Nineteen 61 - Fine Southern-Latin American-Spanish Cuisine in Lakeland, FL

The food and service was amazing, great place to celebrate a birthday with a few friends! The staff handled everything just perfectly and made my birthday so enjoyable! The atmosphere is so relaxing. We will for sure be back!

Stopped for lunch at this Lakeland eatery after a visit to this area. OMG! Everything was delicious! My friend had the smoked manhattan which was made with my favorite bourbon (Blanton's). It was amazing. We ordered the Brussel sprouts appetizer, avocado salmon toast with rice and beans and the garbanzo bean soup. Everything was delicious and the service was outstanding! The only negatives is that I forgot to take pictures and Lakeland is 2 hours from home. We plan to return next January when we next visit Lakeland!

Went there for lunch on a Monday afternoon. Not too crowded and was able to be seated immediately. We were a party of 3 and with one adult beverage and lunch menu spent a little over $100 (with tip). This is far above what I'd consider usually for lunch but it was a special occasion. The food was good and came pretty fast. Maybe I just cheap but this will only be a special occasion place.

I had such an amazing experience! I came to Lakeland to get lunch with a friend and ended up picking this spot which I'm glad I did! The ambiance is trendy and if this is your first time dining with them, they offer you complimentary champagne! MUST get the Peruvian ceviche and Cuban sandwich. Also, service was amazing! What I ordered: - PERUVIAN CEVICHE - CUBAN SANDWICH with fries - DULCE DE LECHE - CRUMBULEE

Great experience as always. This is our favorite fine dining rest in tampa by far. Their service is great and their food matches. Flavors are amazing and everything is obviously made in house. Suggest making a reservation to be sure that you can get in!

Our experience at 1961 was fantastic! The service was attentive, and the portions were well-sized and reasonably priced. We started with the Cubano poutine, which was a hit - the cassava and the shredded beef with an added subtle kick sauce brought it all together perfectly. The ham and manchego cheese croquettes, topped with a guava glaze, were delightful little bites; four came in the order, and they were just right. For seafood paella, we shared a plate for two. While we thought the mussels could have been of better quality, the lobster tail and scallops was delicious, and the rest of the seafood was fresh and well-prepared. Not the typical Spaniard paella but it was tasty. The guava mojito was also a standout - strong and flavorful. The ambiance was welcoming, and we enjoyed both the downstairs dining area and the rooftop space, where we relaxed with more drinks after dinner. Overall, it's a spot we'd love to visit again!

Definitely will rerun, and may spend a night or two in town. The smiling faces are the most endearing. We came seven minutes before their opening but the staff is very welcoming, and seat us immediately. Thank you. 1961 was the year owner and or chef's parents came to U.S. from Cuba - hope I get this fact right -:). They also have a banquet hall next door. The decor is rustically beautiful. Love the exposed brick walls. Our serve is a beautiful tall girl in short hair, who is just wonderful and attentive - thank you. I like their earthy tableware. We've two small starter plates and a salad: - octopus Pulpo: one of the best octopus I've had - crispy outside and tender inside. - chips avocado - two dips are wonderful and I enjoyed the spicy one more. - 1961 salad with salmon: the dressing is on the sweet side for me but very yummy, and I finished it. The salmon is also cooked to the perfection. Hand soap and cream in the bathroom: soap is wonderful but hand cream is a little watery. Two or three bar tenders have been busy since we sat down. There is a small party, 10 some young women who dressed well. The clientele is from infant to oldies like me and beyond. It's a scene. In and out in a little over an hour. Now heading to their street fair, which is four blocks long, and which is two doors away. This restaurant drew us in and we're very glad to discover a lovely town, kind of like New England quaint town. Will be back soon.

Let's start off with the location . It is in the heart of downtown Lakeland. If you looking for Latine Cuisine , then this is your spot. Cubans and Peruvian infused. The restaurant is situated in a perfect spot to check out after having some drinks or just walking around downtown Lakeland. The location is in demand that there was no inside seating because everything is by reservation ( keep that in mind) in which it is very understandable. So we sat outside in which was fine because they had fans and ACs ... if I may recommend something. Please buy those fly fans for the table it will make guests wayyyy more happy. The food delicious. Not 1 complaint about anything. Everything we ordered was very yummy. I believe meadow was our waitress and she was nothing but kind super helpful and always checking up on us. Will be coming back ... 9.0/10 for sure

Dining at Nineteen 61 was a treat for three reasons: 1) The service was fabulous. 2) The food was delicious. 3) Someone else was paying. This is one of those gorgeous restaurants you will ever step into, and the service is just as good. It's been a while since I ate there, and I honestly can't remember all the dishes we had, but the food that we had was delicious. Now it is a little pricey, but as I said, someone else was paying, which made it that much more fun . Parking was not the easiest, so I parked about 100 yards away, but it was a nice night and I enjoyed the walk.