Dining at Diamondback's during Baylor graduation weekend made one thing incredibly clear -- this team cares deeply. Was the restaurant absolutely packed? Yes. Were they working nonstop trying to take care of hundreds and hundreds of guests all at once? Absolutely. And through all of it, the front of house staff handled the pressure with grace, calm, professionalism, and genuinely selfless hospitality toward every single table. In reading some of the negative reviews, I think it's important to remember that while a few people may have had frustrating moments during one of the busiest weekends of the year, there were also countless guests having wonderful experiences that same evening. Small businesses and restaurants are incredibly difficult industries, especially during high-volume weekends like Baylor graduation, and the people showing up to serve deserve kindness too. Our experience this weekend -- and every experience we've ever had at Diamondback's -- has been exceptional. You can feel how much every staff member cares about every guest who walks through the door, and that care extends all the way to ownership. The owner clearly does not take feedback lightly, and it's obvious she pours her heart into this restaurant and the people dining there. Diamondback's continues to embody true hospitality, and I could not recommend them more. Looking forward to many more memorable evenings dining at this amazing Waco restaurant. read more

My family had dinner here this past weekend. The setting is a nice, upscale steakhouse. Warning that parking was a bit hard to find. Even though the parking lot is large, it was packed when we got there (our dinner was 6:30 on a Friday night). The service was good (a bit more on that later). We had: Lobster S'cargot (4/5) - Lobster served with the traditional s'cargot sauce even on the s'cargot dish. Pretty good but very rich. When it first came out, we thought it as being served in a hollowed out bowl but given it's served on the s'cargot dish, the portion size is actually pretty small. Akaushi New York Strip (5/5) - The better steak of the night. Very good version of the NY strip, full of flavor and perfectly seasoned. 10-oz Cold Lobster Tail (5/5) - I added this to make my entre "surf and turf." Delicious and presented in an awesome manner! Akaushi Rib-Eye (3.5/5) - This was an "off-the-menu" special. The waitress brought out a big platter with the specials of the day (6 various cuts of beef). We were told one of these was the Akaushi rib-eye served bone-in. The steak looked great raw (well marbled and 3/4 inch thick). This is not what we got. What we got was not bone-in and the steak was very thin (more like 1/4 inch cut). Putting gross weight aside, looked nothing like what we were presented. We did not say anything as the steak itself was okay. I have a feeling the waitress told us the wrong thing. Cajun Pasta (3/5) - Seasoning and flavor was okay but the pasta was severely overcooked. Overall, a pretty good meal for our trip. read more

See all

Came here with my sisters expecting a great dining experience and left completely disappointed. Hostesses were fake and borderline condescending right from the start. We kept it simple with apps and drinks, and even that was a letdown. The calamari came out lukewarm with zero flavor. Crab cakes were also barely warm (they tasted okay, but still shouldn't be served like that). The worst part was the lobster bisque--bland, lukewarm, and honestly tasted like canned soup with a few pieces of "lobster" thrown in. No flavor at all. We didn't complain, but the manager came over after noticing it wasn't touched and said the chef was "trying something different"... it didn't work. Even a guest next to us overheard and said the quality has gone downhill--she had sent hers back too. The only good thing was the drinks--dirty vodka martinis were solid. Overall, not worth the price. We won't be back. read more

Matt is a great bartender, very friendly but not over bearing. I asked for his specialty cocktail, and he served me "the night shade". I forget what he said was in it but it was amazing! read more

DiamondBack's - Matt's amazing "Nightshade" cocktail. - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

We went on a Friday evening. We were able to get a reservation pretty easily. The steaks were great and cooked perfectly. The house salad was different but very good. The dining room is a little dark but there are small candles on each table (almost had to pull out phone flashlight to see menu). The chocolate tower was excellent but the chocolate did melt quickly. read more

See all

Enjoyed a really good dinner tonight. The service was really really good and it was nice and quiet for a conversation with business partners. read more

See all

Came here dinner. Sat right down. Ordered a wedge salad , 22 oz Cowboy steak and a baked potato. Drinks ordered. Nice steak restaurant ambiance and good service. Nice wedge salad served with a pop over bread. Steak came and loaded with chili butter which I do not like any butter on a steak. Steak was 3 stars for $83. Tasted decent but missing the wow factor. Baked potatoe was good and came with all the toppings for $10. So overall a 4. read more

See all

I eat here quite often. I want to give a Diamondback gift card to people so they can also enjoy the experience. Unfortunately, there is no way to get one via their Website. I have to then pivot to other establishments. I think you are losing some revenue? read more

