Savoring Southern Heritage: A Culinary Journey at Lucille’s

Nestled in the heart of the museum district, Lucille’s has been a staple restaurant in Houston for over the past 12 years. Lucille’s is not just any restaurant; it is a place where patrons enjoy out-of-this-world southern cuisine with a cultural significance that started over half a century ago. Established in 2012 by brothers Chris and Ben Williams, Lucille’s pays a tribute to their great-grandmother, Lucille B. Smith, who was a successful entrepreneur, educator, and culinary pioneer best known for her culinary innovations and successful food corporation. Her legacy lives on through Lucille’s restaurant and her famous recipes that are a tribute to Southern comfort cuisine with modern twists, making Lucille’s a standout and the perfect place to visit and indulge in Houston!

Upon entering Lucille’s, you are welcomed into a cozy atmosphere with ample natural lighting. As you make your way through the restaurant, your eyes are drawn to the photo frames on the wall that pay tribute to and showcase the famous Lucille B. Smith doing what she did best, cooking and serving her famous dishes to the likes of heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis and Martin Luther King Jr., along with other amazing artworks from talented Black artists.

As you take your seat, you have the opportunity to explore the impressive and comforting brunch, lunch, dinner, and bar menu Lucille’s has to offer. Upon checking out the menu, two starters that must-haves to try out are Lucille’s mouth-watering famous chili biscuits, which is Lucille B. Smith’s famous recipe that is made of biscuits, house chili, cheddar cheese, and harissa cream, which makes the dish rich and flavorful and is the perfect testament to how delicious Lucille’s recipes are. Another starter must-have is the fried green tomatoes, which are innovative and packed with amazing flavors with seasoned cornmeal, spicy aioli, and delicious goat cheese. For the main course, the stands out that are a must-have were the chicken and waffles, which were tasty and made with a contemporary twist consisting of sweet potato waffles, bourbon & Texas pecan infused syrup, topped with fresh chiles, chopped strawberries, and powdered sugar. Another standout was the oxtail omelet. As someone who has never eaten oxtail before, I was amazed at the rich tenderness of the meat, which was packed with amazing flavors, and was easy to indulge in and lose yourself in the deliciousness of the dish. The dishes at Lucille’s are presented beautifully, and it tastes as good as it looks!

After indulging in the amazingness of the food Lucille’s has to offer, pick up the bar and dessert menu to sip and dig into! The bar standouts were the Texas Hold’em which is a well-crafted cocktail created with pineapple agave margarita, reposado tequila, and topped off with a small red chile to give it that Texas taste! Another must-have from the bar is the Take Care Cocktail which is a sweet and refreshing drink that is created with strawberry rum, lemon juice, and watermelon with a sugar rim topped off with a slice of lemon and raspberry. Lastly, while searching for something sweet to indulge in, a dessert must-have is their delicious croissant bread pudding that is hard to resist and made with southern spiced breading pudding, creme anglaise, topped with spiked berries, and paired with vanilla ice cream. Not only is the bread pudding tasty, but it will satisfy your sweet tooth and will leave you wanting more!

In summary, Lucille’s is a restaurant that has deep-rooted cultural significance and is a testament to the excellence of Southern comfort cuisine and, most of all, the legacy of Lucille B. Smith and her famous recipes that continue to live on by offering patrons a taste of it and the impressive menu Lucille’s has to offer while in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The staff is passionate about informing patrons of the restaurant’s history and welcoming patrons into the establishment as they are a part of the family. Whether you are a local or a visitor to Houston or you are looking for a spot for brunch, lunch, and dinner, Lucille’s is an experience worth checking out to understand and indulge in the amazingness of Southern culinary excellence and Southern hospitality!