Cafe Zuppina - Lakeland

It’s worth mentioning we only had coffee and dessert here. I was pleasantly surprised that a place like this even exist in Lakeland let alone Polk county. Even though lakeland is trending more towards a foodie scene we still have a ways to go. That being said international dining is still pretty underrepresented here. So when I heard there was a “middle eastern” style restaurant/bakery in town I was intrigued. Before I get into any negatives I will say the coffee was amazing. The desserts were delicious as well but at 3 pm almost their entire selection was gone. I’m not sure if this means the sales are good or if they just have a limited quantity on hand most days. There is a market attached with some interesting food options as well but it’s more of an afterthought with no employees in sight of that area. Now I will say the furniture was nice and gave an authentic vibe. However the interior of the building needs a refresh. It feels like you are in a converted office space. I’m Assuming that’s what it was before they took over. The floors feel like a cheap cafeteria and there is really no atmosphere to speak of. To me this is probably the biggest thing holding this establishment back. Lack of identity. It desperately needs a vibe. I’m sure there are regulars who love the place and for good reason. But in my mind it’s going to be difficult to attract new customers when the first impression when walking in is confusing and sub par at best. I want to see places like this thrive in Lakeland and they definitely have the food to pull it off. But unless they put some effort into really creating a space newcomers are intrigued by I doubt they will experience any significant growth.

Got the Chicken Limone after 6pm off the dinner menu with an Unsweet tea. I don’t want to sound harsh but, if I’m spending nearly $30 a dish (DINING IN), don’t bring it out in a to-go container. 4 stars. The chicken was dry, yellow rice was bland, Brussels were overcooked. The eggplant/sauce was pretty good and so was the carrot salad, but why would you combine the hot and cold veggies in the same plastic cubby. 3 stars. You don’t really get any type of table service after your food arrives so there’s that. You also have to pay for refills on a small glass of tea. The grape leaves were tasty and the register girls were super nice! Maybe we just came on a bad day but, still overpriced.

If you’re anywhere near Lakeland and looking for a yummy lunch, coffee drink and pastries with a Turkish flair, I definitely recommend this lovely Cafe. The cold brew with banana pudding cold foam was the perfect balance of flavors. Just a hint of banana pudding flavor but the delicious coffee based still shined through. I had the chicken kebabs (excellent quality) and the charred Brussel sprouts that came with it are beyond delicious. I bought a bag of yummy Turkish coffee to go and would love to come back for a pastry next time. That plus super friendly and efficient service with great smiles made for an excellent lunch!

The food was superlative as usual however, the service was not. We waited a long time food and when it was delivered to our table it came in To Go containers and plastic utensils! When paying over $20 for an entree you'd expect better. Later I had to get another ice tea and waited for someone to acknowledge me and had to pay for a refill in a rather small glass.

Delicious! really the whole review can be said in this one word! madison was great and answered all my questions and cared for me. the Veggie plate was generous enough for 2 and had a large selection of warm and cold veggies, smooth yummy hummus and beautiful zucchini patty! the baked were impressive! guard to the house baked chef! nice place, clean and very pleasant. the market had a lot of Turkish Mediterranean flavors, tees and ingredients - very tempting.