Photo courtesy Lunchbox

Photo by Kelli Ainsworth

Photo courtesy Lunchbox

Photo by Kelli Ainsworth

Photo by Kelli Ainsworth

Lunchbox in Magnolia just completed renovations, right in time for its one-year anniversary in April. Rather than hiring contractors, owners Rick and Wendi Rodriguez did all the work for the renovations themselves, including enclosing the patio to provide indoor seating for customers. They apply the same personal touch to the daily operations of their restaurant.

"Whenever people come here, we want them to feel like they're at home," Wendi said.

Everything at Lunchbox is made-to-order. The food, from the fresh-cut French fries to the croissants baked in-house, is made using fresh ingredients. All the recipes were either created by the owners, or are family recipes.

Customers can choose from specialty sandwiches, burgers, salads, and in cold months, soups. Popular items include the pulled-pork sandwich, signature burger, blackened fish tacos, ribeye steak sandwich and chicken chipotle wrap.

The Rodriguez' opened Lunchbox in April 2013. The couple moved to Magnolia seven years ago after determining there was not a restaurant concept quite like theirs in the area, so they decided to open Lunchbox.

"My family has owned a couple of restaurants, so I grew up around the restaurant business," Rick said. "It was just one of my passions to actually have a restaurant of my own. Plus, we wanted to bring some more creativity in terms of food to Magnolia."

They credit their success over the past year to loyal customers and the help of friends and family, in particular Pasty Williams, who owned the land on which the restaurant is situated and who died recently.

"None of this would have been possible without Pasty Williams and family," Rick said.

Lunchbox, 17902 FM 1488, Magnolia 281-259-6306, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.