In any event, I just want to clarify that when I say “lagging,” I’m referencing cities of similar size (and sometimes even a little bit smaller) that seem to have a more robust food/restaurant/market environment. I’m referring more sheer quantity than individual quality. Because I’m both a lover of food and Phoenix simultaneously, I’m always a little analytical in that regard. In fact, maybe to my detriment.

We have fantastic restaurants here, ones that could arguably compete with many of the best elsewhere for sure. I have no insecurities about that. My comment had more to do with the sheer numbers and overall maturation of our collection in comparison. In the past 10 years or so however, we’ve been making great strides and that’s exciting to see. It makes me a proud, and one reason I still get a little giddy inside over small openings like Luci’s (* even if it’s not always warranted in the end).

The weight of my own “enthusiams” is to be channeled more toward Phoenix as a whole, and it’s oft lagging food landscape. My first impressions were actually similar – the higher pricing, the limited supply of varied products, etc. I’m not wanting to solidify any critical observations yet however, as I definitely wasn’t trying to given a final endorsement right now. Rather, I was merely trying to report it’s opening while at the same time conveying some hopeful local optimism. I definitely plan on returning multiple times in the coming weeks.

Like many past fast-casual/market hybrid concepts that have existed here in Phoenix, my impression at Luci’s was that they are still learning as they go. Thankfully, there seems to be an unusually genuine desire to get things right, and I didn’t read a pretentious, know-better vibe (* I could end up wrong though).

My feeling (and hope) is that after the official “grand opening” this weekend, many of the unconnected moving elements will begin to coalesce.