We came to DiamondBack's on our 18th wedding anniversary for one purpose -- lobster bisque soup. Our hostess Lilo, of course, claimed that they have the GOAT of lobster bisque soups and she was right! One spoonful and I knew it was hands down going to be the best I've ever had. We got some specialty cocktails including the unique Lonestar Gimlet which apparently was invited by our server. We also got crab cakes which, while good, paled in comparison to the world-class soup. Just a wonderful evening. What a fun place too! The light fixture at the entrance was its own work of art. read more

See all

My wife and I decided on a bit of whim to have dinner at Diamondback's this past Monday evening. Overall, a pleasant experience. My wife had the ribeye and I had the prime rib. As has become almost standard in any steakhouse these days, her ribeye was not medium well as she asked, closer to a Pleistocene dining experience than in a very upscale restaurant in a technologically advanced civilization. Seems like they could have got that right. The prime rib was excellent, perfectly cooked and served with a particularly superb version of horse radish sauce. The vegetable sides were asparagus with Hollandaise and baked spinach. These are "family" servings that we shared between us. The spinach was excellent; the asparagus was a touch on the al dente side and the Hollandaise thin and flat, could have used a discernable bit of flavor. Meal - we'll go with a solid B plus, and a properly prepared ribeye would have elevated that. Service -the young lady that greeted us was clearly evaluating our somewhat casual attire (no shorts, no T-shirts, crocs or flip-flops, just nothing fancy) and had all of the warmth and welcoming charm of a Minnesota winter. The waiter was efficient and pleasant, but again as is a modern affectation, a bit overly familiar. We enjoy good service, but we're not going to become pen pals. read more

Such an unfortunate experience. I'll first say that we've been to this restaurant many times over the years and have always been pleased with the food quality and service. This experience was a mess. Took us 3 hours and 15 minutes start to finish. The steak tartare was trash - we typically love this dish. We were a table of 8; 4 of the main 8 dishes served were fine, the other 4 never should have been served. With the first two dishes, they tried to pass off the wrong ingredients and they also came with stale polenta; as for the other 2, 1 of the steaks was cold, the other was very thin and over cooked. We didn't get any of them until roughly 2 hours and 15 into the dinner. The manager came out to address the issues (she wasn't very professional - I'd question if this is a fine dining manager) she did give us quality replacement steaks that were perfect and comp'd us 4 glasses of wine and a side of asparagus. 4 of us ate, while 4 waited; then 4 of us ate, while 4 watched. While this dinner wasn't supposed to consume our evening, it did. In the end, everyone had dinner. Something is clearly a miss here. Our server was professional, gracious and apologetic. Considering what this restaurant charges, we expect better. Ambiance is intimate, casual & comfortable. read more

DiamondBack's in Waco is an excellent choice for a nice night out. Great steaks, flavorful sides, and a classy, comfortable atmosphere. Service was attentive and professional, and everything we ordered was cooked perfectly. A solid spot for date nights or special occasions. read more

See all

We're still raving about our incredible dinner at Diamond Backs! Taylor, our server, absolutely killed it! He made my daughter's birthday celebration unforgettable. The food was phenomenal - we started with delicious edamame and cocktails, followed by amazing salads and popover bread (game changer!). The main course was just as impressive - perfectly cooked steaks, sushi, and seabass, accompanied by wilted spinach, yukon mashed potatoes, and crispy fried asparagus. And let's not forget the desserts - red velvet bomb, carmel crème brûlée, and coffee & espresso to top it all off! The ambiance is top-notch, and the staff is always friendly and attentive. We've been to Diamond Backs multiple times, and it never disappoints. If you're looking for a fantastic dining experience, look no further! Thanks, Taylor, for an amazing night - we'll be back!" read more

Absolutely amazing!! Highly recommend everything including Mac and cheese and steak!! Our waiter, Hayden (not sure if I spelled correctly), was very friendly and had great customer service. The atmosphere is calm and nice for dinner. read more

Overpriced nothing about the experience was exceptional Good parking and convenience location read more

Booked a reservation for my 21st wedding anniversary. Was sat on time but it all went down hill from there. I can't tell you if the food is good because I never had the opportunity to taste anything. We waited 15 minutes for a glass of water and the aloes out at the 45 minute mark when we still had not received the drinks we ordered. The manager came to talk to us but obviously did not care about our evening. I'd been wanting to try diamondbacks, finally did and severely regretted it. At $50 a plate, I expect better service than that. I would give a negative star review if I could. Absolutely ridiculous. read more

Food was great as was the service. Overall very nice place for a quiet meal. It is upper end for price but worth it.

