L'Incontro Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Lake Wales

L’Incontro Italiano is an authentic Italian restaurant located in Lake Wales on busy US-60. It was my first time eating there while staying in Winter Haven for a family funeral.

My Aunt Anna lived in Lake Wales and Winter Haven for many years. She always raved about L’Incontro Italiano restaurant in Lake Wales located on US-60 on the right side of the road on the right almost across the street from Manny’s Chop Restaurant. When driving pay attention and go slow because the eatery sits back at a slight angle in the road and if you’ve keeping up with the traffic it’s easy to drive right by and have to turn around at the light. I had to do this! By the looks of the free standing building, I would guess that the building started out as a Taco Bell, Boston Market, 7-11 or possibly a bank? Regardless, slowdown as you go around the bend because it comes fast on the right side heading east.

My aunt always told she wanted to take me there when I was visiting her for a few days. It was her favourite restaurant. Sadly we never got to go together. My aunt passed away in April and her funeral was a couple weeks ago. After my aunt passed away I knew L’InContro would be the perfect place to celebrate her life and hold her repast luncheon/reception following her funeral.

Well L’Incontro did not disappoint! I ordered calamari, breaded zucchini and a buratta cheese platter for the table as starters while guests arrived and ordered a cocktail or beverage. L’Incontro offers a full standup bar that serves beer, wine, mixed drinks and cocktails. There is something for everybody. While enjoying our starters and cocktails our waiter told us what was being offered as the daily specials in addition to their vast menu.

Please understand L’Incontro is not some small town touristy pizza joint that you collapse into a big old red booth with your kids after a full hot day at Lego Land!

Be prepared that L’Incontro’s prices are higher than the typical Italian restaurant in the area. That’s okay and it’s well worth it. This is a special place for celebrations, milestones, business luncheons as well as a romantic date night. I’d guess they’ve had more than one or two “down on one knee” after dinner but before dessert wedding proposals! The food at L’Incontro is well prepared by talented chefs. Everyone enjoyed what the ordered very much.

We were able to qualify for ”early bird” pricing because we started our repast at 3pm. Mostly everyone ordered from the “daily specials” menu but a few ordered the classics. The daily specials change everyday. A lot of my guests ordered the from the daily special menu. Some had the Risotto with Beef and Mushrooms, the Stuffed Pork Chop or the Shrimp, Scallops & Salmon in a cream sauce over large Raviolis. All meals include soup or salad to start. The soup of the day was lentil beef. For dessert they offer pastries, cakes, mousse, cannolis, cheesecake and tiramisu. They did not offer cream brûlée which is my wife’s all time favourite but that was okay, she loved the tiramisu! Some enjoyed their desserts with a cup of regular coffee while others had a frothy cappuccino or expresso served in lovely demitasse cups. We were stuffed so we got a tiramisu and cannoli to eat later back at our hotel for our midnight snack.

The final bill for the seven of us came to around $450 plus gratuity for everything. It was worth every penny. Aunt Anna would have approved.

Our waiter and the bar staff were outstanding! I wish I could remember their names so I could mention them. Our hostess was Emily and she was also great. She arranged everything with me by phone the week before and followed up with me regarding all the pertinent questions (i.e., party size, special dietary requests, seating, etc.) Parking is easy and ample. Their restrooms were neat and sanitised. So all in all everything was great!

L’Incontro is currently closed each Monday and Tuesday. I think you’ll be happy if dining-in or take-away. Give them a try for your next special occasion or date night. You’ll leave stuffed...

