner
- by the NewsChief |
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Long standing Lakeland Icon: Wine & Roses Catering & Restaurant
has
closed the doors. Wine & Roses was
located on East Edgewood Drive.
Owner Diane Waters was unsuccessful in trying to sell the business for
the past several years and has decided to retire with her husband to the
south Gulf Coast of Florida. |
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Carters BBQ in Lakeland on S. Florida
Ave & Alamo Dr. has CLOSED.
The Original Mulberry location remains open
for business as usual. |
BARTOW
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The Crispers location in Bartow, Fl
has CLOSED.
Due the slow economy says Publix that owns
the 40 store chain. All other locations remain open for business as usual. |
BARTOW
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The Bedrock Cafe in Bartow, Fl
has CLOSED for good.
I'm sure many in Bartow will miss this place
as they used to pack the house on Friday nights for Karaoke. The Original Lakeland Bedrock
Cafe is still open but has moved from S. Florida Ave to U.S. 98 South (the Bartow
Hwy) just north of Combee Rd. |
Happy Jack's
BBQ |
Happy Jack's BBQ on S. Bartow Hwy just north of Combee Rd is GONE!
This one truly disappoints me as I really
liked their BBQ and stopped often for takeout (they had no inside dining). I preferred his
BBQ flavor & sides and hey... the price was right! He even got a decent mention
in the Ledger's special BBQ review section. Oh well... Where to go for BBQ in
S.E. Lakeland Now?? |
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A Mainstay on South Florida since the 70's... Gone!
This didn't come as a total shock to me as I never saw many cars parked there anymore.
(not like the old days) Truly loved their Eggs Benedict & Bloody Mary's though. |
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Another mainstay on South Florida since the 70's...
Gone!
What a shock this was. Had one of the BEST salads bars ever!
Loved it.
And what a nice intimate atmosphere with all the small rooms. Oh Well... |
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This Chain grew fast and then imploded into bankruptcy.
Lakeland's was located on U.S. 98 N. just
south of Interstate I-4.
The building is being remodeled and will soon become a Morrison's Buffet
& Grill restaurant. (not affiliated with Morrison's Cafeteria's). |
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Long time Fazoli's Italian is gone -
A fast food franchise specializing in
Italian dishes that was located in the South Gate Publix Shopping Center.
So-so Italian with drive-though window convenience or dine-in like a Wendey's
Update: This location is now a Five Guys Burger & Fries |
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The local Westshore franchise was sold and has
become
PRIMOS II Italia. Primo's keeps up the
Delivery tradition and the food is even better! |
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Winner's Circle is History - Had a long run
at the South Florida Ave location ( formally The Shogun ll location ). Right toward the
end there they relocated to the Dixie Land area but just couldn't seem to hang in there.
To bad too as they did have some pretty good wings. |
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Winter Haven - CLOSED
and is out of Business |
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Shell's Seafood Restaurants - Bankrupt & Closed
A Local Florida Chain that started in 1993 and grew to over
25 locations with Polk County's only location in Winter Haven. |
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Auburndale location only has closed -
All the other Palace Pizza locations are still open. |
Diane's
Diner & Cafe |
Gone! This was a nice
little restaurant/diner on E. Edgewood Drive. Known for good 'home-style" cooking
& reasonable prices. They also did Catering. This location is being re-opened
as: Cedar Creek - Seafood Restaurant by the same Captain of the old Cedar River Restaurant
on south Florida Ave. |
School House
Restaurant |
Gone! Didn't last a year. North US 98 - Big free standing building. Had big plans including entertainment.
Never caught on. This location has been many restaurants. Who remembers the others? |
Yellow House
Restaurant |
Same. Didn't last a year. This was a yellow 1920's style building with a front porch veranda and a quaint
Tea Room / Classy Diningroom on one side plus a 1950's style lunch Diner on the other.
Located off Bartow Hwy east of the light at Winter Lake Road. Out-of-the-way location and
lack of advertising/exposure did them in. Too bad as they had really good 3 1/2 Star food!
Ledgers review |
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Gone! San Seltzer's Steak House! Short lived run at the Old Hopps! location in front of the Lake
Miriam Plaza. I dined at the Sarasota location several years age and is was superior but
most people I talked to in lakeland didn't have have much good to say about this Lakeland
location. Ultimately, their bankruptcy filing did in our local Lakeland location.