My husband and I went here and spent a bunch of money for an anniversary dinner a couple years ago. We remember the food being good but not for the price point. I do specifically remember the sushi being a disappointment and that the sides were giant (shareable). Service was great. Our server was kind, informative, and attentive. Aesthetic is like an upscale steakhouse vibe, but a bit too dark for my taste. Haven't had a desire to return but wouldn't be opposed to giving them another shot. If you're looking for a nice spot it's worth a try, but I'd be quicker to recommend a spot like One Thirty Five Prime. read more

Shout out to Anthony our server and the manager. We have been looking for a great steakhouse type restaurant and it's in Waco. We ordered 2 of the maple smoked bacon old fashioned. Ended up ordering two more. Perfect combo. Blue cheese wedge was excellent. A little heavier on the dressing than we like but it was good. We also each had the 8 oz filet. We ordered it medium rare and it came out at least as medium. They had us cut it open right then. We showed them it. They took it right back they took our sides back as well to make sure they came out warm with our steaks. The manager came over and handled it like a pro. The steaks and sides came back and they were spot on. Kudos to Anthony and the manager. They were attentive through the entire evening even before we asked for that steaks to be fixed. They were tender and flavorful for sure. Don't skip dessert if you are there. We had a red velvet cake with white chocolate and Oreo cookie smash. I'm not sure I have it correct but dang was it good. More than enough for two. There dessert presentations and offerings were significant and good. Loves the atmosphere. Perfect for adults and even families. Their attention to detail as well as listening to the customer made it personal. This is definitely a favorite of mine. I will be recommending and returning to this great experience read more

We came for a Baylor graduation celebration. Been to this restaurant several years ago with a great experience, but this was absurdly bad! We ordered drinks which came out promptly and were good. We then ordered appetizers, our entrees, salads and multiple sides all at once with the waitress planning on getting appetizers to us first, then salads, then the rest. Salads came and were good, then there was a long wait. Waitress came back and said they were out of the appetizer (calamari) which she had recommended so we substituted. Then another long wait. Finally the appetizers came which were good. Then a very long wait for our steaks. I've been to many world class steakhouses. The filets were good and on point for the price. The ribeyes could have been from an Outback Steakhouse or Texas Roadhouse. They just were not prime cuts. But worse was that it took close to an hour and multiple complaints to waitress, manager, and general manager for the sides to come out after everyone had finished their steak. The waitress was apologetic, and said she was continually going to check for them but there was no excuse. The sides we ordered like mashed potatoes, fries, Brussels sprouts take 10 minutes to cook. When they finally came, they were lukewarm. The waitress was apologetic but soon quit coming to the table frequently. The manager was not apologetic and stated "its graduation week" and made if seem like we should expect bad service. The general manager just blamed the "new" waitress. They did comp the sides and the general manager offered dessert or champagne on the house, but after 2 hours and 45 minutes of such a bad experience, we just wanted to get out. Cannot recommend any more and will not be back. read more

3 stars is longhorn steak house 5 is best ever. Appalling service, never asked for water, given a menu, do you give bread? and butter? I wasn't offered any and I didn't know you had it based on your menu usually if available it comes in the togo. Walked away from while talking to my point of contact.(negative infinity stars) Crab cakes: Mediocre, not lumpy, soft, light delicate crust but excellent presentation. Sauce thin and creamy it was complementary but also unnecessary. I've had much better and worse..mid for $28. I ate this in the parking lot sitting in my Porsche with my hands like the Indian animal I am. (3 stars) The steak I ate cold 2 hours later ripping off chunks with my hands outside a Murphy gas station before I fueled up. It was 28 day dry aged 16oz prime ribeye..$82 cooked medium. I hope my company pays for this but if not..I would buy this steak again. Excellently cooked and seasoned. (4.5 stars) The salad looks especially yummy. I look forward to it tomorrow. Likely (4.5 stars) just by the looks of it. Service was especially regrettable noticing others get different treatment. Sometimes people don't want my patronage. And that's ok too. Also I know good service lol. 1 star because I deserve service. read more