Let me start with the place was clean, had decent decor and atmosphere, and service was good. Where this place lacks is the food quality versus cost. Firstly, the bread and tomato sauce that were offered were most likely removed from a Walmart Italian type bagged bread and a can of Great Value $.67 discount shelf "blah". We ordered 2 appetizers, mussels and clams and also a eggplant rotellini. Neither were share size for three. The eggplant was sliced so thin and smothered in cheese that the flavor resembled that of a Chinese buffet cheese pizza. The clams and mussels were not cleaned thoroughly and every bite was a lottery, whether or not you would crunch your way through silica or swallow a clearly over cooked morsel. There were about 15 shellfish total for $11. On to the main course. Sea bass special, lemon chicken and a pasta combo. The sea bass was by far the best dish, which isn't a compliment at all. The fish was cooked nicely however was bland and covered in a sauce that looked like rotten cranberries and garnished with a balsamic vinegar reduction that made duck faces a quirky smile. The waiter also offered grated cheese with the fish which is a culinary "no-no". The spinach and other veg was seasoned with garlic powder which hadn't and does not break down well when cooked without liquids, so the veg was actually grainy and the powder ruined the texture and flavor of the sides. Next was the chicken francaise which was drenched so heavily with lemon and butter that even the butter was not distinguishable. The chicken was over cooked, cut thin and burnt. But by far the worst dish was the pasta. The flavor of bottled alfredo sauce, packaged gnocchi and rainbow rehydrated tortellini with some kind of reddish, bland sauce was near inedible. If I hadn't skipped all meals till dinner, I couldn't stomach the IDEA of even trying this culinary abortion again. All portions were small except for the special sea bass, but it was not worth the $26 it commanded. You may say I'm being a bit over-critical, but when it cost $81 (before tip) to walk out of a restaurant where the average meal costs around 17-20 dollars per person, I expect a certain level of excellence when it comes to food quality. I've eaten better food at Fazolli's (also not good) but you can't expect much for $6.95. At these prices, get in your car, drive to Orlando, pay the same per person and try Maggiano's. All you can eat is $10 more and the food is cooked using fresher ingredients and dictates the higher cost whether you do family style or a regular meal. On a side note, the music did not improve the atmosphere and was out of place for an Italian theme. Also, on the way back to my vehicle, I noticed a truck in the rear parking lot which proved my theories of canned product and boxed food. An employee's truck was filled to the tilt with clear trash bags full of empty sauce cans and other packaged products. Anyone saying that this place deserves more than one star is obviously a friend or relation or lacks the taste buds to distinguish between fresh ingredients and canned goods. The only reason I give this place one star is because I can't deny it seemed clean, quaint and the service was good (but could still use...

Advertises as "authentic Italian" with homemade pasta & desserts, for a rural predominately Caucasian & Hispanic community in Central Florida that may not have it may pass. My opinion, Olive Garden gives you the same if not better. Ambiance is beautiful! We went on a Weds at 630. There was 2 table of small parties, so plenty of time for attn & good service from staff & kitchen.

We decided to try an item our server presented as a special: Chicken with a light lemon butter sauce on pasta ( Chicken Saltimbocco - Italian name). They don't tell you price so be prepared for sticker shock if you don't ask...espec for such a basic meal. Appetizer: Mozzarella Caprese...(we were offered a Greek salad a a choice in an Italian restaurant?). The Caprese desc was delicious but what arrived was sadly anemic. They're all about beautiful presentation, so it was served on a bed of greens, but w/ the store bought, not yet ripened flavorless, tomatoes, 1 basil leaf on top.(no olive oil or oregano -some family recipes) & they add roasted bell peppers. That's fine but it's just a diff Caprese dish. We both decided after receiving our main dish, that we wished we ordered something standard off the menu. If you hv a lg appetite, you'll be happy everyone else, you'll more dinner to go. The chicken came out thin & tender as a cutlet, not rolled or crisped, without the norm spinach or sage & a full slice of prosciutto beneath the cheese. It was just completely missing those mouth watering flavors. Chicken tasted as if it had been cooked in the chicken broth. The dish overall reminded me of Greek Lemon soup with Chicken made as a meal. The sauce and chicken had the same look & flavor (aside: that orzo soup is 1 of my favs). Their desserts are right up there in the BEST we've ever had...cheesecake & choc mouse cake!

As for service, since it was slow we had attn of 3 ppl. Very friendly & not bothersome. Only negative, I asked for their wine recommendation...I went with a moscato. It was brought to me in a champagne flute & appeared to be sparkling. Neither of us cared for the taste, so it just sat. Our server & others had to reach around glass multiple times yet no one ever asked if I didnt like, etc. I wont complain (unless extreme), I consider it part of their level of customer service. Sad to say in a restaurant that we're spending $80+ they couldn't offer to bring me a different drink; or, take it off the bill at end of dining. A server at a local sports pub insisted on refunding my meal when she saw I didnt eat my main dish...I thought this was going above.

We came away feeling this was a Greek/Italian restaurant...which is great just let ppl know the cooking style. I was married to a 2nd gen Sicilian + Southern Italian. His mom & gma made all recipes from scratch & things you would never find on a menu. I grew up in a Greek community & helping out in a friends family restaurant. So this is where I pull my experience with authentic & types of...