The Nicolett Is A Celebration And Elevation Of Texas Cuisine That Tops Our Dining Bucket List
By Sarah McCosham|Published June 26, 2023
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
When it comes to the country’s top culinary players, certain places come to mind. Napa and Sonoma Valley are California wine country at its finest. Portland, Oregon, stands out for its fresh and forward-thinking PNW cuisine. The Northeast is a powerhouse of seafood-forward fare, while places like Louisville, Charleston, and New Orleans are rethinking what “Southern” cuisine is – and can be.
Texas, on the other hand, is well-known for slow-smoked barbecue and Tex-Mex pizzazz, but the Lone Star State isn’t on most people’s radar in terms of fine dining. That is, unless you’re an in-the-know epicurean (or OnlyInYourState reader – hello!) who has had the pleasure of dining at The Nicolett in Lubbock, Texas.
The Nicolett opened in downtown Lubbock, Texas, in the fall of 2020 – a tenuous time for restauranteurs if ever there was one. However, between the restaurant’s commitment to the area’s history and culture *and* Chef Finn Walter’s clear vision and forward-thinking approach to Texas cuisine, The Nicolett has emerged as one of the top fine dining establishments in the region, positioning the Lone Star State among the country’s top culinary players.
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There's something about breaking bread with others that's truly transformative. The act of coming together to enjoy a meal isn't just a basic human need or necessity – it's a quintessential part of the human experience; a ritual thousands and thousands of years old.
This experience takes on a dazzling and magical quality for folks who dine at The Nicolett in Lubbock, Texas. This restaurant is intimate and lovely, offering guests a fine dining experience infused with warm and welcoming Texas hospitality... and twinkle lights.
Arden Ward, Walter's wife, and The Nicolett's co-owner, explains: "After high school, Walter moved across the country to Maine for his undergraduate studies, before pursuing cooking full-time, working from the ground up in top culinary cities including Austin, Napa Valley, Paris, and Santa Fe."
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Despite traveling the world, the Lone Star State beckoned, and Walter returned to his home town where he found himself inspired by the local culture and burgeoning downtown scene.
So Walter set out to "open a fine dining restaurant that honors his West Texas heritage and would attract guests from all over," says Ward.
The Texas chef wanted to open a welcoming destination that paid homage to West Texas' culinary and cultural roots, "while also bringing an elevated dining experience to the region that he didn't feel had existed before," explains Ward.
The restaurant, then, would focus on the High Plains cuisine that Walter felt inspired to cook, based on the local terroir, as well as influence from the Texas Hill Country and nearby New Mexico.
But what to call this wholly unique restaurant? Walter explains: "We named The Nicolett after Lubbock's original The Nicolett Hotel, which was the first form of hospitality in the area."
The chef-owner adds that the hotel actually existed prior to the city being officially formed! "The restaurant's name celebrates Lubbock's hospitality roots, while also looking forward to a modern, elevated form of hospitality that we hope The Nicolett restaurant provides to guests from near and far," he says.
In the tumultuous years since opening, the restaurant has done just that, becoming a standout in Texas and the country and earning numerous awards and accolades along the way.
The menu is undoubtedly a key ingredient in its success: Walter's menu celebrates High Plains cuisine – fusing local ingredients with regional and international methods and techniques.
"I work directly with a number of local farmers, ranches, and other purveyors to bring diverse, high-quality, locally sourced products to the table at The Nicolett, which are then beautifully showcased for our guests," says Walter. On the dinner menu, for example, you'll find lamb that's been treated like brisket, served alongside Texas olive oil potatoes and picked nopales.
The drink menu is just as refreshing – and you'll find both creative cocktails and expertly crafted mocktails to pair with your meal.
In fact, Walter introduced an innovative non-alcoholic cocktail program that's received numerous nods and buzz among foodies and food critics alike – it's one more way that The Nicolett continues to push the boundaries of drinking and dining in West Texas.
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But aside from delicious cuisine and libations, Walter says Lubbock itself has been instrumental to The Nicolett's fortunes. "Our location on the edge of downtown Lubbock, which is undergoing its own cultural revitalization, has been a key to our success," he says, adding that the building, including the beautiful glass greenhouse tucked in the back of the property, is iconic, "and the restaurant allows guests a peek inside a space that they may have long been curious about."
This space truly is a one-of-a-kind location – and dining in the greenhouse (which Walter says is open seasonally each fall and spring) "has proven to be a truly special experience for our guests."
At the end of the day, though, The Nicolett isn't looking to reinvent the wheel or eschew Lone Star State Culture – far from it. "Texans have a big appetite for new dining experiences," says Walter, "and we attribute our success to our guests from Lubbock and beyond being hungry for something new and refined."
To this end, the owners both express Texas-sized humility and gratitude for their community. "My favorite part of being a business owner is working with and mentoring my team to create truly exceptional experiences for our guests," says Walter. "There's nothing quite like hearing that a guest drove in from across the state to have dinner at The Nicolett – it is an honor to be sought out as a destination for dining and special occasions."
In 2022, Chef Walter was the recipient of Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business Innovation Award for his commitment to the city of Lubbock and its next generation of entrepreneurs. So the "honor" of which Chef Walter speaks certainly goes both ways: Lubbock, Texas, is equally grateful to claim such a fine and forward-thinking restaurant as its own.
Many thanks to Arden Ward and Finn Walter for sharing the story of their exceptional Texas restaurant. Learn more about The Nicolett at its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Of course, The Nicolett is just one of the many small businesses doing big things in Texas; please nominate your favorite attractions and businesses for a chance to be featured in an upcoming Only In Texas article. And be sure to follow Only In Texas on Facebook and Instagram to learn about this region of the Lone Star State’s most incredible places, attractions, and events.
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