Kitok Restaurant

Location: 1815 North 18th Street, Waco, Texas 76707
754-1801

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 4/10

Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: Double lip-locker, Oriental fries

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

Kitok’s is both well-known and a hole-in-the-wall. How to accomplish both? Well, the location is a non-descript white building with parking in the rear, off of 18th Street in Waco, yet, the presence of our esteemed Commander-in-Chief has drawn global mention of this diner in national newspapers. Not to mention the Polaroid of Jessica Simpson, a Waco native, eating at the restaurant, located at the entrance!

While Kitok’s offers a unique melange of both Korean and American food, and also offers a delightful array of both Korean and American staff, the true magic of Kitok’s lies in the cheeseburgers and Oriental fries. Do not shy from the “Double Lip-Locker”, an amazing double cheeseburger, where you can add your mayo and ketchup tableside. The Oriental Fries are finely shredded veggies, including carrot, potato and herbs, in a light tempura batter, fried to golden brown and served in a mound of crunchy goodness. If you are not a fan of this Asian delicacy, try the onion rings or fries, although I try to eat Asian as often as is possible.

While the location is small, and somewhat hard to find, the excellent food, unique Asian offerings, and lovely staff make this a “must-visit” for not just those who are fond of the Pacific-Rim, but any food fan.

Chinese Kitchen

Location: 416 N. Valley Mills Drive, Waco, Texas 76710

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 7/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 5/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 6/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 5/10

Recommended Items: Crab Rangoon (crab puff), General’s Chicken

“Off the Menu” Items: It is buffet style, what you see is what you get

Health Conscious Selection(s): Nice “salad” bar, and plenty of low-carb options

Review:

Chinese Kitchen is located in an out-parcel building at 416 N. Valley Mills Drive, sharing shopping center space with Tractor Supply and the discount theater. An ornate fountain greets you in the foyer, and you are quickly seated by an efficient, and all-Asian staff.

As a fan of Asian cuisine, I eat it as often as possible, I find the Chinese Kitchen to be a good place in terms of volume, and acceptable quality. The crab puffs are excellent, as is a nice chicken-skewer BBQ item. Ample seafood offerings are available, including boiled shrimp served cold in shell, and sauted dishes. While the sweet and sour sauce is disappointing, regardless of pork or chicken, the noodle dishes and broccoli and spicy beef are tender and fantastic.

Surprising to find is a solid salad-bar, with green salad, hard-boiled eggs, many dressings, and other sides.

Some American items are offered, including fajita fixings and pizza, among others, but the food on this section of the buffet frightened me. I chose to stay Asian, and I recommend the same to you.

Do not lose sight of the dessert buffet, including Blue Bell ice cream, cookies, cream puffs, and macaroons.

All in all, the Chinese Kitchen is as to Asian cuisine as Michna’s is to BBQ. Decent, but not super-quality, but great volume and a nice diversion from the norm.

Cathay House

Location: 825 Wooded Acres Drive, Waco, Texas 76710
776-1072

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 4/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 4/10

Recommended Items: Sweet and sour chicken, cashew chicken, happy family

“Off the Menu” Items: Special orders are allowed, including making your plate a little more low-carb

Health Conscious Selection(s): Plenty of vegetable, and seafood or chicken options

Review:

Cathay House is the hands-down winner of top Asian cuisine in Waco, and also ranks very high in simple food value.

Located on Wooded Acres Drive, south of the Valley Mills and Wooded Acres intersection is a large, two-story dark wood and white-paint house, with a large parking lot out front. This parking lot will fill up.

Inside lies a friendly greeter, and fantastic ala carte dishes. There is no buffet here, and you will not miss it a bit.

No one likes to eat Asian more than I, and where else can you enjoy a large plate of freshly prepared ingredients, with rice (steamed or fried), eggroll, and soup (wonton, hot and spicy, or egg-drop), for $3.99-5.99? I recommend the cashew chicken, sweet and sour pork or chicken, or the mélange that is the “happy family” plate.

