The Red Door, Lakeland

The Red Door Wine Market in Lakeland is a true gem. This is one of the many little treasures that are scattered across Lakeland, and places like these are what inspired me to create this website.

This wine bar has some inside seating, however, I’d recommend the outside seating due to the atmosphere. There is usually live music being performed outside in the evening, which is the best time to come. Imagine a setting sun and some gentle, acoustic tunes as you slowly sip and savor a bottle of fine wine. That’s what this place is all about!

What this place is not about, however, is socializing. The music can be loud, which will tend to inhibit your witty and charming small talk which is always overly relied upon when meeting new people. Secondly, the seating arrangement (which is admittedly cute) is a bit anti-social. Barging is on another party’s table is always awkward.

Instead of focusing on the presumably interesting wine connoisseurs who are sitting around you, you’ll simply have to focus on your wine… and perhaps, the food! The food here is trendy and gastropub-ish. On the menu you’ll find a lamb burger, tartar, chicken and waffles, and other entrees that are often featured on The Food Network and in other foodie havens. I was in the mood for red wine when I last visited, so I ordered a classic accompaniment; spaghetti and meatballs. Check out what got brought out to our table.

Not exactly what I had in mind, but that’s what I get for not reading the full description on the menu. Interesting side note; it was delicious and happened to pair well with my wine. That being said, if you are here for dinner and not a slow evening and bottles of wine, I’d sit inside. The bar is kind of nice.

The many other internet reviews on The Red Door mention its expensive prices. Here is a peak at the drink menu, so that you can make your own judgement;

If this is indeed too pricey for you, I’d recommend keeping an eye out for the daily specials. The specials here can make a big difference in price, but sometimes are not posted to the public until the last minute. The best way to save a buck is to keep on eye on their Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/RedDoorWineMarket

Even if you can’t sniff out a bargain on the evening that is right for you, keep in mind that you are paying for the atmosphere. You will truly feel like you’ve left Lakeland and are enjoying yourself in Sonoma Valley. Think of all of the money you just saved on plane tickets!

Champino’s

I wouldn’t write a review on any old pizza joint. Champino’s stands out for a few reasons; it’s got a bar and decent Italian food, and it serves fantastic, non-chainny pizza!

You may already know that a good pizza joint is easily overlooked.  Champinos is no exception.  It’s street front is hard to spot, and it’s presence is divided.  This place is built into the corner of a strip mall, which means it has 2 store fronts.  Here is store front #2:

It’s almost as if this place is 2 different restaurants.  And by “almost,” I mean that it actually is.  If you walk into the doors pictured in the second picture above, you’ll find yourself in a “mom and pop” style Italian restaurant and bar, shown below.

The bar will have a few regulars hanging out who seem to know the staff here. The regulars are always taking advantage of the drink specials.

The owner of the place usually hangs out back here.  We have been here multiple times, and each time the owner seemed very concerned with us and checked up on us at least twice per each meal.  In addition to a visibly empathetic owner, the old school feel is further driven home by a classic Italian selection of food.  Lay your eyes on their veal marsala;

This dish was super boring but in the best kind of way.  This wasn’t a fusion or reinterpretation of a classic dish.  It was an old Italian favorite with 0% deviation from what you’d expect, but served infinitely better than the Olive Garden’s slop.  In fact, we eat here instead of the Olive Garden every time we are in the mood for simple Italian food.

Let’s not forget what the other side of this building is dedicated to.  PIZZA!  In case you are unaware, a lazy pizza eater in Lakeland must succumb to the drudgery of Damnino’s, Pizza Gut, Pappa go to the John’s, or Hungry Howibles.  Instead, please consider this slightly more Northern alternative;

Remember the original street shot of this place (first pic posted above)?  If you were to walk in from that side, you’d see this:

Yep, a pizzeria that serves by the slice.  A long hallway separates the pizzeria from the Italian restuarant/bar.  The staff and the patrons bounce between to two main rooms to constantly greet and check in on each other, almost like a big family. Speaking of the places where everyone is family, Champino’s will deliver it’s pizza to Tebow’s and a few other select establishments. If Tebow’s isn’t your scene, give Champino’s a call and ask about delivery. They have recently begun delivering to more areas. Even if you’re out of their radius, it’s worth the drive for pick-up. You owe to yourself no never eat from pizza chains.  Moreover, you owe it to yourself to explore all that Lakeland has to offer, like Champino’s!

