My family dines out occasionally, and when we would like a change from the few restaurants in our small town, we travel to the nearby city of Lubbock, TX. Lubbock has a huge variety of restaurants, some local and some chains. Following are some of our personal favorites.
Orlando’s Italian Restaurant is one of our favorites. This restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine and desserts, a lively decor, and reasonable prices. Pizza, spaghetti, salads, and delicious breadsticks are only a few of the menu items.
Another better known Italian restaurant, the Olive Garden, is another favorite. Their salad and breadstick appetizers perfectly compliment the delcious pastas, soups and entrees. The Tour of Italy, ravioli, chicken parmigiana, and fettuccine alfredo are some of the best dishes.
If you like chinese food, an excellent choice is the super buffet, China Star. Beef with broccoli, sweet and sour chicken, egg rolls and fried rice are just a few of the hundreds of choices offered at this economically priced chinese buffet restaurant.
My children love pizza and two of their places to go are Mr. Gatti’s Gattiland and Chuckie Cheese. Gattiland offers a salad, pasta and pizza buffet which is reasonably priced, as well as a giant gameroom that features a merry go round, bumper cars and tons of games that give tickets for prizes. Chuckie Cheese is similar, with pizza, games and prizes.
Souper Salad is one of my favorite restaurants, because well, I love salad. A large salad and soup bar make this restaurant an economical, quick choice either for dinner, or on your lunch hour during the week. An expansive dining room can accomodate plenty of customers at once, so there generally isn’t a wait for a table.
If you love french food, and want a romantic setting for two, Chez Suzette is the place. This very elegant restaurant is a fabulous place for wedding rehearsal dinners, or a romantic anniversary dinner for a couple. French and Italian food are their specialties, and menu items include exotic seafood, pastas, soups, quiches and more. The restaurant prides itself on first class cuisine and the ability to cater to wedding parties and special occasions.
Benaglio’s is another favorite of ours. This restaurant, known for its pasta bar, makes everything from scratch, down to the croutons and crackers. Their pasta bar allows you to choose your own pasta and homemade sauces, and they prepare it fresh and custom for you. There is also a fresh salad, soup and fruit bar, or you can order a fresh panini or pizza from the menu. Their signature cheesecakes, brownies and tiramisu are some of the best desserts around.
Finally, our family loves to dine at El Chico’s Mexican Restaurant. This restaurant offers wonderful, homemade tortilla chips and salsa as an appetizer, and authentic menu items such as burritos, enchiladas, and fajitas. A favorite to most customers is the restaurant’s relish, a spicy combination of onion, carrots and jalapenos that have been pickled, and this is offered for free upon request. Prices are reasonable, and a large dining room and patio keep the wait for a table to a minimum.
If you are visiting Lubbock, or live there, and haven’t tried these restaurants, you should. These are worth mentioning, and if we will travel 45 miles to eat at any one of them, you can guarantee that they have fantastic food and prices that they whole family will love.
