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50 YARD LINE STEAKHOUSE
2549 S. Loop 289
(806-745-3991)
Dinner Mon–Sat 5-close (between 8:30-9:30). Closed Sun.
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$$-$$$ |
Steaks |
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(From May 2012) This is old-money Lubbock at its finest: dark booths, elegant linens, leather chairs, and classy fire-grilled steaks, plus all the football memorabilia you’d expect from a country club in West Texas. Dainty mugs of French onion soup, salads with homemade dressings, and a basket of signature cheese rolls and blueberry muffins still kick off every entrée. The tenderloins are center cut and lean, and even the chopped sirloin is mouthwatering. And when they say loaded baked potato, they mean it: ours was overflowing with chives, sour cream, cheese, and crisp bacon. Bar. |
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APPLE TREE CAFE & BAKERY
3501 50th
(806-799-7715)
Open Tue–Sat 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Closed Sun & Mon.
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$ |
No cuisine listed |
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(From May 2011) The red-and-white tablecloths, murals of country scenes, and friendly servers at Apple Tree make for a cozy, farm-house atmosphere. The tortilla soup, brimming with vegetables and chicken, is light but filling, especially paired with half a sandwich. Apple Tree blends tangy mayonnaise, pickles, and pineapple into its chicken salad and serves it on thick-sliced fresh bread. There’s also an assortment of Mexican dishes, including an enormous burrito, stuffed with beef and beans and topped with creamy enchilada sauce. Breakfast is good too, particularly the baked goods: The pretty Bavarian cream turnover was our favorite—flaky and just rich enough. |
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BELLY’S CAFE
1406 Ave Q
(806-853-9001)
Open Tue–Thur 11–9, Fri & Sat 11–2 a.m., Sun 11–7. Closed Mon.
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$ |
No cuisine listed |
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(From January 2011) Located next to a tattoo and piercing parlor, this burger joint is as hip as its neighbor. Just for fun, build your own burger: Pick a regular, wheat, or jalapeño-cheddar bun and then choose your toppings (all the usual ones, plus roasted pepper relish, cranberry-apple chutney, and “guaco mayoâ€). There are also salads and a variety of sandwiches, as well as onion rings and regular and sweet potato fries. Finish with the O-Pie, an Oreo crust with peanut butter crème and chocolate-velvet filling. (All of the artwork at Belly’s is for sale, for those who prefer it on the wall rather than the body.) Bar. |
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BLESS YOUR HEART
3701 19th
(806-791-2211)
Open Mon–Sat 10:30–9. Closed Sun.
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$ |
Pizza |
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(From March 2011) This hot spot near the university and medical districts offers quick service and heart-healthy food. From the Smart Mex menu, we like the Clucker taco, a whole-wheat tortilla stuffed with apple-sweetened chicken salad, and we love the decadent Mediterranean pizza overflowing with mozzarella, artichoke hearts, red onions, and tomato slices. The cold sandwiches pile on the turkey, roast beef, or dolphin-safe tuna, and they’ve even made the burger healthy with hearty buffalo, turkey, or veggie options. And don’t forget the yogurt bar, with fresh fruit and fat-free, guilt-free fudge! |
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BLUE MONKEY GRILL
2407 9th
(806-747-6444)
Open 7 days 11–midnight
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$ |
Home Cooking |
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(From February 2012) Lean metallic chairs and tables, blue neon lights, and a crown of flat-screen TVs atop the bar give this restaurant an uptown, urban air. We loved the leaning tower of a sandwich they call the BBQ Pork ’n’ Slaw. A great combination of flavors: tangy, creamy slaw; sweet barbecue; and spicy pepperjack. The Blackened Catfish Tacos also paired up some unique ingredients: Cajun catfish, lime slaw, and jalapeño mayonnaise. So original, so delish. The dishes with Mexican crema were too dry for us, but we went totally bananas over the Totally Bananas Monkey Skewers—decadent bites of fried cheesecake and caramelized bananas, skewered and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Now, that’s the kind of dessert we daydream about. Bar. |
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CAFE J
2605 19th
(806-743-5400)
Lunch Sun & Tue–Fri 11–2:30. Dinner Sun & Tue–Thur 5:30–10, Fri & Sat 5:30–11. Brunch Sun 11–2:30. Closed Mon.
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$$–$$$ |
American |
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(From March 2011) Tucked inside the Godbold Center, an upscale art gallery with mysterious, winding hallways and cozy, romantic nooks, this hideaway offers varied selections for lunch and dinner and a brunch menu that will dress up any Sunday morning. Choices on the latter range from eggs Benedict (Ã la Pacific, on crab cakes) to a fried egg sandwich with a European spin (on ciabatta with creamy aioli and feta). As always, there are comforting local creations: a migas omelet, a breakfast relleno, and Southwestern crepes. Bar. |
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CAKE BY DISTINCTIVE DETAILS
8201 Quaker #128, Kingsgate Center
(806-698-6298)
Open Tue-Sat 10-sold out, usually around 4. Closed Sun-Mon.
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$$ |
Bakery |
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(From June 2011) Tucked inside a teensy storefront, all white and glistening, is the heart of Lubbock’s trendiest shopping center. Gourmet cupcakes, nestled in beribboned boxes, come in a multitude of flavors, like Signature Chocolate (a sinful mix of chocolate chips and dark chocolate cake) and Lemon Blueberry (a perfect blend of sweet and tangy). Our favorite is the Diner (old-fashioned yellow cake with chocolate buttercream frosting). Or maybe the Apricot Amaretto. No, the Bridal White. No, Butterscotch! The options are endless. |
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CAPROCK CAFE
3405 34th
(806-784-0300)
Open 7 days 11–midnight.
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$-$$ |
Southwestern |
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(From May 2012) Don’t let the metal bars fool you. That’s the gate to the outdoor patio—open in summer, tented and heated in winter. We started with the creamy potato-cheese soup, spicy with green chiles, then moved to a hearty burger with Swiss cheese and portobellos. We also like the queso taco, a heaping portion of beef, bell peppers, and cheese stuffed in a wheat tortilla. The sides here further amp up the meal: try the Twisted Taters (their homemade chips) or the Texas Toothpicks (deep-fried strips of onion and jalapeño). The Ancho Rancho Chocolate Pie comes piping hot. Bar. |
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CATALINA’S
1519 34th
(806-368-5364)
Open Mon–Sat 8–7. Closed Sun
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$ |
No cuisine listed |
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(From April 2012) Seated at a little wooden table, surrounded by colorful murals of a Mexican town square, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation. The chiles rellenos are the prize here: gigantic poblanos stuffed with spicy ground beef and cheese and coated with bread crumbs, the way a South Plains relleno should be. The tacos have thick, flat-bottomed shells—all the more room to stuff with fresh meat and crisp veggies. Even the American dishes are tasty here. Don’t miss the refreshing lemon pie for dessert. |
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THE CHOC’LATE MOUSSE: PIE BAR
3207 50th
(806-780-7437)
Open Tue & Wed 11-9, Thur & Fri 11-10, Sat noon-10, Sun 1-5. Closed Mon.
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$ |
No cuisine listed |
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(From June 2012) Leather chairs, dark tables, plush couches, and pendant lights give this dessert stop the feel of a trendy lounge, but the crowd—a big one—and the staff are friendly. Order your pie as a parfait, a “martini” (without a crust), a sandwich, or even as a dip (with graham crackers for dunking). Our favorite flavors: velvety white chocolate, tangy blueberry cream, banana cream (like your mom’s pudding), and refreshing cherry limeade. Crusts include vanilla wafers with pecans, Thin Mints, graham crackers, and Oreos. |
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