Opal's Oysters

Simply put, One Day is the best cocktail bar in Waco…read more I moved to Waco in April '21 after 4 years in LA + Dallas, working in alcohol for WINC + Bar & Garden, and acting as a sommelier for many supper clubs / industry events. One Day has the best curated, tighest selection of high quality spirits, as well as the most inventive, inspired in-house cocktail menu in the city. There are also well-conceived events with high quality restaurant / culinary partners. Just go to One Day. Just go.

Love the vibe, it's a bit divey but still trendy. Service at the start wasn't friendly and…read morewelcoming but it got better towards the end. Maybe because a different staff checked on us. He was more attentive and he kept checking on us throughout the night. They got busy around 9 pm. And it seemed to be a local favorite. Their cocktails are creative but it's still budget-friendly. I enjoyed my cocktails but some were more tart than others. Still, If we were ever to come back to Waco this is the place I would like to come back to.

Old Fashion & Kentucky Blue

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Various drinks from the Cocktail Menu

Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits

4.2(371 reviews)

0.2 mi

I've enjoyed coming here over the years! From coffee dates to study sessions to my first drink with…read morefriends on my 21st bday, I've had some great memories here! Some of their speciality lattes (like the Remember Me one fall) have been so delicious that I've braved the trek downtown, searching for a parking spot in the middle of my workday, just to get one as an afternoon pick-me-up. I also love the 1885 drink, which is Dr Pepper + espresso. It sounds crazy, but a Waco girl loves it. I will say, ever since the inside was re-painted as a weird, tentacle-esque, purple and orange mural, the ambiance has tanked. It used to feel like a peaceful, vibey spot, especially at night or during the holidays. Now the walls make my skin crawl a bit. Maybe some people love it--I usually hear the opposite But it's still worth going for the drinks!

I just want something to WAKE me up! Not all coffee is the same. If you're looking for a roast…read moretasting coffee you can find it here! I ordered the Boxing Day coffee with the cinnamon notes. I couldn't taste cinnamon so much til I was almost done. It's good coffee, but nothing special even with the descriptive notes for their drinks. It feels industrial inside. Nice bathrooms, spacious layout towards the back. Comfortable seatings and plenty of tables.

Frai D'été

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Dichotomy old fashioned

Lucky Buck's Rooftop Bar

4.1(14 reviews)

Great place to sit back relax and take in the sunset. Service was efficient, cocktails expertly…read moreprepared. Didn't try food this time.

Great roof spot in downtown Waco with views of Baylor and the Silos. Good drink and beer selection…read moreand GREAT pizza, not just for Texas, but legit great pizza.

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Sam's Bar

4.3(18 reviews)

0.0 mi

A curious local, I came in with no expectations. As a bit of an introvert, finding Sam's was great,…read moreespecially allowing food from other vendors inside. It is much more intimate and cozy than the hall (and also less bright lol). When I came in, the bartender, Christopher, was polite and professional, gave me the obligatory carding, and gave me a small taste of a beer I was interested in. I ordered it and went to grab my ramen, returning to a kinda crowded spot, nice cold beer already served. I let him know I was going to shift down the bar, moving my bowl first, then returning for my coat and purse. By the time I got back, there were napkins and a fork just for me, kindly and quietly placed. As a single diner, these little touches mean a lot and create a welcome and warm vibe. Even when I was done, he took my bowl too! Again, a single lady feeling special (granted it wasn't slammed so he could spare the time on me) is a big deal! My experience was pleasant and chill, with a nice convo with Christopher in his down time. There was a sketchy guy around and he kept completely cool while staff walked him out. Everything went without a hitch and it was a 10/10 for a first impression. Definitely coming back!

I have been to both, Sam's Bar and Sam's Front Porch at the Union Hall and Union Grove. Both bars…read morewere vibey and chill. Such a nice scenery, very beautiful aesthetic. The customer service is also great, the bartenders tended to me quickly and were welcoming. And most importantly they have a variety of spirits and cocktails, and everything they make is so good!!

