A Handful of Fingers

I can't really say that I have tried every single brand of chicken fingers in our area. I can however say that my favorite is a warm and delicious Cane's finger.  They have been my #1 since opening here in Waco.  

I wish that I could find everything that I love in a great chicken finger meal - all in one place.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  I would need to visit at least three places to get all the elements of a complete "Best Of Chicken Fingers Meal." I also love the toast at Cane's! Two big points for those items!

The new Slim Chickens restaurant on Valley Mills has entered the Waco market with some very tasty chicken fingers.  While their fingers rank behind Cane's, they are very good. 

I was more impressed by their array of sauces - some of which are blazing hot.  Their fried potatoes also get a high mark when they are served and eaten fresh.  They were still tasty after a short drive home but they did lose some crispness.   Two points for those items.

Bush's has OK Tenders (fingers) and very good rolls but they score more points for their other side dishes Slaw and Fried Okra. One point for super sides!

It would be great if there was just one place that had fantastic fingers, fabulous fries, stellar sauces, great bread and outstanding sides. Unfortunately to get it all you will have to make several stops.   

Rankings

1. Cane's

2. Slim Chickens

3. Bush's

 

 Milo Does Not Disappoint

Two recent trips to Milo All Day have convinced me that this establishment is for real.  The food and service is equal to almost any of the finer restaurants in Waco.  The menu (which changes regularly) has enough variety to please any frequent visitor.  The mains are augmented by some excellent side dishes and a reasonable number of interesting wine selections.  

On a recent visit, the Brussel Sprouts and the Elotes Corn Ribs proved to be unusual and excellent choices.  The Texas Cavier was a step up from that served in Amarillo. 

I really enjoyed the 10 oz Steak Frites.  Nicely grilled on the outside and very pink on the inside and served on a generous bed of crispy potatoes.

I usually pass on the chicken dishes but the Chicken Breast served with braised mushrooms, fennel and a tasty aji amarillo pan sauce was a hit with me!

The only negative is the lack of any acoustic panels.  When the restaurant is full, the lack of sound baffling makes conversation a bit difficult.  

You can view the menu and prices on-line.  Milo's is a first class experience,

 

 

As further proof that restaurants in Waco and Central Texas are growing in quality and stature, three Waco establishments and two others located nearby have earned awards from Wine Spectator Magazine. The magazine recently announced 2,917 restaurants that were recognized for their wine service.

135 Prime, Diamondback’s and Di Campli’s were recognized with the magazine's AWARD OF EXCELLENCE.  To qualify for this recognition, the establishment must offer at least 90 selections from quality producers that match the restaurant’s theme and menu in price and style.

Pignetti’s located in Temple and The Barton House in Salado were given BEST AWARD OF EXCELLENCE recognition.  This award requires at least 350 selections and a demonstrated commitment to wine both in the cellar and in service.

These awards for our area restaurants are strong indicators of quality restaurant growth in this area. 

 

The Waco restaurant scene is changing for the better.  Following the Covid-19 issues during the past two years, restaurants that survived are stronger and busy.  Several new establishments are leading the way along with many battle tested veterans.  As always, this list features primarily locally owned restaurants. 

THE NEW TOP TEN

Alpha Omega

Milo All Day

Guess Family Barbecue

Ranchito #5

Bangkok Royal

Jake's Texas Tea House

One Thirty Five Prime

1424 Bistro

Hecho En Waco

 Di Campli's Italian Ristorante

Tony DeMaria's Bar-B-Que 

Information about each of these restaurants (reviews, hours, prices, and location) can be found on the web.  Some accept reservations. 

 

 

 

 

While some people may tell you that a new food/restaurant era has emerged in Waco, this is only true to a small degree.  I wish that there were dozens of new chef driven restaurants to try and that the cuisines represented ranged far beyond barbecue, Mexican and home cooking.  Sadly that is not the case. It probably will never happen here.  The state of Asian offerings in Waco is depressing.  The lack of sophisticated European offerings is sad as well.

 If you scan a list of the over 300 Waco food establishments, you will find it very difficult to name a professionally trained chef/owner operating a restaurant in the Waco area.  There have been a few bright spots emerge in recently.  Food trucks are often the fertile ground for the growth of future chef driven restaurants.  Hopefully, Waco will benefit from the emergence of some variety in our cuisine choices.  

Recommended in Waco:

Alpha Omega --- Greek
Abuelita's --  Mexican
1424 Bistro -- Continental
Hecho En Waco  --- Mexican
Jake's Texas Tea House  --- Burgers & Country
Kitok Restaurant --- Burgers & Asian
135 Prime --- Steak
The Ranchito  --- Mexican
Tony DeMaria's Bar-B-Que
Vitek's  --- Barbecue






 

TEJUN RESTAURANT

711 N, Robinson Dr., Robinson, TX

  (903) 388-6035
tejunthetexascajun.com

 

  I visited them about two months ago shortly after the opened their new location.  I am giving them 4 stars because the food was good and they show potential to really grow and improve. I will visit again soon to see how they are doing.  Their new permanent location is bright, clean and roomy.  They can seat a decent amount of customers so if the popularity increases they should be able to serve large crowds.