Don’t be bashful about asking for a plate of fried wonton skins, to enjoy by themselves, or with the table-served sweet and sour sauce or hot mustard. Perhaps it is culturally unacceptable to treat these fried treats like tortilla chips and dip into these sauces, but I advise you to risk the political implications and dip away!

The only down side of Cathay House is that it is so popular that it fills up early for lunch, and the ability to loiter after lunch is zero, although upon reflection, perhaps that merely speaks to its quality.

Zeb's Backyard Grill

Location: 10207 China Spring Road (Behind Farm Bureau Insurance and next to the car wash) 254-836-8282

Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:00am – 8:30pm
www.ZebsBackyardGrill.com

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: This is a great place to relax and enjoy your full lunch hour.

Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): The burger quality is a full 10! No skimping on the beef or the fresh cut fries

Value Rating (scale of 1-10): The prices are not the cheapest burgers in town but for the flavor and freshness I give this place a 7++.

Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): Staff is friendly and Zeb, the owner, can always be found taking orders or flipping burgers - 8

Recommended Items: I almost always go with the “Wombo” burger. This is a bit more spicy with its jalepeno bun and pepper jack cheese.

I would also be sure to order a basket of fries. They are hand cut daily and are some of the best that I have ever had. I would go so far as to say that they are in the top 2 for “best fries in Waco.”

“Off the Menu” Items: None that I am aware of.

Health Conscious Selection(s): Zeb’s offers a wide selection of salads and sanchwiches for the healthier side of eating. I would encourage you to take a look at their website (www.ZebsBackyardGrill.com) for a full run down of the menu.

Review:

Zeb’s caters to all comers. Suits, jeans and the sports fan just in before the game. It’s wide menu selection of burgers, sandwiches and salads make it easy to please almost any appetite!

Final Thoughts/Comments: I have been to Zeb’s many times and have only had one poor experience due to slow food delivery. Of course, the place was packed out on a Saturday with soccer parents and kids lined out the door. If it is a weekend or if you are in the China Spring area you are already a big fan. If you have time constraints during your lunch break Zeb’s may be a bit too far out for the Woodway/Hewitt eater. However, if you are near downtown or north, I would give it a shot. Take the boss along so that he/she can be late along with you!

As an aside, I have heard that Zeb is looking opening a new spot in the Hewitt area. If he can git’r done then he will be tops in the Hewitt area.

Vitek's

Location: 1600 Speight Avenue, Waco, TX 76706 254-752-7591

Hours: 10:00am – 5:30pm Tuesday - Friday

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: Of course. Limited outside seating is available and even more limited inside seating. During peak lunchtime hours, you should expect standing room only!
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 9 $5 - $6 bucks goes a long way!
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): Depends upon the time of day. Mostly 7+. During peak eating time the staff is behind the counter making things happen and keeping the line moving. No time for chit chat. Give your order and get out of the way.

Recommended Items: I have two favorites:
1. Gut Pak – A bed of Frito’s chips topped with chopped BBQ, onions, pickles, sauce, shredded cheese and jalepenos! My heart just stopped!!
2. Sliced hot link sandwich – How can you go wrong with generous slices of hot links on soft, moist lunch bread. You can top it off with BBQ sauce if you don’t mind getting your hands and shirt dirty.

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s): Are you kidding me???!!!

Review:

Vitek’s offers a good selection of BBQ items such as brisket, chopped, sliced, etc. A full array of sandwiches can also be requested and sliced fresh to order. I have eaten at this place dozens of times beginning in 1990 and have not been disappointed yet. Vitek’s is a cornerstone in the community. It has been operating for decades now and the long-time owner recently sold his stake to his children. The kids have done some modest renovations, mostly inside, and have upgraded the technology. Their changes are a nice upgrade to the overall feel of the place. I heard recently that they were looking to acquire a beer license and, if they are successful, I would bet they will be packed on game day!

Final Thoughts/Comments: The astute lunch eater will grace the doors of Vitek’s either well before 11:30 or after 1:00pm, unless of course, you have plenty of time to wait in the chow line that goes out the door during lunch time each day. This is a place rich in heritage and food…it is a must try at least once a month/quarter, or at least as often as your heart physician will allow.

