Dinner and a Show at Rave On

The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences has been a focal point that many looked forward to in 2021. With Broadway performances and concerts from the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, as well as Ballet Lubbock productions, there is much to look forward to in this newly-opened, world-class performance theater. This is no different when it comes to the newest upscale dining experience in the “Hub City”, Rave On. 

With two entrances from both inside the lobby of the facility and outside of the building, guests can find their table before a show or a seat at the bar for a nightcap after a performance. Rave On sits on the east side of The Hall, and boasts spacious windows, providing a beautiful cast of natural light into the space. The open kitchen concept offers an intimate glimpse into the journey of your plate, from being grilled on the stove to beautifully plated before you. Each detail from the decor to the layout was thoughtfully composed with the intent of providing customers with an organic and modern, yet luxurious experience with the addition of live plants, fresh flowers on each table, a generous amount of natural light, wood detailing intricately included throughout the space and cool earth tones on the walls and in the furniture. 

Don’t even get me started on the views. To the east of the restaurant, guests can wander in Lubbock’s Cultural Arts District with scenes of artists on the LHUCA patio or exhibits in the 5&J Gallery at CASP. While looking to the north, Ballet Lubbock’s studios are filled with ballerinas practicing for their next performance on the stage in the Helen DeVitt Jones Main Theater. 

Serving upscale American cuisine, The Hall’s partnership with United Family Food & Beverage creates delectable dishes utilizing local ingredients for both lunch and dinner. Whether you prefer a light salad or a hearty steak, the options are as vast as they are delicious. 

Starting with shareables, the portobello fries are (*chef’s kiss*) tempura-battered sticks of mushrooms tossed in roasted garlic and parmesan cheese served with spiced pimento dip. Pace yourselves with this option, as they are very filling. If one appetizer isn’t enough, try your hand at the shishito peppers. These will have you believing you can conquer anything… that is until you get the spicy one! 

Next, let’s move on to soups and salads. The Caesar salad is a classic, but at Rave On, they add a little twist. This salad features a half head char-grilled romaine, freshly baked croutons and is topped with an anchovy filet and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. The house-made Caesar dressing is absolutely mouthwatering. If soup is more your speed, Rave On offers three incredible options that make it hard to choose from – tortilla soup, tomato basil soup and coconut curry butternut squash with chicken. Need I say more?

For lunch, I recommend going with a handheld option like the grilled chicken Santa Fe made with shaved warm chicken, roasted Hatch green chili peppers, sour cream, mushrooms, avocado, jalapeno jack cheese and is served on grilled sourdough bread. The jalapeno jack cheese paired with the hatch green chili gives it a little kick in each bite. The raving cheeseburger features two beef patties and a special sauce topped with all the fixings (as a true Texas would say) served on a toasted brioche bun. Each entree is paired with a side of Kennebec potato, sweet potato and beet chips. 

As the perfect date night, we recommend making a reservation for dinner before the performance! Rave On boasts a plethora of delectable dinner options such as the cast-iron seared 6oz. filet mignon. The name speaks for itself as this iron skillet seared Angus beef tenderloin is served with a red wine demi-glace, a side of roasted asparagus and oven blistered Campari tomato. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The farm-fresh ingredients create a dish so light and refreshing, your tastebuds will be begging to make Rave On a regular date-night occurrence. 

An honorable mention includes the wild caught salmon with a side of Brussel sprouts and topped with white wine lemon butter sauce. For vegetarians, Rave On offers an enticing entree of vegetarian ravioli. The handmade ravioli is stuffed with grilled eggplant, zucchini, red pepper, yellow squash and Portobello mushrooms served over beurre blanc and roasted plum tomato sauce. One bite of this, and I promise your whole plate will be devoured in seconds. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t rave on the desserts, specifically the seven-layer coconut cake with creme anglaise. This New Orleans-inspired cake is topped with Italian buttercream, toasted coconut and a vanilla creme anglaise. If I could, I would eat this every day. I still have dreams of the anglaise. If you are planning on a nightcap after the show, I highly recommend ordering this with one of the luxurious cocktails listed below. 

Not only does Rave On have Two Docs Brewing Co. on tap, but a diverse selection of Texas High Plains wine also graces the wine menu. We at Visit Lubbock may or may not have taste-tested a few of the cocktails and have our recommendations. The blood orange margarita is as flavorful as it sounds. The Avion Silver tequila paired with the house-made margarita mix and a dash of blood orange juice gives all the right amounts of bitterness from the citrus and sweetness from the fruit. We give a 10/10 for flavor-packed sips! This is one cocktail you won’t want to pass on. 

For all things special events, look no further than Rave On for all things catering. With exquisite banquet spaces inside The Hall, each party, wedding or anything in between will be celebrated to its full potential. To book your event, click here! 

As the cornerstone for downtown revitalization, The Hall is bringing not only theater-goers to the heart of the city but also foodies, ballerinas and locals who are looking for a new experience Lubbock has to offer. Make your reservations today at Rave On and share your favorite dish with us using #LiveLoveLubbock! Bon appetit!