Antojitos Navideños Restaurant — Restaurant in Lakeland

This Authentic Puerto Rican cuisine establishment is an explosion of bold and vibrant flavors that will leave your taste buds begging for more. From succulent roast pork to crispy tostones, every dish is infused with a unique blend of spices and seasonings that bring the tropics to your plate.

I had the pleasure of indulging in some amazing food on 6/27/23 for lunch, and let me just say, my taste buds are still singing! I started with some Alcapurrias accompanied with some hot sauce sauce that made it absolutely heavenly. The Alcapurrias was so flavorful.

I had the pleasure of being served by one of the most exceptional waitresses I have encountered in a long time. I am so bad with names, and please forgive me if I get your name wrong but on the receipt it says Yulianet. From the moment she greeted me with a warm smile to the moment I left the restaurant, she exuded a level of professionalism, attentiveness, and genuine kindness that truly set her apart.

Not only was she knowledgeable about the menu, but she also took the time to listen to my specific dietary preferences and offer thoughtful suggestions. Her recommendations were spot-on, and every dish she brought to my table was executed flawlessly.

She gave me some Sopa de Salchichon. WoW, all the flavors of this soup was as if you were coming home and your mom or grandmother was cooking. All the flavors of Puerto Rico was in this bowl of goodness. Each spoonful of this soup was a savory masterpiece, warming the soul and leaving a lingering taste that was both comforting and joyful. It was an experience that reminded me of the simple pleasures in life and the incredible power of a well-crafted dish, and that’s just the soup. Imagine the rest of the other dishes.

What truly stood out was her ability to anticipate my needs even before I had to ask. She checked in on me regularly, striking the perfect balance between being attentive without being overbearing. Beyond her impeccable service, her warmth and friendliness created an atmosphere that made me feel like a valued guest. She took the time to engage in friendly conversation, with myself and with other customers. Yulianet went above and beyond to make my dining experience all the more enjoyable.

For my main course, I opted for the Carne Frita con Arroz con Habichuelas y ensalada, and all of it was love at first bite. The beans were perfectly cooked and combined Calabaza which makes for a flavorful tomato sauce, and a medley of herbs and spices that gave the dish that quintessential Puerto Rican flavor. It was hearty, satisfying, and extremely delicious. To round off my meal, I savored every last bite.

Overall, the meal was a true fusion of bold and sublime flavors that honored the heritage and culture of Puerto Rico. If you're looking for a true culinary experience, look no further than Antojitos Navidenos Restaurant. cuisine. The food is a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of its owner, staff, and it's definitely worth a taste.

In conclusion, my waitress's exceptional service combined with her genuine kindness made my dining experience truly remarkable. I left the restaurant feeling not only satisfied with the delicious food but also grateful for encountering such a remarkable and beautiful individual. Thank you so much Antojitos Navidenos staff and thank you so much Yulianet. I am looking forward in trying more dishes and seeing the wonderful staff. Hats off to the chef. I would love to learn some of your skills.

People, go and try it out for yourself and be whisked away to Puerto Rico. Your tummy...

I have a mix review. I was visiting FL and was told this is a good place with authentic Puerto Rican food. We tried going on Father's day but it was full. Waiting time was about 1.5 to 2 hrs. So we left.

I called the next day as I was running some errands with the intention to place an order and pick it up on our way home. They answer the phone to say please hold for a minute. Well, that hold took about 30 minutes and I heard all conversations in the background and no one got back to me. I hang up and called again, no one answered. I called for a 3rd time and again, no answer. (1st disappointment) So we decided to go in person and place the order. When we got there, there were 4 ppl dining in, 1 person placing a to-go order, 1 customer service attending the 1 person placing the to-go order, 1 waitress, some ppl in the kitchen. The employees laughing, having their personal conversations and disregarding phone calls. Okay, our turn came and we placed our order. I was V.E.R.Y. specific on one order of carne frita with the most fatty pork pieces you have. The greasier the better. Well, the meat was very dry no fat what so ever. (2nd disappointment). Since we were ordering to go we were told to wait outside. No problem, we did as instructed. Now, on the 30 minute mark it was about to rain hard and I didn't wanted to wait outside and get wet. So my mom went inside to check on our order and guess what? It was sitting on the counter and they never came outside to let us know that our order was ready. (3rd disappointment)

(1st positive) I will end up with some positive review. We ordered 3 mofongo rellenos, 1 with shrimp and salsa criolla, 2 with shrimp in garlic sauce. The mofongo were delicious. Although the shrimp sauce had sort of a mayo or mustard after taste that I have never tasted before. That after taste was not for my personal liking.

Now, will I go again? Maybe. I understand that fact that they are understaffed but customer service brings people back to enjoy the food and environment.

(2nd positive) Price was not an issue, they are fairly priced.

(3rd positive) Loved the decorations.

There is room for improvements.

Will I recommend this place? Yes, but with...

Paying with credit/debit card? Well, there is a 3.99% extra for service charge. Beware, there is also an 18% tip already included for a party of 6 or more. So, when you get your receipt, make sure you do not add the extra tip, unless you feel like being extremely generous .

Now, talking about the whole experience at the restaurant. Will I ever come back? Never. Do I recommend? No. Why? Well, we drove an hour just to come eat at this restaurant and I totally regret it. First of all, when we got there the host greeted us and right away told us she will be right back. Well, she did come back but about 10 minutes later. Then, she sat us at a table and gave us our menu. She came back about 30 plus minutes later to ask us if we wanted anything to drink. It took forever to get half our drinks (we were a party of 7). After that she asked us if we wanted any appetizers, which we said yes and said she'll have them ready for us. Yes, she got them for us about 55 minutes later. By that time we were already thinking if we should order our entrees or just pay for the appetizers and half of our drinks (we still needed 2 more drinks). We'll, we decided to order and stay. That cost us a lot of our time. Yup! Another hour passed since we order out entrees. Finally, we got our food. Meh! We pass. Food wasn't great. Only one was delicious according to my partners dad. We've had better food than this. Service was horrible, although the waitress and host were nice, the experience there was nothing like we've experienced before. The restaurant was not busy. Wen we got there they had about 10 people. The table next to us was already there before us and they were upset because the food took long to come and one dish never came. So, they left very upset. We should've left when we had the chance. Our bill was so expensive and not worth it. I don't mind paying a lot for food but I expect excellent service and delicious food at a...