Real Deal Soul Food

Location: 821 Clifton Street 254-235-7685

Hours: 7:00 am – 6:00pm Tuesday – Sunday Closed on Monday

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: The atmosphere is casual and comfortable.
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 8+
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7

Recommended Items: You can’t go wrong with the meat loaf w/ macaroni & cheese, yams and greens. And of course, it comes with cornbread!!

“Off the Menu” Items: None that I am aware of.

Health Conscious Selection(s): You can’t be serious.

Review:

At Real Deal you will find a generous assortment of good ole fashioned blue collar type plates. Meat Loaf, Chicken, Chops, etc. You will also be pleased with the tasty sides.

Final Thoughts/Comments: If you are looking for a really good, filling lunch, Real Deal is sure to hit the spot. Don’t be bashful to request variations of the menu items as the staff is sure to please!

Pollos El Rey (King of the Chicken)

Location: 25th & Morrow (In the parking lot of the B & B grocery store)

Hours: Open 7 days. Lunch time thru dinner

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: There is limited outdoor-only seating as the facility is mostly designed as a “take out only” type store.
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): Excellent food quality - 9
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): Excellent value purchase – 10. I am able to feed my family of 2 adults and 4 children for about $15.00 with a few choice pieces of chicken left over.
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): Staff is friendly but sometimes difficult to understand as Spanish is the primary language. However, for the Gringo’s there is still no problem making due.

Recommended Items: There are two basic orders. Either the whole or half roasted chicken. This order comes with freshly made tortillas, a whole roasted onion and limes. Side items such as rice and beans can be added to the order for around $2.00. This addition is well worth the cost as the beans are some of the best that I have ever eaten. They are prepared with ham hocks, chopped hot dogs and other seasonings. I must confess that after all the beans are gone I enjoy drinking the remaining bean juice to “top off” my meal!! This place is not for the “snooty” eater. Fantastic!!

Be sure to also ask for a generous portion of their red and green sauce. The red sauce is a traditional blend of tomatoes and jalapeños as well as onions and other spices. It is clear that this sauce is made fresh daily. Caution yourself on the green sauce as it is a pureed blend of jalapeños and sour cream blended to make a smooth light green mixture. The flavor is excellent but the heat catches up to you after a few bites.

“Off the Menu” Items: None that I am aware of.

Health Conscious Selection(s): The roasted chicken can be made “health conscious” if you choose to remove the skin before eating. However, I would suggest sticking with the skin on as the flavor is the best in town.

Final Thoughts/Comments: The Pollo is a fine “working man’s” type of place. Either eating on the portable table outside or via take out you will not be disappointed. A word of advice…if you decide to eat at the Pollo I would recommend taking some moist napkins (baby wipes) with you as the regular napkins just don’t do the job on a well roasted chicken skin.

Cupp's Drive In

Location: 1424 Speight Avenue, Waco, TX 76706 254-753-9364

Hours: Monday thru Friday 11:00am – 2:00pm

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: The smallish nature of Cupp’s makes it a bit more difficult to get a seat during peak lunch hours. There are about 4 booths available along with about 4-6 seats available at the counter area.
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): The burger and fries quality is a solid - 9
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): As far as burgers and fries go, the value is around a 7.5.
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): The staff is friendly but not too easy on the eyes - 5

Recommended Items: You can never go wrong with the burger baskets. The baskets come with your choice of freshly made burgers along with a side of hand cut fries or onion rings. Regarding the fries, I would venture that these are among the top 2 or 3 fries in town.

“Off the Menu” Items: None that I am aware of.

Health Conscious Selection(s): Unless you order a dinner salad, pansy, then I ‘m not sure if they can even spell “health conscious.”

Review:

Cupp’s provides a traditional “drive in” menu complete with burgers, fries and other common sandwich choices. The club, ham-n-cheese, grilled, cheese, etc. are some of the more popular items available.