Watermelon Margarita

Ho ho ho hot chocolate

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Sam's Front Porch Bar

J S Barnett's Whiskey House

3.8(345 reviews)

0.2 mi

Rebecca was amazing, her husband Miguel prepared the most delicious meals. This power couple blew…read moreus away. We wanted to take them home with us!

Great lil gem in the heart of downtown Waco . Outside patio is huge! Staffed with the nicest, well…read moretrained staff! We stopped by before the TCU game and was really surprised by the level of service. This is not just a neighborhood bar! Big shout out to Meg, Brandon, Lauren and Tonya. And to whoever it was in the kitchen that made our wagyu beef burger, Amazing. Try the espresso martinis . Can't go downtown without stopping here.

Roasted root vegetables from Barnett's current dinner menu in downtown Waco, Texas.

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Grilled chicken was seasoned perfectly

Truelove Bar

3.5(70 reviews)

•$

Nice staff, relatively clean l location, very fun and kind patrons. Despite being warned against…read morethis place from many "locals" - (see: UGH) - it was one of the highlights of the area. Whether you want karaoke on a huge stage, a game of pool, or dancing outside -- this is the place for you downtown.

We always pass this bar when we're in Waco but had never been until just the other day…read more I'm glad we stopped by. It's a cool little local sorta divey (in a great way) spot. My boyfriend and I shared an N/A beer and chatted up the bartender on duty for a bit. They were super welcoming and totally cool with our little fur guy Benji being there as well. Definitely wanna go back again soon.

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Badass ass bar!

Red Herring Restaurant & Bar

4.2(135 reviews)

•$$$

Such a gem! Server was kind, extremely helpful and checked on us frequency. Atmosphere was…read morestunning! Live sax player walking through the restaurant when we went on a Thursday night. Everyone bite of food was delicious! My favs - oysters!!! So fresh. The focaccia bread with burrata was amazing as well. Also got the Mezze plate, pretty good, but would get focaccia spreads over this! Vodka sausage pasta was good, served not fully warm but you could tell pasta was fresh. Very busy for a Thursday night! Will come back the next time I'm in town. All cocktails were excellent as well!

This is a really nice looking place. Inside and out. Outstanding. Loved the decor and ambiance…read more The food was ok. The friends around pumped it up too much for me. And it wasn't what I was expecting. This is a personal preference but if I had known the steak would have came out sliced already I wouldn't have ordered it. Worse thing you can do to a steak in my eyes. It loses moisture and gets cold fast. 2/5 for me. Flavor was ok. Nothing to rave about. As for the drinks, they are way over charged. $34 for an old fashioned using angles envy is pretty crazy. Expensive place. Not meeting the bar it prices.

Lounge area seating

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An MEP wonder!

Cricket's Grill & Draft House

3.4(554 reviews)

0.4 mi

Really good burger and Caesar salad. The tater tots had a perfect crunch and was a very large…read moreportion. But, they were super salty. Good value.

I stopped by Crickets in Waco after just getting into town from New York. The place looked great…read moreonline, so I was looking forward to an after-work drink, but the service was disappointing from the start. I walked in without being greeted and had to wave down the bartender. Who could obviously careless..When I asked whether there was music playing, she said, "It's playing," but it was so faint I could barely hear it. I ordered a drink, and she brought me the bill right away, which made me feel as though she assumed I wouldn't order anything else. I didn't feel welcomed or cared for as a customer. The space may look inviting, but based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend it for after-work cocktails or coming back for that matter.

Here's part of this place.

Excellent

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Bar area

Dog Haus Biergarten

3.8(30 reviews)

0.5 mi

Family-owned & operated

Happy hour specials

We landed here for a late lunch on a weekday. Not much of a crowd, but some lively soccer fans…read morewatching the games. Greeted and seated quickly, waiter was prompt with drinks and food order. The food was amazing. Hot honey and sweet potato fries?!? Who knew! Highly recommend visit here if you're in that part of town. The GM came out and made a special point to ask how it was. He gave the kids some swag so they were thrilled.

