To be honest, I'm not sure where to start, telling y'all about our stay at The Overton.
Many adjectives come to mind - rustic, elegant, approachable, accommodating...but a quote from the website sums it up best: "the 15-story landmark hotel is glamorous yet grounded, capturing the rich heritage and friendly unpretentious attitude that make West Texas a mecca for modern-day cowboys, country musicians and the state’s most accomplished winemakers". So in a nutshell, this hotel has something for everyone.
The Overton Hotel: Lubbock, TX- 2322 Mac Davis Lane, Lubbock TX 79401
From the moment we checked in to the moment we checked out, every staff member we came in contact with at The Overton genuinely greeted us, making us feel right at home. As the quote above captures, the hotel is approachable for all kinds of visitors, from the foodie looking for a unique culinary experience, to the sports enthusiast staying for a Tech game.
We had an amazing opportunity to stay on the top floor, our room overlooking the Jones AT&T Stadium and Texas Tech Campus. The floor was extremely quiet and the suite was spacious. And with a view like this..it was just incredible.
View from the 15th floor overlooking Texas Tech + the cozy king bed in our suite at The Overton: Lubbock, TX
Everything felt really clean and the hotel continues to provide daily housekeeping services, which was nice (I've found most aren't offering this right now due to COVID).
The fitness facility was also open (with certain machines closed off to support social distancing), including the pool and hot tub. Unfortunately, we did not have the chance to enjoy the pool due to the cold temps over the weekend.
The fitness center at The Overton in Lubbock, TX - note the tumbleweed border wallpaper!
Both mornings we took advantage of the breakfast buffet - custom omelette option, which was egg-cellent (get it! haha). I was extra excited they offered an egg white option and had lots of fresh fruit available.
But the high point of our stay was dining at the Pecan Grill for dinner.
We had the opportunity to meet Executive Chef, Doug Noxon, who's a really intriguing man. I bonded with him over both growing up in Upstate New York and each time we spoke, he seemed to share something unique with us about himself - like being an experienced ice sculptor!
But back to the food - Chef Noxon explained his preference to use local ingredients in his cooking.
He mentioned one of his favorite vendors was E3 Farms, started by a local teen. I was impressed by the thoughtfulness put into the food, and then of course, the flavor. Our favorite was the lamb, which had been smoked for 2 hours, served with an amazing hash made of leeks, sweet potatoes and homemade barbeque sauce. I've never seen a chef interact with guests the way Chef Noxon did - it made for quite the experience.
Enjoying a memorable dinner at the Pecan Grill (top) - including our favourite lamb dish (bottom)
Although we had been to Lubbock several times already, we managed to find new things to do, outside of our stay at The Overton!
WINE + SPIRITS
8901 US-87 #123
Lubbock, TX 79423
The rum selection at Pinkerton’s Distillery in Lubbock, TX
It just so happened that Pinkerton's Distillery was offering tours and tastings on Saturday, so we ventured out that way. It was a little confusing finding the store initially - as it's located in a complex of similar looking industrial buildings, but it's right off the 87 Frontage Road.
We had the pleasure of meeting Lucas Pinkerton, owner and creator at Pinkerton's Distillery, who initially started making beer and later made his way into spirits. He's been making small batch spirits since 2015 - starting with the Platinum Rum. Since then, Pinkerton's now offers a Coconut Rum, Gold Rum, Premium Vodka and a line of vodka called "The Burn" which is flavored with habanero peppers.
You can find their products throughout liquor stores in Texas and can visit them in Lubbock most Saturday afternoons. Our favorite was The Burn vodka, of which we brought two bottles home.
3426 East F.M. 1585
Lubbock, Texas 79404
Outside + inside at Llano Estacado Winery in Lubbock, TX
I'm sad to say we had a really disappointing experience at Llano Estacado Winery. When we walked in, most of the tables were taken, so we sat at a small area to the side of the tasting bar, which was completely fine. We probably sat there for 10 minutes without any service, so we went to the register and bought a bottle to taste - again not a problem.
About 45 minutes in, a large group of college students left and only a few tables of guests remained. Again, not a person came over to us to check in with us. After about an hour and a half, we left without a single interaction.
I certainly would give it another chance - I'd absolutely love to go and have someone knowledgeable explain their collection, but after the time we had this weekend, I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
ENTERTAINMENT
6909 Marsha Sharp Fwy
Lubbock, TX 79407
A fun way to golf in a climate controlled space at 4ore Golf in Lubbock, TX
4ore is Lubbock's version of Top Golf - box rentals for up to 6 people charged by the hour. We went on a Saturday afternoon, so it was $25/hour and we stayed for 2 hours. We enjoyed their $2 mimosas and a few snacks. It was pretty quiet when we went and really good service. I would definitely go back again!
OTHER DINING
511 Broadway Street
Lubbock, TX 79401
This was the only meal we ate outside of The Overton during our weekend stay. After a wonderful night at The Nicolett in November (see earlier blog post) we decided to go back and experience their seating option in the Greenhouse.
The ambiance was unlike any other - our reservation was at 7:30, so we were able to experience it in the daylight and then watch outside as the sun set, which was absolutely beautiful. The service was top notch, just as it was the last time. My only complaint is how small the portions are - which I anticipated after our first visit. All of the mains are over $30 and plated beautifully, but I was a little disappointed how light they were on the portions for that price point. Again, that is my only complaint, the food was excellent. But if I had to compare, our dining experience The Overton's Pecan Grill was the star this weekend.
The Overton has some really cool decor inside - this was one of our favourites
Final note: if you've made it this far though my post, the point I want to end with in regard to our stay at The Overton is outstanding service. To date, this has been the most attentive hotel I've stayed at in Texas in regard to overall attention to detail with every service they provide and the way they treat their guests. In addition, the in house dining experience was exquisite - they have everything you need for a sophisticated stay.