Final Thoughts/Comments: If you are looking for a good “greasy spoon” then Cupp’s easily fits the bill. I have dined there many times and have yet to be disappointed regarding their tasty food flavor. Of course, the age of the venue and the décor leaves something to be desired, but if you focus on the lunch menu flavor then Cupp’s is sure to please.

Baris / Mama Baris

Location: 904 N. Valley Mills Drive 254-772-2900
1201 Hewitt Drive 254-666-6188

Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 11:00am – 9:00pm

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: Both locations sport a roomy place to sit stay awhile. The Hewitt location is more up to date and is quite a bit nicer for those big on décor.
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 9!!
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): If you pick one of the daily lunch specials the value is 9.5!!
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): Since day one the service has been ok - 5

Recommended Items: The Tuesday lunch special is the Calzone around $4.50. I have the Calzone no matter what day I eat there because I find it to be the very best value on the whole menu. Pizza dough stuffed with sausage and mozzarella/ricotta cheese along with a side of sauce for dipping. Enough for one of me and two of most folks. The Calzone also comes stuffed with cheese and spinach for vegetarians in the house. You can also customize it to include beef, mushrooms or others items if you like the extras.

“Off the Menu” Items: None that I am aware of.

Health Conscious Selection(s): For salad eaters my wife is really big on the Baris Salad. This is a huge salad full of lettuce, olives, mushrooms, peppers, etc. This is plenty for the healthy eater.

You will also find grilled chicken items on the menu for those that need a little meat with their healthy entrée.

Review:

Baris is a traditional, family-owned establishment. Both mother and daughter operate the two separate locations. Even the granddaughter gets in on the action by waiting tables at the Hewitt location. You will find everything from hand-made pizzas to spaghetti and lasagna. The fettuchini is also a real treat as the alfredo sauce is some of the best I have ever had. To start each meal off right you can also enjoy fresh baked rolls that are provided sparingly with the purchase of most entrees.

Final Thoughts/Comments: For most eaters I would stick with the daily lunch specials. These are very inexpensive and will give you a good variety of food with each new day that you dine in. For larger parties, the Hewitt location provides space for banquets or parties of 8++++. We often catch the Hewitt location for Sunday lunches with a larger crowd.

Summer Palace

Location: 1201 North Hewitt Drive, Waco, Texas 76712
666-0806

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 6/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 6/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 5/10

Recommended Items: Various shrimp and crab dishes

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

Summer Palace is located in the Westrock Shopping Center on Hewitt Drive, and it takes a traditional formula, the Chinese buffet, and tries to do it as well as possible. On most points, it succeeds, and it is one of the better Chinese buffets in town.

A salad bar is available and offers a large number of items for those who want it, but the main attraction at the Summer Palace is the gigantic buffet that offers all manner of Asian cuisine. Of particular interest is the wide variety of crab, shrimp, and other seafood items available to diners, a feature that sets this restaurant apart from most other Chinese buffets. The beef and chicken dishes are good as well. On most visits, all of the food items are hot and kept fresh, and several varieties of soup are also available. For desert, there are many different items available, but the soft serve machine with its array of toppings is the favorite of most patrons.

The staff do an adequate job of keeping the buffet stocked, but it often takes a request to get a drink refilled or any special items that may be needed.

If you are a fan of Chinese buffets, you probably should check this place out. It is one of the better Chinese buffet values in town.

Taqueria Queretaro

Location: 611 W. Loop 340, Waco, Texas 76712
399-0934

Hours:

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 8/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: Parrilladas Mixtas (grilled beef and chicken), Chimichangas, Tortas

“Off the Menu” Items: Torta Cubana (fantastic!)

