Waco’s Newest Restaurants
Waco has some new grub in town, and if you just started eating healthy for your New Year’s resolution, don’t read this article about Waco’s newest restaurants.
As we all know, Waco is still growing, and the downtown area is booming with new businesses. Waco’s newest restaurants are making it harder to answer the question, “Where do you want to eat tonight?”
One thing that excites this Wacoan is the food trucks who are building brick and mortars. Because for us Wacoans, it is not fun to beat the crowds at the silos to get some of our favorites.
These businesses are making it easier for us.
900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizzeria
Not new to Waco, but new to the brick and mortar club, 900 Degrees Wood Fired Pizzeria is happily welcomed to the neighborhood with it’s 2,000 square-foot restaurant, located at 315 S. University Parks Drive.
Same wood-fired oven, same pizza quality, new house.
They even have a pizza called The Alico. Now, that’s Waco! Their pizza is made daily from scratch with the Neapolitan dough and authentic sauce straight from Italy.
The Duty brothers, Justin and Caleb, opened their pizza food truck at University Parks Drive and Franklin Avenue, in 2014, and later made residency at the silos. If you know Waco pizza, you know these two. And their father. Roland Duty, owner of Poppa Rollo’s Pizza, and his family have been pizza royalty in Waco for decades. I have gladly written about this pizza a few times.
The food truck will remain at the silos serving up pizza to all the visitors there.
Franklin Ave Mac House
You might be familiar with the best grill cheese food truck in town, The Cheddar Box, located at the silos. If so, you’ll love this newest addition, The Franklin Ave Mac House. Not quite open full time, but when they are, there is a line to grab their locally-sourced gourmet grilled-cheese sandwiches, heavenly, cheesily mac and cheese concoctions, and homemade soups. They even add eggs. Breakfast and lunch, cheese is always available.
Located at 3428 Franklin Avenue. Follow them on Instagram, @machousewaco, to see when they are open for their preview days. You will thank me. You will thank them. You will thank everyone—it is that good.
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
Waco is getting another burger joint. Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries will open a location at 1011 S. 10th Street. The North Carolina-based burger joint is an all-American diner with burgers, cheesesteaks, and frozen custard made in-house daily. I normally don’t like to write about chains, because I like small shops and fooderies, but this will only be the second location in Texas
They only use fresh meat, never frozen, for their burgers and cheesesteaks. This is an All-American diner experience, open-grill design, and hand-crafted meals, including creamy frozen custard, made in-house.
Told you not to read this if you are resolving to eat healthier!
Mod Pizza
Even though Mod Pizza isn’t quite open for business, and even though Mod Pizza is a chain, I am writing about it.
Mod Pizza started in downtown Seattle by a couple who wanted a fast, healthy pizza. And is sprinkled throughout the US and the UK.
Healthy? I do eat veggie pizza, and I suppose I tell myself it is healthy, so-okay.
Besides caring about my health, they seem to care about their employees. They claim to pay above-industry salaries and provide benefits, plus they hire people with special needs, including people who need second chances, in hopes to provide us with better service.
The menu consists of pizza, salads, and a few sides, like garlic bread. The Classics Menu features ten pizza combinations, and you can add any of their thirty pizza toppings to those—and the price never, ever changes. Unless—you want gluten-free and then it is $2 more.
Waco welcomes you, Mod Pizza. I claim to have never met a pizza I didn’t like, so we will see.
Z’s at the Curry
If you want a new place to unwind, after work, with your girls, or your significant other, you need to try Z’s. Located in the old Curry Office Supply building on Washington, and above Pretty Pink Flamingo Boutique, you will find an upscale place to do just that. They serve craft cocktails, aperitifs, fine spirits, wine, and the best view in town of The Alico Building.
I recommend sitting outside, high on the deck so you may enjoy the view of the courthouse and the Alico. Inside is nice, too, with a well-decorated atmosphere of assorted tables and comfy chairs. They serve a cheeseboard and a delicious Gouda pimento cheese spread and crackers. They also offer local Valley Mills Vineyard wines. More food to come, but for now, for me—wine, cheese, great company, and yes, the Alico, is all I need.
Chapter
Coming soon to Waco is a restaurant and bar, described as hidden, called Chapter. A speakeasy? In Waco? This sounds interesting, does it not? Especially because it will be housed in a 114-year old church.
Los Angeles restaurateur Jeremy Fall is planning something big for Waco. He is bringing his brand of vintage Americana to his newest spot, located in Waco’s historical church-turned-gathering-place for food and entertainment.
Once St. James Methodist Church, 2nd and Clay is now being restored into a restaurant, a venue for weddings, gatherings, downtown events, and yes—even a bar.
Chapter will have an Italian influence with a twist on Americana. Scratch-made food, jukebox, and hidden bar. Yes, please!
And, a bonus for the moms–Milo All Day now has a kid’s menu! They serve grilled cheese, MAD kid burger, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, a fruit cup, and french fries…all day! All kid’s entrees are $7 and under. They can get the wee one’s food out fast, and that makes the whole table happy. They also have a new menu (more original Milo favorites!), new prices, and new hours. Check out the new Milo!