The Chop Shop

We live on the Northside of Lakeland.  When it’s time for a burger and a brew, Smokey Bones is our grill of choice.  However, when we learned that The Chop Shop moved into the former location of The Gym, we decided to head to Downtown Lakeland to do a little beef inspection.

We were always a little disappointed with The Gym. This place is big on the inside, and the empty basketball court floor plan seemed a little bare boned. Naturally, we had high hopes for a meatier lay out. However, our focus became a little less carnivorous when we walked past this little distraction just outside;

Previously, The Chop Shop only served beer. In addition to having a larger building, they also have a larger drink menu.

More drinks call for more bar space, which they know have.

The bar and surrounding seating has a 1950’s junk yard theme.

While junk yard walls are never visually appealing, it beats the sweaty basketball court feel that was previously here. Furthermore, this place is always playing Johnny Cash songs, which does wonders for the atmosphere. This 50’s rock junk yard ambiance will always be far superior to the more modern junk yard decor in other chains (Cracker Barrel, Applebees’s, etc.) Speaking of better than Applebee’s, let’s not forget the reason we came here, BURGERS!

Pictured above are the black bean (veggie) burger and the Roadhouse burger. Check out your other choices on the menu below;

Each burger is 8oz, which means that the quad stacker Hawgzilla is 32oz, which makes it the biggest burger in Lakeland! The beef has good and greasy flavor, but not overly greasy like Five Guys. If you order a rare burger, it comes out RARE (also unlike an Applebee’s or a Five Guys).

Oh yeah, in case you were also wondering how The Chop Shop would utilize all of that previously wasted floor space, take a look;

Still no dance floor, but then again, this place closes at 10pm week days and 11pm on weekends.

So there you have it! A non-chain burger joint that’s worth a look. It’s a bummer that a full liquor bar with decent music closes so early, but at least you are in walking distance of Molly’s Irish Pub, Linksters, Fresco’s, and the Hookah Palace!

The Brass Tap, Lakeland FL

The Brass Tap is a chain and you might say that if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all.  You might also say that if this is the case, then the Brass Tap in Lakeland does not warrant its own review.  If you would dare to say such things, then my retort would be as follows;

ANY BAR IN LAKELAND WITH 70+ BEERS ON TAP WILL NEVER BE IGNORED BY THIS WEBSITE!

First off, I’d like to point out that until the Northside movie theatre opens up, you will automatically be in the general vicinity of this bar every time a good movie comes out.  If you’re a beer drinker and need a brew before or after the movie, you owe it to yourself to give this place a shot.  When you do, here are some of the things you will see:

Don’t get distracted by all of the TV’s.  FOCUS ON THE BEER TAPS!  In addition to an excellent and periodically rotating selection of beer, this place also sells cigars.  The cigars aren’t a draw for us, primarily because the smoke makes the outside seating almost uninhabitable.  For those of you who do not fear second hand smoke,checkout the outside seating.

Outside (or near an entrance) is a good place to sit if you want a bite to eat.  The Brass Tap has a very limited menu;  pretzels and pizza pretzels.  However, feel free to order off of any menu at Lakeside Village while you hang out here.  Most of the neighboring restaurants will deliver straight to your table at The Brass Tap.  It’s a model used by the entire chain, and it’s kind of fun.  The Grillsmith in Lakeside Village actively markets to the patrons of The Brass Tap.  Grillsmith regularly litters this bar with their menus and even has a delivery boy designated to The Brass Tap.

In addition to having a few beers, getting a bite to eat, and inevitably showing up late to the movie you came around for, there are other reasons to come here.  This place has got a cleverly placed, second story stage for live music.

The prices here aren’t a strong selling point, but they do have some decent specials.

Last but not least, they got a wall of fame.  For a nominal fee (I think around $15), you can join the Brew Crew and receive points towards gift cards and acknowledgement on a chalk board for excessive beer drinking.

If the chalk board is not strong enough selling point, perhaps a monthly rotation of the beer on tap will seal the deal.  For more info on what beers are currently on tap, skip the corporate site and go straight to the Lakeland oriented Brass Tap Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/TheBrassTapLakesideVillage

Cheers!