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

Located just off of the Imperial Drive Exit on Highway 6 in what many Wacoans remember as the “old Friends Restaurant” building, this restaurant is a welcome addition to the Waco restaurant scene, despite the fact that it belongs to an already crowded restaurant category. Named after the state in central Mexico, Taqueria Queretaro (pronounced “care-et-are-oh”) has quickly carved a niche for itself in the Waco Mexican food scene by serving up a wide range of traditional Mexican favorites and some more eclectic menu items as well. Upon arrival, diners are allowed to seat themselves at any available table and are quickly greeted by the friendly wait staff. Fresh tortilla chips and a choice of red, green, and/or poblano salsas are brought to the table for consumption. The green salsa (made with jalapenos and just a bit of sour cream) is particularly delicious. Drinks are served in large glasses, which is both necessary and appreciated given the dining fare. For those dining after work, in addition to iced tea and soft drinks the restaurant also serves a number of imported beers in the bottle and has an open bar available.

The menu offers a variety of plates featuring enchiladas, burritos, tacos, tamales, and other standard Mexican fare. The chimichanga, a burrito which is quickly deep-fried to create a crunchy outer layer, is an excellent choice and is served with rice and a choice of refried or charro beans. A number of different tortas are also available, and the Torta Cubana is this reviewer’s personal favorite. The torta is a Mexican sandwich served on an oblong roll called a bolillo, and the Torta Cubana (inspired by the classic Cuban sandwich) contains fried pork, ham, melted cheese, avocado slices, and jalapeno slices. Appropriately enough, it is served by itself, as it is more than likely as big as your face! The Lunch Guys have dined at Taqueria Queretaro on quite a few occasions and have yet to have a subpar meal. For those intimidated by the numerous choices available, one simply cannot go wrong with the daily special, often priced at $4.99 or less, which provides both quality and value in the same tasty package.

The staff is friendly and courteous, and they work to accommodate every dining request. When things aren’t quite as busy, they are also likely to strike up a conversation with diners, soliciting opinions regarding the quality of the food and the service. When the lunch crowd stacks up, service can slow down a bit, but it doesn’t detract in the least from the dining experience. For those desiring a long lunch hour, this restaurant provides ample opportunity to loiter and chew the fat (literally and figuratively).

All factors considered, there isn’t a finer option for Mexican food in the Waco city limits. If you haven’t been there yet (or this week), you’re missing out.

One-Stop Bar-B-Que

Location: 1101 East Waco Drive, Waco, TX 76704
759-0335
www.onestopbarbque.com

Hours: M-Sat, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 4/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: Sliced Beef, Ribs, Hot Links

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

One Stop Bar-B-Que is a barbecue stand located at the intersection of Garrison and East Waco Drive in Waco, Texas. Operated primarily as a pick-up operation, there are several tables available for the dine-in customer as well. It’s easy to miss as you’re driving by, but if you don’t stop, you’re the one missing out.

When you step up to the counter, you are greeted by the owner himself, who takes your order and then steps back into the kitchen to prepare it. Definitely a friendly sort, the owner will often bring out samples of other meats that weren’t even ordered, just to give diners a taste of what they might have missed. The menu offers standard barbecue fare, including sliced beef, ribs, homemade sausage, hot links, bologna, ham, and turkey legs. The meat can be ordered in a sandwich or plate configuration, and the plate is a particularly good value, as you get potato salad and beans for an additional 50 cents. The sliced beef, ribs, and hot links are particularly tasty, and they are dressed in the restaurant’s peppery barbecue sauce and served with pickles, onions, and white bread. For those desiring desert, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler are also on the menu. Additionally, the restaurant has custom catering services available.

Although it is not as well-known as some of the other barbecue joints in town, this place definitely competes with the best. It probably falls short of Tony DeMaria’s and Rudy’s, but it beats the rest and does it at a fair price. This place is definitely worth a look for barbecue connoisseurs.

Dubl-R Burgers

Location: 1810 Herring Avenue, Waco, TX 76708
753-1603

Hours: M-F, 11:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m; Sat., 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 3/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: Cheeseburger basket, onion rings

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s):

Review:

Dub-L-R Burgers is located just off of 19th Street on Herring Avenue. Hidden away in a building which formerly housed a barber shop, this restaurant is among Waco’s best burger joints. Upon arrival, patrons are immediately greeted by the cashier, who takes food orders at the counter. The restaurant has the feel of a diner in the 50's, with barstools by the counter and booths along the wall. This allows a view of the grill and the cooking and assembly process, an added bonus. Additional seating is available in the next room, and the daily soap operas are always playing on the television. Meanwhile, the chatter between the cooks and the regulars at the counter is worth the trip by itself.

