There might be a cold front sweeping through Polk County this January, but the season of romance is ready to heat things up.
Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching on Feb. 14, and there are numerous local restaurants willing to offer couples of all ages a chance to relax and connect over drinks and a meal.
These are some of Polk’s best romantic restaurants — places that locals love to frequent for date nights and other special occasions. And there may still be time to make a reservation this Valentine’s Day for a night out with a spouse, partner or special date.
Arabellas
346 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven; 863-293-1797; arabellas.us
Arabellas on Winter Haven’s Central Avenue has been a go-to spot for romantic, candlelight dinners in Polk County. The fine-dining restaurant offers a taste of Old World Italy with candlelight dining at white linen tables, often while a pianist plays live music.
While the restaurant changed from its original ownership in 2019, it remains known for authentic Italian cuisine and curated five-course meals. Its menu is extensive, featuring a namesake dish Vitello Arabellas, a veal scallopini served with shrimp and scallops sauteed in a white wine saffron cream sauce ($44.50) or the Chateaubriand for two, a 20-once Angus beef tenderloin served in a mushroom brandy cream sauce ($109).
Aria Steakhouse
325 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven; 863-268-4454; www.ariastk.com
Aria Steakhouse opened in downtown Winter Haven in June, offering high-end steak and seafood dishes in a quiet, cozy and intimate atmosphere. It’s gaining a local following and reservations are highly recommended.
For Valentine’s Day, the restaurant will be serving a special three-course menu priced at $125 per person. There’s a choice of six main entrees including a bison striploin that’s rosemary garlic basted with bone marrow butter, aged balsamic, served with truffle mashed potatoes and roasted broccolini or a lobster Beurre blanc, a butter poached lobster in a tarragon Beurre blanc with tagliatelle pasta and French beans. A 20% gratuity, taxes and 3% processing fee will be added to all checks, according to the restaurant’s website.
Bay Street Bistro
211 E. Bay St., Lakeland; 863-683-4229; www.baystreetbistro.net
In Downtown Lakeland, Bay Street Bistro serves upscale cuisine in a cozy, relaxed atmosphere for more than 15 years. It repeatedly surprises visitors who stumble upon this restaurant, and certainly could have qualified as one of Polk’s hidden gems.
The bistro’s standard dinner menu wins over visitors with appetizers including the baked brie served with a locally sourced fresh fruit compote and fresh baguettes ($18) to its tender escargot in lemon, garlic and white wine butter sauce ($18). Recent diners have recommended the Beef Wellington, tender prime filet mignon in dijon, mushroom duxelles and prosciutto wrapped in a puff pastry served with a red wine reduction ($80) or the herb crusted rack of lamb rib chops served with a tomato and dijon mustard sauce ($80). Many diners find that one of its slices of cakes is big enough for two to share.
Chef T’s Garden Grill
1525 E. Gary Road, Lakeland; 863-687-4386; www.cheftsgardengrill.com
Tucked away in a remodeled house off East Gary Road, Chef T’s Garden Grill offers a high-end Italian cuisine from experienced chefs in a small, cozy atmosphere. Chef Terry Doner, it’s original creator, has returned to the kitchen with friend Chef Italia Casini, who has run the kitchens of Palm Court, La Palma, Arabellas and most recently The Lakeland Country Club.
It serves up authentic Italian starters at $17 including classics of flash-fried calamari, a breaded calamari with pepperancino, diced cherry tomatoes served in a citrus, ginger soy sauce; or choose escargot, sauteed French snails in garlic, shallots, wild muschrooms, chorizon, white wine, sherry and parmesan cheese. Entrees start at $34 and feature a chicken San Petrino, a scaloppini of tender chicken breast sautéed with shallot, white wine, sherry, parmesan cheese, white truffle oil, cream and black truffle butter; or cod Francese, featuring egg-battered Alaskan cod that’s pan seared to golden brown served in a white wine, lemon and caper butter sauce. Diners can bring their own bottle of wine, with a $35 corkage fee.
L`incontro Italian Restaurant
35 State Road 60 W, Lake Wales; 863-676-7400; lincontrofl.com
This Lake Wales restaurant is frequently mentioned among Polk diners as a hidden gem, and some would debate it among the best Italian restaurants among tough competitors. L’incontro Italian Restaurant offers a sense of elegance in a relaxed atmosphere.
Its daily dinner menu offers a variety of classic Italian dishes alongside grilled steaks, ranging from a chicken scarpariello sauteed with garlic, Italian sausage and rosemary in a lemon, white wine sauce ($21.95); to a 12-ounce New York strip steak grilled and served with salad and shoe string fries ($27). For dessert, share a slice of New York cheesecake ($9) or a Limoncello mascarpone ($9).
Scarpa’s Italian
1833 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland; 863-937-8940; scarpasitalian.com
This local family-owned and operated Italian restaurant has been a popular location for date nights and special occasions in Lakeland for over 12 years. It offers a fine-dining experience with the white linen tables and candlelight, while servers help diners feel at ease. Reservations are suggested.
For appetizers, there’s an option of stuffed portobello mushrooms with Italian sausage, cheese, spinach and veal demi-glace ($16.75); or a burrata salad of fresh mozzarella burrata served with marinated heirloom tomatoes and ciabatta toast ($16.75) that’s shareable. There’s a variety of seafood, chicken, veal and pasta entrees with a penne vernazza featuring Gulf shrimp, lobster, crab, scallops and mussels in a vodka cream sauce $36.75) that’s been earning high marks.
Terrace Grille
329 E. Main St., Lakeland; 863-603-5420; www.terracegrillelakeland.com
The Terrace Grille, inside the historic Terrace Hotel in Downtown Lakeland, combines modern elegance with a touch of timelessness. Its renovated interior is bright, airy and offers an opulent setting for a romantic night out.
For Valentine’s Day, it’s offering a special chef-curated, prix fix menu for $125 a person, not including tax and gratuity. The meal will start with an amuse-bouche, an osetra caviar served with cornbread blini, creme fraiche and chives. Diners have a choice of three small plates, then four entrees including a miso-glazed seabass served with dashi risotto, baby bok choy and scallion oil or a veal ossobuco with creamy polenta and heirloom carrots topped with a gremolata. Dessert will be a choice between a vanilla bean cheesecake or dark chocolate marquis with salted caramel, praline and Chantilly cream. Reservations are required.
Dining and Cooking