Customers order from a menu posted on the wall near a window.  They call your number and you pick it up at the service counter.  My order came quickly.Currently the menu is limited to boiled shrimp, crab and lobster tails.  Crawfish will be a seasonal addition.

A small number of sides are available including corn on the cob and buttery boiled potatoes. The manager brought around some sautéed mushrooms that were tasty.  Rice, slaw and gumbo would be welcome additions.

The quality of the food was good. The shrimp boil has some spice.  Crab and lobster seemed fresh - not frozen. I got the feeling they were being careful not to do to much until they are ready. Probably a smart move.

2017 Best of Waco 

 It is time for a new list.  All of the thousands of people coming to Waco to visit Magnolia need to know where to eat.

MEXICAN
El Ranchito
2310 W Waco Dr
Waco, TX 76701
Despite the sketchy location this is the best Mexican food in Waco.  Great specials, plenty to drink and an earthy salsa that has great flavor. Repeated visits have convinced me to focus on the grilled meats. 

BURGERS  
Kitok's 
1815 N 18th St

Waco, TX 76707

A little out of the way but worth the trip.

CHAINS 

Waco is a chain restaurant town

Cheddar's

Turns out good meals at modest prices.  Very consistent.  There is almost always a wait.  The chicken pot pie and the stellar onion rings are my favorites. 

Longhorn Steakhouse
I prefer this one over the noise of Outback or the lines at Saltgrass.  They atmosphere is good and the beef choices are very good.  They rotate specials and sides frequently so there is always something new to try. 

STEAK 

135 Prime 

1201 Hewitt Dr 

Waco, TX 76712  

(254) 666-3100 

2016 Best of Waco

It is time for a new list.  All of the thousands of people coming to Waco to visit Magnolia need to know where to eat.

MEXICAN
El Ranchito
2310 W Waco Dr
Waco, TX 76701
Despite the skectchy location this is the best Mexican food in Waco.  Great specials, plenty to drink and an earthy salsa that has great flavor. 

BURGERS  
Kitok's 
1815 N 18th St

Waco, TX 76707

A little out of the way but worth the trip.

CHAINS 

Waco is a chain restaurant town

Cheddar's

Turns out good meals at modest prices


Longhorn Steakhouse
I prefer this one over the noise of Outback or the lines at Saltgrass

STEAK 

135 Prime 

1201 Hewitt Dr 

Waco, TX 76712  

(254) 666-3100 

A very good choice for an evening of beef.

BARBEQUE

VITEK'S

1600 Speight Ave

Waco, TX 76706
(254) 752-7591

A complete redo in recent years has made this a very comfortable place to enjoy a plate of barbeque

 

SORTA LIKA GREEK PLACE

Zoës Kitchen recently opened in Waco.  On the advice of friends, I was there on opening day and have returned once since.  The food I ordered at lunch came quickly and seemed fresh and tasty.  Zoës is a fast casual (aren't they all!) restaurant that serves a very Americanized Mediterranean dishes.  They claim to serve up Southern hospitality but the girl at the register said that was an up-sell.  I enjoyed the selections I made.  The Orzo Salad and the chicken breast were both very good.  You may have trouble staying under $10 but that is the price you pay for  fresh, wholesome, dishes. This place seems to be attracting a lot of student business.  It is something different that for Waco and that is a good thing.

If you like the Mediterranean flavors, 1924 Restaurant could be a good one to try or D's Mediterranean has some great kebabs and hummus. 

$ALTY AND DELICIOUS

I have long been a fan of Saltgrass Steakhouse. It seems to be one of the better chain restaurants. That shows in the training of the staff and the hospitality. Their arrival in Waco is most welcome. This is not an inexpensive place to dine but the quality of the food, service and ambiance made it feel like a good value. If you are on a bit of a budget, don't hesitate to split an entree. There is ample food for two people to share with the addition of another side or a signature salad. The wedge and the spinach are both very well prepared.

The Artichoke dip comes in two sizes (each large enough to split) with an accompaniment of thin tortilla chips. Somebody doesn't like artichokes? There is a thimble of salsa on board as an alternate dipper. My steak came out medium rare as ordered. This can be a real challenge at some restaurants but Saltgrass handled it perfectly. Decent crust outside and a warn red center. My sweet potato side was large, hot and delicious. As usual, the Waco first-month crush can cause some service problems but Saltgrass seems to be handling it without a stumble.

 My Favorite Steakhouses
1. 135 Prime
2. Diamondbacks
3. Saltgrass Steakhouse
4. Longhorn Steakhouse