This is a burger joint, and the menu offers a pretty standard assortment of burgers and sides, including onion rings, fries, and tater tots. But it’s not the wide variety on the menu that makes this place a Waco favorite, it’s the quality of the items that they do serve. The buns are slightly toasted on the grill, and the burgers are made from hand-formed patties (as any real burger should be), topped with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, mustard and/or mayonnaise, along with any additional toppings that might be desired, such as cheese, chili, jalapenos, etc. The end result is an old-fashioned burger that satisfies even the most demanding critic.

The staff are friendly and enjoy engaging in dialogue with regular customers. The wait time is about average, but any wait for the food at Dubl-R is bound to be well worth it.

There are many joints in Waco that claim to have the best burger in town, but Dubl-R is 1 of only 2-3 places that can stake a legitimate claim to the title. Although this reviewer has them at No. 2, it’s clear that this is definitely a must-have meal for the Waco burger fanatic.

The Coffee Shop Cafe

Location: 1005 Highway 84, McGregor, TX 76657
840-2027
http://www.thecoffeeshop.us/

Hours: M-Sat, 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.; Sun., 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 6/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10

Recommended Items: chicken fried steak, various daily buffets

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s): salad bar

Review:

The Coffee Shop Café, located on Highway 84 in McGregor, is one of the more famous restaurants in the area. A favorite of celebrity area residents like President Bush and Jessica Simpson, this restaurant has been serving up great food for years. Previously owned by Sammy Citrano, it is currently operated by his brother, Donald Citrano, who is carrying on with the successful formula that made this restaurant a hit.

The menu offers a number of excellent selections and appetizers, including the chicken-fried steak, which is one of the tastier versions in the area. The thing that drives the success of this restaurant, however, is its buffet. Whether it is the weekend breakfast buffet, the daily lunch or evening buffet, the Thursday night fajita and enchilada buffet, or the Friday night catfish buffet, The Coffee Shop knows how a buffet should be done. Offering several meat selections, homemade vegetables and sides, chips with queso and salsa, and other savory treats, the lunch buffet is a great bargain, even if it does leave you stuffed and unable to get much work done in the afternoon! For the health conscious, they also offer a very good salad bar with a wide selection of items on it. To top things off, the buffet comes with the desert of the day, which is always a tasty way to finish the meal.

The wait staff are friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant is clean and inviting. The photographs of celebrity visitors and various knick-knacks on the wall add to the experience and give The Coffee Shop the feel of a true, family-owned country restaurant.

It’s a bit of a drive for those in Waco to make it for lunch, but if you have the time, you won’t come away disappointed. The Coffee Shop is worth the investment, both in time and in calories.

Tony Demaria's BBQ

Location: 1000 Elm Street, Waco, TX 76704
755-8888
http://www.tonysbarbque.com/

Hours: M-F, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 6/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 9/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 8/10

Recommended Items: The “Order, Mixed” (brisket and sausage); Beef Ribs

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s): Go somewhere else!

Review:

Tony Demaria’s BBQ has been a fixture on Elm Street in East Waco since 1946, and with good reason. Geoff DeMaria, the owner, is faithfully carrying on the tradition that his father, Tony DeMaria, Jr., started, and thankfully for Waco restaurant patrons, that doesn’t look to change any time soon. DeMaria’s has a serving line that extends to the door on most days from around 11:30 a.m. on, and if you want to make sure you get something to eat, it’s best to get there early, because they stop serving when the meat runs out.

