Welcome back, Polk County.
Mike here.
We've been covering The Best Food In Polk County by breaking down lists of food categories broken down for Polk, Lakeland and Winter Haven because those are the big hubs that allow for lists of 10.
That said, I've had newsletter subscribers writing in asking if I can make lists for the smaller towns like Bartow, Auburndale, etc.
So, to kick that off, I'm starting with lists like this one, curating the best food in the entire town!
Which brings us to our first...
The Best Places To Eat in Bartow, Florida.
And, as always, this isn’t just a list I’ve put together based on my own preferences…
This list was built from HUNDREDS of votes, from locals just like you.
Let’s go 
Special Author’s Note:
Bartow was one of our top choices when we were looking to buy our first home. We ended up in Auburndale, but we LOVE Bartow. Front Page Brewing and Palace Pizza are two spots we love bringing family — but there are quite a few spots on this list I'm excited to hit now as well.
First Place: Charm City
The Best Place To Eat In Bartow, Florida
Charm City — 1037 N Broadway Ave, Bartow
There wasn't much drama at the top of this one.
Charm City ran away with it. By a wide margin.
It's a blend of BBQ and seafood; so it's no wonder the locals come out shouting for it with recommendations.
It's a rare spot that gets recommended no matter what the locals are craving.
Voters said things like:
- "Half is bbq the other is seafood. Best of both worlds."
- "Charm City had the best grouper sandwich."
- "Charm City. Mahi tacos and fries. Yum."
Locals made it pretty clear this is a spot you HAVE to try if you're in Bartow.
Second Place: Zest Bar and Grill
The Second Best Place To Eat In Bartow, Florida
Zest Bar & Grill — 315 E Summerlin St, Bartow
Coming in second, and not far behind, is Zest.
Downtown Bartow's go-to for a full bar, a bigger dinner menu, and some pretty great live music on the weekends.
More than one local mentioned catching a show there.
Voters said things like:
- "Zest for food and while you're there have a hand crafted cocktail from Barry."
- "Zest!! Great food, service and atmosphere, they will not disappoint!!"
- "Zest is the best!!"
Easy to see why Zest kept showing up among the votes.
This is the spot locals point out-of-towners to when they want an actual sit-down night out.
Third Place: Palace Pizza
The Third Best Place To Eat In Bartow, Florida
Palace Pizza — 105 E Main St, Bartow
Rounding out our top three is Palace Pizza.
This is mine and Katie's top choice on the list, and one of the best pizza spots in all of Polk County.
One of those reliable, no-notes local pizza spots that locals recommend on reflex.
Voters said things like:
- "Palace pizza!!! Great chicken caesar salad.. and pizza!"
- "Can't go wrong with Palace Pizza. Good Italian food. Great pizza."
- "Palace Pizza in Bartow is THE best!"
A Bartow staple.
And a spot that consistently comes up in the talks of best food in Polk, not just Bartow.
Fourth Place: Blue Ridge Grill
The Fourth Best Place To Eat In Bartow, Florida
Blue Ridge Grill — 1037 N Broadway Ave, Bartow
Coming in fourth is Blue Ridge Grill, formerly Mike's Grill.
Look closely at the votes and you'll see both names getting used interchangeably.
One voter told us it's been a Bartow staple for 20+ years.
Even though the name changed, the comfort food reputation hasn't changed.
Voters said things like:
- "We ate at Blue Ridge Grille last week. We all had comfort food. It was very good and plentiful."
- "The breakfast is amazing, I'm guessing dinner is just as good."
- "It's been years, like 20+ years ago, but Mike's Grill was owned by some really nice Greek family. They had the best fried chicken."
In August 2025 they made the announcement to close for renovations and re-open as Blue Ridge Grill.
Fifth Place: Broadway Diner
The Fifth Best Place To Eat In Bartow, Florida
Broadway Diner — 1380 N Broadway Ave, Bartow
Coming in at number five is Broadway Diner.
Multiple locals warned us about the same thing.
Get there before 2:30 or 3:00 PM, because they close early.
Almost everyone who mentioned that closing time followed it up with a reason to go anyway.
Voters said things like:
- "Broadway Diner for breakfast and lunch only. It's tucked away in a shopping center but worth it. Generous portions. Proper Southern food. Try the pork loin sandwich."
- "Fried Green Tomatoes to the Best Hamburgers in Town.. Their Fried Chicken is better than any Restaurant and I Love their Broiled White Fish."
- "Broadway Diner for the win! Can't go wrong with a place that offers breakfast for lunch!"
Old-school Southern diner food.
Worth planning your afternoon around.
Other Great Places To Eat In Bartow, Florida
If you’re anything like me, you want to try all the best places to eat in Bartow, Florida so you can be the judge for yourself.
So here is the rest of the top ten best places to eat in Bartow, Florida (in order 6-10):
- #6 — El Ranchito Jalisco (Mexican)
- #7 — Catfish Country
- #8 — Two Brothers and a Grill (Mexican)
- #9 — Havana Delights (Cuban)
- #10 — Sweet Magnolias Cafe & Catering
Which gives us the full top 10 best places to eat in Bartow.
And brings us to the moment you’ve all been waiting for…
My personal opinion (that no one asked for 
).
Here are my top Bartow food spots:
- Palace Pizza
- Zest Bar & Grill
- Saving This Spot
This one is a bit unfair considering I'd choose pizza over seafood or BBQ, but I guess that's why they're my top picks and not someone else's.
THANKS!
Thanks for reading this edition of The Polk Squeeze today.
Share this with a friend who's been looking for the best places to eat in Bartow.
- Mike Romaine
Never Miss An Event Or Story
I take 15 to 25 out to lunch from one of the over 55 community in Polk County plus we do trip, so I love your articles. We have eaten twice over in Bartow and glad to see my places went on your list. I’m thinking of Bartow’s House and so will be going to Bartow another time. I’m interested in places of interest in Polk County
Thank you Arlene! I’m going to be adding more of the town-specific articles like this one, and the emails/votes that come in are invaluable to put these together for others.