Lake Wales Latte Lounge Review | Mike & Katie’s Polk Food Quest

For our twenty fifth stop on our Polk Food Quest, we stopped by Lake Wales Latte Lounge (Coffee & Bookshop).

We've been wanting to make it back out to Lake Wales for a review so we decided to stop by the Saturday market and then this was the perfect spot to grab some coffee and escape the heat.

Lake Wales isn't large enough to get it's own dedicated lists among our Best Food In Polk, but I'll make the editorial decision to say this is definitely a top choice among both coffee and breakfast spots!

Oh, AND they're open 8AM-8PM, so there's no reason why you wouldn't stop in and stay a while.

By the way: if you're new here, the concept of my Polk Food Quest is simple: every week I try a local spot, order the most common thing people get, try a few extras, and rank it on taste, value, vibes, and overall.

This week: Coffee & Breakfast!

Which means I ordered a bacon, egg & cheese on a bagel with a regular iced coffee and Katie ordered Nutella crepes with a sugar free salted caramel latte.

Taste: 4/5

The Lake Wales Latte Lounge has a big menu.

This one is similar to when we reviewed Black & Brew in Lakeland, which is not only a coffee shop, but also has a large menu.

I really want to give two different scores for this one ... but I'll explain a bit more.

Just as a coffee shop: 4.5-5

For their full menu: 3.5-4

If we were JUST ranking their coffee and maybe some pastries I think we would be giving them a 4.5 or even 5 if they had a good selection of pastries.

Katie was blown away by their selection of sugar free syrups, specialty drinks and coffee selection overall.

But, since we're ranking their whole menu it's closer to Kokomo's style dishes and comes in closer to a 3.5 (though if it was just the breakfast sandwich I might have teetered to a 4 anyways because it actually surprised me a bit).

Here's a quick breakdown for my quick scanners, though:

• Breakfast Sandwich: This surprised me. It's obviously not Uncle Nick's or what I miss on Long Island, but it was very good and I would definitely go back for another one.
• Nutella Crepes: Really good! But not enough to get a 4-5 score. Would likely not beat most diners that come in our top lists.
• Coffee: We both loved the coffee and the selections blew us away.

Either way the score holds up and I will definitely order food when I go back.

And I'll be back, for food, the coffee and the vibes!

Vibes: 5/5

You come to The Lake Wales Latte Lounge for the vibes.

They are a mixture of a coffee shop and a bookshop, and they're tucked down the path of the Downtown Arcade which brings you into their little world that is basically the definition of what we look for when ranking vibes.

But, aside from the fact that I love books, we have to take a look at all three parts of "vibes" to really show why they're getting a perfect 5/5.

I rank this on:

1. The Physical Location
2. Hospitality/Service
3. The Interior/Space

It passes the test for the interior/space. Quaint. Tucked away. Books and coffee.

Doesn't get much better.

The hospitality passes the test as well. Everyone was so nice and made us want to come back for Scattergories with Fern that is held every Monday at 6PM.

And, the physical location doesn't get much better. Right in the heart of Downtown Lake Wales, steps away from the market.

Value: 5/5

My brother Ryan tagged along and among the three of us we only spent about $35 with 3 coffees, 2 breakfast sandwiches and the crepes.

There's very few places you can go with 3 people nowadays where you get a meal and a drink (especially coffees) and spend less than $50.

So, given the fact that we're giving them a 4+/5 for taste and a 5/5 for vibes, AND they're coming in well under what a usual meal and coffee would cost ... 5/5 for value seems like a no brainer as well.

This is a place where you come for the vibes and are delighted by service and food and keep coming back.

Hey!

I want to know what you think of The Lake Wales Latte Lounge & Bookshop.

Leave a comment below.

The more you share, the better, but anything is appreciated.

Each comment helps The Best Of Polk articles and eventually, the yearly awards!

Have a place you want me to try? 

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