Cafe Zuppina

By far one of, if not, the best restaurants in all of Lakeland. The mix of health conscious and delicious dishes far outweighs the glutinous mix of options in and around the area. The price point is right on par with other restaurants and most times lower. The food is delicious and can’t be beat. Friends from Tampa and Orlando travel to Zuppina to enjoy her delicious food.

Delicious and healthy food! It was a nice change of pace, I had never tried some of the turkish food. I definitely will be back.

Yum! This place is delish! I have been many times. The owner is friendly and helpful. Service is great.

Great place to eat Turkish food. I got Aegan dish and it tasted great. Owners are really warm and nice.

What a gem! If you like Mediterranean fare you’ll love this place. Seating is very limited and not intimate, kind of like eating in someone’s kitchen. Bring your own wine as there’s no booze license and they are totally OK with that. A little pricey and that’s what prevented me from giving 5 stars.

The best word to describe this hidden Lakeland gem is FLAVORFUL! I have visited Café Zuppina on a handful of occasions over the last couple of years and it always seems to get better. On my most recent visit I had the Eggplant Rolls and the Zuppina’s Aegean Kebab. The Eggplant Rolls were a wonderful appetizer: lightly crispy on the outside, filled with fresh meaty eggplant and creamy cheese on the inside, and topped with very flavorful tomato and yogurt sauces. The Zuppina’s Aegean Kebab included delicious lamb meatballs (topped with the same tomato and yogurt sauces), a tender lamb chop, and an assortment of flavorful fresh veggies including some of the best Brussels sprouts I have ever had. On previous occasions I also had the Feta Rolls, Lamb Gyro, and Baklava. The Feta Rolls were filled with melty flavorful feta wrapped in a flakey crust. The Lamb Gryo was one of the best I have ever eaten, filled with tender flavorful lamb, crisp romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and flavorful tzatziki sauce wrapped in a soft pita bread. Finally, the Baklava is a delicious finish to a great meal, lightly sweet and very flakey. The restaurant is small but cozy and the service is very personable. The restaurant also allows you to bring in your own wine for a small corking fee of about $ 5. Overall, Café Zuppina is a must visit while in Lakeland.

My favorite restaurant in Lakeland. The veggie platter is worth the long drive and is so huge there is always enough for lunch the next day. This is lovingly prepared, healthy food. The soace is tiny, so if you are dining alone at a busy hour, be prepared to be turned away. A great place to meet friends, bring a bottle of wine and try one of everything.

AMAZING! Very small interior but very cute. The service was great, the food even better. My group was recommended to go there by a local. In the restaurant a local had ordered something that looked incredible. We asked what it was and were told it was taken off the menu… their veggie salad. What a hidden gem! We ordered one and shared as an appetizer for our table of 5 adults. Everything was cooked perfectly. The regular food was all exceptional too. Best hummus I have ever had. The women in my party are not quantity eaters and there wasn’t a plate that was not cleaned. Wish we had a place nearby like this. They were very nice about my baby too just no high chair or changing table.

This place is fantastic. I only give it 4 stars because I think it is slightly overpriced. However, the food is authentic, tastes great, and the owners are very nice.
I like the vegetable platter, moussaka, and lentil soup a lot. The spanikopita is a lot more cheese than spinach which isn’t what I’m used to, but it’s still very good and comes with a very tasty artichoke dip. The dolmades were the only thing I was disappointed in, as they had a peculiar sweetness to them. That may just be typical of the Turkish version though.
Would definitely recommend, especially for vegetarians in the area.

Best restaurant in Central Florida. The feta rolls are fantastic and come with two sauces, tzatziki and tomato.
The mixed grill platter is great as well, and gives you a wide assortment of Zuppina’s various specialties. The Brussels sprouts are amazing, and the carrot salad thing is very good as well.

My favorite mom & pop place to eat. The food is incredible. I love their veggie plate. I’m always shocked when I eat the whole thing because it comes loaded with about 15 – 20 items on it. Everything is very flavorful!
I go during off hours (between lunch and dinner) to guarantee I get a table.

Went here for Dinner with Friends a couple of nights ago.
The Food was fresh and wonderful.
1. The best Grape Leaves I have ever had
2. Hummus was bold and fresh.
3. The 3^rd appetizer was some sort of artichoke thing with some oil and spices. A flavor explosion in the mouth
4. Brussel sprouts as a side were great.
Owner is wonderful and cares about delivering amazing entrees.
They do not have liquor but I believe I saw others bring there own wine
Not the cheapest place but well worth the great food.

