Lucille + Mabel Kitchen and Libations — Restaurant in Brownwood

Dined last night with friends at Lucille & Mabel’s—what a delight! Moving from Reno to Central Texas, every now and then I miss the Michelin Starred restaurants and the ambiance of being in a speakeasy, but not any more! I have never in my life seen such a well-stocked bar! Our bar tender —Mike (?—must indicate how good my drink was) made me the most well-balanced and delicious whisky sour and he provided my husband with a new variation on a Sazerac that we will be certain to switch to from now on. My friend ordered a key lime martini made with graham cracker dusting the glass and my favorite liquor “43.” Our meals were impeccable! I rarely order any seafood this far inland but upon several recommendations I ordered the seafood platter and was gratified with both the quantity and quality. Their fry-chef has a gift! Half my platter was filled with golden crispy deep fried pieces of fresh seafood (cod, prawns, lobster, crawfish) the other with a uniquely seasoned huge portion of shoestring French fries. There were cups of a very tangy remoulade sauce and cocktail sauce for dipping. My husband had the LM Burger and enjoyed every bite. We saw friends we knew there, plus there was a wedding party and an adorable young couple who must’ve been going to prom and the place was packed but we were seated before we finished our drink from the bar. Did I mention the waitstaff? Magnificent! I never had to ask for more water—she recommended a perfect Riesling to accompany our seafood—my friend had the seafood Alfredo. Altogether a perfect night—-thank you for opening such a beautiful quality restaurant...

Man, where to begin? I've traveled the globe. Eaten estensively. The Stilton Burger may be in my top 5. The decor and service makes this place. You'd be hard pressed to locate finer digs in New York, Milan, and Paris. Whoever put this place together had a vision and realized it. My hat is off. A few complaints from a serious critic. The late night lighting is too dim. I want to see my food. Sides were neglected, but main meats were on point, as they should be. Bar is overstocked on purpose. Seafood is unnecessary this far inland. If you visit, expect to see the meats before your order, as well as the top-notch deserts. Pay for the steak (reverse seared?) if you are feeling spoiled, but understand the burgers and chicken may be the best thing you'll taste. I'd love to meet the chef, as the main dishes feel imbued with a level of OCD far too familiar. This Great Expectation has been passed onto the staff. Finely dressed. Well trained. The glassware, cherished. Don't expect your food fast, but be prepared to savor a level of flavor only found in a few select establishments across North America. For the price, more than acceptable, but as a poor patron I couldn't afford to dine here more than once or twice a month. This is a gem for the present. Enjoy it as it was meant to be....

Disappointing Experience All Around

Me and some friends from Dallas visited this restaurant in Brownwood with high hopes for a great meal, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a letdown, It’s unfortunate being this place was highly recommended.

First off, the steak I ordered was incredibly dry—absolutely not what I expected. It was overcooked and lacked any flavor, which is a big deal when you’re paying for a prime cut. We would have complained about the steaks being dry, but the waitress was nowhere to be seen.

To make matters worse, the service was subpar. Our waitress, a younger Latina girl, seemed overwhelmed and inattentive to say the least. We waited far too long for our drinks and had to ask multiple times for simple things like salt and extra utensils. It felt like she didn’t care about our experience at all.

Additionally, the bathrooms were filthy. It’s hard to enjoy a meal when you have to worry about the cleanliness of the facilities, it wasn’t only the bathroom that looked dirty and unclean . A dirty restroom is a major red flag for any restaurant.

Overall, this was a frustrating dining experience, and I can’t see myself or friends from Dallas returning. There are too many great options out there to settle for this lack...