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And... Who Remembers These Old
Favorites?
Long Gone...
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Farmer Jones Red Barn Steak House? - Concrete floors & Formica top tables but porterhouse steaks you could
cut with a fork! Rumors swirled corporate CEO's used to fly their company jets into
Linder Regional Airport
just to eat there. We Miss It. Opened in 1948! In 2006 a grill fire got out of
hand and the building burned. Ledger story about not
re-building
Tony's Airside Restaurant? - At the Linder Regional Airport. Only ate there
couple times, but he had a good reputation for really great food with a view!
The Quail House Restaurant? - on N. U.S. 98 (now a Palace Italian Rest)
Cedar River Seafood? - S.
Florida Ave (& Frog's before that?)
Pan-Ye's on Memorial? & after that the... Lemon Grass Thai Kitchen?
San Pam Restaurant?? Grove
Park Shopping Center - Thelma Phoa owner.
A lakeland tradition for many many years - I spent a ton of time & $$ there...
This place and the staff we're truely "special". Friends for life &
really miss it!
The Sawmill? - on south
New Jersey - Andy Williams owner. Great place! Great food. Great atmosphere! Had a piano
player every night in the bar by
the name of Steve Whidden. (he even cut a record). Back in those days, the Who's Who in
Lakeland hung there. And if you knew Andy, (owner & 5 star Chef) you didn't need a
menu... as He'd just whip up something unbelievable
for you as a surprise. What happened to those kind of places? Mario's on
Edgewood Dr is the closest that comes to mind... but no match for Sawmill.
EDELWEISS CAFE? - Grove Park Center. The Best German style cuisine
restaurant lakeland's ever had. Great German atmosphere too! Had a huge
section of German beers, sold cheese and baskets in the front and used to
pack the house every Friday night for the all-u-can-eat Fish Fry special.
Where are the German cuisine restaurants in Polk County these days?
Hopps Bar & Griil? - at the Publix Lake Miriam Plaza. Spent a ton of
time
& money there too! Made thier own beer there on premise (but it sucked in
my humble opinion!).This was the place to meet after the Sawmill
closed. Great food. Great Staff. Great Atmosphere. Miss it and all the
"regulars".
But, before Hopps in the same location it was...
The Brown Derby? - Restaurant/Bar/Lounge mediocre food but it was the "happening
place" to meet & be seen.
And before that... in the same location was...
Garret's Picnic? - had a short stay but some of the best
food i've ever had!
Some young bloods ran this place for a short while and who ever the chefs where - they
were Masters
But, the building/location was Originally & Best Known as the....
The Sea Wolf Restaurant? - Long stay, with a flamboyant owner! Gene Holloway. Impressive rustic interior with lots of antique
furniture & artifacts, with walls done in rough sawn cedar & multiple private
dining rooms. Who can remember the Sea Wolf platter with a half lobster tail with
crab stuffing, shrimp, scallops, a fish fillet, hush puppies and a trip to the salad bar,
all for $5.85?
I do!! But of course it was back in the 1970's
Read about Gene Holloway and his flamboyant history
and Going way back,
Who remembers...
Tavern on the Lake? &
Raffles? (which came
first? can't remember) On South Florida Ave just north of Shepherd Rd. (the building is
gone now) We used to love their Eggs Benedict with a Bloody Mary for Sunday Brunch.
Get a window seat with a view of the lake, both relaxing & delicious! Miss it!
And, I still have the Raffles 'secret recipe' for their signature Zucchini Nut Muffins! Oh.. So...
delicious! email if you want a copy & I'll send it to you Talk of the Town? Primarily a steak house. Long stay and was just
East
of Lake Mirror on Main St. The building is now The Texas Cattle Company.
And for you really Lakeland old timers.... you know who you are...
The Foxfire Inn Bar &
Lounge? N. U.S. 98,
just north of the Mall (which wasn't even there then) In the late '70's & early '80's
this was THE PLACE
to go in Lakeland for both dining and entertainment. Owner Jim Neff is a
Lakeland Restaurateur Legend. Read the Ledger's story...
Who did we miss? Send us you comments, corrections
or suggestions |
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ADVERTISEMENT
We're Open!
Place your restaurant's
info & link here!
Call us today
800-640-3303
|
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