(Categories scored out of 5)
Cleanliness: 4
Ambiance: 3
Atmosphere: 2 – it was a bit too warm
Seat comfort: 2 – hard wooden chairs
Service: 3
Food quality: 4
Food quantity: 5
Price: 4
Family-owned Libby’s of Lexington
offers casual dining in an intimate atmosphere in the heart of
downtown Lexington, South Carolina. For a while now, we’ve
been intrigued by the building’s simplicity combined with it’s
constantly crowded parking lot—both good signs that they focus on
their food. True to form, Libby’s was full when we arrived
around 7:30 pm on a Thursday. Not surprising as there were ten
to twelve tables plus a small six-person bar inside and maybe another
ten tables on the patio. And while the waiting area was a
single park bench next to the kitchen/cashier/hostess station, our
five-minute wait was short enough we didn’t mind.
Libby’s staff was friendly and
outgoing, especially the manager on duty who greeted and seated us.
Several patrons were clearly regulars, greeted by name by the staff,
and it’s easy to see why. The relaxed, casual-yet-intimate
ambiance combined with great food and affordable prices can’t help
but draw repeat customers.
Libby’s is part deli, part gourmet
pizza shop with a decidedly South Carolina flare. There’s lots of
shrimp giving it a low country flavor and several dishes incorporate
a bourbon BBQ sauce that I’m trying next time we go. But Libby’s
chef and co-owner, Clint LaCoe, has created an eclectic menu that
crosses food genres and refuses definition. However, it all sounded
and smelled good.
While the customers ranged from young
adults to senior citizens and the owners’ children are often at the
restaurant (according to the website), I wouldn’t label this a
family-friendly restaurant. The kids’ menu lists hamburgers,
chicken fingers, fried shrimp, and pita pizzas, and you can order
pizzas custom made, much of the menu is just different enough to turn
off most small children. There’s a bit of “sports bar meets
gourmet sandwich shop” feel to the place. If you’re feeding the
whole family, definitely call in your order to-go and pick it up.
And I recommend that anyway since the pizza was fantastic.
Sam and I ordered the “The Islander,”
one of the gourmet pizzas, with sweet tea. The Islander is made with
“garlic infused olive oil topped with mozzarella cheese, grilled
shrimp, fresh basil, and feta cheese.” The crust was just crusty
enough without being crunchy and the toppings were scrumptious
together. The Islander was delicious, the smaller 12” pizza was
plenty of food for the two of us, and we felt the $15.00 price was
perfect. Finally, the sweet tea was refreshing and not too sweet.
All in all, though we were too warm and
the chairs were hard, Sam and I enjoyed dining at Libby’s of
Lexington and would love to go back sometime.
Libby’s
of Lexington
116
West Main Street
Lexington
SC 29072
803-520-4689
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