Mojo Federal Swine & Spirits

We're from out of state and met some friends here who love this restaurant.I had shrimp and grits (being a lover of both shrimp and grits and it being relatively unknown up north). My husband had The Smitty sandwich which was beef brisket, smoked sausage, cheddar, mustard and pickle. He had green beans on the side. Everything was wonderful. The ambiance was beautiful being set in a former bank building. Our service was Ok. They forgot our appetizer, but by the time the food came out, we didn't misd it.

I love a restaurant in a historic building so I was instantly drawn to Mojo Federal Swine and Spirits in downtown Lakeland. The restaurant is located in the old Federal Building also known as the Post Office which was built in 1917. An addition was added in 1929 and it once housed local offices for the IRS and United States Department of Agriculture. This stately architectural gem with its grand white columns is located at Tennessee Avenue and Lemon Street. Mojo is a restaurant chain that started in North Florida in 2003, and now has eight locations in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, and here in Lakeland. Mojo comes from the Blues, and when they mixed the Blues with BBQ, Mojo magic was created. I loved the expansive interior with high dining room ceilings, exposed ductwork, and original wooden beams. Archways separate the lobby from the dining area. The south and west walls have exposed brick with big, white, framed windows. On the southern wall is a glass door leading to the outside seating on the patio.I decided to sit at the bar where I received friendly and attentive service. I started off with a seasonal sip sangria made with chardonnay, apple cider, cinnamon syrup, and Captain Morgan. It was absolutely delicious, the encapsulation of the flavors of fall. For my meal I ordered the brisket with Texas toast, coleslaw, and macaroni and cheese. The brisket was fork tender and didn't even need sauce but you have your choice of chipotle, sweet, mojo, mustard, an vinegar sauces. The macaroni and cheese was rich and the coleslaw was sweet and creamy. The portion was so generous that I actually had quite a bit to take home. I am so glad I saw Rachel M's review and stopped in because Mojo Federal Swine and Spirits ended up being one of the highlights of my trip to Lakeland.

4.8* (out of 5)Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5*Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely)Total check/person: $2205/20/2024We stopped here for lunch with my son and parents after a tour of his current jobsite in Lakeland. The atmosphere was amazing - clean and modern, yet rustic and welcoming. It is located in an old bank building (see pictures) and thus the 'Federal' in the name, with some tongue-in-cheek advertising on the signs outside (see pictures).We weren't super hungry, so ordered a little on the light side and shared our dishes (as is our custom anyway). As an appetizer, we ordered the Onion Rings (see picture) and they were awesome - huge, crispy and bit off cleanly. For lunch we ordered (see pictures for each): Kansas City Burnt Ends, Three-Meat Combo, BBQ Reuben & Smoked Turkey Breast. All of the dishes were smokey, juicy and full of flavor - but that didn't stop us from trying the various bbq sauces on the table (see picture).The next time you find yourself in Lakeland and looking for some good BBQ, stop by Mojo Federal Swine & "Spirits.If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow.

Came here with friends to celebrate two birthdays. What could be better than good BBQ on your birthday. From the outside it looks more like a bank than a BBQ place but as soon as you walk inside you forget all about the outside.We got seated right away. Server was fast at the start and then I'm not sure what happened but as the place got less busy the service became way more slow.We started off with their award winning wings. They were definitely really good. Nice crisp finish to them with the way they're prepared with a finish in the deep fryer. Great flavor. It's no surprise that they won two awards.They make a really good old fashioned as well. They also manage to overcook brisket really well too. Two of us got the two meat combo with links and brisket. The brisket was horrible. Not even the barbeque sauce could save it. I couldn't even finish it. The mac-n-cheese side was also not good. Tasted like 3 day old reheated mac-n-cheese. The baked beans were good.The two winners of this place were the smoked wings and the moist towelette that they bring you.Not a place I would come back to. Food and service were subpar.

Really good BBQ here with killer sides! The decor inside is very nice too. Service is good. I love mixing the MOJO and Sweet sauce together. The mac & cheese is one of my favorite sides here.

Group of 20 with a reservation. We were seated immediately. The waitress did an absolute amazing job. She had our tables and another group and managed to keep up with us better than the bar did. We had a variety of pretty much everything on the menu. All was delicious.

When visiting Lakeland, Mojo Federal is at the top of my lists of restaurants to pop into. It is located downtown, but the good news is that a public parking garage is within easy walking distance. Mojo Federal has all things BBQ from pulled pork sandwiches to full platters. On this trip, I decided to get a platter with chicken, pulled pork, and a few sides. Everything was delicious, including their giant specialty onion rings. You actually receive about 4-5 giant rings even if ordering it as a side. I also enjoyed the range of 5 sauces as they included everything from sweet BBQ to mustard sauce. My only tip for visiting is that this is a table service BBQ restaurant as opposed to quick service BBQ. I would say don't let that dissuade you from visiting though as our server was perfect.

Great BBQ, fine bar and a gorgeous, unique building. It's an old bank and it's beautifully preserved.

Great design. Fast service. Very fresh food. Brisket with mojo for a twist. Great smoke. Shrimp and grits with tomatoes and mushrooms. Cheddar grits. Overall good experience.

Mojo Federal the 8th location of this BBQ joint, high style, locations charming (Ocala, st Augustine, Lakeland....also jaguar stadium but us Bucs fans won't hold this against you...)Great drink menu and selection- try the drunken cucumber! Had 3 meat selection and burnt end app. BBQ is solid, homemade sauce selection.TopsBrandi is a delightful bartender!