2nd Fresh Kitchen Eatery With Drive-Thru To Open In Lakeland Tuesday

LAKELAND, FL — Fresh Kitchen, the popular chef-inspired, build-your-own-bowl concept, announced the opening of its first eatery in Lakeland, its 14th location in Florida, on Tuesday, April 18.

This new location at 4520 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, marks the second online ordering drive-thru pick-up window for Fresh Kitchen, following the success of its first drive-thru location in Gainesville in 2022.

The grand opening will feature an opportunity to win various prizes and giveaways, including everything from a free bowl to catering for the company. True to Fresh Kitchen's mission, the opening will be centered around “sharing love” with the local community through a partnership with Children’s Home Society of Florida.

The opening festivities will take place from 11 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. and will feature Fresh Kitchen's full menu of made-from-scratch, healthy favorites.

The first guest in line will participate in FK's "Cash Cannon" for the opportunity to get 100 free bowls.

Then, the next 50 guests will receive Fresh Kitchen merchandise and scratch-off cards that reveal prizes, including free desserts, bowls and drinks valued between $50-$100 in FK Cash or a complimentary Family Meal. One guest will win free catering for 20 people.

Then, on Saturday, May 20, Fresh Kitchen will sponsor lunch for participants in the Children's Home Society of Florida’s Inaugural Mixed Doubles Charity Pickleball Tournament at 8 a.m. at the Kelly Recreational Complex in Lakeland.

• Interested community members must register by May 5 at here. Donation fees apply. Registration includes lunch catered by FK, a hydration station and player snacks.
• In addition to providing lunch, FK’s local managing partner, Jordan Fowler, will be representing Fresh Kitchen and competing in the tournament.

Fresh Kitchen options include fresh greens, sweet potato noodles, seasoned rices, roasted vegetables, hormone and antibiotic-free grilled meats, responsibly sourced salmon, homemade sauces and flavorful add-ons.

Vegetables are cut daily in-house, and the entire menu is 100 percent gluten-free, with vegan options available.

In line with Fresh Kitchen's food ethos and commitment to quality, all food is cooked using 100 percent pure olive oil, a heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory alternative to the commonly used genetically modified and highly processed canola oil.

Guests can choose from a variety of bowl options ranging from $12.59 for a Six Bowl (two bases, two veggies, two proteins, one add-on, one sauce) to $9.79 for a Four Bowl (two bases, one veggie, one protein, one add-on, one sauce), and $8.29 for a Kid's Bowl (one base, one veggie, one protein, one add-on, one sauce).

To complement their bowls, Fresh Kitchen also offers a selection of freshly brewed teas, lightly sweetened juice frescas and cane sugar craft sodas. Those with a sweet tooth can indulge in gluten-free, paleo-friendly chocolate chip cookies.

In addition to its dine in and online ordering options, Fresh Kitchen offers catering, including individual catering bowls and shareable meals like the Family Meal (which feeds four for $48) or the Feast Meal (which feeds eight for $89).

The Lakeland location will be the second location to offer the drive-thru experience. Rather than traditional on-the-spot drive-thru ordering, guests can order online ahead of time and pick up their meals at the drive-thru.

Guests can also easily pick up their online orders in the store via their contactless pick-up option.

The Lakeland location includes the brand’s most up-to-date look and feel and will feature a unique mural that was inspired by the community and painted by Lakeland artist Gillian Fazio.

"We are so excited to bring a healthy and feel-good dining experience to Lakeland and to be able to provide a great place to work within the community" said Fresh Kitchen’s Steven Lanza. "We are so driven by sharing love with our communities through incredible food and experiences, while simultaneously contributing to the betterment of our team members’ lives and reducing our impact on the environment.”

In 2021, Fresh Kitchen's South Florida region introduced composting in partnership with the local company, Renuable. The Lakeland location will be the third location with a composting program in an effort to help reduce food waste. In doing so, the eatery will also teach, train and engage its 80-plus new team members about the impact they will have in supporting a healthier food system and planet.

Fresh Kitchen's Lakeland location will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9:05 p.m.