The menu offers your basic barbecue essentials, including brisket, sausage, bologna, and on Wednesday, all-you-care-to-eat ribs. The brisket and sausage, in particular, are excellent choices. The steady choice of most patrons is the “Order”, which gets you around ½ lb of meat on butcher paper with bread, pickles, onions, and peppers. On Wednesdays, of course, the ribs are hard to pass up, as the meat essentially falls off of the bone. The groan from those still in line is audible when they announce, “Folks, we are now out of ribs!”, which tells you just how good they are. For those that enjoy sides, barbecue plates are available, and the potato salad, beans, and cole slaw are all delicious. The barbecue sauce is vinegar-based and is very flavorful. For the more adventurous, the “hot” sauce is excellent as well and adds an extra kick to the meat.

For many, however, the distinguishing feature at DeMaria’s that sets it apart from just about every other barbecue joint in town is what they affectionately refer to as the “gravy”. This concoction, which is essentially brisket drippings with some spices added, makes the meal complete. Simply wrap your meat in a slice of white bread, dip it in the gravy, and you will experience a little taste of barbecue heaven.

The wait staff are friendly and will accommodate special requests for additional items once diners are seated at the table. They regularly patrol the tables asking if more bread is needed, engage in conversation with the patrons, and generally make the dining experience more pleasurable.

Tony Demaria’s is a unique restaurant in that you will find folks from all walks of life dining there on any given day. You will see movers and shakers in one corner, and construction workers in another. With the picnic bench and folding table seating, you will often see such diverse folks sitting together at the same table, enjoying the thing that brings them together – a love for great barbecue.

While the menu is fairly simple and the building itself is unassuming, Tony DeMaria’s BBQ is the best barbecue joint in Waco, bar none. Anyone who isn’t there on a regular basis simply can’t be considered a serious barbecue fan.

Britt's Burger Barn

Location: 1700 Colcord Avenue, Waco, TX 76708
235-9003

Hours: M-F, 10:00 a.m-5:00 p.m.; Sat., 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Ability to Loiter During Lunch: 7/10
Quality Rating (scale of 1-10): 9/10
Value Rating (scale of 1-10): 7/10
Staff Rating (scale of 1-10): 9/10

Recommended Items: Fiesta Cheeseburger, Chicken Fried Steak, Onion Rings, Hand-Cut Fries

“Off the Menu” Items:

Health Conscious Selection(s): Grilled Chicken Salad, Chef Salad

Review:

Located just two blocks away from the Jubilee Theater and just across the street from the site of the old Providence/St. Catherine’s, the Burger Barn has been an institution in Waco for many years, and it currently does business under the name of Britt’s Burger Barn. Owned and operated by Britt and Liz Edwards for the past two years, this restaurant is truly one of Waco’s hidden treasures. When you walk in you are immediately greeted by Liz, who is working the register. Happy to take your order or strike up a conversation, both Liz and Britt are wonderful people who enjoy giving people the gift of great food.

The menu offers a wide selection of burgers, from the traditional hamburger all the way to the Fiesta Cheeseburger, a staff (and patron) pick. It also offers sandwiches, including ham and turkey melts and Philly cheese steak and crawfish po-boy sandwiches. Dinners are also available, including chicken fried steak, catfish, fried shrimp, short ribs, and frog legs, served with a salad, fries, Texas toast or hushpuppies, and gravy or tartar sauce. The burgers are grilled to perfection and served on a toasted bun along with all of the fixin’s (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions), and the chicken fried steak is a beautiful rendition of a Texas favorite. In fact, in this reviewer’s opinion there’s not a finer chicken fried steak in the city. Sides available with the burgers include hand-cut fries, onion rings, tater tots, and fried okra, all of which are mouth-watering and fabulous.

The waitress, Emily, is just as friendly as the owners are, and she is eager to accommodate any special requests and to keep the diners happy during their visit. The decor in the restaurant is an added bonus, as old movie posters, antiquated “advertisement” LPs, and other blasts from the past are there for your entertainment while you dine.

Other restaurants get more publicity, but this one definitely deserves any publicity that it gets and then some. In my eyes, this is the best burger in town, and everything that they put on your plate is top notch stuff. When you combine that with the fact that they are great people, you simply can’t go wrong. Any real burger or hole-in-the-wall enthusiast should make this a regular dining spot.