Haven’t touched Unilocal in a while — spreading the good word about this place is a fine reason to dust off the cover. This would be excellent food anywhere, worth repeat visits, but it is an absolute treasure for Lakeland. We shared a handful of entrees and appetizers, and I simply couldn’t stop eating!
Some highlights:
Eggplant pasha — lamb koftas with tomato and eggplant were flavorful through and through, well spiced lamb and enough vinegar in the vegetables to sustain strong flavor but not be overpowering.
Grape leaves — delightfully rich without feeling oily; an excellent, firm texture to both the leaves and the rice; playfully lemony flavor tempered by spices. The leaves tasted fresh; if these were canned, the kitchen went to the trouble to rinse and drain them for a purer flavor. These might have set a new standard for me. I could eat them for breakfast.
The Brussels sprouts — it seems like everyone loves them and it’s easy to see why — these are delicious. Firm and crisp, but cooked and seasoned enough to cut through the natural bitterness. Fantastic idea for balancing all of the acidic flavors that are strong in the main dishes.
If I was let down with anything it was a slightly limp baklava, maybe undercooked just a touch with doughy phyllo in the middle layers, but to be fair we ordered takeout and this had been sitting in a Styrofoam box for over an hour. You can’t win them all. Next time I’ll try the ice cream sandwich!
I hope Zuppina stays around for a long time — it is authentic and (for this Lakeland native, anyway) a welcome change that could really raise the bar for quality in this town. It will be a staple when visiting family here from now on and I look forward to going back!

On a Monday night we had to wait a bit for a table and as locals were leaving they told us we found the best restaurant in Lakeland!
Our party of 5 decided to eat family style so we ordered the Veggie platter, Meat platter, Gyro platter and Hungarian brisket patter. Each plate was very generous in size but we were able to devour them all! It was fun to try so many items from there menu.
FYI. They serve no alcohol so bring your own beer or wine.
Great local gem.

I have never written a review of a restaurant. Here is my first.
I had an awesome meal recommended by and delivered to my table by the owner. One of the best restaurant meals i have had. I visited the next day for lunch and again a fine meal.
This is a friendly place, small and homey. If you like Middle Eastern food, Turkish style, don’t miss it!

Although this restaurant lacks curbside appeal, the interior has a homely feel. I can tell that the owners take pride in their restaurant.
I started my meal with a Turkish coffee ($ 4.00) which was served properly and was authentic. I ordered the chicken kabobs ($ 13.00) which included hummus and rice. The chicken was seasoned well. However the rice was a little al dente. I informed the server/​owner and she stated that Turkish rice is served that way.
Overall this is a great choice for lunch, but the prices are too high for everyday fare. I will try the gyro next time.

While visiting a friend in Lakeland she suggested we try Café Zuppina for dinner. A quaint little place tucked in a shopping plaza, the owners have set up an adorable little veggie and herb garden out front. I was excited that this was a promise of fresh ingredients.
I was pleased to be seated quickly and we were promptly provided with our beverages. My friend and I scanned the menu, and while everything sounded great I wanted something lighter and different. I went with the veggie/​salad plate (up charged for dinner as it is a lunch item only). What a delightful mix of hot and cold salads and veggies on one plate. The two fried items on the plate were amazing, one being a zucchini fritter and the other a flat bread/​cheese roll up type thing. The Brussel sprouts were yummy, but the best thing on the plate was the carrot salad. Oh my gosh I could have eaten a whole plate of just that. Neither of us could finish our food and we got looks of disapproval from the «just like my mom» owner, but once we asked for boxes to take it home to eat later she was okay with the leftovers. I found her enchanting, she cares about what goes into her food and her customers and she wants clean plates!
The only trivial thing that twinged my annoyance was as the place is so small when full it’s incredibly loud. Especially when a group of middle aged women on their second bottle of wine yell and laugh loudly, my friend and I had to match pitch to be heard. I’ll definitely eat here again when in town.

Great lunch. The lunch cost a little more than I’m use to spending for lunch but it was worth the price. I had the chicken kabab, hummus, Brussels and rice. It came out pretty quickly and it tasted so fresh.
The atmosphere is great. It is small spot that would be great for date or a one on one meeting. They have a little store where you can by pickled items, spices and teas.
I will definitely be coming back. The service was great and the food was delicious. Great find.

Service:
Owner is amazing host. Read the table and responded perfectly. It was packed and he was only server but never missed a beat.
Food:
High quality excellent flavor and textures.
Appetizers:
Triangles are fantastic don’t go and not order them.
Had 2 others that were good as well
I love hummus but there’s wasn’t my thing.
Desert:
Chocolate mouse was very good.
Drink:
No alcohol. Turkish coffee was pretty good but nothing special
Ambiance:
Pretty good.
Location:
:(far from my house.
Must go if you are having a dinner out near Lakeland

I ordered the Veggie Moussaka for lunch today and it was awesome. It comes with a side of rice and a bean mixture, both of which were also very good. The serving size was adequate and the price (approximately $ 13) was reasonable.
My only complaint is that the parking options are not very convenient; the parking lot is small, given how many businesses use it, and today it was completely full. I parked a block or so away.
Nevertheless, overall, it was a very good experience and I will return. I uploaded a picture of the Veggie Moussaka for those that are interested.