Where do I begin? I know Valentine's Day is a very busy night for restaurants, but for Diamondbacks that's been around for a while, you'd think they'd be better prepared. Reservations 8:15 and waited around for 20 min with many others- they at least gave us a glass of champs and an app while we waited. We reserved the bar area, but were put into the very back room- no napkins, no candles on the table, and no waiter. We waited around over 20 min before my husband went to go find one. Drinks tasted good, but no garnishes. Food ordered- salads first (house salad didn't have all ingredients), sushi roll was good, then meal- husband got a ribeye on a plate, I got the steak burrata with big chunks of white cheese. Both sides we wanted were out (lobster mash and broccolini). The manager did at least come by and apologize and asked if we wanted a different side-asparagus- which we never got... literally saw a lady bring it into the room and then leave it on another table. We were comped quite a bit, except the asparagus we never got, but by that time, 10:15, we were ready to leave. The place needs a dramatic update from the bar to the restroom, as well. In all, the cost we still paid was way too much for what we got. read more

Had a great time with family and our server was amazing!! Highly recommend if you want steaks and a nice atmosphere read more

DiamondBack's - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

This place is amazing! Loved the ambiance and great service. But most of all, BEST steak I've had in a really long time. It was incredible. It was pricey but food was excellent read more

Ambiance is nice wine selection is decent wedge salad was plain no bacon, overly dressed and almost no tomato Lobster cargo appetizer was very salty and the lobster was chopped into small pieces, no decent sized chunks of lobster The sliders were flavored well and the crab cakes were good the waitstaff needs to be more efficient, they took utensils and never replaced them then dropped off the food without returning while we were needing them to bring forks The dessert of Chocolate Tower was incredibly decadent The best part of the meal I highly recommend this if you come Drink service was quick that was nice bartenders made lovely beverages read more

The only reason I'm giving any stars is because our server was super sweet and trying to be accommodating, Took an hour to get our appetizer, when we got the lobster bisque it was on the brink of cold ‍, an hour later (not exaggerating) the steak was Supposed to be medium it was not ,, it was crispy and well done and BARELY on the warm side . The Lobster was perfect absolutely delicious. Our drinks were brought timely . The two stars is for the service and We frequent this restaurant on a monthly basis, and we never spend less than 300.000 last nights meal was close to 400.00. So for that price maybe should get the steak on time and how ordered . This is the first time we've had a bad experience here but for 400.00 buckarooos gonna have to rethink our next visit. read more

Food was beyond great! We had lobster escargot for an appetizer. There aren't words for how good this was. My husband had wedge salad. The Bacon was an extra charge. Usually a wedge salad comes with bacon in our experience. It was a very small also. Although it was good. I had Caesar salad. It was perfect. My husband ordered prime rib and I got the small filet. Again both were amazing. We made reservations to make sure we got in. We weren't sure how busy it would be with it being spring break. We only waited a few minutes and our table was ready. They had a Happy Birthday card on table because we were celebrating my early birthday. The restaurant was beautiful decorated and dimly lit. This was in my opinion more on the fancier side restaurant. We had a very sweet waiter. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and gave suggestions. Which we took on the appetizer and there was no regrets. It was on the more expensive side. So keep that in mine. But I would recommend and I'd go again. read more

DiamondBack's - 8oz filet - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

Diamondback's in Waco is an absolute gem! My husband and I drive down from out of town every few months to visit our son at Baylor, and this has quickly become his #1 favorite restaurant in town--a true escape from the university dining hall grind. The owner, Meghan, runs the place with such care and professionalism. She personally oversees every detail, from the kitchen to the front of house, and she always makes sure our reservation is locked in for exactly the time we want. It's that personal touch that turns a great meal into a memorable night. We're huge fans of the filet mignon--order it with the sautéed mushrooms and truffle sauce and prepare to have your mind blown. It's perfectly seared, buttery-tender, and the truffle sauce is rich, earthy, and just decadent enough without being overpowering. The lobster tail is another must--ask your server to prepare it the special way the Baylor Basketball team enjoys it; trust me, you'll thank me later! The wine selection is excellent, the vibe is exactly what you want from a 5-star Texas steakhouse (elegant but warm and welcoming), and everything comes out timed perfectly. We've dined here later in the evening on our last four visits and had the pleasure of being served by Ky every single time. He is outstanding--professional, genuinely attentive (beverage refills appear like magic, he checks on you at the perfect moments, never pushy on upsells but incredibly knowledgeable), and he actually remembers our names and treats us like family. It's rare to find that kind of consistency. We can't recommend Diamondback's enough. If you're in Waco and want a consistently amazing, high-end steakhouse experience, this is the place. We'll keep coming back! read more

