I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

I must be getting old. My two favorites were:

1. Pete's Diner - I believe it was located where Brooks Flats are located today. They had a meal ticket and everyday was a different hot meal. Pete rented homes around campus for students also.

2. Kitok's - I miss seeing Bob and Kitok. My wife and I became good friends with them while we attended Baylor 1977-1980. I will swear that Kitok's soup brought me back to life after food poisoning from bad meat purchased at H.E.8.

One night, there were bad storms in the area and the electrical power went out. There were only two tables of customers at the time. Bob locked the restaurant doors, lit candles and we all ate Korean food together. For many years, we exchanged Christmas cards after that dark night of no electricity.

TrapIt4Life said:

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Loved me some JT McCords

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Ah yes, home of the Long Island Iced Tea. Many nights at the bar my frosh year in '83.

Doobie:s was awesome. I believe the Doobies moved to Waco post Katrina from the New Orleans area. Then moved back once the rebuilding was completed

Ooooh very interesting. I guess it totally stacks up time wise with Katrina. That place was legit. I think he was taking classes at Baylor as well, he was a big Cajun fella and man, he and his centenarian grandma in the back room there knew how to make some wings.

BearnMI said:

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I must be getting old. My two favorites were:

1. Pete's Diner - I believe it was located where Brooks Flats are located today. They had a meal ticket and everyday was a different hot meal. Pete rented homes around campus for students also.

2. Kitok's - I miss seeing Bob and Kitok. My wife and I became good friends with them while we attended Baylor 1977-1980. I will swear that Kitok's soup brought me back to life after food poisoning from bad meat purchased at H.E.8.

One night, there were bad storms in the area and the electrical power went out. There were only two tables of customers at the time. Bob locked the restaurant doors, lit candles and we all ate Korean food together. For many years, we exchanged Christmas cards after that dark night of no electricity.

---

Kitok's still going strong.

For me (mostly for nostalgia's sake):

• Miller Family Steakhouse
• Super Spud
• Oso Burrito (previously mentioned)
• Piccadilly Cafeteria

boxster said:

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BearnMI said:

---

I must be getting old. My two favorites were:

1. Pete's Diner - I believe it was located where Brooks Flats are located today. They had a meal ticket and everyday was a different hot meal. Pete rented homes around campus for students also.

2. Kitok's - I miss seeing Bob and Kitok. My wife and I became good friends with them while we attended Baylor 1977-1980. I will swear that Kitok's soup brought me back to life after food poisoning from bad meat purchased at H.E.8.

One night, there were bad storms in the area and the electrical power went out. There were only two tables of customers at the time. Bob locked the restaurant doors, lit candles and we all ate Korean food together. For many years, we exchanged Christmas cards after that dark night of no electricity.

---

Kitok's still going strong.

For me (mostly for nostalgia's sake):

• Miller Family Steakhouse
• Super Spud
• Oso Burrito (previously mentioned)
• Piccadilly Cafeteria

---

Miller Family steakhouse/Lake Brazos is a good one.

It was really good and it was a shame that it went downhill and eventually closed.

Three pages on this thread and no love for Taco Torch?

trey3216 said:

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cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

BearnMI said:

---

I must be getting old. My two favorites were:

1. Pete's Diner - I believe it was located where Brooks Flats are located today. They had a meal ticket and everyday was a different hot meal. Pete rented homes around campus for students also.

2. Kitok's - I miss seeing Bob and Kitok. My wife and I became good friends with them while we attended Baylor 1977-1980. I will swear that Kitok's soup brought me back to life after food poisoning from bad meat purchased at H.E.8.

One night, there were bad storms in the area and the electrical power went out. There were only two tables of customers at the time. Bob locked the restaurant doors, lit candles and we all ate Korean food together. For many years, we exchanged Christmas cards after that dark night of no electricity.

---

Eating an order of oriental fries as I read this. Had 24 hours in Waco and number one goal was Kitok, Schmaltz, Lolita's, and Lula Jane cookies!

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

Laverne's Lakeshore Diner!!

Also Schmalz's across from Brooks Hall.

trey3216 said:

---

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

---

Slo Pokes also had a HH that lasted half an hour later than Ninfas, IIRC. Start at Ninfas and finish at Slo Pokes.

There was a seafood place in the Slo Poke's space called Franklin's for a little while pre Slo Pokes. It was there in the late 90s. It was pretty good.

I actually liked Slo Pokes btw it had a Memphis style bbq.

There was another place called Burger's and Blues on that corner of that warehouse as well in the very early days of downtown revitalization. (It has actually been occurring since the mid 90s). Burgers and Blues was a cool concept.

CammoTX said:

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trey3216 said:

---

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

---

Slo Pokes also had a HH that lasted half an hour later than Ninfas, IIRC. Start at Ninfas and finish at Slo Pokes.

---

LOL, I almost forgot that. Load up on $0.75 (and later $1.00) drafts and free chips and sauce at Ninfas, then head over to Slo Pokes for cheap sliders and more cheap beer. $10 went pretty far.

Mr. Gatti's also brings back a lot of fond memories.

