Decisions Grill & Bar — Restaurant in Lakeland

Moved here from Chicago several years ago and have missed the food ever since. I was driving to the local hardware store, when out of the corner of my eye I saw it. It was like a giant beacon of light for people from Chicago. Did I see this correctly?? It's large yellow and gives me hope. THE VIENNA BEEF SIGN on their storefront. After my hardware store run I pulled into the parking lot with a certain amount of doubt in my mind. After all, I've been in FL long enough to know how rare this sighting is and even more rare for it to be a true Chicago food joint. As I walked through the doors and bellied up to the bar and saw the Old Style sign, I knew I was in an authentic Chicago dive bar. I quickly found a menu on the bar and began to look for the almighty Italian Beef. Disappointment was beginning to take over when I didn't see it on the menu, but then I see the special board and there it is, the great Italian Beef sandwich written in neon pen glowing from the board. The owner and bartender was friendly and took the time to explain that they don't bother to put the Italian Beef on the menu because they were so tired of having to explain to non Chicagoians what this great sandwich is all about. They put it on the special board and those that know, know and those that don't will never understand. I completely get this because after years of asking places in FL if they had "Italian Beef" and being looked at like I had a third eye or something I had all but given up on my quest for a decent Beef in FL. I placed my order to go as I chatted with the owner/bartender about their establishment and how she couldn't believe how many people had seen their newer sign and come in because of the Vienna logo on the storefront. It just so happened I got to remissness with another patron sitting next to me, as he was from the Chicago land area as well. He told me how he to had saw the Vienna sign and come into the bar because of it as well. We chatted about home and how good Chicago food was next to impossible to find down here and we shared our local finds that passed the test. My order came out and I couldn't wait to get home to tear into it. My wife had her beef gone before I could even start on my combo beef and sausage. I took my first bite of their homemade sausage paired with the perfectly seasoned thin beef, surrounded by mozzarella and sweet peppers and I think I might have heard angels sing. I was home again. This is the real deal Chicago Beef and sausage!!! The sandwiches were excellent as well as the jumbo Chicago dogs. The only minor difference is the bread, but I can't really fault them for that because I've had this discussion with the owner of my other go to Chicago food place and he has said how hard it is to get the proper roll down here. With all that being said, I would recommend this place to anybody who wants a taste of Chicago. I hear their other food is just as fresh and good as well,, but I have a hard time ordering anything else other than my taste of home. I'm so very happy we found this place and the bonus is it's only a short distance from our home in SE Lakeland. P.S I don't mean to promote another establishment, but if you're looking for a great Chicago thin cracker crust pizza you should check out J. Burns right up the street. Sorry for that endorsement, but I have to look out for all my home town people who may be struggling to find the flavors of our sweet...

I waited entirely too long to try this place. Granted, the idea was for my older brother to introduce me to their wings for the first time, but I just couldn't wait any longer. First, I was determined to hold off on the wings for a game day with the eldest, so Mom was my dining partner and we split their Potato Bites. They're not skins and they're not fries. They're random shapes actually seems to help catch the cheese and bacon better than fries without all the good stuff just sticking to the top. Served with sour cream, you can also order any of their sauces for dipping.

Though I am admittedly a Ranch lover, any Ranch lover will tell you that not all are created equal and Decisions definitely serves up the kind we all prefer. Side bar, I had my Mom try a taste and she was actually looking forward to the next visit so she could order a salad... just to have the Ranch dressing on it. She's not a Ranch on pizza kind of gal, which is what she ordered and it was delicious without any need for dipping. But I am a dipper and I like sauce, so my Grilled Ham and Cheese got the treatment from everything we had in front of us. Our follow up visit with their Burger and Fried Chicken Sandwich, tossed in Hot Buffalo sauce was another welcome choice. Not a bite survived. The Salad, with Ranch for Mom, another Cheese Pizza, Wings, Fries and everything that comes with let you know why Decisions Bar & Grill is a staple of local eating for Lakelanders.

While the menu is not small, they don't sacrifice quality. It's "bar food" done right; no nonsense and straight forward. It definitely reminds you of your OLD favorite place before they started going down the drain. This place hasn't...

This place is all-around a GREAT little spot!!! Came in here with my hubby for lunch. We are from the Chicago area and have been craving a Chicago dog. My husband found this place on Google and has been wanting to try it so we went today and we were not disappointed! The owner Vince was super friendly and funny. The atmosphere really felt like a bar up north (one of the things I miss the most), the food was delicious!!!! We got the Chicago dogs and shared a hot beef (which came with a Side of au jus (apparently people down here don’t like their hot beef dipped so they serve the au jus on the side), peppers and onions and we got giardinaria on ours. DELICIOUS! A taste of home for sure! The bar patrons were so friendly and it was refreshing to have a conversation with people like I used to do back home. Being from the Midwest, the culture down here is just different and I get homesick at times. But Decisions felt like home and it’s definitely a new favorite! We will...