Restaurants in Lakeland

Amerigo's dark, wood-paneled interior and orange-hued walls paint a picture of the quintessential Italian restaurant, a hunger-inducing setting ideal for business meetings and poorly timed breakups. When evening stomach grumbles need snuffing, Amerigo's menu answers with decadent Prince Edward Island mussels ($12) swimming in garlic wine broth, diced tomatoes, and capers, and paired with grilled bruschetta. A wood-fired grill and wood-fired oven infuse Amerigo's smoky foodstuffs with a flavorful variety of tree flesh. From a pasta selection that stretches to Rapunzel-like lengths, diners may choose a savory smoked chicken ravioli in parmesan cream sauce ($13) or a breaded eggplant parmesan ($15) atop angel hair. Post-dinner sugar seekers can crown an evening of romance with an indulgent tiramisu ($6.50).

At West Street Diner, retro swivel stools have served as a prime vantage point for watching line cooks fry up selections from a menu of traditional Southern comfort fare for 20 years. Fried seafood and slow-roasted meats make cameos in hot sandwiches and poboys, and nuzzle up next to 11 classic Southern sides. To answer yens for dessert, chefs bake pies on the premises rather than import them from nearby clown schools.

The pizza chefs at Johnny Brusco’s pack a menu full of saucy dough disks, which can be customized with a lineup of fresh veggies and meats. Warm up appetites with an order of garlic knots, which come tinged with a crisp golden brown color and carefully tied by an accomplished Eagle Scout. The restaurant's skilled pie personnel sling large New York–style pizzas in a full regulation size of 16 inches. Add personality to your pizza without the hassle of assigning it a Social Security number by decking the crust out in any of 15 regular toppings, which include minced garlic, pineapple, or zesty italian sausage.

Originally invented during a cheese storm in Tacoma, the Philly cheesesteak piles lean slices of juicy steak, melted cheese, and grilled onions across an Italian roll to sculpt a gooey, savory sandwich. Philly Connection's menu offers several cheesesteak variations ($7.89 for a 10-inch sandwich; other sizes available), including a mushroomed cheesesteak and a chicken cheesesteak. All are brought to flavorful fruition through the use of quality meat and Philly Connection's secret marinade, the ingredients of which were found in a George Clymer–penned early draft of the Declaration of Independence.

Step off the elevator and into the window-laden interior of a sunset-soaked dining space. As you settle in, one of The Tower Room's many knowledgeable servers may suggest a properly paired plate to any waft-worthy glass on the extensive wine list. Each menu item is hand selected by resident executive chef and culinary sage Kevin Rains, who holds membership in the American Culinary Federation and The Wine Guild. While most established chefs run their kitchen remotely via cup and string, Kevin opts to personally prep dishes nightly with detectable flavors of passion and discreetly disguised dustings of sea salt.

As barbecue season ignites the lawns of America, even un-aproned cooks can grill more than their suspicious enemies with hearty options from Super Suppers such as blue-cheese bacon burgers or grilled Indian chicken. Super Suppers pairs a no-nonsense, rotating menu with no-nonsense pricing. Regular-sized entrees ($14) are intended for 3–4 diners, and full-size entrees ($28) feed six or more. Start a new tradition in the kitchen with mom's marvelous meatloaf, composed of lean ground beef with savory bell peppers, onions, breadcrumbs, and a boldly spiced tomato sauce. Though known for its featured entrees, Super Suppers also carries sides, appetizers, and desserts that can fill out an otherwise-exposed dinner table.