CammoTX said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

---

Slo Pokes also had a HH that lasted half an hour later than Ninfas, IIRC. Start at Ninfas and finish at Slo Pokes.

---

Ninfas>Gratzianos>Treff's wasn't the correct answer.

Yogi said:

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What eateries do you wish were still alive and well in Waco?

I'll take Leslie's Chicken Shack off the table, so we can have some more choices.

---

OK.

Leslie's on Valley Mills.

Toddle House, Hickory Stick, Mrs. Brooks from the 50s!

91 posts and not one mention yet of Frank's Big Bear?

If anyone else ever took upper level accounting classes from Emerson Henke, he used to give tests at 6pm instead of during class so you could have 2 hours to take the test. A buddy and I had a routine on test day of studying from noon to 4:30; then going to Frank's for a Two-Timer (chili and cheese on one side of the meat, bbq sauce on the other), plus one quarter for a video game to clear our mind before test time.

Only downside to this routine was about 90 minutes into the exam, the burger would hit bottom and the lower intestinal tract would turn into a Dizzy Gillespie solo.

Yes, Pete's College Inn, across the street from Brooks Hall. If you worked at it, you could get a meal on credit if you were short in cash.

Not a restaurant, but several times we showed up late at night at the bread bakery near one of the bridges over the railroad tracks. You went to the back door and for a quarter, they would bring you an unsliced loaf in a brown paper bag, hot out of the oven. Crack it open, let some butter melt on it, and enjoy!

Piccadilly in the mall and Gattiland

tombeaux said:

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Not a restaurant, but several times we showed up late at night at the bread bakery near one of the bridges over the railroad tracks. You went to the back door and for a quarter, they would bring you an unsliced loaf in a brown paper bag, hot out of the oven. Crack it open, let some butter melt on it, and enjoy!

---

The Mrs. Baird's one on 18th?

trey3216 said:

---

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

---

I remember that promotion. Think I made it to like week 8 and then got really sick and missed the next week.

trey3216 said:

---

CammoTX said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

Scratchy Bear said:

---

trey3216 said:

---

cowboycwr said:

---

I thought the Elite of the late 90s/early 2000s was good. When it reopened it was never the same and quickly went downhill and was bad.

I also missed several of the places others have mentioned like Waterworks, Bid Daddy's, Oso burrito, and baja burrito.

One I liked that had good food and a cool concept was a restaurant that was located in what is now spice village that was a sports bar type place but a BBQ restaurant with tvs all over and one in each booth that you could get put on whichever game you wanted with a speaker for sound at the table. I forget the name of it and it seemed to only be there about 2 months and then was gone.

I also miss when Cathay house was good. I ate there a while back and it was not very good.

---

Slo Poke's

---

Terrific concept and look. Horrible food and service...although happy hour had 50 cent sliders and $1.50 longnecks that made it almost worth it.

---

Yep.

Slo Poke's had this deal where if you went up to watch your NFL team for all 16 weeks, you got this little trophy and a $50 gift certificate. We had 5 in our group. Collected $250 in GC's. The Super Bowl that year, pretty sure it was the Pats/Panthers in Houston, was pretty much a blur. We blew the entire lot of GC's on a free Super Bowl party.

RIP

---

Slo Pokes also had a HH that lasted half an hour later than Ninfas, IIRC. Start at Ninfas and finish at Slo Pokes.

---

Ninfas>Gratzianos>Treff's wasn't the correct answer.

---

Treff's was a fun place....


Which gives me an idea for another thread..... Waco bars over the years that have come and gone/ always been around. Maybe I can start that on my lunch break later.

Austin Hill? It was a fine dining restaurant set up in one of the renovated old houses on Austin Ave. during the 80's. iirc.

I'll have to mention a personal affection for Tommy B's

86-90 for me. I can't recall a single restaurant I would consider very good. Plenty I kind of liked, but quantity was more important than quality back then.

I have some nostalgic/fond memories of a few because of how bad they were or unique circumstances. A right of passage of college. Waco was a foodie wasteland back then. But, I wasn't a foodie back then.

tombeaux said:

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Yes, Pete's College Inn, across the street from Brooks Hall. If you worked at it, you could get a meal on credit if you were short in cash.

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https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/the-olympia-restaurant-cheeseburger-chips-and-pepsi/3506023

Saturday Night Live January 1978 "Chee-burger! "Chee-burger!" "Chee-burger!" (Belushi, Ackyroyd, et al) could have been scripted from"Pete College Inn." (except smaller)

Pete Dreis owned the College Inn. It was his brother (Frank???) who owned the rental property.

Lots and lots of meals eaten there in the early 1970s. A number of casual "strolling campus" dates would mosey by Petes (he closed early afternoon and did not serve late diners) with the actual goal of actually seeing the cockroachs scampering around the always lighted inside of Pete's Inn..

Pete was good to me and carried me on credit in some weeks I had no food money.

Nothing but greenspace between Brooks and I-35 now.

McDonald's on Franklin Ave. Not same as McDonald's now. Predates current McDonald's.