White Bean Chicken Chili
The Crafthouse Gastropub

The Crafthouse Gastropub

3131 34th St Lubbock, TX 79410-3227, United States

Pub • Pubs • Salad • American


"The restaurant’s interior was nice but not overly fancy, creating a comfortable atmosphere. We were quickly greeted by an older lady who turned out to be an excellent waitress—I should have tipped her more. Kevin suggested we start with a pretzel, and I went with the all-day breakfast for $10. Kevin chose the Fried Ham Sammie, which I might consider on my next visit, along with a Bison Burger (a half-pound burger for $14). I'm not a big beer drinker, but since Kevin is, I let him pick a beer for me. He chose a Fleur de Wheat, which was surprisingly good. I only had one, but I could have easily enjoyed a couple more if I hadn’t been driving. The pretzel was fantastic! It cost $7, which felt a bit pricey, but it came with Shiner Bock mustard and Blanco queso for dipping. The queso definitely won in that pairing. After sharing a few stories with Kevin, our main dishes arrived. I ordered sunny-side-up eggs, but got one egg that was overcooked—the yolk wasn’t runny at all. The Texas toast was burned, but it wasn't too bad. The egg was served over grits with sausage, which was decent. However, I would have preferred more sausage and less grits. Overall, I was not very impressed with that dish; I've had better at places like Cast Iron Grill and Cracker Barrel. Kevin’s Fried Ham sandwich, on the other hand, looked impressive. We sat at a table, and right behind Kevin were two fit, attractive middle-aged women. I mention this because I can't help but wonder if they overheard some of Kevin's stories—he has a knack for sharing the most intriguing tales I've ever heard in person. He told stories about brothels in Germany and Amsterdam, personal female servants he had in Malaysia, and even his experiences with psychedelic mushrooms and other mind-altering substances. If Kevin ever wrote a book, I would be first in line to read it; he could also make a great podcast host! Overall, I had a really good time, primarily due to the company rather than the food. After all, it was just lunch—a meal I rarely have—and $26 is a bit pricey for my wallet. I could have a couple of dinners at Anna’s for that amount, and they even come with hugs! This is an official review. God bless Dirt City, and God bless the Texas Tech baseball team for keeping me entertained and my father alive."

Temper Grille

Temper Grille

1213 East University Dr., Granger, United States

Wine • Beer • Tapas • Dining


"For my reservation on Open Table I requested a booth explaining that my 2 friends were celebrating birthdays so we had gifts and wanted the comfort and extra space of one of their large booths. They were not busy when we arrived yet we were told we couldn 't have a booth, as they save them for larger groups (which by the way I have sat with 5 others in a booth and it was very crowded and uncomfortable). Of the 3 booths only 2 were used all evening, so the 3 of us could have been seated in one. This was Disappointment #1. The service was fair. As they had many empty tables all evening, the service should have been better...Disappointment #2. The food took quiet a while to start coming out, which was odd because they weren 't that busy. Some of the food we wanted to enjoy together and we mentioned this to our server. Generally the dishes stream in and overlap, but we had 1 dish delivered and then nothing for quite some time, then all of a sudden several were delivered at the same time and finally our last dish came out much later after most everything else was consumed...Disappointment #3. My friends paid with credit cards, and I paid with cash. Imagine my surprise when no money/change was returned. The server kept the $7 change assuming it was the tip from my share...Disappointment #4. And finally the overall experience just isn 't what it used to be. The prices have increased, yet the portions are smaller. The time spent there just isn 't that special anymore. We have heard more and more unfavorable reviews about Temper Grille and sadly my friends and I have been disappointed the last 2 times we were there. Perhaps the owner/chef needs to review his own restaurant and look around to see all of the new homegrown eateries that are popping up getting attention. We have been fans of TG since it opened, but it needs to step up it 's game plan to stay competitive and well-liked. Otherwise people will find new places to spend their valuable time and money."