(From March 2012)

To evoke the same kind of lustful moan usually reserved for Hollywood heartthrobs, you need only say four words to a B–CS resident: Café Eccell’s strawberry tart. For more than two decades, this work of art—apricot-glazed strawberries resting on rich cream and Belgian chocolate in a crunchy almond lace cookie shell—has been Eccell’s signature dessert. But the cozy restaurant’s staying power can also be attributed to its fabulous wood-fired pizzas, vast selection of fresh fish, and eclectic takes on sandwiches, steaks, and pasta. We recently tried the herbed chicken club (a juicy breast piled high with smoked bacon, avocado, and provolone) paired with a bowl of creamy corn chowder. We finished, of course, with a strawberry tart. Bar.

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Photograph by Cody Anderson

(From October 2011)

Take a break from shopping and make your way to the distinctive yellow building with the pink door on Route 66. Then step up to the counter and place an order for one of the best burgers you’ve ever eaten. We’re nuts for Tuco’s Revenge, with its pepperjack-cheese-stuffed patty and spicy habanero sauce; we like to add an order of sweet potato puffs for a little crunch. The menu features several other original burgers, plus sandwiches and salads. And don’t forget the gelato; flavors change daily. 

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(From March 2011)

This place, with its clean lines, stylized art, and accomodating servers, is always a pleasure. So too was our meal of summer rolls with peanut sauce, followed by crispy red snapper topped with basil sauce, baby corn, and slivers of red bell pepper; an orb of jasmine rice flecked with black sesame seeds came alongside. Green tea ice cream with sticky rice and a splash of coconut coulis was a refreshing dessert; coming in second was a classic cheesecake with mango sauce and fresh raspberries. Bar.

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(From November 2011)

Eclectic tables and funky couches, as well as live music, make this the coolest coffee house in Lubbock, where the foam on the lattes and cappuccinos is a work of art and French press is a ready option. Our favorite: the aspen latte, with its unique blend of maple syrup and cinnamon. Even better—because you don’t have to love coffee to enjoy Sugar Brown’s—is the bounty of decadent baked goods: We tried inscrutably moist yet crumbly scones and muffins with crunchy tops and berries the size of hen eggs (we exaggerate only slightly). We especially love the mural: a brooding depiction of the West Texas prairie. 

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Photograph by Daniel Vaughn

(From June 2011)

It is indeed a catering business, but Pecan Lodge is also a small restaurant located in the heart of the farmers market, the better to source its produce. We chose a stick-to-the-ribs, decidedly unvegetably plate of mes-quite-smoked brisket and ribs with a side of stellar fried okra. And though there wasn’t much room for dessert, we gave our inner child a treat with the Sweet Lupita: a spec-tacular sculpture of fried tortilla strips drizzled with honey, powdered sugar, crushed pecan, and . . . fairy dust, an edible sparkly topping!

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(From June 2012)

Is there a hint of executive chef Bruce Auden’s English birthright here amid the international comfort food? Big leather chairs in the bar, shelves of pottery, baskets and wine against the windows, batter-fried chicken, Auden’s famous oysters, and sticky toffee pudding seem to suggest it’s so. At lunch, a panko-crusted flattened chicken breast topped with seasonal greens and a truffle oil dressing hit the comfort target dead-on. At night, oven-roasted chicken with saffron Israeli couscous was just the thing for sharing across the table, along with the Bluebonnet Salad, with local greens, apples, avocado, and goat cheese. Beer & wine.

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(From March 2011) A couple of blocks from where ships depart for actual cruises of the Caribbean, this lively bar provides a taste of the islands for the rest of us: coconut shrimp, black bean soup, and a head-spinning array of burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Tops in our book: the Rasta Pasta, packed with shrimp and crab, and the tarragon salad, loaded with chicken and avocado. Bar.

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(From June 2011) Power menu meets power diners in an über-Marfa-cool space. Recent temptations included our favorite, the grilled rack of lamb, served on giant white beans with a leek-and-potato terrine, delectable in both flavor and presentation. This time we picked a bold fettuccine with asparagus, cannellini beans, and spicy chile flakes. With creamy, lemony mashers and braised brussels sprouts, the hickory-grilled swordfish proved as satisfying but without the fireworks. Cheers for the clever appetizer of peppery shrimp, bacon, grits, and a poached egg and for the dessert of bread pudding splashed with rum—spoons for all! Beer & wine.

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(From November 2011)

Sitting down to brunch in this sunlit-space, it was hard to picture the same room throbbing with energy on a weekend night, as it’s reputed to do (imagine, if you will, a $50 punch bowl that serves up enough for twelve drinks). Although tempted by chicken and waffles, we loved our spinach and goat cheese omelet. Individual French presses kept us supplied with coffee throughout the meal, which ended with a bread pudding that confounded all preconceived notions; more like a flourless chocolate cake, it came topped with a slug of hot fudge sauce and a scoop of Henry’s chocolate ice cream. Bar.

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(From August 2011)

Perched above the river, a bit away from the madding throng, Acenar is the most stylish culinary and architectural adventure of local restaurateur Lisa Wong (of Rosario’s and China Latina). Here you’ll find bold colors, cutting-edge design, a busy bar, good service, and, best of all, contemporary Mexican food. The guacamole is a work of art; the chips are served in those trendy cones; the margs are made with fresh-squeezed juices. Tender corn crepes, from huitlacoche to pato (duck), are among the unusual options, along with tender cabrito and Mexican-style grilled redfish. It’s far from your ordinary taco joint. Bar.

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