Valet parking and a dress code might come to mind when you think of the word “fancy” elsewhere, but not around Lubbock. You won’t find much of that here, if any at all. “Fancy”, especially when it comes to restaurants, is more about small upgrades that make something feel a little more spruced up than normal.

Photo by Antonio Araujo on Unsplash

It usually starts with lighting. If the restaurant doesn’t have your looking washed out under fluorescent bulbs, then you’re somewhere special. Candle on the table? Upscale as hell! Menu doesn’t have pictures? Fine dining, y’all.

Then, there’s the outfit. Nobody in Lubbock is going full tux, ANYWHERE, except for maybe a wedding. Even then, that’s a bit rich for our taste. Maybe the orchestra? I don’t know. I’m trying to picture if I’ve ever seen anyone in Lubbock with a tux on, period, and I’m drawing a big blank, y’all.

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Ordering appetizers at a restaurant sure makes things feel kind of fancy, but ordering two? You must be celebrating. If your drinks come out in real glassware with a lime wedge, congratulations. You are spending an elevated evening in Lubbock, Texas.

Another sign of “fancy” in Lubbock is being able to hear the person sitting across from you at dinner without yelling. That’s really something special. Bonus points if there isn’t a TV on the wall anywhere in the restaurant, period.

The truth is, Lubbock doesn’t need over-the-top luxury. We’ve mastered the art of turning simple moments into something that feels special. And if that means calling good lighting, real glassware, and clean jeans “fancy”… we’re perfectly fine with that.

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