Outstanding experience from hostess to server to food to ambiance ! Wait time - Called ahead to put our names on wait list on a Friday night around 6:50pm, was told about 45-60mins. No problem understandable and I appreciate them over estimating because we ended up being seated about 25 mins later! Hostess was friendly and welcoming, younger girl on 2/24/23. Server - Request Cullen, he made our night!! One of the best servers I've ever had. Knowledgeable, friendly and jovial while remaining professional, attentive, and never seemed rushed (kudos to your management for staffing well then also!!). Food - so good!! We ordered the petite filet burrata, the 8oz filet, sautéed spinach side, baked potato side, and asparagus side. The steaks are SO GOOD!! My friend also said the spinach was the best she's had. Drinks - my friend ordered toasted marshmallow Manhattan, too strong for her but i tried it and it was excellent! I just had a glass of Pinot Grigio and it was good. Ambiance - fantastic! Romantic steakhouse vibe, with western type pictures/decor but so elegant. Walked by the bar and that looks great place to have a refined drink and good conversation with someone. Thank you DiamondBacks for a wonderful evening for this Cali girl visiting. read more

See all

Above and beyond. Fit us in with no reservation during homecoming. Excellent food and service. Thank you.

Second time here-- did not disappoint, again! Highly recommend the lobster bisque...super rich, but super worth it! Tonight, tried the spicy tuna roll on the happy hour menu- very tasty and super reasonable at $9. Also opted for the gulf shrimp cocktail and roasted garlic sautéed spinach- both were great (I will smell like garlic for days)! . Sat at the bar again- Ike was great, personable! Casual steakhouse....nice vibes! read more

DiamondBack's - Gulf shrimp cocktail - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

See all

Lovely service and good food. Will return at some point. Wonderful staff throughout and food was good.

This is a great stop for a nice meal in Waco - not as inexpensive as other options but worth it

"Diamondback's is the premier steakhouse in Central Texas! With first-class service, an inviting atmosphere, and outstanding food, it's a must-visit. I highly recommend it!" Thank you IKE for a great experience with first class service! See you soon! read more

Not our first time at Diamondback's but possibly the worst -- and maybe the last. It could be that the chef that night didn't know how to cook steak, of all things, because the New York Strip was bloody, indicating it had no time to rest, and unseasoned, indicating no salt or pepper was applied. The Caesar Salad was wimpy and also underseasoned. The off-menu Ribeye was too thin a piece for the exorbitant price -- not equaling what was shown beforehand -- and, as with every other item that night, relatively tasteless. And the sides of mushrooms and potato au gratin were disappointing as well. The mushrooms tasted as if they came out of can and the potatoes were overwhelmed by cheese. Service was adequate but when we were provided the restaurant's touted biscuits, they were tough and cold, as if they were made three days before, refrigerated, microwaved then served an hour later. Yes, they were that bad. And when the kitchen prepared fresh biscuits later in the meal, known because the table next to us was given a portion, our server neglected to offer us any. By the way, no complaints were given to the manager because we had to leave for another engagement and didn't have the time to complain. Also, we wanted readers to know how dismayed we were with this experience. read more

3rd time I've been here. Have had filet, NY strip and just had the three meat entree. Pictured is the lobster bisque soup and the house salad I believe. Our waiter Matt was awesome. read more

DiamondBack's - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

See all

Writing this review with the hope that it is helpful. I've been going to diamondbacks for the last 4 to 5 years and Friday night was the worst experience we've had. Starting with a request to be reseated from a table to a booth when the restaurant was completely empty, which was denied. To the time it took to get drinks refilled. To the salads being covered in way too much dressing. Diamondbacks has slipped, and I'm hopeful that it will return to its glory days, as a great Waco institution, but it is not there now and it's not what it used to be. read more

Would definitely go back. We were able to book a reservation for 4 easily. I know it's a steakhouse but wow, the Cajun shrimp pasta was my favorite. read more

DiamondBack's - Cajun shrimp pasta - Steakhouses Near Me - Waco, Texas

Wow this was a good meal. Let's start with the service 5/5 as our waiter (Hayden) was excellent, he made the evening very fun and he was knowledgeable about the menu. The steaks were cooked to perfection and the sides were good everyone should try the creamed spinach so good. We were celebrating a birthday so Hayden let us know about the cheesecake and he had caramel and pecans added, delicious. There was a full bar but the way the restaurant was set up the sinning area was quite so fun ambiance. read more

The food was fantastic and delicious. Definitely make a reservation in advance. This is a fine dining steakhouse and prices reflect as such. Great wine menu. Server was attentive and great. Kind of an old school steakhouse feel with a great ambiance. read more