The food is good. I had a burger and my wife had a chicken sandwich. The service was great and the…read morewaitress was attentive. The drinks were good too

Three handcrafted Dog Haus cocktails on a wooden table, including a salted-rim drink and michelada-style glasses with lime, h...

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A Passion Fruit Spritz and an Irish Mule-style drink with fresh mint sit on a table, highlighting the refreshing, handcrafted...

Brazos Bar & Bistro

3.8(231 reviews)

0.5 mi

Service was great ' Savanna was attentive but not over whelming. She came as she saw needed and…read morechecked in when in doubt. Polite and well dressed with a gorgeous smile. Food was great we both had "Sea Bass" with no substitutions as is the as cooked well and delicious. Wife had the Marg and I had a few Stella's in a cold glass. Atmosphere was calm and easy going for a Saturday around 4:00 pm. We want to try the cheese and fruit platter next time and some wine. If all goes as we think "fantastic" this place will be our go to brunch and dinner place in waco. Maybe just spend the night at the Indingo if all goes to well. Only reason we didn't give 5 stars is because we haven't tried everything we plan on !

After three days of driving from the west coast we needed dinner out, not just fast food. This was…read morea nice reprieve. Margaritas were good. Smallish but well made. Good queso and quesadillas for me, She had the salmon without the mango chile sauce on a salad. Good service. Dogs were happy on the patio. Newer menus attached.

Named after the River

Chef's Bread Board

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B-Inspired Chicken Pasta (yummy!)

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Goose G.

219

228

6 months ago

Unfortunately, Opal's is one of the most poorly run restaurants I've experienced in a long time. We made reservations months in advance, and they still managed to completely botch it by giving away and relocating our table to accommodate someone else. Apparently reservations here are meaningless. What really took it to another level was watching the staff actually ask the people sitting at the table they stole from us to move. It was unbelievably awkward, unprofessional, and honestly pathetic to watch unfold in real time. Total chaos. I stayed polite the entire time -- holding doors for guests and staff, trying to be understanding -- and then a waiter carrying dirty dishes tried sneaking through behind me when I let the door go and absolutely ate it. Glass shattered everywhere, drinks spilled all over the place, and instead of acting professionally or apologizing, the staff just stood there looking confused. No ownership. No urgency. No class. The whole place feels like it's being run by people completely in over their heads. Disorganized management, clueless staff, zero communication, and customer service that borders on nonexistent. For a place trying to present itself as upscale, the operation felt amateur hour from start to finish. Honestly, if this is how they handle guests who planned ahead for months, I'd hate to see how they handle a busy night. Save yourself the frustration, the wasted time, and the secondhand embarrassment. Good luck staying open, Opal's. With management and service like this, you're going to need a miracle. PS...Bring your bug spray if you don't want extra protein with dinner. read more

Shelley N.

2 years ago

We visited this restaurant based on recommendations from some directors at work, and it truly exceeded our expectations. While it's not for those on a tight budget, it's absolutely worth it for a special occasion. The ambiance was enchanting, providing a relaxing and beautiful atmosphere. We sat on the porch, and even though it was chilly outside, the warmth from the fireplace and heat lamps embraced us. Four of us gathered to celebrate a birthday, and the service and food were exceptional. We indulged in lobster mac & cheese, lobster bisque soup, a lobster roll, blue crab Louie salad, red snapper seafood hot cakes, and concluded with a decadent Belgian chocolate cake. To my amazement, both the salad and soup were loaded with chunks of lobster! I wholeheartedly recommend this place! It will undoubtedly become our go-to spot for special occasions or whenever we crave seafood! read more

Mia L.

1 year ago

Wow such great service!!! Stevie, made our visit memorabl. one of the nicest persons ever!!!! The food was great, the vibe was great, I mean other than the mosquitoe, lol. Thanks Stevie for making our visit the best experience ever! read more

Marcus V.

2 years ago

Great restaurant with amazing food and service. Perfect atmosphere to enjoy exclusive wines and good company

Opal's Oysters - seafood - Updated November 2026

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