Hillcrest Coffee — Restaurant in Lakeland

Arrived at one of my favorite coffee places not only in Lakeland but in Florida.

You can park in the small parking lot by the side of the cute yellow house where the coffee and tea are sold or on the streets that surround it. There are sitting spaces inside and out. It was a bit in the freezing side when we got there this am, so if you are sitting inside bring a sweater, it is refreshing when it is 90 out but tend to get a bit chilly after a few minutes.

The pricing is so reasonable, feels more like the 2000’s than 2022. $3.65 for a latte.,at a place down the street they charge $5.50-$6.25! Crazy! So much better here AND the folks that work here… so polite!

I thought I would get into one of those cartoon arguments with a barista of who was going to go first in a hallway! He was much too polite with his hands full, lol!!!!

My honey cinnamon latte, delish!!!!!!!!! My hubby got coffee. All coffees are made from beans from a local company called Ethos, Buddy Brew and Patriot. $1.10 an ounce. Have had them all…gets your heart racing, in...

Ahh, Hillcrest just feels like home..

This is actually the truth, though, because Hillcrest Coffee is literally set up in an actual house in the middle of a Lakeland neighborhood ! There’s a lovely wrap around porch with outdoor seating and it’s super cozy and close quarters inside. This can both be good and bad. If there’s a lot of people inside it certainly gets quite loud.

On special nights there is also live music from local performers, and that’s when the intimate space really becomes fun. I think the coffee itself is good! It’s not one I’d rave about but it’s definitely worth going and enjoying, especially sitting out on the porch if able.

There’s also a special white kitty that likes to hang around the house and take in all the pets (and treats if you give in). She has let me pick her up too, such a sweetie. If you click your heels to return home, you may just end up at...

Charming and cozy atmosphere, making it a great spot for locals. The four-cheese quiche was absolutely delicious, and my maple spice latte was enjoyable.

However, the customer service left something to be desired. Upon entering, we weren’t greeted, and when I asked about flavor options, the staff seemed unsure and not particularly eager to help.

One employee had to step in to answer my question, and when I asked for recommendations, they weren’t very engaged or informative. They weren’t rude, just not as friendly or welcoming as I would expect in a customer-facing role.

Overall, the food and drinks were great, but the service could use improvement. A little more enthusiasm and willingness to engage with first-time visitors would make the experience...